JPH0446856B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for converting the number of rows of containers such as bottles and cans, and particularly to a converting device that can convert the number of rows of containers without causing the containers to fall over.

Conventional container row number converters generally separate containers sent in one row into individual containers at a constant pitch using star foil, timing screws, etc. There is a known method for converting containers into a plurality of rows by pushing out one container from the side of the row using a piston based on a cam mechanism.
No., JP-A No. 53-119566, No. 53-119567, No. 53
-119559 and 56-113612).

However, with the above-mentioned method, the containers tend to fall because they are pushed sideways, and especially in the case of tall bottles, one bottle may fall and knock over other bottles, causing problems such as bottle breakage. There were flaws.

In addition, as a means for pushing out containers conveyed at a constant pitch from the side, a method using a piston operation based on a cam mechanism is adopted as described above, but with this method, it is necessary to provide a cam mechanism on the side of the comparer. Therefore, it has the disadvantage of requiring a large installation space, and also has the disadvantage of increasing manufacturing costs.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide a container array that can suppress the phenomenon of container collapse compared to conventional products, can narrow the setting space, and can reduce manufacturing costs. To provide a number conversion device.

Another object of the present invention is to transport containers in close contact with each other, and to significantly suppress the phenomenon of containers falling over.
An object of the present invention is to provide a container row number converting device that can reduce the line speed even with the same processing capacity.

The above-mentioned object of the present invention is to provide a first conveyor having a block sorting mechanism that divides a row of continuously conveyed containers into a plurality of blocks, and a second conveyor disposed in parallel with the first conveyor. , in a container row number converting device that increases the number of container rows by transferring some of the container blocks on the first conveyor to the second conveyor, above the transfer portion from the first conveyor to the second conveyor; An endless chain for branching is installed so that the moving direction crosses diagonally forward from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and the chain is made up of a plurality of plate-like bodies and has a length corresponding to the row of bottles to be transferred. A wide blind-shaped guide plate is intermittently suspended and fixed, and the moving speed of the guide plate is synchronized with the container loading speed on the first conveyor, so that only the container blocks that come into contact with the guide plate are transferred to the second conveyor. This is achieved by a container row number converting device characterized by having a configuration for transferring and loading containers to a container row number converter.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the same, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a plurality of container row number conversion devices according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of converting one row of containers to four rows, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of converting one row of containers to three rows. It is a diagram.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a block sorting mechanism that sorts a row of continuously conveyed containers into, for example, four blocks each, and the sorting mechanism 1 has the following mechanism. That is, a pair of sprockets 3, 3 are provided along the side edges of the first conveyor 2, an endless chain 4 is hung between the sprockets 3, 3, and an interval corresponding to the width of four parallel containers is provided in the endless chain 4. A locking piece 5 is provided for each container, and when the endless chain 4 is driven, the locking piece 5 locks from the side of the container to brake (or push) the progress of the container and separate the containers. be able to. Note that the sorting mechanism 1 may be configured to lock containers from below other than the above-mentioned structure, or may use other known means capable of block sorting.

The containers divided into four containers in one row by the block sorting mechanism 1 are sent to the row number conversion mechanism 6 of the present invention, where they are converted into two rows. The column number conversion mechanism 6 has the following configuration. That is, upper sprockets 7, 7 and lower sprockets 8, 8 are provided in pairs along the side edges of the first conveyor 2, and one of the sprockets 7, 8 is connected to a drive source, and one of the sprockets in the sorting mechanism 1 is connected to a drive source. The sprocket 3 is connected to the sprocket 3 in a synchronized manner. Above sprockets 7, 7 and 8, 8
are provided with endless chains 9 and 10, respectively, and a guide plate 11 is fixed to the endless chains 9 and 10, respectively.

The guide plate 11 is formed into a blind shape by a plurality of plate-like bodies, has a width equivalent to the width of four parallel containers, and is fixed to the endless chains 9 and 10 and suspended from the air. There is. Although it is possible to achieve the purpose of the present invention even if the guide plate 11 is suspended by only one endless chain 9, from the viewpoint of securely fixing the guide plate 11, it is preferable to use a plurality of chains as described above. preferable.

The taking-in position of the endless chains 9 and 10 is above the moving part from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 12, and the moving direction of the chains 9 and 10 is diagonally forward from the first conveyor 2 to the second conveyor 12. The first
A guide sprocket 13 is provided above the boundary between the conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 12, and the endless chains 9, 10 are connected in a triangular shape via the sprocket 13.
Alternatively, the guide sprocket 13 may be omitted and one of the pair of sprockets 7, 8 may be provided at that position.

In the present invention, when containers in groups of four in one row enter the row number conversion mechanism 6 of the present invention (at this time, the sorting mechanism 1 and the endless chain 9,
10 drive mechanisms are synchronized), guide plate 1
The group of containers that come into contact with the guide plate 11 are diverted diagonally forward and transferred onto the second conveyor 12, and the next group of containers continues on the first conveyor 2 without coming into contact with the guide plate 11. In this way, it is converted into two columns.

In the above, if the speed of the endless chains 9 and 10 is now V and the speed of the first conveyor 2 is also V, in order to effectively convert the number of rows, the container group
If the length from the last end of the container group Y to the highest end of the previous container group Y is l, then the installation length of the guide plate 11 is approximately
Although it is preferable to set the ratio to 2l, the above ratio may vary depending on the type of container, the width of the guide plate 11, the length of the endless chains 9, 10, etc.

By using the row number converting device 6 having the above configuration, one example of containers can be converted into two rows, but if you want to further convert two rows of containers into four rows, as shown in FIG. Just add two number converters 6,
If it is desired to further convert into three columns, it is sufficient to add one column number conversion device 6 as shown in FIG.

Note that a known conversion device may be used as the device added above, and for example, a chain conveyor can be converted by being transferred to a predetermined line using an air cylinder or the like (a cam mechanism may also be used).

According to the present invention, compared to the conventional method of extruding containers one by one and converting them into rows, containers can be converted without falling over, and the installation space can be reduced and manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to transfer the first conveyor and the second conveyor at any position without any modification, and even if it is a round bottle, it is possible to transfer it by making sure to contact it. It has the effect of becoming.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the same, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a plurality of container case number converting devices according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of converting one row of containers to four rows, and Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of converting one row of containers to three rows. It is a diagram. In the figure, 2 is a first conveyor, 7 is an upper sprocket, 8 is a lower sprocket, 9 and 10 are endless chains, 11 is a guide plate, and 12 is a second conveyor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first conveyor having a block sorting mechanism that divides a row of continuously conveyed containers into multiple blocks, and a second conveyor installed in parallel with the first conveyor.
In the container row number converting device, which has a conveyor and increases the number of container rows by moving some of the container blocks on the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the container row number converting device increases the number of container rows from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. An endless chain for branching is installed above the section so that the direction of movement crosses diagonally forward from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, and on this chain, a row of bins consisting of a plurality of plate-like bodies to be transferred is installed. A blind-shaped guide plate with a width equivalent to the length is intermittently suspended and fixed,
A container row number conversion device characterized by having a configuration in which the moving speed of the guide plate is synchronized with the container carrying speed on the first conveyor, and only the container blocks that are in contact with the guide plate are transferred to the second conveyor. .