Item collection device

Abstract

The present invention provides an article collection device that can reduce the occupied space and improve the production efficiency related to the collection of articles. The article collection device 1 comprises: a linear conveyor 4, which is configured as a plurality of sliders 11 that can be independently position-controlled and move freely along a base 10; a rotating body 6 that rotates the article W at the loading position of the article conveying platform 5 at a predetermined angle pitch and pushes it toward a conveying member 32 connected to the slider 11; and a control device that includes a control logic that moves the conveying member 32 away from the rotating body 6 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the article W as the rotating body 6 rotates. In this way, the occupied space can be reduced and the production efficiency related to the collection of articles W can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an article collecting device for collecting and transporting articles that are brought in one by one into a predetermined number. The articles are, for example, diapers, napkins, and the like. Background Art

[0002] As a prior art in the above-mentioned article collection device, patent documents 1 and 2 disclose product collection devices. The product collection device involved in patent document 1 is a general product collection device, which includes a first and a second rotating member that are slidably arranged at a predetermined interval, and a rotating conveyor belt including a chain wound between the first rotating member and the second rotating member and a plurality of blade members installed on the chain at predetermined intervals. In addition, products such as diapers are sequentially moved between adjacent blade members of the product collection device, and a predetermined number of products between each blade member are transported to a carry-out position as the chain of the rotating conveyor belt moves. Next, when a predetermined number of products reaches the carry-out position, a predetermined number of products between each blade member are moved out from between each blade member by a product carrying-out member such as a push rod member. Next, the predetermined number of products are arranged and compressed by a compression member, and in this state, are transported to a packaging machine via an intermediate conveyor belt.

[0003] However, in the general product collection device described in Patent Document 1, the rotating conveyor is provided in a ring shape in a plan view, and the device body is large-scaled, so the space occupied becomes quite large, and the space efficiency is extremely deteriorated. In addition, in the existing product collection device, various peripheral mechanisms including the intermediate conveyor, a mechanism for placing product groups on the intermediate conveyor, and a mechanism for picking product groups from the intermediate conveyor are required, and the entire device for collecting products and delivering them to the packaging machine is also huge, requiring a large space.

[0004] In addition, the product collection device disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes: first and second product supply members that receive products from a processing machine and sequentially convey them; first and second collection members that sequentially arrange and collect the products supplied from the first and second product supply members; first and second holding members that hold a predetermined number of products collected by the first and second collection members; and product unloading members that unload the predetermined number of products held by one of the first and second holding members to a packaging machine. Furthermore, the predetermined number of products supplied from the product processing machine to the first or second product supply member are conveyed to the approximately central portion of the placement table in the longitudinal direction by the first or second collection member and the first or second holding member in a state where the predetermined number of products are collected, and unloaded to the packaging machine by the product unloading member. Thereafter, the first or second holding member returns to the initial position, and this action is repeated.

[0005] However, in the product collection device involved in the patent document 2, a dual-system product supply component is also particularly required, so it is large-scale like the product collection device described in the patent document 1, occupies a very large space, and the space efficiency is deteriorated. In addition, in the product collection device involved in the patent document 2, for example, the first holding component moves to the carrying-out position approximately in the middle of the length direction of the placement table while holding a specified number of products, and after the product group is carried out to the packaging machine by the product carrying-out component, it retreats to the initial position, during which the second collection component and the second holding component work. In short, in this product collection device, it is intended to suppress the decline in production efficiency by alternating the first system having the first collection component and the first holding component and the second system having the second collection component and the second holding component. However, if the supply speed of the first and second product supply components to the product is increased in order to further improve the production efficiency, it may be difficult to make the first system and the second system work alternately normally, and the production efficiency related to the collection of products is reduced, which needs to be improved.

[0006] In addition, in the product collection device involved in patent document 2, the following structure is adopted, that is, by utilizing the rotation of an upper and lower pair of rotating parts, the product supplied by the first or second product supply member is sent forward through contact with the spirally extending rod-shaped members provided on each rotating member. However, if the supply speed of the first and second product supply members to the product is increased, the product will be heated due to the friction between the spiral rod-shaped members and the product. Depending on the situation, the product may be burned, and production efficiency cannot be improved.

[0007] Prior art literature

[0008] Patent Literature

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-225121

[0010] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-220980 Summary of the invention

[0011] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0012] Then, the present invention is completed in view of this point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article collection device that can reduce the occupied space and improve the production efficiency related to the collection of articles.

[0013] Technical means to solve problems

[0014] As a technical means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention recorded in Scheme 1 is an article collection device, which collects and transports articles that are moved in one by one in a specified number, and is characterized in that it comprises: a linear conveyor belt, which is composed of multiple sliders that can be independently position-controlled and move freely along a base; a rotating body, which rotates the articles moved into the loading position of the article transport path at a specified angular pitch and pushes them toward a transport component connected to the slider; and a control device, which includes control logic that causes the transport component to move away from the rotating body by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the article as the rotating body rotates.

[0015] In the invention of Scheme 1, the rotating body rotates a specified angle, and the article to be carried into the carrying position of the article carrying path is pushed against the carrying component that can move freely along the article carrying path. Next, when the rotating body rotates a specified angle relative to the next article just after the article is pushed, the carrying component moves away from the rotating body by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the article and stops. By repeating this action, the articles that are successively carried into the carrying position of the article carrying path are successively gathered on the carrying component on the article carrying path. In addition, in the invention of Scheme 1, the above-mentioned action is realized by adopting a linear conveyor belt, so the device body can be made compact, and thus, the space efficiency can be made very good.

[0016] The invention recorded in Scheme 2 is based on the invention recorded in Scheme 1 and is characterized in that the control device includes the following control logic: a group of articles formed by a specified number of articles gathered relative to the conveying component is compressed and held by a pair of conveying components in the front and rear directions of travel including the conveying component, and is moved to a carry-out position set in the article conveying path.

[0017] In the invention of Scheme 2, after a specified number of articles are gathered on the conveying component on the front side in the traveling direction by the rotation of the rotating body, the conveying component on the rear side in the traveling direction moves in contact with the rearmost article of the article group in the traveling direction, and at the same time, moves along the article conveying path to its unloading position while compressing and maintaining the article group arranged between the front and rear pair of conveying components.

[0018] The invention recorded in Scheme 3 is based on the invention recorded in Scheme 1 or 2, and is characterized in that the control device includes the following control logic: a pair of front and rear conveying parts are put on standby at the rear side of the front and rear pair of conveying parts in the traveling direction positioned relative to the carrying position, including the conveying parts.

[0019] In the invention of Scheme 3, after starting to move toward the carry-out position of the article conveying path while compressing and holding the article group between the front and rear pairs of conveying parts, the next front and rear pair of conveying parts can quickly move to the initial position relative to the carry-in position of the article conveying path, and can quickly start to gather the articles of the next conveying part on the front side by the rotation of the rotating body.

[0020] The invention recorded in Scheme 4 is based on the invention recorded in any one of Schemes 1 to 3, and is characterized in that it is a structure as follows: a pair of rotating bodies are arranged at intervals from each other in a manner such that the article to be moved in is located therebetween, and the rotating body has a plurality of pushing parts protruding radially from the outer peripheral surface of its rotating axis, and the pushing parts of the pair of rotating bodies push the article toward the conveying part.

[0021] In the invention of claim 4, the pushing members of the pair of rotating bodies can push the article toward the conveying member while contacting both ends of the article, so that unstable articles such as diapers can be stably pushed toward the conveying member in an upright state.

[0022] The invention recorded in Scheme 5 is based on the invention recorded in Scheme 4 and is characterized in that it is a structure in which, after each rotating body rotates by a specified angle and just pushes the articles to be moved into the moving-in position onto the conveying component, the articles gathered on the conveying component are held between the pushing-out component and the conveying component by means of the pushing-out component of each rotating body.

[0023] In the invention of scheme 5, just after each rotating body rotates by a specified angle and pushes the articles against the conveying member, and before the conveying member moves away from each rotating body, the articles gathered on the conveying member can be held between the pushing member of each rotating body and the conveying member.

[0024] The invention described in claim 6 is based on the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 5, and is characterized in that the base is configured in a ring shape.

[0025] In the invention of claim 6, a plurality of front and rear pairs of transport members are moved in one direction along the base to circulate, rather than reciprocating between the carry-in position and the carry-out position of the article transport path, so that the article group can be moved to the carry-in position and the carry-out position. As a result, the following functions can be repeatedly performed without time loss and without complicated structure: the article group is gathered between the front and rear pairs of transport members at the carry-in position, and the article group is compressed and held between the front and rear pairs of transport members while being moved to the carry-out position, and the article group is carried out from between the front and rear pairs of transport members at the carry-out position.

[0026] In addition, the base may be configured in a ring shape whose outer shape is an oval shape in a side view, or may be configured in a ring shape whose outer shape is an oval shape in a plan view.

[0027] Effects of the Invention

[0028] In the article collection device according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the occupied space and improve the production efficiency related to the collection of articles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 The article accumulation device according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view.

[0030] Figure 2 It is a front view of the article accumulation device involved in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 3 It is a side view of the linear conveyor used in the article accumulation device involved in the embodiment of this invention.

[0032] Figure 4 The figures show the operation of the article accumulation device according to the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view.

[0033] Figure 5 Then Figure 4 The figures show the function of the article collection device involved in the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view.

[0034] Figure 6 Then Figure 5 The figures show the function of the article collection device involved in the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view.

[0035] Figure 7 Then Figure 6 The figures show the function of the article collection device involved in the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view.

[0036] Figure 8 Then Figure 7 The figures show the function of the article collection device involved in the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a top view, and (b) is a side view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The following is based on Figures 1 to 8 , the article collection device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0038] The article collection device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention collects and transports sheet-shaped articles W that are brought in piece by piece according to a predetermined number. The articles W are diapers, napkins, etc. In this embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, the article W is a diaper. Figure 1 The article collection device 1 involved in this embodiment comprises: a linear conveyor 4, which is composed of a plurality of sliders 11 that can be independently position-controlled and move freely along a base 10; an article conveying table 5 as an article conveying path, which is arranged on the outside of the base 10 in the width direction of the linear conveyor 4; an upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6, which rotate the article W carried into the carrying position set on the article conveying table 5 at a specified angle pitch and push it toward the conveying component 32; and a control device 7, in particular, based on the detection signals from various detection sensors (not shown) including the linear scale described later, the position of each conveying component 32, 32, that is, each slider 11, 11 of the linear conveyor 4 is controlled.

[0039] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 , the linear conveyor 4 uses a linear motor as a driving source to move multiple sliders 11 along the track laid on the base 10. In addition, as a linear motor, a so-called movable magnet type linear motor is applied. Regarding this movable magnet type linear motor, specifically, an electromagnet (armature) is fixed to the base 10 as a linear motor stator, and on the other hand, a permanent magnet is fixed to each slider 11 as a linear motor rotor, and a propulsion force is applied to each slider 11 by controlling the current supply to the coil constituting the electromagnet. In addition, a linear scale having a scale fixed to each slider 11 and a plurality of sensors arranged on the side of the base 10 is assembled. By controlling the current supply to the coil based on position detection performed by the linear scale, it is possible to realize the movement of each slider 11 to a specific position. In addition, in the figure, in the linear conveyor 4, the illustration of components other than the base 10 and each slider 11 is omitted.

[0040] The base 10 of the linear conveyor 4 is configured to be an oblong ring-shaped body formed by a pair of opposing semicircular arc-shaped parts and a pair of opposing straight-line parts connected to the pair of semicircular arc-shaped parts. On the straight-line part located on the upper side of the base 10, an article conveying platform 5 serving as an article conveying path is arranged side by side. The article conveying platform 5 is formed into a rectangular shape when viewed from above. On the article conveying platform 5, on the upstream side (rear side in the conveying direction, Figure 1 On the left side of the conveying direction, there is a loading position where articles W are loaded one by one. Figure 1 A group W' (see Figure 8 ) is moved out of the moving-out location.

[0041] Articles W are collected and transported while standing on the article transport platform 5. Figure 2 , a plurality of elongated avoidance holes 14 are formed at intervals along the width direction on the article conveying platform 5. The avoidance holes 14 are formed to avoid interference with the push-out components 29 of the plurality of rotating bodies 6 arranged at intervals along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5. The avoidance holes 14 are formed with a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction at the loading position of the article conveying platform 5. A plurality of avoidance holes 14 are formed along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5 corresponding to the rotating bodies 6 described later. In addition, in the present embodiment, the base 10 is configured as an annular shape whose outer shape is an oblong shape when viewed from the side, but the base 10 may also be configured as an annular shape whose outer shape is an oblong shape when viewed from above.

[0042] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The article carrying member 16 for carrying the articles W one by one onto the article carrying platform 5 is provided at the carrying position of the article carrying platform 5. For example, the article carrying member 16 is formed by arranging a pair of belt units 20, 20 formed by winding an endless belt 18 around a guide roller 19 and a driving roller (not shown) arranged at a predetermined position. The pair of belt units 20, 20 is configured so that the pair of endless belts 18, 18 are opposite to each other within a predetermined range. Figure 1 , only the end portions of a pair of belt units 20, 20 are shown. The end portions of the pair of belt units 20, 20 (the endless belts 18, 18) are arranged at the loading position of the article transfer platform 5 and above the base 10 of the linear conveyor 4. Furthermore, the endless belts 18, 18 of the pair of belt units 20, 20 are driven by the driving roller to operate, so that a plurality of articles W are moved between the pair of belt units 20, 20 (between the pair of endless belts 18, 18) at intervals from each other, and are sequentially loaded into the loading position of the article transfer platform 5 from the end portions thereof.

[0043] Reference Figure 1 (a) and Figure 2 For the ends of the pair of belt units 20, 20, a stopper component 22 is arranged at a position on the outside in the width direction of the article conveying platform 5, opposite to each other along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5. The stopper component 22 is a substantially rectangular plate, and is erected upward from the article conveying platform 5. The stopper component 22 has a height that is approximately the same as the height of the article W. The stopper component 22 extends along the length direction of the article conveying platform 5. The stopper component 22 prevents the article W from the ends of the pair of belt units 20, 20 from escaping to the outside in the width direction of the article conveying platform 5. In addition, at Figure 1 In (b), the stopper member 22 is omitted.

[0044] Reference Figure 1The article group carrying member 24 is provided at the carrying position of the article conveying platform 5 to carry out the article group W' formed by collecting a predetermined number of articles W from the article conveying platform 5. The article group carrying member 24 is provided at the carrying position of the article conveying platform 5 and is composed of, for example, a push rod member 26 that reciprocates on the article conveying platform 5 in a manner that crosses along the width direction thereof. Figure 8 When the pair of front and rear conveying parts 32, 32 described later move along the article conveying platform 5 while holding the article group W' therebetween and reach the unloading position, the push rod part 26 advances, and the article group W' between the pair of front and rear conveying parts 32, 32 is unloaded from the article conveying platform 5 toward the outside along its width direction.

[0045] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 , a pair of rotating bodies 6, 6 are arranged in the upper and lower parts in such a manner that the article W is located therebetween. The upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6 are arranged in a plurality of rows at intervals along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5. In the present embodiment, the upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6 are arranged in three rows at intervals along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5. In addition, the number of the upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6 along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5 can be changed according to the type, that is, the size, of the article W. Each rotating body 6 includes a rotating shaft 28 and a plurality of push-out members 29, 29 radially protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 28.

[0046] The output shaft of a servo motor (not shown) is connected to each rotating shaft 28. Each rotating body 6 is driven by the servo motor to rotate synchronously. Each rotating body 6 is driven by the servo motor to rotate at a predetermined angle pitch. Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 The upper rotating body 6 rotates counterclockwise, and the lower rotating body rotates clockwise. The push-out member 29 is formed in a rod shape. In the present embodiment, a plurality of push-out members 29, 29 are provided at equal intervals along the circumference of the rotating shaft 28. In the present embodiment, five push-out members 29 are provided.

[0047] The upper rotating body 6 of the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies 6, 6 is disposed as a whole at a position above the upper surface of the article conveying platform 5. On the other hand, the lower rotating body 6 is disposed below the article conveying platform 5, and when the rotating body 6 rotates, its push-out members 29, 29 are pushed out from the respective escape holes 14 (see Figure 2 ) protrudes upward or sinks downward from the avoidance hole 14. The distance between the upper and lower pairs of rotating bodies 6, 6 is set to a predetermined distance to play a role described later. Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5When the object W is located between the upper and lower pairs of rotating bodies 6, 6 and the upper and lower pairs of rotating bodies 6, 6 rotate in the specified directions respectively, the pushing component 29 of the upper rotating body 6 contacts the upper end of the object W, and the pushing component 29 of the lower rotating body 6 contacts the lower end of the object W.

[0048] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The conveying member 32 is formed in a plate shape. The conveying member 32 is connected to the upper surface of the slider 11 of the linear conveyor 4. The conveying member 32 is connected to the slider 11 in a state of being upright in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the slider 11, and extends to the article conveying platform 5. The conveying member 32 is controlled by the control device 7 to control the position of the slider 11, and is controlled to be able to move freely on the article conveying platform 5 including between the rotating shafts 28, 28 of the upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6, and can stop at any position. Figure 2 The conveying member 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a front view. The conveying member 32 is provided with a notch 34 above the base 10 of the linear conveyor 4 to prevent interference with the ends of the pair of belt units 20 , 20 .

[0049] Reference Figure 2 The lower end of the conveying member 32 is close to the upper surface of the article conveying platform 5, and the upper end thereof is substantially aligned with the upper end of the article W on the article conveying platform 5. A push-out member 29 (see FIG. 2 ) is formed at the upper end of the conveying member 32 to prevent contact with the upper rotating body 6. Figure 1 ) are formed. A plurality of the upper recesses 36, 36 are provided corresponding to the rotating bodies 6, 6 arranged along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5. On the other hand, a push-out member 29 (see FIG. 2 ) is also formed at the lower end of the conveying member 32 to prevent interference with the rotating body 6 on the lower side. Figure 1 ) between the lower recessed portion 37. The lower recessed portions 37, 37 are provided in plurality corresponding to the rotating bodies 6, 6 arranged along the width direction of the article conveying platform 5.

[0050] Figure 1 The control device 7 shown controls the rotation of each rotating body 6 (servo motor), the position of each slider 11 of the linear conveyor 4, that is, each conveying member 32, 32, and the movement of the article group carrying-out member 24 (push rod member 26) based on the detection signals from various detection sensors including the linear scale. The control method based on the control device 7 will be described in detail when explaining the operation of the article collection device 1 according to the present embodiment described later.

[0051] Next, based on Figures 4 to 8 , and also refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2, explaining the function of the article collection device 1 involved in this embodiment. In addition, as described above, the rotational movement of each rotating body 6 (servo motor), the position of each conveying component 32, 32 (the position of each slider 11, 11 of the linear conveyor 4), and the movement of the article group carrying-out member 24 (push rod component 26) described below are controlled by the control device 7.

[0052] First, refer to Figure 1 , between the upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6, the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 are positioned at initial positions (initial positions of the carrying-in position) spaced apart from each other. At this time, the pushing members 29, 29 in the upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6 are positioned at the upper and lower recessed portions 36, 37 of the conveying member 32 on the rear side (refer to Figure 2 ) or slightly in front of it. On the upstream side (rear side in the conveying direction, Figure 1 and Figure 4 The left side of the conveying member 32 is positioned and waited for by the next front and rear pair of conveying members 32 and 32 with a gap therebetween.

[0053] Next, refer to Figure 4 When the first article W is detected by a detection sensor such as a photoelectric sensor (not shown) to be carried in front of the push-out members 29, 29 of each rotating body 6, 6 from the ends of the pair of belt units 20, 20 of the article carrying member 16 on the article conveying platform 5, the upper rotating body 6 rotates counterclockwise and the lower rotating body 6 rotates clockwise by a predetermined angle. As a result, the push-out members 29, 29 of each rotating body 6, 6 push the article W toward the conveying member 32 on the front side by contacting the upper and lower ends of the article W, and push the article W against the conveying member 32 on the front side. At this time, the next push-out members 29, 29 of each rotating body 6, 6 wait near the upper and lower recessed portions 36, 37 of the conveying member 32 on the rear side. In addition, at this time, the article W pushed against the conveying member 32 on the front side is held between the push-out members 29, 29 of each rotating body 6, 6 and the conveying member 32 on the front side.

[0054] Next, refer to Figure 5 When the detection sensor detects that the next article W is carried in front of the push-out members 29, 29 of each rotating body 6, 6 from the ends of the pair of belt units 20, 20 of the article carrying member 16 on the article carrying platform 5, each rotating body 6, 6 rotates again in the above-mentioned direction by a predetermined angle, and at the same time, the front conveying member 32 moves in a direction away from each rotating body 6, 6. At this time, the front conveying member 32 moves in a direction away from each rotating body 6, 6 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the article W and stops. With the rotation of each rotating body 6, 6, the next article W is pushed out toward the front conveying member 32 and is sequentially gathered in the front conveying member 32.

[0055] Then, refer to Figure 6 The above-mentioned actions are repeated, and the detection sensor detects that the last article W is carried in front of the push-out members 29, 29 of each rotating body 6, 6 from the ends of the pair of belt units 20, 20 of the article carrying-in member 16 on the article carrying platform 5. Then, by rotating each rotating body 6, 6 in the above-mentioned direction by a predetermined angle, the last article W is pushed out toward the front conveying member 32, and is pressed against the last row of articles W gathered on the front conveying member 32.

[0056] See also Figure 7 The rear conveying member 32 arranged at the initial position following the rotation of each rotating body 6, 6 advances to press the last article W gathered on the front conveying member 32, so that the article group W' gathered by the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 is compressed and held. In addition, the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 waiting following the rotation of each rotating body 6, 6 with respect to the last article W moves to the initial position with respect to the carrying-in position of the article conveying platform 5. Then, the above-mentioned collecting operation is repeated for the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 arranged at the initial position with respect to the carrying-in position of the article conveying platform 5.

[0057] Next, refer to Figure 8 The article group W', which is a collection of a predetermined number of articles compressed and held by the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32, is conveyed to the unloading position on the article conveying platform 5 in this state. Next, when the article group W' between the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 reaches the unloading position of the article conveying platform 5, for example, the push rod member 26 as the article group unloading member 24 moves toward the article group W' between the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32. When the push rod member 26 moves forward, the article group W' is pushed outward from the article conveying platform 5 in the width direction thereof and is unloaded.

[0058] from Figure 8 It can be seen that the action of the article group W' being carried out from the article conveying platform 5 by the push rod member 26 between the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 at the carry-out position of the article conveying platform 5 and the action of the articles W being collected in a predetermined number between the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 by the rotating bodies 6, 6 at the carry-in position of the article conveying platform 5 are performed at substantially the same time. In addition, at the carry-out position of the article conveying platform 5, the article group W' carried out from the article conveying platform 5 by the push rod member 26 is directly supplied to a packaging machine (not shown) for packaging the article group W' into a packaging bag without passing through an intermediate conveyor.

[0059] Next, after the article group W' is carried out at the carry-out position of the article conveying platform 5 and the push rod member 26 retreats to the initial position, the empty conveying members 32, 32 circulate along the base 10 and wait at a predetermined position until they reach the carry-in position again. Figure 8 At the loading position of the article conveying platform 5, before or during the collection of the articles W between the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32, the next pair of conveying members 32, 32 is on standby at the rear side of the pair of conveying members 32, 32. And, by repeating the above series of actions, the articles W sequentially loaded into the loading position from the ends of the pair of belt units 20, 20 of the article loading member 16 can be sequentially unloaded from the unloading position of the article conveying platform 5 as a group of articles W' consisting of a predetermined number of collections.

[0060] As described above, the article collection device 1 involved in the present embodiment comprises: a linear conveyor 4, which is configured to have a plurality of sliders 11 that can be independently position-controlled and move freely along a base 10; a rotating body 6, which rotates the article W at the loading position of the article conveying platform 5 at a specified angle pitch and pushes it toward the conveying component 32 connected to the slider 11; and a control device 7, which includes control logic for moving the conveying component 32 away from the rotating body 6 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the article W as the rotating body 6 rotates.

[0061] As described above, in the article collection device 1 involved in this embodiment, in particular, by adopting a linear conveyor belt 4 and using a control device 7 to control the movement (position) of the conveying component 32 (slider 11), a specified number of articles W are collected on the conveying component 32. Therefore, compared with the existing (product collection device described in patent documents 1 and 2), the device body can be made very compact, and the occupied space can be reduced, which can make the space efficiency very good.

[0062] The control device 7 in the article accumulation device 1 according to the present embodiment includes control logic for compressing and holding a predetermined number of accumulated article groups W′ by a pair of front and rear conveying members 32 , 32 and moving the compressed and held article groups W′ to a carry-out position provided on the article conveying platform 5 .

[0063] Thus, the process of arranging and compressing the articles after picking them out from between the blade members of the endless conveyor, which is required in the conventional collecting device, is not required, so that the production efficiency related to the collection of the articles W can be improved. In addition, since the conventionally required article group compression mechanism is not required, the device body can be made more compact.

[0064] The control device 7 in the article accumulation device 1 according to the present embodiment includes control logic for placing the pair of front and rear conveying members 32 on standby at the rear side of the pair of front and rear conveying members 32 located at the initial position relative to the loading position of the article conveying platform 5 .

[0065] Thus, when the front and rear pair of transport members 32, 32 start moving toward the unloading position of the article transport platform 5 while the article group W' is compressed and held between the front and rear pair of transport members 32, 32, the next front and rear pair of transport members 32, 32 can be quickly moved to the initial position relative to the loading position of the article transport platform 5, and the collection of the articles W of the next forward transport member 32 can be quickly started by the rotation of each rotating body 6. As a result, the production efficiency related to the collection of the articles W can be further improved.

[0066] In addition, in the article collection device 1 according to the present embodiment, unlike the product collection device according to Patent Document 2, the first system and the second system are not provided, and the front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32 can be easily placed on standby at the rear side of the previous front and rear pair of conveying members 32, 32. As a result, even if the speed of carrying the articles W by the article carrying-in member 16 is increased in order to improve production efficiency, the articles W can be collected normally in accordance with the carrying-in speed of the articles W.

[0067] In addition, in the article collection device 1 involved in the present embodiment, although there is only one article carrying-in component 16 (the product collection device described in patent document 2 is provided with first and second product supply components), the action of carrying out the article group W' between the front and rear pair of conveying components 32, 32 at the carrying-out position of the article conveying platform 5 by the push rod component 26 from the article conveying platform 5 and the action of collecting the articles W in a specified number between the front and rear pair of conveying components 32, 32 at the carrying-in position of the article conveying platform 5 by each rotating body 6, 6 can be performed at approximately the same time.

[0068] From this point of view, the production efficiency related to the collection of articles W can also be improved. In addition, in addition to the device body, peripheral mechanisms such as the article carrying member 16 arranged around the device body can also be made compact. As a result, the entire device that collects the articles W and delivers them to the packaging machine can be made compact, and the occupied space can be reduced to a considerable extent.

[0069] In addition, in the article collection device 1 involved in the present embodiment, the structure is as follows: a pair of rotating bodies 6, 6 are arranged vertically and spaced apart from each other in a manner such that the article W to be moved in is located therebetween, and further, the rotating body 6 has a plurality of pushing components 29, 29 protruding radially from the outer peripheral surface of its rotating shaft 28, and the pushing components 29, 29 of the upper and lower pair of rotating bodies 6, 6 push the article W toward the conveying component 32.

[0070] Thus, the push-out members 29, 29 of the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies 6, 6 can push the article W toward the conveying member 32 while being in contact with the upper and lower ends of the article W, respectively. Therefore, for example, an unstable article W such as a diaper can be pushed out stably in an upright state toward the conveying member 32. As described above, in the article collection device 1 according to the present embodiment, in the structure in which the article W is pushed out toward the conveying member 32 by the push-out members 29, 29 of the pair of upper and lower rotating bodies 6, 6, the contact time between the push-out members 29 and the article W during pushing out is short. Therefore, even if the speed of carrying the article W by the article carrying-in member 16 is increased, the article W will not be heated by friction as in the conventional product collection device (the product collection device according to Patent Document 2), and the production efficiency can be improved.

[0071] In addition, in the article collection device 1 involved in the present embodiment, the structure is as follows: after each rotating body 6, 6 rotates a specified angle and the article W is just pushed against the conveying part 32 on the front side, until each rotating body 6, 6 rotates a specified angle again corresponding to the next article W and before the conveying part 32 on the front side is about to move away from the rotating bodies 6, 6, the article W collected on the conveying part 32 on the front side is held between the conveying part 32 on the front side by the pushing parts 29, 29 of each rotating body 6, 6.

[0072] Thus, when the articles W are gathered on the conveying member 32 by the rotation of the rotating bodies 6 , 6 at a predetermined angle, the articles W pushed out to the conveying member 32 can be gathered without gaps while suppressing the articles W from falling.

[0073] In addition, in the article collection device 1 involved in the present embodiment, the base 10 is constructed in a ring shape, so it can repeatedly perform the following functions without time loss and without complex structure: the article group W' is collected between the front and rear pair of conveying parts 32, 32 at the carrying-in position of the article conveying platform 5, and the article group W' is compressed and held between the front and rear pair of conveying parts 32, 32 while being moved to the carrying-out position of the article conveying platform 5, and the article group W' is carried out from between the front and rear pair of conveying parts 32, 32 at the carrying-out position.

[0074] From this point of view, the production efficiency related to the collection of articles W can be further improved, and the occupied space can be reduced, making the space efficiency good.

[0075] In addition, in the conventional collecting device, after arranging and compressing the collected article group W', it is necessary to put the article group W' on the intermediate conveyor, drive the intermediate conveyor to the packaging machine, and then pick up the article group W' on the intermediate conveyor to the packaging machine. However, in the article collecting device 1 according to the present embodiment, the linear conveyor 4 and the article transfer table 5 can also play the role of the conventional intermediate conveyor. As a result, at the unloading position of the article transfer table 5, the article group W' that has been unloaded from the article transfer table 5 by the push rod member 26 can be directly supplied to the packaging machine without passing through the intermediate conveyor.

[0076] From this point of view, since the above-mentioned steps which were previously required are not necessary, the production efficiency related to the collection of articles W can be further improved. In addition, various peripheral mechanisms such as a mechanism for placing the article group W' onto the intermediate conveyor, the intermediate conveyor, and a mechanism for picking up the article group W' from the intermediate conveyor, which were previously required and arranged around the collection device, are not required. As a result, the entire device including the article collection device 1, which collects the articles W and delivers them to the packaging machine, can be made compact, and the occupied space can be reduced to a considerable extent.

[0077] Furthermore, in the article collection device 1 according to the present embodiment, the article transfer platforms 5 are arranged side by side on the side of the linear portion located on the upper side of the base 10, and the article loading member 16 and the article group unloading member 24 are arranged corresponding to the article transfer platforms 5. However, the article transfer platforms 5 may also be arranged side by side on the linear portion located on the lower side of the base 10, and the article loading member 16 and the article group unloading member 24 may be arranged corresponding to the article transfer platforms 5. Thus, the production efficiency related to the collection of articles W can be further improved.

[0078] Description of Reference Numerals

[0079] 1 article collection device, 4 linear conveyor, 5 article transfer platform (article transfer path), 6 rotating body, 7 control device, 10 base, 11 slider, 28 rotating shaft, 29 ejection component, 32 transfer component, W article, W' article group

Claims

1. An article collection device, which collects and transports articles that are brought in piece by piece according to a specified number, characterized in that: have: A linear conveyor, which is configured such that a plurality of slides capable of being independently position-controlled are movable along a base; A rotating body rotates at a predetermined angle pitch to push an article at a loading position of the article transport path toward a transport member connected to the slider; as well as The control device includes control logic for moving the conveying member in a direction away from the rotating body by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the article in association with the rotation of the rotating body.

2. The article collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device includes a control logic for compressing and holding a predetermined number of article groups gathered on the conveying member by a pair of front and rear conveying members in a traveling direction including the conveying member, and moving the group to a carry-out position provided in the article conveying path.

3. The article collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device includes a control logic for placing a pair of front and rear conveying members on standby at the rear side of the pair of front and rear conveying members in the traveling direction located relative to the carrying-in position and including the conveying member.

4. The article collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The following structure: The rotating bodies are arranged in a pair at a distance from each other so that the object to be carried in is located between them. The rotating body is provided with a plurality of pushing parts protruding radially from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft. The pushing members of the pair of rotating bodies push the articles toward the conveying member.

5. The article collection device according to claim 4, characterized in that The following structure: Immediately after the rotating bodies rotate by a predetermined angle to push the articles carried into the carrying position against the carrying member, the articles collected on the carrying member are held between the pushing members of the rotating bodies and the carrying member.

6. The article collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The base is configured in a ring shape.

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