JP3472866B2 - Single-row first-in first-out transport type pool table device for containers - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container transport system for maintaining the transport speed of a single row of containers which are already aligned and sent on a conveyer in the aligned state and at the time of transport. The present invention relates to a single-row first-in / first-out transport type pool table device capable of significantly reducing the pressure between containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pool table for this type of container, there is a mixed loading pool table as shown in FIG.
That is, the structure forms a pool table 1 partitioned into a substantially rectangular shape by chains 2 arranged in a wide multi-row, and the in-feed conveyor is configured to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of the chain 2 of the pool table 1. 3 is adjacent to the chain 2. Then, one end of the infeed conveyor 3 is connected to the upstream conveyor 4, and the other end is connected to the downstream conveyor 5. In addition, a wide pusher 6 is provided on the upper surface of the pool table 1 and is attached to the wide chain 2 to interlock with it. Further, a pushing mechanism for pushing laterally with respect to the flow of the infeed conveyor 3 is provided. Then, in the operation of the conventional mixed loading pool table having the above-described configuration, first, the mechanism for detecting that the row length of the containers 7 sent from the upstream conveyor 4 onto the infeed conveyor 3 matches the effective width of the pool table 1 is detected. (Not shown), and the flow of the container 7 on the upstream conveyor 4 is stopped by this detection signal. Next, while the chain 2 of the pool table 1 is driven backward, the pushing mechanism 8 is operated in conjunction with this to move the containers 7 arranged in a line from the in-feed conveyor 3 to the pool table 1.
Push it in and transfer. Then, after the transfer of the row of containers 7 to the pool table 1 is completed, the pool table 1
Of the pushing mechanism 8 at the same time as stopping the chain 2 of
To the original position and wait until the next row of containers 7 is sent. In this way, the containers 7 are stored while repeating a series of operations cyclically until the inside of the compartment over the entire length of the pool table 1 is filled or the desired loading amount is reached. On the other hand, when the container 7 does not flow due to a failure in the upstream manufacturing process, the chain 2 of the pool table 1 is reversely driven, and the pusher 6 moves forward together with the chain 2 to move the container 7 to the infeed conveyor. It is supposed that the container 7 is periodically extruded onto the upper part 3 and the container 7 is supplied to the downstream conveyor 4.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, firstly, the containers 7 whose postures are correctly aligned by the upstream conveyor 4 are discontinuously and forcibly fed from the infeed conveyor 3 to the pool table 1. Or the pool table 1 is transferred to the in-feed conveyor 3, the container is tumbled or the posture is changed when the speed control is not smooth or when the container 7 has an irregular and unstable shape. There is a risk of misalignment. Moreover, when it falls, it causes damage to the other container 7. Since the postures are not aligned in this way, it is necessary to newly install the aligning device again, which causes a drawback that the installation space and the installation cost increase.
Secondly, since the movement of the entire system is discontinuous, it moves due to complicated exchange of signals of a complicated mechanical control mechanism and an electric detection mechanism, and therefore, there is a risk of frequent electric or mechanical accidents. ing. Thirdly, the flow of the upstream container 7 must be frequently stopped because the pool table 1 operates discontinuously. That is, it takes a very long time to store the required number of containers 7 on the pool table 1. Further, if some trouble occurs in the flow of the container 7 on the upstream side, the container 7 cannot be carried out smoothly to the downstream side of the pool table. Fourthly, the process of ejecting the container 7 from the pool table 1 to the downstream equipment is a first-in, first-out process, which obviously has various problems such as being contrary to the ideal first-in first-out principle of manufacturing. It was

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned various existing circumstances. From the in-feed conveyor to the pool table, like the conventional pool table,
Or when transferring from the pool table to the in-feed conveyor, if the speed control is not smooth, or if the container has a deformed and unstable shape, the container may fall over or the posture may become uneven. It can be safely and easily replaced without causing damage to other containers, and there is no need to newly install a realignment device for preventing misalignment of the container as in the conventional case. In addition, the container can be stored smoothly on the pool table in a short time without frequently stopping the flow of the container on the upstream side, and when the flow of the container 7 on the upstream side has some trouble. However, the container 7 to the downstream side from the pool table 1 which has been stored to some extent
It is an object of the present invention to provide a single-row first-in first-out transport type pool table device capable of quickly and easily carrying out containers.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects and the like, in claim 1 of the present invention, an in-feed conveyor 11 and a take-out in which a pool table 10 for storing a container is installed so as to be sandwiched from both sides. Conveyor 12
And a bypass conveyor 13 installed in parallel with the pool table 10 and connected to the infeed conveyor 11 and the take-out conveyor 12 at a right angle, and the pool table 10 includes rollers along a linear guide 16. The bed chain conveyor 14 is arranged, and is formed in a substantially meandering shape via the corner guides 15 formed in a substantially semicircular shape around the turn rollers 17 provided at both ends of the linear guide 16, and the corner guides 15 are formed. On the other hand, the in-feed conveyor 11 is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the roller bed chain conveyor 14,
A means for arranging the takeout conveyor 12 in an overhang form is adopted. Further, according to claim 2 of the present invention, the turn roller 17 is provided inside the curved portion of the corner guide 15, and the two-roller bed chain conveyor 1 is provided.
A means having a roller outer shape corresponding to the outer surface shape of the container P, which is rotatably mounted at a substantially central position of the end portion of No. 4, was adopted. Further, in claim 3 of the present invention, the in-feed conveyor 11 and the take-out conveyor 12
A sharp edge 11A is formed on the overhanging portion of the roller bed chain conveyor 14 so that the edge tip is substantially at the same level as the tip surface of the roller bed chain conveyor 14 and A means to bring them close to each other without contact is adopted.

In the single-row first-in first-out transport type pool table device according to the present invention constructed as described above, the roller bed chain conveyor 1 is provided along the linear guide 16.
4 is arranged, and the pool table 10 formed in a substantially meandering shape via the corner guides 15 formed in a substantially semicircular shape centering on the turn rollers 17 provided at both ends of the linear guide 16 causes the chain table to be installed. The container P is run on the pool table 10 while maintaining the posture at the time of feeding and keeping the posture by the linear guide 16 and reaches the opposite end to the sharp edge 12A of the chain of the takeout conveyor 12. Scolded,
Carry it at a right angle to the running direction. Therefore, the container P is turned by 180 ° along the turn roller 17 while being regulated by the corner guide 15 and rides on the adjacent roller bed chain conveyor 14 again to run in the reverse direction toward the infeed conveyor 11. The corner guides 15 and the turn rollers 17 on the in-feed conveyor 11 repeatedly change the direction and convey them in a meandering shape. As described above, the container P is completely guided through the entire process of the pool table 10 to pass through the container P, and the container P is infused until the pool table 10 is fully loaded or the desired amount is completely loaded. Also, the turn roller 1 having a roller outer shape corresponding to the outer surface shape of the container P.
7 is a guide for the container P and is wrapped around the outer shape of the container P. Even when the container P is unstable, the turn roller 17 is provided.
A suction mechanism is provided by using a vacuum mechanism (not shown) as a suction roller, and the container P is also rotated together to guide the container P in an inverted manner, so that the container P can be steadily placed on the roller bed chain conveyor 14 without tipping. Allow replacement. Further, in the in-feed conveyor 11 and the take-out conveyor 12, the sharp edge 11A formed on the overhang portion to the roller bed chain conveyor 14 has the roller bed chain conveyor 14
The container P conveyed from the infeed conveyor 11
Also, it is scooped onto the take-out conveyor 12 without resistance, and is smoothly conveyed in the direction perpendicular to the traveling direction so far without falling.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 show in detail the structure of a single-row first-in first-out transfer type pool table for containers P according to the present invention, in which the in-feed conveyor 11 and the take-out conveyor 12 are arranged so that the pool table 10 is sandwiched from both sides. Install. Further, a belt or a bypass conveyor 13 having a chain structure is installed in parallel with the pool table 10 and is connected to the infeed conveyor 11 and the takeout conveyor 12 at a right angle. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, this pool table 10 is mainly formed by a roller bed chain conveyor 14, a corner guide 15, a linear guide 16, and a turn roller 17 appropriately arranged, and is formed in a substantially meandering shape as a whole. Has been done. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a roller bed chain conveyor 14 of an endless hollow pin chain type structure having a small line pressure, which is formed by connecting a number of roller bodies adjacent to each other in a strip shape so that each roller can rotate ( Alternatively, other low friction chains or belts may be used.)
The linear guides 16 are provided along each side thereof with substantially semi-circular corner guides 15 centered on the turn rollers 17 at both ends thereof, and the bottom portions of the corner guides 15 are arranged relative to the moving direction of the roller bed chain conveyor 14. The infeed conveyor 11 is arranged so as to slide vertically in a vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the infeed conveyors 11 are arranged in two lines on the outer line and the inner line which slide together and slide, and both infeed conveyors 11 are arranged downward. Return roller 2
It has an endless belt structure that circulates and rotates through 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the curved portion 15A of the corner guide 15 alternately covers the both ends of the two-roller bed chain conveyor 14 so that the infeed conveyor 11 is alternately covered.
On the takeout conveyor 12, the container P is formed to be wider than the size of the container P and has a uniform opening width to be overhung, while the straight portion 15B of the corner guide 15 is formed.
Is connected to a straight line guide 16, and the pool table 10 is connected between the infeed conveyor 11 and the takeout conveyor 12 in a substantially meandering manner by sequentially repeating the above configuration.

The turn roller 17 is a corner guide 1.
It is arranged inside the curved portion 15A of No. 5 and at a substantially central position of the end of the two-row roller bed chain conveyor 14, so that the turn roller 17 itself can freely rotate, and the outer surface shape of the container P can be changed. Is formed so as to guide the container P so as to tie it with the outer shape of the container P so that the container P can be easily inverted and guided without falling. Further, even if the container P is unstable, a vacuum mechanism (not shown) using the turn roller 17 as a suction roller is provided so that the container P can be sucked and steadily transferred onto the roller bed chain conveyor 14. It plays an auxiliary role. At this time, the adjacent roller bed chain conveyors 14 move in opposite directions at the same speed. Further, the in-feed conveyor 11 is partitioned by a guide portion into a section for in-feeding the container P to the pool table 10 and a bypass section for sending the container P to the bypass. This is intentionally set to 1 for economical design. Formed as one conveyor.
Alternatively, of course, this may be designed as two independent conveyors.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to smoothly transfer the container P from the infeed conveyor 11 onto the roller bed chain conveyor 14 of the pool table 10, the roller bed chain conveyor 14
A sharp edge 11A is formed on the chain with respect to the overhang portion of the in-feed conveyor 11 to the front end of the roller bed chain conveyor 14 as much as possible (the roller bed chain conveyor 1).
It may be lower than the tip surface of No. 4. ), And is so close that it does not come into contact with the roller bed chain conveyor 14. Similarly, in order to smoothly transfer the container P from the roller bed chain conveyor 14 of the pool table 10 onto the takeout conveyor 12, the chain is attached to the overhang portion of the takeout conveyor 12 to the roller bed chain conveyor 14. A sharp edge 11A is formed on the. In addition, the infeed conveyor 11 is connected to the upstream conveyor 18,
A switching bypass gate 19 that can be controlled to an appropriate position with respect to the connection point is provided, and the takeout conveyor 12 is connected to a downstream conveyor 20 and switching control between the takeout conveyor 12 and the bypass conveyor 13 can be performed with respect to the connection point. A switching exit gate 21 is provided. Furthermore, a stopper mechanism S that can be closed and opened is provided at the exit of the pool table 10 that leads to the takeout conveyor 12 and the downstream conveyor 20.

Next, an example of the operation of the present invention will be described.
First, in the case of carrying in the accumulation use shown in FIG. 2 from the normal flow without accumulation shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the containers P that are aligned and conveyed from the upstream conveyor 18 close the switching outlet gate 21 when the pool table 10 is empty, turn the switching bypass gate 19 to the bypass division side, and change the infeed division. In the open state, the container P is conveyed to the chain by the section of the infeed conveyor 11, and is transferred to the roller bed chain conveyor 14 by the guide portion. At this time,
While maintaining the speed at the time of infeed by the chain, and while maintaining the posture by the linear guide 16, it travels on the pool table 10 and reaches the opposite end to the sharp edge 12A of the chain of the takeout conveyor 12. Since it is scooped and conveyed at a right angle to the traveling direction up to now, the container P is turned by 180 ° along the turn roller 17 while being regulated by the corner guide 15, and then again rides on the adjacent roller bed chain conveyor 14. The vehicle runs in the opposite direction toward the infeed conveyor 11.
Corner guide 15 on the infeed conveyor 11 again
And the turn roller 17 repeatedly changes the direction and conveys in a meandering shape. Pool table 10
The container P is completely guided through the entire process. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching outlet gate 21 of the takeout conveyor 12 should be in the closed position, and the outlets to the takeout conveyor 12 and the downstream conveyor 20 of the pool table 10 should be closed by the stopper mechanism S. Thus, the container P can be continuously fed in until the pool table 10 is fully loaded or the desired amount is completely loaded.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the detection mechanism detects a detection signal notifying that the pool table 10 is fully loaded or the desired amount is loaded, and the switching bypass gate 19 is set to the infeed section side. The bypass section is opened by switching to, and the container P is run on the bypass section by the bypass conveyor 13.
Transfer to the bypass conveyor 13 and go straight to the downstream conveyor 20. Also, when a failure occurs in the upstream equipment,
The upstream conveyor 18 is stopped in order in a staggered manner, then the bypass conveyor 13 is stopped, the switching outlet gate 21 is controlled so that the bypass conveyor 13 side is closed and the outlet of the pool table 10 is opened, and the container P is It is sequentially supplied from the pool table 10 to the downstream conveyor 20.

[0013]

Therefore, according to the present invention, when transferring from the infeed conveyor to the pool table or from the pool table to the infeed conveyor as in the conventional pool table, the speed control is not smooth, or atypical. Also, even if the container has an unstable shape, it is safe and easy to transfer it so that the container does not tip over or the posture is not aligned and it causes damage to other containers. In addition, it is not necessary to newly install a realignment device for preventing misalignment of the container as in the conventional case, and furthermore, the container is not placed on the pool table without frequently stopping the flow of the upstream container. It can be stored smoothly in a short time, and even if some trouble occurs in the flow of the upstream container 7, it can be stored to some extent. That the unloading of the container to the downstream side from the pool table 1 is the done quickly and easily.

That is, the pool table 10 formed in a substantially meandering shape maintains the speed at the time of infeed by the chain, and the linear guide 1
6, the container P can be run on the pool table 10 while maintaining the posture, and further, the direction is changed by 180 ° and the next roller bed chain conveyor 14 is mounted again to run in the opposite direction toward the infeed conveyor 11. Therefore, the corner guide 15 and the turn roller 17 on the in-feed conveyor 11 can repeat the direction change so that the sheet can be conveyed along the meandering shape. In this way, the container P is completely guided through the entire process of the pool table 10 to pass the container P, and the container P is safely and smoothly until the pool table 10 is fully loaded or the desired amount of load is completed. Can be fed in.

Further, since the turn roller 17 has a roller outer shape corresponding to the outer surface shape of the container P, the container P
As it is tied with the outer shape of the container P as a guide of,
Even if the container P is unstable, the container P is sucked by providing a vacuum mechanism (not shown) using the turn roller 17 as a suction roller, so that the container P can be inverted and guided without falling, and the roller bed chain Conveyor 1
It is possible to steadily transfer to the top of 4.

Further, since sharp edges 11A are formed on the infeed conveyor 11 and the take-out conveyor 12 with respect to the overhang portion to the roller bed chain conveyor 14, they are conveyed from the roller bed chain conveyor 14. The container P can be scooped onto the in-feed conveyor 11 and the take-out conveyor 12 without resistance, and can be smoothly transported without falling in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction up to now.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the present invention when accumulation is not used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the same when the use of the accumulation is started.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the same while the accumulator is in use.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the same when an accumulator is being used and carried out.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the periphery of a corner guide of a pool table.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of a corner guide of a pool table.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Pool Table 2 ... Chain 3 ... Infeed Conveyor 4 ... Upstream Conveyor 5 ... Downstream Conveyor 6 ... Pusher 7 ... Container 8 ... Pushing Mechanism 10 ... Pool Table 11 ... Infeed Conveyor 11A ... Sharp Edge 12 ... Takeout Conveyor 13 ... Bypass conveyor 14 ... Roller bed chain conveyor 15 ... Corner guide 15A ... Curved portion 15B ... Straight portion 16 ... Straight guide 17 ... Turn roller 18 ... Upstream conveyor 19 ... Switching bypass gate 20 ... Downstream conveyor 21 ... Switching exit gate 22 ... Return roller P ... Container S ... Stopper mechanism

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-4-59512 (JP, A) Actually open 54-69932 (JP, U) Actually open 49-107078 (JP, U) JP-B 53- 26744 (JP, B2) JKH 7-30578 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 47/52 B65G 47/56-47/62 B65G 47/66

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An in-feed conveyor and a take-out conveyor which are installed so as to sandwich a pool table for storing containers from both sides, and a pool table which is installed in parallel with the pool table and connected at a right angle to the in-feed conveyor and the take-out conveyor. A bypass bed conveyor, the pool table has roller bed chain conveyors arranged along a linear guide, and corner guides formed in a substantially semicircular shape centering on turn rollers provided at both ends of the linear guide. The in-feed conveyor and the take-out conveyor are arranged in an overhanging manner so as to be formed in a substantially meandering shape through the corner guide so as to slide in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the roller bed chain conveyor with respect to the corner guide. Single-row first-in first-out transfer type pool table for containers apparatus. 2. The turn roller is rotatably mounted inside a curved portion of a corner guide at a substantially central position of an end portion of a two-row roller bed chain conveyor, and corresponds to an outer surface shape of a container. The single-row first-in first-out transport type pool table device according to claim 1, which has an outer shape. 3. A sharp edge is formed on the infeed conveyor and the take-out conveyor with respect to the overhang portion to the roller bed chain conveyor, and the edge tip is at substantially the same level as the tip surface of the roller bed chain conveyor. 3. The single-row first-in first-out transport type pool table device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pool table device is brought close to the roller bed chain conveyor so as not to come into contact therewith.