JP6084005B2 - Egg transfer equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an egg transfer device that supplies eggs from a tray filled with eggs to an egg sorting and filling system.

  Eggs, which are typical examples of eggs, are sized according to weight from the time they are laid in a poultry house to the market, and packed according to each size. This sizing and packing operation is generally automated by an egg sorting and filling system. Some eggs are laid in a poultry house, temporarily stored in an egg storage container (tray) called an American tray, and then supplied to a sorting and filling system.

  The transfer device performs the supply of eggs from the container to the sorting and filling system. The transfer device captures the egg from the container and transfers it to the egg transport device of the sorting and filling system. The egg transport device is provided with a seat for receiving the egg, and the egg received by the egg seat is transported by the movement of the egg seat. In general, the transfer device includes a suction portion provided with a plurality of suction cups, and sucks the eggs to be transferred from the storage container with the suction cups. The adsorbing unit is transferred to the egg conveying device of the sorting and filling system in a state where the egg is adsorbed, releases the adsorption of the egg on the conveying device, and transfers the egg to the egg seat.

  By the way, in recent years, the sorting and filling system has been increased in size, that is, the processing capacity per unit time has increased, and the conveying speed of the conveying device of the sorting and filling system has also increased. Therefore, the movement of the egg seat of the transfer device is accelerated. Thereby, the impact when the transfer device transfers the egg to the constellation increases, and the number of eggs destroyed by the impact also increases.

  In order to alleviate such an impact, in the transfer device described in Patent Document 1, the suction cup is along a circular arc that is in contact with the moving direction of the egg seat within a vertical plane including the direction of moving the egg seat of the transport device. Approach the constellation and transfer the egg to the constellation. Therefore, the egg adsorbed by the suction cup is transferred to the egg seat while having a speed in the same direction as the moving direction of the egg seat, that is, in synchronization with the egg seat. Thereby, the impact when an egg is transferred to a constellation is relieved. In particular, in the transfer device described in Patent Document 1, since the speed of the suction cup in the moving direction of the egg is maximum at the lowest position of the arc, by transferring the egg to the egg at the lowest position of the arc, Mitigates the impact on eggs.

JP 2008-13189 A

  By the way, in the transfer apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the adsorption of the eggs is released (vacuum breakage) so that the eggs are transferred to the ovum at the lowest position of the arc. However, the vacuum break has a relatively large time constant (it takes time from input to output) with respect to air pressure control, and many disturbances affect the time constant. Therefore, the vacuum break timing may be out of order with respect to the target timing. Furthermore, even when vacuum break is performed, if the adhesion between the suction cup and the egg is high, the egg is adhered to the opening of the suction cup, and the transfer timing of the egg may be delayed.

  Therefore, depending on the timing of the vacuum break, there is a problem that the egg is not transferred at the lowest position of the arc and the impact on the egg cannot be sufficiently mitigated. In addition, there is a problem in that the egg transfer timing is delayed, so that the egg is transferred to the egg seat adjacent to the target egg seat to which the egg is transferred and collides with the egg of the adjacent egg seat.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems relating to the timing of transferring an egg to a constellation, and its purpose is to alleviate the impact on the egg and ensure that the egg is placed on the target constellation. To be transferred to.

The egg transfer device according to the present invention transfers eggs to a plurality of egg seats that move to convey eggs in a state where the long axis of the eggs is in the horizontal direction. The egg transfer device adsorbs an egg in a state in which the long axis of the egg is along the vertical direction in order to transfer an egg to each egg seat, and moves the egg seat in a state of adsorbing the egg. and have the same direction of the velocity approaches the egg comprises a suction cup to move away from the egg, it communicates with the suction cup, and a pneumatic mechanism for changing the pressure in the suction cup in place . The suction cup has a bellows side portion that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction, and is contracted in a state where the egg is adsorbed by being depressurized to a negative pressure by the pneumatic mechanism, and adsorbs while approaching the moving egg seat. Is released , the egg is brought into contact with the moving egg seat while extending the side portion of the bellows, and the long axis is in a vertical direction in cooperation with the moving egg seat. When the egg is sandwiched and left from the moving egg seat, the air pressure mechanism applies positive pressure to release the egg. The egg seat is formed by a plurality of rollers moving in the transport direction.

  According to the transfer device of the present invention, the suction cup is released from adsorption while approaching the egg seat, and the egg is brought into contact with the egg seat while extending, and the contacted egg is sandwiched in cooperation with the egg seat. Thereafter, the sucker maintains a state where the egg is held while the sucker is contracted until a predetermined position, and maintains a state where the egg is held while the sucker is extended from the predetermined position. The sucker then moves away from the scorpio and is pressurized to positive pressure to release the egg.

  As a result, the egg is transferred to the egg seat while being sandwiched between the sucker and the egg seat. It is sandwiched between the suction cup and the egg seat and transferred to the egg seat in a stable state. Further, the egg is prevented from adhering to the sucker by applying a positive pressure to the sucker, and is reliably transferred to the target egg seat.

  The suction cup approaches the egg seat along a virtual arc in contact with the egg seat, the suction is released before the lowest position of the arc, and the egg is placed before the lowest position of the arc. The egg may be sandwiched in contact with each other, the state where the egg is sandwiched beyond the lowest position of the arc is maintained, and the positive pressure may be applied after exceeding the lowest position of the arc.

  According to this egg transfer device, since the sucker approaches the egg seat along the arc and leaves the egg seat along the arc, it is easy to control the timing at which the egg is vacuum-released. And the egg is securely pinched. Thereby, the impact is reliably relieved and the egg is transferred to the egg seat.

When the sucker moves at a speed in the same direction as the moving direction of the egg seat, the moving speed of the egg seat in the sucker may be set faster than the egg seat.

According to the transfer apparatus of this egg, since the speed of the moving direction of the egg is set rather fast than egg in sucker, sucker will be opened the egg to pass the egg. Thereby, an egg is open | released from a sucker in the state which inclined the edge part by the side of a sucker ahead of the moving direction. Therefore, the impact of the egg when it falls to a state where the major axis is horizontally aligned on the constellation is mitigated.

  According to the egg transfer device of the present invention, the impact on the egg can be mitigated and the egg can be reliably transferred to the target egg seat.

It is a perspective view which shows the egg transfer apparatus and filling selection system which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the egg transfer apparatus of FIG. It is an expansion perspective view which expands and shows the egg transfer apparatus of FIG. It is a front view which shows schematic relationship between the suction cup and egg of the transfer apparatus of FIG. 1, (A) shows the state before a suction cup adsorbs an egg, (B) shows the state after a suction cup adsorbs an egg. Indicates. It is a front view which shows the general flow which the egg transfer apparatus of FIG. 1 transfers an egg to a constellation. It is a front view which shows the general flow in which the egg transfer apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention transfers an egg to a constellation.

  An egg transfer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Below, although the egg transfer apparatus is demonstrated, a transfer apparatus may be used for transfer of other eggs, such as a duck.

  The egg transfer apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is incorporated in or provided in the egg sorting and filling system S as shown in FIGS. The egg sorting and filling system S is a system that classifies (sorts) eggs according to size by weight and packs (fills) the eggs (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-142880). The transfer device 1 is used to supply the eggs E to the sorting and filling system S.

  The transfer device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention transfers a plurality of pre-sorted eggs E filled in the tray 20 to an egg transport device 3 such as a roller conveyor. The tray 20 filled with the plurality of eggs E is transported from the step before the sorting and filling system S to the vicinity of the transfer device 1 by the tray transport device 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In addition, a weighing device (not shown) for classifying the eggs is provided at the tip of the egg conveying device 3.

  The tray transport device 2 is a belt conveyor that transports the tray 20 by tact transport in the direction of arrow a. The tray 20 is transported in a state where the eggs E are filled, and is placed at the suction position A (see FIG. 2) in the middle of the transport path. The transfer apparatus 1 adsorbs the egg E from the tray 20 placed at the adsorption position A, and transfers it to the egg conveyance apparatus 3 at the transfer position B (see FIG. 2) of the egg conveyance apparatus 3. The tray transfer device 2 stops the tray 20 at the adsorption position A until the transfer device 1 adsorbs the egg E, and after the transfer device 1 moves the egg E to the transfer position of the egg transfer device 3, The next tray 20 is conveyed to the suction position A (see FIG. 2).

  The egg conveying device 3 includes a plurality of rollers 30 arranged in the direction of the arrow b, and moves the roller 30 in the direction of the arrow b. The egg conveyance device 3 conveys the egg E by holding the egg E between a pair of adjacent rollers 30 and moving the roller 30. That is, the pair of rollers 30 forms an egg seat 32 that sandwiches and conveys the egg E (see FIG. 2). Since the pair of rollers 30 extends in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction, the egg seat 32 is formed as a space in which a plurality of eggs are placed side by side in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction. A plurality of egg seats 32 are formed in the extending direction of the roller 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The plurality of egg seats 32 stably hold the egg E in a state where the egg E has the long axis along the horizontal direction.

  The egg transport device 3 is provided with a pair of endless track bodies (not shown) such as chains at intervals, and a plurality of rollers 30 are arranged at the intervals, and both ends of each roller 30 are connected to the endless track. Bound to the body. Therefore, when the endless track body rotates, the roller 30 coupled to the endless track body moves, and the egg E is conveyed in the direction of the arrow b. The endless track is rotated by receiving power from a power source (not shown) such as a motor.

  The transfer device 1 transfers the plurality of suction cups 10 that suck the plurality of eggs E filled in the tray 20, the support body 12 that supports the suction cups 10, and the support body 12 from the suction position A to the transfer position B. A transfer mechanism 14, a turning mechanism 16 that moves the support 14 in an arc at the transfer position, and a pneumatic mechanism (not shown) that changes the pressure inside the suction cup are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer mechanism 14 includes a pair of support columns 142 provided between the tray transfer device 2 and the egg transfer device 3, and a support shaft 144 provided over the upper ends of both support columns 142. , A pair of rotating arms 146 that are supported to be rotatable about the support shaft 144 with respect to each support column 142, and a pair that extends downward from one end of the rotating arm 146 and supports the support via a rotating mechanism. A support arm 148 and a first drive unit (not shown) for rotating the rotary arm 146 are provided.

  The pair of struts 142 are arranged at an interval in a direction perpendicular to the direction connecting the suction position A and the transfer position B, and the rotating arm 146 is a support between the suction position A and the transfer position B. In order to reciprocate 12, the reciprocation is performed so as to draw a substantially semicircular locus around the support shaft 144. The support arm 148 is rotatably coupled to the rotating arm 146, and the posture along the vertical direction is maintained regardless of the position of the rotating arm 146.

  The rotation mechanism 16 includes a plate-like member 160 supported horizontally by the support arm 148, a rotation member 160a that rotatably supports the support 12, and a second drive unit that drives the rotation member 160a ( (Not shown). The plate-like member 160 is coupled to the pair of support arms 148 at a right angle. Accordingly, when the support arm 148 is maintained in the vertical direction, the plate-like member 160 is maintained in the horizontal direction.

  The rotating member 160 a is attached so as to be rotatable with respect to the plate-like member 160, and pivotally supports the support 12 in parallel to the plate-like member 160. The rotating member 160a is rotated with respect to the plate-like member 160 in the direction perpendicular to the substantially semicircular locus of the rotating arm 146 of the transfer mechanism 14 by the second driving unit.

  Thereby, when the rotating member 160a rotates with respect to the plate-like member 160, the support 12 rotates while maintaining a state parallel to the plate-like member 160, that is, a horizontal posture. The second drive unit is a drive mechanism such as a motor or a cylinder. In the present embodiment, one rotation member 160 a is provided on each side of the plate-like member 160 and the support 12. However, a plurality of rotating members may be provided on both sides of the plate member and the support.

  The support 12 corresponds to the arrangement of the plurality of eggs E filled in the tray 20 and supports the same number of suckers 10 as the number of eggs. In the illustrated example, since the tray 20 is filled with 30 eggs E in 5 rows × 6 columns, the support 12 supports 30 suction cups 10 in 5 rows × 6 columns.

  Further, the support 12 includes a pitch conversion mechanism (not shown) that changes the pitch P (see FIG. 3) between the plurality of suction cups 10, and corresponds to the pitch of the eggs filled in the tray 20 at the suction position A. The plurality of suction cups 10 are supported at the pitch Pa, and the plurality of suction cups 10 are supported at the transfer position B at a pitch Pb wider than the pitch of the tray 20 (see FIG. 2).

  Each suction cup 10 supported by the support 12 has an opening 100 that contacts the egg E, and a bellows side portion 102 continuous with the opening 100. The suction cup 10 is supported by the support body 12 so that the side portion 102 of the bellows is along the vertical direction, and can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction (see FIG. 4). The plurality of suction cups 10 are maintained at approximately the same height position by the support 12 being maintained in the horizontal orientation.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each suction cup 10 moves along a circular arc C whose tangent is the conveyance direction of the egg conveyance device 3 when the rotation mechanism 16 rotates the support 12 at the transfer position B. To do. Thereby, the suction cup 10 synchronizes with the movement of the egg seat 32 (movement of the roller 30) of the egg conveying device 3, that is, has a speed in the same direction as the moving direction of the egg seat 32, and moves to the egg seat 32. After approaching and passing through the lowest position V4 of the arc C, it can move away from the ovum 32.

  The pneumatic mechanism includes a so-called blower, and communicates with each suction cup 10 through a support 12 from a discharge port or suction port of the blower, and the pressure in each suction cup 10 is set to negative pressure, atmospheric pressure, or positive pressure. To change. Each suction cup 10 is depressurized while being connected to the suction port of the blower, released to atmospheric pressure when disconnected from the blower, and pressurized while being connected to the discharge port. The blower is connected to the suction port or the discharge port or disconnected from the blower by switching the electromagnetic valve. Each sucker 10 can adsorb the egg E by the air pressure mechanism reducing the inside of the sucker 10 to a negative pressure and maintaining the reduced pressure state with the opening 102 in close contact with the egg E. The suction cup 10 is in a state where the bellows side portion 102 is most contracted in a state where the egg E is adsorbed (see FIG. 4B).

  The blower is controlled to be depressurized and pressurized by the electromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve causes the blower to detect the support 12 that has reached the suction position A and to perform a pressure reduction operation. That is, the suction cup 10 is connected to the blower. In addition, the solenoid valve opens a vacuum (releases the operation of depressurization) or pressurizes in accordance with the operation of rotating the support 12 that has reached the transfer position B. That is, the suction cup 10 is disconnected from the blower or connected to the discharge port of the blower. The blower is synchronized with the transfer of the egg transfer device 3, and switching of the electromagnetic valve is adapted to the movement of the egg seat 32.

  Next, the operation of the egg transfer device according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The tray 20 filled with the plurality of eggs E is transported to the suction position A of the tray transport device 2 by tact transport (see FIGS. 1 and 2). With the tray 20 placed at the suction position A, the transfer device 1 moves the support 12 to the suction position A by the transfer mechanism 14.

  At this time, the eggs E are filled in the tray 20 with the long axis along the vertical direction, and the plurality of suction cups 10 supported by the support 12 are at the upper ends (generally blunt ends) of the corresponding eggs. The opening 100 is brought into close contact (see FIG. 4A). With the opening 100 in close contact, the inside of the suction cup 10 is reduced to a negative pressure by the pneumatic mechanism. That is, the suction cup 10 is connected to the suction port of the blower. Thereby, the suction cup 10 adsorb | sucks the egg E in the state which made the long axis follow the up-down direction. The suction cup 10 that has adsorbed the egg contracts the side portion 102 of the bellows (see FIG. 4B).

  With the suction cup 10 sucking the egg E, the support 12 is moved from the suction position A to the transfer position B by the transfer mechanism 14 (X direction in FIG. 2). Before moving from the suction position A to the transfer position B, the mutual pitch of the plurality of suction cups and the eggs sucked by the suction cups is changed from Pa to Pb by the pitch conversion mechanism (see FIG. 2). At the transfer position B, the transfer mechanism 14 temporarily stops at a position where the lower end of the egg is at a predetermined interval from the egg seat 32 of the egg transport device 3 (position V1 in FIG. 5). At this time, the suction cup is in the most contracted first state L1.

  With the transfer mechanism 14 temporarily stopped, the rotation mechanism 16 operates to move the suction cup 10 along the arc C via the support 12 (Y direction in FIG. 2). Thereby, the egg seat 32, the suction cup 10, and the egg E adsorbed thereto move in synchronization, that is, with a speed in the same direction (direction of arrow b). Here, the rotational mechanism 16 is adjusted to start the arc movement operation so that the egg E is transferred to the predetermined egg seat 32.

  When moving along the arc C, the suction of the suction cup 10 is released (vacuum broken) before reaching the lowest position of the arc C, that is, approaching the ovum 32 (the position of V2 in FIG. 5). At this time, the suction cup 10 is cut from the blower, and expands due to a vacuum break, and becomes a second state L2 longer than the first state L1.

  Then, the suction cup 10 moves along the circular arc C, and makes the egg contact the egg seat while extending the side portion 102 of the bellows (position V3 in FIG. 5). Thereby, the suction cup 10 clamps an egg in a state where the major axis is aligned in the vertical direction in cooperation with the egg seat 32. The support 12 is adjusted to a height at which the lower end of the egg contacts the egg seat before the egg E reaches the lowest position of the arc C at the transfer position B. After the egg comes into contact with the constellation 32, the suction cup 10 moves while contracting toward the lowest position of the arc C. Therefore, the suction cup 10 will be in the 3rd state L3 shorter than the 2nd state L2.

  Thereafter, the suction cup 10 moves toward the lowest position of the arc C (the position of V4 in FIG. 5). At the lowest position of the arc C, the suction cup 10 further contracts so as to sandwich the egg E with the egg seat 32, and becomes a fourth state L4 shorter than the third state L3. At this time, the suction cup 10 and the egg seat 32 move at substantially the same speed in the moving direction of the egg seat (the direction of the arrow b).

  When the suction cup 10 exceeds the lowest position of the arc C (the position of V4 in FIG. 5), the suction cup 10 moves along the arc C in a direction away from the egg seat 32. However, even if the minimum position V4 is exceeded, the suction cup 10 extends and holds the egg in cooperation with the egg seat 32 for a while (position V5 in FIG. 4). At this time, the suction cup 10 is in a fifth state L5 that is expanded from the fourth state L4.

  Thereafter, the suction cup 10 releases the egg E by separating the opening 100 from the egg E (position V6 in FIG. 4). The egg E released from the suction cup 10 is tilted so that the major axis changes from the vertical direction to the horizontal direction because the egg seat 32 conveys the egg E with the major axis lying in the horizontal direction. At this time, the suction cup 10 is in the sixth state L6 having a natural length.

  The suction cup 10 is connected to the blower outlet by applying positive pressure to the inside until the egg is released beyond the lowest position V4 (between V4 and V6). Egg E is reliably separated. Thereby, the egg E can be prevented from colliding with the adjacent egg by moving to the adjacent egg seat while being in close contact with the suction cup 10.

  The egg E transferred to the egg seat 32 of the egg transport device 3 is transported to the next step by the egg transport device 3 with the long axis in the horizontal direction.

  As described above, according to the egg transfer device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the egg E is transferred to the egg seat while being sandwiched between the sucker 10 and the egg seat 32. At that time, for example, even if the timing at which the suction cup is broken by vacuum breaks, the time for which the egg E is held varies, but the egg E is held between the sucker 10 and the egg seat 32 at any position on the arc C. And is transferred to the constellation in a stable state. Furthermore, the egg E is prevented from adhering to the suction cup 10 by being positively pressurized in the suction cup 10, and is reliably transferred to the target egg seat.

  Next, the egg transfer apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the first example except that the operating speed of the rotating mechanism, that is, the speed at which the suction cup moves along the arc is different. It has the composition of. Therefore, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the transfer device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the suction cup 10 is set to have a higher speed in the moving direction of the egg seat than the egg seat at the lowest position of the arc C. That is, the transfer device according to the present embodiment is faster in operation of the rotation mechanism 16 than the transfer device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the sucker 10 has a speed near the lowest position of the arc C and in the direction of the arrow “b” than the egg 32, so when the egg E is moved to the egg 32, the sucker 10 moves to the egg 32. Move to overtake.

  Since the egg E is in close contact with the suction cup 10 even if it is broken by vacuum, the egg E is inclined so that its upper end is directed forward (W5 in FIG. 6). ) And moved to the constellation. By opening the egg E in this state, the egg E can be tilted so that the long axis is along the horizontal direction and the impact can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the suction cup 10 holds the egg along the arc C while sucking the long axis in the vertical direction until reaching the lowest position of the arc C, that is, the predetermined position. Move closer to the seat. Then, after passing through the lowest position of the arc C, the suction cup 10 moves along the arc C away from the ovum 32. However, the suction cup 10 does not have to move along the arc C.

  For example, the suction cup may approach the egg seat and leave the egg seat with the V-shaped bent position as a predetermined position so as to draw a V-shaped trajectory. Further, the suction cup 10 may approach the egg seat and leave the egg seat by another trajectory. The locus of the suction cup 10 is determined by the movement of the support 12 to which the suction cup 10 is attached.

  If the movement of the support is controlled so that the egg is sandwiched between the sucker and the constellation, the impact on the egg due to the transfer can be reduced regardless of the locus of the sucker.

  In the above embodiment, the vacuum break is performed by cutting the suction cup from the blower. However, even if the suction cup is directly switched from the suction port of the blower to the discharge port, the suction cup temporarily becomes atmospheric pressure when changing from negative pressure to pressurized pressure. Therefore, regarding the switching of the solenoid valve according to the embodiment of the present invention, the suction cup may be directly switched from the suction port of the blower to the discharge port. At this time, the switching timing is adapted to the movement of the constellation. In this case, the switching timing is adjusted so that the pressure in the suction cup becomes atmospheric pressure at the substantially lowest position of the suction cup movement.

  The transfer device according to the present invention is used as a part of or alongside an egg sorting and filling system.

  S filling and sorting device, 1 transfer device, 2 tray transfer device, 3 egg transfer device, 10 sucker, 12 support, 14 transfer device, 16 rotation device, 20, tray, 30 rollers, 32 egg seat, 100 opening, 102 side part, 142 support | pillar, 144 spindle, 146 rotation arm, 148 support arm, 160 plate-shaped member, 160a rotation member.

Claims (3)

A transfer device for transferring eggs to a plurality of zygots that move to convey eggs in a state in which the long axis of the eggs is in a horizontal direction,
The egg seat is formed by a plurality of rollers moving in the transport direction,
In order to transfer the eggs to the egg, the long axis of the egg adsorbed eggs in a state in which along the vertical direction, the eggs while adsorb have a same direction of the velocity and direction of movement of the egg A plurality of suction cups that move closer to the egg seat and move away from the egg seat at a predetermined position, and a pneumatic mechanism that communicates with the suction cup and changes the pressure in the suction cup,
The suction cup has a side portion of the extensible bellows in the vertical direction, the pneumatically mechanism shrank the sides of the bellows while adsorbing the decompressed in egg negative pressure, wherein the moving by adsorption while approaching the egg is released, the egg is brought into contact with the egg on the move while stretching the sides of the bellows, the egg cooperating with vertically long moving axis An egg transfer device that sandwiches an egg in a state where it is placed along the path and releases the egg by being positively pressurized by the pneumatic mechanism when leaving the moving egg seat. The suction cup approaches the egg seat along a virtual arc in contact with the egg transport direction, the suction is released before the lowest position of the arc, and the egg is moved before the lowest position of the arc. The egg transfer according to claim 1, wherein the egg is sandwiched in contact with the egg seat, the egg is sandwiched beyond the lowest position of the arc, and positive pressure is applied after the lowest position of the arc. apparatus. 3. The speed according to claim 1, wherein when the sucker moves at a speed in the same direction as the moving direction of the egg seat, the moving speed of the egg seat in the sucker is faster than that of the egg seat. The egg transfer apparatus as described.

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