JP3534280B2 - Container discharge device of container alignment device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container which is used as a container discharge unit of a container aligning device for aligning the posture of a container to be randomly supplied and supplying the container to a next process. It relates to a discharge device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container discharging device in which containers are dropped into respective holders below one by one via a dropping chute and discharged to the next process by a holder transport mechanism. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a container discharging device for dropping containers, which are target articles, one by one via a dropping chute and discharging the containers to a next step by a lower holder transport mechanism (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-1995). 172414). In this conventional container discharging device, a discharging method of discharging a container dropped through a drop chute using a row of holder transport mechanisms is adopted, and thus the dropped containers are stored in a holder of the holder transport mechanism. Therefore, there is a problem that the working speed is limited due to the necessity of stably charging the device, and this limits the increase in performance of the device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to improve a holder transport mechanism after a container is dropped via a dropping chute. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to increase the capacity of the container alignment device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a container discharging device for a container aligning device in which containers are aligned, dropped one by one via a drop chute, supplied to a lower holder, and discharged by a holder transport mechanism. , A fixed plate is disposed at a drop position below the drop chute, conveyors are installed on both sides thereof to join their downstream sides, and a holder is provided between a lower end of the drop chute and the fixed plate. Holder guides with two rows of guide spaces that can accommodate
The other guide space is movably disposed so as to be located on one of the conveyors, and the operation of the holder guide causes the one row of containers dropped through the drop chute to be loaded in an upright state. The guide space on the fixed plate containing the plurality of holders is moved to the other conveyor, and the other guide space containing the empty holder is reciprocally movable to be located at the drop position, Further, it is characterized in that the holder into which the container is inserted is discharged from the guide space, and at the same time, the empty holder waiting on the upstream side is supplied into the guide space. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a container aligning apparatus for discharging containers one by one through a dropping chute.
It can be applied as a mechanism for discharging the container after the fall.
A drop chute is used in which a plurality of containers in a row are sequentially dropped and thrown into the holder in a standing state. Note that the configuration of the chute itself does not need to be formed in a completely closed cylindrical shape, and the number of gates to be installed can be selected according to the case. Further, the present invention can be widely applied to the type of container, and is not limited to the type of container. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram showing a main portion of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged configuration diagram showing an enlarged main portion of the container discharging device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a container aligning device, which includes a predetermined number of rows of conveyor belts 2 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. Locking pieces 3 are attached to the respective conveyor belts 2 at predetermined intervals, and containers 5 to be put in from the upper openings 4 are randomly supported in pockets formed between the locking pieces 3 and sequentially. It is configured to be transported to the upper reversing unit 6. In this embodiment, a known inverting hook system is adopted in the upper inverting portion 6. In this embodiment, only the container 5 conveyed with its neck first is inverted by the hook inverting member 7 engaged with the neck of the container 5. Align posture. A container discharge device 8 is disposed below the reversing unit 6, and supplies the containers 5 dropped from the reversing unit 6 of each conveyor belt 2 to a holder holder mechanism 10 below one by one via a drop chute 9. It is configured to In addition,
In the figure, reference numerals 11 and 12 denote gate mechanisms disposed in the middle of the drop chute 9 to temporarily stop the containers 5 dropped from the reversing portions 6 of the respective transport belts 2 and adjust the timing to the holder transport mechanism 10 below. It is configured to supply. Next, the container discharging device 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
Will be described in detail. As shown in the drawing, a fixed plate 13 is disposed at a drop position below the drop chute 9, and the container 5 dropped via the drop chute 9 is put into a holder 14 on the fixed plate 13. It is configured to: Further, on both sides of the fixing plate 13, suitable conveyors 15, 1 made of a belt conveyor or the like are provided.
6 are provided, and the conveyors 15 and 16 constitute a holder transport mechanism 10 that transports the holder 14. In addition, between the lower end of the drop chute 9 and the fixed plate 13, a holder 14 on the fixed plate 13 into which the container 5 is put upright through the drop chute 9.
A sorting mechanism 17 is provided for distributing the sheet to the conveyors 15 and 16 on both sides. The distributing mechanism 17 is provided with a holder guide 18 in which two rows of guide spaces (a) and (b) for accommodating the holder 14 are arranged in parallel. By reciprocating along a guide and support mechanism (not shown) via 19, the holders 14 on the fixed plate 13, which have been loaded with the row of containers 5 in an upright state via the drop chute 9, are conveyed by conveyors 15 on both sides, It is configured to be alternately distributed and transferred onto the P.16. That is, one of the guide spaces (a) or (b) of the holder guide 18 is transferred to the conveyor 15,
16 and used as a discharge side of the holder 14, and at the same time, the other guide space (b) or (b) is used as a temporary storage side of the holder 14 by being positioned above the fixing plate 40. The conveyor 1 which discharges the holder 14 by reciprocating through the guide spaces through the air cylinder 19.
5 and 16 are arranged alternately. Therefore, in parallel with the discharging step of discharging the holder 14 in which the container 5 has been charged via one of the conveyors 15 and 16, the container 5 for each of the empty holders 14 accommodated in the other guide space on the fixed plate 13. Is performed, and the work of discharging the plurality of standing containers 5 in a row is performed in parallel with the empty holders 14.
And the container 5 is divided into two processes, that is, a process of dropping the container 5 into the container 5 and a process of discharging the holder 14 into which the container 5 has been loaded. Therefore, each of these processes can be configured as a stable work process with a margin of time. With each conveyor 1
Holder 14 into which container 5 discharged from 5 and 16 has been loaded
Are configured to be joined on the downstream side, so that the overall operation speed can be improved. In the drawing, reference numeral 20 denotes a gate member constituting the gate mechanism 12,
21 is an air cylinder for the operation. FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing an embodiment of the holder guide 18. FIG. As shown in the drawing, the holder guide 18 is composed of guide wall members 22 and 23 on both sides and a guide wall member 24 at the center, and the guide spaces (a) and (b) are formed therebetween through a support frame 25. Are connected by Both ends of each guide space (a) and (b) are open, and the inflow and outflow of the holder 14 are freely configured. At the same time as the discharge of the holder 14 into which the container 5 is inserted, the holder 14 stands by on the upstream side. It is configured so that the empty holder that has been used can be supplied to the guide space. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the holder guide 18, in which stopper pieces 26,
27 is formed. Next, the operation of the distribution mechanism 17 will be specifically described in order. FIG. 5 and FIG.
It is a schematic explanatory view showing the operation of FIG. First, a description will be given based on FIG. In the state (A), the holder 14B in which the container 5 has been inserted (the hatched area) is discharged on the conveyor 15 side, and the next empty holder 14A is accommodated in the guide space (A) and fixed. This shows a state in which a plurality of containers 5 in a line are dropped into the holders 14 in the guide space (b) located on the plate 13 via the drop chute 9 in an upright state. In the drawings, reference numerals 28 and 29 denote front and rear fixing stoppers provided on the fixing plate 13, and reference numerals 30 and 31 denote stop mechanisms. Each of the stopping mechanisms 30 and 31 has upstream and downstream locking pieces 32 to 35 corresponding to the holders 14 accommodated in the guide spaces (a) and (b). The downstream sides of the conveyors 15 and 16 are merged and transported to the next process via the transport conveyor 36. In the state (B), the holder guide 18 is moved from the state (A) by the air cylinder 19 to the conveyor 1.
This shows a state immediately after moving to the sixth side. In this state, the empty holder 14A on the conveyor 15 is stopped by the locking piece 32 on the upstream side of the stop mechanism 30. On the other hand, the empty holder 14A on the conveyor 16 is locked by the locking piece 34 on the upstream side of the locking mechanism 31 and the conveyor 16A.
The loaded holder 14B transferred above is stopped by the locking piece 35 on the downstream side. In the state (C), the stop mechanism 31 is released from the state of the above (B), and in the above state (A), the empty holder 14B is discharged into the guide space (b) and the empty holder 14B is discharged. It shows where the inflow is taking place. In this state (C), in parallel with the above operation, the next container 5 falls onto the empty holder 14A housed in the guide space (a) side on the fixed plate 13 via the drop chute 9 at the same time. Input is performed. In the state (D), when all the loaded holders 14B of the container 5 are discharged in the state of the above (C), the stop mechanism 31 is operated to move the locking pieces 34, 35 to the empty holders 14A. And a state in which a predetermined amount of an empty holder 14A is accommodated in the guide space (b). This state (D) has a symmetrical relationship with the state (A), and shows a state in which it has completely moved from the conveyor 15 side to the conveyor 16 side. That is, according to the states (A) to (D), a half cycle of the reciprocating movement cycle of the holder guide 18 has just passed. FIG. 6 shows the remaining half cycle.
It operates symmetrically with the above half cycle. That is, in the state (E), the air cylinder 19 is moved from the state (D).
As a result, the holder guide 18 is moved to the conveyor 15 side, and further, in the state (F), the stop mechanism 30 is released, and the discharged holder 14B is discharged and the empty holder 14A flows into the guide space (a). At the same time, the next container 5 is dropped into the empty holder 14A accommodated in the guide space (b) side on the fixed plate 13 via the drop chute 9 in parallel with this.
Then, when the holder 14B in which the container 5 has been charged is completely discharged from the guide space (a), the state shifts to the state (G), and the stopping mechanism 30 is operated to move the locking pieces 32, 33 to the empty holder 14A. By the locking, a predetermined amount of the empty holder 14A is accommodated in the guide space (a), the state returns to the initial state (A), and the reciprocating movement cycle of the holder guide 18 is completed. The transport interval S between the rows of the holders 14B in which the containers 5 to be discharged have been charged is determined by the stopping mechanism 30,
It can be adjusted by the timing of the releasing operation of the locking pieces 33 and 35 on the downstream side of 31. Further, the stop mechanism 30,
The locking pieces 32 and 34 on the upstream side of the base 31 and the locking pieces 3 on the downstream side
3, 35 may be configured to operate separately. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide wall members 22 on both sides,
Stopper pieces 26 and 27 are formed at the front end of 23, and these stopper pieces 26 and 27 stop the empty holder 14A on the conveyor opposite to the moving direction by the locking pieces 32 and 34. Can also be configured. As described above, in the container discharging device 1 according to the present invention, two rows of guide spaces (a).
By using the holder guide 18 provided side by side with (b), the holder 14B in which the container 5 has been charged is discharged via the conveyor 15 or 16 in one guide space, and at the same time, the empty holder waiting on the upstream side thereof. 14A is supplied to the guide space, and the next container 5 is dropped and thrown into the empty holder 14A in the other guide space in parallel with the empty space 14A. The holder guide 18 is moved and discharged alternately via the conveyors on both sides, and they are merged on the downstream side. As a result, a row of containers is stably placed in the holder 14. Drop-in and drop-out operations and efficient discharge operations can be obtained, and high performance as a device can be easily achieved. In the above description of the embodiment, the case where an air cylinder is used as a driving means of each operation unit has been described as an example. However, various actuators such as other fluid cylinders and electric means can be used. It is. Further, a change may be made to the specific configuration of the stop mechanisms 30, 31 and the like. Further, the present invention is also applicable to a case where the reversing method of the reversing unit 6 is changed to another known reversing method according to the type of the container. According to the present invention, as described above, by using a holder guide in which two rows of guide spaces are juxtaposed, a holder in which a container has been loaded is discharged in one guide space and at the same time. At the same time as introducing the empty holder, the next container is dropped and loaded in parallel with the empty holder in the other guide space, and the conveyor is alternately switched and discharged by the operation of the holder guide. , It is possible to stably and efficiently perform the discharging operation of the containers in the container aligning apparatus, and it is possible to increase the capacity of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged configuration diagram illustrating a main part of the container discharge device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a holder guide. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the holder guide. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view showing the first half of the operation of the distribution mechanism. FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing the latter half of the operation of the distribution mechanism. [Description of Signs] 1 ... Container alignment device, 2 ... Conveyer belt, 3 ... Locking piece, 4 ...
Upper opening portion, 5: container, 6: reversing portion, 7: hook reversing member, 8: container discharging device, 9: dropping chute, 10: holder transport mechanism, 11, 12: gate mechanism, 13: fixing plate, 14 ... Holder, 14A: Empty holder, 14B: Filled holder, 15, 16: Conveyor, 17: Sorting mechanism, 18: Holder guide, 19: Air cylinder, 20
... Gate member, 21 ... Air cylinder, 22, 23 ... Guide wall members on both sides, 24 ... Center guide wall member, 25 ... Support frame, 26,27 ... Stopper piece, 28,29 ... Fixed stopper, 30,31 ... Stopping mechanism, 32-35 ... locking piece, 3
6 ... Conveyor

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-7-172414 (JP, A) JP-A-6-321347 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho 61-132318 (JP, U) JP-B 52-35179 (JP, A) , B1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 47/46 B65G 47/14 B65G 47/24

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] In a container discharging device of a container aligning device for aligning containers, dropping them line by line via a drop chute, supplying them to a lower holder, and discharging the holder by a holder transport mechanism, A fixed plate is disposed at a drop position below the drop chute, conveyors are installed on both sides thereof to join their downstream sides, and a holder is accommodated between the lower end of the drop chute and the fixed plate. Holder guides in which two guide spaces are arranged side by side are arranged movably so that one guide space is located on the fixed plate and the other guide space is located on one of the conveyors. By the operation of the holder guide, one row of containers dropped through the dropping chute are placed in the standing position. The guide space on the sheet is moved onto the other conveyor, and the other guide space containing the empty holder is configured to be reciprocally movable so as to be located at the dropping position. A container discharging device of a container aligning device, wherein an empty holder, which has been waiting at the upstream side thereof, is supplied into the guide space at the same time as being discharged from the guide space.