JPH07315560A - Alignment device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The objects 5 to be aligned are reliably aligned at high speed in arbitrary n columns and multiple rows. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alignment device capable of performing. An under-conveyor 4 is provided immediately below an upper conveyor 2 having alignment plates 1 protruding at regular intervals, and an object 5 to be aligned sequentially supplied from a feed conveyor 6 on the upper conveyor 4 is sequentially driven intermittently. After arranging in a horizontal direction with one row of aligned objects 5 aligned in the horizontal direction, the under conveyor 4 is driven to advance the aligned objects 5 one row and the next row is aligned. The objects 5 are aligned in the same manner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention automatically aligns continuously conveyed objects to be aligned in arbitrary columns and rows, and facilitates subsequent operations, such as packaging operations. To an aligning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for arranging objects to be aligned in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows, the objects to be aligned are conveyed by a pre-stage conveyor having a movable frame member at its tip, and the belt of the pre-stage conveyor is expanded and contracted by the movable frame member. By doing so, it is known that the position of the object to be aligned transferred from the former conveyor to the latter conveyor is displaced and the objects to be aligned are sequentially arranged on the latter conveyor (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-86921).

[0003]

The above-mentioned conventional apparatus is, so to speak, configured to expand and contract the front end portion of the pre-stage conveyor, thereby displacing the position of the object to be aligned transferred from the pre-stage conveyor to the post-stage conveyor.

By the way, the objects to be aligned stay on the pre-stage conveyor longer when the front end of the front conveyor is extended than when the front end of the front conveyor is contracted. For this reason, the timing at which the front-stage conveyor is moved to the rear-stage conveyor is not constant between the time when the front-stage conveyor tip portion is extended and the time when it is contracted. In addition, since there is a limit to the speed of expansion and contraction of the front end of the front conveyor by the movable frame member, if the supply of the alignment target by the front conveyor of the alignment target is accelerated, there is a problem that it is difficult to follow it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an aligning device capable of surely performing high-speed alignment.

[0006]

Means for solving the problems will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, the projections are provided at regular intervals. An upper conveyor 2 having an aligning plate 1, a front portion located immediately below the upper conveyer 2 adjacent to a moving path 3 at the tip of the aligning plate 1, an under conveyer 4 provided in a direction perpendicular to the upper conveyer 2, and an upper conveyer 4. In the stopped state of the conveyor 2 and the under conveyor 4, the upper conveyor 2 is driven after receiving the aligned object 5 on the front part of the under conveyor 4 between the two aligning plates 1 positioned at the receiving position of the aligned object 5. Then, the aligning plate 5 is pushed by the aligning plate 1 to move by one row, and a new two aligning plates 1 are positioned at the receiving position of the aligning plate 5, and then the upper conveyor 2 is stopped again. Align the two sheets Intermittent drive of the upper conveyor 2 (not shown) for performing intermittent drive of the required n (n is an integer of 2 or more) rows for intermittently driving the upper conveyor 2 that receives the aligned objects 5 between the two. After receiving the n rows of aligned objects 5 in front of the under conveyor 4 in the stopped state, the under conveyor 4 is driven to move the aligned objects 5 on the under conveyor 4 by one line, and then the under conveyor again. 4 and an under conveyor driving mechanism (not shown) for intermittently driving the under conveyor 4 to stop the under conveyor 4.

In the present specification, the under conveyor 4
The row of the articles 5 to be aligned arranged in the transport direction is “row”,
An array in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction is called a "row".

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the figure, reference numeral 2 is an upper conveyor, which is a chain conveyor in which the alignment plates 1 are projected at regular intervals. The spacing between the aligning plates 1 is such that one aligning object 5 that is continuously supplied by the feed conveyor 6 at a constant timing can be received, that is, an interval that is slightly larger than the width of the aligning object 5. Has become.

Below the upper conveyor 2, an under conveyor 4 is provided in a direction perpendicular to the upper conveyor 2. The front portion of the under conveyor 4 is located immediately below the upper conveyor, and is provided close to the moving path 3 at the tip of the alignment plate 1 of the upper conveyor 2.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, when the upper conveyor 2 is stopped, the under conveyor 4
The three aligning plates 1 are located above the front part of, and the upper part of the front part of the under conveyor 4 is divided into two left and right regions sandwiched by the aligning plates 1, respectively. This is because the present embodiment has two
Since it is an aligning device for aligning in rows, assuming that it is aligned in n (n is an integer of 2 or more) rows, at least n + 1 aligning plates 1 are positioned above the front part of the under conveyor 4, It suffices if it can be divided into at least n regions sandwiched by the alignment plates 1, respectively.

On the under-conveyor 4, row partition plates 7 are provided at regular intervals. The row partition plate 7 divides the objects 5 to be aligned on the under-conveyor 4 for each row, and has an interval for receiving one object 5 to be aligned, that is, a length of the objects 5 to be aligned. On the other hand, the intervals are somewhat large.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the row partition plate 7 is divided into two right and left with a slight space in the center, and when the under conveyor 4 is driven, which will be described later, the alignment plate 1 of the upper conveyor 2 is divided. The width of each of the two alignment plates 1 is slightly narrower than the distance between the alignment plates 1 so that they can pass between the corresponding alignment plates 1 without interfering with each other.

The reason why the row partition plate 7 of this embodiment is divided into two right and left is that this embodiment is an alignment device for aligning the objects 5 to be aligned in two rows. Assuming a case, it suffices that the partition plates 7 are divided into n pieces in the left-right direction and each of them can pass between the corresponding alignment plates 1. In addition, the partitioning plate 7 is not divided into a plurality of sheets in the left-right direction, but is formed as a series of plate-like bodies in the left-right direction, and when the under conveyor 4 is driven, slits provided from the upper part to the lower part (not shown). It is also possible to pass the alignment plate 1 through the (not).

The line partition plate 7 is not essential, but as will be described later, the aligned objects 5 on the under conveyor 4 are arranged.
It is preferable to provide the arrangement so that the aligned state can be easily adjusted.

Side plates 8 are provided on both sides of the under conveyor 4, respectively. The side plate 8 is for preventing the aligned object 5 from falling off the side portion of the under conveyor 4, and the upper edge of the side plate 8 projects above the upper surface of the under conveyor 4.

Although the side plate 8 is not essential, it is preferably provided so that it is possible to reliably prevent the aligned objects 5 from falling off during conveyance by the under conveyor 4.

Under conveyor 4 directly under upper conveyor 2
Except for the front part, it is divided into two parts on the under conveyor 4 in the width direction, that is, between the left and right partitioning plates 7 (in the case of the partitioning plate 7 provided with the slits, this slit portion). The row partition plate 9 is located. The row partition plate 9 partitions each row of the objects to be aligned 5 arranged on the under-conveyor 4, and is attached to the support member 10 that is hung between the upper portions of the side plates 8. It is provided at a position slightly floating from above.

Although the row partition plate 9 is not essential, it is preferably provided so as to surely prevent the row of the objects 5 to be aligned from being disturbed while being conveyed by the under conveyor 4. Further, as is clear from the fact that it is a partition between the rows, this row partition plate 9 is provided in the number of n−1 when the objects to be aligned 5 are arranged in n rows.

Upper conveyor 2 and under conveyor 4
Are intermittently driven by an upper conveyor drive mechanism (not shown) and an under conveyor drive mechanism (not shown), respectively. Hereinafter, driving states of the upper conveyor 2 and the under conveyor 4 by the upper conveyor driving mechanism and the under conveyor driving mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

Although the feed conveyor 6 (see FIG. 1) is omitted in FIGS. 2 to 6, in each drawing, the underconveyor 4 is provided by the three aligning plates 1 located right above the front portion thereof. Of the left and right regions partitioned above the front part of 4, the position on the left side in the drawing is the receiving position of the alignment target 5 to which the alignment target 5 is supplied from the feed conveyor 6.

First, the state at the time of starting is the state shown in FIG. 2, and there is no alignment object 5 in any of the alignment plates 1 located above the front part of the under conveyor 4. Further, the upper conveyor 2 and the under conveyor 4 are in a stopped state.

In this state, the feed conveyor 6
The object 5 to be aligned is supplied from (see FIG. 1) and received between the alignment plates 1 on the front part of the under conveyor 4 (the area between the alignment plates 1 on the left side in the drawing) is the state of FIG. . The position of the aligned object 5 at this time will be further described as the position of the first row.

By the way, when performing high-speed alignment, the speed of the feed conveyor 6 increases, so the feed conveyor 6
It becomes difficult to keep the position of the aligned object 5 moved from the bottom to the under conveyor 4 constant. In other words, the object 5 to be aligned transferred from the feed conveyor 6 onto the under-conveyor 4 is subjected to momentum, so that the positional deviation easily occurs. It is preferable to provide the row partition plate 7 as described above because it can particularly prevent this positional deviation.

As shown in FIG. 3, the under conveyor 4
After the objects 5 to be aligned are fed to the position of the first row on the front part, the upper conveyor 2 is driven by the upper conveyor drive mechanism (not shown). This drive is shown in FIG.
In, the upper conveyor 2 is rotated counterclockwise.

When the upper conveyor 2 is driven as described above in the state shown in FIG. 3, the objects 5 to be aligned, which have been received on the front portion of the under conveyor 4, have their side portions aligned with the alignment plate 1.
And is moved to the position of the second row. That is, the object 5 to be aligned on the front portion of the under conveyor 4 is
Is moved by one column in the width direction. At the same time, a region between the new alignment plates 1 in which the alignment target 5 is not provided is prepared at the receiving position of the alignment target 5 which is the position of the first row,
The state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained.

In the state shown in FIG. 4, the driving of the upper conveyor 2 is temporarily stopped, and the feed conveyor 6 (see FIG. 1) is provided in the area between the new alignment plates 1 in which the objects 5 to be aligned are not contained.
The object 5 to be aligned is supplied from. That is, the aligned objects 5 initially supplied to the positions of the first row are moved to the positions of the second row, and thereby the aligned objects 5 are newly fed to the vacant positions of the first row.

In FIG. 5, the aligned object 5 initially supplied to the position of the first row is moved to the position of the second row, and the aligned object 5 is newly added to the position of the vacant first row. Shows the state in which is sent.

In the state of FIG. 5, the under-conveyor 4 is now driven by an under-conveyor drive mechanism (not shown).
Driven by. This drive is performed by rotating the under conveyor 4 upward in FIG.

When the under-conveyor 4 is driven as described above in the state of FIG. 5, the objects to be aligned 5 arranged on the front portion of the under-conveyor 4 are moved to the rear side of the under-conveyor 4, and the objects to be aligned are arranged. The drive of the under conveyor is stopped while 5 is moved by one line.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the under-conveyor 4 is driven to move the objects 5 to be aligned by one row. At this time, the state of the front portion of the under conveyor 4 immediately below the upper conveyor 2 is the same as that shown in FIG. Therefore, after that, the objects 5 to be aligned can be aligned on the under conveyor 4 in two columns and a plurality of rows by repeating the above operation again.

In the above description, the objects 5 to be aligned are arranged in two rows. Therefore, the upper conveyor 2 is driven once and then the under conveyor 4 is driven. Are arranged in n rows, the upper conveyor 2 is intermittently driven n-1 times in the same procedure as described above, and n objects to be aligned 5 are received on the front portion of the under conveyor 4 and then the under conveyor 4 Should be driven.

The objects 5 to be aligned on the under conveyor 4 in n columns and a plurality of rows in this manner can be easily taken out in a desired n columns and a plurality of rows by, for example, a robot arm. It will be easier to carry out box packing work.

[0034]

The present invention is as described above, and the intermittent drive of the upper conveyor 2 and the under conveyor 4 is controlled while always receiving the objects to be aligned 5 at a fixed position, so as to control an arbitrary n rows. The objects 5 to be aligned can be arranged in a plurality of rows. Then, by driving the upper conveyor 2 and the under conveyor 4 at a high speed within a range that does not disturb the aligned state of the objects 5 to be aligned, high-speed alignment that can follow the high-speed supply of the objects 5 to be aligned is possible. In particular, when the row partition plate 7, the column partition plate 9, and the side plate 8 are provided, the aligned positions of the objects 5 to be aligned are less likely to be disturbed, so that further high-speed alignment is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention in which a part of an under conveyor is omitted.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a feed conveyor omitted.

FIG. 3 is a front view for explaining the alignment operation of the objects to be aligned, omitting the feed conveyor in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view for explaining an alignment operation of objects to be aligned, omitting a feed conveyor in the apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a front view for explaining an aligning operation of objects to be aligned, omitting a feed conveyor in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the vicinity of an upper conveyor for explaining the alignment operation of the objects to be aligned, omitting the feed conveyor in the apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Alignment Plate 2 Upper Conveyor 3 Movement Route of Alignment Plate Tip 4 Underconveyor 5 Aligned Object 6 Feed Conveyor 7 Row Partition Plate 8 Side Plate 9 Column Partition Plate 10 Supporting Member

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display B65G 47/68 C

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An upper conveyor having aligning plates protruding at regular intervals, and a front portion located immediately below the upper conveyor near a moving path of the leading ends of the aligning plates and provided in a direction perpendicular to the upper conveyor. In the stopped state of the under conveyor, the upper conveyor and the under conveyor, after receiving the aligned object on the front part of the under conveyor between the two aligning plates located at the receiving position of the aligned object, the upper conveyor is driven. , Press the object to be aligned with the alignment plate 1
After moving by a row and arranging between the two new alignment plates at the receiving position of the alignment object, the upper conveyor is stopped again to intermittently convey the alignment object between the two alignment plates. After the upper conveyor driving mechanism for driving the required n (n is an integer of 2 or more) rows and the intermittent driving of the upper conveyor, after receiving the n rows of aligned objects at the front portion of the under conveyor in the stopped state, An under-conveyor driving mechanism for intermittently driving the under-conveyor, which drives the under-conveyor to move the objects to be aligned on the under-conveyor by one line and then stops the under-conveyor again. 2. A row partition plate on the under-conveyor that can pass directly under the upper conveyor without interfering with the alignment plate of the upper conveyor when the under-conveyor is driven, and at a constant interval for partitioning the objects to be aligned for each row. The aligning device according to claim 1, wherein the aligning device is provided so as to project. 3. A row partition plate positioned between rows of objects to be aligned on the under conveyor slightly above the under conveyor except the front portion of the under conveyor, and interferes with a row partition plate on the under conveyor. The aligning device according to claim 2, wherein the aligning devices are provided without intersecting each other. 4. The aligning device according to claim 1, wherein side plates are provided on both sides of the under-conveyor to prevent the aligned objects from falling off from the side parts of the under-conveyor.