Pallet washing and drying machine, pallet washing and drying method

Abstract

To more efficiently remove a liquid stored in a pallet from the pallet to more efficiently dry the pallet.SOLUTION: A pallet washer dryer (2) comprises a washing unit (6) for washing a pallet (P) using a liquid, and a drying unit (8) for removing a liquid adhering to the pallet. The drying unit comprises a holder (34) holding a pallet at least in a first attitude and in a second attitude, and a blower (36) sending air for removing a liquid adhering to the pallet. The first attitude is an attitude with its first orientation tilting downward relative to the horizontal direction, and the second attitude is an attitude with its first orientation tilting upward relative to the horizontal direction, when an orientation perpendicular to the main surface of the top face deck of the pallet, and from the bottom face deck of the pallet toward the top face deck thereof is defined as the first orientation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a washing and drying machine for pallets used for transporting cargo, etc., and a method for washing and drying said pallets. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a cleaning device that cleans objects to be cleaned, such as pallets used for transporting cargo, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-52973 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The deck of a pallet may have unevenness on the inside, and when the pallet is washed with liquid, the liquid may accumulate in the unevenness. With the washing device described in Patent Document 1, the liquid accumulated in the unevenness may not be sufficiently removed from the pallet. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, a pallet washing and drying machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a pallet washing and drying machine for washing and drying a pallet having a lower deck and an upper deck, and includes a washing unit that washes the pallet using a liquid, and a drying unit that removes the liquid adhering to the pallet washed in the washing unit, and the drying unit has a holding unit that holds the pallet, and a blowing unit that blows air to remove the liquid adhering to the pallet, and the holding unit is capable of holding the pallet in at least a first position and a second position, and the first position and the second position are positions in which the blowing unit can blow air from a side of the pallet toward a space between the upper deck and the lower deck, and when a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the upper deck and from the lower deck toward the upper deck is defined as a first orientation of the pallet, the first position is a position in which the first orientation is inclined downward from the horizontal direction, and the second position is a position in which the first orientation is inclined upward from the horizontal direction.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a pallet washing and drying method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a pallet washing and drying method for washing and drying a pallet having a lower deck and an upper deck, and includes a washing process of washing the pallet using a liquid, and a drying process of removing the liquid adhering to the pallet washed in the washing process, and the drying process includes a first air blowing process of blowing air from the side of the pallet toward a space between the upper deck and the lower deck, with the pallet in a first position in which a first orientation, which is perpendicular to the main surface of the upper deck and a direction from the lower deck toward the upper deck, is inclined downward from the horizontal, and a second air blowing process of blowing air from the side of the pallet toward the space, with the pallet in a second position in which the first orientation is inclined upward from the horizontal. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, liquid accumulated inside the pallet can be more efficiently removed from the pallet, and the pallet can be more efficiently dried. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a schematic front view and a schematic plan view of a pallet washing and drying machine according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pallet and the underside deck of the pallet; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a holding portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart for explaining a pallet cleaning and drying method according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 10A to 10C are process side views of the holding unit, illustrating an example of the operation of the holding unit in the pallet cleaning and drying method according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are schematic front views of the side blower and the holder, showing examples of the operation of the side blower for each shape of pallet in the pallet cleaning and drying method according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Embodiment] <Palette> First, a pallet to be washed and dried by the pallet washer / dryer according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a pallet P and a schematic perspective view showing only a lower deck BD, which will be described later, extracted from the pallet P.

[0010] The pallet P is a transport tool for transporting goods loaded on the pallet P. For example, the pallet P may be lifted by the forks of a forklift and transported by the forklift, as described below. The pallet P has an upper deck TD, a lower deck BD, and a connection part C.

[0011] The upper deck TD has a rectangular flat upper deck board TB and upper deck side walls TW erected from each side of the upper deck board TB. The lower deck BD has a rectangular flat lower deck board BB and lower deck side walls BW erected from each side of the lower deck board BB.

[0012] Although the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD each have a single upper deck board TB and a single lower deck board BB, the present invention is not limited to this and may have a structure in which multiple deck boards are connected by girders. Furthermore, the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD may have openings that communicate between the inside and outside of the pallet P.

[0013] The upper deck board TB and the lower deck board BB each have an upper surface TS and a lower surface BS on the outer surface side of the pallet P. The pallet P is placed on the ground or the like, for example, with the lower surface BS side facing downward in the vertical direction DH. In addition, the pallet P transports an article by, for example, being transported with the article placed on the upper surface TS.

[0014] The connection parts C connect the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD at the center and end parts of each upper deck side wall TW and each lower deck side wall BW. The connection parts C may be rectangular flat plates having a plane that is approximately flush with each upper deck side wall TW and each lower deck side wall BW, or may be prismatic blocks disposed between the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD.

[0015] The upper deck TD and the lower deck BD have, for example, the same shape as each other. For example, the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD are connected by a connection part C in a state where the sides of the upper deck board TB and the lower deck board BB that have the same length face each other. For this reason, the pallet P has a substantially rectangular shape, and the width LW along the width direction DW of the pallet P and the length LL along the length direction DL of the pallet P are substantially constant regardless of the position of the pallet P.

[0016] In this embodiment, the direction in which the longer sides of the upper deck board TB and the lower deck board BB extend is defined as the length direction DL, and the direction in which the shorter sides extend is defined as the width direction DW. In this embodiment, the distance from the lower surface BS to the upper surface TS is defined as the height LH of the pallet P.

[0017] The lower deck BD further has a plurality of ribs R erected from the lower deck board BB toward the lower deck sidewall BW on the inside of the pallet P. In particular, a plurality of ribs R are formed along each of the width direction DW and length direction DL of the pallet P. For this reason, the lower deck BD has a plurality of spaces SA partitioned in a lattice pattern by the lower deck board BB and the lower deck sidewall BW or the ribs R. Each space SA has an opening OP at the end on the side where the rib R protrudes from the lower deck board BB.

[0018] The height at which the ribs R rise from the lower deck board BB may be equal to or less than the height at which the lower deck side walls BW rise from the lower deck board BB. In this embodiment, the upper deck TB has the same shape as the lower deck BD on the inside side of the pallet P.

[0019] The pallet P has an insertion port E on each side, which is an opening surrounded by the upper deck side wall TW, the lower deck side wall BW, and the connection part C. For example, the forks of a forklift are inserted into the insertion port E to transport the pallet P by the forklift. Since the pallet P has the insertion port E on each side, the pallet P may be a four-way insertion pallet in which the forks can be inserted into the insertion port E from either the width direction DW or the length direction DL. However, each side of the pallet P may have another opening, like the insertion port E, that is not intended for the forks of a forklift to be inserted into.

[0020] As described above, the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD are connected via the connection part C. Therefore, a space SB is formed between the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD inside the pallet P. The space SB communicates with the space SA, and also communicates with the outside of the pallet P via the insertion port E.

[0021] <Removal of liquids from inside the pallet> When a pallet P becomes soiled with foreign matter such as sand and dust, it is possible to clean the pallet P by spraying liquid onto the pallet P and using the liquid to wash the foreign matter off the pallet P. Here, in order to keep the pallet P clean, it is necessary to dry the pallet P after cleaning, and therefore it is necessary to quickly remove the liquid from the pallet P by a method such as blowing air onto the pallet P. For this reason, when liquid flows into the inside of the pallet P as the pallet P is cleaned, it is necessary to remove the liquid from the inside of the pallet P to the outside.

[0022] For example, suppose that liquid flows from the outside to the inside of pallet P through insertion port E and accumulates in space SA. In this case, even if pallet P is stood upright so that one side of the lower deck board BB is parallel to the vertical direction DH and an attempt is made to remove the liquid from space SA by gravity, liquid may remain on ribs R and therefore in space SA.

[0023] Here, by tilting the pallet P so that the lower deck board BB is above the opening OP in the vertical direction DV, the liquid in the space SA can be efficiently removed from the opening OP. Even if liquid accumulates in the space SA of the upper deck TD, by tilting the pallet P so that the upper deck board TB is above the opening OP in the vertical direction DV, the liquid in the space SA can be efficiently removed from the opening OP.

[0024] However, if liquid accumulates in the space SA of the lower deck BD, simply turning the pallet P upside down may cause the liquid in the space SA of the lower deck BD to flow directly into the space SA of the upper deck BD.

[0025] For this reason, in order to remove the liquid in the space SA of the lower deck BD to the outside of the pallet P, for example, the orientation of the pallet P is such that one of the insertion openings E is below the vertical direction DV, while the lower deck board BB is above the opening OP in the vertical direction DV. This allows the liquid in the space SA to flow out of the pallet P via the opening OP, the space SB, and the insertion opening E in that order, and the liquid in the space SA of the lower deck BD can be removed to the outside of the pallet P. To remove the liquid in the space SA of the upper deck BD to the outside of the pallet P, the orientation of the pallet P may be the same as that described above. <Pallet washer / dryer> Next, the pallet washer / dryer according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view 2F and a schematic plan view 2P of the pallet washer / dryer 2 according to this embodiment. In the schematic plan view 2P, some of the components of the pallet washer / dryer 2 shown in the schematic front view 2F may be omitted for simplicity of illustration. Fig. 1 also shows pallets P arranged in the input section 4 and the output section 10, which will be described in detail later.

[0026] The pallet washing and drying machine 2 according to this embodiment includes an input unit 4, a washing unit 6, a drying unit 8, and an unloading unit 10, and the pallet washing and drying machine 2 transports a pallet P in this order and washes and dries the pallet P. The pallet washing and drying machine 2 may include a control unit (not shown) configured with a processor such as a CPU that controls each unit. The pallet washing and drying machine 2 may also include an operation unit (not shown) that is operated by a user to wash the pallet P by said operation.

[0027] <Transportation Department> The input section 4, the cleaning section 6, the drying section 8, and the removal section 10 each include a first transport section 12, a second transport section 14, a third transport section 16, and a fourth transport section 18. Each of the first transport section 12, the second transport section 14, the third transport section 16, and the fourth transport section 18 has, for example, a conveyor chain 20, a chain support section 22, and a chain drive section 24.

[0028] Each of the first transport section 12, the second transport section 14, the third transport section 16, and the fourth transport section 18 has, for example, two circular conveyor chains 20 arranged at a distance from each other in a direction perpendicular to both the transport direction DT and the vertical direction DV described later. Each transport section may have two circular belts instead of the two conveyor chains 20. The two conveyor chains 20 are supported while being pulled along the transport direction DT by a sprocket (not shown) included in the chain support section 22. The chain support section 22 supports the conveyor chain 20 so that the heights of the conveyor chains 20 on the upper side in the vertical direction DV are approximately the same in the first transport section 12, the second transport section 14, the third transport section 16, and the fourth transport section 18.

[0029] The chain driving unit 24 sends out the two conveyor chains 20, for example, through the rotation of the above-mentioned sprockets. Here, the chain driving unit 24 sends out the conveyor chains 20 so that the upper side of the conveyor chains 20 in the vertical direction DV moves in the transport direction DT. With a pallet P placed on the upper side in the vertical direction DV, the conveyor chains 20 are sent out by the chain driving unit 24 to transport the pallet P in the transport direction DT.

[0030] In particular, the pallet P before cleaning is placed on the conveyor chain 20 of the first transport section 12 so that the length direction DL is parallel to the transport direction DT. Therefore, the width direction DW of the pallet P approximately coincides with the direction in which the two conveyor chains 20 of the first transport section 12 are arranged. Here, the distance from the outer end of one conveyor chain 20 to the outer end of the other conveyor chain 20 in the width direction DW in the first transport section 12 is defined as a distance 12L. In this case, in order to reduce the possibility that the pallet P transported by the first transport section 12 will come off between the two conveyor chains 20, the distance 12L is narrower than the width LW of the pallet P.

[0031] Each of the second transport section 14, the third transport section 16, and the fourth transport section 18 may have the same configuration as the first transport section 12, except for the interval between the two conveyor chains 20 and the length of the conveyor chain 20 along the transport direction DT. Here, the distances from the outer end of one conveyor chain 20 to the outer end of the other conveyor chain 20 in the width direction DW in each of the second transport section 14, the third transport section 16, and the fourth transport section 18 are distances 14L, 16L, and 18L. The distances 14L, 16L, and 18L are all narrower than the width LW of the pallet P.

[0032] The first transport section 12 transports the uncleaned pallet P to the second transport section 14. When the pallet P has been sent out from the first transport section 12, the second transport section 14 may receive the pallet P from the first transport section 12 by sending out the conveyor chain 20 by the chain drive section 24. Similarly, the second transport section 14 transports the pallet P to the third transport section 16, and the third transport section 16 transports the pallet P to the fourth transport section 18.

[0033] As a result, the first transport section 12, the second transport section 14, the third transport section 16, and the fourth transport section 18 function as a transport section of the pallet washing and drying machine 2 that transports the pallet P from the input section 4, via the cleaning section 6 and the drying section 8, to the unloading section 10. By using these transport sections, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 reduces the burden on users, etc., of transporting the pallet P.

[0034] Here, the pallet washing and drying machine 2, which will be described in detail later, washes and dries the pallets P transported to the washing unit 6 and drying unit 8, respectively. For this reason, the pallets P that have been washed and dried are transported to the unloading unit 10. Therefore, the loading unit 4 functions as a mechanism for loading the pallets P before cleaning into the pallet washing and drying machine 2 in order to wash and dry the pallets P. In addition, the unloading unit 10 functions as a mechanism for the user to unload the pallets P that have been washed and dried by the washing unit 6 and drying unit 8 from the pallet washing and drying machine 2.

[0035] <Cleaning section> The cleaning unit 6 uses liquid to clean the pallet P transported from the input unit 4. The cleaning unit 6 includes, for example, an upper nozzle 26, a lower nozzle 28, a liquid tank 30, and a drainage groove 32. A plurality of the upper nozzles 26 and a plurality of the lower nozzles 28 may be arranged along the width direction DW of the pallet P being transported.

[0036] The upper nozzle 26 is located above the conveyor chain 20 of the second transport section 14 and sprays liquid supplied from the outside downward. The lower nozzle 28 is located below the conveyor chain 20 of the second transport section 14 and sprays liquid supplied from the outside upward. The liquid tank 30 stores the liquid sprayed from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28. The liquid stored in the liquid tank 30, in other words, the liquid sprayed from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28, may be, for example, city water or a cleaning liquid such as shampoo. The drain 32 is located, for example, below the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28 and is connected to a sewer or the like (not shown).

[0037] The cleaning unit 6 controls the supply of liquid from the liquid tank 30 to the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28 via pipes or the like (not shown), and sprays the liquid from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28. In particular, the lower nozzle 28 may spray the liquid toward the pallet P from between the two conveyor chains 20 of the second transport unit 14. In this way, the cleaning unit 6 sprays the liquid onto the pallet P that is transported by the second transport unit 14 and passes between the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28, thereby cleaning the pallet P. The drain 32 discharges, for example, the liquid used to clean the pallet P and foreign matter that has flowed out from the pallet P together with the liquid, to the outside of the cleaning unit 6.

[0038] The cleaning unit 6 sprays liquid mainly onto the upper surface TS and lower surface BS of the pallet P from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28. However, this is not limited to the above, and the cleaning unit 6 may spray liquid onto the side surface of the pallet P from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28. In this case, the liquid may flow into the inside of the pallet P through the insertion port E. Furthermore, if openings are formed in the upper deck board TB and the lower deck board BB of the pallet P, the liquid may flow into the inside of the pallet P from the openings.

[0039] <Drying section: Holding section> The drying section 8 includes a holding section 34 that holds the pallet P in various positions, and a blower section 36 that blows air to the pallet P held by the holding section 34. The holding section 34 and the blower section 36 are disposed on at least one side of the conveyor chain 20 of the third transport section 16. The drying section 8 holds the pallet P that has been washed in the washing section 6 and transported to the third transport section by the second transport section 14, using the holding section 34, and dries the washed pallet P by blowing air to the pallet P using the blower section 36.

[0040] First, details of the holding unit 34 will be described with further reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the holding unit 34, showing only the holding unit 34 extracted from the drying unit 8. Note that Fig. 3 and the above-mentioned Fig. 1 illustrate the holding unit 34 in a state in which the longitudinal direction of a first arm 40, which will be described later, is substantially the same as the vertical direction DV.

[0041] The holding unit 34 has two arm units 38. Each arm unit 38 has a flat plate shape located on a plane substantially perpendicular to the transport direction DT, and is disposed at a distance from each other with respect to the transport direction DT. In particular, the two arm units 38 have the same configuration, and are disposed such that one arm unit 38 is translated in parallel with the other arm unit 38 along the transport direction DT.

[0042] Each arm portion 38 has a first arm 40, a second arm 42, a third arm 44, a first claw portion 46, and a second claw portion 48.

[0043] The second arm 42 and the third arm 44 each extend from an end of the first arm 40. In particular, when the longitudinal direction of the first arm 40 is substantially the same as the vertical direction DV, the second arm 42 and the third arm 44 each extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction DV and the transport direction DT, and toward the third transport section 16. Therefore, the second arm 42 and the third arm 44 face each other in the longitudinal direction of the first arm 40.

[0044] The first claw portion 46 protrudes from the end of the second arm 42 opposite the first arm 40 toward the third arm 44. The second claw portion 48 protrudes from the end of the third arm 44 opposite the first arm 40 toward the second arm 42. Therefore, the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 protrude from the second arm 42 and the third arm 44 in directions facing each other.

[0045] The holder 34 holds the pallet P between the first arm 40 and the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 of the two arm portions 38, and between the second arm 42 and the third arm 44. A specific method for holding the pallet P by the holder 34 will be described later.

[0046] The first arm 40 has an inner surface 40I facing the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48, and the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 have inner surfaces 46I and 48I facing the first arm 40, respectively. The second arm 42 has an inner surface 42I facing the third arm 44, and the third arm 44 has an inner surface 44I facing the second arm 42. Furthermore, the first claw portion 46 has an end portion 46E facing the second claw portion 48, and the second claw portion 48 has an end portion 48E facing the first claw portion 46.

[0047] Here, the distance between the inner surface 42I and the end 48E is distance L1, the distance between the inner surface 42I and the inner surface 44I is distance L2, and the distance between the end 46E and the end 48E is distance L3. In addition, the shorter of the distance between the inner surface 40I and the inner surface 46I and the distance between the inner surface 40I and the inner surface 48I is distance L4.

[0048] The holding unit 34 has a beam 50 that connects the two arm units 38. For example, the holding unit 34 has a plurality of beams 50 that connect the two first arms 40 together. The holding unit 34 also has beams 50 that connect the two end units 46E together or the two end units 48E together. In particular, the beams 50 connect the two arm units 38 at a distance L5 along the transport direction DT.

[0049] The holding unit 34 has a shaft 52, a shaft driving unit 54, and a bearing 56. The shaft 52 extends along the transport direction DT and passes through the second arms 42 of the two arm units 38 to connect the second arms 42 to each other. The shaft driving unit 54 rotates the shaft 52 with the extension direction of the shaft 52, in other words, the transport direction DT as the rotation axis, by means of a motor, gears, etc. (not shown). The bearing 56 restrains the shaft 52 so that it can rotate.

[0050] Therefore, the shaft driver 54 rotates the arm 38 and the beam 50 together with the shaft 52. In particular, in this embodiment, the shaft driver 54 can rotate the arm 38 through the rotation of the shaft 52 to a horizontal position described later in which the first claw 46 and the second claw 48 are below the first arm 40 and the longitudinal direction of the first arm 40 is approximately perpendicular to the vertical direction DV. In particular, the shaft driver 54 can rotate the arm 38 through the rotation of the shaft 52 to just before a position in which the first claw 46 and the second claw 48 are above the first arm 40 and the longitudinal direction of the first arm 40 is perpendicular to the vertical direction DV. In other words, the shaft driver 54 can freely rotate the arm 38 around the shaft 52 from the horizontal position by more than 90° and less than 180°.

[0051] <Drying section: Blower section> Next, returning to FIG. 1, the blower 36 will be described. The blower 36 dries the pallet P by blowing air to remove liquid adhering to the pallet P due to cleaning in the cleaning section 6 from the pallet P. In particular, the blower 36 includes an upper and lower surface blower 58 and a side surface blower 60. The blower 36 mainly dries the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS of the pallet P by the upper and lower surface blower 58. The blower 36 also dries the side surfaces of the pallet P, in other words, the upper deck side wall TW, the lower deck side wall BW, and the outer surfaces of the connection parts C, by the side surface blower 60. The blower 36 also dries the inside of the pallet P by the side surface blower 60.

[0052] The upper and lower surface blowing section 58 includes a first blower 62, an upper surface blowing nozzle 64, a lower surface blowing nozzle 66, and a pipe 68. The first blower 62 generates an air flow for blowing air to the pallet P to dry the pallet P. The upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66 are located above and below the conveyor chain 20 of the third transport section 16, respectively. The upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66 receive the air blown from the first blower 62 and blow air downward and upward, respectively. As a result, the upper and lower surface blowing section 58 blows air toward the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS of the pallet P transported by the third transport section 16 and passing between the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66, thereby drying the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS of the pallet P. Air is blown from the first blower 62 to the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66 via pipes 68 that connect the first blower 62 to the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66, respectively.

[0053] The side blowing section 60 includes a second blower 70, an upper blowing nozzle 72, two side blowing nozzles 74, an upper blowing nozzle position adjustment section 76, and a side blowing nozzle position adjustment section 78. The second blower 70 may have the same configuration as the first blower 62, and generates an airflow for blowing air onto the pallet P to dry the pallet P.

[0054] The upward blowing nozzle 72 is positioned above the holder 34 when the longitudinal direction of the first arm 40 is substantially the same as the vertical direction DV, and receives air from the second blower 70 to blow air downward. The two side blowing nozzles 74 are positioned to sandwich the holder 34 in the above-mentioned state in the transport direction DT, and blow air toward each other. The method of blowing air from each blowing nozzle provided in the side blowing unit 60 to the pallet P will be described in detail later.

[0055] The upper blowing nozzle position adjustment section 76 and the side blowing nozzle position adjustment section 78 respectively adjust the positions of the upper blowing nozzle 72 and the side blowing nozzle 74. In particular, one side blowing nozzle position adjustment section 78 may be formed for one side blowing nozzle 74, in other words, the side blowing section 60 may include two side blowing nozzle position adjustment sections 78. The method of adjusting the positions of the upper blowing nozzle 72 and the side blowing nozzle 74 by the upper blowing nozzle position adjustment section 76 and the side blowing nozzle position adjustment section 78 will be described in detail later.

[0056] The drying section 8 may have a drain groove 80 below the holding section 34. The drain groove 80 may have the same configuration as the drain groove 32, and may, for example, drain moisture removed from the pallets P in the drying section 8 from the drying section 8 into a sewer or the like (not shown).

[0057] <Pallet washing and drying method: from insertion to washing> Next, a method for cleaning and drying a pallet P using the pallet cleaning and drying machine 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an example of a pallet cleaning and drying method using the pallet cleaning and drying machine 2.

[0058] In the pallet washing and drying method according to this embodiment, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 first detects the introduction of the pallet P into the introduction unit 4 (step S2). For example, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 may detect the introduction of the pallet P into the introduction unit 4 by detecting whether the pallet P is placed on the conveyor chain 20 of the first transport unit 12 using an optical axis sensor (not shown) or the like included in the introduction unit 4. Alternatively, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 may detect the introduction of the pallet P into the introduction unit 4 by detecting that the user has operated an operation unit (not shown) after placing the pallet P on the conveyor chain 20 of the first transport unit 12.

[0059] Next, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 transports the pallet P from the input section 4 to the cleaning section 6 (step S4). The transportation of the pallet P from the input section 4 to the cleaning section 6 is realized, for example, by the first transport section 12 and the second transport section 14 moving the pallet P in the transport direction DT.

[0060] Next, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 washes the pallet P in the washing unit 6 (step S6). For example, in step S6, liquid is continuously sprayed from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28. As a result, for example, when the pallet P transported from the input unit 4 to the washing unit 6 in step S4 passes between the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28, it is washed by the liquid sprayed from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28.

[0061] The cleaning unit 6 may have an optical axis sensor (not shown) or the like that detects that the pallet P has completely passed between the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28. In this case, the cleaning unit 6 may stop spraying the liquid from the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28 after detecting that the pallet P has completely passed between the upper nozzle 26 and the lower nozzle 28.

[0062] <Pallet cleaning and drying method: Top and bottom drying> Next, the pallet washer / dryer 2 executes a drying process to remove liquid adhering to the pallet P washed in the washing process. Specifically, first, while transporting the pallet P from the washing unit 6 to the drying unit 8, the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS of the pallet P are dried by air blown from the first blower 62 (step S8). The transportation of the pallet P from the washing unit 6 to the drying unit 8 is realized, for example, by moving the pallet P in the transport direction DT by the second transport unit 14 and the third transport unit 16. In step S8, the washing unit 6 blows air from the first blower 62 to the upper surface air blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface air blowing nozzle 66 while the pallet P is being transported.

[0063] Here, during the transportation of the pallet P from the cleaning section 6 to the drying section 8, the pallet P passes between the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66. In this embodiment, the pallet P is transported by the second transport section 14 and the third transport section 16 with the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS in the up-down direction. Therefore, while the pallet P passes between the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66, the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66 blow air toward the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS of the pallet P, respectively. As a result, in step S8, the drying section 8 blows air toward the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS of the pallet P passing between the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66, thereby drying the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS.

[0064] <Pallet cleaning and drying method: Pallet retention> Next, the pallet washer / dryer 2 dries the side surfaces and the inside of the pallet P by blowing air onto the pallet P while holding the pallet P with the holding unit 34. The method of drying the side surfaces and the inside of the pallet P will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0065] Fig. 5 is a side view of the holding unit 34, illustrating an example of the operation of the holding unit 34 in the pallet washing and drying method according to this embodiment. Fig. 5 shows only one arm 38 and shaft 52 of the holding unit 34, and also shows a side view of the arm 38 and a cross section of the shaft 52 in a plane perpendicular to the transport direction DT. When a pallet is held by the holding unit 34, Fig. 5 also shows a side view of the pallet P. Furthermore, when Fig. 5 shows the arm 38 positioned at a horizontal position 38F, which will be described later, it also shows a cross section of the conveyor chain 20 of the third transport unit 16, which is positioned on the same plane as the cross section of the shaft 52 shown in Fig. 5.

[0066] 5, by the time step S6 is completed, the drying unit 8 rotates the arm unit 38 around the shaft 52 using the shaft driving unit 54, and moves the arm unit 38 to a position where the extension direction of the first arm 40 is approximately perpendicular to the vertical direction DV. In other words, by the time step S6 is completed, the drying unit 8 moves the arm unit 38 to a horizontal position 38F where the extension direction of the first arm 40 is approximately parallel to the horizontal direction DF.

[0067] In the horizontal position 38F, the arm portion 38 is in a position where the inner surface 46I of the first claw portion 46 and the inner surface 48I of the second claw portion 48 are lower in the vertical direction DV than the upper end of the conveyor chain 20 of the third transport portion 16. Furthermore, the two conveyor chains 20 of the third transport portion 16 are disposed between the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 of the arm portion 38 in the horizontal position 38F. Note that the above-mentioned distance L3 is longer than the above-mentioned distance 16L. Therefore, it is possible to dispose the two conveyor chains 20 of the third transport portion 16 so as not to interfere with the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 of the arm portion 38 in the horizontal position 38F.

[0068] With the arm section 38 in the horizontal position 38F, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 executes step S8 described above. As a result, in step S8, the pallet P passes between the upper surface blowing nozzle 64 and the lower surface blowing nozzle 66, and is then transported to the inside of the two arm sections 38. More specifically, in step S8, the pallet P is transported to between the first arm 40 and the first claw section 46 and the second claw section 48 of the arm section 38, and between the second arm 42 and the third arm 44. When the pallet P is transported to the inside of the two arm sections 38, the third transport section 16 stops transporting the pallet P, thereby completing step S8. The drying section 8 may have an optical axis sensor or the like that detects the pallet P transported to a predetermined position in order to detect that the pallet P has been transported to the inside of the two arm sections 38.

[0069] Here, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned distance L1 is shorter than the width LW. Therefore, in step S8, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 can transport the pallet P to a position where the pallet P overlaps with both the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 in the vertical direction DV. Furthermore, the above-mentioned distance L2 is longer than the width LW. Therefore, in step S8, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 can transport the pallet P between the second arm 42 and the third arm 44 without interfering with the pallet P between the second arm 42 and the third arm 44. Furthermore, the above-mentioned distance L4 is longer than the height LH. Therefore, in step S8, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 can transport the pallet P between the first arm 40 and the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 without interfering with the first arm 40.

[0070] At the completion of step S8, the pallet P is located inside the arm unit 38 which is in the horizontal position 38F. Here, the direction perpendicular to the upper surface TS included in the main surface of the upper deck TD of the pallet P and from the lower deck BD toward the upper deck TD is defined as the first orientation D1 of the pallet P. At the completion of step S8, the first orientation D1 is approximately perpendicular to the horizontal direction DF, in other words, approximately parallel to the vertical direction DV.

[0071] 4, following step S8, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 starts blowing air from the second blower 70 and lifts the pallet P with the holding unit 34 (step S10). For example, in step S10, the drying unit 8 operates the second blower 70 and starts blowing air from the upward blowing nozzle 72 and the two side blowing nozzles 74. At the same time, the drying unit 8 rotates the arm unit 38 around the shaft 52 by the shaft driving unit 54, and moves the arm unit 38 to a vertical position 38V where the extension direction of the first arm 40 is approximately parallel to the vertical direction DV.

[0072] 5, the pallet P is supported by the second arm 42, the first claw portion 46, and the second claw portion 48 of the arm portion 38, and is thereby lifted to a position where the first direction D1 is approximately parallel to the horizontal direction DF. Note that, as described above, since the distance L1 is shorter than the width LW, the holding portion 34 reduces the likelihood of the pallet P falling out of the arm portion 38 from between the first claw portion 46 and the second claw portion 48 while the arm portion 38 moves from the horizontal position 38F to the vertical position 38V.

[0073] <Pallet cleaning and drying method: Drying the sides and inside of the pallet> As described above, the upward blowing nozzle 72 is positioned above the holding unit 34 with the arm units 38 in the vertical position 38V and blows air downward. The two side blowing nozzles 74 are positioned on either side of the holding unit 34 with the arm units 38 in the vertical position 38V in the transport direction DT and blow air toward each other. For this reason, the upward blowing nozzle 72 and the two side blowing nozzles 74 blow air toward the side surfaces of the pallet P held by the holding unit 34 with the arm units 38 in the vertical position 38V.

[0074] The pallet P has an insertion opening E on each of its four side surfaces. Therefore, the upward blowing nozzle 72 and the two side blowing nozzles 74 blow air into the spaces SA and SB inside the pallet P through the insertion openings E on each side surface of the pallet P. In particular, the two side blowing nozzles 74 blow air into the spaces SA and SB of the pallet P from opposite directions in the horizontal direction DF.

[0075] In particular, the upward air blowing nozzle 72 blows air from above the pallet P held by the holding portion 34 toward the upper side surface of the pallet P in the vertical direction DV. For this reason, the upward air blowing nozzle 72 blows air from the top to the bottom inside the pallet P through an insertion opening E formed in the upper side surface of the pallet P in the vertical direction DV. For this reason, moisture inside the pallet P is discharged to the outside of the pallet P through the insertion opening E formed in the lower side surface of the pallet P in the vertical direction DV.

[0076] Therefore, the upward air blowing nozzle 72 can discharge moisture inside the pallet P to the outside of the pallet P by blowing air from above to below the pallet P in addition to gravity. Therefore, the side air blowing unit 60 can more efficiently discharge moisture from inside the pallet P to the outside by the upward air blowing nozzle 72.

[0077] Additionally, each side blowing nozzle 74 blows air from a side surface of the pallet P held by the holding portion 34 that is located in the front-to-rear direction of the transport direction DT toward the center of the pallet P. For this reason, each side blowing nozzle 74 blows air from the front and rear of the interior of the pallet P in the transport direction DT toward the center via an insertion opening E formed on a side surface of the pallet P that is located in the front-to-rear direction of the transport direction DT.

[0078] The moisture inside the pallet P moves toward the center of the transport direction DT inside the pallet P by the air blown from each side air blowing nozzle 74. The moisture is then discharged to the outside of the pallet P from an insertion opening E formed on the lower side of the pallet P by the air blown from the upper air blowing nozzle 72. Therefore, compared to the case where air is blown from one side air blowing nozzle 74, the side air blowing section 60 can more easily blow the moisture inside the pallet P downward in the vertical direction DV, which makes it easier for the moisture to separate from the pallet P due to gravity than in the horizontal direction DF.

[0079] In this embodiment, for example, the drying unit 8 starts blowing air from the upper blowing nozzle 72 and the two side blowing nozzles 74 at the start of step S10, but is not limited to this. For example, the drying unit 8 may start blowing air from the upper blowing nozzle 72 and the two side blowing nozzles 74 at the time when the holding unit 34 rotates the arm unit 38 by 60° around the shaft 52 from the horizontal position 38F in step S10. In this case, the drying unit 8 may have an optical axis sensor or the like that detects the arm unit 38 that has been rotated by 60° around the shaft 52 from the horizontal position 38F.

[0080] <Pallet cleaning and drying method: Air nozzle position adjustment part> The positional relationship between the pallet P held by the holding unit 34 and the upward air-blowing nozzle 72 and the two side air-blowing nozzles 74 will be described in detail with further reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a schematic front view of the side air-blowing unit 60 and the holding unit 34, showing examples of the operation of the side air-blowing unit 60 for each shape of the pallet P in the pallet washing and drying method according to the present embodiment.

[0081] The schematic front view 60A of the side blower 60 in Fig. 6 shows an example of the positions of each part of the side blower 60 when the holder 34 holds a pallet PA having a width LWA and a length LLA. The schematic front view 60A of the side blower 60 in Fig. 6 also shows an example of the positions of each part of the side blower 60 when the holder 34 holds a pallet PA having a width LWB shorter than the width LWA and a length LLB shorter than the length LLA.

[0082] In particular, for example, the pallet PA has the longest length LLA and the longest width LWA among the pallets P that can be held by the holding unit 34 according to the present embodiment. Also, for example, the pallet PB has the shortest length LLB and the shortest width LWB among the pallets P that can be held by the holding unit 34 according to the present embodiment.

[0083] For example, the length LLA may be 2000 mm, and the width LWA may be 1200 mm. Also, for example, the length LLB may be 1000 mm, and the width LWB may be 700 mm. However, this is not limited thereto, and the dimensions of the pallet P that can be gripped by the holding unit 34 may be appropriately designed according to the shape of the pallet P to be washed by the pallet washing and drying machine 2 according to this embodiment.

[0084] 6, the length LL of the pallet P, including the length LLA and the length LLB, is longer than the above-mentioned distance L5. Therefore, the holding unit 34 can support the pallet P by the two arm units 38 and the beam 50 connecting the two arm units 38.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the upward blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 includes an upper cylinder 82 and an upward telescopic unit 84. The upper cylinder 82 extends and retracts the upward telescopic unit 84 along the vertical direction DV. The upward telescopic unit 84 is connected to the upward blowing nozzle 72. For example, the upper cylinder 82 is formed so that the direction in which the upward telescopic unit 84 extends is downward in the vertical direction DV, in other words, the direction in which the upward blowing nozzle 72 approaches the holding unit 34. For this reason, the upward blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 adjusts the position of the upward blowing nozzle 72 in the vertical direction DV through the extension and retraction of the upward telescopic unit 84 by the upper cylinder 82.

[0086] Each side-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 78 includes a first side cylinder 86, a first side telescopic unit 88, a second side cylinder 90, and a second side telescopic unit 92. The first side cylinder 86 and the second side cylinder 90 respectively extend and retract the first side telescopic unit 88 and the second side telescopic unit 92 along the transport direction DT. The first side telescopic unit 88 is connected to the side-blowing nozzle 74, and the second side telescopic unit 92 is connected to the first side cylinder 86.

[0087] For example, each first side cylinder 86 is formed so that the direction in which each first side telescopic portion 88 extends is the direction in which each side blowing nozzle 74 faces the other side blowing nozzle 74, in other words, the direction in which each second side cylinder 90 extends is the direction in which each second side telescopic portion 92 extends is the direction in which each first side cylinder 86 faces the other first side cylinder 86, in other words, the direction in which each second side cylinder 90 extends is the direction in which each second side cylinder ... second side cylinder 86 faces the other first side cylinder 86, in other words, the direction in which each second side cylinder 90 extends

[0088] Here, the second side cylinder 90 adjusts the positions of the first side cylinder 86 and the first side telescopic portion 88 in the transport direction DT through the extension and contraction of the second side telescopic portion 92, and thus adjusts the position of the side-blowing nozzle 74 in the transport direction DT. Therefore, the side-blowing nozzle position adjustment portion 78 adjusts the position of the side-blowing nozzle 74 in the transport direction DT through the extension and contraction of the first side telescopic portion 88 and the second side telescopic portion 92 by the first side cylinder 86 and the second side cylinder 90.

[0089] For example, each side-blow nozzle position adjustment unit 78 operates the first side cylinder 86 and the second side cylinder 90 individually. Furthermore, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 controls the operation of each side-blow nozzle position adjustment unit 78 individually. In this way, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 can control the position of each side-blow nozzle 74 more finely by individually controlling the operation of each side cylinder. For example, each extension unit of each side cylinder included in the side-blow nozzle position adjustment unit 78 may be extended or retracted by 100 mm. In this case, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 can change the distance between the two side-blow nozzles 74 in 100 mm increments by individually controlling the operation of each side-blow nozzle position adjustment unit 78.

[0090] <Pallet cleaning and drying method: Adjusting the position of the air nozzle according to the shape of the pallet> For example, when the holding unit 34 holds a pallet PA, the upward air-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 shortens the upward extendable unit 84 by the upper cylinder 82. As a result, the upward air-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 makes the distance L6, which is the distance from the inner surface 42I of the second arm 42 of the arm unit 38 at the vertical position 38V to the lower end of the upward air-blowing nozzle 72, longer than the width LWA of the pallet PA. As a result, the upward air-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 can reduce interference between the pallet PA lifted by the holding unit 34 and the upward air-blowing nozzle 72.

[0091] Furthermore, when the holding unit 34 holds the pallet PA, each side-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 78 shortens the first side extension / contraction unit 88 and the second side extension / contraction unit 92 by the first side cylinder 86 and the second side cylinder 90. As a result, each side-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 78 makes the distance L7, which is the distance between the tips of the two side-blowing nozzles 74, longer than the length LLA of the pallet PA. Therefore, each side-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 78 can reduce interference between the pallet PA lifted by the holding unit 34 and each side-blowing nozzle 74.

[0092] On the other hand, when the holding unit 34 holds the pallet PB, the upward air-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 extends the upward extendable unit 84 by the upper cylinder 82. As a result, the upward air-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 makes the distance L8, which is the distance from the inner surface 42I of the second arm 42 of the arm unit 38 at the vertical position 38V to the lower end of the upward air-blowing nozzle 72, shorter than the distance L6.

[0093] Therefore, the upward air blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 can shorten the distance between the upward air blowing nozzle 72 and the pallet PB, and increase the efficiency of drying the pallet PB by air blown from the upward air blowing nozzle 72. However, the distance L8 is longer than the width LWB of the pallet PB. Therefore, the upward air blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 76 can reduce interference between the pallet PB lifted by the holding unit 34 and the upward air blowing nozzle 72, while shortening the distance between the upward air blowing nozzle 72 and the pallet PB.

[0094] Note that the length 72L of the upper air blowing nozzle 72 along the transport direction DT may be shorter than the distance L5 between the two arm portions 38. In this case, as shown in a schematic front view 60B of Fig. 6, the side air blowing unit 60 may insert the upper air blowing nozzle 72 between the two arm portions 38. This allows the side air blowing unit 60 to further shorten the distance between the upper air blowing nozzle 72 and the pallet PB, thereby further improving the efficiency of drying the pallet PB by air blown from the upper air blowing nozzle 72.

[0095] Furthermore, when the holding unit 34 holds the pallet PB, each side-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 78 extends at least one of the first side extension unit 88 and the second side extension unit 92 by the first side cylinder 86 and the second side cylinder 90. As a result, each side-blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 78 makes the distance L9, which is the distance between the tips of the two side-blowing nozzles 74, shorter than the distance L7.

[0096] Therefore, each side-blow nozzle position adjustment unit 78 can shorten the distance between at least one of the side-blow nozzles 74 and the pallet PB, and increase the efficiency of drying the pallet PB by air blown from that side-blow nozzle 74. However, the distance L9 is longer than the length LLB of the pallet PB. Therefore, the side-blow nozzle position adjustment unit 78 can reduce interference between the pallet PB lifted by the holding unit 34 and the side-blow nozzle 74, while shortening the distance between the side-blow nozzle 74 and the pallet PB.

[0097] As described above, the positions of the upper air blowing nozzle 72 and each side air blowing nozzle position adjustment unit 78 relative to the holding unit 34 can be changed according to the shape of the pallet P. This allows the drying unit 8 to more efficiently dry the side and interior of the pallet P while reducing interference between the each air blowing nozzle and the pallet P, regardless of the shape of the pallet P.

[0098] <Pallet cleaning and drying method: 1st position and 2nd position> Returning to FIG. 4, following step S10, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 sets the attitude of the pallet P to a first attitude, which will be described later, and continues blowing air to the pallet P (step S12), thereby executing a first air blowing process. In step S12, the drying unit 8 causes the shaft driving unit 54 to rotate the arm unit 38 about the shaft 52 in a direction further away from the third transport unit 16. In particular, in step S12, the drying unit 8 moves the arm unit 38 to a first position 38A where the inner surface 40I of the first arm 40 is above the vertical direction DV, for example, as shown in step S12 in FIG.

[0099] The attitude of the pallet P held by the arm unit 38 at the first position 38A is defined as a first attitude P1. The first attitude P1 is an attitude in which the first direction D1 of the pallet P is inclined downward from the horizontal direction DF. In step S12, the drying unit 8 blows air from the upper air blowing nozzle 72 and each side air blowing nozzle 74 to the pallet P for a predetermined time in a state in which the attitude of the pallet P is the first attitude P1. For example, the first attitude may be the attitude of the pallet P when the holding unit 34 rotates the arm unit 38 around the shaft 52 from the horizontal position 38F by 100° or more, more preferably by 110° or more.

[0100] In the first position P1, each opening OP of the lower deck BD of the pallet P is located below the lower deck board BB. Therefore, in the first position P1, moisture in the space SA of the lower deck BD is likely to escape into the space SB through the openings OP due to gravity. Therefore, by blowing air to the pallet P by the side blower 60 in the first position P1, the drying section 8 can efficiently discharge moisture in the space SA of the lower deck BD to the outside of the pallet P.

[0101] Following step S12, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 sets the posture of the pallet P to a second posture, which will be described later, and continues blowing air to the pallet P (step S14), thereby executing a second air blowing process. In step S14, the drying unit 8 causes the shaft driving unit 54 to rotate the arm unit 38 around the shaft 52 in a direction approaching the third transport unit 16. In particular, in step S14, the drying unit 8 moves the arm unit 38 to a second position 38B where the inner surface 40I of the first arm 40 is on the lower side in the vertical direction DV, for example, as shown in step S14 in FIG.

[0102] The attitude of the pallet P held by the arm unit 38 at the second position 38B is defined as the second attitude P2. The second attitude P2 is an attitude in which the first direction D1 of the pallet P is inclined upward from the horizontal direction DF. In step S14, the drying unit 8 blows air from the upper air blowing nozzle 72 and each side air blowing nozzle 74 to the pallet P for a predetermined time in a state in which the attitude of the pallet P is the second attitude P2. For example, the second attitude may be the attitude of the pallet P when the holding unit 34 rotates the arm unit 38 around the shaft 52 from the horizontal position 38F by 80° or less, more preferably by 70° or less.

[0103] In the second position P2, each opening OP of the upper deck TD of the pallet P is located below the upper deck board TB. Therefore, in the second position P2, moisture in the space SA of the upper deck TD is likely to escape into the space SB through the openings OP due to gravity. Therefore, by blowing air to the pallet P by the side blower 60 in the second position P2, the drying section 8 can efficiently discharge moisture in the space SA of the upper deck TD to the outside of the pallet P.

[0104] The holding unit 34 according to this embodiment can hold the pallet P at least in the first position P1 and the second position P2 described above. The first position P1 and the second position P2 are positions in which the side blower 60 of the blower 36 can blow air from the side of the pallet P toward the space SB between the upper deck TD and the lower deck BD.

[0105] The drying section 8 may move the upper air blowing nozzle 72 and each side air blowing nozzle 74 in accordance with the movement of the pallet P to the first attitude P1 and the second attitude P2. This allows the drying section 8 to efficiently blow air from the upper air blowing nozzle 72 and each side air blowing nozzle 74 toward the inside of the pallet P regardless of the attitude of the pallet P, and allows the pallet P to be dried more efficiently by each air blowing nozzle.

[0106] Next, the pallet washer / dryer 2 determines whether air has been blown to the side of the pallet P for a predetermined time (step S16). In step S16, for example, the pallet washer / dryer 2 determines whether the total time that air has been blown to the pallet P from each air blowing nozzle of the side air blowing section 60 is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The predetermined time is a period of time that allows it to be determined that the side and inside of the pallet P have been sufficiently dried by blowing air to the pallet P from each air blowing nozzle of the side air blowing section 60.

[0107] If it is determined in step S16 that the pallet washing and drying machine 2 has not been able to blow air to the side surface of the pallet P for the predetermined time, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 executes step S12 again, and then executes step S14. Therefore, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 repeatedly executes steps S12 to S16 until air has been blown to the side surface of the pallet P for at least the predetermined time. Therefore, the drying unit 8 blows air to the side surface of the pallet P while swinging the pallet P between the first position P1 and the second position P2 by the holding unit 34.

[0108] For example, the drying unit 8 may repeatedly execute steps S12 to S16 to rotate the arm unit 38 by ±10° or more, more preferably ±20° or more, around the shaft 52 from the vertical position 38V to oscillate the pallet P. The drying unit 8 may have an optical axis sensor or the like that detects the arm unit 38 positioned at each of the first position 38A and the second position 38B.

[0109] However, in this embodiment, the drying unit 8 does not need to swing the pallet P between the first position P1 and the second position P2, so long as air is blown to the side surface of the pallet P in each of the first position P1 and the second position P2. For example, in the method for cleaning and drying a pallet P according to this embodiment, the above-mentioned steps S12 and S14 may be performed only once each, so long as air is blown sufficiently to the side surface of the pallet P.

[0110] <How to wash and dry the pallet: Removing the pallet> If it is determined in step S16 that the pallet washing and drying machine 2 has blown air to the side surface of the pallet P for a predetermined period of time, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 stops blowing air from the second blower 70 and causes the holding unit 34 to lower the pallet P onto the conveyor chain 20 (step S18). In step S18, for example, after stopping the blowing of air from the second blower 70, the drying unit 8 rotates the arm unit 38 around the shaft 52 by the shaft driving unit 54 and moves the arm unit 38 to the horizontal position 38F. As a result, the drying unit 8 places the pallet P on the conveyor chain 20 of the third transport unit 16 by the holding unit 34. The drying unit 8 may detect that the pallet P has been placed on the conveyor chain 20 of the third transport unit 16 by an optical axis sensor or the like that detects the arm unit 38 positioned at the horizontal position 38F.

[0111] Next, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 transports the pallet P from the drying section 8 to the unloading section 10 (step S20). In step S20, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 transports the pallet P, which has been lowered onto the conveyor chain 20 of the third transport section 16 in step S18, from the drying section 8 to the unloading section 10 by the third transport section 16 and the fourth transport section 18. Note that in cases where it is necessary to wash and dry the upper surface TS and the lower surface BS of the pallet P, but it is not particularly necessary to dry the inside of the pallet P, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 may execute step S20 following step S8.

[0112] Next, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 detects that the pallet P has been removed from the removal unit 10 (step S22). For example, a user of the pallet washing and drying machine 2 removes the washed and dried pallet P transported to the removal unit 10 in step S20 from the conveyor chain 20 of the fourth transport unit 18, thereby removing the pallet P from the removal unit 10. Here, for example, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 may detect the removal of the pallet P from the removal unit 10 by detecting whether the pallet P is placed on the conveyor chain 20 of the fourth transport unit 18 using an optical axis sensor (not shown) or the like included in the removal unit 10. Alternatively, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 may detect the removal of the pallet P from the removal unit 10 by detecting that the user has operated an operation unit (not shown) after removing the pallet P from the conveyor chain 20 of the fourth transport unit 18.

[0113] The pallet washing and drying machine 2 completes the pallet washing and drying method according to this embodiment by detecting that the washed and dried pallet P has been removed from the removal unit 10. Next, the pallet washing and drying machine 2 may start the operation of a sensor or the like that detects the insertion of a pallet P into the insertion unit 4 as a preparatory operation for washing and drying the next unwashed pallet P.

[0114] <Summary> The pallet washer / dryer 2 according to this embodiment includes a drying unit 8 that washes a pallet P with liquid in the washing unit 6, and then blows air onto the pallet P while holding the pallet P in a first position P1 and a second position P2 to dry the pallet P. Here, the first position P1 is a position in which the first direction D1 is inclined downward from the horizontal direction DF, and the second position P2 is a position in which the first direction D1 is inclined upward from the horizontal direction DF.

[0115] Therefore, the pallet washer / dryer 2 is able to blow air to the pallet P with the pallet P in the first position P1 or the second position P2, which make it easy to remove moisture from the space SA of the lower deck BD and the upper deck TD, respectively. For this reason, the pallet washer / dryer 2 can dry the pallet P more efficiently than when blowing air to the pallet P by simply standing the pallet P upright so that its sides are in the up-down direction.

[0116] Moreover, the pallet washer / dryer 2 dries the pallet P by blowing air onto the pallet P while swinging the pallet P between the first position P1 and the second position P2 described above. Therefore, the pallet washer / dryer 2 can dry the pallet P while switching the position of the pallet P between the first position P1 and the second position P2 multiple times, which facilitates removing moisture in the space SA of each deck of the pallet P from inside the pallet P. Therefore, the pallet washer / dryer 2 can more efficiently remove the liquid accumulated in the respective spaces SA of the upper deck TB and the lower deck BB, and can more efficiently dry the pallet P.

[0117] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining different technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 2 Pallet washer and dryer 6 Cleaning section 8 Drying section 12 First Transportation Department 14 2nd Transportation Department 16 3rd Transportation Department 18 4th Transportation Department 34 Holding part 36 Blower section 60 Side ventilation section 72 Upward Blowing Nozzle 74 Side Blowing Nozzle 76 Upper air blowing nozzle position adjustment part 78 Side blower nozzle position adjustment part 82 Upper Cylinder 84 Upper telescopic part 86 First side cylinder 88 1st lateral expansion and contraction part 90 Second side cylinder 92 Second lateral expansion and contraction part D1 First direction P Palette P1 1st posture P2 2nd posture TD top deck BD Lower Deck

Claims

1. A pallet washing and drying machine for washing and drying a pallet having a lower deck and an upper deck, A cleaning unit that cleans the pallet using a liquid; a drying unit for removing the liquid adhering to the pallet cleaned by the cleaning unit, The drying section includes: A holding section for holding the pallet; a blowing unit that blows air to remove the liquid adhering to the pallet, The holding portion is capable of holding the pallet in at least a first position and a second position, The first position and the second position are positions in which the blower unit can blow air from a side of the pallet toward a space between the upper deck and the lower deck, When a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the upper deck and from the lower deck toward the upper deck is defined as a first orientation of the pallet, the first attitude is an attitude in which the first orientation is inclined downward from a horizontal direction, The second posture is a posture in which the first orientation is inclined upward from a horizontal direction.

2. The pallet washing and drying machine according to claim 1 , wherein the holding portion swings the pallet between the first position and the second position.

3. The pallet washing and drying machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air blowing section includes an upward air blowing nozzle that blows air into the space of the pallet from above in the vertical direction.

4. The pallet washing and drying machine according to claim 1 , wherein the air blowing section includes side air blowing nozzles that blow air into the space of the pallet from mutually opposite directions in a horizontal direction.

5. The pallet washing and drying machine according to claim 4 , wherein the blowing unit includes an air blowing nozzle position adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the side air blowing nozzle with respect to the pallet depending on a size of the pallet.

6. The pallet washing and drying machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a transport section that transports the pallet at least from the washing section to the drying section.

7. A pallet washing and drying method for washing and drying a pallet having a lower deck and an upper deck, comprising: a cleaning step of cleaning the pallet with a liquid; a drying step for removing the liquid adhering to the pallet cleaned in the cleaning step, The drying step includes: a first air blowing process for blowing air from a side of the pallet toward a space between the upper deck and the lower deck, with the pallet in a first position in which a first direction, which is perpendicular to a main surface of the upper deck and a direction from the lower deck toward the upper deck, is inclined downward from a horizontal direction; a second air blowing process of changing the attitude of the pallet to a second attitude in which the first orientation is inclined upward from the horizontal direction and blowing air from the side of the pallet toward the space.

Images