Pot holding tool

Abstract

To provide a pot holding tool that stably lifts only a single layer of pots of an upper layer from pots laminated in a multi-layer.SOLUTION: In a rod 2 of a pot holding tool 1, a cavity 2a in a vertical direction is open on a lower end 2b. Claw parts 6 that exert fixing force to an inner surface Sp of a pot p are provided for pressing surfaces 5a of the arm parts 5. A sliding part 7a erected at the crossing center JC of the arm parts 5, the sliding part 7a is inserted into an opening of the lower end 2b of the rod 2, and slides in the cavity 2a in a vertical direction. The pressing means 3 allows the sliding part 7a to slide in a downward direction when the rod 2 moves upward, and allows the arm parts 5 to move down for the rod 2. On the other hand, when the rod 2 moves downward, the crossing center JC contacts the lower end 2b of the rod 2 into a state where the sliding part 7a cannot move upward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pot holder for lifting horticultural pots one by one out of a multi-layer stack. [Background technology]

[0002] At plant cultivation and distribution sites, for transplanting or shipping, a transfer operation is performed in which empty horticultural pots (hereinafter simply referred to as pots) made of thin-walled soft resin are arranged in a work tray. The work tray has multiple baskets arranged in a matrix. The pots are delivered in a multi-layered matrix, and the pots are removed one layer at a time from the top, and the pots in the matrix are transferred to the baskets on the work tray.

[0003] As an apparatus capable of lifting up a layer from a multi-layered matrix of pots in a matrix and transferring it to a work tray, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a pot loading device equipped with a pot holder that is inserted into the pot and adheres to the pot to lift it up. The pot holder has arms on all four diagonals of a rectangle, and the tips of the arms are provided with engaging claws made of spring steel or the like that have an engaging function. Patent Document 2 discloses a pot setting device equipped with a pot holder. The pot holder is made by bending an elastic strip-shaped plate material to form arms, and it is shown that the shape of the engaging claws at the tips can be any shape, such as a shogi piece shape, a flat end shape, or a semicircular shape. Patent Document 3 discloses that holes are made in the arms that press the inner surface of the pot by elastic restoring force, and the engaging claws are formed by burrs erected around the holes when the holes are made. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3568806 [Patent Document 2] JP 2002-247921 A [Patent Document 3] Utility model registration No. 3230964 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the arms shown in Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3 are inserted into a pot in an upper layer, they are pressed against the side of the pot, and as a reaction, they push back against the side of the pot. The force of the arms pushing back is transmitted to the pots in the next layer. Even when a pot is pulled up, this force continues to be transmitted to the pots in the next layer, so multiple pots that are stacked on top of each other may end up being pulled up.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a pot holder that can stably lift up only the top layer of pots. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a pot holder for lifting pots one by one from the top layer of a multi-layer stack of pots, comprising: A rod having a vertical cavity at its lower end and movable up and down; An arm portion having a pressing surface formed by crossing and joining strip-shaped plate materials and spreading radially upward from the center of the crossing, the arm portion having a pressing surface for pressing the inner surface of the pot; A claw portion is provided on the pressing surface and exerts a fastening force on the inner surface of the pot; a sliding part that is erected at the center of intersection of the arm parts, is inserted into an opening at the lower end of the rod, and slides up and down within the cavity; a pressing means for sliding the sliding portion downward when the rod is raised, and for lowering the arm portion relative to the rod, When the rod descends, the arm abuts against the inner surface of the pot, and the center of intersection abuts against the lower end of the rod, preventing the sliding part from ascending. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, when the pot holder is lifted, the center of intersection of the arms moves away from the lower end of the rod, and the elastic force accumulated in the arms is dispersed as a distortion of the entire arms. As a result, the pressure concentrated only on the pressing surface can be reduced. Then, in the range from the position of the pot fixed to the claw portion to the bottom surface, a subtle shape change occurs due to the center of intersection moving down and the pressure weakening. This deformation occurs only in the pot in the top layer and not in the pots in the lower layers, causing a slight misalignment between the pot in the top layer and the pot in the lower layer. These factors create a situation in which the pot in the top layer is easily displaced from the pot in the lower layer, and it is possible to prevent multiple pots in a stacked state from being lifted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pot transfer device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a method of using the pot transfer device. [Diagram 5] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Example 1] 1, the pot transfer device 10 of this embodiment includes a mechanical unit 11 and a shelf unit 15. The mechanical unit 11 includes a plurality of pot holders 1 for holding pots p, a support 12 on which the plurality of pot holders 1 are arranged in a matrix, a baffle member 13, and a movable unit 14 that moves the plurality of pot holders 1 up and down via the support 12.

[0011] Baffle member 13 is a planar body with a matrix of windows, and its position in the vertical direction is fixed. Rod 2 of pot holder 1 extending from support 12 passes through window 13a of baffle member 13. The size of window 13a is smaller than the size of pot p, so that pot p held by pot holder 1 cannot pass through when pot holder 1 moves up and down.

[0012] The shelf unit 15 is equipped with a first mounting table 17 for mounting a source tray 20 on which the pots p are arranged in a multi-layered matrix, and a second mounting table 22 for mounting a work tray 21 to which the pots p are transferred. The second mounting table 22 is located directly above the first mounting table 17 and can be moved by a guide track 9 below the baffle member 13. Note that although the machine unit 11 and the shelf unit 15 are depicted in FIG. 1 as being separated from each other, when in use, the multiple pot holders 1 are positioned directly above the pots p mounted on the first mounting table 17.

[0013] The pot holder 1 will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2A is a perspective view, Figure 2B is an exploded view, Figure 2C is a side view, and Figure 2D is a cross-sectional view. The pot holder 1 comprises a rod 2, a pressing means 3, an arm portion 5, a claw portion 6, and a pressing force mitigating means 7. In the figure, the center of the rod 2 is shown as a central axis c. The central axis c is an axis in the vertical direction.

[0014] In FIG. 2A, the arm 5 is made of a strip-shaped plate material having a shape restoring force, such as a metal plate such as a brass plate, an aluminum plate, a copper plate, or a steel plate, or a resin plate, and is preferably made of a spring steel plate. The arm 5 is formed by crossing and joining strip-shaped spring steel plates, and spreading radially upward from the crossing center JC. In this embodiment, the crossing is a cross, and the arm 5 spreads upward in all four directions. The crossing center JC is located at the bottom of the pot holder 1 directly below the rod 2. The arm 5 has a pressing surface 5a that presses the pot p from the inside with the elastic restoring force of the arm 5 when pressed into the pot p. The pressing surface 5a is provided with a claw portion 6 that exerts a fixing force on the inner surface Sp of the pot p. The claw portion 6 is formed by what is called a "burr" or "burr" (hereinafter collectively referred to as "burr") that occurs on the back side of the arm 5 when a hole is drilled with a drill or a punch. The "burr" is irregular and sharp. The "burrs" of the metal plate are much harder than the soft resin pot p, and are less likely to deform or penetrate the pot p. The free end 5b, which is the tip of the arm 5, is bent toward the central axis c.

[0015] FIG. 2B shows an exploded view of the connection between the pressing means 3 and the arm 5. The arm 5 and the rod 2 are fixed only via the pressing means 3. The pressing means 3 is a rectangular means for pressing down the arm 5 from the rod 2. The rod 2 has a cavity 2a that opens at the lower end 2b in the direction of the central axis c. The pressing means 3 and the arm 5 are connected by embedding the free end 5b of the arm 5 in the position of the end 3b of the pressing means 3 (shown in light ink pp in the figure). The pressing force mitigation means 7 relieves the elastic force of the arm 5 that accumulates when the pot holder 1 is pressed into the pot p when the pot holder 1 is lifted. Specifically, the pressing force mitigation means 7 is realized by a configuration in which a sliding part 7a erected at the intersection center JC of the cross of the arm 5 is inserted into the opening of the lower end 2b of the rod 2 and slides in the cavity 2a in the direction of the central axis c. When the pot holder 1 is lifted, it is the pressing means 3 that slides the sliding portion 7a and moves the arm portion 5 downward relative to the rod 2.

[0016] 2C, the base end 3a of the pressing means 3 is fixed to a position midway along the rod 2. The pressing means 3 stably maintains the position of the free end 5b of the arm 5 relative to the rod 2 so that the pot holder 1 can be used repeatedly. It is preferable that the pressing means 3 does not expand or contract much in the length direction, but is free to deform in the bending direction due to an external force and returns to its original shape or has a resilient force to return to its original shape when the external force is removed or weakened.

[0017] 2D, the sliding part 7a is inserted into the cavity 2a of the rod 2 from the opening of the lower end 2b, and is allowed to slide freely up and down (in the direction of the central axis c). The pressing means 3 is an elastic body such as rubber or sponge, and therefore the sliding part 7a is normally in a lowered position in the cavity 2a. On the other hand, when the movable part 14 starts to be pressed down, the lower end 2b of the rod 2 comes into contact with the intersection center JC of the arm 5, and transmits a pressing force to the arm 5.

[0018] The changes in the shape of the pot holder 1 will be described using Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C. In Figures 3A and 3B, the left side shows a cross section, and the right side shows a plan view. Figure 3A shows the state just before the pot holder 1 is pressed into the pot p. The inner surface Sp of the pot p is tapered toward the bottom surface Bp, so that as the pot holder 1 is pressed inward, the pressing surface 5a receives pressure from the side surface of the pot p.

[0019] FIG. 3B shows the state when the pot holder 1 is pressed into the pot p. The center of intersection JC comes into contact with the lower end BR of the rod 2, and the force of the movable part 14 is directly applied to the pressing surface 5a. The pressing surface 5a is pressed against the inner surface Sp of the pot p, and a resilient force is accumulated. When it is pressed further, it comes into contact with the bottom surface Bp of the top pot p, gradually deforming the shape of the pot p in plan view into a square. When the deformation limit is reached, the resilient force is concentrated on the pressing surface 5a as a reaction, and a pressure Fa is generated as a force pushing back the side of the pot p. The pressure Fa is a combination of the resilient force accumulated in the arm part 5 and the resilient force accumulated in the pressing means 3. This pressure Fa fixes the claw part 6 to the side of the pot p. The arm part 5 is bent in the direction of the central axis c by the side of the pot p, and pushes up the position of the end 3b of the pressing means 3. As a result, the pressing means 3 is deformed. The pressure Fa is also transmitted to the pot p in the layer next below the top pot p.

[0020] FIG. 3C shows the state when the pot holder 1, which has been pushed into the pot p, is lifted up. When the rod 2 is lifted up, the position of the lower end 2b of the rod 2 rises, and the force pressing the intersection center JC against the bottom surface Bp of the pot disappears. On the other hand, since the claw portion 6 is fixed to the side of the pot p, the positional relationship between the claw portion 6 of the arm portion 5 and the pot p does not change. The pressing means 3 acts to lower the position of the intersection center JC away from the lower end 2b by using a force that returns it to its original state. The pressing force mitigation means 7 moves the sliding portion 7a to a lowered position within the cavity 2a. As a result, the following two phenomena occur.

[0021] First, the elastic force accumulated in the pressing means 3 is reduced by moving the sliding part 7a to a lower position in the cavity 2a as the intersection center JC moves away from the lower end 2b. Also, the elastic force accumulated in the arm part 5 is dispersed as a distortion of the entire arm part 5. As a result, the pressure Fa concentrated only on the pressing surface is reduced.

[0022] Then, in the range from the position of the pot p fixed to the claw portion 6 to the bottom surface Bp, a subtle change in shape occurs due to the lowering of the intersection center JC and the weakening of the pressure Fa. In the drawing, the shape before the shape change occurs is predicted and exaggerated by the dashed line BL. This deformation occurs only in the pot p in the top layer, and does not occur in the pots p in the lower layers. This subtle change in shape causes a slight misalignment between the pot p in the top layer and the pot p in the lower layer.

[0023] These factors make it easier for the pot p on the top layer to come off compared to the pots p on the lower layers, preventing multiple overlapping pots from being pulled up.

[0024] Next, a method of using the pot transfer device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The pot holder 1 is positioned directly above each pot p stacked in a matrix (Fig. 4A), and the movable part 14 is operated to lower the pot holder 1 and push the arms 5 into the pot p. As a result, each arm 5 is compressed inside the pot p, and the elastic force presses the claws 6 against the inner surface of the pot p (Fig. 4B). In this state, the pot holder 1 is pulled up by the movable part 14 (Fig. 4C).

[0025] Second mounting table 22 carrying work tray 21 is moved by guide track 19 to just above first mounting table 17 and below baffle member 13 (FIG. 4D). Movable portion 14 further lifts pot holder 1, causing pot p and baffle member 13 to butt against each other and remove from pot holder 1. As already explained, the elastic force of arm portion 5 is relaxed and pot p is only held by claw portion 6, so it can be easily removed.

[0026] In addition, the root end 3a of the pressing means 3 is fixed to a midway position of the rod 2, and the end 3b of the pressing means 3 is connected to the free end 5b of the arm 5, which also contributes to the easy removal of the pot p. In other words, the pressing means 3 is difficult to expand and contract in the length direction, so the pressing means 3 suppresses the free end 5b of the arm 5 from expanding (moving away from the central axis c). Therefore, when the pot p is pressed against the obstructing member 13, the claw portion 6 does not move away from the inner surface Sp of the pot p, and the free end 5b of the arm 5 can be prevented from expanding with respect to the pot p that is about to fall. If the free end 5b of the arm 5 expands when the pot p falls, a situation occurs in which the claw portion 6 tears the inner surface Sp, but this can be avoided.

[0027] The pot p falls onto the work tray 21 directly below (FIG. 4E). The work tray 21 is returned to its original position by the guide track 19 (FIG. 4F). By simply repeating this procedure, the pot p can be transferred. In this embodiment, the "burrs" generated on the back side when the arm 5 is drilled with a drill or punch are used as the claw 6, but the claw may be of a form other than such a claw that exerts a fixing force. For example, it may be a claw with enhanced friction or adhesiveness. To enhance friction, sharp mineral grains may be attached. Or, to be adhesive, it may be a removable material. In addition, an elastic body such as rubber or sponge is used as the pressing means 3, but a compression spring may be applied as another means that is freely deformed in the bending direction by an external force and returns to its original shape or has a resilient force to return when the external force is removed or weakened.

[0028] [Example 2] In the above embodiment, the action of the elastic body returning to its original shape was used as the pressing means 3, but as an example of another form of the pressing means 3, an embodiment using a pressing spring or gravity is shown in Fig. 5. In the figure, other configurations that are the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference symbols. In the example shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, a pressing spring 3c as the pressing means 3 is arranged in the cavity 2a of the rod 2 to press down the intersection center JC.

[0029] In the example shown in Fig. 5C, weight 3d as pressing means 3 is placed inside sliding portion 7a which is pressing force mitigation means 7, and arm 5 is pressed down by the weight of weight 3d. To prevent arm 5 from falling off rod 2, rod 2 is provided with vertical hole 2c in the direction of central axis c. Pin 7b is attached from sliding portion 7a through vertical hole 2c, and pin 7b can move up and down only within the opening range of vertical hole 2c.

[0030] In both the example using the compression spring 3c and the example using the weight 3d as the pressing means 3, a string 3e is provided to connect the free end 5b of the arm 5 and the rod 2. The string 3e does not expand or contract in the length direction, but is free to deform in the bending direction due to an external force. It returns to its original shape, but has no elastic force to return. The string 3e does not act to lower the arm 5 relative to the rod 2 when stably lifting only the pots in the upper layer, but is provided to prevent the free end 5b of the arm 5 from spreading when the pots p are pressed against the baffle member 13.

[0031] In this embodiment as well, in order to raise the pot p of only the upper layer, the following two phenomena occur. First, as a result of the center of intersection JC moving away from the lower end 2b, the elastic force accumulated in the arm 5 is dispersed as a distortion of the entire arm 5. As a result, the pressure Fa that was concentrated only on the pressing surface becomes smaller.

[0032] Then, in the range from the position of the pot p fixed to the claw portion 6 to the bottom surface Bp, a subtle change in shape occurs due to the lowering of the intersection center JC and the weakening of the pressure Fa. In the drawing, the shape before the shape change occurs is predicted and exaggerated by the dashed line BL. This deformation occurs only in the pot p in the top layer, and does not occur in the pots p in the lower layers. This subtle change in shape causes a slight misalignment between the pot p in the top layer and the pot p in the lower layer.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the second mounting table 22 carrying the work tray 21 is moved by the guide track 19 to just above the first mounting table 17 and below the baffle member 13, but the first mounting table 17 and the second mounting table 22 may be arranged side by side and the pot transfer device 10 may be moved left and right. Also, the pot holder 1 is further raised by the movable part 14 to bring the pot p into contact with the baffle member 13, but the baffle member 13 may be moved to bring the pot p into contact. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Pot holder 2 Rod 2a cavity 2b Bottom edge 2c vertical hole 3. Pressing means 3a Root end 3b end 3c Compression spring 3d weight 5 Arm 5a Pressing surface 5b free end 6 Claw part 7 Pressure alleviation means 7a Sliding part 7b pin 10 Pot transfer device 11 Mechanical Department 12 Support 13. Obstruction member 13a Window 14 Moving parts 15 Shelf 17 First loading platform 19 Guideway 20 Original Tray 21 Work Tray 22 Second loading platform BL dashed line BM intersection center BR bottom end Bp Bottom Fa Pressure Fp top surface JC intersection center Sp inside c Center axis p pot

Claims

1. In a pot holder that lifts pots one by one from the top layer of a multi-layer stack of pots, A rod having a vertical cavity at its lower end and movable up and down; An arm portion having a pressing surface formed by crossing and joining strip-shaped plate materials and spreading radially upward from the center of the crossing, the arm portion having a pressing surface for pressing the inner surface of the pot; A claw portion is provided on the pressing surface and exerts a fastening force on the inner surface of the pot; a sliding part that is erected at the center of intersection of the arm parts, is inserted into an opening at the lower end of the rod, and slides up and down within the cavity; a pressing means for sliding the sliding portion downward when the rod is raised, and for lowering the arm portion relative to the rod, A pot holder characterized in that when the rod descends, the arm portion abuts against the inner surface of the pot, and the intersection center abuts against the lower end of the rod, preventing the sliding portion from rising.

2. The pot holder as described in claim 1, wherein the pressing means is a rectangular means which does not expand or contract significantly in the longitudinal direction but which is free to deform in the bending direction due to external force and which returns or attempts to return to its original shape when the external force is removed or weakened, and which has a base end fixed to the rod and the other end connected to a free end which is the tip of the arm.

3. A support on which the pot holder of claim 1 is arranged in a matrix; a baffle member having a matrix of windows, the windows being pierced by rods of pot holders extending from the support, the size of the windows being smaller than the size of the pots; a movable portion that moves the plurality of pot holders up and down via the support; a first mounting table for mounting an original tray on which pots are arranged in a multi-layered matrix; a second mounting table for mounting a work tray to which the pot is to be transferred; This pot transfer device is characterized in that the support is lowered directly above the original tray, the pot is held by the pot holder and lifted up, and the pot held by the pot holder is dropped by hitting the baffle member directly above the work tray.

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