Aggregation device and conveying device

Abstract

The gathering device comprises a conveying conveyor (2), a gathering conveyor (8) and a transfer board (3), wherein the conveying conveyor (2) conveys the conveyed object (1), the bottom surface of the conveying clamp portion (11b) of the conveying object (1) is circular, a protrusion (1a) for conveying is provided at the center of the bottom surface and a processing surface (1b) is provided at the periphery of the bottom surface, the conveying conveyor (2) has a belt with holes for the protrusion (1a) to be fixed in a mesh shape, and the gathering conveyor (8) is provided on the downstream side of the conveying conveyor (2) to convey the conveyed object. (1) is used for conveying, and has a belt with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusions (1a) to be locked. The transfer plate (3) is set between the conveying conveyor (2) and the gathering conveyor (8), so that the conveyed object (1) is transferred from the conveying conveyor (2) to the gathering conveyor (8). The transfer plate (3) has a gap or groove for the protrusions (1a) of the conveying clamp (11b) to pass through. On the side surface of the end portion close to the conveying conveyor (2), the gap or groove is formed in a widened manner, and the end surface is chamfered to ensure stable transfer of the conveyed object (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a gathering device. Background Art

[0002] When the conveyed objects and conveying fixtures (Japanese: jigs) transported by a conveyor are gathered, in the previous gathering device, in order to improve the gathering efficiency, the conveyed objects and conveying fixtures are moved to a conveyor other than the conveyor used for the conveying and then gathered. During this movement, in order to prevent the conveyed objects and conveying fixtures from falling into the gaps between the arcs generated between the conveyor and other conveyors, rollers or plates are provided to fill the gaps between the arcs, and the transfer to other conveyors is performed by utilizing the thrust of the conveyor or by rotating the rollers (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In addition, a height difference is provided between the conveyor and other conveyors, and gravity is utilized to transfer to other conveyors for gathering (for example, see Patent Document 3). In addition, the conveyed objects on the conveyor are detected by using a camera or the like, and are picked up by a robot (for example, see Patent Document 4).

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-177836 (Paragraph 10, Figure 1 )

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-125726 (page 5, lines 9 to 17, Figure 1 )

[0007] Patent Document 3: Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 6-83630 (paragraphs 11-12, Figure 1 )

[0008] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-37411 (paragraphs 34 to 39, Figure 1 ) Summary of the Invention

[0009] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0010] In such an aggregation device, in any case where a conveyor having grid-shaped holes such as a mesh belt is used to convey a conveying object or a conveying clamp whose height dimension is larger than the outer dimension of the bottom surface and has protrusions on the bottom surface, or in any case where rollers are provided between the conveyors, there is the following problem: the protrusions fall into the grid-shaped holes, and while the conveying object is being transferred to other conveyors while the protrusions are being pulled out, the conveying object falls into the gap between the conveying conveyor and the other conveyors, causing the conveying object to overturn, fall, or damage the grid-shaped holes of the conveying conveyor.

[0011] The present application has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present application is to provide an accumulation device that can transfer conveyed objects to other conveyors at low cost without causing overturning, falling, or damage to the conveyor.

[0012] Solutions to Problems

[0013] The gathering device disclosed in the present application is characterized in that it comprises a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a transfer plate, the first conveyor conveys the conveyed object, the bottom surface of the conveying clamp portion of the conveying object is circular, a conveying protrusion is provided at the center of the bottom surface and an inclined surface is provided at the periphery, the first conveyor has a belt with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusion to be locked, the second conveyor is arranged on the downstream side of the first conveyor, conveys the conveyed object, and has a belt with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusion to be locked, the transfer plate is arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, so that the conveyed object is transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the transfer plate has a gap or groove for the protrusion of the conveying clamp portion to pass through, and the gap or groove is formed in a widened manner on the end side of the transfer plate on the side of the first conveyor, and chamfering processing (Japanese: R processing) is applied to the end surface.

[0014] In addition, the gathering device disclosed in the present application includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a transfer plate, the first conveyor conveys the conveyed object, the bottom surface of the conveying clamp part of the conveying object is circular, a conveying protrusion is provided at the center of the bottom surface and the periphery is chamfered, the first conveyor has a belt with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusion to be fixed, the second conveyor is arranged on the downstream side of the first conveyor, conveys the conveyed object, and has a belt with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusion to be fixed, the transfer plate is arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, so that the conveyed object is transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, the transfer plate has a gap or groove for the protrusion of the conveying clamp part to pass through, and the gap or groove is formed in a widened manner on the end side of the transfer plate on the side of the first conveyor, and an inclined surface is provided on the end surface.

[0015] Effects of the Invention

[0016] According to the present application, by installing a transfer plate with rounded front end surfaces, the conveyed objects can be stably transferred without causing the conveyor and the transfer plate to fall over and without damaging the conveyor and the transfer plate, and the conveyed objects can be gathered with an inexpensive structure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a top view showing the structure of the aggregation device according to the first embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a side view showing the structure of the aggregation device according to the first embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3 These are a side view and a bottom view showing the structure of an object to be conveyed by the accumulation device according to the first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a side view showing another structure of the transported object transported by the stacking device according to the first embodiment.

[0021] Figure 5 It is a plan view showing the structure of the transfer board used in the accumulation device according to the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a side view for explaining the installation position of the transfer board used in the accumulation device according to the first embodiment.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a side view showing the behavior of objects to be conveyed during transfer in the stacking device according to the first embodiment.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a side view showing the behavior of objects to be conveyed when the front end surface portion of the transfer board in the stacking device according to the first embodiment is inclined.

[0025] Figure 9 This is a side view showing a state in which the transport conveyor in the stacking device according to the first embodiment is tilted.

[0026] Figure 10 This is a side view showing the structure of the aggregation device according to the second embodiment.

[0027] Figure 11 This is a side view showing the structure of an object to be transported by the stacking device according to the third embodiment.

[0028] Figure 12 It is a side view showing the structure of the aggregation device of Embodiment 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Implementation Method 1

[0030] Figure 1 It is a plan view showing the structure of the accumulation device 101 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 It is a side view showing the structure of the accumulation device 101. Figure 3 The structure of the transported object 1 transported by the gathering device 101 is shown. Figure 3 (a) is the side view, Figure 3 (b) is a bottom view. Figure 4The structure of the separated conveyed object 1 is shown in a side view showing the separated state.

[0031] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, in the accumulation device 101, the transport conveyor 2, which serves as the first conveyor, is a continuously operated conveyor using a mesh belt or other belt having grid-like holes. The transport conveyor 2 transports the objects 1 with the protrusions 1a at the center of the bottom surface of the objects 1 inserted into the grid-like holes of the mesh belt or other belt of the transport conveyor 2. In this transport mode, the objects 1 are transported in a state where they are irregularly arranged on the transport conveyor 2.

[0032] Transported object 1 Figure 3 As shown, the height dimension of the conveyed object 1 (refer to Figure 3 (b)) than the outer dimensions of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 (refer to Figure 3 (a)) is large. In addition, the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 is set to be circular, and a non-slip protrusion 1a is provided at the center of the bottom surface as a conveying clamp 11b. In addition, an inclined processing surface 1b is applied to the periphery of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1. In addition, in this embodiment 1, a conveyed object 1 that is integrated with a conveying clamp is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. It can also be used Figure 4 The transported object 1 shown is composed of a transport portion 11a and a transport fixture 11b that can be separated from the transport portion 11a. The transport fixture 11b has a circular bottom surface, an anti-slip protrusion 1a is provided at the center of the bottom, and an inclined processing surface 1b is applied to the periphery of the bottom surface.

[0033] Generally speaking, when the transport conveyor 2 is operated continuously and the transported objects 1 are transported in a state where they are irregularly arranged on the transport conveyor 2, it is difficult to temporarily gather the transported objects 1 on the transport conveyor 2 in advance. In the absence of other structures, the operator who takes out the transported objects 1 transported by the transport conveyor 2 must always be downstream of the transport conveyor 2. By setting it as a structure in which the transported objects 1 transported from a continuously operating transport conveyor 2 are transferred to another intermittently operating gathering conveyor 8 as a second conveyor for gathering, the transported objects or transport fixtures will not fall or become blocked during a certain period of time even when there is no operator downstream of the transport conveyor 2, and the transport of the transport conveyor 2 can continue. The gathering device according to the first embodiment of the present application is provided for the above-mentioned purpose.

[0034] In the gathering device 101 of the present application, a transfer plate 3 is provided on the downstream side of the conveyor 2, and the transfer plate 3 has a plurality of gaps or grooves for the protrusions 1a of the conveying clamp to pass through. A sensor 4 is provided at the entrance of the transfer plate 3, and the sensor 4 detects: the conveyed object 1 arrives at the front end portion of the transfer plate 3, and reaches the position where the protrusion 1a at the center of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 is pulled out from the grid-shaped hole of the mesh belt of the conveyor 2.

[0035] In the gathering device 101, in order to make the conveyed object 1 that has reached the position pulled out from the grid-shaped holes of the mesh belt of the self-conveying conveyor 2 completely transferred to the flat portion 3d of the transfer plate 3, a mechanism 5, a moving actuator 6 and a lifting actuator 7 are arranged directly above the transfer plate 3. The above-mentioned mechanism 5 adsorbs or holds the conveyed object 1, and the above-mentioned moving actuator 6 serves as a second actuator to move the conveyed object 1 adsorbed by the adsorbing or holding mechanism 5 toward the downstream side (direction A) on the transfer plate 3. The above-mentioned lifting actuator 7 serves as a first actuator to lift the adsorbing or holding mechanism 5 up and down.

[0036] The collecting device 101 uses the suction or holding mechanism 5 to suck or hold the conveyed object 1 that has reached the position where it is pulled out of the grid-shaped holes of the mesh belt, etc., of the self-transporting conveyor 2, while the lifting actuator 7 is lowered. After confirming that the conveyed object 1 is correctly sucked or held using sensors (not shown), such as pressure sensors and cylinder sensors, the moving actuator 6 moves downstream (direction A), thereby completely transferring the conveyed object 1 to the transfer plate 3. Then, while the conveyed object 1 is sucked or held by the suction or holding mechanism 5, the moving actuator 6 moves downstream (direction A), transferring the conveyed object 1 to the collecting conveyor 8 provided downstream of the transfer plate 3. Next, after confirming that the object 1 has been completely transferred to the transfer plate 3 via a sensor (not shown) at the front of the transfer conveyor 8, the collection device 101 releases the suction or gripping mechanism 5, raises and retracts the suction or gripping mechanism 5 using the lifting actuator 7, and moves the moving actuator 6 upstream to return it to its original position. The above actions are performed each time the object 1 is transported by the conveyor 2 and reaches the transfer plate 3. If the object 1 is magnetic, the suction or gripping mechanism 5 may alternatively be an electromagnetic suction mechanism using an electromagnet.

[0037] Figure 5 1 is a top view of the transfer board 3 of the aggregation device 101 according to the first embodiment of the present application. Figure 5As shown, the width W of the gap or groove of the transfer board 3 is set to be at least larger than the diameter of the protrusion 1a at the center of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1. When the conveyed object 1 is moved downstream (direction A) on the transfer board 3 by the movement actuator 6, the protrusion 1a at the center of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 can move downstream (direction A) without getting caught or riding on the transfer board 3. In addition, in order to stably guide the conveyed objects 1 irregularly arranged on the conveyor 2 to the transfer board 3, the front end 3a of the transfer board 3 preferably has an inclined shape to stably guide the conveyed objects 1 to the transfer board 3. In addition, the more acute the angle in the direction where the front end becomes sharper, the more stable the introduction of the conveyed objects 1 to the transfer board 3. Therefore, the angle of the inclined shape is set to be as acute as possible. However, when the front end vertex of the transfer board 3, which has become an acute angle, forms an angular shape, when transferring from the conveyor 2 to the transfer board 3, the protrusion at the center of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 may get caught on the front end vertex 3b of the transfer board 3 and cause the conveyed object 1 to overturn. Therefore, the front end vertex 3b of the transfer board 3 is preferably an arc shape that is rounded when viewed from above.

[0038] Figure 6 Yes Figure 1 An enlarged side view of the transfer section C of the collecting device 101 is shown. The transfer section C is provided at the downstream end of the conveying direction of the conveyor 2 using a continuously operating mesh belt or other belt with grid-like holes. A pulley 9 is provided for returning the mesh belt or other belt with grid-like holes to the drive unit (not shown) of the conveyor 2. An intermittently operating collecting conveyor 8 for temporarily collecting the conveyed materials 1 is provided downstream of the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2. A pulley 10 is provided for delivering the conveyor belt from the drive unit (not shown) of the collecting conveyor 8 to the conveying surface of the collecting conveyor 8.

[0039] When the conveyed object 1 is transferred from the transport conveyor 2 to the gathering conveyor 8, if the length dimension of the conveying direction (direction A) of the conveyed object 1 is sufficiently large compared to the spacing dimension between the pulley 9 of the conveying conveyor 2 and the pulley 10 of the gathering conveyor 8, the possibility of the conveyed object 1 falling between the pulley 9 of the conveying conveyor 2 and the pulley 10 of the gathering conveyor 8 and overturning is small. Relative to the spacing dimension between the pulley 9 of the conveying conveyor 2 and the pulley 10 of the gathering conveyor 8, the smaller the length dimension of the conveying direction A of the conveyed object 1 is, the more likely the conveyed object 1 is to fall between the pulley 9 of the conveying conveyor 2 and the pulley 10 of the gathering conveyor 8 and overturn.

[0040] To prevent the conveyed object 1 from falling between the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2 and the pulley 10 of the collection conveyor 8 and tipping over, a transfer plate 3 is provided between the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2 and the pulley 10 of the collection conveyor 8. The front end surface 3c of the transfer plate 3 is chamfered. Furthermore, the chamfered surface of the front end surface 3c of the transfer plate 3 is surface-treated to have a lower coefficient of friction than the surface of the conveyed object 1. The gap between the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2 and the front end 3a of the transfer plate 3 is preferably set as close as possible to avoid interference. Furthermore, the transfer plate 3 is preferably set at a height such that the height of the flat surface of the transfer plate 3 is the same as or slightly lower than the height at which the conveyor 2 transports the conveyed object 1. This arrangement reduces the risk of the conveyed object 1 becoming caught on the front end 3a of the transfer plate 3 and tipping over. Furthermore, the rounding process in the present disclosure may not only be a strict arc shape, but also a combination of arcs, an elliptical arc shape, and a shape that is gently descending toward the front end and convex upward. It is clear that even if the front end surface portion 3c is not a strict arc shape, substantially the same effect can be achieved.

[0041] Figure 7 This is an enlarged side view showing the behavior of the conveyed material 1 during transfer by the accumulation device 101 of the first embodiment of the present application. Using a continuously operating mesh belt or other belt having grid-shaped holes, the conveyed material 1 is conveyed in the downstream direction (direction A) of the conveyor 2 with the protrusion 1a at the center of the bottom surface of the conveyor 2 inserted into the grid-shaped holes of the mesh belt or other belt of the conveyor 2. From the point where the conveyed material 1 exceeds the vertex of the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2, the posture of the conveyed material 1 gradually changes from the horizontal to the downstream and lower direction (direction A) of the conveyor 2 along the arc of the pulley 9. Then, the inclined processed surface 1b of the bottom peripheral edge of the conveyed object 1 first contacts the front end surface portion 3c of the transfer plate 3 to which the chamfered corners are applied. At that time, the conveyor 2 is still in a state of continuous operation with the protrusion 1a at the center of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 inserted into the grid-shaped holes of the mesh belt of the conveyor 2, so that the propulsion force in the direction of moving forward in the downstream direction (direction A) of the conveyor 2 acts on the conveyed object 1. However, the inclined processed surface 1b of the bottom peripheral edge of the conveyed object 1 is in contact with the front end surface portion 3c of the transfer plate 3 with a chamfered corner processing. Therefore, the conveyed object 1 cannot continue to move directly along the arc of the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2 in this state. Due to the propulsion force that wants to make the conveyed object 1 move forward in the downstream direction (direction A) of the conveyor 2, the inclined processed surface 1b of the bottom peripheral edge of the conveyed object 1 jumps up to the front end surface portion 3c of the transfer plate 3 with a chamfered corner processing, and the conveyed object 1 is transported to the downstream side.

[0042] Figure 8 This is an enlarged side view showing the behavior of the conveyed object 1 during transfer when the front end surface 3c of the transfer board 3 is inclined. It is preferable to only convey objects 1 with a fixed center of gravity, but when conveyed objects with varying centers of gravity due to differences in height are mixed with the conveyor 2, the higher the center of gravity of the conveyed object 1, the more it tilts forward when it passes over the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2. Figure 8 As shown, when the front end surface 3c of the transfer board 3 is inclined, depending on the position of the object 1 as it passes over the pulley 9 of the conveyor 2, the angle between the inclined surface 1b of the bottom peripheral edge of the object 1 and the inclined front end surface 3c of the transfer board 3 may become significantly closer to parallel. As a result, the inclined surface 1b of the bottom peripheral edge of the object 1 and the inclined front end surface 3c of the transfer board 3 may come into contact with each other, causing the object 1 to move against the inclined front end surface 3c of the transfer board 3 rather than onto the inclined shape of the front end surface 3c. Such behavior could cause deformation and damage to the transfer board 3, which is pushed by the object 1, or deformation and damage to the lattice-shaped holes of the mesh belt of the conveyor 2, etc., into which the protrusion 1a at the center of the bottom surface of the object 1 is inserted.

[0043] By making the front end surface portion 3c of the transfer board 3 as Figure 7 With this rounded shape, the inclined surface 1b of the bottom peripheral edge of the object 1 and the rounded front end surface 3c of the transfer plate 3 do not come into surface contact, thus avoiding the risk of mutual compression. Furthermore, by surface-treating the rounded front end surface 3c of the transfer plate 3 to a lower coefficient of friction than that of the object 1, the inclined surface 1b of the bottom peripheral edge of the object 1 can be more smoothly moved up onto the rounded front end surface 3c of the transfer plate 3. The lower the coefficient of friction of the rounded front end surface 3c of the transfer plate 3, the better.

[0044] In addition, through Figure 7 By processing the front end surface portion 3c of the transfer plate 3 in such a manner, the conveyed object 1 is lifted up while advancing along the front end surface portion 3c to which the chamfering processing is applied, so that the conveyed object 1 moves slowly away from the conveyor 2, and the protrusion 1a at the center portion of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 slowly comes out of the lattice-shaped holes of the mesh belt of the conveyor 2. After the protrusion 1a at the center portion of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1 completely comes out of the lattice-shaped holes of the mesh belt of the conveyor 2, the propulsion force of the conveyed object 1 in the direction of moving forward in the downstream direction (direction A) of the conveyor 2 disappears, and the conveyed object 1 stops in a state of stepping onto the transfer plate 3.

[0045] Through Figure 7 The transfer plate 3 with the front end surface portion 3c chamfered in this manner can stably transfer the conveyed object 1 without causing the conveyed object 1 conveyed by the conveyor 2 to overturn and without causing the grid-shaped holes of the transfer plate 3 and the mesh belt of the conveyor 2 to deform or damage.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the conveying surface of the conveyor 2 is horizontal, but the present invention is not limited thereto. When the conveying surface of the conveyor 2 is inclined, the conveyed object 1 is more likely to tilt when it passes over the pulleys 9 of the conveyor 2. Figure 9 This is an enlarged side view showing a case where the conveyor 2 is tilted in the stacking device 101 according to Embodiment 1. In this case, the use of the transfer plate 3 is highly effective in stably transferring the conveyed objects 1 .

[0047] After transferring the conveyed material 1 to the transfer plate 3, the collecting device 101 uses the suction or gripping mechanism 5 to suck or grip the conveyed material 1 stopped at the flat surface 3d of the transfer plate 3, and uses the moving actuator 6 to move the conveyed material 1 toward the collecting conveyor 8 (direction A), thereby transferring the conveyed material 1 to the collecting conveyor 8. The shape of the transfer plate 3 on the side facing the collecting conveyor 8 is not particularly specified, but it is best to make the transfer plate 3 and the collecting conveyor 8 as close as possible to prevent the conveyed material 1 from falling into the gap between the transfer plate 3 and the pulley 10 of the collecting conveyor 8 and overturning.

[0048] As described above, the gathering device 101 of embodiment 1 is adopted, and the gathering device 101 has a conveying conveyor 2, a gathering conveyor 8 and a transfer board 3. The conveying conveyor 2 conveys the conveyed object 1. The bottom surface of the conveying clamp portion 11b of the conveying object 1 is circular, and a protrusion 1a for conveying is provided at the center of the bottom surface and a processing surface 1b is provided at the periphery of the bottom surface. The conveying conveyor 2 has a belt, which is provided with a mesh-like hole for the protrusion 1a to be locked. The conveyor 8 is arranged on the downstream side of the transport conveyor 2 to transport the conveyed object 1. It has a belt with a mesh-shaped hole for the protrusion 1a to be locked. The transfer plate 3 is arranged between the transport conveyor 2 and the gathering conveyor 8 to transfer the conveyed object 1 from the transport conveyor 2 to the gathering conveyor 8. The transfer plate 3 has a gap or groove for the protrusion 1a of the transport clamp 11b to pass through. The gap or groove is formed in a widened manner on the side of the end portion near the transport conveyor 2. The surface is chamfered. In addition, the gathering device 101 is equipped with a sensor 4, a lifting actuator 7 and a moving actuator 6. The above-mentioned sensor 4 detects that the conveyed object 1 has arrived at the transfer board 3 from the conveyor 2, and detects that the protrusion 1a of the conveyed object 1 has reached the position where the protrusion 1a of the conveyor 2 is disengaged from the hole of the belt of the conveyor 2. The above-mentioned lifting actuator 7 is lifted and lowered, and has a mechanism 5 for adsorbing or holding the conveyed object 1. The above-mentioned moving actuator 6 moves the lifting actuator 7 toward the downstream side of the transfer board 3. When the sensor 4 detects that the conveyed object 1 has reached the above-mentioned position, the above-mentioned first actuator adsorbs or holds the above-mentioned conveyed object that has arrived at the above-mentioned transfer board, and the above-mentioned second actuator moves the lifting actuator 7 toward the downstream side of the transfer board 3 so that the conveyed object 1 is transferred to the flat portion 3d of the transfer board 3. Therefore, the conveyed object can be stably transferred without causing the conveyed object to overturn and without damaging the conveyor and the transfer board, and the conveyed object can be gathered with an inexpensive structure.

[0049] Implementation method 2.

[0050] In the first embodiment, the conveyed objects are moved toward the collecting conveyor 8 (direction A) by the movement actuator 6. However, in the second embodiment, a case where a pushing mechanism is further provided will be described.

[0051] Figure 10 1 is a side view showing the structure of the aggregation device 102 according to the first embodiment. Figure 10 As shown, in the gathering device 102, a pushing mechanism 13 and a lifting actuator 12 serving as a third actuator for lifting and lowering the pushing mechanism 13 are provided downstream (in the direction A) of the lifting actuator 7. The remaining structure of the gathering device 102 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the gathering device 101 of the first embodiment. Portions corresponding to those of the gathering device 101 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0052] In embodiment 1, the moving actuator 6 is used to move the lifting actuator 7 to the gathering conveyor 8, so that the conveyed object 1 is moved toward the gathering conveyor 8 and transferred to the gathering conveyor 8. The above-mentioned lifting actuator 7 uses the adsorption or holding mechanism 5 to adsorb or hold the conveyed object 1 that is transferred to the transfer board 3 and stops on the flat part of the transfer board 3 due to the disappearance of the propulsion force.

[0053] In embodiment 2, after the conveyed object 1 is completely transferred from the entrance of the transfer board 3 to the flat portion 3d and the mechanism 5 for adsorption or holding is retreated to the upper side by the lifting actuator 7, the lifting actuator 12 having the pushing mechanism 13 is moved by the moving actuator 6, thereby pushing the conveyed object 1 and moving the conveyed object 1 to the side of the gathering conveyor 8, pushing and transferring to the gathering conveyor 8, instead of using the moving actuator 6 to move the lifting actuator 7 to the gathering conveyor 8, the lifting actuator 7 uses the mechanism 5 for adsorption or holding to adsorb or hold the conveyed object 1.

[0054] In this way, by setting up a pushing mechanism 13 and a lifting actuator 12 that moves the pushing mechanism 13 up and down, the pushing mechanism 13 is used to move the conveyed object 1 from the transfer board 3 to the gathering conveyor 8 for transfer, thereby separating the functions of transfer to the transfer board 3 and transfer to the gathering conveyor 8.

[0055] By separating the functions as described above, when transferring to the gathering conveyor 8 using only the suction or gripping mechanism 5, the objects 1 are pulled while being transferred to the gathering conveyor 8. Therefore, the distance between the objects 1 must be greater than the conveying direction dimension of the suction or gripping mechanism 5 to prevent the suction or gripping mechanism 5 from interfering with the objects 1 that have just been transferred to the gathering conveyor 8. However, by providing the pushing mechanism 13, interference with the objects 1 that have just been transferred to the gathering conveyor 8 is eliminated, allowing the objects 1 to be gathered at a higher density on the gathering conveyor 8. This improves the gathering efficiency per unit area of the gathering conveyor 8.

[0056] As described above, the stacking device 102 of the second embodiment is provided with a lifting actuator 12, which is lifted and lowered, and a pushing mechanism 13, which is provided on the side of the lifting actuator 7 close to the stacking conveyor 8. By moving the moving actuator 6, the pushing mechanism 13 moves the conveyed object 1 and pushes the conveyed object 1 to the stacking conveyor 8. After the conveyed object 1 is transferred to the flat portion 3d of the transfer plate 3 by the lifting actuator 7 and the moving actuator 6, the moving actuator 6 uses the lifting actuator 12 to move the conveyed object 1 to the flat portion 3d of the transfer plate 3. The object 1 is pushed and moved to the collecting conveyor 8, where it is pushed and transferred to the second conveyor. This allows for stable transfer of the object without causing the object to overturn or damage to the conveyor or transfer board, similar to the first embodiment, allowing for the collection of the object with an inexpensive structure. Furthermore, by separating the transfer to the transfer board from the collection conveyor, interference with objects that have just been transferred to the collection conveyor is eliminated, allowing the objects to be collected at a higher density on the collection conveyor. This improves the collection efficiency per unit area of the collection conveyor.

[0057] Implementation method 3.

[0058] In the first and second embodiments, the bottom peripheral edge of the transported object 1 transported by the stacking device 101 is provided with the inclined surface 1b. In the third embodiment, a case where the bottom peripheral edge of the transported object 1 is chamfered is described.

[0059] Figure 11 1 is a side view showing the structure of the transported object 1 transported by the collecting device 103 according to the third embodiment. Figure 11 As shown, the conveyed object 1 conveyed by the collecting device 103 of the third embodiment has a chamfered surface 1c applied to the periphery of the bottom surface of the conveyed object 1. In this case, in the collecting device 103 of the third embodiment, the front end surface 3c of the transfer board 3 is set to Figure 8 The conveying object 1 is subjected to the tilting processing as shown. In addition, a surface treatment is performed so that the friction coefficient of the front end surface portion 3c is less than the friction coefficient of the conveyed object 1. In addition, in this embodiment 3, a conveyed object 1 that is integrated with a conveying clamp is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. As in embodiment 1, a conveyed object 1 composed of a conveying portion and a conveying clamp that can be separated from the conveying portion can also be used. The other structures of the gathering device 102 of embodiment 2 are the same as those of the gathering device 101 of embodiment 1. The parts corresponding to the gathering device 101 are marked with the same figure marks and their descriptions are omitted.

[0060] As described above, the gathering device 103 of embodiment 3 is adopted, and the conveyed object 1 is used, in which the periphery of the bottom surface of the conveying clamp part is chamfered, and the transfer plate 3 is provided with an inclined surface on the end surface on the conveyor conveyor 2 side. Therefore, as in embodiment 1, the conveyed object can be stably transferred without causing the conveyed object to overturn and without causing damage to the conveyor conveyor and the transfer plate, and the conveyed object can be gathered with an inexpensive structure.

[0061] Implementation method 4.

[0062] In embodiment 1, the transfer plate 3 is moved toward the side of the gathering conveyor 8 (direction A) by using the moving actuator 6, but in embodiment 4, the following situation is described: the transfer plate 3 is set at an angle in a manner to be lowered toward the side of the gathering conveyor (direction A), and the transfer plate 3 is vibrated instead of the moving actuator 6, thereby moving toward the side of the gathering conveyor 8 (direction A).

[0063] Figure 12 1 is a side view showing the structure of the aggregation device 104 according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 12 As shown, in the accumulation device 104, the moving actuator 6 and the lifting actuator 7 are removed, the transfer plate 3 is tilted so as to be lowered toward the accumulation conveyor side (direction A), and a vibration excitation device 14 is provided to apply vibration to the transfer plate 3. The other structures of the accumulation device 104 of the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the accumulation device 101 of the first embodiment. The parts corresponding to the accumulation device 101 are assigned the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.

[0064] In embodiment 1, the moving actuator 6 is used to move the lifting actuator 7 to the gathering conveyor 8, so that the conveyed object 1 is moved toward the gathering conveyor 8 and transferred to the gathering conveyor 8. The above-mentioned lifting actuator 7 uses the adsorption or holding mechanism 5 to adsorb or hold the conveyed object 1 that is transferred to the transfer board 3 and stops on the flat part of the transfer board 3 due to the disappearance of the propulsion force.

[0065] In embodiment 4, instead of completely transferring the conveyed object 1 from the entrance of the transfer plate 3 to the flat portion 3d and using the moving actuator 6 to move the lifting actuator 7 that adsorbs or holds the conveyed object 1 using the adsorption or holding mechanism 5 to the gathering conveyor 8, when the sensor 4 detects that the protrusion 1a of the conveyed object 1 has reached the position where it is pulled out from the grid-shaped hole of the mesh belt of the conveyor 2, the transfer plate 3 is vibrated by the vibration device 14 in a state where the transfer plate 3 is tilted so as to be lowered toward the gathering conveyor side (direction A), so that the conveyed object 1 is slowly moved toward the gathering conveyor side (direction A) and the conveyed object 1 is transferred to the gathering conveyor 8.

[0066] The steeper the angle of the transfer plate 3 toward the gathering conveyor 8, the shorter the time it takes for the object 1 to reach the gathering conveyor 8 after being completely transferred to the flat surface 3d. Furthermore, increasing the amplitude of the vibration of the transfer plate 3 by the vibrator 14 shortens the time it takes for the object 1 to reach the gathering conveyor 8 after being completely transferred to the flat surface 3d. However, this can cause the object 1 to tip over on the transfer plate 3. Therefore, by adjusting the angle of the transfer plate 3 and the vibration intensity of the vibrator 14 to suit the weight and center of gravity of the object 1, the object 1 can be moved toward the gathering conveyor 8 (direction A) at an optimal speed. Constantly applying vibration from the vibrator 14 to the transfer plate 3 also achieves the same effect.

[0067] As described above, the gathering device 104 of embodiment 4 is adopted, and the transfer plate 3 is inclined in a manner of being lowered toward the gathering conveyor side (direction A), and an excitation device 14 for applying vibration to the transfer plate 3 is added. Therefore, after the conveyed object 1 is completely transferred from the entrance of the transfer plate 3 to the flat portion 3d, the conveyed object 1 can be moved to the gathering conveyor 8 for transfer without the need for a mechanism for adsorbing or holding the conveyed object 1 and an actuator for lifting and moving the above-mentioned mechanism. Therefore, the conveyed object can be gathered with a structure that is cheaper than that of embodiment 1.

[0068] This application describes various illustrative embodiments and examples, but the various features, forms, and functions described in one or more embodiments are not limited to the application of a specific embodiment and can be applied to the embodiment alone or in various combinations. Therefore, within the scope of the technology disclosed in this specification, countless unillustrated variations can be imagined. For example, this includes the case where at least one component is deformed, added, or omitted, and also includes the case where at least one component is extracted and combined with components of other embodiments.

[0069] Description of Reference Numerals

[0070] 1. Conveyed object; 1a. Protrusion; 1b. Inclined processing surface; 2. Conveying conveyor; 3. Transfer plate; 3a. Front end portion; 3c. Front end surface portion; 3d. Flat portion; 5. Mechanism for adsorption or holding; 6. Moving actuator; 7. Lifting actuator; 8. Aggregating conveyor; 11b. Conveying clamp; 12. Lifting actuator; 13. Pushing mechanism; 14. Vibration device; 101, 102, 103, 104. Aggregating device.

Claims

1. A gathering device, characterized in that: The accumulation device includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a transfer board, The first conveyor conveys the conveying object, and the bottom surface of the conveying fixture portion of the conveying object is circular, a conveying protrusion is provided at the center of the bottom surface and an inclined surface is provided at the periphery, and the first conveyor has a belt with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusion to be locked. The second conveyor is provided on the downstream side of the first conveyor, and conveys the conveyed object, and has a belt provided with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusions to engage. The transfer board is arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, so that the conveyed objects are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The transfer plate has a gap or groove for the protrusion of the conveying fixture to pass through, and the gap or groove is formed in a widened manner on the end side of the transfer plate on the first conveyor side, and the end surface is chamfered. During transfer, the inclined surface of the conveyed object contacts the rounded front end surface of the transfer board. The rounded front end surface of the transfer plate is subjected to a surface treatment to lower the friction coefficient than the surface of the conveyed object.

2. The gathering device according to claim 1, characterized in that The collecting device includes a sensor, a first actuator, and a second actuator. The sensor detects that the conveyed object arrives at the transfer board from the first conveyor and reaches a position where the protrusion of the conveyed object is released from the hole of the belt of the first conveyor. The first actuator is raised and lowered, and has a mechanism for adsorbing or holding the conveyed object. The second actuator moves the first actuator toward the downstream side of the transfer board, When the sensor detects that the conveyed object has arrived at the position, the first actuator sucks or holds the conveyed object that has arrived at the transfer board, and the second actuator moves the first actuator to the downstream side of the transfer board to transfer the conveyed object to the flat surface of the transfer board.

3. The gathering device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second actuator moves the first actuator, which is in a state of sucking or holding the conveyed object, to the second conveyor side, thereby transferring the conveyed object to the second conveyor.

4. The gathering device according to claim 2, characterized in that The accumulation device is provided with a third actuator, which is raised and lowered and has a pushing mechanism, which is arranged on the second conveyor side of the first actuator. By moving the second actuator, the pushing mechanism moves the conveyed object and pushes it to the second conveyor. After the conveyed object is transferred to the flat surface of the transfer board by the first and second actuators, the second actuator pushes the conveyed object using the third actuator to move the conveyed object to the second conveyor, pushing the conveyed object and transferring it to the second conveyor.

5. The gathering device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The collecting device includes a vibration device for applying vibration to the transfer board. The transfer plate is tilted so as to be lowered toward the downstream side, and vibration is applied to the transfer plate from the vibration device, thereby moving the conveyed object toward the downstream side where the transfer plate is lowered, so that the conveyed object is transferred to the second conveyor.

6. The gathering device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The collecting device includes a sensor that detects that the conveyed object arrives at the transfer board from the first conveyor and reaches a position where the protrusion of the conveyed object is released from the hole of the belt of the first conveyor. When the sensor detects that the conveyed object has reached the position, the vibration device applies vibration to the transfer plate, thereby moving the conveyed object toward the downstream side where the transfer plate is lowered, and transferring the conveyed object to the second conveyor.

7. A conveying device, characterized in that: The conveying device includes a first conveyor, a second conveyor and a transfer board, The first conveyor conveys the conveying object, and the bottom surface of the conveying fixture portion of the conveying object is circular, a conveying protrusion is provided at the center of the bottom surface and an inclined surface is provided at the periphery, and the first conveyor has a belt with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusion to be locked. The second conveyor is provided on the downstream side of the first conveyor, and conveys the conveyed object, and has a belt provided with mesh-shaped holes for the protrusions to engage. The transfer board is arranged between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, so that the conveyed objects are transferred from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The transfer plate has a gap or groove for the protrusion of the conveying fixture to pass through, and the gap or groove is formed in a widened manner on the end side of the transfer plate on the first conveyor side, and the end surface is chamfered. During transfer, the inclined surface of the conveyed object contacts the rounded front end surface of the transfer board. The rounded front end surface of the transfer plate is subjected to a surface treatment to lower the friction coefficient than the surface of the conveyed object.

Images