JP5087770B2 - Tapered article reversing and conveying device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tapered article that conveys a tapered article such as cup noodles (a truncated cone-shaped article) from the upright state in which the large-diameter portion is upward to the inverted state in which the small-diameter portion is upward. The present invention relates to a reverse conveying device.

Conventionally, as a reverse conveying device for a tapered article, a rearward tilting device that hooks the front upper part of the tapered article in the conveying direction of the tapered article that is transported in an upright state with the large diameter portion tilted backward, and the rear What is known is provided with an upside-down movable hook that hooks the upper part of the large-diameter part at the rear part in the conveyance direction of the tapered article that has been overturned so that the tapered article is inverted so that the small-diameter part faces upward. (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2019

  The present invention provides a reversing / conveying apparatus for a tapered article that can automatically and quickly invert a tapered article by providing a novel configuration not included in the conventional apparatus. It is something to try.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the taper-shaped article reversing and conveying apparatus according to the present invention conveys the taper-shaped article by vertically inverting the large-diameter portion from the upright posture with the large-diameter portion upward to the inverted posture with the small-diameter portion facing upward. A reverse conveying device for a tapered article, wherein the tapered article is configured to change the posture of the tapered article from the upright posture to a backward posture in which the large-diameter portion is directed rearward in the conveying direction, and the tapered article. Inverted conveyor that conveys the paper in an inverted position, and a conveying action by the inverted conveyor in contact with the upper surface of the rear portion in the conveying direction of the tapered article on the inverted conveyor at a predetermined standby position And an inverted stopper for changing the posture of the tapered article from the rearward posture to the inverted posture, and further comprising the following features (Claim 1).

(1) The inverted stopper includes a curved portion that fits a curved surface in a circumferential direction of the tapered article as a portion that first contacts the tapered article at the predetermined standby position.

(2) The inversion stopper is always urged downward toward the predetermined standby position, and is pushed by the tapered article so as to be retracted upward.

(3) A pair of left and right inverted guides that are in contact with the left and right side surfaces of the tapered article during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture are provided at a position in front of the inverted stopper.

(4) The inversion stopper includes a contact surface that contacts the rear portion of the peripheral surface of the tapered article during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture.

  According to the present invention, the tapered article is changed in posture from the upright posture to the rearward posture by the rearward tilt mechanism, and on the conveyor for inversion by the cooperation of the conveyor for inversion and the stopper for inversion. Thus, the posture is changed from the backward posture to the inverted posture.

  On the inversion conveyor, the curved portion of the inversion stopper at the predetermined standby position is in contact with the upper surface of the rear portion of the tapered article that is conveyed in the backward position. At this time, since the curved portion is adapted to the curved surface in the circumferential direction of the tapered article, the tapered article is prevented from escaping left and right laterally with respect to the conveying direction.

  Even after the curved portion comes into contact with the tapered article, the inverted conveyor continues to move. For this reason, as the forcible forward conveying action is applied to the lower portion of the large-diameter portion of the tapered article, the small-diameter portion at the front portion of the tapered article is lifted. At this time, since the stopper for inversion is pushed by the tapered article and can be retreated upward, the tapered article is prevented from being deformed or the like during the attitude changing operation to the inverted attitude. Is done.

  During the posture changing operation of the tapered article from the backward position to the inverted position, the pair of left and right inverted guides abut on the left and right side surfaces of the tapered article, so that the tapered article is laterally moved. Inability to escape, reliable posture change operation is guaranteed.

  Further, during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture, the contact surface of the inverted stopper contacts the rear portion of the peripheral surface of the tapered article. For this reason, a reliable posture changing operation of the tapered article is ensured.

  As a preferred embodiment, the contact surface may be a curved surface that conforms to the peripheral surface of the tapered article (claim 2). In this case, since the curved surface is in close contact with the peripheral surface of the tapered article, the tapered article is more reliably supported, which is preferable.

  As a preferred embodiment, the backward moving mechanism includes an introduction conveyor that conveys the tapered article in the upright posture, and a tapered article that tilts forward in the conveyance direction at the front end of the introduction conveyor. A reverse stopper for receiving the large-diameter portion, and a downhill slope formed between the front end portion of the introduction conveyor and the reverse stopper, can also be provided. ).

  In this case, the tapered article is conveyed in an upright posture by the introduction conveyor. When the tapered article reaches the front end of the introduction conveyor, the front part of the bottom surface of the tapered article that has been in contact with the introduction conveyor loses support by the introduction conveyor, so that the tapered article is in the transport direction. Tilt toward the front. At this time, the large-diameter portion of the tapered article is received by the backward-turning stopper. However, since the introduction conveyor continues to move, the small diameter portion of the tapered article is guided to the sliding slope road. As a result, the tapered article slides down the sliding slope road with the small-diameter portion down, and is supplied onto the inverted conveyor in the backward position.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a reversing and conveying apparatus for a tapered article according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part (inverted mechanism) of the reversing and conveying apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

  The tapered article reversing and conveying apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus that conveys a tapered article by vertically inverting it from an upright posture with a large-diameter portion facing upward to an inverted posture with a small-diameter portion facing upward. Here, the tapered article refers to an article having a frustoconical outer shape, and a cup noodle is exemplified as a specific example. The reverse conveying apparatus is used as an apparatus that bears a part of a boxing process of the tapered article.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a taper-shaped article reversing and conveying apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a rearward tilt mechanism 2 and an inverted mechanism 3 that is continuously disposed on the rearward tilt mechanism 2. The reverse mechanism 2 is a mechanism for changing the posture of the tapered article T from the upright posture P1 to the backward posture P2, and the inverted mechanism 3 is configured to change the tapered article T into the backward posture P2. This is a mechanism for changing the posture from an inverted posture to an inverted posture P3. Here, for the tapered article T, “upright posture P1” refers to a posture standing with the large-diameter portion D1 facing upward and the small-diameter portion D2 grounded, and “reversing posture P2” The large diameter portion D1 faces backward in the conveyance direction and the small diameter portion D2 faces forward in the conveyance direction. The “inverted posture P3” means that the small diameter portion D2 faces upward and the large diameter portion D1 is grounded. A standing posture.

  In FIG. 1, the reverse mechanism 2 includes an introduction conveyor 4 that conveys the tapered article T in an upright posture P <b> 1, a reverse stopper 5 that is disposed in front of the front end portion 4 f of the introduction conveyor 4, and And a downhill slope 6 formed between the front end portion 4f of the introduction conveyor 4 and the reverse stopper 5. A gap that is slightly larger than the diameter of the large-diameter portion D1 of the tapered article T is provided between the front end portion 4f of the introduction conveyor 4 and the backward-turning stopper 5.

  The introduction conveyor 4 is a belt conveyor that can stably convey the tapered article T in the upright posture P1, and is rotationally driven by an introduction conveyor drive motor (not shown). In addition, the introduction conveyor 4 generates a large frictional force with the tapered article T. This is because the tapered article T is surely shifted to the backward posture P2, as will be described later.

  Although not shown, a sensor such as an optical sensor that detects whether or not the tapered article T on the introduction conveyor 4 is in a predetermined upright posture P1 is provided on the side of the introduction conveyor 4. It is also possible to dispose a mechanism for removing the tapered article T detected by the sensor as being unsuitable from the introduction conveyor 4.

  The backward-turning stopper 5 receives the large-diameter portion D1 of the tapered article T that tilts forward in the transport direction at the front end portion 4f of the introduction conveyor 4. The backward-turning stopper 5 is a plate-like body, the upper part 5a is fixed to the upper frame 7 of the apparatus and extends vertically downward, and the lower part 5b is smoothly curved forward in the conveying direction.

  The downhill slope path 6 includes a pair of left and right downhill side guides 8 and 8 and a bottom plate 9 that connects lower edges of the downhill guide guides 8 and 8. The downhill side guides 8 and 8 are plate bodies having a shape in which a vertical portion 10 and a horizontal portion 11 are continuous via a smooth curved portion 12. The vertical portion 10 rises in front of the front end portion 4 f of the introduction conveyor 4, and is positioned on both the left and right sides of the tapered article T supported by the backward-turning stopper 5. The left-right width of the bottom plate 9 is slightly larger than the large-diameter portion D1 of the tapered article T. For this reason, the right and left sides of the tapered article T are regulated and guided by the pair of left and right downhill side guides 8 and 8. The bottom plate 9 has a smooth surface so as to be suitable for smooth sliding down of the tapered article T.

  When the tapered article T conveyed by the introduction conveyor 4 reaches the front end portion 4f of the introduction conveyor 4, the bottom surface (small diameter portion D2) of the tapered article T that has been in contact with the introduction conveyor 4 until then. The front part loses support by the introduction conveyor 4. For this reason, the tapered article T is tilted forward in the conveying direction at the front end portion 4 f of the introduction conveyor 4, and the large-diameter portion D <b> 1 of the tapered article T is received by the backward-moving stopper 5. Since the introduction conveyor 4 continues to move after that, the small diameter portion D2 of the tapered article T that is in contact with the front end portion 4f of the introduction conveyor 4 is guided to the downhill slope 6. At this time, since the introduction conveyor 4 has a large frictional force, the lower part of the tapered article T is reliably guided to the downhill slope path 6. The tapered article T slides down the downhill slope 6 with the small diameter portion D2 down, and is supplied onto the intermediate conveyor 13 in the backward posture P2.

  The intermediate conveyor 13 is a belt conveyor, similar to the introduction conveyor 4, and a pair of left and right intermediate side guides 14, 14 continuous from the pair of left and right downhill side guides 8, 8 are provided on the left and right sides thereof. Yes. The intermediate conveyor 13 is rotationally driven by an intermediate conveyor drive motor (not shown). The intermediate conveyor 13 supplies the tapered article T to the inverted mechanism 3 while maintaining the backward posture P2.

  The inversion mechanism 3 includes an inversion conveyor 15 and an inversion stopper 16 disposed above the inversion conveyor 15.

  The inversion conveyor 15 is disposed in front of the intermediate conveyor 13 so that the tapered article T can be smoothly received from the intermediate conveyor 13 in the rearward-inclined posture P2. The inversion conveyor 15 is also a belt conveyor like the introduction conveyor 4 and is driven to rotate by an inversion conveyor driving motor (not shown). In addition, the inverted conveyor 15 generates a large frictional force between the inverted conveyor 15 and the tapered article T. This is to ensure that the tapered article T is inverted, as will be described later. The pair of left and right intermediate side guides 14 and 14 are extended to the vicinity of the inversion stopper 16. For this reason, the tapered article T supplied onto the inversion conveyor 15 is conveyed to the position just below the inversion stopper 16 by the inversion conveyor 15 while maintaining the backward inversion posture P2.

  The upside-down conveyor drive motor is uniformly controlled by a control circuit (not shown) together with the introduction conveyor drive motor and the intermediate conveyor drive motor. On the conveyor 15 for inversion, the tapered article T is changed in posture from the backward posture P2 to the inverted posture P3. Since the posture changing operation takes a short time but takes a certain time, the intermediate conveyor 13 is prevented from being fed onto the inverted conveyor 15 until the posture changing operation is completed. It is preferable that the operation speed is set to be lower than the operation speed of the inverted conveyor 15.

  The inversion stopper 16 is held at a predetermined standby position at an upper position in the middle of the inversion conveyor 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the inverted stopper 16 abuts on the tapered article T in the backward inverted position P <b> 2 on the inverted conveyor 15 at the predetermined standby position. The contact portion with the tapered article T is the upper surface of the rear part in the conveying direction of the tapered article T. And the said stopper 16 for inversion changes the attitude | position of the said taper-shaped article T from the said reverse position P2 to the said inversion position P3 by cooperation with the conveyance action by the said conveyor 15 for inversion. The movement of the tapered article T when the posture is changed is as shown in FIG.

  The inversion stopper 16 is always urged downward toward the predetermined standby position, and can be retracted upward by being pushed by the tapered article T. For this reason, the tapered article T is prevented from being deformed or the like during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture P3.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a horizontal rod 18 extending in the length direction of the inverted conveyor 15 is pivotally supported at the lower portion of the vertical rod 17 fixed to the upper frame 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical plate-like portion 19 on the top of the inverted stopper 16 is fixed to the front portion of the horizontal rod 18 with an appropriate fixing tool such as a bolt 20. The front portion of the horizontal rod 18 can swing up and down by a predetermined angle range around a pivot shaft 21 disposed between the horizontal rod 18 and the vertical rod 17. Therefore, the inversion stopper 16 can also swing up and down by a predetermined angle range. As shown in FIG. 2, a torsion coil spring 22 is interposed around the pivot 21 as a biasing means for constantly biasing the front portion of the horizontal rod 18 downward. Due to the action of the torsion coil spring 22, the inversion stopper 16 is constantly urged downward toward the predetermined standby position.

  As can be seen from a combination of FIGS. 2 and 4, the inversion stopper 16 is formed on a curved surface in the circumferential direction of the tapered article T as a portion that first contacts the tapered article T at the predetermined standby position. A matching curve 23 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the curved portion 23 is formed in the center portion of the left and right widths of the lower end portion of the inversion stopper 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inversion stopper 16 includes an abutment surface 24 that abuts on the rear portion of the circumferential surface of the tapered article T during the attitude changing operation to the inverted attitude P2. The contact surface 24 is a curved surface adapted to the rear peripheral surface of the tapered article T that rises toward the inverted posture P3.

  Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of left and right inverted guides 25, 25 that are in contact with the left and right side surfaces of the tapered article T during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture are provided at the front position of the inverted stopper 16. It is arranged. The pair of left and right inverted guides 25, 25 are supported by the pair of left and right intermediate side guides 14, 14. The attachment position of the pair of left and right inverted guides 25, 25 to the pair of left and right intermediate side guides 14, 14 is adjustable along the length direction of the conveyor 15 for inversion, that is, the conveying direction of the tapered article T. It is said that. Each of the inverted guides 25 is composed of a round bar.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the pair of left and right inverted guides 25, 25 extend obliquely upward and inward from the front end portions 14 f, 14 f of the pair of left and right intermediate side guides 14, 14 at the same angle. A pair of left and right inclined portions 26, 26 and a pair of left and right horizontal portions 27, 27 extending horizontally and parallel to each other from the front ends of the pair of left and right inclined portions 26, 26 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the height of the pair of left and right horizontal portions 27 and 27 is such that the small diameter portion D2 of the tapered article T in the inverted posture P3 is slightly upward from the pair of left and right horizontal portions 27 and 27. And set to a protruding height. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left-right distance between the pair of left and right horizontal portions 27 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the small-diameter portion D2 of the tapered article T in the inverted posture P3. The The tapered article T performs the posture changing operation to the inverted posture P3 while being regulated and guided on both the left and right sides by the pair of left and right horizontal portions 27, 27.

  The operation of the inversion mechanism 3 will be described. In the inverted mechanism 3, the tapered article T is changed in posture from the backward inverted posture P <b> 2 to the inverted posture P <b> 3 on the inverted conveyor 15 by the cooperation of the inverted conveyor 15 and the inverted stopper 16. It is done. Specifically, the tapered article T is conveyed to a position below the inversion stopper 16 while maintaining the backward posture P2 while the left and right sides are regulated by the pair of left and right intermediate side guides 14 and 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the curved portion 23 of the inverted stopper 16 at the predetermined standby position abuts on the upper surface of the rear portion of the tapered article T. At this time, the curved portion 23 is adapted to the curved surface in the circumferential direction of the tapered article T, so that the tapered article T is prevented from escaping left and right with respect to the transport direction.

  Even after the curved portion 23 comes into contact with the tapered article T, the inverted conveyor 15 continues to move. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the small diameter of the front part of the tapered article T is added to the lower part of the large diameter part D1 of the tapered article T as a forced forward conveying action is applied. Part D2 is lifted. At this time, since the inverted stopper 16 is pushed by the tapered article T and can be retracted upward, the tapered article T is deformed during the attitude changing operation to the inverted attitude P3. Is prevented.

  Since the pair of left and right inverted guides 25 and 25 are in contact with the left and right side surfaces of the tapered article T during the attitude changing operation of the tapered article T from the rearward attitude P2 to the inverted attitude P3, The tapered article T cannot escape laterally, and a reliable posture changing operation is guaranteed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the contact surface 24 of the inversion stopper 16 contacts the rear portion of the circumferential surface of the tapered article T during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture P3. For this reason, a reliable posture changing operation of the tapered article T is guaranteed. Since the contact surface 24 is a curved surface that fits the peripheral surface of the tapered article T, the curved surface 24 is in direct contact with the peripheral surface of the tapered article T. Therefore, the taper-shaped article T is more reliably supported.

  The tapered article T is transferred to the next conveyor 28 (see FIG. 1) in an inverted posture by continuing the conveying operation of the inverted conveyor 15.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the tapered article T can be automatically and quickly turned upside down and conveyed.

It is a whole side view of the reverse conveyance apparatus of the taper-shaped article which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged view of the principal part (inverted mechanism) of the reverse conveying apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a view as seen from an arrow A in FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

2 Reverse mechanism 4 Introduction conveyor 5 Reverse stopper 6 Downhill slope 15 Invert conveyor 16 Invert stopper 23 Curved portion 24 Contact surface (curved surface)
25 Inverted guide D1 Large diameter portion D2 Small diameter portion P1 Erect posture P2 Backward posture P3 Inverted posture T Tapered article

Claims (3)

A taper-like article reversing and conveying device that conveys a tapered article from an upright posture with a large-diameter portion facing upward to an inverted posture with a small-diameter portion facing upward, wherein the tapered article is conveyed in the upright posture. A reverse mechanism for changing the posture of the large-diameter portion to a backward posture in which the large-diameter portion is directed rearward in the conveying direction, an inverted conveyor for conveying the tapered article in the backward posture, and the inverted at a predetermined standby position. Inverted to change the posture of the tapered article from the inverted position to the inverted position by contacting the upper surface of the rear portion in the conveying direction of the tapered article on the conveyor for cooperation with the conveying action of the inverted conveyor A reverse conveying device for tapered articles, further comprising the following features.
(1) The inverted stopper includes a curved portion that fits a curved surface in a circumferential direction of the tapered article as a portion that first contacts the tapered article at the predetermined standby position.
(2) The inversion stopper is always urged downward toward the predetermined standby position, and is pushed by the tapered article so as to be retracted upward.
(3) A pair of left and right inverted guides that are in contact with the left and right side surfaces of the tapered article during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture are provided at a position in front of the inverted stopper.
(4) The inversion stopper includes a contact surface that contacts the rear portion of the peripheral surface of the tapered article during the posture changing operation to the inverted posture.   2. The reverse conveying apparatus for a tapered article according to claim 1, wherein the abutting surface is a curved surface adapted to a peripheral surface of the tapered article.   The reverse mechanism receives the taper-shaped article in the upright posture, and the rear-end mechanism receives the large-diameter portion of the tapered article that tilts forward in the conveyance direction at the front end of the introduction conveyor. The reverse conveyance apparatus of the taper-shaped article of Claim 1 or 2 provided with the stopper for use, and the downhill slope formed between the said front-end part of the said introduction conveyor, and the said stopper for reverse.

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