JP7716082B2 - Transfer and transportation system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transfer and conveyance system that receives confectionery items from a first conveyor and places them in an aligned state on a second conveyor.

In various manufacturing lines, items (hereinafter referred to as "transported items") are sequentially discharged from manufacturing equipment and transported to the next process on a conveyor, but depending on the work content of the next process, it may be necessary to align and transport items that are irregularly arranged.

One such conveyor is known in which the rotor of the moving means, slidably mounted on the slats, is made of a ferromagnetic material, and is fitted to move along a guide rail consisting of a main rail and a branch rail, with electromagnets and magnets used to guide the conveyor from the main rail to the branch rail (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the conveyor described in Patent Document 1, when conveying an object in the branching direction, the fitted rotor is guided along the main rail and then from the main rail to the branch rail.

However, with the conveyor in Patent Document 1, when the rotating body moves from the main rail to the branch rail, discrepancies in the conveying speed or branch timing can cause it to collide head-on with the acute-angled boundary wall separating the main rail and the branch rail. This collision generates noise, and furthermore causes damage and deformation to the rotating body, the support shafts that support the rotating body, the guide rails, the slats, etc.

When the aforementioned parts are damaged or deformed, the damage or deformation can cause parts to get caught in each other, causing the conveying action of the slats or moving shoes to jerk or stop, resulting in conveying problems. Alternatively, the moving shoes can become detached from the slats, causing sorting problems where the items cannot be sorted or conveyed or the conveying direction cannot be changed.

Due to the problems mentioned above, there has been a demand in recent years for conveyors that can reliably and smoothly sort and transport items while preventing malfunctions and noise.

The system includes an endless conveyor, a sorting body, and a sorting device. The endless conveyor is wound around a driving rotor and a driven rotor having mutually parallel axes so as to rotate endlessly, with the upper surface in the vertical direction set as the conveying surface and the lower surface set as the return surface. A plurality of sorting bodies are arranged along the circumferential direction from the conveying surface to the return surface of the endless conveyor, and are supported via slide supports so as to be slidable in a direction parallel to the axis of the driving rotor and to rotate integrally with the rotation of the endless conveyor. The sorting device is arranged vertically opposite the sorting body and defines a plurality of conveying paths for the sorting body from an initial position, and the return surface defines a return path that returns the sorting body to the initial position. A proposed system includes a guide rail section and a sorting rail that faces the sorters vertically and sorts the sorters onto a predetermined conveying track; a magnet is provided on at least one side of the sorters facing the guide rail section and sorting rail; and a magnet that is attracted to the magnet on one side by magnetic force or a magnetic body that is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet on the other side is provided on the other side; the magnets or the magnet and the magnetic body face each other while the endless conveyor is rotating, and this facing state is maintained by the magnetic force between the magnets or the magnetic force of the magnet that attracts the magnetic body (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Patent No. 2630558 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-93931

However, the technology described in Patent Document 2 uses a rotating body to transport the confectionery, so it cannot transport confectionery that is dusted with flour or soft confectionery.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a transfer and transport system that can transport even flour-coated and soft confectioneries.

The invention of claim 1 is a transfer and conveyance system that receives conveyed objects, such as confectionery, from a first conveyor that conveys the conveyed objects and passes the conveyed objects onto a second conveyor in an aligned state, and includes a first transfer and conveyance belt conveyor that is movable between a first position and a second position in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveyed objects, receives the conveyed objects from the first conveyor at the first position or the second position, and moves to the second position or the first position to send out the conveyed objects; a first actuator that moves the first transfer and conveyance belt conveyor between the first position and the second position; and a first detection sensor that detects that the conveyed objects have been moved from the first conveyor onto the first transfer and conveyance belt conveyor. a second transfer belt conveyor that is movable between a third position at which the first transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the first transport conveyor when the first transfer belt conveyor is at a first position and a fourth position at which the first transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the first transport conveyor when the first transfer belt conveyor is at a second position, and that receives the transported object at the third position or the fourth position and moves to the fourth position or the third position to send out the transported object; a second actuator that moves the second transfer belt conveyor between the third and fourth positions; and The conveyor is characterized by comprising a second detection sensor that detects that the transported object has moved onto the conveyor, and a drive control means that receives a first signal from the first detection sensor and, upon receiving the first signal, drives the first actuator to move the first transfer belt conveyor from the first position or the second position to the second position or the first position, while receiving a second signal from the second detection sensor and , upon receiving the second signal , drives the second actuator to move the second transfer belt conveyor from the third position or the fourth position to the fourth position or the third position.

In this way, even if the confectionery is coated with flour or is soft, it can be transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor in an aligned state while being transported without touching the confectionery.

In this case, as described in claim 2, it is desirable that the drive control means, upon receiving a first signal from the first detection sensor, stops the first transfer belt conveyor before driving the first actuator, and, upon receiving a second signal from the second detection sensor, stops the second transfer belt conveyor before driving the second actuator.

As described in claim 3, it is desirable that the drive control means, after stopping the first transfer belt conveyor, resumes driving the first transfer belt conveyor when it reaches the first position or the second position, and, after stopping the second transfer belt conveyor, resumes driving the second transfer belt conveyor when it reaches the third position or the fourth position.

As described in claim 4, it is desirable that the first and second detection sensors be positioned apart from the first and second transfer belt conveyors in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first and second transfer belt conveyors.

As described in claim 5, further, a third transfer belt conveyor is movable between a fifth position at which the second transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the second transfer belt conveyor when the second transfer belt conveyor is at the third position and a sixth position at which the second transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the second transfer belt conveyor when the second transfer belt conveyor is at the fourth position in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the transported object, and receives the transported object at the fourth position or the fifth position and moves to the fifth or fourth position to send out the transported object; It is desirable to have a third actuator that moves the third transfer belt conveyor between the fifth position and the sixth position, and a third detection sensor that detects that the transported object has moved from the second transfer belt conveyor onto the third transfer belt conveyor, and the drive control means further receives a third signal from the third detection sensor, and upon receiving the third signal, drives the third actuator to move the third transfer belt conveyor from the fifth position or the sixth position to the sixth position or the fifth position.

As described in claim 6, it is desirable that the drive control means, upon receiving a third signal from the third detection sensor, stops the third transfer belt conveyor before driving the third actuator.

As described in claim 7, it is desirable that the drive control means, after stopping the third transfer belt conveyor, resumes driving the third transfer belt conveyor when it reaches the fifth or sixth position.

The present invention allows the confectioneries, even those coated with flour or soft confectioneries, to be transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor in an aligned state while being transported without touching the confectioneries.

1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a transfer system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a drive control means. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer system. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer system. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the transfer system. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a drive control means according to another embodiment.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a transfer system according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the transfer system 1 receives confectionery items A from a first conveyor 2, which conveys the confectionery items A in a single line at a predetermined interval, and transfers the confectionery items A onto a second conveyor 3 so that they are aligned in two lines. Here, confectionery refers to not only bread and Japanese sweets, but also food products, including flour-covered confectionery and soft confectionery.

The transfer system 1 comprises a first transfer belt conveyor 11 and a second transfer belt conveyor 12 located downstream of the first transfer belt conveyor 11 in the conveying direction. The second transfer belt conveyor 12 has a larger conveyor belt width than the first transfer belt conveyor 11.

The first transfer belt conveyor 11 is supported so that it can move back and forth between a first position and a second position, which are spaced a fixed distance apart, in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the object A by driving the first actuator 13. The first transfer belt conveyor 11 receives the object A from the first transfer belt conveyor 11 at the first or second position, and then moves to the second or first position to send the object A to the second transfer belt conveyor 12.

The first detection sensor 14 detects that an object has moved from the first transport conveyor 2 onto the first transfer belt conveyor 11. The first actuator 13 can be dustproof. The first detection sensor 14 is positioned away from the first transfer belt conveyor 11 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first transfer belt conveyor 11 so as not to interfere with the transport of the object.

The second transfer belt conveyor 12 is supported so that it can move back and forth between a third position and a fourth position, which are spaced a fixed distance apart, by driving the second actuator 15. When the first transfer belt conveyor 11 is at the first position, the second transfer belt conveyor 12 receives the transported object at the third position, then moves to the fourth position and sends the transported object to the second transport conveyor 3. On the other hand, when the first transfer belt conveyor 11 is at the second position, the second transfer belt conveyor 12 receives the transported object at the fourth position, moves to the third position and sends the transported object to the second transport conveyor 3.

The second detection sensor 16 also detects that the transported object has moved from the first transfer belt conveyor 11 onto the second transfer belt conveyor 12. The second detection sensor 16 is spaced apart from the second transfer belt conveyor 12 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the second transfer belt conveyor 12.

As shown in Figure 2, the drive means 11A, 12B of the first and second transfer belt conveyors 11, 12, the first and second actuators 13, 15, and the first and second detection sensors 14, 16 are linked to a drive control means 21.

The drive control means 21 receives a first signal from the first detection sensor 14, and upon receiving this first signal, drives the first actuator 13 to move the first transfer belt conveyor 11 from the first position or the second position to the second position or the first position, while receiving a second signal from the second detection sensor 16, and upon receiving the second signal, drives the second actuator 15 to move the second transfer belt conveyor 12 from the third position to the fourth position (or from the fourth position to the third position).

Furthermore, when the drive control means 21 receives a first signal from the first detection sensor 14, it stops the first transfer belt conveyor 11 before driving the first actuator 13, and when it receives a second signal from the second detection sensor 16, it stops the second transfer belt conveyor 12 before driving the second actuator 15.

The drive control means 21 then stops the first transfer belt conveyor 11, and after it reaches the first or second position, resumes driving (transportation) of the first transfer belt conveyor 11. Meanwhile, it stops the second transfer belt conveyor 12, and after it reaches the third or fourth position, resumes driving of the second transfer belt conveyor 12.

Next, we will explain the alignment operation performed by System 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the object A transported by the first transport conveyor 2 is first transferred onto one side P1 in the belt width direction of the first transfer belt conveyor 11, which is located in the first position. That is, the object A moves from the first transport conveyor 2 onto the first transfer belt conveyor 11, and the first detection sensor 14 detects the moved object A and sends a first signal to the drive control means 21. In response to this first signal, the drive control means 21 sends a signal to the drive means 11A of the first transfer belt conveyor 11, stopping the first transfer belt conveyor 11.

With the first transfer belt conveyor 11 in a stopped state, the first actuator 13 is driven to move it from the first position to the second position (see Figure 3). At this second position, one side P1 of the first transfer belt conveyor 11 in the belt width direction faces one side P11 of the second transfer belt conveyor 12 in the belt width direction, and the first transfer belt conveyor 11 is driven, causing the conveyed object to move to one side P11 of the second transfer belt conveyor 12 in the belt width direction. At the same time, the conveyed object A moves from the first transport conveyor 2 to the other side P2 in the belt width direction of the first transfer belt conveyor 11, which is in the second position, and is transferred.

With the second transfer belt conveyor 12 in a stopped state, the second actuator 15 is driven to move it from the third position to the fourth position, and at this fourth position, the second transfer belt conveyor 12 is driven, and the transported object is moved to one side of the belt width direction of the second transport conveyor 2 and transferred (see Figure 4). Meanwhile, the first transfer belt conveyor 11 is driven by the first actuator 13, and moves it from the second position to the first position and then returns (see Figure 4).

With the second transfer belt conveyor 12 in a stopped state, the second actuator 15 is driven to move it from the fourth position to the third position, and at this third position, the second transfer belt conveyor 12 is driven to move the transported object to the other side of the belt width direction of the second transport conveyor 2 and transfer it (see Figure 5). Meanwhile, the first transfer belt conveyor 11 is driven by the first actuator 13 to move it from the first position to the second position and return (see Figure 5).

As mentioned above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, but various additions, modifications, and deletions are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, such additions, modifications, and deletions are also included within the scope of the present invention.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, system 1A may further include a third transfer belt conveyor 18 (drive means 18A) that can move back and forth between a fifth position at which the second transfer belt conveyor 12 receives the transported object A when the second transfer belt conveyor 12 is in the third position and a sixth position at which the second transfer belt conveyor 12 receives the transported object A when the second transfer belt conveyor 12 is in the fourth position, and that receives the transported object at the fourth or fifth position and moves to the fifth or fourth position to send out the transported object A; a third actuator 19 that moves the third transfer belt conveyor 18 between the fifth and sixth positions; and a third detection sensor 20 that detects that the transported object has moved onto the third transfer belt conveyor 18; and drive control means 21A that receives a third signal from the third detection sensor 20 and, upon receiving the third signal, drives the third actuator to move the third transfer belt conveyor 18 from the fifth or sixth position to the sixth or fifth position.

The drive control means 21A, upon receiving a third signal from the third detection sensor 20, stops the third transfer belt conveyor 18 before driving the third actuator 19, and can also stop the third transfer belt conveyor 18 and resume driving the third transfer belt conveyor 18 after it reaches the fifth or sixth position. The transported object A is then transferred onto the second transport conveyor 3 so that the widthwise spacing of the transported object A is even wider than in the above embodiment, which has only the first and second transfer belt conveyors 11 and 12.

As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the third transfer belt conveyor 18, third actuator 19, and third detection sensor 20, the drive control means 21 is also connected to the drive means 11A and 12B of the first and second transfer belt conveyors 11 and 12, the first and second actuators 13 and 15, and the first and second detection sensors 14 and 16.

1, 1A Transfer system 2 First transfer conveyor 3 Second transfer conveyor 11 First transfer belt conveyor 11A Driving means 12 Second transfer belt conveyor 12A Driving means 13 First actuator 14 First detection sensor 15 Second actuator 16 Second detection sensor 18 Third transfer belt conveyor 18A Driving means 19 Third actuator 20 Third detection sensor 21, 21A Drive control means A Transferred object

Claims (7)

A transfer and conveyance system that receives confectionery items from a first conveyor that conveys the confectionery items, and passes the confectionery items onto a second conveyor in an aligned state,
a first transfer belt conveyor that is movable between a first position and a second position in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the transported object, receives the transported object from the first transport conveyor at the first position or the second position, and moves to the second position or the first position to send out the transported object;
a first actuator that moves the first transfer belt conveyor between a first position and a second position;
a first detection sensor that detects that the object has moved from the first transport conveyor onto the first transfer belt conveyor;
a second transfer belt conveyor that is movable between a third position at which the first transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the first transport conveyor when the first transfer belt conveyor is at a first position and a fourth position at which the first transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the first transport conveyor when the first transfer belt conveyor is at a second position in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the transported object, and that receives the transported object at the third position or the fourth position and moves to the fourth position or the third position to send out the transported object;
a second actuator that moves the second transfer belt conveyor between the third position and the fourth position;
a second detection sensor that detects that the object has moved onto the second transfer belt conveyor;
a drive control means for receiving a first signal from the first detection sensor, and driving the first actuator upon receiving the first signal to move the first transfer belt conveyor from the first position or the second position to the second position or the first position, and for receiving a second signal from the second detection sensor, and driving the second actuator upon receiving the second signal to move the second transfer belt conveyor from the third position or the fourth position to the fourth position or the third position,
A transfer and transportation system characterized by the above. The transfer and conveying system of claim 1, wherein the drive control means stops the first transfer belt conveyor before driving the first actuator when a first signal is received from the first detection sensor, and stops the second transfer belt conveyor before driving the second actuator when a second signal is received from the second detection sensor. The transfer and conveying system described in claim 2, wherein the drive control means stops the first transfer belt conveyor and then resumes driving the first transfer belt conveyor when it reaches the first position or the second position, and stops the second transfer belt conveyor and then resumes driving the second transfer belt conveyor when it reaches the third position or the fourth position. A transfer and conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second detection sensors are positioned apart from the first and second transfer belt conveyors in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the first and second transfer belt conveyors. Furthermore, a third transfer belt conveyor that is movable between a fifth position at which the second transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the second transfer belt conveyor when the second transfer belt conveyor is at a third position and a sixth position at which the second transfer belt conveyor receives the transported object from the second transfer belt conveyor when the second transfer belt conveyor is at a fourth position in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the transported object, and that receives the transported object at the fourth position or the fifth position and moves to the fifth or fourth position to send out the transported object;
a third actuator that moves the third transfer belt conveyor between the fifth position and the sixth position;
a third detection sensor that detects that the object has moved from the second transfer belt conveyor onto the third transfer belt conveyor;
the drive control means further receives a third signal from the third detection sensor, and drives the third actuator upon receiving the third signal to move the third transfer belt conveyor from the fifth position or the sixth position to the sixth position or the fifth position.
The transfer transport system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The transfer and transport system described in claim 5, wherein the drive control means stops the third transfer belt conveyor prior to driving the third actuator upon receiving a third signal from the third detection sensor. The transfer and conveying system described in claim 6, wherein the drive control means stops the third transfer belt conveyor and then resumes driving the third transfer belt conveyor when it reaches the fifth or sixth position.