JP7840689B2 - Article transfer unit and bag transport system - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to an article transfer unit and a bag transfer system.

In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, numerous bags are arranged in multiple rows, and multiple bags are transported downstream at once. In particular, the bag transport configuration can be changed from a state where two bags are transported in the direction of travel perpendicular to the direction of travel, to a state where four bags are transported in the direction of travel perpendicular to the direction of travel.

On the other hand, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the bag transport configuration can be changed from a state where two bags are arranged side by side in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel to a state where only one bag is positioned in that perpendicular direction.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-18816 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-12041 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-292330

In conventional devices that change the number of bag transport rows (i.e., the number of bags arranged perpendicular to the transport direction), such as those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 mentioned above, the number of bag transport rows before and after the change is predetermined, and it is not possible to adaptively change the number of bag transport rows before and after the change. Therefore, a device that changes to increase the number of bag transport rows cannot change to decrease the number of bag transport rows. Similarly, a device that changes to decrease the number of bag transport rows cannot change to increase the number of bag transport rows.

Therefore, conventional bag transfer units that change the number of bag transport rows have a unique configuration corresponding to the bag supply performance of the upstream bag supply unit and the bag receiving performance of the downstream unit. Consequently, when changing the bag supply performance of the bag supply unit and/or the bag receiving performance of the downstream unit, the bag transfer unit used before the change cannot adequately accommodate such changes. Therefore, the installation of a new bag transfer unit corresponding to the changed bag supply and receiving performance becomes necessary, leading to increased equipment costs.

This disclosure is made in view of the circumstances described above and provides a technology that allows for adaptive adjustment of the number of items, such as bags, being transported.

One aspect of the present invention relates to an article transfer unit that receives a plurality of article groups discharged from an article supply unit in an article supply zone, transfers them to an article discharge zone, and then discharges them from the article discharge zone to a subsequent unit. The transfer unit comprises: a transfer lane having an article supply zone and an article discharge zone; a plurality of transfer bodies that are independently movable along the transfer lane and move to the article discharge zone together with the article groups received in the article supply zone; a subsequent discharge device that discharges the article groups from one or more transfer bodies located in the article discharge zone to a subsequent unit; and a transfer control unit that controls the movement of the plurality of transfer bodies and the subsequent discharge device. Each of the plurality of article groups includes one or more articles, and two or more transfer bodies can be simultaneously located in the article discharge zone. The transfer control unit controls the movement of the plurality of transfer bodies, thereby changing at least one of the number and positions of the transfer bodies simultaneously located in the article discharge zone.

The transport lane includes an item transporter waiting zone. Among the multiple transporters, those transporting items together may move to the item discharge zone via the item transporter waiting zone.

The transport lane includes an empty transport body waiting zone. Transport bodies that are not carrying a group of goods may move to the goods supply zone via the empty transport body waiting zone.

Multiple item supply zones may be provided, and each of these item supply zones may be supplied with items sent from an item supply unit.

Multiple empty transport vehicle waiting zones are provided, and these multiple empty transport vehicle waiting zones are assigned to multiple item supply zones. Each of the multiple transport vehicles may move to its assigned item supply zone via one of the multiple empty transport vehicle waiting zones.

Multiple item discharge zones may be provided, and these multiple item discharge zones may be assigned to multiple downstream devices included in the downstream unit.

Multiple transport bodies move along a transport lane by magnetic force, and the transport control unit may control the magnetic force acting on the multiple transport bodies.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a bag conveying system comprising a bag supply unit including a bag-making machine, an article transfer unit, and a downstream unit that receives one or more groups of bags discharged from the article transfer unit as a group of articles.

According to this disclosure, the number of items such as bags being transported can be adaptively changed.

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a bag conveying system according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 shows an example of the bag conveying system shown in Figure 1 in operation. Figure 3 shows an example of the operation of the bag conveying system shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 shows an example of the operation of the bag conveying system shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 shows an example of the operation of the bag conveying system shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a bag conveying system according to the second embodiment. Figure 7 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a bag conveying system according to the third embodiment.

Typical embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The following embodiments relate to a bag conveying system 10 for conveying bags B (particularly a group of bags Bg) as articles, but they can also be similarly applied to container conveying systems for conveying containers other than bags, and article conveying systems for conveying articles other than containers.

In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the direction of movement of the transported object during normal operation.

[First Embodiment]
Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a bag conveying system 10 according to the first embodiment.

The bag transport system 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a bag supply unit 11, a bag transport unit 12 that transports the bag group Bg received from the bag supply unit 11, and a downstream unit 13 that receives one or more bag groups Bg sent out from the bag transport unit 12.

The bag supply unit 11 shown in Figure 1 includes a plurality of bag supply devices (i.e., a first bag supply device 11a and a second bag supply device 11b). The first bag supply device 11a and the second bag supply device 11b each have a bag-making machine 14 and a supply relay device 15.

The bag-making machine 14 continuously produces a large number of bags (empty bags) B and sends them to the supply relay device 15. The specific configuration of the bag-making machine 14 is not limited. For example, the bag-making machine 14 may have a configuration similar to that of the horizontal bag-making machine described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-18816.

The supply relay device 15 includes a supply conveyor 16 and a stacking device 17. The supply conveyor 16 sends the bags B received from the bag-making machine 14 and the bag group Bg created by the stacking device 17 downstream. The stacking device 17 stacks multiple bags B sent from the bag-making machine 14 in the height direction to create a bundle-like bag group Bg. The specific configuration of the stacking device 17 is not limited. As an example, the stacking device 17 may have a configuration similar to the stacking device described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 4-292330. The bag group Bg created by the stacking device 17 is placed on the supply conveyor 16 and sent downstream by the supply conveyor 16.

In this example, each bag group Bg contains multiple bags B, but a bag group Bg may also contain only one bag B. Typically, each bag group Bg contains 1 to 50 bags B, but the number of bags B in each bag group Bg is not limited. If all bag groups Bg contain only one bag B, the accumulation device 17 is unnecessary.

The supply relay device 15 further includes a swivel device (not shown) and a transfer device (not shown). The swivel device rotates the bag group Bg placed on the supply conveyor 16 by 90 degrees around a vertically extending axis of rotation, thereby changing the orientation of the bag group Bg. The transfer device transfers the bag group Bg, whose orientation has been changed by the swivel device, from the supply conveyor 16 to the transfer body 30 located in the bag supply zone (i.e., the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12, respectively). The specific configuration of the swivel device and the transfer device is not limited. For example, the swivel device and the transfer device may lift the bag group Bg while swiveling and/or moving the bag group Bg.

In this way, the bag groups Bg produced by the first bag supply device 11a and the second bag supply device 11b are sent to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 of the bag transfer unit 12. Each of the first bag supply device 11a and the second bag supply device 11b is driven under the control of a control device (not shown), and the aforementioned bag-making machine 14 and supply relay device 15 (i.e., the supply conveyor 16, accumulation device 17, rotation device, and transfer device) work in conjunction to continuously send multiple bag groups Bg to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

In the example shown in Figure 1, multiple (two) bags B are simultaneously supplied from the bag-making machine 14 to the supply relay device 15 (particularly the supply conveyor 16), and multiple (two) bags Bg are simultaneously supplied from the supply relay device 15 to the bag supply zone Z11 (specifically, multiple (two) transfer bodies 30 located in each of the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12).

The bag transfer unit 12 receives multiple bag groups Bg sent from the bag supply unit 11 (first bag supply device 11a and second bag supply device 11b) in the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12, transfers them to the bag discharge zone Z2, and then sends the bag groups Bg from the bag discharge zone Z2 to the downstream unit 13.

The bag transfer unit 12 in this example includes a transfer lane 20, a plurality of transfer bodies 30 that move along the transfer lane 20, a downstream delivery device 18 that sends the bag group Bg from each transfer body 30 to the downstream unit 13, and a transfer control unit 32 that controls the movement of the plurality of transfer bodies 30 and the downstream delivery device 18.

The transport lane 20 has lanes 1 through 6, lanes 26. Lanes 1 through 4, lanes 24, are arranged in this order in a circular (i.e., endless) pattern, and adjacent lanes are connected to each other without any gaps.

The first lane 21 has bag supply zones (i.e., a first bag supply zone Z11 and a second bag supply zone Z12). In the first bag supply zone Z11, one or more transfer bodies 30 (two transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in Figure 1) are simultaneously arranged to receive the bag group Bg from the first bag supply device 11a. In the second bag supply zone Z12, one or more transfer bodies 30 (two transfer bodies 30 in the example shown in Figure 1) are simultaneously arranged to receive the bag group Bg from the second bag supply device 11b.

The third lane 23 has a bag release zone Z2. One or more transport bodies 30 (in the example shown in Figure 1, multiple transport bodies 30) carrying the bag group Bg are arranged in the bag release zone Z2. The bag release zone Z2 has a size (length) that allows multiple (e.g., 10 or more) transport bodies 30 to be positioned simultaneously. However, the bag release zone Z2 is not necessarily limited to simultaneously holding the maximum number of transport bodies 30 that can be positioned. The number and position of the transport bodies 30 arranged in the bag release zone Z2 can be changed under the control of the transport control unit 32.

One end of the first lane 21 and one end of the third lane 23 are connected via the second lane 22, and the other end of the first lane 21 and the other end of the third lane 23 are connected via the fourth lane 24.

The first lane 21 and the third lane 23 are not only interconnected via the second lane 22 and the fourth lane 24 as described above, but are also interconnected via the fifth lane 25 and the sixth lane 26.

One end of the fifth lane 25 is connected to the portion of the first lane 21 downstream of the first bag supply zone Z11 (particularly the portion between the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12), and the other end is connected to the portion of the third lane 23 upstream of the bag discharge zone Z2. One end of the sixth lane 26 is connected to the portion of the first lane 21 upstream of the second bag supply zone Z12 (particularly the portion between the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12), and the other end is connected to the portion of the third lane 23 downstream of the bag discharge zone Z2. The portion of the first lane 21 to which the sixth lane 26 is connected is located upstream of the portion to which the fifth lane 25 is connected.

In the transport lane 20 having the above configuration, the fourth lane 24 has a first empty transport body waiting zone Z41, and the fifth lane 25 has a first bag transport body waiting zone Z31. Furthermore, the sixth lane 26 has a second empty transport body waiting zone Z42, and the second lane 22 has a second bag transport body waiting zone Z32.

Furthermore, the first empty transport body waiting zone Z41 can be provided not only in the fourth lane 24, but also in lanes adjacent to the fourth lane 24. In this example, the first empty transport body waiting zone Z41 is provided across both the fourth lane 24 and the first lane 21.

Furthermore, the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 can be provided not only in the sixth lane 26, but also in lanes adjacent to the sixth lane 26. In this example, as described later (see Figure 2, etc.), the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 is provided in the sixth lane 26 and the first lane 21.

Furthermore, the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32 can be provided not only in the second lane 22, but also in lanes adjacent to the second lane 22 (for example, the first lane 21 and/or the third lane 23).

Furthermore, each of the first bag transporter waiting zone Z31, the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32, the first empty transporter waiting zone Z41, and the second empty transporter waiting zone Z42 may be composed of a single continuous region, or they may include two or more discrete regions that are spaced apart from each other.

Each transporter 30 receives the bag group Bg in the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 and moves with the bag group Bg to the bag discharge zone Z2. Multiple transporters 30 are arranged to move independently of each other along the transport lane 20.

In this example, the transporter 30 is also called a shuttle and circulates along the transport lane 20 between the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 and the bag release zone Z2. That is, each transporter 30, after loading the bag group Bg in the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12, moves along the transport lane 20 from the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 to the bag release zone Z2, and after the bag group Bg is sent to the downstream unit 13 by the downstream delivery device 18 in the bag release zone Z2, moves back from the bag release zone Z2 to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 empty, repeating this process.

In this example, the multiple transport units 30 are classified into a first transport unit group that receives the bag group Bg from the first bag supply device 11a and transports it to the bag discharge zone Z2, and a second transport unit group that receives the bag group Bg from the second bag supply device 11b and transports it to the bag discharge zone Z2.

The movement route of the transporter 30 of the first transporter group is a first closed-loop route including the first bag supply zone Z11 (first lane 21), the first bag transporter waiting zone Z31 (fifth lane 25), the bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23), and the first empty transporter waiting zone Z41 (fourth lane 24) (see the dashed line in Figure 1).

The movement route of the transporter 30 of the second transporter group is a second closed-loop route including the second bag supply zone Z12 (first lane 21), the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32 (second lane 22), the bag release zone Z2 (third lane 23), and the second empty transporter waiting zone Z42 (sixth lane 26) (see the dashed line in Figure 1). By assigning specific empty transporter waiting zones Z41, Z42 and/or specific bag transporter waiting zones Z31, Z32 to each of the multiple bag supply zones Z11 and Z12, a specific closed-loop route can be provided for each of the multiple bag supply zones Z11 and Z12. This allows for the proper supply of bag group Bg to the transporter 30 in the other bag supply zone and the transfer of bag group Bg from the other bag supply zone to the bag release zone Z2, even if the supply of bag group Bg to the transporter 30 becomes impossible in one of the first bag supply zones Z11 or the second bag supply zone Z12.

Furthermore, each transporter 30 may remain classified into essentially the same transporter group, or the transporter group to which it is classified may be determined adaptively. That is, each transporter 30 may always move along the same closed-loop route (first closed-loop route or second closed-loop route). Alternatively, after the bag group Bg is released to the downstream unit 13 in the bag release zone Z2, each transporter 30 may follow a closed-loop route determined according to the situation under the control of the transport control unit 32.

Each transport body 30 moves along the transport lane 20 under the control of the transport control unit 32. In this example, the multiple transport bodies 30 move along the transport lane 20 by magnetic force. The transport control unit 32 controls the magnetic force acting on the multiple transport bodies 30. Specifically, each of the transport lanes 20 (i.e., the first lane 21 to the sixth lane 26) contains numerous electromagnets (not shown) arranged along the direction of extension, and the transport control unit 32 adjusts the current flowing through each of these electromagnets. For example, it is possible to control the movement drive of each transport body 30 based on the movement drive control method of a linear motor car.

The movement method of each transporter 30 is not limited to the linear drive method (i.e., magnetic drive method) described above, and any method can be adopted. For example, each transporter 30 may be equipped with a power device such as a motor driven under the control of the transport control unit 32, and moved by the power output from said power device.

The transport control unit 32 directly or indirectly grasps and monitors the positional information of all transported objects 30, and controls the movement of each transported object 30 based on this positional information. Therefore, the transport control unit 32 can control the movement of multiple transported objects 30, variably determining the number and position of transported objects 30 in any area of the transport lane 20. For example, it can change the number and position of transported objects 30 simultaneously located in the bag discharge zone Z2.

The downstream discharge device 18 has any configuration that allows it to discharge the bag group Bg from one or more transfer bodies 30 located in the bag discharge zone Z2 to the downstream unit 13 under the control of the transfer control unit 32. The downstream discharge device 18 can employ a mechanism corresponding to the configuration of each transfer body 30 (particularly the method and form of supporting the bag group Bg in the transfer body 30).

For example, if the bag group Bg is positioned in a state where it can be gripped at each transporter 30 located in the bag release zone Z2, the subsequent delivery device 18 may include a gripping unit, such as a gripper, capable of gripping and releasing the bag group Bg at each transporter 30, and a moving unit that can move the gripping unit. Alternatively, if the bag group Bg is positioned in a state where it can slide toward the subsequent unit 13 at each transporter 30 located in the bag release zone Z2, the subsequent delivery device 18 may include a pressing unit, such as a pusher, that can slide the bag group Bg at each transporter 30.

When multiple transport bodies 30 are located in the bag release zone Z2, the downstream discharge device 18 simultaneously moves the bag group Bg from the multiple transport bodies 30 located in the bag release zone Z2 to the downstream unit 13. Note that the timing of the downstream discharge device 18 moving the bag group Bg from the multiple transport bodies 30 to the downstream unit 13 does not necessarily have to be strictly simultaneous; there may be a difference in the timing of the bag group Bg's movement (i.e., release timing) among the transport bodies 30.

As a result, the multiple bag groups Bg sent from the multiple transport bodies 30 located in the bag discharge zone Z2 are arranged in a straight line on the discharge conveying device 19 (e.g., a belt conveyor) of the downstream unit 13. The direction in which the multiple bag groups Bg are arranged on the discharge conveying device 19 (i.e., the vertical direction in Figure 1) coincides with the direction in which the multiple transport bodies 30 that carried these multiple bag groups Bg to the bag discharge zone Z2 are arranged in the bag discharge zone Z2 (i.e., the vertical direction in Figure 1), and is perpendicular to the direction in which the multiple bag groups Bg are conveyed by the discharge conveying device 19.

However, the multiple bag groups Bg sent from the bag release zone Z2 to the release conveying device 19 do not necessarily have to be perpendicular to the conveying direction of the release conveying device 19; for example, they may be arranged in a direction inclined with respect to the conveying direction.

The discharge and conveying device 19 conveys the multiple bag groups Bg placed on it downstream. The discharge and conveying device 19 may convey the multiple bag groups Bg intermittently or continuously without intermittent stops. Any device can be installed downstream of the discharge and conveying device 19. For example, the multiple bag groups Bg conveyed downstream by the discharge and conveying device 19 are sent to other devices such as a packaging machine or a storage container for the bag groups Bg, which are installed downstream of the discharge and conveying device 19.

Next, an example of the operation of the bag conveying system 10 described above will be explained.

Figures 2 to 5 show examples of the operation of the bag conveying system 10 shown in Figure 1. The operation of the bag conveying system 10, described below, is performed as appropriate under the control of the transfer control unit 32.

As shown in Figure 2, multiple empty transport bodies 30 are stationed in each of the first empty transport body waiting zone Z41 and the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42. In the example shown in Figure 2, the multiple transport bodies 30 stationed in the first empty transport body waiting zone Z41 are located upstream of the first bag supply zone Z11 in the first lane 21 and the fourth lane 24. Similarly, in the example shown in Figure 2, the multiple transport bodies 30 stationed in the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 are located upstream of the second bag supply zone Z12 in the sixth lane 26 and the first lane 21. In particular, the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42, located in the first lane 21, is located downstream of the portion of the first lane 21 to which the fifth lane 25 connects.

In the example shown in Figure 2, multiple empty transport units 30 are also waiting in the bag release zone Z2. However, empty transport units 30 do not necessarily have to be waiting in the bag release zone Z2.

As shown in Figure 2, two empty transport bodies 30 move from the first empty transport body waiting zone Z41 to the first bag supply zone Z11, and two empty transport bodies 30 move from the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 to the second bag supply zone Z12. In particular, the movement of transport bodies 30 from the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 (especially the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located adjacent to the second bag supply zone Z12) on the first lane 21 to the second bag supply zone Z12 allows for rapid replenishment of transport bodies 30 to the second bag supply zone Z12.

Then, the first bag supply device 11a supplies one bag group Bg at a time to the two empty transport bodies 30 waiting in the first bag supply zone Z11. Similarly, the second bag supply device 11b supplies one bag group Bg at a time to the two empty transport bodies 30 waiting in the second bag supply zone Z12.

In this way, the two transporters 30 supplied with the bag group Bg in the first bag supply zone Z11 proceed along with the bag group Bg through the first lane 21 to the fifth lane 25 and wait in the first bag transporter waiting zone Z31 (see Figure 3). Meanwhile, the two transporters 30 supplied with the bag group Bg in the second bag supply zone Z12 proceed along with the bag group Bg through the first lane 21 to the second lane 22 and wait in the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32.

Then, the above-described steps—"movement of the transporter 30 from empty transporter waiting zones Z41 and Z42 to bag supply zones Z11 and Z12," "supply of bag group Bg from bag supply unit 11 to transporter 30 located in bag supply zones Z11 and Z12," and "movement of the transporter 30 from bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 to bag transporter waiting zones Z31 and Z32, and waiting in bag transporter waiting zones Z31 and Z32"—are repeated. As a result, multiple transporters 30 supporting bag group Bg are waiting in each of the first bag transporter waiting zone Z31 and the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32.

Furthermore, in the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the first lane 21, new empty transport bodies 30 are supplied from the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the sixth lane 26 in accordance with the decrease in the number of waiting transport bodies 30. The timing of supplying transport bodies 30 from the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the sixth lane 26 to the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the first lane 21 is not limited. New empty transport bodies 30 may be supplied to the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the first lane 21 after a predetermined number of transport bodies 30 (for example, two or more transport bodies 30) have moved from the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the first lane 21 to the second bag supply zone Z12. Alternatively, after all the transport bodies 30 have moved from the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the first lane 21, a new empty transport body 30 may be supplied to the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 located in the first lane 21.

In this example, the movement route of the transporter 30 from the first bag supply zone Z11 to the first bag transporter standby zone Z31 and the movement route of the transporter 30 from the second empty transporter standby zone Z42 located in the sixth lane 26 to the second empty transporter standby zone Z42 located in the first lane 21 partially coincide in the first lane 21. Therefore, the transport control unit 32 controls the movement timing and/or speed of the transporter 30 moving from the first bag supply zone Z11 to the first bag transporter standby zone Z31 and the transporter 30 moving from the sixth lane 26 to the first lane 21 to prevent collisions between the transporters 30.

Furthermore, the movement route of the transporter 30 from the first bag transporter waiting zone Z31 to the bag release zone Z2, and the movement route of the transporter 30 from the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32 to the bag release zone Z2, at least partially coincide in the third lane 23. Also, the movement route of the transporter 30 from the bag release zone Z2 to the first empty transporter waiting zone Z41, and the movement route of the transporter 30 from the bag release zone Z2 to the second empty transporter waiting zone Z42, at least partially coincide in the third lane 23. Therefore, the transport control unit 32 controls the movement timing and/or movement speed of each transporter 30 moving between these zones to prevent collisions between the transporters 30.

Then, multiple transport bodies 30 supporting the bag group Bg move from the first bag transport body waiting zone Z31 and the second bag transport body waiting zone Z32 to the bag release zone Z2 (see Figure 4), where they are arranged in a straight line (see Figure 5). Prior to the new transport bodies 30 containing the bag group Bg moving to the bag release zone Z2, the empty transport bodies 30 that were waiting in the bag release zone Z2 move from the bag release zone Z2 to the first empty transport body waiting zone Z41 and the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42. As a result, empty space is created in the bag release zone Z2, and the new transport bodies 30 containing the bag group Bg move into this empty space.

In this example, the transport units 30 move from both the first bag transport unit waiting zone Z31 and the second bag transport unit waiting zone Z32 to the bag release zone Z2. Therefore, the transport control unit 32 controls the movement timing and/or speed of the transport units 30 moving from the first bag transport unit waiting zone Z31 to the bag release zone Z2 and from the second bag transport unit waiting zone Z32 to the bag release zone Z2, to prevent collisions between the transport units 30.

Then, with the desired number of transport bodies 30 arranged in the bag discharge zone Z2, the bag group Bg is moved from these transport bodies 30 to the downstream unit 13 (particularly the discharge conveying device 19) by the downstream discharge device 18. As a result, as shown in Figure 5, the multiple bag groups Bg, discharged from the multiple transport bodies 30 located in the bag discharge zone Z2, are placed on the discharge conveying device 19 in a straight line.

In this way, the discharge conveying device 19, on which multiple bag groups Bg are loaded, moves the loaded bag groups Bg downstream. This creates an empty area within the discharge conveying device 19 adjacent to the bag discharge zone Z2, and the bag groups Bg sent out from the multiple transport bodies 30 that will next be lined up in the bag discharge zone Z2 are placed in this empty area in a straight line.

The bag conveying system 10 can continuously supply a desired number of bags Bg arranged in a single row to the downstream unit 13 (discharge conveying device 19) by repeatedly performing the series of steps described above.

As described above, the bag transfer unit (article transfer unit) 12 of this embodiment receives a plurality of bag groups (article groups) Bg sent out from the bag supply unit (article supply unit) 11 in the bag supply zones (article supply zones) Z11 and Z12, transfers them to the bag discharge zone (article discharge zone) Z2, and sends them out from the bag discharge zone Z2 to the next unit 13. The bag transfer unit 12 comprises a transfer lane 20 having bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 and a bag discharge zone Z2, a plurality of transfer bodies 30 that can move independently of each other along the transfer lane 20 and move to the bag discharge zone Z2 together with the bag groups Bg received in the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12, a next-stage delivery device 18 that sends the bag groups Bg from one or more transfer bodies 30 located in the bag discharge zone Z2 to the next unit 13, and a transfer control unit 32 that controls the movement of the plurality of transfer bodies 30 and the next-stage delivery device 18. Each of the multiple bag groups Bg contains one or more bags (articles) B. Two or more transporters 30 can be simultaneously positioned in the bag release zone Z2. The transport control unit 32 controls the movement of the multiple transporters 30, thereby changing at least one of the number and positions of the transporters 30 simultaneously positioned in the bag release zone Z2.

Furthermore, the bag conveying system (article conveying system) 10 of this embodiment comprises a bag supply unit (article supply unit) 11 including a bag making machine 14, a bag transfer unit (article transfer unit) 12, and a downstream unit 13 that receives one or more bag groups Bg sent from the bag transfer unit 12 as an article group.

The bag transfer unit 12 and bag transport system 10 allow for adaptive changes to the number and position of the bag group Bg transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13. Specifically, by changing the number of transfer bodies 30 simultaneously located in the bag discharge zone Z2 under the control of the transfer control unit 32, the number of bag group Bg transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13 can be increased or decreased. Furthermore, by adjusting the position of the transfer bodies 30 in the bag discharge zone Z2 under the control of the transfer control unit 32, the transfer position of the bag group Bg transferred from the bag transfer unit 12 to the subsequent unit 13 can be adjusted.

Furthermore, the transfer lane 20 has bag transfer waiting zones (item transfer waiting zones) Z31 and Z32. Among the multiple transfer bodies 30, the transfer body 30 that moves together with the bag group Bg moves to the bag discharge zone Z2 via the bag transfer waiting zones Z31 and Z32.

This allows each transporter 30 to efficiently move along the transport lane 20 from the bag transporter waiting zones Z31 and Z32 to the bag release zone Z2. In particular, by utilizing the bag transporter waiting zones Z31 and Z32 as waiting zones for the transporters 30, it is possible to stock transporters 30 with bag groups Bg in the waiting zones Z31 and Z32, while moving the desired number of transporters 30 to the bag release zone Z2 at the desired timing as needed. This allows for the rapid placement of the desired number of transporters 30 in the bag release zone Z2, even when the number of bag groups Bg that can be transported at once from the bag supply unit 11 to the bag transport unit 12 is greater than the number of bag groups Bg that should be transported at once from the bag transport unit 12 to the downstream unit 13. This enables efficient transport of the desired number of bag groups Bg from the bag transport unit 12 to the downstream unit 13.

Furthermore, the transfer lane 20 has empty transfer body waiting zones Z41 and Z42. Transfer bodies 30 that do not carry a bag group Bg move via empty transfer body waiting zones Z41 and Z42 to bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

This allows each transporter 30 to efficiently move along the transport lane 20 from the empty transporter waiting zones Z41 and Z42 to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12. In particular, by utilizing the empty transporter waiting zones Z41 and Z42 as waiting zones for the transporters 30, it is possible to stock transporters 30 without bag groups Bg in the empty transporter waiting zones Z41 and Z42, while simultaneously moving the desired number of transporters 30 to the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 at the desired timing as needed.

Furthermore, multiple bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 are provided, and a group of bags Bg sent from the bag supply unit 11 is supplied to each of the multiple bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

This allows for the efficient supply of a large number of bags Bg from the bag supply unit 11 to the bag transfer unit 12.

Furthermore, multiple empty transporter waiting zones Z41 and Z42 are provided. These multiple empty transporter waiting zones Z41 and Z42 are assigned to multiple bag supply zones Z11 and Z12. Each of the multiple transporters 30 moves to its assigned bag supply zone Z11 or Z12 via one of the multiple empty transporter waiting zones Z41 or Z42.

This allows the transfer unit 30 to be efficiently moved to multiple bag supply zones Z11 and Z12.

Furthermore, the multiple transport bodies 30 move along the transport lane 20 by magnetic force, and the transport control unit 32 controls the magnetic force acting on the multiple transport bodies 30.

This allows the transporter 30 to move smoothly while reducing the influence of external forces such as vibration, and to transport the bag group Bg from the bag supply zones Z11 and Z12 to the bag discharge zone Z2 while suppressing the disruption of the bag group Bg's condition. Furthermore, the stopping position of the transporter 30 can be flexibly adjusted, allowing for precise changes to the number and position of the transporters 30 in the bag discharge zone Z2.

[Second Embodiment]
In this embodiment, elements identical to or corresponding to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a bag conveying system 10 according to the second embodiment.

In this embodiment, multiple bag discharge zones (i.e., a first bag discharge zone Z21, a second bag discharge zone Z22, and a third bag discharge zone Z23) are provided. These bag discharge zones Z21, Z22, and Z23 are assigned to each of the multiple discharge and conveying devices (first discharge and conveying device 19a, second discharge and conveying device 19b, and third discharge and conveying device 19c: multiple downstream devices) provided by the downstream unit 13.

In the example shown in Figure 6, a first discharge and conveying device 19a is provided adjacent to the first bag discharge zone Z21, a second discharge and conveying device 19b is provided adjacent to the second bag discharge zone Z22, and a third discharge and conveying device 19c is provided adjacent to the third bag discharge zone Z23.

The downstream discharge device 18 discharges four bag groups Bg from four transfer bodies 30 located in the first bag discharge zone Z21 to the first discharge conveying device 19a, six bag groups Bg from six transfer bodies 30 located in the second bag discharge zone Z22 to the second discharge conveying device 19b, and four bag groups Bg from four transfer bodies 30 located in the third bag discharge zone Z23 to the third discharge conveying device 19c.

The downstream discharge device 18 may simultaneously (i.e., at the same timing) discharge the bag group Bg from each of the first bag discharge zones Z21 to the third bag discharge zone Z23 to the first discharge conveying device 19a to the third discharge conveying device 19c, or it may do so at different timings. Furthermore, the downstream discharge device 18 may be provided as a common device for the first bag discharge zones Z21 to the third bag discharge zone Z23, or it may be provided as multiple separate devices assigned to each of the first bag discharge zones Z21 to the third bag discharge zone Z23.

The transfer control unit 32 precisely controls the movement of each transfer body 30 to accurately position the desired number of transfer bodies 30 in the desired locations within each of the bag discharge zones Z21, Z22, and Z23.

The other components of the bag conveying system 10 shown in Figure 6 are the same as those of the bag conveying system 10 shown in Figure 1 above.

According to the bag transfer unit 12 of this embodiment, even when the downstream unit 13 is equipped with multiple discharge conveying devices (first discharge conveying device 19a to third discharge conveying device 19c), it is possible to appropriately supply the desired number of bag groups Bg to each of the discharge conveying devices 19a to 19c.

In particular, the multiple bag discharge zones shown in Figure 6 (first bag discharge zone Z21 to third bag discharge zone Z23) are separated from each other by dividing the single bag discharge zone Z2 shown in Figure 1 into multiple zones. Therefore, the bag transfer unit 12 shown in Figure 6 is also adaptable when the subsequent unit 13 includes a different number of discharge conveying devices than the three discharge conveying devices 19a to 19c shown in Figure 6, and when the subsequent unit 13 includes multiple discharge conveying devices arranged differently from the three discharge conveying devices 19a to 19c shown in Figure 6.

[Third Embodiment]
In this embodiment, elements identical to or corresponding to those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their detailed descriptions are omitted.

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a bag conveying system 10 according to the third embodiment.

The number of bag supply devices provided by the bag supply unit 11 is not limited; in the example shown in Figure 7, three bag supply devices (i.e., the first bag supply device 11a to the third bag supply device 11c) are provided. The number of bag supply zones is also not limited; in the example shown in Figure 7, three bag supply zones (i.e., the first bag supply zone Z11 to the third bag supply zone Z13) are provided on the first lane 21, each assigned to one of the three bag supply devices 11a to 11c.

In the first bag supply zone Z11, one or more transfer units 30 (two transfer units 30 in the example shown in Figure 7) are simultaneously arranged to receive the bag group Bg from the first bag supply device 11a. In the second bag supply zone Z12, one or more transfer units 30 (two transfer units 30 in the example shown in Figure 7) are simultaneously arranged to receive the bag group Bg from the second bag supply device 11b. In the third bag supply zone Z13, one or more transfer units 30 (two transfer units 30 in the example shown in Figure 7) are simultaneously arranged to receive the bag group Bg from the third bag supply device 11c.

In this embodiment as well, separate bag transfer unit waiting zones Z31 to Z33 and separate empty transfer unit bag machine zones Z41 to Z43 are assigned to each of the bag supply zones Z11 to Z13.

Specifically, the transport lane 20 further includes a seventh lane 27 and an eighth lane 28, in addition to the first to sixth lanes 21 and 26 described above.

Both ends of the second lane 22 are connected to the middle of the first lane 21 and the middle of the third lane 23, and both ends of the seventh lane 27 are connected to the ends of the first lane 21 and the ends of the third lane 23. One end of the second lane 22 is connected to the portion of the first lane 21 between the second bag supply zone Z12 and the third bag supply zone Z13, and the other end is connected to the portion of the third lane 23 between the portion to which the fifth lane 25 is connected and the portion to which the seventh lane 27 is connected.

Therefore, in the example shown in Figure 7, the first lane 21, the seventh lane 27, the third lane 23, and the fourth lane 24 are arranged in this order in a circular (i.e., endless) configuration, and adjacent lanes are connected to each other without any gaps.

One end of the eighth lane 28 is connected to the portion of the first lane 21 between the first bag supply zone Z11 and the second bag supply zone Z12 (specifically, the portion of the first lane 21 between the portion to which the sixth lane 26 is connected and the portion to which the fifth lane 25 is connected). The other end of the eighth lane 28 is connected to the portion of the third lane 23 between the bag discharge zone Z2 and the portion to which the sixth lane 26 is connected.

The first bag supply zone Z11 to the third bag supply zone Z13 are provided in this order from upstream to downstream in the first lane 21. The first bag transporter waiting zone Z31, the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32, and the third bag transporter waiting zone Z33 are provided in the fifth lane 25, the second lane 22, and the seventh lane 27, respectively. The first empty transporter waiting zone Z41, the second empty transporter waiting zone Z42, and the third empty transporter waiting zone Z43 are provided in the fourth lane 24, the sixth lane 26, and the eighth lane 28, respectively.

Furthermore, the area between the portion of the first lane 21 to which the fifth lane 25 is connected and the second bag supply zone Z12 may be used as the second empty transport body waiting zone Z42 and/or the third empty transport body waiting zone Z43. Also, the area between the portion of the first lane 21 to which the second lane 22 is connected and the third bag supply zone Z13 may be used as the third empty transport body waiting zone Z43.

In this example, the multiple transport units 30 are classified into three groups: a first transport unit group that receives the bag group Bg from the first bag supply device 11a and transports it to the bag release zone Z2; a second transport unit group that receives the bag group Bg from the second bag supply device 11b and transports it to the bag release zone Z2; and a third transport unit group that receives the bag group Bg from the third bag supply device 11c and transports it to the bag release zone Z2.

The movement route of the transporter 30 of the first transporter group is a closed-loop route including the first bag supply zone Z11 (first lane 21), the first bag transporter waiting zone Z31 (fifth lane 25), the bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23), and the first empty transporter waiting zone Z41 (fourth lane 24) (see the dashed line in Figure 7).

The movement route of the transporter 30 of the second transporter group is a closed-loop route including the second bag supply zone Z12 (first lane 21), the second bag transporter waiting zone Z32 (second lane 22), the bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23), and the second empty transporter waiting zone Z42 (sixth lane 26) (see the dashed line in Figure 7).

The movement route of the transporter 30 of the third transporter group is a closed-loop route including the third bag supply zone Z13 (first lane 21), the third bag transporter waiting zone Z33 (seventh lane 27), the bag discharge zone Z2 (third lane 23), and the third empty transporter waiting zone Z43 (eighth lane 28) (see dotted line in Figure 7).

In this example, the movement routes of the transport bodies 30 between the first transport body group and the third transport body group overlap at least partially in the first lane 21 and the third lane 23, respectively. Therefore, the transport control unit 32 controls the movement timing and/or movement speed of each transport body 30 to prevent collisions.

[Variations]
In each of the embodiments described above, when positioning a new transporter 30 having a bag group Bg in one or more bag release zones Z2, Z21-Z23, the transporter 30 moves from one or more bag transporter waiting zones Z31-Z32 to one or more bag release zones Z2, Z21-Z23, but this is not limited to this. For example, a desired number of new transporters 30 may be moved from only one of the bag transporter waiting zones Z31-Z32 (for example, the first bag transporter waiting zone Z31) to one or more bag release zones Z2, Z21-Z23. In this case, after the bag group Bg has been sent from one or more bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23 to the downstream unit 13, when positioning new transporters 30 in one or more bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23, the desired number of new transporters 30 may be moved from only one other bag transporter standby zone (for example, the second bag transporter standby zone Z32) to one or more bag discharge zones Z2, Z21 to Z23.

Furthermore, the bag transfer unit waiting zones Z31 to Z33 do not necessarily need to be provided. In this case, the transfer unit 30, after being replenished with bags B in the bag supply zones Z11 to Z13, may move directly from the bag supply zones Z11 to Z13 to the bag release zones Z2 and Z21 to Z23 and wait there.

Furthermore, empty transporter waiting zones Z41 to Z43 do not necessarily need to be provided. In this case, after releasing the bag group Bg in bag release zones Z2 and Z21 to Z23, the empty transporter 30 may wait in bag release zones Z2 and Z21 to Z23, and then move directly from bag release zones Z2 and Z21 to Z23 to bag supply zones Z11 to Z13.

This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above. For example, various modifications may be made to each element of the embodiments and modifications described above, and the configurations may be combined partially or entirely between the embodiments and modifications described above. Furthermore, the effects achieved by this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and unique effects may be achieved depending on the specific configuration of each embodiment. Thus, various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible to each element described in the claims, specification, and drawings, without departing from the technical idea and spirit of this disclosure.

10 Bag conveying system, 11 Bag supply unit, 11a First bag supply device, 11b Second bag supply device, 11c Third bag supply device, 12 Bag transfer unit, 13 Downstream unit, 14 Bag making machine, 15 Supply relay device, 16 Supply conveyor, 17 Accumulation device, 18 Downstream delivery device, 19 Discharge conveying device, 19a First discharge conveying device, 19b Second discharge conveying device, 19c Third discharge conveying device, 20 Transfer lane, 21 First lane, 22 Second lane, 23 Third lane, 24 Fourth lane, 25 Fifth lane, 26 Sixth lane, 27 Seventh lane, 28 Eighth lane, 30 Transfer body, 32 Transfer control unit, B Bag, Bg Bag group, Z11 First bag supply zone, Z12 Second bag supply zone, Z13 Third bag supply zone, Z2 Bag discharge zone, Z21 First bag release zone, Z22; Second bag release zone, Z23; Third bag release zone, Z31; First bag transporter standby zone, Z32; Second bag transporter standby zone, Z33; Third bag transporter standby zone, Z41; First empty transporter standby zone, Z42; Second empty transporter standby zone, Z43; Third empty transporter standby zone

Claims (6)

An article transfer unit that receives multiple groups of articles sent out from an article supply unit in an article supply zone, transfers them to an article discharge zone, and sends them out from the article discharge zone to a downstream unit,
A transfer lane having the article supply zone and the article discharge zone,
A plurality of transport bodies that can move independently of each other along the transport lane, the plurality of transport bodies that move together with the group of articles received in the article supply zone to the article discharge zone by magnetic force ,
A downstream delivery device that delivers a group of items from one or more transporters located in the item discharge zone to the downstream unit,
The system comprises a transfer control unit that controls the magnetic force acting on the plurality of transfer bodies and the downstream transfer device ,
The transfer lane has an empty transfer body waiting zone, and a transfer body that is moving without a group of items moves to the item supply zone via the empty transfer body waiting zone.
The transfer control unit is an article transfer unit that can change at least one of the number and position of transfer bodies simultaneously located in the article discharge zone. The transfer lane has an item transfer waiting zone,
The article transfer unit according to claim 1, wherein the transfer body among the plurality of transfer bodies that moves together with the group of articles moves to the article release zone via the article transfer body waiting zone. The article transfer unit according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a plurality of article supply zones are provided, and a group of articles sent out from the article supply unit is supplied to each of the plurality of article supply zones. Multiple waiting zones for the aforementioned air transport body are provided.
The article transfer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of empty transfer body waiting zones are assigned to the plurality of article supply zones, and each of the plurality of transfer bodies moves to the assigned article supply zone via one of the plurality of empty transfer body waiting zones. The article transfer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein a plurality of article discharge zones are provided, and the plurality of article discharge zones are assigned to a plurality of downstream devices included in the downstream unit. A bag supply unit including a bag-making machine,
An article transfer unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
A bag conveying system comprising: a downstream unit that receives one or more groups of bags sent out from the article transfer unit as the article group.