JP6150247B2 - Confectionery alignment equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for aligning confectionery, which is mainly used for aligning and transferring confectionery such as food (for example, bread, Western confectionery, Japanese confectionery) onto a transported tray.

  Conventionally, when the food fed from the upstream conveyor is transferred on the downstream conveyor while changing the alignment mode, the downstream conveyor is continuously driven at a constant speed without intermittent driving. There is already known a food transfer device that can be transferred by using a method (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, foods fed from the upstream conveyor are temporarily arranged on the intermediate conveyor, and then transferred from the intermediate conveyor to the downstream conveyor. Need.

  Therefore, without providing such an intermediate conveyor, an alignment transfer device that can be aligned and transferred directly from the upstream conveyor to the downstream conveyor without stopping or intermittently driving the downstream conveyor, The applicant has previously proposed (for example, refer to Patent Document 2).

  This apparatus arranges and transfers the object to be conveyed to the conveyor to convey the object to be conveyed from the alignment transfer belt conveyor extending in the width direction of the conveyor to the conveyor to convey the object to be conveyed. An alignment transfer device, wherein the support member that supports the alignment transfer belt conveyor and the support member is moved between a first state and a second state along a transfer direction of the transfer conveyor. First moving means, speed detecting means for detecting the conveying speed of the conveying conveyor, and a signal from the speed detecting means, and controlling the first moving means in response to the conveying speed of the conveying conveyor. And control means for moving the support member from the first state to the second state in synchronization with the transport operation of the transport conveyor.

JP-A-8-133463 JP 2009-143634 A

  In recent years, there has been a demand for supplying food trays (conveyed trays) to the transport conveyor instead of on the transport conveyor, and to align and transfer the transported objects on the food tray transported by the transport conveyor. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for aligning confectionery that can efficiently align and transfer objects to be transported with respect to a transported tray (for example, a food tray).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport unit that is placed on a base and transports a tray to be transported in a first direction, and the transport tray is sequentially provided to the first frame on the base with respect to the transport unit. To the tray supply means to be supplied and the transfer tray to be transferred by the transfer means, the transfer object is aligned and transferred from an alignment transfer belt conveyor extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. An apparatus for aligning confectionery, wherein the transport means selects a first state in which contact with the end of the transported tray and a second state in which contact with the end of the transported tray is impossible A pressing member that can be taken in an automatic manner, a supporting member that supports the pressing member, a first actuator that moves the supporting member in a first direction, and a switch between the first state and the second state of the pressing member. A second actuator. The features.

  By doing this, the transport tray supplied from the tray supply means can be transported by moving the pressing member in the first state, so that the transport tray (for example, the food tray) is moved in the first direction. The objects to be conveyed can be aligned and transferred while being moved. In addition, since the pressing member is in the second state, it can be returned to the initial position for transporting the next transported tray without interfering with the next transported tray. It is possible to carry and transfer objects.

In this case, as described in claim 2, the pressing member is supported on the support member so as to be able to rise and fall, the first state is a standing state, the second state is a lying state, The second actuator may be configured to place the pressing member in the upright state when the transported tray is transported, and to place the pressing member in a lying state when the transported tray is not transported. In addition, the pressing member is supported on the support member so as to be able to move up and down, the first state is in an up state, the second state is in a down state, and the second actuator is used for transporting the transported tray. While the pressing member is in the raised state , the pressing member may be lowered when the transported tray is not transported.

  If it does in this way, efficient conveyance of a to-be-conveyed tray can be easily implement | achieved by changing the state of a press member at the time of conveyance of a to-be-conveyed tray, and the time of non-conveyance.

  As described in claim 4, it is desirable that two of the conveying means are arranged in parallel.

  In this way, by moving the two pressing members alternately, the transported tray can be continued and efficiently transported without causing a delay in transport of the transported tray. In particular, the waiting time of the tray to be transported can be shortened by transporting the two pressing members alternately.

  The first frame includes a left side frame part and a right side frame part that faces the left side frame part and is provided so as to be relatively movable in the second direction. The interval in the second direction of the section is configured to be adjustable according to the width of the transported tray, and the tray supply means is provided movably on each side frame, and each side edge of the transported tray It can be set as the structure provided with the support tool which supports.

  If it does in this way, it can be set as the space | interval according to the width | variety of a to-be-conveyed tray by adjusting the space | interval of a left side frame part and a right side frame part in a 1st frame. Therefore, since the interval can be adjusted according to the size (that is, the width) of the transported tray, even if the width of the transported tray is different, it is possible to cope with one device.

  7. The alignment transfer belt conveyor according to claim 6, wherein the alignment transfer belt conveyor is supported by a second frame, and the base and the second frame are arranged such that a downstream end portion of the conveying means is on the left and right sides of the second frame. The second frame may be arranged so as to pass between the side frame portions, and may be configured to be separably connected to the base while supporting the alignment transfer belt conveyor.

  If it does in this way, the carrying-in direction to a to-be-conveyed tray by the said arrangement transfer belt conveyor can be changed to an opposite direction by inverting the 2nd frame. Therefore, it is possible to change the loading direction to the transported tray according to the installation location.

  In the present invention, the transported tray supplied from the tray supply unit can be transported by moving the pressing member in the first state, and the transported tray is moved to the next state by setting the pressing member in the second state. Since it can be returned to the initial position for transporting the tray without interfering with the next transported tray, efficient transport / alignment transfer of the transported object can be realized.

1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for aligning confectionery according to the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view of the appearance, and (b) is a front view thereof. It is a side view of the said confectionery alignment apparatus. The standing state of the press member used for conveyance of a to-be-conveyed tray is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a front view. It is a side view which shows the lying state of the said press member. It is a front view of the alignment apparatus of the said confectionery. It is the same top view. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of an alignment transfer conveyor. It is explanatory drawing of a modification. The standing state of the press member used for the said modification is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a front view. It is a side view which shows the lying state of the press member used for the said modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a confectionery aligning apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view of the appearance, FIG. 1 (b) is a front view thereof, and FIG. 2 is the confectionery aligning apparatus. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, the confectionery aligning apparatus 1 includes a conveying means 2 provided on a base 5, a tray supply means 3 provided in a portal frame 21, And a second direction S2 orthogonal to the first direction S1 with respect to the transported tray T that is transported along the first direction S1 by the transport means 2 and is provided with the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 supported by the support frame 31. The transferred object W (for example, food) is aligned and transferred from the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 extending in the direction. In addition, after this alignment transfer is complete | finished, the to-be-conveyed tray T is conveyed by the operator or a conveyance conveyor (not shown) to the place where the next process is performed.

  The conveying means 2 is in an upright state (first state, see FIG. 3) that can contact the end of the transported tray T, and a lying state (second state, that cannot contact the end of the transported tray T). The pressing members 15 and 16 that can selectively take (see FIG. 4), the substantially L-shaped supporting members 19 and 20 that support the pressing members 15 and 16, and the supporting members 19 and 20 in the first direction S1 Transport actuators 11 and 12 (first actuators) that are moved while being guided, and air cylinders 17 and 18 (second actuators) that cause the pressing members 15 and 16 to switch between the first state and the second state. .

  The transport actuators 11 and 12 are arranged in parallel on the base 5, and have sliders 13 and 14 that move while being guided in the first direction S1, respectively. Both the transport actuators 11 and 12 are attached in a state where their respective end portions are floated from the upper surface 5a of the base 5 so as to have a predetermined height via the fixtures 71 and 72. Corresponding to the transport path of the transported tray T, tray receiving members 73 and 74 (see FIG. 2) for supporting the transported tray T from below are provided on both sides of the transport actuators 11 and 12, respectively.

  Support members 19 and 20 are attached and fixed to the lower side of the sliders 13 and 14, whereby the support members 19 and 20 are moved together by the movement of the sliders 13 and 14. Although not specifically illustrated, the transport actuators 11 and 12 include a ball screw mechanism and a servo motor, and reciprocate the sliders 13 and 14 accurately through the ball screw mechanism by the rotation of the servo motor. It is configured. The support members 19 and 20 (sliders 13 and 14) can be moved intermittently or continuously at a constant pitch by the control of the servo motor.

  The pressing members 15 and 16 are rotatably supported so as to be positioned on the support members 19 and 20 and above the transport actuators 11 and 12. The pressing members 15 and 16 are substantially U-shaped, and the rotary shafts 51 and 52 are connected to the lower end portions thereof, and are undulated by rotating around the rotary shafts 51 and 52 (FIG. 3). And FIG. 4). Since the mechanism for raising and lowering (rotating) the pressing members 15 and 16 is the same, the mechanism for raising and lowering the pressing member 15 will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary shaft 51 is rotatably supported between the left and right support members 53 </ b> A and 53 </ b> B. And the conveyance actuator 11 is arrange | positioned between one support | pillar member 53A between support | pillar members 53A and 53B. Further, one end portion of the connection link 54 is fixed to the rotating shaft 51, and the air cylinder 17 is provided between the other end portion of the connection link 54 and the support bracket 55 on the support member 19. As a space in which the air cylinder 17 moves, a dead space formed between the transport actuator 11 and the other column member 53B is used.

  When the pressing member 15 is rotated by the air cylinder 17, the pressing member 15 is configured to be able to selectively take a standing state and a lying state. With the pressing member 15 standing up and in contact with the end of the transport tray T (first state), the transport tray 11 can be moved in the first direction S1 by pushing the transport actuator 11. The same applies to the pressing member 16. The left and right transport actuators 11 and 12 can operate independently of each other, and can be transported to the transported tray T without causing a time lag by operating alternately.

  As described above, the pressing members 15 and 16 are in an upright state when the transported tray T is transported, but are in a lying state when the transported tray T is not transported, that is, when retreating to the initial state. In order not to interfere with the subsequent transported tray T, which is to be transported, it returns to the initial position through the lower side of the subsequent transported tray T.

  On the base 5, as shown in FIG. 5, a portal frame 21 containing the tray supply unit 3 is disposed in the vicinity of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the transport unit 2, and the portal frame 21 is installed. The trays T to be transported are sequentially supplied onto the transport means 2 at the portions that are present.

  The portal frame 21 has a hollow upper frame portion 21A and hollow left and right side frame portions 21Ba and 21Bb. A chain 23 is rotatably wound around 22B, and support metal fixtures 24 capable of supporting the side edge of the transport tray T from below are provided at regular intervals between the front and rear chains 23. The support brackets 24 in the left and right frame portions 21Ba and 21Bb are in a corresponding positional relationship on the left and right, and the transported tray T can be transported from the upper side to the lower side by the left and right chains 23 rotating synchronously. Further, by supporting the transport tray T between the left and right support brackets 24, it is possible to store (standby) until it is used.

  The left and right chains 23 that support the left or right edge of the transport tray T from the lower side are rotated in synchronization, and the transport tray T is transported from the upper side to the lower side by the corresponding support brackets 24 on the left and right sides. The transported tray T is supplied onto the transport means 2 when the metal fitting 24 is released to move to the return side.

  The supplied transport tray T is fed at a predetermined pitch in the first direction S1 by the pressing members 15 and 16 that are in contact with the end portions thereof, and is fed from the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 corresponding to the pitch. The conveyed product W is transferred while being retracted by a predetermined number in a row in the second direction S2. After completion of the predetermined number of transfers, the leading end of the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 moves forward and returns to the initial position, and similarly, the transfer is performed while moving backward by a predetermined number for the next row. Such an operation is repeated, and each row is arranged in a plurality of rows on the tray T to be transported, each row being a predetermined number of the transported objects W.

  The upper frame portion 21A includes left and right upper frame portions 21Aa and 21Ab that are connected to the upper end portions of the left and right side frame portions 21Ba and 21Bb and are movably fitted to each other. The portal frame 21 includes the left and right upper frame portions 21Aa. The left and right side frame portions 21Ba and 21Bb are configured to be movable in the second direction S2 on the base 5 in a state where the tip portions of 21Ab are fitted to each other. In other words, the mounting brackets 25A and 25B are provided outside the front and rear lower ends of the side frame portions 21Ba and 21Bb, and the sliders 26A and 26B are provided on the mounting brackets 25A and 25B, while the guide rails 27A and 25B are provided on the base 5. 27B is arranged to extend in the second direction S2. Sliders 26A and 26B are movably engaged with the guide rails 27A and 27B.

  The left and right side frame portions 21Ba and 21Bb are provided with left and right extension portions 21Baa and 21Bba penetrating the ceiling plate 5a of the base 5. Between these left and right extension parts 21Baa and 21Bba, as shown in FIG. 6, there is provided a rectangular rotary plate 29 that is rotated by an actuator 28 in plan view, and one end part of this rotary plate 29 and the left extension part 21Baa is connected by the first link member 30A, while the other end of the rotating plate 29 and the right extension 21Bba are connected by the second link member 30B, and the rotating plate 29 is rotated by the actuator 28, whereby the guide A distance adjusting unit is configured to move the sliders 26A and 26B along the rails 27A and 27B and adjust the distance between the side frame portions 21Ba and 21Bb according to the width of the transported tray T. In addition, other actuators, such as an air cylinder, can also be used for adjusting the space | interval between both-side frame part 21Ba and 21Bb. Moreover, it is good also as a manual system, without using an actuator.

  The alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 is supported by a support frame 31 having a rectangular opening 31 a, and the base 5 and the support frame 31 are arranged such that the downstream end of the conveying means 2 passes through the opening 31 a of the support frame 31. It arrange | positions so that it may penetrate, and they are fixed by fixed positional relationship. As described above, since the downstream end of the conveying means 2 is inserted into the opening 31a of the support frame 31, the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 can be fixed by rotating the support claim 31 by 180 degrees. The transfer direction can be changed by 180 degrees. Therefore, any layout can be selected and adopted according to the installation location. A control device 32 that controls the electrical control of the device 1 is provided above the support frame 31.

  The top end of the belt conveyor 4 can be retracted in the second direction S1 on the upper side of the opening 31a, and the articles to be conveyed W are moved one by one onto the conveyance tray T by performing the retraction operation. It comes to be posted. The support frame 31 is detachably connected to the base 5 in a state in which the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 is supported.

  As shown in FIG. 7, four sprockets 41A to 41D are rotatably supported by the support frame 31 corresponding to the four corners of the opening 31a, and a chain 42 is wound around them. A support member 43 that supports the tip member 4a of the aligned and stacked belt conveyor 4 is connected to the upper portion of the chain 42, and the tip of the belt conveyor 4 is moved in the second direction S1 via the support member 43 by the operation of the chain 42. It is designed to move forward and backward (reciprocating). An upper guide rail 44 for guiding the movement of the support member 43 is provided.

  A lower guide rail 45 is provided in parallel with the upper guide rail 44, and a moving member 47 that rotatably supports a pulley 46 that constitutes an end opposite to the side on which the tip member 4 a is provided is provided on the lower guide rail 45. It is movably engaged. The moving member 47 is moved in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the tip member 4a in synchronization with the movement of the tip member 4a, so that the bending of the conveyor belt 4b is absorbed. It has become. Since the portion that absorbs the bending extends in the second direction S2 in parallel to the movement of the tip member 4a and in the opposite direction, the bending can be easily absorbed.

  By doing so, the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 is formed below the conveying means 2 penetrating the portal frame 21 in the extra length storage portion of the conveyor belt. In other words, an extra length storage portion of the conveyor belt is disposed in a space portion that becomes a dead space so that the device width does not become too large as a whole device.

  A conveyor belt 4b having a narrow belt width is wound around the tip member 4a to transport the article to be transported W such as food, and the tip member 4a is in the tray width direction (a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport tray T). Along the transport tray T, a reciprocating movement is made.

  By repeating the operation in which the tip member 4a descends and moves (retreats) between both ends in the width direction of the transported tray T, the transported object W on the conveyor belt 4b is sequentially placed on the transported tray. They are transferred in a row in two directions S2.

  When using the confectionery aligning device, first, various settings are made in the control device in accordance with the size (width) of the transported tray to be transported. Thereby, the actuator 28 is driven by a control circuit (not shown) housed in the control device 32 to adjust the interval between the left and right side frame portions. After the adjustment, guide members for guiding both side portions of the transported tray are attached.

  The control device 32 determines an initial position, a moving range, and the like of the front end portion of the aligned transfer belt conveyor 4 according to the number of the articles to be conveyed W aligned on the conveyance tray and the number belonging to the lines. Then, under the control of the control device 32, the transported tray supplied from the tray supply unit is moved by one of the pressing members 15 and 16 to a position where the transported object W can be transferred to the first row.

  Then, by the movement of the support member 43, the position of the tip end portion (tip member 4a) of the alignment transfer belt conveyor 4 moves in the second direction S2, and the articles to be conveyed are arranged one by one at a constant pitch. To be transferred. When the transfer for one row is completed, the leading portion is returned to the initial position, and in the meantime, the transported tray is sent by the pressing members 15 and 16 to the position where the transfer tray can be transferred to the next row in the first direction S1. . Then, the transfer is performed in the same manner for the next column.

  As described above, a predetermined number of articles to be transported are transferred to a predetermined number of predetermined rows on the transport tray while repeating the transfer of each row. A plurality of articles to be conveyed S are arranged at a predetermined interval on the conveyor belt 4b wound around the tip member 4a, and can be transferred sequentially.

  When the transfer of the predetermined number of articles to be transferred to the predetermined number of rows is completed, the pressing member is brought down by the operation of the air cylinder, and in this state, the transfer actuators 11 and 12 do not interfere with the next transfer tray. , It is returned to its initial position through the underside. On the other hand, since the other pressing member remains in the initial position, even when the one pressing member is returning, the next transport tray is started to be transported and similarly aligned and transferred to the next transported tray. Is executed. In this way, by using the two pressing members alternately, there is no delay in feeding the transported tray.

  Further, the transported tray after the alignment transfer has been completed may be brought to a predetermined place by an operator or may be transported to a predetermined place by another transport means. Furthermore, the pressing members 15 and 16 may be returned after being moved onto another conveying means by the conveying actuators 11 and 12.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be implemented with the following modifications.
(i) In the above-described embodiment, the pressing member is selectively moved between the standing position and the lying position, but the pressing member is moved up and down by an actuator such as an air cylinder so that the upper operating state (first 1 state) and a lower standby state (second state) can be selectively taken. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, a support member 64 is provided on a mounting plate 61 that is fixedly attached to the lower side of the slider 13 via a support member 62, and a base of a bending link 65 is provided on the support member 64. If the end portion is rotatably supported, a pressing member 66 is provided at the tip of the bending link 65, and an air cylinder 67 (second actuator) is provided between the intermediate portion of the bending link 65 and the support member 64. Good. The air cylinder 67 raises the pressing member 66 when the transported tray is transported to be in an operating state, and lowers the pressing member 66 when the transported tray is not transported to be in a standby state. Further, guide members 75 and 76 for guiding the conveyance by contacting both side surfaces of the tray T to be conveyed are provided on the outside. The mounting positions of the guide members 75 and 76 are adjusted according to the width of the transported tray T to be transported. In addition, when the moving distance of the tray T is short, the guide member can be omitted.
(ii) In the above embodiment, two actuators are provided in parallel and are moved alternately. However, it is also possible to move them together when the transport tray is wide.

Also, it is not always necessary to provide two, and only one can be provided. In that case, when alignment transfer of the last row of the transported tray is started, the pressing member is controlled to return to the initial position by causing the delay in the transport as in the case where the two are alternately used. Can be avoided.
(iii) The width of the conveyor belt of the alignment transfer belt conveyor is widened, and the articles to be conveyed W are conveyed in a state of being arranged in two or more rows on the conveyor belt. It is also possible to transfer on the conveyance tray at the same time.
(iv) It is not always necessary for the left and right side frame portions to move, and only one of them can move. As an actuator for adjusting the distance between the left and right frame portions, an air cylinder can be used, and a manual type using a screw mechanism can also be used.

T transported tray 1 confectionery alignment device 2 transport means 3 tray supply means 4 alignment transfer belt conveyor 4a tip member 4b conveyor belt 5 base 11, 12 transport actuator 13, 14 slider 15, 16 pressing member 17, 18 air Cylinders 19 and 20 Support member 21 Portal frame 21A Upper frame portion 21Aa Upper left frame portion 21Ab Upper right frame portion 21Ba Left frame portion 21Baa Left extension portion 21Bb Right frame portion 21Bba Right extension portion 28 Actuator 29 Rotating plates 30A and 30B Link member 31 Support flame

Claims (6)

A transport means mounted on the base for transporting the transported tray in the first direction;
Tray supply means provided in a first frame on the base for sequentially supplying the transported trays to the transport means;
An apparatus for aligning confectionery for aligning and transferring an object to be conveyed from an alignment transfer belt conveyor extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the tray to be conveyed conveyed by the conveying means. And
The conveying means is a pressing member capable of selectively taking a first state capable of contacting the end of the transported tray and a second state unable to contact the end of the transported tray; A supporting member that supports the pressing member, a first actuator that moves the supporting member in the first direction, and a second actuator that switches between the first state and the second state of the pressing member. An apparatus for aligning confectionery. The pressing member is supported so as to be able to rise and fall on the support member, the first state is a standing state, and the second state is a lying state,
The confectionery alignment according to claim 1, wherein the second actuator places the pressing member in the upright state when the transported tray is transported, and places the pressing member in a lying state when the transported tray is not transported. apparatus. The pressing member is supported on the support member so as to be movable up and down, the first state is an elevated state, and the second state is a lowered state,
The confectionery alignment according to claim 1, wherein the second actuator places the pressing member in the raised state when the transported tray is transported, and lowers the pressing member when the transported tray is not transported. apparatus.   The confectionery aligning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein two conveying means are arranged in parallel. The first frame includes a left frame portion and a right frame portion facing the left frame portion and provided so as to be relatively movable in the second direction, and an interval in the second direction between the left and right side frame portions. Is configured to be adjustable according to the width of the transported tray,
The said tray supply means is provided in the said each side frame part so that a movement is possible, The alignment of the confectionery as described in any one of Claims 1-4 provided with the support tool which supports each side edge of the said to-be-transported tray. apparatus. The alignment transfer belt conveyor is supported by the second frame,
The base and the second frame are arranged such that the downstream end of the transport means passes between the left and right side frame portions of the second frame,
The confectionery alignment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second frame is detachably connected to the base while supporting the alignment transfer belt conveyor.

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