Conveying device

Abstract

To provide a conveying device capable of conveying a plurality of items as a sashimi-like pile without losing the posture of the pile.SOLUTION: A conveying device 1 conveys a plurality of items XA1 as stacks XA2 inclined so that a portion of each item overlaps with each other, and includes a conveying surface 11 and a push plate 15 that pushes the plurality of items XA1 together in the conveying direction T. The push plate 15 has a pushing surface 15A, and is provided with a support portion 153 on the pushing surface 15A side that protrudes downstream in the conveying direction T and is capable of supporting some of the items XA1, and the support portion 153 supports a number of items XA1 that is less than the total number of items XA1 that make up a set of stacks XA2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in order to transport stacked packaged items without them collapsing, there is known a device that transports the packaged items while pushing them with a pushing plate (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Also known is a device that pushes and boxes multiple pillow packages in an upright position, i.e., with the longitudinal direction of their top seal portions standing upright relative to the conveying surface, in which multiple grooves are formed on the pushing surface as a means for pushing the multiple pillow packages (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The device described in Patent Document 2 is configured to provide more grooves than the number of pillow packages to be pushed as a group, and to push the pillow packages toward the box while immersing the top seal portions of each pillow package in the grooves. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-289476 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6487661 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, when transporting multiple items (e.g., pillow packages) in a so-called sashimi-like pile, in which each item is tilted and partially overlaps the others, using a conveyor device or the like, there is a problem that if the items are pushed forward using a flat pressure plate as described in Patent Document 1, the sashimi-like pile will collapse during transport.

[0006] In particular, when the pillow packages are stacked in a nearly upright position, i.e., in a sashimi-like shape with the longitudinal direction of the top seal tilted nearly upright relative to the conveying surface, the stability of the pillow packages deteriorates. When conveyed in this state while being pushed by a pressure plate provided on the conveyor device for a predetermined distance, the pillow packages may tip over to a position closer to horizontal than the desired angle of inclination, or conversely, may become nearly upright and not stacked in a sashimi-like shape, making it difficult to convey the stacked products while maintaining the desired posture.

[0007] Furthermore, the device described in Patent Document 2 has a pushing means for packing boxes, with multiple grooves on the pushing surface into which the top seals sink. In this case, the number of grooves is greater than the number of pillow packages, aiming to ensure that the top seals of all the pillow packages being stacked can be fully inserted. However, because the stacked products are stacked in a sashimi-like fashion rather than upright, the seals may not properly insert into the tilted grooves. Furthermore, when there is variation in the thickness of the pillow packages due to differences in the amount of air enclosed within the pillow packages, or when the posture of the pillow packages is difficult to stabilize, the above phenomenon becomes more pronounced, making it difficult to accurately insert the top seals into each groove. As a result, in areas where the top seals cannot be inserted into the grooves, the support state of the top seals becomes irregular, again making it difficult to maintain the desired posture during transport of the stacked products. Furthermore, the stacked product XA2 or some of the items XA1 within the stacked product XA2 may rotate within the horizontal plane during transport.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a conveying device that can convey multiple items (e.g., pillow packages) as a sashimi-like pile without losing their posture in the piled state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention relates to a conveying device that conveys a plurality of items as a stack inclined so that parts of the items overlap each other, and is characterized in that it comprises a conveying surface and a push plate that pushes the plurality of items together in the conveying direction, the push plate having a pushing surface that protrudes downstream in the conveying direction and is provided with a support portion that can support part of the items, and the support portion supports a number of the items that is less than the total number of the items that make up a set of the stack. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a conveying device that can convey a plurality of articles (for example, pillow packages) as a sashimi-like pile without losing the posture of the pile. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a front view and a plan view, respectively, showing an outline of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A is an external perspective view showing an article according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view showing an integrated product. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a pressure plate of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is a side view and (B) to (D) are cross-sectional views. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a conveying state in the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a conveying state in the conveying device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modified example of the push plate according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The configuration of a conveying device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the main parts of the conveying device 1 according to this embodiment, with FIG. 1(A) being a front view and FIG. 1(B) being a plan (top) view. In this and subsequent figures, some components have been omitted as appropriate to simplify the drawings. Furthermore, in this and subsequent figures, the size, shape, thickness, etc. of components have been exaggerated as appropriate.

[0013] 1, the conveying device 1 of this embodiment conveys a plurality of articles XA1 as a stack tilted so that some of the articles overlap each other. Here, as a definition of directions in this embodiment, a first direction in which the articles XA1 are conveyed by the conveying device 1 is referred to as a conveying direction T. A second direction perpendicular to the first direction in a horizontal plane is referred to as a conveying width direction W, and a third direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the first and second directions is referred to as a conveying height direction H.

[0014] The conveying device 1 is a conveyor (overhead conveyor) device. The conveying device 1 includes a conveying surface 11, a plurality of sprockets 12 arranged in front and behind the conveying direction T above the height direction H of the conveying surface 11, an endless belt 13 stretched over the plurality of sprockets 12, push plates 15 attached to the endless belt 13 at a predetermined pitch via fixing means (not shown), and a drive motor (not shown in FIG. 1) serving as a power source.

[0015] The output of the drive motor is connected to the sprocket 12. When the sprocket 12 is driven to rotate by the output of the drive motor, the endless belt 13 moves, and the multiple push plates 15 move integrally with the endless belt 13. As will be described in detail later, the push plate 15 is made of a roughly rectangular flat plate member and has opposing first and second surfaces 15A and 15B. When conveying the stack XA2, the push plate 15 is attached to the endless belt 13 so that the direction of the plate thickness D faces the conveying direction T, the first surface 15A faces downstream in the conveying direction T, and the second surface 15B faces upstream in the conveying direction T. In other words, the first surface 15A serves as a pushing surface. The push plate 15 moves horizontally with the conveying surface 11 with the pushing surface (first surface) 15A standing perpendicular (vertical) to the conveying surface 11, thereby pushing the multiple items XA1 (a set of stacks XA2) in the conveying direction T all at once. Furthermore, when the plurality of articles XA1 (accumulated article XA2) is delivered to a downstream process (for example, a bag making machine not shown) at the downstream end, it circulates together with the endless belt 13 and returns to the upstream end.

[0016] 1(B), the conveying device 1 is provided with a side guide 16 on one side of the conveying surface 11 in the conveying width direction W, and an article presser member 17 on the other side in the conveying width direction W. The side guide 16 is made of, for example, a flat plate member, and is fixed to the base of the conveying device 1 so that one surface faces the conveying surface 11 and stands perpendicular (vertical) from the conveying surface 11. The article presser member 17 is made of a substantially flat plate member that is short in the conveying width direction W and long in the conveying direction T, and is fixed to the base of the conveying device 1 so that its surface is horizontal to the conveying surface 11. One end of the article presser member 17, which is closer to the side guide 16 in the conveying width direction W, partially overlaps the conveying surface 11 above the conveying surface 11. The one end is formed at the upstream end with a taper 17T that narrows from downstream to upstream.

[0017] These components of the conveying device 1 are controlled by a control unit (not shown). The control unit is composed of a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and performs various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and executes various programs to realize various functions. The RAM is used as a working area for the CPU. The ROM stores the basic OS and programs executed by the CPU.

[0018] An upstream conveying means 20 is provided upstream of the conveying device 1. The upstream conveying means 20 is, for example, a bar conveyor. The bar conveyor 20 includes a plurality of sprockets 22 (some of which are omitted) arranged at the front and rear of the conveying direction T, an endless chain (belt) 23 stretched across the sprockets 22, a bar (conveying rod) 21 attached to the endless chain 23, a drive motor (not shown) serving as a power source, and side guides 24 erected in the conveying width direction W. The multiple bars 21 are arranged at equal intervals in the direction of continuity of the endless chain 23 and are stretched between the endless chains 23 on both sides. The output of the drive motor is connected to the sprockets 22. When the sprockets 22 are rotated by the output of the drive motor, the endless chain 23 moves, and the multiple bars 21 move together with it. The accumulated product XA2 is accommodated in the space between the bars 21 adjacent to the front and rear of the conveying direction T and is conveyed.

[0019] A plurality of articles XA1 are conveyed by the bar conveyor 20 as an accumulated product XA2 in a predetermined accumulated state, and are transferred to the conveying device 1 while maintaining this accumulated state. The articles are then conveyed by the conveying device 1 for a predetermined distance while maintaining this accumulated state, and are then transferred to a downstream process (for example, a bag making machine).

[0020] The article XA1 and its accumulated state in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2(A) is an external perspective view showing one article XA1, and Fig. 2(B) is a side view showing the accumulated state as seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction T.

[0021] In this embodiment, the article XA1 is, for example, a pillow package. The pillow package is formed by forming a strip-shaped packaging material YA1 into a cylindrical bag, welding both short-side (widthwise) ends of the strip-shaped packaging material YA1 to form a center seal CE, and forming a seal (top seal TO) at the open end (both ends in this example) of the cylindrical packaging material. In this embodiment, the surface of the pillow package where the center seal CE is formed is referred to as the main surface S1, the opposing surface is referred to as the main surface S2, and the other two surfaces continuous with the main surfaces S1 and S2 are referred to as side surfaces S3 and S4. For ease of explanation, the side surfaces S3 and S4 are explicitly shown, but the pillow package (article XA1) may not actually have side surfaces S3 and S4 (the areas of the side surfaces S3 and S4 are small), and may be flattened into a pillow shape by folding back the main surfaces S1 and S2.

[0022] 2(B), the stacked product XA2 of this embodiment is formed by stacking a plurality of (three in this example) articles XA1 with their respective main surfaces S1 and S2 tilted relative to the conveying surface 11 and with portions of the main surfaces S1 and S2 overlapping each other (in a so-called sashimi (raw fish) shape). Hereinafter, this stacked state will be referred to as a partially overlapping state.

[0023] In particular, the conveying device 1 of this embodiment positions the top seal portions TO of multiple articles XA1 that make up a set of stacks XA2 at the front and rear in the conveying direction T (see FIG. 1), and conveys the top seal portions TO in a partially overlapping state so that the longitudinal direction of the top seal portions TO is inclined relative to the conveying surface 11 in a side view (FIG. 2(B)) seen from the conveying direction T. More specifically, the conveying device 1 changes from an upright state (referred to as a fully upright state) in which the longitudinal direction of the top seal portions TO is perpendicular to the conveying surface 11 to an upright state in which the top seal portions TO are slightly inclined so that the upper part of the conveying height direction H of the articles XA1 (the stacks XA2) is located on the side of the side guides 16, and conveys the top seal portions TO in a partially overlapping state. In this case, the top seal portions TO incline toward the side guides 16 as they rise in the conveying height direction T. When the top seal portions TO are inclined from perpendicular to the conveying surface 11 so as to approach the side guides 16, the angle α (acute angle) formed between the top seal portions TO and the conveying surface 11 is, for example, greater than or equal to 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees. Hereinafter, the stacked state in which the article XA1 (stacked item XA2) is inclined at an angle α so that the upper part of the article XA1 (stacked item XA2) in the conveying height direction H is located on the side guide 16 side and is in an upright and partially overlapped state will be referred to as an inclined upright and partially overlapped state.

[0024] In this inclined, upright, partially overlapping state, only a portion of the narrowest surface of the pillow package (for example, side surface S4 in Figure 2(B)) comes into contact with the conveying surface 11, and since the contact area between the pillow package and the conveying surface 11 cannot be sufficiently secured, the posture of item XA1 (the accumulation state of accumulated item XA2) during conveyance becomes unstable.

[0025] Specifically, the lower part of at least some of the articles XA1 in the conveying height direction H (the contact part with the conveying surface 11, such as the side surface S4) shifts (slides) to the left in Figure 2 (B), and the longitudinal direction of the top seal part TO becomes closer to parallel to the conveying surface 11 (the angle α becomes smaller than 45 degrees), causing the articles to either fall sideways or become completely upright, making the inclined, upright, partially overlapping state more likely to collapse.

[0026] Therefore, in this embodiment, the push plate 15 of the conveying device 1 is provided with a support portion 153 that supports a part of the article XA1.

[0027] Fig. 3 shows the pressure plate 15 in isolation, with Fig. 3(A) being a side view seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction T, and Figs. 3(B) to 3(D) being cross-sectional views taken along lines aa, bb, and cc in Fig. 3(A), respectively. The cross-sectional view taken along line dd in Fig. 3(A) is the same as Fig. 3(C).

[0028] The push plate 15 is provided with at least one support portion 153 on the pushing surface 15A side that protrudes downstream in the conveying direction T and is capable of supporting a portion of the article XA1. The support portion 153 has an article abutment portion 154 that is arranged perpendicular to the conveying surface 11 (conveying height direction H). The article XA1 is supported by an upper portion of the article XA1 in the conveying height direction H abutting against the article abutment portion 154.

[0029] More specifically, in this example, two support portions 153 (153A, 153B) are provided. Support portion 153A has an article abutment portion 154A that is arranged (extending in the vertical direction) perpendicular to conveying surface 11 (conveying height direction H), and support portion 153B has an article abutment portion 154B that is arranged (extending in the vertical direction) perpendicular to conveying surface 11 (conveying height direction H).

[0030] In this example, the pressure plate 15 is a single flat plate member, and has a thick portion 151 with a large thickness D (thickness D1) and a thin portion 152 with a small thickness D (thickness D2). The upper region in the conveying height direction H is the thick portion 151, and the lower region is the thin portion 152. A portion of the thick portion 151 (thin portion 152) is patterned to have irregularities (comb-like) in the conveying height direction H, and multiple (here, two) support portions 153 (153A, 153B) are provided. In this case, the article abutment portions 154A, 154B are raised surfaces (wall surfaces of the thick portion 151 protruding from the surface of the thin portion 152) created by the step between the thick portion 151 and the thin portion 152 (see FIG. 3(C)).

[0031] Furthermore, when multiple article abutment portions 154 are provided, they are arranged spaced apart (discontinuously) in the conveying width direction W. In this example, the two article abutment portions 154A, 154B are each provided along the conveying height direction H (extending in the conveying height direction H), and are arranged spaced apart from each other in the conveying width direction W. Here, the number of support portions 153 is the number of article abutment portions 154 arranged spaced apart in the conveying width direction W. That is, in the example of Fig. 3, the support portions 153A, 153B are continuous as the thick portion 151, but there are two article abutment portions 154A, 154B arranged spaced apart in the conveying width direction W.

[0032] 4 and 5 are diagrams schematically showing the state in which the stacked item XA2 is being conveyed by the pressure plate 15, with Fig. 4 being a side view seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction T, and Fig. 5 being a front view seen from the article pressing member 17 side in the conveying width direction W. Fig. 5 shows one item XA1 that is the bottommost of the three articles XA1 that are partially overlapping each other and standing at an angle with the support portion 153A.

[0033] 4, the top seal portion TO has a surface that continues to the main surface S1 and a surface that continues to the main surface S2. In this example, the top seal portion TO that continues to the main surface S1 is shown tilted downward (facing the conveyance surface 11), so for ease of explanation, the top seal portion TO that continues to the main surface S1 will be referred to as the lower top seal portion TOd, and the top seal portion TO that continues to the main surface S2 will be referred to as the upper top seal portion TOu.

[0034] In the conveying device 1, a push plate 15 is brought into contact with the upstream end of the inclined, upright, partially overlapping stack XA2 supplied from upstream, and the stack is pushed along the conveying surface 11 and conveyed to the downstream end (see FIG. 1).

[0035] The lower end of the push plate 15 in the conveying height direction H is located above the conveying surface 11, and the distance L0 from the conveying surface 11 to the lower end of the push plate 15 is greater than the diameter of the roller 121 of the upstream bar conveyor 20 (FIG. 1). In other words, when the accumulated product XA2 is transferred from the upstream bar conveyor 20 to the conveying device 1, the bar 21 of the bar conveyor 20 is temporarily located below the push plate 15 (FIG. 1(A)).

[0036] When the pressure plate 15 is brought into contact with the stack XA2, the article contact portion 154A of the support portion 153A supports the bottommost (rightmost in the drawing) article XA1a of the three articles XA1 that are in an inclined, partially overlapping state. More specifically, as indicated by the dashed-dotted circle P1 in Fig. 4, a portion of the article contact portion 154A extending in the conveying height direction H (vertical direction) contacts and supports a top seal portion TO (see Fig. 5) on the upstream side in the conveying direction T of the bottommost article XA1a (pillow package) from below in the conveying height direction H (toward the conveying surface 11) to support it.

[0037] In short, when the pressure plate 15 is abutted against the stacked product XA2 at the upstream end of the conveying device 1, a portion of the product abutment portion 154A penetrates into the lower top seal portion TOd on the upstream side of the lowest product XA1a (pillow package) and supports it.

[0038] That is, the article abutting portion 154A is positioned so as to be able to slip under the upper end of the lower top seal portion TOd of the bottommost article XA1a (pillow package) and support it. For example, the position of the article abutting portion 154A in the conveying width direction W from the end of the pressure plate 15 on the side guide 16 side is positioned (position is adjusted) to be equivalent to the distance L1 from the upper end of the top seal portion TO (lower top seal portion TOd) of the bottommost article XA1a as the stack XA2 (in the inclined, upright, partially overlapping state) to the side guide 16.

[0039] This prevents the article XA1a from being laid down on its side so that the main surface S1 approaches the conveying surface 11.

[0040] Naturally, the entire article XA1a is set to fit inside the side guide 16 in the conveying width direction W (toward the center of the conveying surface 11). That is, in the example of Figure 4, as shown by the dashed-dotted circle P0, a portion (corner portion) of the article XA1a on the side guide 16 side above the article XA1a abuts against the side guide 16 and is also supported by the side guide 16. At least in front of the pressure plate 15, the article XA1a is supported by the side guide 16. However, this is not limited to this, and the main surface S1 of the bottommost article XA1 of the stack XA2 may be supported by a side guide 16 that is lower than the height of the stack XA2.

[0041] The end of the support portion 153A on the side of the side guide 16 is preferably as close to the side guide 16 as possible. The end of the push plate 15 on the side of the side guide 16 is preferably terminated at the thick portion 151. This prevents the top seal portion TO or part of the article XA1 from being pinched between the push plate 15 and the side guide 16.

[0042] In addition, in this example, the upper top seal portion TOu of the article XA1a contacts the lower end of the adjacent support portion 153B. This prevents the article XA1a from standing upright. However, the middle article XA1b overlaps the bottommost article XA1a, preventing the article XA1a from standing upright, so the upper top seal portion TOu does not need to contact the lower end of the adjacent support portion 153B.

[0043] The thick portion 151 of the presser plate 15 is provided with fixing holes 158, through which screws are inserted to fix the presser plate 15 to the fixing means of the endless belt 13. Both fixing holes 158 may be elongated holes that are long in the conveying width direction W and / or the conveying height direction H, for example, so that the fixing position of the presser plate 15 relative to the fixing means of the endless belt 13 can be adjusted in the conveying width direction W and the conveying height direction H. This makes it possible to adjust the position of the abutment portion 154 in the conveying width direction W and the conveying height direction H as needed, depending on the thickness of the article XA1 (the position where the top seal portion TO is formed) and the length of the top seal portion TO.

[0044] Similarly, the article abutment portion 154B of the support portion 153B supports the middle article XA1b of the three articles XA1 that are inclined, standing, and partially overlapping states. More specifically, as shown by the dashed-dotted circle P2 in Fig. 4, a part of the article abutment portion 154B extending in the conveying height direction H (vertical direction) abuts against a part of the upper part in the conveying height direction H of the top seal portion TO on the upstream side in the conveying direction T of the article XA1b (in this example, the upper end of the lower top seal portion TOd) from below in the conveying height direction H (towards the conveying surface 11) and supports it.

[0045] In short, when the pressure plate 15 is abutted against the stacked product XA2 at the upstream end of the conveying device 1, a portion of the product abutment portion 154B penetrates into the lower top seal portion TOd on the upstream side of the intermediate product XA1b (pillow package) and supports it.

[0046] The article abutment portion 154B is provided so as to be able to slip under the upper end of the lower top seal portion TOd of the underlying article XA1b (pillow package) and support it. For example, the position of the article abutment portion 154B in the conveying width direction W from the end of the pressure plate 15 on the side guide 16 side is provided (position is adjusted) at a position equivalent to the distance L2 from the upper end of the top seal portion TO (lower top seal portion TOd) of the middle article XA1b (in the inclined, upright, partially overlapping state) as the stack XA2 to the side guide 16.

[0047] In this case, the main surface S1 of the intermediate article XA1b may be in contact with or spaced apart from a part of the main surface S2 of the bottommost article XA1a.

[0048] Furthermore, by adjusting the fixed position of the pressure plate 15 according to the thickness of the article XA1 (the position where the top seal portion TO is formed) and the length of the top seal portion TO, the positions of the contact portion 154 in the conveying width direction W and the conveying height direction H can be appropriately adjusted. The front view is the same as in FIG. 5.

[0049] This prevents article XA1b from tipping over so that its main surface S1 approaches the conveying surface 11. Furthermore, article XA1c, which is the top layer of the three articles XA1 that are in an inclined, partially overlapping state (the leftmost one in the drawing), overlaps on top of the middle article XA1b, thereby preventing article XA1b from becoming completely upright.

[0050] On the other hand, the topmost item XA1c is not supported by the support portion 153. The topmost item XA1c is prevented from standing upright by an item hold-down member 17 that protrudes inward in the conveying width direction W (toward the side guide 16). In addition, because items XA1b and XA1c are arranged below item XA1c so that they cannot tip over, item XA1c is also prevented from tipping over. The item hold-down member 17 extends continuously in the conveying direction T from the upstream end to the downstream end of the conveying device 1 (see FIG. 1(B)). The pusher plate 15 is provided with a notch 157 through which the item hold-down member 17 can pass, and while the stacked item XA2 is pushed by the pusher plate 15, the topmost item XA1 is supported by the item hold-down member 17.

[0051] In this manner, the support portion 153 (article abutment portion 154) of the push plate 15 of this embodiment supports a number of articles XA1 that is less than the total number of articles XA1 that make up a set of stacks XA2. In the example shown in Figure 4, the support portion 153A (article abutment portion 154A) and the support portion 153B (article abutment portion 154B) of the push plate 15 support articles XA1a and XA1b that are less than the total number ("3") of articles XA2 that make up the stack XA2.

[0052] In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, it can also be said that the number ("2") of support portions 153 (article abutment portions 154) of the push plate 15 is less than the total number ("3") of articles XA2 that make up the stack XA2.

[0053] According to the push plate 15 of this embodiment, the top seal portion TO in the inclined, upright, partially overlapping state, i.e., inclined relative to the conveying surface 11, is supported from below by the article abutment portion 154 (having the support portion 153) arranged along the vertical direction (extending vertically), thereby preventing the article XA1 in the inclined, upright, partially overlapping state from becoming sideways (tipping or falling over) with a greater degree of inclination than the desired inclination state (angle α approaches 0).

[0054] Since the article abutment portion 154 is a rising surface extending vertically, it is possible to support the article XA1 while tolerating some degree of variations in its posture and changes in its shape, compared to a configuration in which the article abuts locally against a predetermined position on the top seal portion TO.

[0055] Furthermore, the support portion 153 (article abutment portion 154) of the push plate 15 supports a number of articles XA1 that is less than the total number of articles XA1 that make up the stack XA2. For example, the number of article abutment portions 154 is less than the number of articles XA1 that make up the stack XA2. This makes it possible to support the articles XA1 while allowing for some degree of variation in their posture and changes in their shape.

[0056] The conveying device 1 of this embodiment is only required to prevent the stack XA2 from falling over (overturning or tipping over) or from becoming completely upright during conveyance. In other words, the individual articles XA1 constituting the stack XA2 are allowed to change their posture to a certain extent (within a small range).

[0057] Specifically, in a configuration in which all of the articles XA1 constituting the stack XA2 are individually supported, for example, by inserting each top seal portion TO into a groove, there is a risk that the posture of the stack will be distorted if the top seal portion TO of one article XA1 cannot be inserted into the groove. In this embodiment, fewer than all of the articles XA1 constituting the stack XA2 are supported by the article abutment portions 154. Specifically, some of the articles XA1 in the lower layer of the inclined, partially overlapping articles XA1 are supported by the article abutment portions 154. The bottommost article XA1 (article XA1a) is positioned in the conveying width direction W by the side guides 16, and the position of article XA1b adjacent to (above) article XA1a in the conveying width direction W is also relatively stable, so that each top seal portion TO can be supported by the article abutment portions 154A and 154B. This allows for some tolerance for variations in the posture and changes in shape of the item XA1, while preventing the accumulation state of the accumulated product XA2 from collapsing (tipping over at an angle greater than the expected tilt angle or becoming completely upright).

[0058] Furthermore, among the articles XA1 in an inclined, upright, partially overlapping state that are not supported by the article abutment portion 154, the topmost article XA1 (article XA1c shown in FIG. 4) is supported by an article pressing member 17 that protrudes from the outside to the inside in the conveying width direction W. This prevents the topmost article XA1 from collapsing from its stacked state.

[0059] 4 (a configuration in which the number of article abutment portions 154 is two) and an accumulation XA2 consisting of four articles XA1 can be conveyed (the difference between the number of article abutment portions 154 and the number of articles XA1 constituting accumulation XA2 can be greater than one). In this case, the article XA1 in the third layer from the bottom is not supported by either the article abutment portions 154 or the article holding member 17. However, the article XA1 in the bottom layer and the article XA1 in the second layer from the bottom are supported by the article abutment portions 154 (154A, 154B), the article XA1 in the top layer is supported by the article holding member 17, and the article XA1 in the third layer from the bottom is sandwiched between the other articles XA1. Therefore, even in this case, the accumulation state of accumulation XA2 can be prevented from collapsing.

[0060] A modified example of the pressure plate 15 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6(A) shows a configuration in which a plurality of support portions 153 (two support portions 153A and 153B in this example) are provided in the form of independent islands. The support portion 153A has an article abutment portion 154A that is arranged perpendicular to the conveying surface 11, and the support portion 153B has an article abutment portion 154B that is arranged perpendicular to the conveying surface 11. The support portion 153A and the article abutment portion 154A, and the support portion 153B and the article abutment portion 154B are arranged at a distance from each other in the conveying width direction W.

[0061] In this case, too, the topmost item XA1c is not supported by the two support portions 153A and 153B. In other words, support portion 153A and support portion 153B support a number ("2") of items XA1a and XA1b that is less than the total number ("3") of items XA2 that make up a set of stacked items XA2.

[0062] 6(B) shows a configuration in which article abutment portion 154A of support portion 153A and article abutment portion 154B of support portion 153B are each divided into multiple portions in the vertical direction (conveyance height direction H). Specifically, support portion 153A has article abutment portions 154A1 to 154A3 that are arranged so as to be aligned in the vertical direction relative to conveyance surface 11. Support portion 153B has article abutment portions 154B1 to 154B3 that are arranged so as to be aligned in the vertical direction relative to conveyance surface 11.

[0063] In this case, too, the topmost item XA1c is not supported by the support portions 153A and 153B. In other words, the support portion 153A (item abutment portions 154A1 to 154A3) and the support portion 153B (item abutment portions 154B1 to 154B3) support a number ("2") of items XA1a and XA1b that is less than the total number ("3") of items XA2 that make up a set of stacked items XA2.

[0064] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and technical concept thereof. In other words, in the above-described embodiment, the position, size, length, shape, material, orientation, etc. of each component may be changed as appropriate.

[0065] For example, the item XA1 does not have to be a primary package (package). Also, the item XA1 may be a package sealed on four sides or a package sealed on three horizontal sides.

[0066] The endless belt 13 may also be an endless chain.

[0067] 6(B), a single presser plate 15 may be used for articles XA1 of a plurality of types (shapes) by providing support portions 153 of a plurality of types (shapes) that can support the articles XA1 (for example, different thicknesses, different heights, etc.). The presser plate 15 may be detachable so that it can be changed according to the article XA1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1. Conveyor device 11 Conveying surface 12 sprockets 13 Endless belt 15 Push plate 16 Side guide 17 Article holding member 151 Thick wall part 152 Thin-walled section 153, 153A, 153B Support part 154, 154A, 154B Article contact area 157 Notch 158 Fixing hole 20 Upstream conveying means (bar conveyor) XA1 Goods XA2 Integrated

Claims

1. A conveying device that conveys a plurality of articles as stacked articles inclined so that parts of the stacked articles overlap each other, A conveying surface; a push plate for pushing the plurality of articles collectively in the conveying direction; the push plate has a pushing surface that protrudes downstream in the conveying direction and is provided with a support portion that can support a portion of the article, the support portion supports a number of the articles that is less than the total number of the articles that constitute one set of the stacks; A conveying device characterized by:

2. The support portion has an article abutment portion that is arranged perpendicular to the conveying surface.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1.

3. The article has a seal formed at an end thereof, The support portion is capable of supporting a part of the seal portion.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1.

4. The support portion supports a part of the seal portion from a lower side in the conveying height direction.

4. The conveying device according to claim 3.

5. The support portion is provided at a position capable of supporting a portion of the article in the conveying height direction.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1.

6. The push plate has a thick portion and a thin portion, The article abutment portion is formed by a step between the thick portion and the thin portion.

3. The conveying device according to claim 2.

7. The plurality of articles are each a pillow package, and the sealed portion is disposed at the front and / or rear in the conveying direction, and the articles are stacked so that the longitudinal direction of the sealed portion is inclined with respect to the conveying surface.

4. The conveying device according to claim 3.

8. a pressing member capable of supporting a part of the uppermost article among the plurality of articles; The presser plate has a notch through which the presser member can pass.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1.

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