Egg pack transfer device

Abstract

To provide an egg pack transfer device capable of transferring more egg packs to a storage space within a unit time.SOLUTION: An egg pack transfer device 1 transfers a plurality of egg packs P collected in a temporary waiting area 21 into a storage space A, and includes a holding part 11 and a control part 3. The control part 3 controls an operation of holding the plurality of egg packs P, releasing the state in which one egg pack P is held among the plurality of egg packs P at a first position within the case C as the storage space A, and then moving the holding part 11 to release the state in which another egg pack P is held among the plurality of egg packs P at a second position different from the first position within the case C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer device for an egg pack that transfers sequentially conveyed egg packs to a storage space provided in a case for egg packs or a roll inner.

Background Art

[0002] An egg pack boxing device for packing egg packs into cases for egg packs or the like is known. In this type of egg pack boxing device, egg packs corresponding to one tier of cases are arranged in a temporary waiting area. Thereafter, the egg packs are packed into the case while maintaining the arrangement relationship of the arranged egg packs.

[0003] Cases come in various sizes and shapes. Also, egg packs come in various sizes and shapes. For this reason, the variations in combinations of cases and egg packs are diverse. The egg pack boxing device is required to accommodate such variations. In the egg pack boxing device, if it is intended to accommodate variations in combinations of cases and egg packs, it is assumed that the temporary waiting area will become larger, the conveyor arranged upstream of the temporary waiting area will become larger, and the egg pack alignment mechanism will become more complex. Furthermore, it is assumed that the cost will increase due to such enlargement and complexity. As a patent document disclosing a method of filling an egg pack into a container for egg packs, for example, there is Patent Document 1.

[0004] As a countermeasure against such problems, an egg pack boxing device has been developed that boxes egg packs with a smaller number of egg packs to be boxed in a single boxing operation than the number of egg packs in one tier. In this egg pack boxing device, for example, using a conventional articulated robot whose head part operates arbitrarily, the egg packs accommodated as one tier in the case are accommodated by two boxing operations or three boxing operations.

[0005] Specifically, when the number of egg packs in one layer in the case is five, for example, they are boxed separately into three egg packs and two egg packs. The three egg packs collected in the temporary waiting area are held by the head part. The head part holding the three egg packs moves from the temporary waiting area to the case, the holding state is released, and the three egg packs are accommodated in the case. The head part whose holding state has been released moves from the case to the temporary waiting area. Next, the two egg packs collected in the temporary waiting area are held by the head part. The head part holding the two egg packs moves from the temporary waiting area to the case, the holding state is released, and the two egg packs are accommodated in the case. In this way, the five egg packs in the first layer in the case are accommodated in the case. Subsequently, by repeating the same operation, the five egg packs in the second layer are accommodated on top of the egg packs in the first layer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In a conventional egg pack boxing device, for one boxing operation, the head part makes a round trip between the temporary waiting area and the case. Therefore, when trying to store the egg packs in one layer in the case by multiple boxing operations more than twice, the head part makes multiple round trips between the temporary waiting area and the case. As a result, there is a limit to the number of egg packs that can be stored in the case per unit time.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a transfer device for egg packs that can transfer more egg packs into a storage space including a case or the like within a unit time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The transfer device for egg packs according to the present invention is a transfer device for egg packs that transfers a plurality of egg packs collected in a temporary waiting area into a storage space, and includes a holding unit and a control unit. The holding unit holds a plurality of egg packs including one egg pack and another egg pack, and moves the held plurality of egg packs to the storage space. The control unit controls the operations of the holding unit including an operation of holding an egg pack, an operation of moving at least one of the held egg pack and the storage space, and an operation of releasing the state of holding the egg pack. The control unit holds a plurality of egg packs, and at a first position in the storage space, after releasing the state of holding one egg pack, moves the holding unit, and at a second position different from the first position in the storage space, controls an operation of releasing the state of holding another egg pack.

[0010] It is desirable that the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing the state of holding another egg pack at a height position different from the first position as the second position.

[0011] It is desirable that the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of releasing the state of holding another egg pack at a position where another egg pack is stacked on one egg pack as the second position.

[0012] It is desirable that the operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit includes an operation of changing the orientation of the held egg pack.

Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the transfer device for egg packs of the present invention, the number of egg packs that can be accommodated in a case within a unit time can be increased.

[0014] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention, which is to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] An example of a transfer device for egg packs according to an embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer device 1 for egg packs transfers a plurality of conveyed egg packs P to a predetermined storage space A including a case. The transfer device 1 for egg packs transfers the egg packs P collected in the temporary waiting area 21 to the storage space A for egg packs. The transfer device 1 for egg packs includes a holding unit 11, a head unit 14, a holding release unit 12, a vacuum mechanism 13, and a control unit 3. Here, the storage space A in which the egg packs P are stored is formed in a box-shaped case C.

[0017] The holding unit 11 holds a plurality of egg packs P. The holding unit 11 is composed of a first suction member 15 and a second suction member. The first suction member 15 can hold, for example, two adjacent egg packs P. The second suction member 16 can hold, for example, two egg packs P.

[0018] The first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are connected to the vacuum mechanism 13. A holding release unit 12 is provided between the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 and the vacuum mechanism 13. The holding release unit 12 includes a holding release unit 12a and a holding release unit 12b. In the first suction member 15, the holding state is released by the holding release unit 12a. In the second suction member 16, the holding state is released by the holding release unit 12b.

[0019] Each of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 has a bellows structure that can expand and contract in the vertical direction. In the state where the egg pack is adsorbed, the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are in a contracted state. On the other hand, in the state where the egg pack is not adsorbed, the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are in a state of being extended by gravity.

[0020] The holding part 11 is attached to the head part 14. The head part 14 moves between the temporary waiting area 21 and the case C. As the head part 14, for example, a conventional articulated robot that operates arbitrarily, such as a 6-axis vertical articulated robot, is applied. In addition to this, as the head part 14, various things such as a robot or a device that can move arbitrarily with respect to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis can be adopted.

[0021] The egg pack transfer device 1 constitutes an egg pack transfer system 10 together with the transfer device 2. The transfer device 2 is, for example, a belt conveyor. A temporary waiting area 21 is provided on the downstream side of the transfer device 2. An egg packaging device (not shown) for accommodating eggs in packs is arranged on the upstream side of the transfer device 2.

[0022] The egg pack in which eggs are accommodated by the packaging device is conveyed to the temporary waiting area 21 by the transfer device 2. A stopper 22 for restricting the movement of the egg pack is provided in the temporary waiting area 21. Once a set number of egg packs have gathered in the temporary waiting area 21, the transfer device 2 stops once, and the transfer operation of the egg packs is started. This operation (movement) will be described later.

[0023] The operation of the egg pack transfer device 1 is controlled by the control unit 3. The control unit 3 controls the holding state and movement of the egg pack P held by the holding part 11. The control unit 3 controls so that the holding states of one egg pack P and another egg pack P among the plurality of egg packs P held by the holding part 11 are released separately. After releasing the state of holding one egg pack P, the control unit 3 controls so that the state of holding another egg pack P is released. After releasing the state of holding one egg pack P, the control unit 3 performs control to move another egg pack P before releasing the state of holding another egg pack P.

[0024] The control unit 3 controls so that another egg pack P is placed at a height position different from that of one egg pack P previously placed in the case C. The control unit 3 performs an operation of placing one egg pack on the upper stage side S1 of the step S formed by the egg pack P already accommodated in the accommodation space A, and then controls so that an operation of placing another egg pack P on the lower stage side S2 of the step S is performed.

[0025] The control unit 3 is composed of a dedicated computer such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an internal memory, an input / output interface, and an AD conversion unit, or a general-purpose computer. According to the program stored in the internal memory, the functions as the control unit 3 are exerted by the cooperation of the CPU and its peripheral devices.

[0026] Next, an example of the operation of the transfer device 1 for the egg pack will be described. The egg packs P conveyed from the upstream side are collected in the temporary waiting area 21 on the downstream side by the conveying device 2. The transfer operation is started in a state where, for example, four egg packs P (2 in the vertical direction × 2 in the horizontal direction) are gathered in the temporary waiting area 21.

[0027] First, the head part 14 moves above the collected egg packs P. Next, the head part 14 descends, the first suction member 15 comes into contact with two of the four egg packs P, and the second suction member 16 comes into contact with the remaining two egg packs P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated. By the vacuum mechanism 13, each of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 starts vacuum suction. The four egg packs P are held by the holding part 11.

[0028] Next, the holding part 11 holding the egg pack P moves from the temporary standby area 21 above the case C. Next, the head part 14 descends, and for example, when the two egg packs P held by the first suction member 15 are placed along the first side wall C1 of the case C, the holding release part 12 is operated. The vacuum suction by the holding release part 12 stops. The suction states of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are released, and the first four egg packs P are accommodated in the case C. In the case C shown in FIG. 3, the two egg packs P in the front are shown.

[0029] The holding part 11 that has released the egg pack P moves from the case C to the temporary standby area 21. In the temporary standby area 21, for example, with four egg packs P gathered, the holding part 11 descends, the first suction member 15 contacts the two egg packs P, and the second suction member 16 contacts the remaining two egg packs P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 starts vacuum suction for each of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16, and the four egg packs P are held by the holding part 11.

[0030] Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding part 11 holding the egg pack P moves from the temporary standby area 21 above the case C. Next, the head part 14 descends. When the two egg packs P held by the first suction member 15 are placed along the first side wall C1, the holding release part 12a of the holding release part 12 is operated. The suction state of the first suction member 15 is released by the holding release part 12a, and two more egg packs P are accommodated along the first side wall C1 on top of the first accommodated egg pack P. In other words, two more egg packs P are placed on the upper stage side S1 of the step S formed by the first accommodated egg pack P.

[0031] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the holding portion 11 holding the remaining two egg packs P moves above the region S3 in the case C where no egg pack P is placed yet. When the two egg packs P held by the second suction member 16 reach the position where they are placed along the second side wall C2, the holding release portion 12b among the holding release portions 12 is operated. The suction state of the second suction member is released by the holding release portion 12b, and the two egg packs P are placed in the region S3 in the case C. In other words, the two egg packs P are placed on the lower side S2 of the step S formed by the egg packs P already accommodated in the case C.

[0032] The holding portion 11 that has released the egg pack P moves from the case C to the temporary standby region 21. In the temporary standby region 21, for example, when four egg packs P are gathered, the holding portion 11 descends, the first suction member 15 contacts two egg packs P, and the second suction member 16 contacts the remaining two egg packs P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 starts vacuum suction for each of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16, and the four egg packs P are held by the holding portion 11.

[0033] Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the holding portion 11 holding the egg pack P moves from the temporary standby region 21 above the case C. Next, the head portion 14 descends. When the two egg packs P held by the second suction member 16 reach the position where they are placed along the second side wall C2, the holding release portion 12 is operated. The vacuum suction stops due to the holding release portion 12. The suction states of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are released, and the four egg packs P are placed on top of the four egg packs P that are already placed. In other words, the four egg packs P are placed in the region S4 in the case C where no second - stage egg packs P are placed yet. After the transfer operation of the egg packs into the case C is completed, the holding portion 11 moves from the case C to the temporary standby region 21.

[0034] The transfer device 1 for egg packs according to this embodiment includes a holding part 11, a head part 14, a holding release part 12, a vacuum mechanism 13, and a control part 3, and transfers the egg packs P collected in the temporary waiting area 21 to the case C as the accommodation space A. When transferring the egg pack P to the case C, during one transfer operation, an operation of placing one egg pack on the upper stage S1 of the step S formed by the egg packs P already accommodated in the case C and an operation of placing the egg pack P on the lower stage S2 of the step S are performed.

[0035] As a result, compared with the conventional egg pack boxing device, in the operation of accommodating the egg pack P in the case C, the number of times the head part reciprocates between the temporary waiting area and the case can be reduced, and the number of egg packs that can be accommodated in the case C per unit time can be increased. In the conventional egg pack boxing device, in the process corresponding to the processes shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, when trying to accommodate the egg pack P in the case C, the head part needs to reciprocate 4 times between the temporary waiting area and the case, whereas in the transfer device 1 for egg packs according to the embodiment, the head part 14 can accommodate the egg pack P in the case C by reciprocating 3 times between the temporary waiting area 21 and the case C.

[0036] Furthermore, compared with the conventional egg pack boxing device, various variations can be accommodated without enlarging the transfer device 2 arranged in the temporary waiting area 21 or on the upstream side, and it can be suitably used in an egg packaging facility with many restrictions on the available space.

[0037] Also, the holding part 11 is a plurality of first suction members 15 and second suction members 16 respectively connected to the vacuum mechanism 13, and sucks the egg pack P from above. Therefore, compared with the holding part that holds the egg pack P from below or laterally, it is less likely that the holding part 11 interferes with the egg pack P already accommodated in the case C, the first side wall C1 of the case C, or the second side wall C2.

[0038] Of the holding release parts 12, the holding release part 12a operates at a position where one egg pack P held by the first adsorption member 15 is placed along the first side wall C1, thereby releasing the state of holding one egg pack. Of the holding release parts 12, the holding release part 12b operates at a position where another egg pack P held by the second adsorption member 16 is placed along the second side wall C2, thereby releasing the state of holding the other egg pack. As a result, the egg packs P are respectively arranged along the first side wall C1 or the second side wall C2 of the case C, facilitating the positioning of the egg packs P.

[0039] (Modification Example 1) Next, the egg pack transfer device according to Modification Example 1 will be described. The egg pack transfer device according to Modification Example 1 has basically the same configuration as the configuration of the egg pack transfer device 1 shown in FIG. 1. For this reason, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated unless necessary. In the egg pack transfer device 1 according to Modification Example 1, the accommodation order of accommodating the egg packs into the accommodation space A is different from the accommodation order by the above-described egg pack transfer device.

[0040] The egg pack transfer device 1 according to Modification Example 1 includes a holding part 11 and a control part 3, and transfers the egg pack P to the accommodation space A for the egg pack (see FIG. 7 and the like). The accommodation space A for the egg pack is formed inside a box-shaped case C.

[0041] The control part 3 controls so that the holding states of one egg pack P and another egg pack P held by the holding part 11 are released separately. After releasing the state of holding one egg pack P, the control part 3 controls to move another egg pack P before releasing the state of holding another egg pack P. The control part 3 controls so that another egg pack P is accommodated at a height position different from that of one egg pack P previously accommodated in the accommodation space A.

[0042] In the egg pack transfer device 1 according to the first modification, the control unit 3 controls so that another egg pack P is accommodated on one egg pack P previously accommodated in the accommodation space A. Further, the control unit 3 controls so as to change the orientation of another egg pack P after one egg pack P is accommodated.

[0043] Next, an example of the operation of the egg pack transfer device 1 according to the first modification will be described. The transfer operation is started in a state where, for example, four egg packs P are gathered in the temporary waiting area 21. First, the head unit 14 moves above the gathered egg packs P. Next, the head unit 14 descends, the first suction member 15 contacts two of the four egg packs P, and the second suction member 16 contacts the remaining two egg packs P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 is operated. By the vacuum mechanism 13, each of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 starts vacuum suction. The four egg packs P are held by the holding unit 11.

[0044] Next, the holding unit 11 holding the egg pack P moves from the temporary waiting area 21 above the case C. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the head unit 14 descends, and the four egg packs P are placed on the bottom plate C3 of the case C. Next, at the position where the two egg packs P held by the first suction member 15 are placed along the first side wall C1 of the case C, the holding release unit 12a of the holding release unit 12 is operated (see FIG. 1). The suction state of the first suction member 15 is released by the holding release unit 12a, and the two egg packs P are accommodated along the first side wall C1.

[0045] Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the holding unit 11 holding the remaining two egg packs P moves upward and rotates approximately 180 degrees in the horizontal direction, thereby changing the orientation of the head unit 14. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the head unit 14 descends. At the position where the two egg packs P held by the second suction member 16 are placed along the first side wall C1, the holding release unit 12b of the holding release unit 12 is operated.

[0046] The adsorption state of the second adsorption member is released by the holding release portion 12b, and the two egg packs P are placed on the two egg packs P previously accommodated in the case C. The holding portion 11 that has released the egg pack P moves from the case C to the temporary standby area 21. Next, with four egg packs P gathered in the temporary standby area 21, the four egg packs are held by the holding portion 11. Then, as shown in the fourth figure from the left in FIG. 4, the holding portion 11 holding the egg pack P moves from the temporary standby area 21 above the case C, and an operation of accommodating the egg pack P in the remaining space in the case C is performed.

[0047] In the egg pack transfer device 1 according to the first modification example, the same effect as the egg pack transfer device 1 including the effect of increasing the number of egg packs that can be accommodated in the case C per unit time, or an effect equivalent to that effect can be obtained.

[0048] (Second Modification Example) Next, the egg pack transfer device according to the second modification example will be described. The egg pack transfer device according to the second modification example has basically the same configuration as the configuration of the egg pack transfer device 1 according to the first modification example. For this reason, the same reference numerals are given to the same members, and the description thereof will not be repeated unless necessary. In the egg pack transfer device according to the second modification example, the shape of the accommodation space A and the method of accommodating (arranging) the egg pack in the accommodation space A are different.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 and the like, in the egg pack transfer device 1 according to the second modification example, the accommodation space A is formed on the bottom plate of the roll inner R or on the shelf plate R1. The roll inner R is a cart that can be used for display at the storefront in addition to transportation. In FIGS. 11 and the like, for convenience of explanation, only one stage of the roll inner R is shown. Note that before placing the egg pack P on the roll inner R, the egg pack P may be transferred to, for example, a tray or the like once. In this case, the accommodation space A will be formed on the tray.

[0050] The egg pack transfer device 1 according to Modification 2 includes a holding unit 11 and a control unit 3, and transfers the egg pack P to the accommodation space A for the egg pack (see FIGS. 11 and 12, etc.).

[0051] The control unit 3 controls so that the holding states of one egg pack P and another egg pack P held by the holding unit 11 are released separately. After releasing the state of holding one egg pack P, the control unit 3 performs control to move the other egg pack P before releasing the state of holding the other egg pack P. The control unit 3 controls so that the other egg pack P is accommodated at the same height position as one egg pack P previously accommodated in the accommodation space A or at a height position different from that of the one egg pack P. After one egg pack P is accommodated, the control unit 3 controls to change the orientation of the other egg pack P.

[0052] Next, an example of the operation of the egg pack transfer device 1 according to Modification 2 will be described. In the egg pack transfer device 1, the operation of transferring the egg pack is performed in a plurality of times, for example, 4 times, etc., to place the egg pack on one stage in the accommodation space A. The transfer operation is started in a state where a predetermined number of egg packs P, for example, 3 (3 columns in the vertical direction × 1 column in the horizontal direction), etc., are gathered in the temporary standby area 21. The first suction member 15 corresponds to one egg pack P located at one end. The second suction member 16 corresponds to two egg packs P, one egg pack located at the other end and one egg pack located at the center between one end and the other end. Note that a guide 23 is arranged in the temporary standby area 21.

[0053] In the first transfer operation, first, with three egg packs P gathered in the temporary standby area 21, the head unit 14 moves above the gathered egg packs P. Next, the head unit 14 descends, and the first suction member 15 contacts the egg pack P located at one end. The second suction member 16 contacts the egg packs P located at the other end and the center, respectively. Next, by operating the vacuum mechanism 13, the three egg packs P are held by the holding unit 11. Next, the holding unit 11 holding the egg pack P moves from the temporary standby area 21 above the accommodation space A.

[0054] Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the holding part 11 descends, and the three egg packs P are placed on the shelf board R1 of the roll inner R. Next, the holding release part 12a corresponding to the first suction member 15 is operated. By the holding release part 12a, the vacuum suction stops, and the suction state of the first suction member 15 is released.

[0055] Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the holding part 11 holding the two egg packs P adsorbed by the second suction member 16 moves upward. Next, by rotating approximately 90 degrees in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. 14, the orientation of the head part 14 is changed. Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the head part 14 descends, and at the position where the two egg packs P held by the head part 14 are placed along the side wall R2 of the roll inner R, the holding release part 12b corresponding to the second suction member 16 is operated. By the holding release part 12b, the suction state of the second suction member 16 is released, and the two egg packs P are placed on the shelf board R1 of the roll inner R. Thus, the first transfer operation is completed.

[0056] When the first transfer operation is completed, the holding part 11 moves from the roll inner R to the temporary standby area 21, and then the second transfer operation is performed. The second transfer operation is performed in accordance with the first transfer operation. The transfer operations after the third time are also performed in accordance with the first transfer operation. In FIG. 11, for example, an example of the arrangement pattern of the egg packs P accommodated in the roll inner R by four transfer operations is shown. Among the egg packs P, the egg pack P1 is the egg pack P transferred by the first transfer operation. The egg pack P2 is the egg pack P transferred by the second transfer operation. The egg pack P3 is the egg pack P transferred by the third transfer operation. The egg pack P4 is the egg pack P transferred by the fourth transfer operation.

[0057] In the egg pack transfer device 1 according to the second modification, the same effect as the egg pack transfer device 1 including the effect of increasing the number of egg packs that can be accommodated in the case C within a unit time, or an effect equivalent to that effect, can be obtained.

[0058] Note that the egg pack transfer device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In the egg pack transfer device, the transfer operation for accommodating one stage of the egg packs P in the accommodation space A may be performed, for example, in three or more divided times. Also, the number of egg packs P transferred by one transfer operation is not limited to the number cited in the above-described embodiments.

[0059] The number of one egg pack P and the number of the other egg pack P may be the same or different. Also, the number of each of the one egg pack P and the other egg pack P may be one or a plurality.

[0060] When accommodating a plurality of stages of egg packs in the vertical direction in the accommodation space A, the number of egg packs or the arrangement of the egg packs may be different for each stage. In the egg pack transfer device, it is desirable that the number and arrangement of the egg packs accommodated in one stage can be set to be different from the number and arrangement of the egg packs accommodated in other stages so as to be able to cope with such an accommodation mode. The number of stages of the egg packs P stacked in the accommodation space A is not limited to the number shown in the figure.

[0061] The temporary standby area 21 may be, for example, a table or the like where a conveying device is not provided and a mechanism for conveying the egg packs is not provided. Also, when a conveying device is provided in the temporary standby area 21, it is desirable to operate the conveying device according to the degree of accumulation of the egg packs in the temporary standby area 21, but this is not necessarily required.

[0062] As the holding unit 11, instead of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16, or in addition to the first suction member 15 or the like, a pair of arm portions that support and hold the egg pack from the side surface side and the lower surface side may be provided. As a patent document disclosing an example of such an arm, there is Patent Document 2.

[0063] As for the size and shape of the egg pack P, the size and shape corresponding to the size of the eggs, the number of eggs, etc. are appropriately selected. As for the egg pack itself, it may be a regular pack or a molded pack in addition to the flat pack.

[0064] As for the case in which the accommodation space for accommodating the egg pack is formed, any container that can accommodate the egg pack containing eggs may be used, and a cardboard box for transportation, a plastic container, etc. can be applied. The case may not be provided with a lid.

[0065] Also, between the operation of releasing the state of holding one egg pack and the operation of releasing the state of holding another egg pack, the case or the like in which the accommodation space is formed may be moved without moving the holding part. Further, between the operation of releasing the state of holding one egg pack and the operation of releasing the state of holding another egg pack, both the operation of moving the holding part and the operation of moving the case or the like in which the accommodation space is formed may be performed.

[0066] The embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative and not limited thereto. The present invention is not within the scope described above, but is indicated by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0067] The transfer device for the egg pack according to the embodiment includes the following aspects. (Appendix 1) An egg pack transfer device that holds a plurality of egg packs collected in a temporary waiting area and transfers the held plurality of egg packs to an accommodation space, a holding part that holds a plurality of the egg packs including one egg pack and another egg pack collected in the temporary waiting area and moves the held plurality of egg packs to the accommodation space, a holding release part that releases the holding state of the egg pack held by the holding part and Until all of the plurality of egg packs held are accommodated in the accommodation space, on the upper stage side of a step formed by yet another egg pack accommodated in the accommodation space, the state of holding the one egg pack is released, An egg pack boxing device that releases the state of holding the other egg pack on the lower stage side of the step after releasing the state of holding the one egg pack.

[0068] (Appendix 2) An egg pack transfer device according to Appendix 1, The holding part is a suction member connected to a vacuum mechanism that sucks the egg pack from above.

[0069] (Appendix 3) An egg pack transfer device according to Appendix 1 or 2, The accommodation space is formed by a case, The holding release part, releases the holding state of the one egg pack at a position where the one egg pack is aligned along one side wall of the case, releases the holding state of the other egg pack at a position where the other egg pack is aligned along the other side wall of the case.

Industrial Applicability

[0070] The present invention can be used in an egg pack transfer device that accommodates an egg pack containing eggs in an accommodation space.

Explanation of Signs

[0071] 1 Egg pack transfer device, 3 Control unit, 11 Holding part, 12, 12a, 12b Holding release part, 13 Vacuum mechanism, 14 Head part, 15 First suction member, 16 Second suction member, 21 Temporary waiting area, P, P1, P2, P3, P4 Egg packs, C Case, C1 First side wall, C2 Second side wall, S1 Upper stage side, S2 Lower stage side, A Accommodation space.

Claims

[Claim 1] An egg pack transfer device that transfers a plurality of egg packs collected in a temporary waiting area to a storage space, comprising: a holding unit that holds a plurality of egg packs including one egg pack and another egg pack and moves the held plurality of egg packs to the storage space; a control unit that controls operations of the holding unit, including an operation of holding the egg pack, an operation of moving at least one of the held egg pack and the storage space, and an operation of releasing the egg pack from its holding state; Equipped with The control unit holds a plurality of the egg packs, and controls an operation of releasing the holding state of one of the egg packs at a first position within the storage space, and then moving the holding unit to release the holding state of another egg pack at a second position different from the first position within the storage space.

Images