Article storage system

Abstract

An article storage system (100) is provided with article storage devices (1) and an integrated controller (110) for controlling the operation of the article storage devices (1), and is characterized in that a plurality of article storage devices (1) are arranged side by side so that between adjacent article storage devices (1), boxes (B) can be carried in and out by a box conveyance unit (40), one box (B) is sequentially conveyed from one article storage device (1) to another article storage device (1), and the other box (B) is conveyed from the other article storage device (1) to the other article storage device (1). The integrated controller (110) acquires the state of the article storage devices (1), and when an abnormality occurs in any one of the article storage devices (1), the integrated controller (110) causes the article storage device (1) located upstream and / or downstream in the transport direction of the box (B) with respect to the article storage device (1) in which the abnormality has occurred to continue operating.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an article housing system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-180103, an article housing device is disclosed, which includes an article conveying section that conveys an article, a box conveying section that conveys a box that houses the article, and a housing mechanism that houses the article conveyed in the article conveying section in the box conveyed in the box conveying section. SUMMARY

[0003] In an article housing system that includes a plurality of the above-described article housing devices, different articles in terms of, for example, kind and shape are sometimes housed in each of the article housing devices. In the article housing system, the plurality of article housing devices are arranged in line, and when an article is housed in a box in one of the article housing devices, the box is conveyed to the next article housing device, in which the article is housed in the box. In this way, in the article housing system in which the plurality of article housing devices are linked, when a failure (an abnormality) occurs in one of the article housing devices, the operation of all the other article housing devices stops. Thus, in the article housing system, the operation rate can decrease.

[0004] An aspect of the present disclosure aims to provide an article housing system in which a decrease in operation rate can be suppressed.

[0005] (1) An article housing system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: an article housing device including an article conveying section that conveys an article, a box conveying section that conveys a box that houses the article, and a housing mechanism that houses the article conveyed in the article conveying section in the box; and a control device that controls the operation of the article housing device, the plurality of article housing devices being arranged in line such that a box can be carried in and carried out by the box conveying section between adjacent article housing devices, one box being sequentially conveyed from one article housing device to another article housing device, the control device acquiring the state of the article housing device, and in the case where an abnormality has occurred in any one of the article housing devices, causing the article housing devices located upstream and / or downstream of the article housing device in which the abnormality has occurred with respect to the conveying direction of the box to continue to operate.

[0006] In an article storage system according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a control device acquires a state of an article storage device, and in a case where an abnormality has occurred in any one of the article storage devices, the article storage devices located upstream and / or downstream of the article storage device in which the abnormality has occurred with respect to the transport direction of the box are caused to continue to operate. For example, in the article storage system, the storage of the article and the transport of the box are caused to continue in the article storage devices on the downstream side of the article storage device in which the abnormality has occurred. In the article storage system, the storage of the article is caused to continue in the article storage devices on the upstream side of the article storage device in which the abnormality has occurred. Thus, in the article storage system, the article storage devices other than the article storage device in which the abnormality has occurred can continue to operate. Therefore, in the article storage system, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operation rate.

[0007] (2) In the article storage system according to (1) above, the control device can cause the article storage device that has resumed operation to operate at a higher speed than before the abnormality occurred for a predetermined period of time. With this configuration, even if the operation of a part of the article storage system temporarily stops due to an abnormality in the article storage device, the speed of operation of the article storage device (at least one of the box transport unit and the storage mechanism) that has resumed operation can be increased after the abnormality is resolved, and thus it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operation rate.

[0008] (3) In the article storage system according to (1) or (2) above, the article storage device can include a flattening mechanism that flattens the article stored in the box by pressing the article. With this configuration, the article stored in the box that is moved in from another article storage device or moved out to another article storage device can be flattened by the flattening mechanism. Thus, in the article storage system, the risk of the article falling out of the box when the article is stored in the box or when the box is transported can be reduced by overlapping the articles in the box.

[0009] (4) In the article storage system according to (3) above, the flattening mechanism can include an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position at which the article is pressed. With this configuration, the position at which the article is pressed can be adjusted in the flattening mechanism. Thus, the article can be flattened by the flattening mechanism by pressing the article at an appropriate position in the box.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operation rate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing an article storage system.

[0012] Figure 2is a view showing the structure of the article housing system.

[0013] Figure 3 is a view showing the structure of the article housing device.

[0014] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the article housing device.

[0015] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the article housing device of the in-feed conveyor, viewed from the arrangement conveyor side, in a state in which the contact surface of the bag with the in-feed conveyor is momentarily removed.

[0016] Figure 6 is a front view of the posture of the bag when it falls from the in-feed conveyor in a case in which the contact surface of the in-feed conveyor with the bag is momentarily removed.

[0017] Figure 7 is a front view of the housing mechanism.

[0018] Figure 8A and Figure 8B is a perspective view showing the structure of the flattening mechanism.

[0019] Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the housing mechanism that centrally holds a plurality of bags.

[0020] Figure 10 is a schematic side view of the housing mechanism that transfers a plurality of bags to a box.

[0021] Figure 11 is a view for explaining the operation of the article housing system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the explanation of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repetitive explanation will be omitted.

[0023] Figure 1 is a view schematically showing the article housing system. As shown in Figure 1 , the article housing system 100 is provided with a plurality of article housing devices 1. The plurality of article housing devices 1 are arranged in a line. In Figure 1 , five article housing devices 1 are illustrated, but the article housing devices 1 can also be four or less, or six or more.

[0024] In the article housing system 100, in each article housing device 1, articles of different kinds are housed in the box B. In the present embodiment, the article is a bag G in which an article is enclosed. The box B is, for example, corrugated paper. In the article housing system 100, for example, in one article housing device 1, the bag G of a product of "A" is housed in the box B, and in the other article housing device 1, the bag G of a product of "B" is housed in the box B. Thus, in the article housing system 100, a plurality of kinds of bags G are housed in the box B. In the article housing system 100, one box B is sequentially transported from one article housing device 1 to the other article housing device 1. In the present embodiment, an example in which the box B is transported from the right side to the left side in the plurality of article housing devices 1 is described.

[0025] Figure 2 is a view showing the configuration of the article housing system 100. As shown in Figure 2 , the article housing system 100 is provided with a comprehensive controller (control device) 110. The comprehensive controller 110 controls the entire article housing system 100. The comprehensive controller 110 can be constituted by a computer provided with a processor, a main storage unit, an auxiliary storage unit, a communication control unit, an input device, and an output device. The comprehensive controller 110 can be constituted by one computer, or can be constituted by a plurality of computers. In the case of using a plurality of computers, the computers are connected via a communication network such as the Internet and an intranet, and thus a comprehensive system is logically constructed.

[0026] The comprehensive controller 110 is provided so as to be able to communicate with the plurality of article housing devices 1 in a wired or wireless manner. The comprehensive controller 110 transmits production information showing a production plan in the article housing system 100 to each of the plurality of article housing devices 1. The comprehensive controller 110 generates an action signal for controlling the action of the article housing device 1 on the basis of information transmitted from each of the plurality of article housing devices 1.

[0027] Figure 3 is a view showing the configuration of the article housing device 1. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the article housing device 1. As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the article housing device 1 is provided with an article transport unit 10, an article arrangement unit 20, a housing mechanism 30, a box transport unit 40, a flattening mechanism 50, and a control unit 60.

[0028] The article housing device 1 transports the bag G, and houses the bag G in the box B. In the upstream side process of the transport path of the bag G in the article housing device 1, a not-shown weighing device and a bag-making packaging machine, and the like are arranged. Only the bag G that has passed the weight, the sealing property, the foreign matter mixing inspection, and the like in the upstream side process is supplied to the article housing device 1.

[0029] The article conveying section 10 receives the bags G from the device of the upstream side process and conveys the bags G to the article arrangement section 20. The article conveying section 10 has an article introduction conveyor 11 and a carrying-in conveyor 12. The article introduction conveyor 11 receives the supply of the bags G that have passed the weight, sealability, foreign matter mixing inspection, and the like, and guides the bags G to the carrying-in conveyor 12. The carrying-in conveyor 12 conveys the bags G conveyed from the article introduction conveyor 11 to the article arrangement section 20.

[0030] The conveying surface of the carrying-in conveyor 12 is inclined with respect to the horizontal surface. Specifically, the posture of the bag G when being transferred from the carrying-in conveyor 12 to the arrangement conveyor 21 (described later) of the article arrangement section 20 is inclined in a manner that the portion that lands on the bag G already placed on the arrangement conveyor 21 is upward and the portion that directly lands on the arrangement conveyor 21 is downward. Thereby, the bag G lands on the arrangement conveyor 21 before or at the same time as contacting the previously placed bag G. In addition, since the frictional force between the arrangement conveyor 21 and the bag G is higher than the frictional force between the bags G, it is possible to prevent the bags G from sliding with respect to each other and to suppress the disorder of the posture.

[0031] A support conveyor 13 that supports the bag G so as to prevent it from falling off and guides the bag G to the conveying direction is provided at the lower side end in the inclination direction of the carrying-in conveyor 12. The conveying surface of the support conveyor 13 is orthogonal to the conveying surface of the carrying-in conveyor 12.

[0032] Since the bag G that moves on the upper side in the inclination direction of the conveying surface of the carrying-in conveyor 12 receives a component of the gravity force in the inclination direction, it slides downward to the side of the support conveyor 13 while moving, and then moves along the support conveyor 13. The conveying surface of the support conveyor 13 moves in the advancing direction of the conveying surface of the carrying-in conveyor 12 in a manner that does not hinder the conveying of the bag G. In the present embodiment, when the bag G reaches the front end portion of the carrying-in conveyor 12, the contact surface of the carrying-in conveyor 12 and the bag G is instantaneously removed, and the falling posture of the bag G is maintained as the posture at the time of conveying.

[0033] Figure 5 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the article housing device 1 of the carrying-in conveyor 12, as viewed from the arrangement conveyor 21 side in a state where the contact surface of the carrying-in conveyor 12 and the bag G is instantaneously removed. Figure 6 Fig. 10 is a front view of the posture of the bag G when falling from the carrying-in conveyor 12 in a case where the contact surface of the carrying-in conveyor 12 and the bag G is instantaneously removed.

[0034] As Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, when bag G is conveyed downstream of the conveyor 12, and the position sensor 15 detects that the front end of bag G has reached the front end of the conveyor 12, the front end roller R1 of the conveyor 12 moves a distance D1 in the opposite direction X2 to the conveying direction (first direction X1). At the same time, the intermediate roller R2 of the conveyor 12 also moves a distance D1 in the direction X2, thereby absorbing the slack of the conveyor / belt when the front end roller R1 moves in the direction X2.

[0035] Because the front end of the conveyor 12 moves instantaneously to a position upstream of the bag G, the bag G suddenly loses the resistance from the conveying surface of the conveyor 12, but maintains its posture during conveying due to inertia. As a result, the landing posture of the conveyor 21 is easily maintained from the posture when leaving the conveyor 12, and posture disorder during landing can be suppressed.

[0036] like Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the item arrangement section 20 arranges the bags G supplied from the item conveying section 10. The item arrangement section 20 includes an arrangement conveyor 21 and a delivery conveyor 22. Each time a bag G is received, the arrangement conveyor 21 conveys the bag G a certain distance toward the delivery conveyor 22. In the item arrangement section 20, the bags G move a certain distance closer to the delivery conveyor 22 from their falling position. In the item arrangement section 20, a portion of the bags G falling later lands on the arrangement conveyor 21, while the remaining portion leans against the preceding bag G and tilts. Thus, the bags G on the arrangement conveyor 21 form a column with adjacent bags G partially overlapping each other.

[0037] In the item arrangement section 20, after the last bag G in the column lands on the arrangement conveyor 21, both the arrangement conveyor 21 and the transfer conveyor 22 start operating simultaneously, conveying items in the same direction. In the item arrangement section 20, the N bags G arranged in a row on the arrangement conveyor 21 move as a group to the transfer conveyor 22, and the group of items already on the transfer conveyor 22 continues to move along it.

[0038] The in-feed conveyor 12 of the article conveying section 10 and the arrangement conveyor 21 of the article arrangement section 20 are arranged so that their conveying directions are orthogonal to each other. Since the arrangement conveyor 21 conveys a bag G a certain distance toward the out-feed conveyor 22 side each time it receives one bag G, a part of the bag G lands on the arrangement conveyor 21 and the remaining part leans against the preceding bag G and tilts, so that the bags G that abut each other partially overlap each other, forming a row. In the article arrangement section 20, when a bag G falls in a horizontal posture, a subsequent bag G falls directly onto the upper surface of the bag G that is waiting, and thus sometimes jumps in a direction different from the target position. In order to suppress this, in the present embodiment, a countermeasure is taken so that the posture of the bag G that lands on the arrangement conveyor 21 becomes appropriate.

[0039] The housing mechanism 30 houses (transfers) the plurality of bags G arranged in the article arrangement section 20 into the box B. The housing mechanism 30 is a parallel link robot having three sets of links. The housing mechanism 30 lifts the article group of the bag G conveyed on the out-feed conveyor 22, moves in the horizontal direction, and faces the upper side of the box B. When the housing mechanism 30 reaches the upper side of the box B, the article group is transferred into the box B.

[0040] Figure 7 Fig. 8 is a front view of the housing mechanism 30. As shown in Fig. 8, the housing mechanism 30 is provided with a base 32, three servo motors 33a, 33b, 33c, parallel link arms 34a, 34b, 34c, and a suction holder 38. The housing mechanism 30 is a robot configured of these. Figure 7

[0041] The base 32 is located above the out-feed conveyor 22 or the box B (refer to Fig. 1). The base 32 has the three servo motors 33a, 33b, 33c held at uniform intervals below it. Figure 4

[0042] The upper ends of the parallel link arms 34a, 34b, 34c are connected to the output shafts of the servo motors 33a, 33b, 33c, and the lower ends are connected to the suction holder 38. Each of the parallel link arms 34a, 34b, 34c extends from the output shaft of each of the servo motors 33a, 33b, 33c toward the suction holder 38.

[0043] When the housing mechanism 30 operates, the rotation amount and the direction of rotation of each of the output shafts of the servo motors 33a, 33b, 33c are appropriately controlled, the lower ends of the parallel link arms 34a, 34b, 34c move in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and the suction holder 38 moves to an arbitrary position in a certain three-dimensional space.

[0044] ​​The adsorption holder 38 has a plurality of adsorption pads 38a in a lower portion thereof. Each adsorption pad 38a is connected to a suction pipe 36 extending from a vacuum pump and a vacuum blower (not shown) to switch between an adsorption holding state and an adsorption release state of the bag G. By adsorption and release of the article group by the adsorption pads 38a, the adsorption holder 38 can grip or release the article group.

[0045] Specifically, the adsorption holder 38 grips the bag G1, the bag G2, and the bag G3 on the carry-out conveyor 22 together, and the parallel link arms 34a, 34b, 34c lift the adsorption holder 38 to move it in the plane to release the adsorption of the adsorption holder 38 on the box B. Thus, the bag G1, the bag G2, and the bag G3 are released from the adsorption holder 38 and are transferred into the box B.

[0046] During the transfer of the bag G1, the bag G2, and the bag G3 as the first article group, the bag G4, the bag G5, and the bag G6 as the next second article group are waiting on the arrangement conveyor 21. Since a gap in the conveying direction is ensured between the first article group and the second article group, the bag G4, the bag G5, and the bag G6 of the second article group can be prevented from being adsorbed by the adsorption holder 38 when the first article group is transferred by the housing mechanism 30.

[0047] The box conveying section 40 conveys the box B. The box conveying section 40 is a conveyor belt. Three boxes B can be placed on the box conveying section 40, for example. The box conveying section 40 conveys the box B when the bag G is housed in the box B by the housing mechanism 30. The box conveying section 40 in the article housing system 100 carries the box B in from the box conveying section 40 of the article housing device 1 on the upstream side of the conveying direction of the box B. The box conveying section 40 in the article housing system 100 carries the box B out to the box conveying section 40 of the article housing device 1 on the downstream side of the conveying direction of the box B.

[0048] Figure 8A and Figure 8B is a perspective view showing the structure of the flattening mechanism 50. The flattening mechanism 50 presses and flattens the bag G housed in the box B. The flattening mechanism 50 is disposed on the upstream side or the downstream side of the conveying direction of the box conveying section 40 with respect to the housing mechanism 30. In the present embodiment, the flattening mechanism 50 is disposed on the upstream side of the conveying direction of the box conveying section 40 with respect to the housing mechanism 30.

[0049] The flattening mechanism 50 has a driving portion 51, a movable portion 52, a pressing portion 53, and a mounting portion 54. The driving portion 51 drives the movable portion 52. The driving portion 51 is configured to include a driving source (a motor or the like). The movable portion 52 is disposed so as to be movable in the up-and-down direction by the driving of the driving portion 51. The pressing portion 53 is a portion that presses the bag G (abuts against the bag G). The pressing portion 53 is provided at the front end (lower end) of the movable portion 52. The mounting portion 54 is a bracket for mounting the flattening mechanism 50 to the article housing device 1 (a frame or the like).

[0050] The driving portion 51, the movable portion 52, and the pressing portion 53 are provided integrally. The driving portion 51 (including the movable portion 52 and the pressing portion 53) is provided to the mounting portion 54 in a detachable manner. The driving portion 51 is installed on the mounting portion 54 so as to be changeable in orientation. In this way, the position of the pressing portion 53 in the flattening mechanism 50 can be adjusted. Figure 8A and Figure 8B In the above-described embodiments, the driving portion 51 is installed on the mounting portion 54 so as to be changeable in orientation.

[0051] The driving portion 51 is provided on the mounting portion 54 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrows. The driving portion 51 is fixed to the mounting portion 54 by, for example, a fastener (a bolt or the like). By changing the orientation of the driving portion 51 with respect to the mounting portion 54 and / or the position of the driving portion 51 on the mounting portion 54, the position of the pressing portion 53 in the flattening mechanism 50 can be adjusted. The driving portion 51 and the mounting portion 54 constitute an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the position of the pressing portion 53.

[0052] The control portion 60 controls the operation of the article housing device 1. The control portion 60 is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. A program or the like for controlling the article housing device 1 is stored in the ROM. The control portion 60 can communicate with the integrated controller 110.

[0053] The control portion 60 controls the operation of the article conveying portion 10, the article arranging portion 20, the housing mechanism 30, the case conveying portion 40, and the flattening mechanism 50. The control portion 60 controls each portion (each mechanism) based on production information transmitted from the integrated controller 110. In the production information, information that controls the speed of the operation in the article housing device 1 is included.

[0054] When an abnormality occurs in any of the item conveying section 10, item arranging section 20, storage mechanism 30, box conveying section 40, or leveling mechanism 50, the control unit 60 stops the operation of the item storage device 1. An abnormality could be, for example, a conveying malfunction of bag G in the item conveying section 10, an arrangement malfunction of bag G in the item arranging section 20, a storage malfunction in the storage mechanism 30, a conveying malfunction of box B in the box conveying section 40, or a leveling malfunction in the leveling mechanism 50. In the event of an abnormality, the control unit 60 sends an abnormality signal (indicating a stoppage in operation) to the integrated controller 110.

[0055] When the malfunction of the item receiving device 1 is resolved and it can operate again, the control unit 60 sends an operation signal indicating restart to the integrated controller 110. Based on the operation signal, the control unit 60 receives an action signal from the integrated controller 110 and, based on the action signal, restarts the operation of the item conveying unit 10, the item arranging unit 20, the receiving mechanism 30, the box conveying unit 40, and the leveling mechanism 50 (restarts operation).

[0056] Next, the operation of the article receiving device 1 will be explained. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the inspected and qualified bags G1, G2 and G3 are introduced into the article import conveyor 11 from the upstream side and then supplied to the loading conveyor 12 in sequence, and the operation will be explained.

[0057] The infeed conveyor 12 transports the bag G1 supplied by the item infeed conveyor 11 to the arrangement conveyor 21. When the front end of the bag G1 reaches the front end of the infeed conveyor 12, as... Figure 6 As shown, the front end of the infeed conveyor 12 moves instantaneously a distance D1 in a direction X2 opposite to the first direction X1. The bag G1 lands on the arranging conveyor 21 while maintaining its posture just before its contact surface with the infeed conveyor 12 is removed. When there is no preceding bag on the arranging conveyor 21, the bag G1 becomes the first bag in the column on the arranging conveyor 21. For ease of explanation, the bag G1 will be described as the first bag in the column.

[0058] After receiving bag G1, the arranging conveyor 21 transports bag G1 a certain distance toward the output conveyor 22 and stands ready to receive subsequent bags G2. Then, when bag G2 reaches the front end of the input conveyor 12, the contact surface with the input conveyor 12 is instantly removed, and it falls onto the arranging conveyor 21 while maintaining its current posture. Because the input conveyor 12 is tilted such that the portion of bag G1 already placed on the arranging conveyor 21 is above, and the portion directly falling onto the arranging conveyor 21 is below, bag G2 falls while maintaining its tilted posture, with part landing on bag G1 and the remainder landing on the arranging conveyor 21.

[0059] The arrangement conveyor 21 conveys the bags G1 and G2 a certain distance toward the carrying-out conveyor 22 side after receiving the bag G2, and stands by for receiving the subsequent bag G3. Also, the bag G3 arrives at the front end of the carrying-in conveyor 12 when the contact surface with the carrying-in conveyor 12 is instantaneously removed, and lands on the arrangement conveyor 21 in a state of maintaining the posture at that time. A part of the bag G3 lands on the bag G2, and the remaining part lands on the arrangement conveyor 21. Figure 5 G3 is shown after the contact surface with the carrying-in conveyor 12 is instantaneously removed.

[0060] The bags G1, G2, and G3 on the arrangement conveyor 21 form a column in which the bags abut on each other in a partially overlapping manner. When the column of the bags G1, G2, and G3 is completed, the arrangement conveyor 21 conveys the column as one article group toward the carrying-out conveyor 22 side. At this time, since the carrying-out conveyor 22 also moves in the same direction, the article group on the arrangement conveyor 21 moves onto the carrying-out conveyor 22. In a case where there is a preceding article group on the carrying-out conveyor 22, the article group further moves toward the downstream side.

[0061] Figure 9 is a schematic side view of the housing mechanism 30 that collectively holds a plurality of bags G. Figure 10 is a schematic side view of the housing mechanism 30 that moves a plurality of bags G toward the box B. As shown in Figure 9 and Figure 10 The suction holding rack 38 of the housing mechanism 30 suctions the plurality of bags G of the article group that moves on the carrying-out conveyor 22 together, moves them to the box B, and carries them into the box B. Each time the article group is dropped, the box B moves to the next position by the box conveyor 40.

[0062] The article housing apparatus 1 repeats the above-described operation to load the desired bags G into the box B. In the article housing apparatus 1, since the arrangement conveyor 21 of the article arrangement section 20 supplies the article group in which a plurality of bags G are arranged to the carrying-out conveyor 22, the suction holding rack 38 of the housing mechanism 30 can carry the plurality of bags G of the article group to the box B together. Thus, even in a case where the bags G are continuously supplied from the article conveyor 10, since the article arrangement section 20 allows time for the bags G to be arranged, the housing mechanism 30 can be prevented from being caught up in the movement of the bags G. Also, in the article housing apparatus 1, since the article group of the arranged bags G is temporarily stored in the arrangement conveyor 21 and the carrying-out conveyor 22, the supply of the article group to the housing mechanism 30 can also be prevented from being insufficient.

[0063] Next, the operation of the article housing system 100 will be described with reference to Figure 11 Figure 11 ​is a diagram for explaining the operation of the article housing system 100. In the article housing system 100, as shown in Figure 1 , a plurality of article housing devices 1 are arranged so that the carrying-in and carrying-out of the box B by the box conveying section 40 is possible between adjacent article housing devices 1. In the following description, as shown in Figure 11 , in order to distinguish the plurality of article housing devices 1, the article housing device 1A, the article housing device 1B, the article housing device 1C, the article housing device 1D, and the article housing device 1E are also indicated at times.

[0064] In the article housing system 100, the comprehensive controller 110 acquires the state of each of the plurality of article housing devices 1. Specifically, the control section 60 of each of the article housing devices 1 transmits an abnormality signal indicating an abnormality to the comprehensive controller 110 when an abnormality occurs in the article housing device 1. The comprehensive controller 110 acquires the state in which an abnormality has occurred in the article housing device 1 that has transmitted the movement signal when the abnormality signal is received.

[0065] The comprehensive controller 110 causes the article housing devices 1 located upstream and / or downstream of the article housing device 1 in which an abnormality has occurred with respect to the article housing device 1 in which an abnormality has occurred to continue the operation in the case where an abnormality has occurred in any one of the article housing devices 1. The comprehensive controller 110 causes any one of the article conveying section 10, the article arrangement section 20, the housing mechanism 30, the box conveying section 40, and the flattening mechanism 50 to continue the operation.

[0066] The comprehensive controller 110, for example, in the case where an abnormality has occurred in the article housing device 1C, transmits an operation signal that causes the housing of the bag G into the box B by the housing mechanism 30 to continue and that causes the conveying of the box B by the box conveying section 40 to stop to the article housing device 1A and the article housing device 1B located on the upstream side of the article housing device 1C. Specifically, the comprehensive controller 110 generates and transmits an operation signal that causes the housing mechanism 30 to continue the operation until the housing of the bag G by the housing mechanism 30 is completed in the article housing device 1A and the article housing device 1B.

[0067] The comprehensive controller 110, for example, in the case where an abnormality has occurred in the article housing device 1C, transmits an operation signal that causes the housing of the bag G into the box B by the housing mechanism 30 and the conveying of the box B by the box conveying section 40 to continue to the article housing device 1D and the article housing device 1E located on the downstream side of the article housing device 1C. Specifically, the comprehensive controller 110 generates and transmits an operation signal that causes the housing mechanism 30 to continue the operation and the box conveying section 40 to convey the box B in which the bag G is housed before the housing of the bag G by the housing mechanism 30 is completed in the article housing device 1D and the article housing device 1E. Thereby, as shown in Figure 11The box B is carried out from the article housing device 1D and the article housing device 1E as shown.

[0068] The comprehensive controller 110, in a case where the abnormality of the article housing device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred is resolved and the article housing device 1 is operated again, causes the article housing device 1 operated again to operate at a higher speed than before the abnormality occurs for a prescribed period. The comprehensive controller 110, upon receiving an operation signal from the article housing device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred, generates an operation signal indicating a change in the operation speed of the article housing device 1. Specifically, the comprehensive controller 110 generates an operation signal causing the article housing device 1 to operate at a higher speed than before the abnormality occurs, on the basis of the time at which the operation signal is received and the like, so that production can be performed in accordance with the production plan. The prescribed period is set to a period (time) until production can be performed in accordance with the production plan (until the delay is recovered), on the basis of the time at which the operation is resumed and the like.

[0069] The comprehensive controller 110, in a case where the abnormality occurs in a plurality of article housing devices 1 at the same time (at the same time (period)), causes any one of the article conveying section 10, the article arranging section 20, the housing mechanism 30, the box conveying section 40, and the flattening mechanism 50 in the other article housing devices 1 (article housing devices 1 in which the abnormality does not occur) to continue to operate, on the basis of the positional relationship of the other article housing devices 1 with respect to the article housing devices 1 in which the abnormality has occurred. The comprehensive controller 110 sets the site (mechanism) in which operation is to be continued so as to be optimal in terms of the operation rate, and generates an operation signal.

[0070] As described above, in the article housing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the comprehensive controller 110 acquires the state of the article housing devices 1, and causes the article housing devices 1 located upstream and / or downstream of the article housing device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred with respect to the conveying direction of the box B to continue to operate in a case where the abnormality has occurred in any one of the article housing devices 1. For example, in the article housing system 100, the housing of the bag G and the conveying of the box B are continued in the article housing devices 1 on the downstream side of the article housing device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred. In the article housing system 100, the housing of the bag G is continued in the article housing devices 1 on the upstream side of the article housing device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred. Thus, in the article housing system 100, the article housing devices 1 other than the article housing device 1 in which the abnormality has occurred can be caused to continue to operate. Therefore, in the article housing system 100, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operation rate.

[0071] In the article housing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the comprehensive controller 110 causes the article housing device 1 that has resumed operation after the abnormality has been resolved to operate at a higher speed than before the abnormality occurred for a predetermined period of time. With this configuration, even if the operation of a portion of the article housing system 100 temporarily stops due to an abnormality in the article housing device 1, the speed of operation of the article housing device 1 (at least one of the box conveying section and the housing mechanism) can be increased after the abnormality has been resolved, and thus the decrease in the operation rate can be suppressed.

[0072] In the article housing system 100 according to the present embodiment, the article housing device 1 has the flattening mechanism 50 that flattens the bag G housed in the box B by pressing the bag G on the upstream side or the downstream side of the box conveying section 40 with respect to the housing mechanism 30. With this configuration, the bag G housed in the box B that is carried in from another article housing device 1 or the bag G housed in the box B that is carried out to another article housing device 1 can be flattened by the flattening mechanism. Thus, in the article housing system 100, the risk of the bag G falling due to overflowing of the bag G from the box B when the bag G is housed in the box B or when the box B is conveyed can be reduced by overlapping the bags G in the box B.

[0073] The above describes the embodiments of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

[0074] In the above-described embodiments, the case where the article is the bag G is described as an example. However, the article can be another article. In the above-described embodiments, the case where the box B is the corrugated paper is described as an example. However, the box B can be a container or the like.

[0075] In the above-described embodiments, the structure of the article conveying section 10 and the article arrangement section 20 is not limited to the above-described structure.

[0076] In the above-described embodiments, the case where the housing mechanism 30 is a robot that holds the group of articles formed by the arrangement conveyor 21 by suction is described as an example. However, the housing mechanism 30 can be another structure.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, a case in which the comprehensive controller 110 causes the article housing device 1, which has resumed operation after the resolution of the abnormality, to operate at a higher speed than before the abnormality occurred during a prescribed period is described as an example. However, the comprehensive controller 110 can cause one or more article housing devices 1 to operate at a higher speed than before the abnormality occurred during a prescribed period, in addition to the article housing device 1, which has resumed operation after the resolution of the abnormality.

Claims

1. An item containment system, comprising: An article receiving device includes an article conveying section for conveying articles, a box conveying section for conveying a box containing the articles, and a receiving mechanism for receiving the articles conveyed in the article conveying section and containing them in the box; and The control device controls the operation of the item containing device. The plurality of said item receiving devices are arranged in such a way that the box conveying unit can move the boxes in and out between adjacent item receiving devices. One of the boxes is sequentially transported from one of the item receiving devices to the other of the item receiving devices. The control device acquires the status of the item receiving devices, and in the event of an anomaly in any of the item receiving devices, causes the item receiving devices located upstream and / or downstream of the item receiving device in the transport direction of the box to continue operating.

2. The item containment system according to claim 1, wherein, When the anomaly of the item containing device is resolved and the item containing device restarts, the control device causes the restarted item containing device to operate at a faster speed than before the anomaly occurred within a specified period.

3. The item containment system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The item receiving device has a flattening mechanism on the upstream or downstream side of the receiving mechanism in the conveying direction of the box conveying section, which presses the item contained in the box to flatten the item.

4. The item containment system according to claim 3, wherein, The leveling mechanism has an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the position of the pressed item.

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