Article transfer device

Abstract

To provide an article transfer device which does not deform or damage an article or a package content due to a drop impact, and in particular does not deform or damage a flexible package such as paper or vinyl or the package content.SOLUTION: A lifting device is installed near a collection position of a conveyor that conveys a collection box, a buffer belt is sent out from a belt winding roller, and the buffer belt is deployed under a chute in a shape that receives an article, and the impact of the article dropping from the chute is prevented by being received by the buffer belt while absorbing the impact of the article dropping from the chute using the elastic force of a shock absorbing spring. The height of the buffer belt can be adjusted depending on the amount of piled up article, allowing for the minimum necessary fall distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article transfer device, for example, and more particularly to an article transfer device that drops articles and collects them into collection boxes for each sorting destination. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, when collecting items transported on a conveying path into a collection box, there has been a collection method that utilizes a difference in elevation, in which items transported on a higher conveying path are dropped into a collection box transported on a lower conveying path.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses an article transfer device configured such that when the tip of an article collection container is moved to a position upstream of the device main body, a drive roller sends the end edge of the belt downward, causing the central part of the belt to lower into the article collection container, and then the drive roller sends all of the end edge of the belt so that the articles are supported by the belt and lowered into the article collection container, thereby depositing them into the article collection container, and then a chain drive motor moves the chain to pull out the belt, which then circles from the side of the downstream device main body to the original side of the downstream device main body, and the drive roller clamps the end face of the belt.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a box-shaped main body having an inlet through which articles to be transferred are inserted and which is open at the bottom, a pair of ropes which run along the inner surfaces of opposing sides of the main body, a belt having one end fixed to the pair of ropes and which temporarily stores articles inserted from the inlet, and a belt feeder which clamps the other end of the belt and feeds it out, and when the box onto which the articles are to be transferred arrives at a preset insertion position, the belt feeder is driven to feed the other end of the belt which is clamped by the belt feeder, and the articles stored on the belt are transferred to the box, and when the belt feeder has finished feeding the belt, the pair of ropes are driven to rotate the belt, and the other end of the belt reaches the belt feeder. An article transfer device is disclosed that includes a control device that clamps the other end edge of the belt body with a belt feed device, and the control device is configured so that a drive start time is set in advance for starting to drive the pair of rope bodies before the belt feed device finishes feeding the belt body when the volume or height of the articles already stored in the box body is equal to or greater than a certain ratio to the article storage volume or height of the storage space in the box body, and the control device checks the volume or height of the articles already stored in the box body before starting to transfer the articles, and when it confirms that the volume or height of the articles is equal to or greater than a certain ratio to the article storage volume or height of the storage space in the box body, it starts to drive the pair of rope bodies when the drive start time has elapsed since the belt feed device started to feed the belt body.

[0005] Patent Document 3 discloses a box-shaped main body having an inlet through which articles to be transferred are put in and which is open at the bottom, a pair of ropes which run along the inner surfaces of opposing sides of the main body, a belt having one end edge fixed to the pair of ropes and which temporarily stores articles put in from the inlet, a belt feeder which clamps the other end edge of the belt, leaving a certain proportion of the entire length of the belt, and feeds out this remaining portion, and when the box onto which the articles are to be transferred arrives at a preset insertion position, the belt feeder is driven to feed out the other end edge of the belt which is clamped by the belt feeder, and the articles stored on the belt are transferred to the box, and the belt feeder An article transfer device is disclosed that is equipped with a control device that, when the belt feed device has finished feeding the belt body, drives the pair of ropes, causing the pair of ropes to circle the belt body, and when the other end edge of the belt body reaches the belt feed device, clamps the other end edge of the belt body with the belt feed device.The control device checks the weight of the article to be inserted through the inlet, and if the weight of the article is less than a specified weight, drives the belt feed device and the pair of ropes to move the belt body in advance in the circumferential direction by a predetermined length before the article is inserted through the inlet, thereby reducing the portion remaining on the belt feed device.

[0006] However, in the article transfer devices described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3, when the leading edge of a collection box moves along the conveying path to a position upstream of the main body, a belt feed device located upstream in the conveying direction feeds the other edge of the belt downward, and the center of the belt lowers into the collection box. After storing the items on the belt, the belt is pulled out and the items are transferred into the collection box. However, depending on the timing of pulling out the belt and the weight of the items, friction from the belt can cause the items to move forcefully over the belt and fly out of the collection box, resulting in deformation or damage to the items and their packaging contents, and deformation of flexible packaging such as paper or vinyl. Furthermore, if the belt is pulled out too early, the belt cannot catch the falling items, resulting in deformation or damage to the items and their packaging contents, and deformation of flexible packaging such as paper or vinyl. To prevent these problems, adding an adjustment function to adjust the timing of pulling out the belt for each item would increase costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4941162 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5472139 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 5472140 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and aims to provide an article transfer device that does not cause deformation or damage to articles or package contents due to a drop impact, and in particular does not cause deformation or damage to flexible packaging such as paper or vinyl, or package contents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, the item transfer device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a first transport conveyor for transporting items, a second transport conveyor for transporting collection boxes for collecting the items, and a lifting device having a non-impact collection function for collecting the items into the collection boxes without impacting the items.

[0010] As mentioned above, "non-impact collection function" refers to a function that can take measures to prevent impacts on the items being collected during the process of collecting items, for example, when items transported from a first conveying mechanism are collected into a collection box and sent to a second conveying mechanism, and is realized, for example, in the following manner, and the "non-impact collection function" referred to in this application includes all of these, but is not limited to them. The buffer belt is fed from the belt winding roller and deployed under the chute in a shape that can receive the items. The elastic force of the shock absorbing spring is used to absorb the impact of the items falling from the chute while the buffer belt receives the items, preventing the impact of the fall. The height of the buffer belt is adjusted depending on the amount of accumulated items, ensuring the minimum necessary fall distance. A spiral buffer ramp is constructed under the chute, and the impact of the falling object is absorbed by the buffer ramp. The object falls on a warm slope, preventing a sudden fall and minimizing the fall distance. A buffer slope with a damper function is provided under the chute, and the impact of the falling objects from the chute is absorbed and received by the buffer slope and the damper function, preventing the impact of the fall. The height is adjusted according to the accumulation of objects, and the drooping angle of the buffer slope is adjusted to achieve the minimum necessary fall distance. A buffer belt is configured to stretch according to the weight of the items while wrapping them to cushion the impact of the items that fall down the chute, and by releasing the wrapping at the desired height, the height is adjusted according to the accumulation of the items, resulting in the minimum necessary fall distance. A method in which an ultra-cushioning material that absorbs most of the impact of a fall (for example, ultra-soft polyurethane that has achieved high (for example, 90%) impact absorption and high (for example, 2 to 4 times that of rubber) vibration damping properties by unevenly arranging viscous and elastic molecules, gel as an impact absorbing material, or other resin with a certain level of impact absorption; urethane, rubber, plastic, composite material, etc.) is laid at the point where the object falls and comes into direct contact with the chute, and when an object falls, the fallen object is moved horizontally so that the next object can be directly received by the ultra-cushioning material.

[0011] With the above configuration, for example, in the process of collecting articles transported from a first transport mechanism into a collection box and sending them to a second transport mechanism, the collection work can be completed without the articles spilling out of the collection box and without deforming or damaging the articles or their package contents. In particular, when collecting articles packaged in flexible packaging such as paper or vinyl, which would normally easily become deformed, the above aspect of the present application allows the collection work to be completed without deforming or damaging the articles or their package contents.

[0012] As an item transfer device according to the second aspect, in the first aspect, a control unit may be further provided for controlling the first transport conveyor, the second transport conveyor, and the lifting device, and the lifting device may have a chute for depositing the items into the collection box near the item inlet of the first transport conveyor that transports the items, the control unit may branch the items from the first transport conveyor to the chute and temporarily stop the second transport conveyor to allow the collection box to wait near the lifting device, and the lifting device may have the function of receiving the items deposited from the chute to cushion the impact of falling of the items, lowering the items to a predetermined position in the collection box, and spreading the items in the collection box.

[0013] As an item transfer device according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the lifting device may have a lifting platform, a lifting actuator, a belt deployment / storage motor, a belt deployment chain mechanism, a belt deployment roller, a buffer belt, a shock-absorbing spring, and a belt winding roller, wherein the lifting actuator raises and lowers the lifting platform, the belt deployment / storage motor deploys and retracts the belt deployment chain mechanism and rotates the belt winding roller clockwise / counterclockwise, and the belt deployment roller is supported by the belt deployment chain mechanism.

[0014] As an item transfer device according to the fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the buffer belt may have a first end face fixed to the shock absorbing spring and a second end face fixed to the belt winding roller, and may be unfolded in a single stroke by the belt unfolding roller.

[0015] As an item transfer device according to the fifth aspect, in the third aspect, the lifting device may send out the buffer belt from the belt winding roller, unfold the buffer belt into a shape that receives the item under the chute, and use the material of the buffer belt that buffers the impact of the fall and / or the elastic force of the impact buffering spring to buffer the impact of the fall of the item that has fallen from the chute while the buffer belt receives the item.

[0016] As an item transfer device according to the sixth aspect, in the third aspect, the lifting device may lower the lifting platform into the collection box, stop it near the bottom of the collection box, wind up and converge the buffer belt using the belt winding roller to spread the items into the collection box, and then raise the lifting platform to wait at a predetermined position near the chute.

[0017] As an item transfer device according to the seventh aspect, in the second aspect, a first sensor and a second sensor may be further provided near the chute, and the control unit may detect and count the number of items falling from the chute using the first sensor and the second sensor.

[0018] As an item transfer device according to the eighth aspect, in the seventh aspect, the control unit may be configured to cause the lifting device to lower the lifting platform into the collection box when the count reaches a predetermined number.

[0019] As an item transfer device according to the ninth aspect, in the second aspect, a first sensor and a second sensor may be further provided near the chute, and the control unit may detect the passage of the item from the chute using the first sensor and the second sensor.

[0020] As an item transfer device according to the tenth aspect, in the ninth aspect, the control unit may be configured to lower the lifting platform into the collection box using the lifting device when the total volume and / or total weight of the items reaches a predetermined volume and / or weight.

[0021] As an item transfer device according to the eleventh aspect, in the second aspect, a third sensor may be further provided near the buffer belt, and the control unit may grasp the collection status of the items by the buffer belt using the third sensor.

[0022] As an article transfer device according to a twelfth aspect, in the eleventh aspect, the control unit When the collection status of the items exceeds a threshold, the lifting device may lower the lifting platform into the collection box. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article transfer device that collects articles packaged in flexible packaging such as paper or vinyl, without causing articles to spill out of the collection box (foldable container) and without causing deformation or damage to the articles or package contents. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a layout diagram of a component transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view conceptually showing the relationship between a chute and a lifting device that constitute an article transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view for conceptually explaining the configuration of a lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view for conceptually explaining a state in which the belt spreading roller and the buffer belt are spread out in the component collection step 1 by the component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a cross-sectional view for conceptually explaining a state in which a falling article is received by a buffer belt in a collection step 2 by a component transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view for conceptually explaining a state in which a falling article is received by a buffer belt in a collection step 3 by a component transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a cross-sectional view for conceptually explaining a state in which the lifting platform is lowered in a component collection step 4 by the component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a cross-sectional view for conceptually explaining the process of converging the belt spreading roller and the buffer belt in the component collection step 5 by the component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view for conceptually explaining the state in which the convergence of the belt spreading roller and the buffer belt is completed in the component collection step 6 by the component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10]10 is a cross-sectional view for conceptually explaining a state in which the lifting platform is raised in the component collection step 7 by the component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following are examples of devices and methods for embodying the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to the following, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. In particular, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and may differ from the actual product. In the following, descriptions of parts that are already known technology may be omitted.

[0026] <Overall composition> A logistics center according to one embodiment of the present invention is controlled by a control computer (not shown).

[0027] The control computer is configured with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read-only Memory) that stores control programs that run on the CPU, RAM for temporarily storing various data, and a storage device (not shown).

[0028] The control computer manages the contents and number of items collected in collection boxes assigned to each order and destination using IDs. Information such as the weight and size of the items is linked to the IDs affixed to the items and stored in a memory unit. The items and collection boxes with IDs attached are transported from the storage area to the collection area according to a pre-created collection plan. The IDs of the items and collection boxes are read by a barcode reader or other device installed on the transport conveyor and transmitted to the control computer. The control unit controls the part transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention based on the transmitted IDs. More specifically, the control unit also controls the operation and timing of the branching of items 10 from the main transport path of item transport conveyor 100 to chute 101, the dispensing and insertion of items 10 into containers 201 temporarily waiting in the collection section of container transport conveyor 200, and the lifting device 20 linked to these, as described below. The IDs of the collection boxes and items are recorded on barcode labels, RFID tags, or the like, and affixed to the collection boxes and items.

[0029] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the layout of a part transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, in a logistics center, controlled by a control computer, items removed from a storage area are transported to a collection area by an item transport conveyor 100, and oricon (collection boxes) 201 used for collection from the storage area are transported by an oricon transport conveyor 200. As shown in a side view looking in direction A, the height of the conveying surface of item transport conveyor 100 is higher than the height of the conveying surface of oricon transport conveyor 200.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the article transfer device 1 is configured to include a lifting device 20, a chute 101, an entrance-side fiber sensor A102, and an exit-side fiber sensor B103.

[0031] The lifting device 20 is equipped with a microprocessor consisting of a control unit, an arithmetic unit that performs logical and arithmetic operations, a register that temporarily stores data, and an interface circuit that communicates with the outside, as well as a power supply for operation, and is connected to and controlled by a control computer via wired or wireless communication (not shown).

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the article transfer device 1 functions as an article collection section that collects a plurality of articles lined up in the direction in which an article transport conveyor 100 travels.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1 and 4 to 6, a chute 101, an inlet fiber sensor 102, and an outlet fiber sensor 103 are fixed to the housing of the article transport conveyor 100 at a branch point by chute mounting fittings (not shown).

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, articles 10 conveyed on the article conveyor are diverged from the main conveying path of article conveyor 100 to chute 101 (hereinafter, the diverging point where the main conveying path of article conveyor 100 branches off to chute 101 is also referred to as the "diverging section"), and are dispensed and placed into oricon 201 that is temporarily waiting in the collection section of oricon conveyor 200. To branch off from the main conveying path, for example, a right-angle branching device is used, but this is not limited to this, and articles may also be diverted from the conveying direction of article conveyor 100 to chute 101 using a dispensing mechanism such as a diverter or a pushing mechanism such as a pusher. Articles are diverted from the main conveying path according to a collection plan.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a perspective view conceptually showing the relationship between the chute 101 and the lifting device 20 that constitute an article transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting device 20 drives the lifting actuator 29 to raise and lower the lifting platform 28 along the lifting rail 30, causing it to reciprocate between the upper outside and the inside of the container 201. For example, the height position of the lifting platform 28 is detected by a lifting platform position sensor (not shown). Note that in this embodiment including FIGS. 1 and 2, an example is described in which the article transport conveyor 100 is a roller conveyor, but the article transport conveyor 100 is not limited to a roller conveyor and may be, for example, a belt conveyor (the same applies below).

[0036] Fig. 3 is a perspective view for conceptually explaining the configuration of an elevator device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a belt winding roller 21, a belt deployment / storage motor 22, three guide rollers 23 (23a, 23b, 23c), six belt deployment rollers 24 (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f), a belt deployment chain mechanism 26, and an impact absorbing spring 27 are assembled and supported or fixed to an elevator platform 28 by a unit mounting plate (not shown) of a desired shape suited to the purpose.

[0037] The buffer belt 25 has a first end surface fixed to the shock absorbing spring 27 and a second end surface fixed to the belt winding roller 21. The buffer belt 25 is fed out or wound up by the belt winding roller 21, which is rotationally driven by a belt spreading / storing motor 22, and is spread out or converged in a single stroke along a path formed on the lifting platform 28 by six belt spreading rollers 24 (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 25f) supported by a belt spreading chain mechanism 26. A spreading weight 31 may be further provided to assist the belt winding roller 21 in spreading out the buffer belt 25. For example, a belt spreading chain path sensor (not shown) may detect the path position of the belt spreading chain.

[0038] Next, the operation and function of the component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention configured as above will be described.

[0039] <Collection step> First, the collection step will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating the state in which the belt unfolding roller and buffer belt are unfolded in the collection step 1 by the part transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the lifting device 20, with the lifting platform 28 raised to the desired position near the chute 101, unfolds the buffer belt 25 to approximately its maximum extent along the trajectory of the belt unfolding chain mechanism 26. In accordance with the unfolding of the buffer belt 25, the belt unfolding / storing motor 22 rotates counterclockwise (as viewed in the drawing), and the buffer belt 25 is sent out from the belt winding roller 21. The orienting container transport conveyor 200 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) to transport the orienting container 201 to the desired installation position of the lifting device 20 or nearby. At this time, the item 10 is located just before the desired branch point of the item transport conveyor 100.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating the state in which a falling item is caught by a buffer belt during collection step 2 of a component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a control unit (not shown) detects items 10 branched at a branching unit using an inlet-side fiber sensor 102 and an outlet-side fiber sensor 103, and counts the passage and fall of the items 10, respectively. The buffer belt 25 is preferably made of a material capable of cushioning the impact of a fall of the buffer belt itself. Alternatively / in addition, the buffer belt 25 utilizes the elastic force of the shock-absorbing spring 27 to cushion and catch the impact of a fall of the item 10. Portion B of the lifting platform 28 (the portion indicated by an oval with a dotted line in the figure) prevents the item 10 from getting caught in / entangled with the guide roller 23c, and the guide rollers 23a and 23b prevent the item 10 from flying out of the lifting device 20. The material of the buffer belt is preferably a surface cover material of thermoplastic polyurethane and a core material of polyester canvas, but is not limited to this.

[0042] 6 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating the state in which falling articles are received by buffer belt 25 in collection step 3 by a component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, a control unit (not shown) counts the passing and falling of articles 10 based on detection by entrance-side fiber sensor 102 and exit-side fiber sensor 103, and in the figure, branches the fifth article 10 to article transfer device 1. However, the present invention is not limited to branching five articles 10.

[0043] 7 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating the state in which the lifting platform 28 has been lowered in collection step 4 by the component transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, when the desired number of counts of the articles 10 in the chute has been completed, the lifting device 20 lowers the lifting platform 28 to the lowest possible position within the container 201. However, the position is not limited to the lowest position and may be any desired position.

[0044] 8 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating the process of converging the belt spreading roller 21 and the buffer belt 25 in collection step 5 by a part transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, when the lifting platform 28 descends to the desired height position of the container 201, the lifting device 20 causes the belt spreading / storing motor 22 to move the belt spreading chain mechanism 26 along the track, rotate the belt spreading roller 21 clockwise, and converge the belt spreading roller 24 and the buffer belt 25 while winding up the buffer belt 25 at a speed that does not impact the articles, thereby spreading the articles 10 into the container 201. Alternatively, the buffer belt 25 may be converged by the belt spreading chain mechanism 26.

[0045] 9 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating the state in which the convergence of belt spreading roller 21 and buffer belt 25 is completed in collection step 6 by the part transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, lifting device 20 uses belt spreading / storing motor 22 to move belt spreading chain mechanism 26 along the track, rotates belt spreading roller 21 clockwise, and winds up buffer belt 25, completing the convergence of belt spreading roller 24 and buffer belt 25, and spreading all items 10 into container 201 without impact.

[0046] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating the state in which the lifting platform is raised in collection step 7 by a part transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 10, the lifting device 20 raises the lifting platform 28 again and stops it at the desired position near the chute 101, and the container transport conveyor 200 transports the container 201 for which collection has been completed to the shipping area, and the collection step enters a standby state. Next, the process returns to step 1, and steps 1 to 7 are repeated. The container 201 in which all items 10 have been unfolded is collected, transported, etc. by a separate mechanism (not shown).

[0047] In the above embodiment, a fiber sensor was used as an example of a mechanism for detecting and counting the passage of articles 10 at the entrance and the fall of articles at the exit, which are branched at the branching section. However, such a mechanism is not limited to the above-mentioned fiber sensor and may be, for example, a photoelectric sensor, a laser sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor. Furthermore, the mechanism is not limited to counting the number of fallen articles by detecting the passage of articles. It may also be configured to detect the pile state of articles collected on the buffer belt using a sensor such as a shape measurement sensor or an image recognition sensor, and to temporarily wait before the branch and lower the platform when the desired state is reached. Alternatively, it may be configured to temporarily wait before the branch and lower the platform when the desired weight or volume is reached based on information on the weight and volume of the articles stored in the memory of the control computer. Furthermore, it may also be configured to temporarily wait before the branch and lower the platform when the desired state of accumulation of articles on the buffer belt is detected by an image sensor.

[0048] According to the above-described embodiments and aspects of the present invention, the unique effect of the present application is that an article transfer device can be provided that collects articles packaged in flexible packaging such as paper or vinyl, without causing articles to spill out of the collection box (foldable container) and without causing deformation or damage to the articles or package contents. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The present invention is effective in the logistics industry, particularly in collecting items packaged in flexible packaging such as paper or vinyl, without deformation or damage, and therefore has great applicability in a wide range of industries, including logistics and manufacturing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1...Goods transfer device 10...Goods 20. Lifting device 21 Belt winding roller 22 Belt deployment / retraction motor 23, 23a, 23b, 23c... Guide rollers 24, 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, 24f... Belt unfolding rollers 25···Buffer belt 26. Belt deployment chain mechanism 27. Shock absorbing spring 28. Lift platform 29. Lifting actuator 30···Lifting rail 31 Deployment weight 100···Goods transport conveyor 101...Shoot 102...Inlet fiber sensor 103···Outlet side fiber sensor 200···Oricon transport conveyor 201···Oricon

Claims

1. a first transport conveyor for transporting articles; a second transport conveyor that transports a collection box for collecting the articles; a lifting device having a non-impact collection function that collects the items into the collection box without applying impact to the items; An article transfer device comprising:

2. a control unit that controls the first transfer conveyor, the second transfer conveyor, and the lifting device; the lifting device includes a chute for inserting the articles into the collection box near an article inlet of the first transport conveyor that transports the articles; The control unit the second transport conveyor is temporarily stopped to divert the articles from the first transport conveyor to the chute and place the collection box in the vicinity of the lifting device; The lifting device is The article transfer device described in claim 1, characterized in that it has the function of receiving the articles, lowering the articles to a predetermined position in the collection box, and spreading the articles in the collection box in order to cushion the impact of the articles being dropped from the chute.

3. the lifting device includes a lifting platform, a lifting actuator, a belt deploying / storing motor, a belt deploying chain mechanism, a belt deploying roller, a buffer belt, a shock absorbing spring, and a belt winding roller; The lifting actuator lifts and lowers the lifting platform, The belt deploying / retracting motor deploys and retracts the belt deploying chain mechanism and rotates the belt take-up roller clockwise / counterclockwise; The belt expanding roller is supported by the belt expanding chain mechanism.

3. An article transfer device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The buffer belt is 4. The article transfer device according to claim 3, wherein a first end surface is fixed to the shock absorbing spring and a second end surface is fixed to the belt winding roller, and the belt is unfolded in a single stroke by the belt unfolding roller.

5. The lifting device is The buffer belt is fed from the belt take-up roller. The buffer belt is deployed under the chute into a shape that receives the article; An article transfer device as described in claim 3, characterized in that the material of the buffer belt and / or the elastic force of the shock-absorbing spring are used to absorb the impact of the article falling from the chute while the buffer belt receives the impact.

6. The lifting device is The lifting platform is lowered into the collection box and stopped near the bottom of the collection box, and the buffer belt is wound up and converged by the belt winding roller to spread the items into the collection box.

4. The article transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the lifting platform is raised and placed on standby at a predetermined position near the chute.

7. further comprising a first sensor and a second sensor near the chute; The control unit 3. The article transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the number of articles falling from the chute is detected and counted by the first sensor and the second sensor.

8. The control unit 8. The article transfer device according to claim 7, wherein when the count reaches a predetermined number, the lifting device lowers the lifting platform into the collection box.

9. further comprising a first sensor and a second sensor near the chute; The control unit 3. The article transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor detect the passage of the article from the chute.

10. The article transfer device described in claim 9, characterized in that the control unit causes the lifting device to lower the lifting platform into the collection box when the total volume and / or total weight of the articles reaches a predetermined volume and / or weight.

11. a third sensor is provided in the vicinity of the buffer belt; The control unit 3. The article transfer device according to claim 2, wherein the third sensor detects the state of collection of the articles by the buffer belt.

12. The control unit 12. The article transfer device according to claim 11, wherein when the collection state of the articles exceeds a threshold, the lifting device lowers the lifting platform into the collection box.

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