JPH0696403B2 - Conveyor device with temporary storage function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention provides a function of temporarily storing a work and a function of temporarily storing the work while providing the work by connecting and deploying the work between two working machines. The present invention relates to a transfer device having a function of returning to a line.

(Conventional technology and problems) When a line is constructed by connecting the upstream working machine and the downstream working machine with a conveyor, if the downstream working machine stops due to trouble or the like, the upstream working machine is immediately replaced. Need to stop.

However, depending on the line, it is necessary to avoid shutting down the upstream working machine as much as possible.

For example, in a packed beverage production line, a beverage food filling and sealing device is provided on the upstream side, a straw applicator is provided on the downstream side, and after filling the paper pack with the beverage food,
Although the straw is attached, if the beverage and food filling and sealing device is temporarily stopped, the food filling amount and sealing temperature will not be stable when the operation is restarted, and the so-called condition adjustment will be performed before normal operation at a certain condition. However, there is a problem that it takes time to reduce the yield.

The present invention allows the line to continue operating even if a trouble occurs in a part of the system, and after the trouble is solved, the work being temporarily stored can be interrupted and carried in between the works being conveyed. The purpose of the present invention is to clarify a transfer device having a temporary storage function that can be solved.

(Means for Solving the Problem) The transfer device having the temporary storage function of the present invention is a main conveyor (1) having a small friction with the work W to be processed.
A temporary storage device (2) disposed on the side of the main conveyor (1) for receiving a work from the conveyor onto the endless carrier (22) and temporarily storing the work while conveying the work; 1) A guide plate (51) which is arranged on the main conveyor (1) and can be selectively switched between passing the workpiece on the main conveyor (1) and guiding it to the temporary storage device (2) side, and an upstream of the guide plate (51). Temporary storage device corresponding to the side (2)
An interrupt insertion equipped with a stopper (80) that is installed in the endless transporter (22) to stop the transfer of the work on the endless carrier (22) and an extruding plate (61) that pushes out the work on the carrier (22) to the main conveyor (1). It is provided upstream of the device (6) and the interrupt insertion device (6) of the temporary storage device (2), and temporarily holds the work on the upstream side of the interrupt insertion position when the interrupt insertion device (6) operates. An auxiliary stopper (7) and a temporary storage device (2) are provided downstream of the interrupt insertion device (6) to open the passage from the main conveyor (1) to the endless carrier (22), The second guide plate (52) that can be switched to the conveyance guide of the work W from the linear carrier (22) to the main conveyor (1), and the work of the work by the insertion device (6) on the main conveyor (1). Located on the upstream side of the insertion position, the main conveyor (1) A stopper device (4) for opening and closing the upper workpiece transfer path.

(Operation and Effect) The upstream side working machine (12) and the downstream side working machine (13) are connected by the main conveyor (1) to convey the work W (FIG. 1).

When a work is accumulated on the downstream side of the main conveyor (1) due to a trouble of the downstream side working machine (13), the operation of stocking the work from the main conveyor (1) to the temporary storage device (2) is started.

First, the stopper device (4) is activated to prevent the work from moving to the downstream side of the stopper device (4). In the following description, the stopper device (4) is actuated to close the conveyance path of the main conveyor (1) when the main guide plate (51) and the interrupt insertion device (6) described later are operated. This is because if there is a work on the conveyor (1), it will be an obstacle.

Even if the stopper device (4) closes the conveying path, the main conveyor (1) continues to operate and the main conveyor (1) rubs the bottom surface of the work, but the friction with the work is small and the work is not damaged. Absent.

On the upstream side of the stopper device (4), the spaces between the works are narrowed so that the works adjacent to each other come into contact with each other in order.

While the flow of the work is stopped by the stopper device (4), the guide plate (51) is switched to the temporary storage device (2) side across the transport path of the main conveyor (1) (third part).
Figure).

When the guide plate (51) is switched, the stopper device (4) returns to its original position and opens the transport path of the main conveyor (1). The work on the conveyor is sequentially guided by the guide plate (51) while being transferred to the downstream side, and transferred to the endless carrier (22) of the temporary storage device (2).

When the downstream working machine (13) returns to normal and the accumulation of the work on the downstream side of the main conveyor (1) is eliminated, the guide plate (51) returns to its original position and the transport path of the main conveyor (1). Open up.

The flow of the work on the main conveyor (1) becomes smooth, and the work at the head of the work row taken into the temporary storage device (2) hits the stopper (80) and is on standby. The work stocked in (2) is interrupted and returned between the works on the main conveyor (1).

First, the stopper device (4) is activated to prevent the work from moving to the downstream side of the stopper device (4) in the same manner as described above.

In the above state, the insertion device (6) is operated, and the work waiting at the stopper (80) on the temporary storage device (2) is pushed out onto the main conveyor (1) by the push-out plate (61) ( (Fig. 4).

After pushing out the work, the interrupt insertion device (6) and the stopper device (4) return to their original positions, open the conveyance path of the main conveyor (1), and restore the normal flow of the work.

The stopper device (4) and the interrupt insertion device (6) alternately operate every predetermined time, and the work stocked in the temporary storage device (2) is kept in the main conveyor (1) while the operation is continued. It can be returned to the conveyor (1).

As described above, even if the work is accumulated on the downstream side of the main conveyor (1), the work supplied from the upstream side is temporarily stored, and if the flow of the work is smooth, the stored work is gradually returned to the original line. Can be returned.

As a result, even if a trouble occurs in the downstream side working machine (13), excess work is stocked in the temporary storage device (2) without stopping the operation of the upstream side working machine (12), and the downstream side working machine (1) is stored.
The work supply can be controlled according to the recovery in 3). During the work of discharging one or a plurality of works from the temporary storage device (2) by the interrupt insertion device (6), the main conveyor (1)
The upper work is prevented from advancing by the stopper device (4) even though the main conveyor is running, so the work discharged from the temporary storage device (2) and the work on the main conveyor collide. There is no fear of doing it.

Further, during the work of discharging the work from the temporary storage device (2) by the interrupt insertion device (6), the transition path of the endless carrier (22) is closed by the stopper (80), and the work is placed on the stopper (80). In order to push the work at the interruption insertion position to the main conveyor (1) by moving the pushing plate (22) while holding the work on the upstream side of the work with the auxiliary stopper (7), one or more Individual workpieces can be reliably discharged to the main conveyor.

Since the transfer device of the present invention can discharge the work from the temporary storage device (2) to the main conveyor (1) while the main conveyor (1) is running, the work machine is provided on the upstream side of the main conveyor (1). When the above is connected, the discharging work can be performed while the working machine is operating, and the working rate of the working machine can be increased.

(Example) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an upstream working machine (12) is provided at the upstream end of the main conveyor (1) and a downstream working machine (1) is provided at the downstream end.
3) are connected to each other, and a stopper device (4) for stopping the transfer of the work is provided at a substantially intermediate portion of the main conveyor (1), and is provided on the side of the main conveyor (1) corresponding to the downstream side position of the stopper device (4). A temporary storage device (2), a switching guide device (5) for guiding and guiding a work from the main conveyor (1) to the temporary storage device (2), and a correspondence between the stopper device (4) and the switching guide device (5). An interrupt insertion device (6) on the temporary storage device (2), a detector (9) (91) for detecting passage of the work on the main conveyor (1) and the temporary storage device (2)
(92) (93) (94) (98) (99) are deployed.

Hereinafter, they will be described in order.

Main Conveyor, Upstream Working Machine, and Downstream Working Machine The carrier of the main conveyor (1) is made of a material having a small friction with the work bottom surface.

The upstream working machine (12) is a sealing device for filling a paper pack container with beverage and food, and the downstream working machine (13) is a straw applicator for joining a straw to the paper pack container.

Than the working capacity per unit time of the upstream side working machine (12),
The work capacity of the downstream working machine (13) is about 20% higher. As a result, as will be described later, even if the work temporarily stored in the temporary storage device (2) is interrupted by the work row on the main conveyor (1) and discharged, the work capacity of the downstream side working machine (13) is exceeded. It is possible to prevent the work from being supplied.

When the upstream side working machine (12) and the downstream side working machine (13) are operating normally, the main conveyor (1) allows the work (beverage food filled paper pack) to have an interval of about one work. Then, it is continuously supplied from the upstream side working machine (12) to the downstream side working machine (13) at a rate of one every 0.6 seconds.

Stopper device The stopper device (4) stops the transfer of the work on the main conveyor (1) while continuing the operation of the main conveyor (1). In the embodiment, the first stopper (41) and the second stopper are used. (42) are formed side by side.

Both stoppers (41) and (42) are provided with push plates (43) and (44) orthogonal to the main conveyor (1) so that they can be retracted into the conveyor path of the conveyor (1), and the push plates are for driving. It is formed by connecting solenoids (45) (46).

The distance between the push plates (43) (44) corresponds to one work piece.

The work is sandwiched between the guide wall (11) provided on the side edge of the main conveyor (1) and the push plates (43) (44) by the operation of the solenoids (45) (46), and the transfer is stopped.

The stopper device (4) operates when the first stopper (41) operates.
The timer is set so that the second stopper (42) is activated after 0.6 seconds, that is, after a work supply time interval.

However, if the detector (92) described later detects the presence of a work near the downstream side of the transition path of the second stopper (42), the operation of the second stopper (42) is delayed until the work passes. Be done. This prevents the second stopper (42) from pinching the rear part of the work in the guide wall (11) in an unstable state.

By the operation of the stopper device (4), a work that has barely passed the first stopper (41) can also be moved to the second stopper (42).
Can be reliably captured by. 1st stopper (4
The return operation of 1) and the second stopper (42) is performed at the same time.

Temporary storage device The temporary storage device (2) has the same number of sprockets (21) arranged in a plurality of stages at equal intervals at the four corners of the virtual rectangle, and the carrier (22) is spread over each of the sprockets (21). An ascending endless extension, that is, an ascending conveyance section (22a) that is guided by a sprocket and sequentially rises in a spiral shape, and a descending conveyance section (82b) that is guided by a sprocket (21) and descends in a spiral shape. Are connected in series at the rising end and the falling end, respectively.

Two stoppers (96) are arranged at substantially equal intervals on each stage of the ascending transport section (22a) and the descending transport section (22b). Each stopper is connected to a solenoid (97), and a photoelectric work detector (98) arranged near the stopper opens the conveyance path.

Between the lowermost upstream side of the ascending transfer section (22a) and the lowermost downstream side of the lower transfer section (22b) of the temporary storage device (2), the main conveyor (1) side is pulled out and guided. Forming a conveyor (3).

The guide conveyor (3) is adjacent to the main conveyor (1) and is parallel to the standby guide section (33), and the storage guide section (31) extending from the standby guide section (33) toward the endless carrier (22). ) And a return guide part (32) directed from the endless carrier (22) to the standby guide part (33).

A photoelectric work detector (99) is provided in the return guide section (32) of the guide conveyor (3).

Each of the detectors (98) (99) and the stopper (96) of the temporary storage device (2) is for preventing the workpieces on the temporary storage device (2) from being in a long string of beads without a gap.
It works as follows.

For convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 2, the endless carrier (22)
There are four stoppers (96) and detectors (98) each,
From downstream to upstream (96) (96a) (96b) (96
c), (97) (97a) (97b) (97c).

After the detector (99) on the guide conveyor (3) detects the work, a predetermined time (for example, about 1 / the time required for the work to pass between the detectors on the endless carrier (22)). 2) After the lapse of time, if the most downstream detector (98) of the endless conveyor (22) detects a work, the most downstream stopper (96) of the endless conveyor (22) operates and the conveyor path Close.

After the lapse of a predetermined time in the previous period from the above state, the next upstream detector (98a) detects the passage of the work, and the corresponding stopper (96a) closes the conveyance path.

As described above, when the stoppers sequentially close the transport path from the downstream side to the upstream side and the stopper at the most upstream end is closed, the full signal of the temporary storage device (2) is issued.

In the above-mentioned state, a short work row is formed on the temporary storage device (2) from each stopper (96) to the upstream side, and a sufficient space is formed between the front and rear work rows.

The reason for leaving a space between the front and rear work rows is that when the work is conveyed on the temporary storage device (2) in a continuous long string of beads, a large pressing force acts on the work on the front side,
This is because the work is deformed.

As will be described later, if the temporary storage device (2) starts the interruption discharge of the work to the main conveyor (1) side and the detector (99) of the guide conveyor (3) passes through the light, the endless carrier (22) ) The stopper (96) on the most downstream side opens the conveyance path.

When the detector (98) at the position corresponding to the stopper (96) transmits light, the next stopper (96a) opens the conveyance path. When the detector (98a) of the stopper allows light to pass, the next stopper (96b) further opens the conveyance path.

As described above, the transport path is opened sequentially from the downstream stopper.

In addition, at the time of full discharge operation from the temporary storage device (2) to the main conveyor (1) described later, each stopper (96) to (96
At the same time, c) opens the transport path.

In addition, the temporary storage device (2) includes a main conveyor (1).
From the temporary storage device (2) to the main conveyor (1) at a high speed of 12 m / min when taking in the work from 5.5 m / min, and the detector (98) ~ (98
When c) does not detect a work, that is, when there is no work on the temporary storage device (2), the operation is stopped.

The work on the main conveyor (1) is switched and guided to the guide conveyor (3) side across the downstream side of the standby guide section (33) of the guide conveyor (3) and the main conveyor (1). A switching guide device (5) is provided.

The switching guide device (5) includes a second guide plate (52) arranged downstream of the standby guide section (33) and the guide plate (5).
The first installed on the main conveyor (1) corresponding to 2)
The guide plate (51) is pivotally connected by a connecting rod (not shown),
An open / close drive solenoid (53) is connected to one of the guide plates (51).

Normally, the first guide plate (51) opens the conveyance path of the main conveyor (1), and the second guide plate (52) closes across the downstream side of the standby guide section (33) of the guide conveyor (3). ing.

By the operation of the solenoid (53), the first guide plate (51)
Is rotated, the transport path of the main conveyor (1) is diagonally crossed, and the free end is directed to the storage guide section (31) side of the guide conveyor (3), and the second guide plate (52) is set to the standby guide section (33). ) Open the downstream transport path.

Interrupt insertion device An interrupt insertion device (6) is provided corresponding to the standby guide part (33) of the guide conveyor (3) to push the work on the guide part between the work on the main conveyor (1) and the work. To be done.

The interrupt insertion device (6) is arranged on the upstream side of the second guide plate (52) from the standby guide section (33) to the storage guide section (31).
Stopper (80) for preventing the transfer of the work to the side, and an extruding plate (61) which is arranged upstream of the stopper (80) and pushes out the work on the carrier (22) to the main conveyor (1).
Composed of and.

In the embodiment, the extruding plate (61) is formed to have a width capable of extruding two works at a time.

Detectors (63) (64) for detecting the presence or absence of a work at the extrusion position of the extrusion plate (61) are provided on the extrusion plate (61).

In the embodiment, the stopper (80) is provided so as to pivotally stop the base end and open and close the conveyance path, and is connected to the drive solenoid (81).

The stopper (80) serves as a guide (8) that guides the work to the main conveyor (1) side while opening the conveyance path of the standby guide section (33) when the work is completely discharged, which will be described later.

An auxiliary stopper (7) for temporarily restraining the work is provided upstream of the pushing plate (61) prior to the operation of the pushing plate (61).

The auxiliary stopper (7) is configured by disposing a push plate (71) so that the push plate (71) can be retracted in the conveyance path of the standby guide portion (33), and connecting the drive solenoid (72) to the push plate (71).

The auxiliary stopper (7) temporarily restrains the work waiting next to the work pushed out to the main conveyor (1) side by the interrupt insertion device (6) and pushes the work out to the main conveyor (1). It is intended for smooth operation.

Detector on main conveyor In order to detect whether or not a work on the main conveyor (1) has passed, a first photoelectric detector (9) is located on the downstream end side of the main conveyor (1) and a second photoelectric detection is located on the upstream end side. A container (91), a third photoelectric detector (92) in the conveyance path of the second stopper (42) of the stopper device (4), and an push-out plate (61) in the interrupt insertion device (6) on the main conveyor (1). The fourth photoelectric detector (93) is arranged at the corresponding position, and the fifth photoelectric detector (94) is arranged at the opening / closing path of the guide plates (51) (52) of the switching guide device (5).

Each detector (9) (91) on the main conveyor (1)
The signals (92), (93) and (94) emit a signal when the light-shielding state continues for 0.6 seconds or more, that is, at a proper interval on the main conveyor (1) or more than the passing time difference between adjacent works, or more.

Next, a procedure for guiding the work from the main conveyor (1) to the temporary storage device (2), a procedure for interrupting and returning the work from the temporary storage device (2) to the work on the main conveyor (1), a temporary storage device ( The procedure from 2) to returning the work to the main conveyor (1) continuously (total discharge) will be described separately.

[Temporary Storage] When trouble occurs in the downstream working machine (13) and the work is accumulated on the downstream side of the main conveyor (1), the first photoelectric detector (9) gives a signal, and as described above, the stopper device ( 4)
The first stopper (41) and the second stopper (42) are operated at different times to close the conveyance path.

The switching guide device (5) operates while the fourth photoelectric detector (93) and the fifth photoelectric detector (94) are in the light-transmitting state, and guides the work on the main conveyor (1) to the storage guide of the conveyor (3). The conveyance path is switched to guide the section (31) side.

The completion of the switching of the switching guide device (5) is detected by a limit switch (not shown) arranged in place, and the detection device causes the stopper device (4) to return to its original position to open the conveyance path. To do.

The work is guided by the first guide plate (51) and transferred from the main conveyor (1) to the endless carrier (22) via the storage guide section (31) of the guide conveyor (3).

If the downstream working machine (13) resumes operation and the flow of the work on the downstream side of the main conveyor (1) becomes smooth, the first photoelectric detector (9) detects this and the stopper device (4). To the first stopper (41) and second
The stopper (42) is activated to close the conveyance path.

When the fourth photoelectric detector (93) and the fifth photoelectric detector (94) pass the light, the switching guide device (5) returns to its original position, and a limit switch (not shown) arranged in place of this switch guide device (5) The stopper device (4) returns to its original position by this detection signal and opens the conveyance path.

While the work remains on the main conveyor (1), it passes straight through the switching guide device (5) and moves straight to the downstream side.

[Discharge from temporary storage device to main conveyor]

The work sent to the temporary storage device (2) by the above procedure is placed on the endless carrier (22), and finally the top work reaches the standby guide part (33) of the guide conveyor (3), It hits the stopper (80) and stands by at the extrusion position. When this is detected by the detectors (63) (64), the main conveyor (1)
The upper stopper device (4) operates in the same manner as described above to close the conveyance path, and the auxiliary stopper (7) operates to restrain the work adjacent to the extrusion standby position.

After confirming that the fourth photoelectric detector (93) is in a light-transmitting state, that is, there is no work at the position corresponding to the insertion device (6) on the main conveyor (1), the push-out plate (61) moves forward. The work is pushed out from the standby guide section (33) to the main conveyor (1).

A limit switch (not shown) arranged in a proper position detects the movement of the pushing plate (61), and the stopper device (4) is released by the detection signal.

The push-out plate (61) and the auxiliary stopper (7) return to their original positions, and the work waiting in the return guide portion (32) of the temporary storage device (2) moves to the push-out position.

The work on the main conveyor (1) moves to the downstream side again. As described above, since the downstream working machine (13) is 20% larger than the capacity of the upstream working machine (12), every 6 seconds, that is, every time two works are conveyed by the main conveyor (1). In addition, if the operation of returning the work from the temporary storage device (2) to the main conveyor (1) is performed, the work is interrupted between the works on the main conveyor (1) and the temporary storage device (2) moves to the main conveyor (1). Even if the work is discharged into the work machine, the work is not supplied to the work machine on the downstream side (13) beyond the processing capacity of the work machine on the downstream side (13).

[Complete discharge of work from temporary storage device]

If one of the following three conditions is satisfied, the full discharge of the work from the temporary storage device (2) to the main conveyor (1) is started.

When the second photoelectric detector (91) detects a light shield for 0.6 seconds or more, that is, when the workpieces are connected to each other over the entire length of the main conveyor (1) and the upstream working machine (12) is stopped by this detection signal. .

When the upstream working machine (12) is stopped for a reason other than the above.

 When the temporary storage device (2) is full.

Full discharge operation of work After satisfying one of the above conditions, the second photoelectric detector (9
1), third photoelectric detector (92), fourth photoelectric detector (93),
After the fifth photoelectric detector (94) passes the light, that is, after the work on the main conveyor (1) is discharged to the downstream side, the stopper / switching guide (8), the interrupt insertion device (6), and the auxiliary stopper (7). ) Opens the passage of the waiting guide (33),
The stoppers (96) to (96c) of the temporary storage device (2) open the passage.

If the stopper / switching guide (8) and the auxiliary stopper (7) have already opened the standby guide portion (33), this state is maintained. Further, when the switching guide device (5) is in a state where the transport path of the main conveyor (1) is closed, the switching guide device is switched to open the transport path.

The work stocked in the endless carrier (22) passes through the return guide part (32) and the standby guide part (33) of the guide conveyor (3) and then to the second guide plate (52) of the switching guide device (5). It is guided and delivered to the main conveyor (1) and sent to the downstream working machine (13).

In the above situation, the first downstream side of the main conveyor (1)
If the photoelectric detector (9) detects the light blocking state for 0.6 seconds or more,
That is, if the work stays on the downstream side of the main conveyor (1), the operation of the temporary storage device (2) is stopped.

When the accumulation of the work on the downstream side of the main conveyor (1) is eliminated, the operation of the temporary storage device (2) is restarted.

When the detectors of the main conveyor (1) and the temporary storage device (2) pass the light, the stopper device (4) opens the transport path and the upstream working machine (12) restarts its operation.

The present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same as above, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a state in which a switching guide device is switched to a temporary storage device, and FIG. 4 is an interrupt discharge state. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fully discharged state. (1) …… Main conveyor, (2) …… Temporary storage device (3) …… Guide conveyor, (4) …… Stopper device (6) …… Interrupt insertion device, (7) …… Auxiliary stopper (8) ...... Stopper / switching guide

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A main conveyor (1) for conveying a work W.
And a temporary storage device (2) disposed on the side of the main conveyor (1) for receiving a work from the conveyor (1) onto the endless carrier (22) and temporarily storing the work while conveying the work, A first guide plate (51) arranged on the main conveyor (1) and capable of selectively switching between passing the workpiece on the main conveyor (1) and guiding it to the temporary storage device (2); A stopper (80) disposed on the temporary storage device (2) corresponding to the upstream side of the guide plate (51) to stop the transfer of the work on the endless transfer body (22) and the work on the transfer body (22). Plate (61) that pushes out to the main conveyor (1)
And an interrupt insertion device (6) equipped with an interrupt insertion device (6) upstream of the interrupt insertion device (6) of the temporary storage device (2). An auxiliary stopper (7) for temporary restraint, and a temporary storage device (2) provided downstream of the interrupt insertion device (6) for opening the passage of the endless carrier (22) and carrying the endless carrier. A second guide plate (52) that can be switched to guide the transfer of the work W from the body (22) to the main conveyor (1), and an interrupt insertion device (6) on the main conveyor (1)
And a stopper device (4) that is provided upstream of the workpiece insertion position and that opens and closes the work transfer path on the main conveyor (1). The stopper device (4) is on the main conveyor (1). The interrupt insertion device (6) operates while the work transfer path is closed, and the second guide (52) guides the work W on the endless transfer body (22) to the main conveyor (1). When switched to the direction, the first guide plate (51) opens the work transfer path and the stopper device (4) closes the work transfer path. 2. The stopper device (4) is provided with an upstream first stopper (41) and a downstream second stopper (42) adjacent to each other, and the first stopper (41) of the main conveyor (1). The transfer device having the temporary storage function according to claim 1, wherein the second stopper (42) closes the work transfer path after a predetermined time has elapsed after closing the work transfer path.