JP6975549B2 - Carry-out device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a unloading device for sequentially unloading a flat plate-shaped object to be transported, for example, a packaging bag called a pouch for accommodating liquid detergent or retort food.

As a conventional unloading device for sequentially unloading flat plates such as packaging bags called pouches one by one, the unloading device in the form disclosed in Patent Document 1 below and Patent Document 2 below. The disclosed form of the unloading device can be mentioned.

The unloading device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes a transport conveyor that transports a large number of objects to be transported stacked and arranged by shifting them by a deviation dimension of, for example, about 8 to 10 mm in the transport direction, and the highest level and the highest position in the transport direction. A separation means for separating one transported object located downstream from another transported object located downward and upstream in the transport direction, and a carrying-out means for moving one separated object to be transported in a required direction. Equipped with.

The unloading device disclosed in Patent Document 2 below is a support means for supporting a large number of objects to be transported in a laminated state, and a means for supporting the items to be transported in the lowest layer through a unloading opening formed in the bottom wall of the support means. It is equipped with a carry-out means for carrying out downward from.

Japanese Patent No. 5897999 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-221667

In the unloading device of the form disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to manually stack and arrange a large number of objects to be transported on the conveyor by shifting them by the dimensions in the transport direction, which is considerably complicated. There is a tendency that if a relatively large error occurs in the deviation dimension, it cannot be separated one by one and two or more objects to be transported are carried out at the same time. There is a problem that it is necessary to considerably increase the length of the conveyor in the transport direction in order to stack and arrange the objects to be transported.

On the other hand, in the unloading device of the form disclosed in Patent Document 2, if the number of objects to be transported to be laminated on the support means is increased, the weight of the entire objects to be transported increases, and therefore the weight of the objects to be transported is the lowest layer. The frictional resistance between the lower surface of the surface and the bottom wall of the support means increases, which makes it difficult to carry out the transported object through the carry-out opening, or two or more transported objects are carried out at the same time. There is a problem that it may end up.

In view of the above facts, the present inventors have previously described, in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-21165, a large number of unloading devices on the supporting means as a unloading device for solving the above-mentioned problems existing in the conventional unloading device. The objects to be transported are arranged upright in parallel along a predetermined transfer path, the frontmost objects to be transported are sequentially carried out, and a large number of objects to be transported are arranged in parallel according to the carry-out of one or more objects to be transported. We have proposed a unique form of unloading device that can appropriately move objects downstream in the transport direction (hereinafter referred to as "preceding unloading device"). In this preceding transfer device, both side edges are regulated together with the lower edge (one end edge) of a large number of objects to be transported standing in parallel (that is, three edges except the upper edge (the other end edge) are regulated. ) Transporting toward the carry-out end. A one-sided edge regulating means is provided at the carry-out end so that the one-sided edge of the object to be transported at the front end is in contact with the one-sided edge. Further, a separation and unloading means including a suction holder for separating and carrying out the frontmost object to be transported from the next object to be transported is also provided. When the frontmost object to be transported is separated from the next object to be transported, the suction holder is brought into contact with the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported to specify a specific part on the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported. The suction holder is moved to the other side edge side of the transported object, and the transported object is compressed between the member that regulates the other side edge of the transported object and the suction holder. A part of the object is curved and projected forward, and the one-sided edge portion of the object to be transported is separated from the one-sided edge portion regulating means. After that, the suction holder is moved in the direction of retreating from the front surface of the grain to be transported, and the frontmost object to be transported is separated from the next object to be transported and carried out.

Therefore, the above-mentioned advance transfer device is not sufficiently satisfactory, and has the following problems to be solved. Comparison of changing the mounting position of the member that regulates the other side edge of the member to be transported when changing from the state in which the object to be transported of a predetermined size is carried out to the state in which the object to be transported of other dimensions is carried out. It is necessary to carry out complicated manual operations. In order to avoid such manual operation, it is intended to omit the member that regulates the other side edge of the object to be transported, but in this way, when the frontmost object to be transported is carried out, the suction holder To compress the transported object between the member that regulates the other side edge of the transported object and the suction holder so that a part of the transported object is curved and projected forward. Becomes impossible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is that the transported object is transported in a laminated state regardless of whether or not there is a member that regulates the other side edge of the transported object. When carrying out the frontmost object to be transported, the object to be transported is compressed and a part thereof is curved and projected forward to displace one side edge of the object from the one-side edge regulating means. It is to provide a new and improved unloading device that can be used.

The present inventors have continued diligent studies and experiments, and at least a pair of suction and holding means in which the separation and unloading means are arranged perpendicular to one side edge of the transported object and spaced apart along the front surface of the transported object. It was found that the above-mentioned main technical problems can be achieved by composing the ingredients.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, as a unloading device that achieves the above-mentioned main problem, a large number of flat plate-shaped objects to be transported are laminated and at least one side edge and one end edge thereof are restricted to the unloading end. The transport means forcibly directed toward, the one-sided edge regulating means to which the front one-sided edge of the front-end transported object is abutted, and the front-end transported object are separated from the one-sided edge regulating means and the next cover. In a unloading device provided with a separate unloading means that separates from the transported object and unloads from the transport means.
The separate unloading means includes at least a pair of suction retainers arranged perpendicular to one side edge of the object to be transported and spaced apart along the front surface of the object to be transported.
Each of the pair of suction holders can move forward and backward between a forward position that abuts on the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported and a backward position that retracts in a direction away from the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported. One of the pair of suction holders, which is located closer to the one-sided edge regulating means, is vertically movable to one side edge of the object to be transported and laterally movable in a direction along the front surface of the object to be transported.
Each of the pair of suction holders can be switched between an activated state and a non-operated state.
Each of the pair of suction holders is moved forward from the retracted position to the forward position, abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the foremost end, and is switched to the operating state, and then the pair of suction holders. One is laterally moved towards the other of the pair of suction holders, after which each of the pair of suction holders is retracted to the retracted position and the other of the pair of suction holders is inactive. And then one of the pair of suction holders is laterally moved in the direction towards the one-sided edge regulating means.
A unloading device characterized by this is provided .

It is convenient that the objects to be transported are arranged in parallel in an upright position, stacked and horizontally transported toward the carry-out end, and the one-sided edge is shorter than the one-end edge. The transport means comprises a pressing piece that locally presses the object to be transported forward, the pressing piece being the pair of suction pieces perpendicular to one side edge of the object to be transported and in a direction along the front surface of the object to be transported. It is preferable that each of the holders is located between the parts that are in contact with the front surface of the object to be transported.

In the unloading device of the present invention, regardless of whether or not there is a member that regulates the other side edge of the transported object, the direction is perpendicular to one side edge of the transported object and along the front surface of the transported object. With the pair of suction holders arranged at intervals attached to the front surface of the object to be transported at the foremost end, one of the pair of suction holders, that is, the one located closer to one side edge regulating means. By laterally moving toward the other, the transported object can be compressed and a part thereof can be curved and projected forward so that the one-sided edge portion of the transported object can be separated from the one-sided edge regulating means.

The simplified perspective view which shows the preferable embodiment of the carry-out apparatus configured according to this invention. A simplified front view of the unloading device shown in FIG. A simplified plan view of the AA cross section of the unloading device shown in FIG. Simplified left side view of the unloading device shown in FIG. The simplified schematic diagram for demonstrating the movement path of a pair of suction holders of a separation carry-out means. A standing pouch, which is an example of an object to be transported by the unloading device shown in FIG. 1, is shown. The simplified schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of the carry-out device shown in FIG. The simplified schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of the carry-out device shown in FIG. The simplified schematic diagram for demonstrating the operation of the carry-out device shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the unloading device configured in accordance with the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 briefly illustrates the entire preferred embodiment of the unloading device configured according to the present invention. The carrying-out device is provided with the carrying means 2. As will be described later, the transporting means 2 regulates a large number of flat plate-shaped objects to be transported in a laminated state and at least one side edge and one end edge thereof and forces them toward the carry-out end. The transporting means 2 further includes a support member 4, a back plate 6, a transport stand 8, and a holding member 10.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 together with FIG. 1, the support member 4 includes a substrate 12 and legs 14 that support the substrate 12 in a horizontal state at a predetermined height position. The substrate 12 is a rectangular flat plate having a substantially horizontal upper surface, and is the longitudinal direction of the substrate 12, that is, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 2 and 3 (this is referred to as a transport direction, and may be referred to as a front-rear direction in the following). The transport path L is defined in. The transport path L is a path through which the flat plate-shaped object to be transported is transported as described later, and is horizontal and straight in the illustrated embodiment. As is clearly understood by reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the substrate 12 has a groove 16 extending linearly from its upstream end to a position slightly downstream from the intermediate position in the transport direction. Are formed in plurality. In the illustrated embodiment, three grooves 16 are formed, and the grooves 16 are represented by numbers 16a, b, and c, respectively. Each of the grooves 16 is parallel to each other and penetrates from the upper surface to the lower surface of the substrate 12. As is clearly understood by referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of small holes 18 which are circular through holes are formed at equal intervals along the transport direction between the grooves 16a and the grooves 16b in the substrate 12. , Six are formed in the illustrated embodiment. Each of the small holes 18 is a position moved by X from the retracted position (state shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 (see particularly FIG. 3)) of the back plate 6 described later in the transport direction to the upstream side in the transport direction. As a starting point, they are sequentially formed at intervals of X toward the upstream side in the transport direction (X will be described later). If desired, the small hole 18 may be formed between the groove 16a and the groove 16b instead of, or in combination with the groove 16a. One end of the substrate 12 (the left end in FIG. 4, the upper end in FIG. 3) when viewed in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction (hereinafter, also referred to as the lateral direction) is from the upper surface of the substrate 12. A wall 20 that stands vertically upward is provided. The wall 20 extends linearly from its upstream end to a position slightly beyond the downstream end of the groove 16 in the transport direction of the substrate 12.

At the downstream end of the wall 20 in the transport direction, a one-side edge restricting means 22 to which the front one-side edge of the object to be transported at the front end, which will be described later, comes into contact with is disposed. The one-side edge regulating means 22 is a plate-shaped member having a rectangular cross section extending in the vertical direction, and is perpendicular to the wall 20 and projects inward in the width direction of the substrate 12. A contact surface 24 is provided on the upstream side of the one-side edge regulating means 22 in the transport direction to contact the object to be transported and define the carry-out end, and the object to be transported exceeds the contact surface 24 by the transport means 2. It is regulated to be forced to the downstream side in the transport direction. It is convenient that the contact surface 24 is located downstream from the downstream end of the groove 16 in the transport direction by a distance of X or slightly larger than that, which will be described later. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the front surface regulating means 26 to which the front surface of the object to be transported at the front end, which will be described later, is abutted is provided on the upstream side surface in the transport direction of the legs of the installation table described later for installing the back plate 6. Has been done. The front surface regulating means 26 is a rod-shaped member having a rectangular cross section extending in the vertical direction, and when the upstream side surface in the transport direction matches the contact surface 24 in the transport direction, the object to be transported is forward beyond the contact surface 24. It is even more reliably prevented from moving to.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the separation / carry-out means 28 is arranged on the upper surface of the substrate 12 and on the downstream side of the groove 16 when viewed in the transport direction. As will be described later, the separate and carried-out means 28 separates the frontmost object to be transported from the one-side edge regulating means 22 and separates it from the next object to be transported and carries it out from the transport means 2. The separated unloading means 28 is shown in at least a pair arranged at intervals in a lateral direction perpendicular to the transport direction (that is, a direction perpendicular to one side edge of the transported object and along the front surface of the transported object). In the embodiment, four pairs of suction holders 30a and 30b and a pair of suction holder mounting members 32a and 32b to which each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b are mounted are provided. Each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is a bowl shape formed of an appropriate soft synthetic resin having flexibility such as an elastomer material, and a suction hole 31 (see FIG. 4) is formed at the central top thereof. Is formed. The pair of suction holder mounting members 32a and 32b are substantially prism members that are long in the vertical direction. At least one connection valve (not shown) is installed on the upstream side surface of the pair of suction holder mounting members 32a and 32b in the transport direction at intervals in the vertical direction, and four in the illustrated embodiment. Each connection valve has two ports, one is connected to each of the suction holes 31 of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b, and the other is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) via a hose (not shown). Has been done. This makes it possible for the vacuum pump to generate a negative pressure in the inner regions of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b (that is, the inner regions of the bowl). The vacuum pump can be appropriately switched between an operating state and a non-operating state, and by switching the operation of the vacuum pump, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is in an operating state in which the negative pressure is generated and in the non-operation state in which the negative pressure is not generated. It can be switched between states. An actuator 34 is connected to each of the pair of suction holder mounting members 32a and 32b on the downstream side surface in the transport direction. By this actuator 34, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is in a forward position where it comes into contact with the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported and a retracted position where it retracts in a direction away from the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported. The suction holders 30a and 30b of at least a pair of suction holders 30a and 30b, which are movable in the transport direction (that is, move forward and backward), are located closer to each other by the one-side edge regulating means 22, while 30a is located in the transport direction. On the other hand, it is movable in the horizontal direction perpendicular to it (that is, it is movable laterally). The actuator 34 is a part of a compressed air control device (not shown), and uses compressed air as an operating power source.

Explaining with reference to FIG. 5, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is periodically moved by the actuator 34 as follows. That is, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b advances from the retracted position shown in FIG. 5A to the forward position shown in FIG. 5B, and then one of the pair of suction holders 30a sucks a pair. Laterally move towards the other 30b of the holder (FIG. 5 (c)), after which each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b retracts to the retracted position (FIG. 5 (d)) and then the pair of suctions. One side 30a of the holder laterally moves to a predetermined position to release the transported object in a direction close to the one-sided edge regulating means 22 (FIGS. 5 (e) and 5 (f). A pair of suction holders in this figure. The other 30b of the tool is shown by a solid line), after which one 30a of the pair of suction holders moves laterally toward the other 30b of the pair of suction holders, and each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b again. The state shown in FIG. 5A is obtained.

Here, when not only one of the pair of suction holders 30a but also the other 30b of the pair of suction holders is movable in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction (that is, laterally movable), the pair of suction holders is held. After the state shown in FIG. 5D described above, each of the tools 30a and 30b is attached to the one-sided edge regulating means 22 up to a predetermined position to release the transported object held by each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b. Laterally move in a close direction (FIGS. 5 (e) and 5 (f); the other 30b of the pair of suction holders is shown by a dotted line in this figure), and then each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b It is also possible to move laterally so that the state shown in FIG. 5A is restored.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the back plate 6 is arranged between the downstream end portion of the groove 16 and the contact surface 24 in the transport direction. The back plate 6 is composed of a pressing piece 36a and auxiliary pressing pieces 36b and 36c. The pressing piece 36a and the auxiliary pressing pieces 36b and 36c are both rod-shaped members extending in the vertical direction, and the width of the lower end portions thereof in the transport direction is gradually reduced downward. The cross-sectional shape excluding the lower end portion of the pressing piece 36a is a substantially rectangular shape whose length in the width direction is approximately twice as long as the length in the transport direction. The cross-sectional shapes of the auxiliary pressing pieces 36b and 36c excluding the lower ends are substantially square in length in the transport direction, which is the same as that of the pressing piece 36a. On the downstream side surface of the pressing piece 36a in the transport direction, a detection switch 38 that is closed when the object to be transported comes into contact with the pressed piece 36a is disposed. With respect to the pressing piece 36a and the auxiliary pressing pieces 36b and 36c, the widthwise distance between the pressing piece 36a and the auxiliary pressing piece 36b is approximately twice the widthwise distance between the auxiliary pressing piece 36b and the auxiliary pressing piece 36c. It is fixed to the pressing piece fixing member 40 in a state of being parallel to each other in the width direction. At this time, in the width direction (that is, the direction perpendicular to one side edge of the transported object and along the front surface of the transported object), each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b of the pressing piece 36a is the front surface of the transported object. It is preferably positioned between the parts that come into contact with the (see FIG. 5 (a) together with FIG. 3).

The pressing piece fixing member 40 includes an upstream side flat plate 40a and a downstream side flat plate 40b extending linearly in the width direction. The upper surface of the upstream flat plate 40a and the downstream flat plate 40b is connected by a hinge portion 40c, and the upstream flat plate 40a and the downstream flat plate 40b are relatively rotatable within a predetermined angle range around the hinge portion 40c. Is. The upper end portions of the pressing piece 36a, the auxiliary pressing pieces 36b, and 36c are fixed to the upstream side surface of the upstream side flat plate 40a in the transport direction, and the downstream side flat plate 40b is installed on the upright portion 42a of the L-shaped member 42. A rail 44 extending linearly in the vertical direction is arranged on the upstream side surface of the upright portion 42a of the L-shaped member 42 in the transport direction, and the downstream flat plate 40b is installed on the rail 44 via an actuator (not shown) in the vertical direction. It becomes movable to. Therefore, the back plate 6 fixed to the pressing piece fixing member 40 can also move in the vertical direction. The L-shaped member 42 is installed on an installation table 46 located on the upper surface of the substrate 12 and on the downstream side of the contact surface 24 when viewed in the transport direction. The installation table 46 includes a top plate 48 having a rectangular shape that is separated and located above the substrate 12 and has a horizontal rectangular shape, and a plurality of legs 50 that support the top plate 48, and in the illustrated embodiment, five legs 50. ing. A rail 52 extending linearly in the transport direction is formed on the upper surface of the top plate 48, the horizontal portion 42b of the L-shaped member 42 is connected to the rail 52 via an actuator (not shown), and the L-shaped member 42 is connected to the rail 52. It becomes movable in the transport direction. Therefore, the back plate 6 disposed on the L-shaped member 42 via the pressing piece fixing member 40 also becomes movable in the transport direction. Furthermore, since the upper surface of the upstream flat plate 40a to which the back plate 6 is fixed and the downstream flat plate 40b to which the L-shaped member 42 is connected is connected by the hinge portion 40c, the back plate 6 has the hinge portion 40c. It can also be elastically retracted upstream in the transport direction as the center of rotation. All of the above actuators are a part of compressed air control equipment (not shown), and use compressed air as an operating power source.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 7-1 to 7-3, the back plate 6 is separated from the frontmost object to be transported, which will be described later, by a first predetermined distance D1 rearward (that is, on the upstream side in the transport direction) by the actuator. It is movable between the retracted position and the forward position that has advanced (that is, moved in the downstream direction in the transport direction) a second predetermined distance D2 shorter than the first predetermined distance D1 from this retracted position, and is also transported as described later. It is movable between the action position that enters between two adjacent objects to be transported and the non-action position that is separated from the objects to be transported in the objects to be transported that are sequentially upright and arranged in parallel along the path L. In the illustrated embodiment, the back plate 6 moves downward from the non-acting position and is located at the acting position. When the back plate 6 is in the non-acting position, the lower end of the back plate 6 is located above the object to be transported supported by the support member 4, and when the back plate 6 is in the acting position, the lower end of the back plate 6 is located. It is located below the upper end edge (that is, the other end edge) of the object to be transported, faces the upper surface of the substrate 12, and is located slightly above this. However, the back plate 6 moves periodically by the following path. That is, the back plate 6 is a retracting action position (FIGS. 7-1 (a) and 7-2 (e) to 7-3 (i)), which is a retracting position and an action position, and a forward position. The forward action position (FIG. 7-1 (b)) which is the action position, the forward non-action position (FIG. 7-1 (c)) which is the forward position and the non-action position, and the backward position and the backward position. After sequentially moving to the receding non-acting position (FIG. 7-2 (d)), which is the non-acting position, the retracting acting position (FIG. 7-1 (a) and FIGS. 7-2 (e) to 7-3 (FIG. 7-2 (e)) i) Move to).

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the transport stand 8 is arranged inside the groove 16 in the transport direction. The transport stand 8 has a plurality of section sections 54 and a section support member 56 that supports and fixes each section 54. Each of the section pieces 54 is a rod-shaped member extending in the vertical direction, and has a substantially square cross section except for the upper end portion. In each of the upper end portions of the section 54, the width in the transport direction is gradually reduced upward. The section support member 56 has a plurality of widthwise support portions 58 (seven in the illustrated embodiment) extending in the width direction, and a pair of transport direction support portions 60 extending in the transport direction. Three partition sections 54 are fixed at predetermined positions on the downstream side surfaces of the respective width direction support portions 58 in the transport direction. The three sections 54 are aligned with the grooves 16a to c formed in the substrate 12 when the transport stand 8 is installed on the support member 4 as required (see FIG. 3). I want), the lower end of each is fixed. Each of the widthwise support portions 58 is parallel to each other and the transport direction spacing of the section 54 is a spacing (X) corresponding to the spacing between the retracted position and the forward position of the back plate 6. It is fixed to the upper surface of the directional support portion 60. A pair of rails 62 extending in the transport direction are formed on the lower surfaces of each of the pair of transport direction support portions 60, and the rails 62 are connected to the bottom plate 64 via an actuator (not shown). Therefore, the transport stand 8 is movable in the transport direction. Further, an actuator 66 for raising and lowering the bottom plate 64 so as to be movable in the vertical direction is also provided on the lower surface of the bottom plate 64. Therefore, the transport stand 8 is also movable in the vertical direction. All of the above actuators are part of compressed air control equipment (not shown), and use compressed air as the operating power source.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 7-1 to 7-3, in the transport stand 8, the section 54 at the downstream end (frontmost end) in the transport direction is X from the retracted position of the back plate 6 when viewed in the transport direction by the actuator. A retreat position located by moving backward by (= D2) and a forward position advanced by a second predetermined distance D2 from this retreat position (hence, retreat of the partition 54 and the back plate 6 at the downstream end in the transport direction at the forward position). It is movable between the position and the position in the transport direction), and the sections 54 are adjacent to each other in the transported object which is sequentially arranged in parallel along the transport path L, as will be described later. It is movable between the action position that enters between the two objects to be transported and the non-action position that separates from the objects to be transported. In the illustrated embodiment, the transport stand 8 moves upward from the non-acting position and is located at the acting position. When the transport stand 8 is in the non-acting position, the upper end of the section 54 is below the object to be transported supported by the substrate 12, and more specifically, the upper end of the section 54 is inside the groove 16 of the substrate 12 (that is,). It is located between the upper surface and the lower surface of the substrate 12). When the transport stand 8 is in the working position, the upper end of the section 54 is located above the top surface of the substrate 12. However, the transfer stand 8 is periodically moved by the above actuator in the following path. That is, the transport stand 8 is a retracting action position (FIGS. 7-1 (a), 7-3 (h) and (i)) which is a retracting position and an acting position, and is an advancing position and an acting position. Forward action position (FIGS. 7-1 (b) to 7-2 (e)), forward non-action position which is forward position and non-action position (FIG. 7-2 (f)), backward position. In addition, after sequentially moving to the receding non-acting position (FIG. 7-3 (g)) which is the non-acting position, the retracting acting position (FIG. 7-1 (a), FIG. 7-3 (h) and ( i) Move to).

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the holding member 10 is arranged inside the groove 16 in the transport direction. The holding member 10 includes a plurality of first holding pieces 68 and a plurality of second holding pieces 70. Each of the first holding pieces 68 is a rod-shaped member having the same cross-sectional shape as the section 54, but the width in the transport direction of the lower end portion rather than the upper end portion is gradually reduced downward. The first holding piece 68 is supported and fixed by the first holding piece supporting member 72 above the substrate 12. The first holding piece support member 72 has a plurality of widthwise support portions 74 (six in the illustrated embodiment) extending in the width direction, and one transport direction support portion 76 extending in the transport direction. Two first holding pieces 68 are fixed at predetermined positions on the upstream side surfaces of the respective width direction support portions 74 in the transport direction. The two first holding pieces 68 are arranged in the width direction between the grooves 16b and the grooves 16c formed in the substrate 12 when the first holding piece supporting member 72 is arranged on the support frame member described later. The upper ends of each are fixed so that they are evenly spaced (see FIG. 3). Each widthwise support portion 74 is fixed to the transport direction support portion 76 in parallel at a distance X along the transport path L. Therefore, the distance in the transport direction of the first holding piece 68 is also the same as the distance (X) corresponding to the distance between the retracted position and the forward position of the back plate 6.

The first holding piece support member 72 that supports and fixes the plurality of first holding pieces 68 is movably supported in the vertical direction by the support frame member 78 above the substrate 12. The support frame member 78 has a U-shaped upstream frame portion 80 arranged adjacent to the upstream end of the substrate 12 in the transport direction and having an open lower portion, and the other end in the width direction of the upper side of the upstream frame portion 80. On the upper surface of the linear intermediate frame portion 82 extending substantially horizontally from the right end portion in FIG. 4 toward the downstream in the transport direction and being connected and fixed to the installation table 46, and the substantially intermediate portion in the transport direction of the intermediate frame portion 82. It has a U-shaped upper frame portion 84 that is fixed and has an open lower portion. A pair of rails 86 extending linearly in the vertical direction are formed on one side (left side in FIG. 4) in the width direction of a pair of sides facing each other in the upper frame portion 84 in the transport direction. The holding piece support member 72 is movably connected to the rail 86 in the vertical direction via an actuator (not shown). Therefore, the first holding piece 68 fixed to the first holding piece support member 72 is also movable in the vertical direction. When the first holding piece support member 72 is connected to the support frame member 78, the first holding piece 68 is viewed in the transport direction, as is clearly understood by referring to FIG. Starting from the position where the back plate 6 is moved upstream by X from the retracted position (states shown in FIGS. 1 to 4), the back plates 6 are sequentially positioned at intervals of X toward the upstream side.

The second holding piece 70 is composed of a substantially hemispherical protrusion 88 projecting upward and a rod 90 connected to the lower surface of the protrusion 88. The second holding piece 70 is housed in a small hole 18 formed in the substrate 12, respectively, and all the second holding pieces 70 can be moved up and down at the same time by a connecting member and an actuator (not shown). As described above, each of the small holes 18 is spaced X from a position moved upstream by X from the retracted position of the back plate 6 (states shown in FIGS. 1 to 4) in the transport direction. Therefore, each second holding piece 70 is aligned with each first holding piece 68 in the transport direction.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 7-1 to 7-3, the holding member 10 is adjacent to the object to be transported, which is sequentially arranged in parallel along the transport path L by an actuator for operating the holding member 10. The acting position (FIGS. 7-2 (e) to 7-3 (h)) that enters between the two objects to be transported and the non-actuating position (FIGS. 7-1 (a) to 7-3 (h)) that separates from the object to be transported. It is movable between 7-2 (d) and 7-3 (i). In the illustrated embodiment, the first holding piece 68 moves downward from the non-acting position and is located at the working position, and the second holding piece 70 moves upward from the non-acting position and is located at the working position. .. When the first holding piece 68 is in the non-acting position, the lower end of the first holding piece 68 is positioned above the object to be transported supported by the substrate 12, and the first holding piece 68 acts. When in the position, the lower end of the first holding piece 68 is below the upper end edge (that is, the other end edge) of the object to be transported, faces the upper surface of the substrate 12, and is located slightly above this. When the second holding piece 70 is in the non-acting position, the upper end of the protrusion 88 is below the object to be transported supported by the substrate 12, and more specifically, the upper end of the protrusion 88 is the small hole 18 of the substrate 12. It is located inside (that is, between the upper surface and the lower surface of the substrate 12 when viewed in the vertical direction). When the second holding piece 70 is in the working position, the upper end of the protrusion 88 is located above the upper surface of the substrate 12 when viewed in the vertical direction. The first holding piece 68 and the second holding piece 70 can be simultaneously switched from the non-action position to the action position and from the action position to the non-action position by an appropriate control means.

Subsequently, the operation of the unloading device configured according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7-1 to 7-3 together with FIG.
First, prior to operating the unloading device, the operator manually arranges a large number of objects to be transported C on the substrate 12 in a state of being sequentially upright and parallel along the transport path L. As shown in FIG. 7-1 (a), the object to be transported C is not only between the section 54 adjacent to each other in the transport direction, but also between the section 54 at the downstream end in the transport direction and the back plate 6 and back. It is also placed between the plate 6 and each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b. When performing such work, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b of the separation and carrying-out means 28 is in an inactive state, and the back plate 6 is held in the retracting action position and the transport stand 8 is held in the retracting action position. The member 10 (that is, the first holding piece 68 and the second holding piece 70) is located in the non-acting position, respectively. Here, the flat plate-shaped object to be transported is a well-known package called a pouch for accommodating, for example, a liquid detergent or retort food, and has a one-sided edge portion called a so-called standing pouch as shown in FIG. The UP (upper edge in FIG. 6) is thinner than the other side edge BP (lower edge in FIG. 6), and the one-sided edge UL is the edge connecting the one-sided edge SL (one-sided edge UL and the other side edge BL). However, it also includes a type shorter than the vertically extending edge in FIG. The present invention is suitable for transporting the standing pouch. In the standing pouch, the one-sided edge UP is opened while being conveyed by the carrying-out device of the present invention, but after being conveyed by the carrying-out device of the present invention and filled with the contents, the one-sided edge UP is opened. It is blocked. In each of the transported objects C, the one-sided edge UL and the one-end edge SL are regulated by the upper surfaces of the wall 20 and the substrate 12, and the adjacent objects to be transported are in surface contact with each other in the transport direction, and are substantially vertical. Supported in an upright parallel arrangement (see FIGS. 5 (a) and 7-1 (a)).

When the operation of the unloading device is started, the separation unloading means 28 is activated to start the transport of the transported object C supported by the substrate 12.
The operation of the separate carrying-out means 28 will be described with reference to FIG. The pair of suction holders 30a and 30b of the separation and carrying-out means 28 are operated by the actuator 34 as follows. That is, first, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is located in the retracted position (FIG. 5A). At this time, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b may be in an operating state or a non-operating state. Next, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is moved forward (that is, moved to the upstream side in the transport direction) so as to come into contact with the front surface of the object to be transported C1 at the foremost end and to be switched to the operating state (FIG. 5 (b)). ). At this time, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is brought into contact with the surface inside the front one side edge portion of the frontmost object to be transported C1, and each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b has a bowl shape. The portion is in close contact with the object to be transported C1 and is deformed. Then, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b sucks and holds the frontmost object to be transported C1 by the negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump (not shown). Then, one 30a of the pair of suction holders laterally moves toward the other 30b of the pair of suction holders (that is, laterally moves perpendicular to one side edge UL of the transported object and along the front surface of the transported object). (Fig. 5 (c)). Thus, the distance between each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is shortened, that is, the distance between each part of the object to be transported C1 sucked and held by the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is shortened. The object to be transported C1 is compressed and a part thereof is curved and projected forward. At this time, in the illustrated embodiment, the pressing piece 36a locally moves the transported object C forward between the portions where each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is in contact with the front surface of the transported object C1. The object to be transported C is preliminarily convex to the front in order to press the object C. Therefore, when one of the pair of suction holders 30a moves laterally toward the other 30b of the pair of suction holders, the object to be transported C1 is surely curved and projected forward in a convex manner, and the frontmost end to be transported is reliably transported. The object C1 and the object to be transported C2 located immediately after this (that is, the second position from the front) are surely separated. After that, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is retracted to the retracted position, and the other 30b of the pair of suction holders is switched to the inactive state (FIG. 5 (d)). At this time, in the state shown in FIG. 5 (c), the suction holder 30a and the suction holder 30a are provided because the frontmost object to be transported C1 and the object to be transported C2 located second from the front are surely separated. 30b can surely separate only the frontmost object to be transported C1 from the one-side edge regulating means 22, that is, carry it out from the transporting means 2. After that, one of the pair of suction holders 30a laterally moves in the direction toward the one-side edge regulating means 22 to be positioned at a predetermined position, and releases the transported object C1 at such a predetermined position (FIG. 5 (e)). And (f). In this figure, the other 30b of the pair of suction holders is shown by a solid line). To release the transported object C1, one of the pair of suction holders 30a is switched to the non-operating state at the predetermined position, and the transported object C1 is received by an appropriate feeding means 92 such as a nip roller indicated by a two-dot chain line. It is done by passing. After releasing the object to be transported C1, one of the pair of suction holders 30a moves laterally toward the other 30b of the pair of suction holders, and each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b is again shown in FIG. The state shown in (a) is obtained.

Here, when not only one of the pair of suction holders 30a but also the other 30b of the pair of suction holders is movable in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction (that is, laterally movable), FIG. 5 described above. From the state shown in (d), each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b laterally moves in a direction close to the one-side edge regulating means 22 and is positioned at a predetermined position, and the transported object C1 is placed at the predetermined position. It may be discharged (FIGS. 5 (e) and 5 (f). In this case, the object to be transported C1 is attracted and held not only by one of the pair of suction holders 30a but also by the other 30b. Even if the object to be transported has a relatively long one-end edge SL, it can be reliably transported to a predetermined position. In this figure, the other 30b of the pair of suction holders is shown by a broken line. ). The release of the transported object C1 is performed by switching each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b to the non-operating state at the predetermined position. After releasing the transported object C1, each of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b laterally moves to the state shown in FIG. 5A again.

Therefore, in the unloading device of the present invention, regardless of whether or not there is a member that regulates the other side edge BL of the transported object C, the transported object is perpendicular to one side edge UL of the transported object C and is transported. One of the pair of suction holders 30a, that is, one side edge, in a state where the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b arranged at intervals along the front surface of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b are attracted to the front surface of the object to be transported C1 at the foremost end. By laterally moving one of the parts located closer to the restricting means 22 toward the other 30b, the transported object C is compressed and a part thereof is curved and projected forward, so that one side edge of the transported object C is projected. The portion can be detached from the one-sided edge regulating means 22.

Each time one or more items C to be transported are carried out by the above operation of the separation and carrying-out means 28, the back plate 6 and the transfer stand 8 are provided with a distance corresponding to the thickness of one or more items C to be transported. Advance. In the back plate 6 and the transport stand 8, the detection switch 38 provided on the downstream side surface in the transport direction of the back plate 6 is brought into contact with the transported object C (that is, the detection switch 38 is relatively pressed by the transported object C). It stops when it is closed. Even after the back plate 6 and the transport stand 8 are stopped, the above-mentioned operation of the separation / carry-out means 28 is continued. When the separation and unloading means 28 continues the above operation with the back plate 6 and the transport stand 8 stopped, the number of objects to be transported C between the separation and unloading means 28 and the back plate 6 is reduced by the objects to be transported C. The contact with the detection switch 38 (that is, the pressing of the detection switch 38 by the object to be transported C) is released, and the detection switch 38 is released. When the detection switch 38 is opened, the back plate 6 and the transfer stand 8 move forward again. By doing so, the suction of the pair of suction holders 30a and 30b to the object to be transported C is damaged due to the excessive pressing of the back plate 6 against the object to be transported C, and the separation and unloading means 28 Is prevented from being unable to properly convey the object to be conveyed. In the illustrated embodiment, the operation of both the back plate 6 and the transport stand 8 is controlled by switching the detection switch 38 provided on the back plate 6, but if desired, the downstream end of the transport stand 8 in the transport direction. A second detection switch is provided on the downstream side surface of the section 54 located in the transport direction so that the operation of the transport stand 8 is controlled independently of the operation of the back plate 6 by switching the second detection switch. May be good.

When the back plate 6 and the transport stand 8 advance from the respective retracting action positions shown in FIG. 7-1 (a) to the respective forward acting positions shown in FIG. 7-1 (b), the back plate 6 advances from the forward acting position. It moves to the non-acting position (FIG. 7-1 (c)), then to the retracted non-acting position (FIG. 7-2 (d)), and then to the retracting acting position and the holding member 10 (ie, that is). The first holding piece 68 and the second holding piece 70) move from the non-acting position to the acting position (FIG. 7-2 (e)). This movement of the holding member 10 may be during the movement of the back plate 6 from the forward action position to the backward action position or after the movement is completed. In the state shown in FIG. 7-2 (e), the back plate 6 and the partition portion 54 at the foremost end of the transport stand 8 match in the transport direction, but the pressing piece 36a constituting the back plate 6 and the auxiliary pressing Since the pieces 36b and 36c and the section 54 located at the foremost end of the transport stand 8 are different in position in the width direction, the pressing pieces 36a, the auxiliary pressing pieces 36b and 36c and the section 54 do not interfere with each other. Similarly, the first holding piece 68 and the second holding piece 70 and the partition 54 of the transport stand 8 match in the transport direction, but the first holding piece 68 and the second holding piece 70 and the transport stand 8 are matched. Since the positions of the section 54 are different from those of the section 54 in the width direction, the first holding piece 68 and the second holding piece 70 do not interfere with the section 54 (see FIG. 3). During the above movement of the back plate 6 and the holding member 10, the separation / carrying out means 28 continuously conveys the object to be conveyed C supported by the substrate 12.

After the holding member 10 moves from the non-acting position to the acting position, the transport stand 8 moves from the forward acting position to the forward non-acting position (FIG. 7-2 (f)) and then to the retracting non-acting position (FIG. 7-2 (f)). 7-3 (g)), and then move to the retracting action position (Fig. 7-3 (h)). Then, after the transport stand 8 moves to the retracting action position, the holding member 10 moves from the action position to the non-action position (FIG. 7-3 (i)). During the above movement of the transport stand 8 and the holding member 10, the separation / delivery means 28 continuously transports the object to be transported C supported by the substrate 12.

The state shown in FIG. 7-3 (i) and the state shown in FIG. 7-1 (a) are adjacent to the section 54 located at the end of the transport stand 8 in the transport direction and adjacent to the section 54 in the transport direction. Only the presence or absence of the transported object C in the region between the section 54 and the section 54 is different, but the other conditions are the same. By repeating the above operation, the transported object C can be continuously transported. Further, the worker can replenish the vacant area of the transported object C with a new transported object C, so that the transported object C can be continuously transported.

Although the carrying-out device of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications or modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. .. For example, in the present embodiment, the support substrate constituting the support means is composed of one flat plate and a groove is formed in the flat plate, but instead, a plurality of flat plates extending in the transport direction of the support substrate are widened. It may be arranged at intervals in the direction so that a groove is defined between the flat plates adjacent in the width direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the transport path extends linearly in the horizontal direction, but instead, the transport path may extend in a curved line.

2: Transport means 4: Support member 6: Back plate 8: Transport stand 10: Holding member 22: One side edge regulating means 28: Separation and carrying means 30a: One of a pair of suction holders 30b: The other of a pair of suction holders 36a: Pressed piece C: Object to be transported UL: One side edge of the object to be transported UP: One side edge of the object to be transported BL: The other side edge of the object to be transported SL: One end edge of the object to be transported L: Direction of transportation

Claims (3)

A transport means for laminating a large number of flat objects to be transported and at least restricting one side edge and one end edge thereof and forcing them toward the carry-out end, the front one side edge portion of the front end to be transported is abutted. In a unloading device provided with a one-sided edge regulating means and a separate unloading means for separating the frontmost transported object from the one-sided edge regulating means and separating it from the next transported object and carrying it out from the transport means.
The separate unloading means includes at least a pair of suction retainers arranged perpendicular to one side edge of the object to be transported and spaced apart along the front surface of the object to be transported.
Each of the pair of suction holders can move forward and backward between a forward position that abuts on the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported and a backward position that retracts in a direction away from the front surface of the frontmost object to be transported. One of the pair of suction holders, which is located closer to the one-sided edge regulating means, is vertically movable to one side edge of the object to be transported and laterally movable in a direction along the front surface of the object to be transported.
Each of the pair of suction holders can be switched between an activated state and a non-operated state.
Each of the pair of suction holders is moved forward from the retracted position to the forward position, abuts on the front surface of the object to be transported at the foremost end, and is switched to the operating state, and then the pair of suction holders. One is laterally moved towards the other of the pair of suction holders, after which each of the pair of suction holders is retracted to the retracted position and the other of the pair of suction holders is inactive. And then one of the pair of suction holders is laterally moved in the direction towards the one-sided edge regulating means.
A unloading device characterized by that. Transported object is transported toward the該搬Extension end in the horizontal direction are laminated are erected parallel arrangement,該片side edge is shorter than該片edge, unloading apparatus according to claim 1. The transport means comprises a pressing piece that locally presses the object to be transported forward, the pressing piece being the pair of suction pieces perpendicular to one side edge of the object to be transported and in a direction along the front surface of the object to be transported. The carry-out device according to claim 1, wherein each of the holders is located between the portions abutting on the front surface of the object to be transported.

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