JP3668873B2

JP3668873B2 - Package alignment storage device

Info

Publication number: JP3668873B2
Application number: JP2001366754A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 等平山
Original assignee: ヒラヤマプロダクツ株式会社
Priority date: 2001-11-30
Filing date: 2001-11-30
Publication date: 2005-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-30
Also published as: JP2003165511A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、容器入り豆腐などの荷体を上面開放容器内に整列させた状態で収容するものとした荷体整列収容装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
豆腐の製造工場などでは、一丁毎或いは半丁毎の容器入り豆腐を上面開放容器内に整列した状態に収容する処理を繰り返し行っている。
【０００３】
この処理を機械的に行うことは極めて有益であり、これを実現させるための装置として例えば次のようなものが存在しているのであって、即ち、複数の容器入り豆腐を受け板上に整列させた後、この受け板を上面開放容器上に移動させて傾斜させ、受け板のみを上面開放容器上から外方へ引き抜くように処理するもの（前者）、或いは、水平支持面上に複数の容器入り豆腐を配列させた後、これら容器入り豆腐のそれぞれを吸盤で同時に吊り上げて上面開放容器内へ移動させるように処理するもの（後者）などがある。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記した在来の装置では、次のような問題点があるのであって、即ち、前者では荷体を容器内に密状に収容させるのが難しいのであり、また後者では吸盤内の真空圧が破壊されることにより、容器入り豆腐がその移動中に落下する虞などがあるのである。
本発明は、上記問題点を簡易に解消するものとした新規な構造の荷体整列収容装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するため、本発明に係る荷体整列収容装置では、請求項１に記載したように、底面に多数の透孔を密状に形成された上面開放容器を特定位置にて水平状に支持するものとした容器支持機構と、前記透孔にその下側から上方へ向けて挿通される縦向き支持棒の多数を植設され前記縦向き支持棒の先端が水平支持面をなした棒群固定部材を上下変位させるものとした棒群上下駆動機構と、荷体供給位置に単体の荷体を順次に供給することにより前記上面開放容器近傍の特定水平面上に特定数の前記荷体からなる荷体列を形成するものとした荷体整列機構と、該荷体整列機構により整列された特定数の荷体を、前記縦向き支持棒を前記透孔に挿通されて前記上面開放容器の開口面を越えた高さに位置された前記水平支持面上の特定位置に押し移動させるものとした荷体押圧移動機構とを備え、一方前記水平支持面を平面視四角形になすと共に、該四角形のうちの１つの辺部を除いた外周囲の近傍をなす棒群固定部材箇所に前記縦向き支持棒よりも長い縦向き案内棒を植設し、他方前記荷体押圧移動機構が前記１つの辺部を経て前記水平支持面上に荷体を押し移動させる構成となす。
【０００６】
この発明の作用について説明すると、前記容器支持機構は空の上面開放容器を特定位置で水平状に支持し、この状態の下で、棒群固定部材が上方へ変位して各縦向き支持棒が前記各透孔に挿通されるのであり、これにより多数の縦向き支持棒の先端は前記上面開放容器の開口面を越えた高さに前記水平支持面を形成するものとなる。次に荷体押圧移動機構が荷体整列機構により整列された特定数の荷体をその整列状態を崩すことなく前記水平支持面上に押し移動する作動を繰り返すのであり、これにより複数の荷体が前記水平支持面上に単列或いは複数列に整列された状態で位置するものとなる。この後、棒群固定部材が下方へ変位して前記縦向き支持棒が前記透孔から抜け出るのであり、これにより前記水平支持面上の複数の荷体は上面開放容器内に比較的密状に収容された状態となる。
【０００７】
上記発明は、次のように変更することができるのであって、即ち、請求項２に記載したように、底面に多数の透孔を密状に形成された１つの上面開放容器を特定位置に搬入し該特定位置で水平状に支持し該特定位置から搬出するものとした容器搬送支持機構と、前記透孔にその下側から上方へ向けて挿通される縦向き支持棒の多数を植設され前記縦向き支持棒の先端が水平支持面をなした棒群固定部材を上下変位させるものとした棒群上下駆動機構と、荷体供給位置に単体の荷体を順次に供給することにより、特定高さ位置に上昇された前記上面開放容器近傍の特定水平面上に特定数の前記荷体からなる荷体列を形成するものとした荷体整列機構と、該荷体整列機構により整列された特定数の荷体を、前記縦向き支持棒を前記透孔に挿通されて前記上面開放容器の開口面を越えた高さに位置された前記水平支持面上の特定位置に押し移動させるものとした荷体押圧移動機構とを備え、一方前記水平支持面を平面視四角形になすと共に、該四角形のうちの１つの辺部を除いた外周囲の近傍をなす棒群固定部材箇所に前記縦向き支持棒よりも長い縦向き案内棒を植設し、他方前記荷体押圧移動機構が前記１つの辺部を経て前記水平支持面上に荷体を押し移動させる構成となす。
【０００８】
これによれば、空の上面開放容器は特定位置に機械的に搬入され、また該上面開放容器内に複数の荷体が収容された後には機械的に他所へ搬出されるものとなる。その他の点は請求項１記載の発明に準ずる。
【０００９】
而して、上記各発明で水平支持面を平面視四角形になすと共に、該四角形のうちの１つの辺部を除いた外周囲の近傍をなす棒群固定部材箇所に前記縦向き支持棒よりも長い縦向き案内棒を植設し、且つ、前記荷体押圧移動機構が前記１つの辺部を経て前記水平支持面上に荷体を押し移動させる構成となすのであり、これにより複数の荷体が前記荷体押圧移動機構により前記水平支持面上で押し移動される際、それら荷体の何れかが前記水平支持面の外方へ向けて移動しようとしたとき、縦向き案内棒がその荷体の移動を係止するものとなる。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
図１〜図１３は本発明に係る荷体整列収容装置に関するもので、図１は全体の概要を示す側面図、図２は同様な平面図、図３は図１のｘ−ｘ部を示す断面図、図４は棒群固定部材を上昇させた状態を示す前面視説明図、図５は棒群固定部材を上昇させた状態を示す側面視説明図、図６は上面開放容器を示す斜視図、図７は荷体整列機構を示す平面図、図８は荷体整列収容部の要部を示す斜視図、図９は荷体整列機構による荷体の整列処理状況を示す前面視説明図、図１０は荷体整列収容部に空の上面開放容器が搬入された状態を示す説明図、図１１は荷体整列収容部に搬入された空の上面開放容器が上昇された状態を示す説明図、図１２は荷体押圧移動機構が一列の荷体を押し入れた状態を示す説明図、図１３は荷体押圧移動機構が二列の荷体を押し入れた状態を示す説明図である。
【００１１】
図１及び図２に示すように、本発明に係る荷体整列収容装置は、容器順次供給部１、荷体整列収容部２、ローラコンベア部３、容器段重ね処理部４及び容器積載部５からなっている。
【００１２】
先ず、容器順次供給部１について説明する。
前後方向ｆ１へ長い装置フレーム６の始端部６ａの特定高さ箇所に設けた容器係止保持部７と、この容器係止保持部７の下方で装置フレーム６の巾中央箇所に設けた容器上下駆動部８とを備えている。
【００１３】
前記容器係止保持部７は装置フレーム６の左右方向ｆ２各側の同一高さ位置に前後一対の係止爪９、９を備えたものとなされており、各係止爪９は装置フレーム６の巾中央側へ向けて任意時に張り出し作動されるように形成されている。
前記容器上下駆動部８は装置フレーム６に固定された伸縮シリンダ装置１０と、該シリンダ装置１０の出力ロッドの先端に固定された方形状の支持部材１１からなる。この際、支持部材１１は図１に示した最下位置ｐ１から前記係止爪９、９よりも高い位置まで上昇されるようになされている。
【００１４】
前記荷体整列収容部２について図１〜図８を参照して説明する。
図１及び図２に示すように、容器搬送支持機構１２、棒群上下駆動機構１３、荷体整列機構１４及び荷体押圧移動機構１５を備えている。
【００１５】
容器搬送支持機構１２は本体フレーム６の始端部６ａから凡そ該本体フレーム６の前後方向ｆ１長さ中央点に至る範囲に渡って装設されたもので、図３に示すように本体フレーム６の左右各側に上下一対の水平案内棒１６、１６を設けると共に、左右の水平案内棒１６、１６に左右一対の摺動部材１７、１７を前後移動自在に案内させ、これら一対の摺動部材１７、１７を同体状に前後変位させるための図示しない適宜な前後駆動機構を形成すると共に、左右の各摺動部材１７にはシリンダ部１８と、該シリンダ部１８により本体フレーム６の左右方向へ出入り変位されるものとした係止部材１９とを設けたものとなされている。
【００１６】
棒群上下駆動機構１３は前記容器順次供給部１の前側で前記係止部材１９よりも下方に配置されたもので、装置フレーム６に固定された伸縮シリンダ装置２０と、該シリンダ装置２０の出力ロッド先端に固定された方形状の支持部材２１と、該支持部材２１に４本の支持棒２２を介して支持され上面に多数の縦向き支持棒２３をこれの先端が平面視四角形の水平支持面ａを形成するように密状に植設されると共に図４及び図５に示すように前記水平支持面ａの平面視四角形のうち前側の辺部を除く外周の近傍に前記縦向き支持棒２３よりも数ｍｍ〜数ｃｍ程度高くなされた縦向き案内棒２３ａを単列状に植設されてなる棒群固定部材２４とで形成されている。
【００１７】
この際、棒群固定部材２４は図１中の初期位置ｐ２から最上位置ｐ３の間で上下変位されるものとなされており、また縦向き支持棒２３及び縦向き案内棒２３ａは図６Ａに示す上面開放容器Ｔの高さよりも長くなされると共に該上面開放容器Ｔの底面に形成された透孔ｂに挿通される径となされている。
【００１８】
荷体整列機構１４は前記棒群上下駆動機構１３の前側で前記棒群固定部材２４の最上位置ｐ３と関連した位置に装設されたもので、図２及び図７に示すように本体フレーム６の左右各側にベルト車２５ａ、２５ｂを設け、これらベルト車２５ａ、２５ｂ間に方形板を連鎖した無端状の搬送ベルト２６を掛け回し、該搬送ベルト２６の上張り部の上面を搬送面ｃとなすと共に該搬送面ｃの左端部を搬送始端ｃ１に、そして右端部を搬送終端ｃ２となし、さらに前記搬送面ｃの搬送方向ｆ３長さ途中に荷体ストッパー２７を設けたものとなされている。
【００１９】
該荷体ストッパー２７は、図７及び図８に示すように、前記搬送面ｃの巾方向の各外側の本体フレーム６特定箇所に起立支持部材２８、２８を設け、これら起立支持部材２８、２８の上部間に支点軸２９を回動自在に架設し、該支点軸２９の略全巾箇所に鈎状の係止板３０を固定すると共に、前記支点軸２９の一端部にアーム部材３１を固着し、一方では前側の前記起立支持部材２８と同体状に伸縮シリンダ装置３２を設け、該シリンダ装置３２の出力ロッド先端を前記アーム部材３１の先端部に軸着し、該シリンダ装置３２が伸張作動したときに係止板３０の縦向き面部３０ａの下端縁が前記搬送面ｃに近接し、前記伸縮シリンダ装置３２が短縮作動したときに前記縦向き面部３０ａが前記搬送面ｃから上方へ離反する構成となされている。
【００２０】
荷体押圧移動機構１５は図１及び図２などに示すように棒群上下駆動機構１３及び荷体整列機構１４の上側に配設したもので、本体フレーム６の前後方向ｆ１長さ途中の２箇所に左右向き枠部材３３ａ、３３ｂを上方への張り出し状に固定し、これら左右向き枠部材３３ａ、３３ｂのそれぞれの縦向き部材間に図８に示す左右一対の前後向き案内棒３４、３４を架設すると共に、これら前後向き案内棒３４、３４に摺動部材３５を前後方向ｆ１の移動自在に装着し、本体フレーム６の始端部６ａ側の左右向き枠部材３３ａと該摺動部材３５との間で、且つ前記一対の前後向き案内棒３４、３４間に伸縮シリンダ装置３６を架設して、前記案内棒３４、３４に固定された結合部材ｇで補強し、該シリンダ装置３６の伸縮作動により前記摺動部材３５が前後移動されるようになし、また前記摺動部材３５の前部には縦向き伸縮シリンダ装置３７を固定すると共に、該シリンダ装置３７の出力ロッド３７ａ下端に左右向きの押圧部材３８を固定するほか、前記搬送ベルト２６と、前記棒群固定部材２４の水平支持面ａの前縁部との間に、前記搬送面ｃと略同一高さの滑り案内面ｄを具備した案内板３９を本体フレーム６と同体状に固設したものとなされている。
【００２１】
この際、押圧部材３８は図５に示すように、下端に前記本体フレーム６の始端部６ａ側へ向けて張り出した荷体当接部ｅを有しており、また図８に示すように、案内板３９は前記滑り案内面ｄの左右端部を上方へ曲げて延長させた前後向きの縦向き案内面ｄ１、ｄ１を具備したものとなされており、また伸縮シリンダ装置３７は出力ロッドの左右に押圧部材３８を上下方向へ案内するための案内ロッドｊ、ｊを備えたものとなされている。
【００２２】
前記ローラコンベア部３について説明すると、図１及び図２に示すように、本体フレーム６の前記荷体整列収容部２から前方へ向け前記容器搬送支持機構１２の係止部材１６と略同一高さ位置の左右に、左右向き軸回りへ回転される多数の駆動ローラ４０を列設すると共に、これら駆動ローラ４０に回転力を付与するための図示しないモータを設けた構成となされている。この際、前記荷体整列収容部２内に位置した複数の駆動ローラ４０は容器搬送支持機構１２の前部と上下配置状に重なるように配置されており、また各駆動ローラ４０は周面上部が前方へ変位するように回転されるものとなされている。
【００２３】
前記容器段重ね処理部４について説明すると、図１及び図２に示すように前記ローラコンベア部３の前部箇所に装設されているもので、前記ローラコンベア部３前部の駆動ローラ４０上に位置した上面開放容器Ｔ１の左右各側部を把握して該容器Ｔ１を上下変位させるものとした把持手段４１を設けると共に、該把持手段４１により段重ねされた上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を前側へ一定距離だけ送り込むための適宜な前送り手段４２を設けたものとなされている。
【００２４】
前記容器積載部５について説明すると、図１及び図２に示すように前記容器段重ね処理部４の前側に装設されているもので、比較的高い枠構造体４３を形成し、該枠構造体４３の上部及び下部に、前記容器段重ね処理部４で段重ね処理された複数の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を上下変位させるための把持手段４４ａ、４４ｂを設けたものとなされている。
【００２５】
次に上記した本発明装置の使用例及び作動の一例を説明する。ここでは樹脂容器内に一丁の方形状豆腐を密封した容器入り豆腐ｗを上面開放容器Ｔ内に単層状に整列させて収容するものとする。
本発明装置の全体を制御するものとなされた図示しない制御盤の作業開始スイッチを入り操作しない状態では、容器順次供給部１の左右の係止爪９、９は本体フレーム６の左右外方向へ変位した状態となっており、この状態の下で図６Ａに示す空の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔを図１に示す初期位置ｐ１の支持部材１１上に載置して段重ね状に積み上げる。
【００２６】
この後、前記作業開始スイッチを入り操作するのであり、これに関連して以下の処理が自動的に実施される。
先ず、容器上下駆動部８が支持部材１１に載置された段重ね状の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を上昇させるのであり、この上昇により下から２番目の上面開放容器Ｔが係止爪９、９と正対した状態となされ、このとき、該係止爪９、９が本体フレーム６の巾中央へ向けて変位され、当該２番目の上面開放容器Ｔの左右側面壁の凹み内に係入する。この係入が行われた後、支持部材１１はさらに降下変位されて最下位の上面開放容器Ｔ１のみを降下変位させる。
【００２７】
そして、該最下位の上面開放容器Ｔ１が容器搬送支持機構１２の左右の係止部材１９、１９と正対したとき、該係止部材１９、１９が本体フレーム６の左右外方に変位した状態の初期位置から本体フレーム６の巾中央へ向けて変位され、当該最下位の上面開放容器Ｔ１の左右側面壁の図６Ａに示す把手孔ｈ内に係入して該容器Ｔ１を支持するのであり、これにより容器順次供給部１から１つの上面開放容器Ｔ１が容器搬送支持機構１２に供給された状態となる。この後、該支持部材１１はさらに降下して初期位置ｐ１に復する。
【００２８】
次に左右の係止部材１９、１９が摺動部材１７、１７と共に前方へ移動されるのであり、これにより左右の係止部材１９、１９に支持された上面開放容器Ｔ１は図１に示す初期位置ｐ２に位置している棒群固定部材２４の真上に移動されて停止保持され、図１０に示す状態となされる。
【００２９】
この停止保持に関連して支持部材２１が上昇され、この上昇過程で、各縦向き支持棒２３が真上に位置した上面開放容器Ｔ１の底面の透孔ｂ内に下方から挿入され、この挿入がほぼ終了した時点で、左右の係止部材１９、１９が初期位置に復帰され、これにより該上面開放容器Ｔ１は棒群固定部材２４に支持された状態となる。この後も、支持部材２１は上昇されて、棒群固定部材２４及び該固定部材２４に支持された上面開放容器Ｔ１を図１に示す最上位置ｐ３まで上昇させた態となし、ここで一時停止される。この際、多数の縦向き支持棒２３の先端で形成される水平支持面ａは棒群固定部材２４に支持された上面開放容器Ｔ１の上面開口高さよりも高く位置される。
【００３０】
この作動の一方では、荷体整列機構１４の搬送始端ｃ１の近傍に予め用意された多数の直方体状の容器入り豆腐ｗを１つづつ該搬送始端ｃ１に供給するのであり、これにより該搬送始端ｃ１に供給された容器入り豆腐ｗは搬送面ｃに支持されてその搬送終端ｃ２へ向けて移動される。
【００３１】
搬送面ｃで搬送された容器入り豆腐ｗは図８に示すように搬送面ｃに近接された係止板３０の縦向き面部３０ａに図９に示すように衝接して、その搬送方向ｆ３移動を規制される。この規制状態でも搬送面ｃは送り移動され続けるため、搬送面ｃで次々と送られてくる各容器入り豆腐ｗは先に送られて縦向き面部３０ａで係止された容器入り豆腐ｗの後端面に衝接してその搬送方向ｆ３移動を規制されるのであり、このように搬送面ｃで容器入り豆腐ｗが５つ搬送されると、図９に示すように荷体ストッパ２７の搬送方向ｃ上流側の搬送面ｃ上に５つの容器入り豆腐ｗが搬送方向の一列状に整列された状態となり、この整列時点で搬送ベルト２６の送り移動は一時停止される。
【００３２】
該一時停止の下で伸縮シリンダ装置３２が短縮作動し、これに連動して前記縦向き面部３０ａが上方へ変位し、搬送面ｃ上で整列されている最前の容器入り豆腐ｗから離反するのであり、次に荷体押圧移動機構１５の押圧部材３８が縦向き伸縮シリンダ装置３７の伸張作動により、図１１に示す初期位置ｐ４から下方へ変位され、次に伸縮シリンダ装置３６の短縮作動により本体フレーム６の始端部６ａ側へ向けて水平移動される。この水平移動の過程で、押圧部材３８の荷体当接部ｅが搬送面ｃ上で整列された５つの容器入り豆腐ｗの本体フレーム６始端部６ａ側の側面に当接し、これら容器入り豆腐ｗを搬送面ｃ及び滑り案内面ｄ上を経てそれらの整列状態を崩すことなく押し移動させ、さらに縦向き支持棒２３の先端で形成された水平支持面ａを経て図１２に示すように該水平支持面ａ上の最前部ｐ５に位置させる。
【００３３】
この際、水平支持面ａの左右方向ｆ２の側端縁近傍の図４に示す縦向き案内棒２３ａは水平支持面ａ上を押し移動される容器入り豆腐ｗの左右方向ｆ２への脱落を阻止する。
【００３４】
次に押圧部材３８は伸縮シリンダ装置３６及び縦向き伸縮シリンダ装置３７の作動により図１１に示す初期位置ｐ４に復帰され、また荷体ストッパ２７の縦向き面部３０ａも伸縮シリンダ装置３２の伸張作動により図８に示す初期位置に復帰されるのであり、これら押圧部材３８や縦向き面部３０ａの復帰に関連して再び搬送ベルト２６の送り移動が開始される。
【００３５】
この搬送ベルト２６の送り移動中に、再び荷体整列機構１４の搬送始端ｃ１に容器入り豆腐ｗを供給するのであり、これにより先と同様に荷体ストッパ２７の搬送方向ｆ３上流側の搬送面ｃ上に５つの容器入り豆腐ｗが搬送方向ｆ３へ整列された状態となる。この整列に関連して、押圧部材３８が先と同様にこのように整列された５つの容器入り豆腐ｗを図１３に示すように押し移動させ、２回目の容器入り豆腐ｗ列を水平支持面ａの最前部に位置させると共に１回目の容器入り豆腐ｗ列を水平支持面ａの前後方向中央部ｐ６に位置させる。
【００３６】
この後、先に準じた荷体整列装置１４の作動がもう一回行われるのであり、これにより押圧部材３８は３回目に整列された５つの容器入り豆腐ｗを先と同様に押し移動させ、図５に示すように、３回目の容器入り豆腐ｗ列を水平支持面ａの最前部に、２回目の容器入り豆腐ｗ列を水平支持面ａの前後方向中央部ｐ６に、そして１回目の容器入り豆腐ｗ列を水平支持面ａの最奥部ｐ７に位置させるものとなる。
この際、水平支持面ａの本体フレーム６始端部６ａ側の側端縁近傍の図５に示す縦向き案内棒２３ａは、水平支持面ａ上を押し移動される容器入り豆腐４の本体フレーム６始端部６ａ側への脱落を阻止する上で寄与する。
【００３７】
次に押圧部材３８や縦向き面部３０ａが図８に示すようにそれぞれの初期位置に復帰されて、搬送ベルト２６は再び送り移動される。また、支持部材２１が降下を開始され、これに連動して、縦向き支持棒２３上に複数の容器入り豆腐ｗを載置された棒群固定部材２４や、これに支持された上面開放容器Ｔ１が同体状に降下される。
【００３８】
この支持部材２１などの降下中、棒群固定部材２４に支持された上面開放容器Ｔ１の左右側面壁が左右の係止部材１９、１９と再び正対したとき、初期位置のこれら係止部材１９、１９が本体フレーム６の巾中央へ向けて変位され、該上面開放容器Ｔ１の左右側面壁の把手孔ｈ、ｈ内に係入するのであり、これにより該上面開放容器Ｔ１は支持部材２１上でそれら係止部材１９、１９に支持された状態となる。
【００３９】
この支持の後にも、支持部材２１は漸次に降下されるのであり、従って、各縦向き支持棒２３や各縦向き案内棒２３ａは上面開放容器Ｔ１の透孔ｂから漸次に抜け出るものとなり、この作動の進行に伴って、縦向き支持棒２３の水平支持面ａ上の複数の容器入り豆腐ｗは整列状態を崩されることなく該上面開放容器Ｔ１内に漸次に降下され、これら縦向き支持棒２３が完全に抜け出たときには、その上面開放容器Ｔ１の底面に達するのであり、これにより複数の容器入り豆腐ｗは図６Ｂに示すように上面開放容器Ｔ１内に整列状態で密状に収容された状態となる。なお、棒群固定部材２４や支持部材２１はその初期位置ｐ２まで降下して次の作動に備える。
【００４０】
こうして容器入り豆腐ｗの収容された後の上面開放容器Ｔ１を支持するものとなった係止部材１９、１９は、支持部材２１などがその初期位置ｐ２に達した後、左右の摺動部材１７、１７と共にさらに前方へ移動されて、その上面開放容器Ｔ１をローラコンベア部３における本体フレーム６始端部６ａ側の駆動ローラ４０上に位置させ、ここで本体フレーム６の左右外側へ変位されてその上面開放容器Ｔ１を解放する。次に駆動ローラＴ１がこのように位置された上面開放容器Ｔ１をローラコンベア部３の前端部ｐ８まで移動させ、ここで停止させる。
【００４１】
一方、該ローラコンベア部３における本体フレーム６始端部６ａ側でその上面開放容器Ｔ１を解放した後の左右の係止部材１９、１９は摺動部材１７、１７と共に本体フレーム６始端部６ａ側へ向けて移動され容器順次供給部１内の初期位置ｐ１に復帰される。
【００４２】
以後、容器順次供給部１及び荷体整列収容部２は上記した作動を繰り返すのであり、これにより複数の容器入り豆腐ｗの収容された上面開放容器Ｔは次々とローラコンベア部３に送り出されるものとなり、またローラコンベア部３はこのように送り出された上面開放容器Ｔを次々とその前端部ｐ８に搬送するものとなる。
【００４３】
ローラコンベア部３の前端部ｐ８に搬送されてきた最初の上面開放容器Ｔ１は容器段重ね処理部４の左右の把持手段４１、４１が把持して一定距離だけ持ち上げ、この持ち上げられた上面開放容器Ｔ１の下側となるローラコンベア部３前端部ｐ８上に第２番目の上面開放容器Ｔが到達すると、把持手段４１が先に持ち上げた上面開放容器Ｔ１を降下させて前記ローラコンベア部３前端部ｐ８上の前記第２番目の上面開放容器Ｔ上に段重ね状に載せるのであり、この段重ね処理を例えば４回、繰り返すことにより前記ローラコンベア部３前端部６ａ上に５つの上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔが段重ねされた状態となる。
この後、前送り手段４２がこのように段重ねされた上面開放容器ｔ１、Ｔ群を容器積載部５内に押し移動させる。
【００４４】
容器積載部５では、下側の把持手段４４ｂがこのように押し移動された段重ね状の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を一時的に支持した後に適当距離だけ押し上げ、この押上げ状態で上側の把持手段４４ａがその上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群の最下部を把持して支持する。
【００４５】
次に下側の把持手段４４ｂが、前記容器段重ね処理部４から押し移動された第２番目の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を先と同様に支持して再び押し上げて当該第２番目の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群の上面に、上側の把持手段４４ａにより先に支持されている最初の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群の下面を段重ね状に当接させて、さらに一定距離だけ押し上げ、この押上げ状態の下で、上側の把持手段４４ａが下側の把持手段４４ｂにより支持されている全ての上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を支持するという処理を適当回数繰り返すのであり、これにより上側の把持手段４４ｂはこの回数と同じ数の上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を支持した状態となる。
【００４６】
この後、前記容器段重ね処理部４から容器積載部５へ新たに送り込まれた上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を先と同様に支持したとき、これに関連して、上下の把持手段４４ａ、４４ｂが連係作動し、上側の把持手段４４ａで既に支持されている上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を、先に新たに送り込まれて下側の把持手段４４ａで支持されている上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群の上面に段重ね状に載置する。
そして最後は下側の把持手段４４ｂが降下して全ての上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を床面近傍まで降下させ、予め容器積載部５内の特定位置に用意されている図示しない台車上に載せる。
なお、上面開放容器Ｔ１、Ｔ群を載置された後の台車は作業者が引き出し、代わりに空の台車を容器積載部５内の同じ位置に押し込むようにする。
上記したローラコンベア部３、容器段重ね処理部４及び容器積載部５における一連の作動及び処理は以後、繰り返して実施される。
【００４７】
上記実施例において、容器段重ね処理部４及び容器積載部５は任意に変形して差し支えないのであり、必要ないときは省略することも差し支えない。
さらには容器順次供給部１、容器段重ね処理部４及び容器積載部５を省略すると共に容器搬送支持機構１２に代えて、該機構１２の棒群固定部材の初期位置ｐ２と同一の位置に上面開放容器Ｔを上方への離反変位自在に支持するものとした容器支持機構を設けた構成となすことも差し支えない。この場合、前記容器支持機構の容器支持位置ｐ２への上面開放容器Ｔの搬入及び搬出は作業者が行うか或いは他の適宜な機構に行わせることが必要となるのであるが、上面開放容器Ｔ内への容器入り豆腐ｗの収容は既述と同様に行われる。
【００４８】
【発明の効果】
上記した本発明によれば次のような効果が得られるのである。
凡そ簡易な機構により上面開放容器内に複数の荷体（容器入り豆腐など）を整列して密状に収容させることができ、また荷体移動において吸盤を利用しないため真空圧の消失による荷体落下などの事故を皆無となすことができる。
【００４９】
次に、空の上面開放容器が荷体整列収容装置の荷体収容場所まで機械的に搬入され或いは荷体整列収容装置から他所へ機械的に搬出されるようになるため、上面開放容器の取扱いの手間が軽減され、労力少なく荷体を収容させることができる。
【００５０】
とりわけ、多数の縦向き支持棒の先端で形成された水平支持面上において複数の荷体が荷体押圧移動機構により押し移動されるとき、これら荷体が前記水平支持面の外周近傍の縦向き案内棒により前記水平支持面の外方へ外れるのを阻止されるため、荷体が前記水平支持面外方へ落下して損傷する事態を効果的に防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る荷体整列収容装置全体の概要を示す側面図である。
【図２】前記荷体整列収容装置全体の概要を示す平面図である。
【図３】図１のｘ−ｘ部を示す断面図である。
【図４】前記荷体整列収容装置の棒群固定部材を上昇させた状態を示す前面視説明図である。
【図５】前記棒群固定部材を上昇させた状態を示す側面視説明図である。
【図６】前記荷体整列収容装置で処理される上面開放容器に係り、Ａは空の状態を示しＢは荷体（容器入り豆腐）の収容された状態を示す図である。
【図７】前記荷体整列収容装置の荷体整列機構を示す平面図である。
【図８】前記荷体整列収容部の要部を示す斜視図である。
【図９】前記荷体整列機構による荷体の整列処理状況を示す前面視説明図である。
【図１０】前記荷体整列収容部に空の上面開放容器が搬入された状態を示す説明図である。
【図１１】前記荷体整列収容部に搬入された空の上面開放容器が上昇された状態を示す説明図である。
【図１２】前記荷体整列収容部の荷体押圧移動機構が一列の荷体を押し入れた状態を示す説明図である。
【図１３】前記荷体押圧移動機構が二列の荷体を押し入れた状態を示す説明図である。
【符号の説明】
１２容器搬送支持機構（容器支持機構）
１３棒群上下駆動機構
１４荷体整列機構
１５荷体押圧移動機構
２３縦向き支持棒
２３ａ縦向き案内棒
２４棒群固定部材
Ｔ、Ｔ１上面開放容器
ａ水平支持面
ｂ透孔
ｃ１搬送始端（荷体供給位置）
ｗ容器入り豆腐（荷体）[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a package alignment accommodation apparatus that accommodates a package such as tofu in a container in an aligned state in an open top container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a tofu manufacturing factory or the like, the process of storing the tofu in a container for each one or half of the container in a state of being aligned in an open top container is repeatedly performed.
[0003]
It is extremely useful to perform this process mechanically. For example, the following devices exist to achieve this, that is, a plurality of containers of tofu are arranged on a receiving plate. Then, the receiving plate is moved onto the open top container and tilted, and only the receiving plate is processed to be pulled out from the open top container (the former), or a plurality of support plates are placed on the horizontal support surface. There is a method in which the tofu contained in a container is arranged and then processed so that each of the tofu contained in the container is simultaneously lifted by a suction cup and moved into the open top container (the latter).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional apparatus described above has the following problems, that is, it is difficult for the former to contain the load in a container in a dense manner, and in the latter, the vacuum pressure in the suction cup is low. By being destroyed, the tofu contained in the container may fall during the movement.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a load alignment apparatus having a novel structure that can easily solve the above problems.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the load alignment apparatus according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, a top open container having a large number of densely formed through holes on a bottom surface is horizontally arranged at a specific position. A container support mechanism that is to be supported on the surface, and a large number of vertical support rods inserted through the through-holes from below to above, and the tips of the vertical support rods form a horizontal support surface. A rod group up-and-down drive mechanism that vertically displaces the rod group fixing member, and a specific number of the load bodies on a specific horizontal plane in the vicinity of the upper open container by sequentially supplying a single load body to the load supply position A load alignment mechanism configured to form a load array, and a specific number of loads aligned by the load alignment mechanism, the vertical support rods being inserted through the through-holes, and the upper open container Specific position on the horizontal support surface located at a height beyond the opening surface of A Nitai pressing movement mechanism shall be pushed moved to, On the other hand, the horizontal support surface is formed into a quadrangle in a plan view, and a vertical guide bar longer than the vertical support bar is provided at a rod group fixing member portion that forms the vicinity of the outer periphery excluding one side part of the quadrangle. Planted, and the load pressing mechanism moves the load on the horizontal support surface through the one side. With composition.
[0006]
Describing the operation of the present invention, the container support mechanism horizontally supports an empty upper surface open container at a specific position. Under this state, the rod group fixing member is displaced upward, and each vertical support bar is As a result, the front ends of a plurality of vertical support rods form the horizontal support surface at a height exceeding the opening surface of the upper open container. Next, the load pressing and moving mechanism repeats the operation of pushing and moving a specific number of loads aligned by the load aligning mechanism onto the horizontal support surface without breaking the alignment state. Are positioned in a single row or in a plurality of rows on the horizontal support surface. Thereafter, the rod group fixing member is displaced downward, and the vertical support rods are pulled out from the through holes, so that the plurality of loads on the horizontal support surface are relatively dense in the upper open container. It is in a housed state.
[0007]
The above invention can be modified as follows, that is, as described in claim 2, one upper surface open container having a large number of through holes formed densely on the bottom surface is placed at a specific position. A container transport support mechanism that is loaded, supported horizontally at the specific position, and transported from the specific position, and a large number of vertical support rods inserted through the through-holes from below to above. The vertical group of vertical support rods that vertically displace the rod group fixing member with the horizontal support surface at the tip, and by sequentially supplying a single load to the load supply position, A load alignment mechanism configured to form a load row composed of a specific number of the load on a specific horizontal plane in the vicinity of the upper open container raised to a specific height position, and aligned by the load alignment mechanism A specific number of loads are inserted into the through holes through the vertical support rods. A Nitai pressing movement mechanism and for moving press at a specific position on the horizontal support surface which is located at a height beyond the open face of the open-top container, On the other hand, the horizontal support surface is formed into a quadrangle in a plan view, and a vertical guide bar longer than the vertical support bar is provided at a rod group fixing member portion that forms the vicinity of the outer periphery excluding one side part of the quadrangle. Planted, and the load pressing mechanism moves the load on the horizontal support surface through the one side. With composition.
[0008]
According to this, an empty upper surface open container is mechanically carried into a specific position, and after a plurality of cargo bodies are accommodated in the upper surface open container, it is mechanically carried out to another place. Other points are the same as those of the first aspect of the invention.
[0009]
Thus, in each of the above inventions A horizontal support surface is formed into a quadrangle in plan view, and a vertical guide rod that is longer than the vertical support rod is installed in a rod group fixing member portion that is in the vicinity of the outer periphery excluding one side of the quadrangle. And the load pressing movement mechanism pushes and moves the load on the horizontal support surface through the one side. So that When a plurality of load bodies are pushed and moved on the horizontal support surface by the load body pressing and moving mechanism, when any one of the load bodies tries to move outward of the horizontal support surface, the longitudinal guide is provided. The sticks lock the movement of the load.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 13 relate to a load alignment apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of the whole, FIG. 2 is a similar plan view, and FIG. 3 is an xx portion of FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view explanatory view showing a state where the rod group fixing member is raised, FIG. 5 is a side view explanatory view showing a state where the rod group fixing member is raised, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the top open container. 7 is a plan view showing the load body alignment mechanism, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the main part of the load body alignment accommodating portion, and FIG. 9 is a front view explanatory view showing the state of alignment processing of the load body by the load body alignment mechanism. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an empty upper surface open container is carried into the load body alignment accommodating portion, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the empty upper surface open container carried into the load body alignment accommodating portion is raised. Fig. 12, Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the load pressing mechanism is pushed in a row of loads, and Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a load pressing mechanism in two rows It is an explanatory view showing a state in which push the.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the load alignment apparatus according to the present invention includes a container sequential supply unit 1, a load alignment arrangement unit 2, a roller conveyor unit 3, a container stacking processing unit 4, and a container stacking unit 5. It is made up of.
[0012]
First, the container sequential supply unit 1 will be described.
A container locking / holding portion 7 provided at a specific height of the starting end 6a of the device frame 6 that is long in the front-rear direction f1, and a container upper / lower portion provided at the center of the width of the device frame 6 below the container locking / holding portion 7 And a drive unit 8.
[0013]
The container locking holding portion 7 is provided with a pair of front and rear locking claws 9, 9 at the same height position on each side of the apparatus frame 6 in the left-right direction f2. It is formed so that it can be extended and operated toward the center of the width at any time.
The container up-and-down drive unit 8 includes a telescopic cylinder device 10 fixed to the device frame 6 and a rectangular support member 11 fixed to the tip of an output rod of the cylinder device 10. At this time, the support member 11 is raised from the lowest position p1 shown in FIG. 1 to a position higher than the locking claws 9, 9.
[0014]
The said load body alignment accommodation part 2 is demonstrated with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a container transport support mechanism 12, a rod group vertical drive mechanism 13, a load body alignment mechanism 14, and a load body pressing movement mechanism 15 are provided.
[0015]
The container transporting support mechanism 12 is installed over a range from the starting end portion 6a of the main body frame 6 to the center point of the length f1 of the main body frame 6 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. A pair of upper and lower horizontal guide rods 16, 16 are provided on each of the left and right sides, and a pair of left and right sliding members 17, 17 are guided by the left and right horizontal guide rods 16, 16 so as to be movable back and forth. , 17 to form a suitable front / rear drive mechanism (not shown) for displacing the body 17 back and forth in the same shape, and the left and right sliding members 17 are moved in and out of the body frame 6 in the left and right directions by the cylinder portion 18 and the cylinder portion 18. A locking member 19 that is to be displaced is provided.
[0016]
The rod group vertical drive mechanism 13 is disposed below the locking member 19 on the front side of the container sequential supply unit 1. The telescopic cylinder device 20 fixed to the device frame 6, and the output of the cylinder device 20 A square-shaped support member 21 fixed to the tip of the rod, and a plurality of vertically-supported support rods 23 supported on the support member 21 via four support rods 22 and horizontally supported in a plan view when the tip is square. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vertical support rods are arranged close to the outer periphery excluding the front side portion of the horizontal support surface a as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The vertical guide rods 23a, which are several mm to several centimeters higher than the height 23, are formed of a rod group fixing member 24 formed in a single row.
[0017]
At this time, the bar group fixing member 24 is vertically displaced between the initial position p2 and the uppermost position p3 in FIG. 1, and the vertical support bar 23 and the vertical guide bar 23a are shown in FIG. 6A. The diameter is longer than the height of the upper surface open container T and is inserted into a through hole b formed in the bottom surface of the upper surface open container T.
[0018]
The load alignment mechanism 14 is installed at a position related to the uppermost position p3 of the rod group fixing member 24 on the front side of the rod group vertical drive mechanism 13, and as shown in FIGS. Belt wheels 25a and 25b are provided on the left and right sides of the belt, and an endless conveyance belt 26 in which square plates are linked between these belt wheels 25a and 25b is hung, and the upper surface of the upper portion of the conveyance belt 26 is conveyed on the conveyance surface c. In addition, the left end portion of the transport surface c is a transport start end c1, the right end portion is a transport end c2, and a load stopper 27 is provided in the middle of the transport surface c in the transport direction f3. Yes.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the load stopper 27 is provided with upright support members 28, 28 at specific positions on the main body frame 6 on the outer side in the width direction of the transport surface c, and these upright support members 28, 28. A fulcrum shaft 29 is rotatably mounted between the upper portions of the fulcrum shafts, and a hook-shaped locking plate 30 is fixed to substantially the entire width of the fulcrum shaft 29, and an arm member 31 is fixed to one end of the fulcrum shaft 29. On the other hand, the telescopic cylinder device 32 is provided in the same shape as the upright support member 28 on the front side, the tip of the output rod of the cylinder device 32 is pivotally attached to the tip of the arm member 31, and the cylinder device 32 is extended. The lower end edge of the vertical surface portion 30a of the locking plate 30 is close to the transport surface c, and the vertical surface portion 30a separates upward from the transport surface c when the telescopic cylinder device 32 is shortened. It is made with composition
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, etc., the load pressing mechanism 15 is disposed above the rod group vertical drive mechanism 13 and the load alignment mechanism 14, and is 2 in the middle of the length f1 of the body frame 6 in the front-rear direction f1. The left and right frame members 33a and 33b are fixed so as to protrude upward, and a pair of left and right front and rear guide rods 34 and 34 shown in FIG. 8 are provided between the vertical members of the left and right frame members 33a and 33b. The sliding member 35 is attached to the front and rear guide rods 34 and 34 so as to be movable in the front and rear direction f1, and the left and right frame member 33a on the start end 6a side of the main body frame 6 and the sliding member 35 are installed. A telescopic cylinder device 36 is installed between the pair of front and rear guide rods 34, 34, and is reinforced by a coupling member g fixed to the guide rods 34, 34. The sliding member 5 is moved back and forth, and a vertically extending telescopic cylinder device 37 is fixed to the front portion of the sliding member 35, and a left and right pressing member 38 is fixed to the lower end of the output rod 37a of the cylinder device 37. In addition, a guide plate 39 having a sliding guide surface d having substantially the same height as the transport surface c is provided between the transport belt 26 and the front edge portion of the horizontal support surface a of the rod group fixing member 24. The main body frame 6 is fixed in the same shape.
[0021]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressing member 38 has a load contact portion e projecting toward the start end 6 a side of the main body frame 6 at the lower end, and as shown in FIG. 8, The guide plate 39 is provided with longitudinal guide surfaces d1 and d1 which are longitudinally extended by bending the left and right ends of the sliding guide surface d upward, and the telescopic cylinder device 37 is provided on the left and right sides of the output rod. And a guide rod j for guiding the pressing member 38 in the vertical direction.
[0022]
The roller conveyor section 3 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the height of the roller conveyor section 3 is substantially the same as the locking member 16 of the container transport support mechanism 12 from the load body alignment housing section 2 of the main body frame 6 toward the front. A large number of drive rollers 40 that rotate about a left-right axis are arranged on the left and right sides of the position, and a motor (not shown) for applying a rotational force to the drive rollers 40 is provided. At this time, the plurality of driving rollers 40 positioned in the load body alignment housing unit 2 are arranged so as to overlap with the front part of the container transport support mechanism 12 in a vertically arranged manner. Is rotated so as to be displaced forward.
[0023]
The container stacking processing unit 4 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container stacking processing unit 4 is installed at the front portion of the roller conveyor unit 3. Gripping means 41 is provided for grasping the left and right side portions of the upper surface open container T1 positioned at the position and moving the container T1 up and down, and the upper surface open containers T1 and T group stacked by the grip means 41 are arranged. Appropriate forward feeding means 42 for feeding a predetermined distance to the front side is provided.
[0024]
The container stacking portion 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container stacking portion 5 is installed on the front side of the container stacking processing portion 4 to form a relatively high frame structure 43, and the frame structure. The upper and lower portions of the body 43 are provided with gripping means 44a and 44b for vertically moving the plurality of upper surface open containers T1 and T group subjected to the stacking process by the container stacking processing unit 4.
[0025]
Next, an example of use and operation of the above-described apparatus of the present invention will be described. Here, it is assumed that the tofu w containing a container in which one square-shaped tofu is sealed in a resin container is arranged in a single layer in the open top container T.
When the operation start switch of a control panel (not shown) that controls the entire apparatus of the present invention is turned on and not operated, the left and right locking claws 9, 9 of the container sequential supply unit 1 are directed leftward and rightward of the main body frame 6. Under this state, the empty upper open containers T1 and T shown in FIG. 6A are placed on the support member 11 at the initial position p1 shown in FIG.
[0026]
Thereafter, the work start switch is turned on and operated, and the following processing is automatically performed in relation to this.
First, the container up-and-down driving unit 8 raises the stacked upper surface open containers T1 and T group placed on the support member 11, and the second upper surface open container T from the bottom causes the latching claws 9 to move. , 9, and at this time, the locking claws 9, 9 are displaced toward the center of the width of the main body frame 6, and are engaged in the recesses on the left and right side walls of the second upper surface open container T. Enter. After this engagement, the support member 11 is further lowered and displaced, and only the lowermost upper surface open container T1 is lowered and displaced.
[0027]
When the lowermost upper open container T1 faces the left and right locking members 19 and 19 of the container transport support mechanism 12, the locking members 19 and 19 are displaced to the left and right outward of the main body frame 6. Is displaced from the initial position toward the center of the width of the main body frame 6 and is inserted into the handle holes h shown in FIG. 6A on the left and right side walls of the lowermost open top container T1 to support the container T1. As a result, one upper open container T1 is supplied from the container sequential supply unit 1 to the container transport support mechanism 12. Thereafter, the support member 11 is further lowered to return to the initial position p1.
[0028]
Next, the left and right locking members 19 and 19 are moved forward together with the sliding members 17 and 17, so that the upper open container T1 supported by the left and right locking members 19 and 19 is the initial state shown in FIG. The rod group fixing member 24 positioned at the position p2 is moved to a position just above the bar group fixing member 24, and is brought into a state shown in FIG.
[0029]
The support member 21 is raised in connection with this stop-holding, and in the ascending process, each vertical support bar 23 is inserted from below into the through-hole b on the bottom surface of the upper surface open container T1 positioned directly above. When the operation is almost finished, the left and right locking members 19 are returned to the initial positions, and the upper surface open container T1 is supported by the rod group fixing member 24. After this, the support member 21 is raised, and the bar group fixing member 24 and the upper surface open container T1 supported by the fixing member 24 are raised to the uppermost position p3 shown in FIG. Is done. At this time, the horizontal support surface a formed by the tips of the large number of vertical support bars 23 is positioned higher than the upper surface opening height of the upper surface open container T1 supported by the bar group fixing member 24.
[0030]
In this operation, a large number of rectangular parallelepiped tofus w prepared in the vicinity of the conveyance start end c1 of the load alignment mechanism 14 are supplied to the conveyance start end c1 one by one, whereby the conveyance start end The tofu w in the container supplied to c1 is supported by the conveyance surface c and moved toward the conveyance end c2.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 8, the tofu w in the container transported on the transport surface c is brought into contact with the vertical surface portion 30a of the locking plate 30 adjacent to the transport surface c as shown in FIG. 9, and moved in the transport direction f3. Be regulated. Even in this regulated state, the transport surface c continues to be moved, so that each container-filled tofu w sent one after another on the transport surface c is sent to the front and after the container-filled tofu w locked by the vertical surface portion 30a. The movement in the conveying direction f3 is restricted in contact with the end face, and when five tofus w in a container are thus conveyed on the conveying surface c in this way, the conveying direction c of the load stopper 27 as shown in FIG. The five tofus w in the container are arranged in a line in the conveying direction on the conveying surface c on the upstream side, and the feeding movement of the conveying belt 26 is temporarily stopped at the time of alignment.
[0032]
Under the temporary stop, the telescopic cylinder device 32 is shortened, and in conjunction with this, the vertical surface portion 30a is displaced upward, and is separated from the foremost w in the container aligned on the conveyance surface c. Next, the pressing member 38 of the load body pressing and moving mechanism 15 is displaced downward from the initial position p4 shown in FIG. 11 by the extension operation of the vertically extending cylinder device 37, and then the main body by the shortening operation of the extension cylinder device 36. The frame 6 is horizontally moved toward the start end 6a side. In the process of this horizontal movement, the load contact portion e of the pressing member 38 comes into contact with the side face of the main body frame 6 starting end portion 6a side of the five container-filled tofu w arranged on the transport surface c, and these container-filled tofu As shown in FIG. 12, the w is pushed and moved through the conveying surface c and the sliding guide surface d without breaking the alignment state, and further through the horizontal support surface a formed at the tip of the vertical support rod 23. It is located in the foremost part p5 on the horizontal support surface a.
[0033]
At this time, the vertical guide bar 23a shown in FIG. 4 in the vicinity of the side edge in the left-right direction f2 of the horizontal support surface a prevents the tofu w containing the container to be pushed and moved on the horizontal support surface a in the left-right direction f2. To do.
[0034]
Next, the pressing member 38 is returned to the initial position p4 shown in FIG. 11 by the operation of the telescopic cylinder device 36 and the vertical telescopic cylinder device 37, and the vertical surface portion 30a of the load stopper 27 is also expanded by the expansion operation of the telescopic cylinder device 32. Returning to the initial position shown in FIG. 8, the feeding movement of the conveyor belt 26 is started again in connection with the return of the pressing member 38 and the vertical surface portion 30 a.
[0035]
During the feed movement of the transport belt 26, the tofu w in the container is supplied again to the transport start end c1 of the load aligning mechanism 14, and the transport surface of the load stopper 27 in the transport direction f3 upstream as in the above. 5 tofu w in a container is aligned on c in the transport direction f3. In connection with this alignment, the pressing member 38 pushes and moves the five containerd tofu w arranged in this manner as shown in FIG. 13, and the second row of containered tofu w is moved to the horizontal support surface. The first row of tofu w in a container is positioned at the center portion p6 in the front-rear direction of the horizontal support surface a.
[0036]
Thereafter, the operation of the load aligning device 14 according to the previous operation is performed once more, whereby the pressing member 38 pushes and moves the five tofus w in the container aligned at the third time, As shown in FIG. 5, the third row of tofu w in the container is at the forefront of the horizontal support surface a, the second row of tofu w in the container is at the center p6 in the front-rear direction of the horizontal support surface a, and the first time The tofu w row with the container is positioned at the innermost part p7 of the horizontal support surface a.
At this time, the vertical guide rod 23a shown in FIG. 5 in the vicinity of the side edge of the horizontal support surface a on the main body frame 6 start end portion 6a side is pushed and moved on the horizontal support surface a. This contributes to preventing the falling off to the start end 6a side.
[0037]
Next, the pressing member 38 and the vertical surface portion 30a are returned to their initial positions as shown in FIG. 8, and the conveying belt 26 is fed and moved again. In addition, the support member 21 starts to descend, and in conjunction with this, a bar group fixing member 24 in which a plurality of tofus w in a container are placed on a vertical support bar 23, and an open top container supported by the bar group fixing member 24 T1 is lowered in the same shape.
[0038]
During the lowering of the support member 21 and the like, when the left and right side walls of the upper surface open container T1 supported by the rod group fixing member 24 face the left and right locking members 19, 19 again, these locking members 19 in the initial position. , 19 are displaced toward the center of the width of the main body frame 6 and are inserted into the handle holes h, h on the left and right side walls of the upper surface open container T1, so that the upper surface open container T1 is placed on the support member 21. Thus, the state is supported by the locking members 19 and 19.
[0039]
Even after this support, the support member 21 is gradually lowered. Therefore, each vertical support bar 23 and each vertical guide bar 23a gradually come out from the through hole b of the upper surface open container T1, and this As the operation proceeds, the tofu w containing a plurality of containers on the horizontal support surface a of the vertical support bar 23 is gradually lowered into the open top container T1 without breaking the alignment state, and these vertical support bars When 23 completely comes out, it reaches the bottom surface of the upper surface open container T1, so that the tofu w containing a plurality of containers is densely accommodated in the upper surface open container T1 in an aligned state as shown in FIG. 6B. It becomes a state. The rod group fixing member 24 and the support member 21 are lowered to the initial position p2 to prepare for the next operation.
[0040]
The locking members 19 and 19 that support the upper surface open container T1 after the container tofu w is accommodated in this way, after the support member 21 and the like reach the initial position p2, the left and right sliding members 17 , 17 is moved further forward, and the upper open container T1 is positioned on the driving roller 40 on the main frame 6 start end 6a side in the roller conveyor section 3, and is displaced to the left and right outside of the main body frame 6 The top open container T1 is released. Next, the upper surface open container T1 in which the driving roller T1 is positioned in this way is moved to the front end portion p8 of the roller conveyor unit 3 and stopped there.
[0041]
On the other hand, the left and right engaging members 19 and 19 after releasing the upper surface open container T1 on the main frame 6 starting end 6a side in the roller conveyor section 3 together with the sliding members 17 and 17 go to the main frame 6 starting end 6a side. Is moved toward the initial position p1 in the container sequential supply unit 1.
[0042]
Thereafter, the container sequential supply unit 1 and the load alignment unit 2 repeat the above-described operation, whereby the upper open containers T in which a plurality of container tofu w are stored are successively sent to the roller conveyor unit 3. Further, the roller conveyor unit 3 conveys the upper surface open containers T sent out in this way to the front end part p8 one after another.
[0043]
The first upper open container T1 conveyed to the front end portion p8 of the roller conveyor unit 3 is held by the left and right gripping means 41, 41 of the container stacking processing unit 4 and lifted up by a certain distance. When the second upper surface open container T reaches the front end portion p8 of the roller conveyor section 3 which is below T1, the upper surface open container T1 previously lifted by the gripping means 41 is lowered and the roller conveyor section 3 front end section is lowered. It is placed on the second upper surface open container T on p8 in a step-by-step manner. By repeating this step, for example, four times, five upper surface open containers T1 are placed on the front end 6a of the roller conveyor unit 3. , T are stacked.
Thereafter, the forward feed means 42 pushes and moves the upper surface open containers t1 and T group stacked in this way into the container stacking unit 5.
[0044]
In the container stacking section 5, the lower gripping means 44b temporarily pushes up the stacked upper surface open containers T1 and T group thus pushed and moved up by an appropriate distance, and in this pushed up state, The gripping means 44a grips and supports the lowermost portion of the upper open container T1, T group.
[0045]
Next, the lower gripping means 44b supports the second upper surface open containers T1 and T group pushed and moved from the container stacking processing unit 4 in the same manner as described above, and pushes them up again to raise the second upper surface. The lower surface of the first upper surface open container T1, T group previously supported by the upper gripping means 44a is brought into contact with the upper surface of the open containers T1, T group in a stacked manner, and further pushed up by a certain distance. Under the pushed-up state, the upper gripping means 44a repeats the process of supporting all the upper open containers T1 and T groups supported by the lower gripping means 44b an appropriate number of times. The means 44b is in a state of supporting the same number of top open containers T1, T as this number.
[0046]
Thereafter, when the upper open containers T1 and T group newly fed from the container stacking processing unit 4 to the container stacking unit 5 are supported in the same manner as described above, the upper and lower gripping means 44a and 44b are related thereto. The upper open containers T1 and T that are already supported by the upper gripping means 44a and the upper open containers T1 and T that are newly fed first and are supported by the lower gripping means 44a. It is placed in a step-up form on the top surface.
Finally, the lower gripping means 44b is lowered to lower all the upper surface open containers T1 and T to the vicinity of the floor surface and place them on a cart (not shown) prepared in advance in a specific position in the container stacking unit 5. .
An operator pulls out the cart after placing the upper surface open containers T1 and T groups, and instead pushes an empty cart into the same position in the container stacking unit 5.
The series of operations and processes in the roller conveyor unit 3, the container stacking unit 4, and the container stacking unit 5 are repeatedly performed thereafter.
[0047]
In the above embodiment, the container stacking processing unit 4 and the container stacking unit 5 may be arbitrarily deformed, and may be omitted when not necessary.
Furthermore, the container sequential supply unit 1, the container stacking processing unit 4, and the container stacking unit 5 are omitted, and the upper surface is placed at the same position as the initial position p2 of the rod group fixing member of the mechanism 12 instead of the container transport support mechanism 12. There may be a configuration in which a container support mechanism is provided that supports the open container T so as to be displaceable upward. In this case, it is necessary for the operator to carry in and carry out the upper surface open container T to and from the container support position p2 of the container support mechanism, but it is necessary to have another appropriate mechanism. The container tofu w is accommodated in the same manner as described above.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.
about A simple mechanism allows multiple packages (such as tofu in a container) to be arranged in a close-packed container in a top-open container, and the load falls due to the disappearance of vacuum pressure because no suction cups are used to move the package. Accidents such as can be eliminated.
[0049]
next, Since the empty upper surface open container is mechanically carried in to the load body accommodation place of the load body alignment storage device or is mechanically carried out from the load body alignment storage device to another place, the trouble of handling the upper surface open container is reduced. It is reduced, and the load can be accommodated with less labor.
[0050]
Above all, When a plurality of load bodies are pushed and moved by a load body pressing and moving mechanism on a horizontal support surface formed by the tips of a large number of vertically oriented support rods, the load bodies are vertically guided rods in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the horizontal support surface. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the load body from being dropped and damaged outside the horizontal support surface.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of the entire load alignment device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the outline of the entire load body alignment accommodation apparatus.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion xx in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a front view explanatory view showing a state in which a rod group fixing member of the load body alignment accommodation device is raised.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory side view showing a state in which the rod group fixing member is raised.
FIG. 6 relates to an open top container to be processed by the load alignment apparatus, and A is an empty state and B is a state where a load (tofu contained in a container) is stored.
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a load alignment mechanism of the load alignment apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a main part of the cargo alignment housing portion.
FIG. 9 is a front view explanatory view showing a load alignment process by the load alignment mechanism.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an empty upper surface open container is carried into the load body alignment accommodation unit.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a state in which an empty upper surface open container carried into the cargo alignment unit is raised.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a load pressing mechanism of the load aligning / accommodating portion pushes in a row of loads.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a state where the load pressing mechanism moves the two rows of loads.
[Explanation of symbols]
12 Container transport support mechanism (container support mechanism)
13 Bar group vertical drive mechanism
14 Load alignment mechanism
15 Load pressing movement mechanism
23 Vertical support rod
23a Vertical guide rod
24 Rod group fixing member
T, T1 Top open container
a Horizontal support surface
b Through hole
c1 Carrying start (load supply position)
w Tofu in container (package)

Claims

A container support mechanism that supports an open top surface container in which a large number of through holes are densely formed on the bottom surface in a horizontal position at a specific position, and a vertical insertion through the through hole from the lower side to the upper side. A rod group up / down drive mechanism in which a large number of orientation support rods are implanted and a rod group fixing member in which the tip of the longitudinal support rod forms a horizontal support surface is vertically displaced, and a single cargo body at the cargo supply position A load body alignment mechanism that forms a load row consisting of a specific number of the load bodies on a specific horizontal plane in the vicinity of the upper open container, and a specific arrangement aligned by the load body alignment mechanism. A number of loads are pushed and moved to a specific position on the horizontal support surface, which is positioned at a height that exceeds the opening surface of the upper open container by inserting the vertical support rod through the through hole. a Nitai pressing movement mechanism, whereas the plan view a square the horizontal support surface And a vertical guide rod that is longer than the vertical support rod is planted in a rod group fixing member portion that is in the vicinity of the outer periphery excluding one side portion of the quadrangle, and the load pressing unit A load alignment apparatus comprising: a moving mechanism configured to push and move a load onto the horizontal support surface through the one side portion .

A container transport support mechanism in which a top open container having a large number of through holes formed densely on the bottom surface is loaded into a specific position, supported horizontally at the specific position, and unloaded from the specific position; A group of rods in which a large number of vertical support rods are inserted into the holes from the lower side to the upper side, and the rod group fixing member in which the tip of the vertical support rod forms a horizontal support surface is displaced up and down A load consisting of a specific number of the load bodies on a specific horizontal plane in the vicinity of the upper open container raised to a specific height position by sequentially supplying a single load body to the vertical supply mechanism and the load supply position. A load body alignment mechanism that forms a row, and a specific number of load bodies aligned by the load body alignment mechanism, the vertical support rods being inserted through the through holes to open the opening surface of the upper open container. Push and move to a specific position on the horizontal support surface located above the height So as that by a Nitai pressing movement mechanism, whereas with forming the horizontal support surface in plan view a square, the rod groups fixing member portions forming the vicinity of the outer periphery except for one side portion of the square A longitudinal guide rod that is longer than the longitudinal support rod is planted, and the load pressing movement mechanism is configured to push and move the load onto the horizontal support surface through the one side portion. A load alignment device.