Work cutting device

Abstract

To provide a workpiece cutting device that prevents workpiece transport failure that is caused by repeating the stopping of workpiece transport and the moving of workpieces.SOLUTION: A workpiece cutting device 1 includes: a first conveyor device 2; a second conveyor device 4 that is provided on the downstream side of the first conveyor device 2; and a pitch maker 3 that cuts and delivers multiple workpieces W transported by the first conveyor device 2 to the second conveyor device 4 so that they are transported side by side sequentially at a predetermined pitch. The pitch maker 3 receives the moving workpiece W transported by the first conveyor device 2 from the first conveyor device 1 and passes the received workpiece W without stopping the movement thereof over to the second conveyor device 4 which is being driven and transporting.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technology of a workpiece cutting device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technology related to a workpiece cutting device including a first conveyor device, a second conveyor device arranged on the downstream side of the first conveyor device, and a pitch maker that sequentially cuts out a plurality of workpieces conveyed by the first conveyor device so as to be conveyed side by side at a predetermined pitch to the second conveyor device is known (see Patent Document 1). The workpiece is, for example, an elongated container (bottle) having a mouth at the center of the upper end, and is filled with a liquid such as food, cosmetics, detergent, or disinfectant.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the workpiece cutting device, the pitch maker stops the workpiece immediately before the workpiece delivery position to the second conveyor device, and cuts out the stopped workpiece to the second conveyor device according to a predetermined pitch. As described above, in the workpiece cutting device, since the pitch maker cuts out the workpiece to the second conveyor device while repeating the stop and movement of the workpiece conveyance, for example, there is a risk of conveyance failure of the workpiece such as the workpiece falling down or the conveyance position of the workpiece shifting.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a work cutting device capable of suppressing defective conveyance of a work caused by repeating stoppage of conveyance of the work and movement of the work.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving this problem will be described.

[0007] That is, in claim 1, a first conveyor device that conveys a plurality of works from the upstream side to the downstream side, a second conveyor device that is disposed on the downstream side of the first conveyor device and conveys the plurality of works from the upstream side to the downstream side, and a pitch maker that cuts out the plurality of works conveyed by the first conveyor device so as to be conveyed side by side at a predetermined pitch to the second conveyor device, wherein the pitch maker receives the moving work conveyed by the first conveyor device from the first conveyor device and delivers the received work to the second conveyor device that is being conveyed and driven without stopping its movement a work detection sensor that detects the work conveyed to the pitch maker; a control unit, wherein the work detection sensor sequentially transmits work position information, which is information regarding the position of the detected work, to the control unit, and the control unit generates detection pitch information, which is information regarding the distance between the work and the work located immediately downstream of the work, based on the work position information. The control unit generates conveyance mode information based on the detection pitch information and supply pitch information. The supply pitch information is preset information regarding the predetermined pitch at which the pitch maker sequentially ejects the work to the second conveyor device so that the work is conveyed side by side at the predetermined pitch in the second conveyor device. The conveyance mode information is information regarding the conveyance mode of the work in the pitch maker for the pitch maker to eject the work to the second conveyor device so that the work is conveyed side by side at the predetermined pitch in the second conveyor device. The control unit causes the pitch maker to perform an operation of ejecting the work to the second conveyor device based on the conveyance mode information. After the pitch maker delivers the work to the second conveyor device, the control unit generates the conveyance mode information regarding the work located immediately upstream of the delivered work. is.

[0009] Claim 2 In, the conveyance mode information is configured such that the conveyance modes of the work by the pitch maker are different between the adjustment area and the area upstream of the adjustment area in the conveyance direction of the work, and the adjustment area is an area for adjusting the conveyance speed of the work so that the pitch maker can cut out the work to the second conveyor device in accordance with the predetermined pitch.

[0011] Claim 3 In, the work is a container having an opening at the top.

Effects of the Invention

[0012] As an effect of the present invention, the following effects are achieved. That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress conveyance defects of the work that occur by repeating the stop of the conveyance of the work and the movement of the work.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Next, the work cutting device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In the figures, the white arrows shown are described as indicating the conveyance direction of the work W.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the work cutting device 1 includes a first conveyor device 2, a pitch maker 3, a second conveyor device 4, a work detection sensor 5, and a control unit 6. The work cutting device 1 conveys a plurality of works W, W,... from the upstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the first conveyor device 2 to the downstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the second conveyor device 4 via the pitch maker 3. The workpiece W conveyed to the workpiece cutting device 1 is an elongated container (bottle) in the vertical direction, having a mouth portion which is an opening at the upper part and a shoulder portion on the outer side below the mouth portion. The mouth portion of the workpiece W is arranged at the upper end portion thereof and is arranged at the front-rear or left-right center in a plan view. The workpiece W is filled with, for example, a liquid (fluid) such as food, cosmetics, detergent, or disinfectant liquid, or a liquid in which an object is mixed. The workpiece W conveyed to the workpiece cutting device 1 is not limited to a container having a mouth portion at the center of the upper end and a shoulder portion on the outer side below the mouth portion, and may be a container having other shapes, or may be configured to store something other than the above-mentioned fluid or the like. Also, the workpiece W conveyed to the workpiece cutting device 1 is not limited to a container, and may be other things.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the total number of workpieces W (workpieces W conveyed from the upstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the first conveyor device 2 to the downstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the second conveyor device 4) conveyed by the workpiece cutting device 1 is 10, and the workpieces W1 - W10 will be described in order from the one located most downstream (located at the downstream end portion in the conveyance direction of the second conveyor device 4), but the number of workpieces W conveyed in the workpiece cutting device 1 is not limited to this.

[0017] The first conveyor device 2 conveys a plurality of workpieces W, W,... from the upstream side to the downstream side (toward the pitch maker 3 side or the second conveyor device 4 side). The first conveyor device 2 is arranged upstream of the pitch maker 3 and the second conveyor device 4. The first conveyor device 2 includes an endless belt 21, an upstream pulley 22, and a downstream pulley 23, and the belt 21 is hung on the upstream pulley 22 and the downstream pulley 23. The first conveyor device 2 is configured such that power from a driving device (not shown) such as a motor can be transmitted to the upstream pulley 22 or the downstream pulley 23. When the driving device is driven, a plurality of workpieces W, W,... arranged generally in a line are conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side with the workpieces placed on the upper surface of the belt 21. The workpiece W is conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side, for example, by being placed on the upper surface of the belt 21 of the first conveyor device 2 during conveyance by an operator. Therefore, in the workpiece cutting device 1, it is assumed that the intervals between adjacent workpieces W, W conveyed in the first conveyor device 2 are unequal intervals (random). The conveyance speed of the workpiece W in the first conveyor device 2 is configured to be a constant speed. The conveyance speed of the workpiece W in the first conveyor device 2 is configured to be adjustable. In FIG. 1, the workpieces W conveyed in the first conveyor device 2 are designated as workpieces W5 - W10 in order from the one located most downstream (located at the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the first conveyor device 2).

[0018] The pitch maker 3 sequentially cuts out the workpieces W located downstream among the plurality of workpieces W, W,... conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 and delivers them to the second conveyor device 4 so that they are conveyed in a line at a predetermined pitch along its conveyance direction. The pitch maker 3 receives the workpiece W in motion (during the conveyance operation) conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 at the downstream end of the conveyance path of the first conveyor device 2 from the first conveyor device 2, and delivers the received workpiece W without stopping its movement to the second conveyor device 4 in conveyance drive at the upstream end of the conveyance path of the second conveyor device 4.

[0019] The pitch maker 3 consists of a pair of left and right site belts 30·30, and is rotationally driven while clamping the work W between the pair of left and right side belts 30·30, and conveys the work W from the upstream side to the downstream side (from the first conveyor device 2 side to the second conveyor device 4 side). The side belt 30 of the pitch maker 3 includes an endless belt 31, an upstream pulley 32, and a downstream pulley 33, and is configured such that the belt 31 is hung on the upstream pulley 32 and the downstream pulley 33. The pitch maker 3 is configured such that power from a driving device (not shown) such as a servo motor can be transmitted to the upstream pulley 32 or the downstream pulley 33, and is configured to be rotationally driven when the driving device is driven.

[0020] The pitch maker 3 is configured such that a part of its conveyance path (upstream end) overlaps with a part of the conveyance path of the first conveyor device 2. The pitch maker 3 is configured such that a part of its conveyance path (downstream end) overlaps with a part of the conveyance path of the second conveyor device 4. The upstream pulley 32 of the pitch maker 3 is disposed above the downstream end of the conveyance path of the first conveyor device 2, and the downstream pulley 33 is disposed above the upstream end of the conveyance path of the second conveyor device 4. The "work receiving position α" of the pitch maker 3 (the position where the work W is received from the first conveyor device 2) is the upstream end of the conveyance path of the pitch maker 3, and is located near the upstream side of the rotation axis of the upstream pulley 32 of the pitch maker 3. The "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3 (the position where the work W is transferred to the second conveyor device 4) is the downstream end of the conveyance path of the pitch maker 3, and is located near the downstream side of the rotation axis of the downstream pulley 33 of the pitch maker 3.

[0021] The conveyance mode of the workpiece W by the pitch maker 3 (such as the conveyance speed of the workpiece W and the timing of delivering the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4) is controlled by the control unit 6. The pitch maker 3 is configured to be able to vary the conveyance speed of the workpiece W according to the "conveyance mode information". The pitch maker 3 is configured to be able to vary the conveyance speed of the workpiece W by increasing or decreasing the rotation drive speed of the side belt 30 or the like. The pitch maker 3 conveys the workpiece W so that the conveyance speed of the workpiece W from the upstream side near the "workpiece delivery position β" to the "workpiece delivery position β" is the same as the conveyance speed of the workpiece W in the second conveyor device 4. In addition, in FIG. 1, the workpieces W being conveyed by the pitch maker 3 are the workpieces W4 - W6 in order from the one located on the most downstream side (located at the downstream end of the conveyance direction of the pitch maker 3). The workpiece W6 shows the state immediately after the pitch maker 3 receives it from the first conveyor device 2, and the workpiece W4 shows the state immediately before the pitch maker 3 delivers it to the second conveyor device 4.

[0022] The second conveyor device 4 conveys a plurality of workpieces W, W,... from the upstream side to the downstream side. The second conveyor device 4 conveys the workpiece W delivered from the pitch maker 3 from the upstream side to the downstream side. The second conveyor device 4 is arranged downstream of the first conveyor device 2 and the pitch maker 3. The second conveyor device 4 includes an endless belt 41, an upstream pulley 42, and a downstream pulley 43, and is configured such that the belt 41 is hung on the upstream pulley 42 and the downstream pulley 43. The second conveyor device 4 is configured such that power from a driving device (not shown) such as a motor can be transmitted to the upstream pulley 42 or the downstream pulley 43, and when the driving device is driven, a plurality of workpieces W arranged in a row are conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side with the workpieces W placed on the upper surface of the belt 41. The conveyance speed of the workpiece W in the second conveyor device 4 is configured to be a constant speed. The conveyance speed of the workpiece W in the second conveyor device 4 is configured to be settable. The conveyance speed of the workpiece W in the second conveyor device 4 is set to be faster than the conveyance speed of the workpiece W by the first conveyor device 2. In the workpiece cutting device 1, a second conveyor device 4 (or a conveying device on the downstream side of the second conveyor device 4) is arranged on the downstream side of the first conveyor device 2 and receives the workpiece W cut out by the pitch maker 3. A working machine for performing operations such as bottle washing, filling, inner stopper pressing, capping, boxing, and packaging is provided for the workpiece W conveyed thereto. In FIG. 1, the workpieces W being conveyed in the second conveyor device 4 are designated as workpieces W1 - W4 in order from the one located most downstream (located at the downstream end in the conveying direction of the first conveyor device 2).

[0023] As described above, in the workpiece cutting device 1, the pitch maker 3 receives the moving workpiece W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 from the first conveyor device 2 and delivers the received workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 that is under conveying drive without stopping its movement. Therefore, the workpiece W conveyed in the first conveyor device 2 and the pitch maker 3 can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without stopping, for example, at the "workpiece delivery position β" of the pitch maker 3. Therefore, in the workpiece cutting device 1, it is possible to suppress conveyance defects of the workpiece W (such as the workpiece W falling over or the conveyance position of the workpiece W shifting) caused by repeatedly stopping and moving the conveyance of the workpiece W. Also, because of this configuration, in the workpiece cutting device 1, when the workpiece W is configured as a container (bottle) and filled with liquid inside the workpiece W, it is possible to suppress liquid splashing caused by repeatedly stopping and moving the conveyance of the workpiece W. Also, because of this configuration, in the workpiece cutting device 1, for example, when the workpiece W is configured in an inverted taper shape, it is possible to prevent the workpieces W from coming into contact with each other and the workpiece W from tilting or falling over by repeatedly stopping and moving the conveyance of the workpiece W.

[0024] Also, a plurality of virtual placement points P, P,... are set on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4. The virtual placement points P, P,... are set by the control unit 6 based on the "supply pitch information". The "supply pitch information" is information regarding a predetermined pitch at which the pitch maker 3 sequentially cuts out the workpieces W to the second conveyor device 4 so that the workpieces W are conveyed side by side at a predetermined pitch in the second conveyor device 4. The "supply pitch information" is preset and stored in the storage device of the control unit 6. The "supply pitch information" can be set to an arbitrary value by the operator and the set value can be changed. In FIG. 1, the placement points P set on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 are designated as placement points P1 - P7 in order from the one located on the most downstream side (the downstream end in the conveying direction of the second conveyor device 4). The interval between adjacent placement points P is set to a predetermined pitch (equal interval). The plurality of placement points P move from the upstream side to the downstream side along with the conveying operation of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4. Also in FIG. 1, the workpiece W1 is placed at the placement point P1, the workpiece W2 is placed at the placement point P2, the workpiece W3 is placed at the placement point P3, and the workpiece W4 is in the state just before being placed at the placement point P4.

[0025] The work detection sensor 5 detects the work W conveyed to the pitch maker 3 (or the first conveyor device 2), and is composed of, for example, an image processing device, an optical sensor, or the like. The work detection sensor 5 sequentially detects the position of the work W received by the pitch maker 3 among the plurality of works W, W,... being conveyed in the first conveyor device 2. The work detection sensor 5 is disposed upstream of the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3. The work detection sensor 5 is disposed above the downstream side of the "work receiving position α" of the pitch maker 3, and detects the work W that has been conveyed to the vicinity of the downstream side of the "work receiving position α" of the pitch maker 3, thereby detecting the position of the work W. The detection position of the work W in the work detection sensor 5 is set directly below the work detection sensor 5. The work detection sensor 5 detects the work W by detecting the upstream end portion of the mouth portion of the work W (bottle) conveyed by the pitch maker 3. Note that the part of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 is not limited to the mouth portion of the work W and can be appropriately set according to the specifications of the work W and the like. Information regarding the position of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 (hereinafter referred to as "work position information") is sequentially transmitted from the work detection sensor 5 to the control unit 6.

[0026] The control unit 6 controls various operations of the work cutting device 1 based on various information, calculates and generates various information, and stores various information in the storage device. The control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" based on the "work position information" detected by the work detection sensor 5. The "detection pitch information" is information regarding the distance between the work W and the work W located immediately downstream of the work W. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is information regarding the distance between the work W5 and the work W4 located immediately downstream of the work W5, and also information regarding the distance between the work W6 and the work W5 located immediately downstream of the work W6. The control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" from the information regarding the position of the work W5 detected by the work detection sensor 5 (the "work position information" of the work W5) and the information regarding the position of the work W4 (the "work position information" of the work W4), and also generates "detection pitch information" from the information regarding the position of the work W6 detected by the work detection sensor 5 and the information regarding the position of the work W5. At this time, when there is no work W immediately downstream of the detected work W by the work detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3 (for example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the work W3 immediately downstream of the work W6 detected by the work detection sensor 5 is not present between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3), the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" to that effect. Examples of the case where there is no work W immediately downstream of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3 include, for example, when the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 is the first one, and when the work W immediately downstream of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 has already been transferred to the second conveyor device 4 and is located downstream of the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3. The "detection pitch information" generated by the control unit 6 is stored in the storage device respectively.

[0027] The control unit 6 generates "conveying mode information" based on the "detection pitch information" and the "supply pitch information". The "conveying mode information" generated by the control unit 6 is stored in the storage device.

[0028] "Conveying mode information" refers to information regarding the conveying mode (such as the conveying speed of the workpiece W and the timing of delivering the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4, etc.) of the workpiece W in the pitch maker 3 for the pitch maker 3 to cut out the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 so that the workpieces W are conveyed side by side at a predetermined pitch (for example, for each of a plurality of arrangement points P1 - P7 on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 shown in FIG. 1). "Conveying mode information" is set so that the conveying speed of the workpiece W from the upstream side near the "workpiece delivery position β" to the "workpiece delivery position β" in the pitch maker 3 becomes the same as the conveying speed of the workpiece W in the second conveyor device 4. "Conveying mode information" is, for example, information regarding the conveying mode of the workpiece W4 (the leading workpiece W) by the pitch maker 3 shown in FIG. 1, or information regarding the conveying mode of the workpiece W4 (the workpiece W4 located immediately upstream of the workpiece W3) after the pitch maker 3 delivers the workpiece W3 to the second conveyor device 4. Also, "conveying mode information" is information regarding the conveying mode of the workpiece W (the center of the bottom of the workpiece W4) such that the pitch maker 3 can cut out (deliver) the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 in accordance with a predetermined pitch at the "workpiece delivery position β" (for example, in alignment with the arrangement point P4 on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 shown in FIG. 1). "Conveying mode information" is sequentially generated and updated by the control unit 6 every time the pitch maker 3 delivers the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4. The control unit 6 causes the pitch maker 3 to perform an operation of cutting out the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 based on the sequentially updated "conveying mode information".

[0029] As described above, the control unit 6 generates "detected pitch information" based on "workpiece position information", generates conveying mode information based on "detected pitch information" and "supply pitch information", and causes the pitch maker 3 to perform an operation of cutting out the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 based on the "conveying mode information". Therefore, in the workpiece cutting device 1, it is possible to suppress conveyance defects of the workpiece W caused by repeating the stop and movement of the conveyance of the workpiece W. Also, due to being configured in this way, in the workpiece cutting-out device 1, the workpiece W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 or the pitch maker 3 can be efficiently cut out to the second conveyor device 4, and the workpiece W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 or the pitch maker 3 can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without surely stopping it.

[0030] The "conveying mode information" generated by the control unit 6 is configured such that the conveying mode of the workpiece W by the pitch maker 3 is different between the "adjustment area γ" and other areas (the area on the upstream side of the workpiece W in the conveying direction from the "adjustment area γ"). The "adjustment area γ" is an area for adjusting the conveying mode (conveying speed of the workpiece W) so that the pitch maker 3 can cut out (deliver) the workpiece W (the center of the bottom of the workpiece W4) to the second conveyor device 4 in accordance with a predetermined pitch (for example, in accordance with the arrangement point P4 on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 shown in FIG. 1). For example, in the "adjustment area γ", the conveying speed of the workpiece W is set to be relatively variable, and in other areas, the conveying speed of the workpiece W is set to be generally constant.

[0031] The "adjustment area γ" is set in the vicinity of the upstream side of the "workpiece delivery position β" of the pitch maker 3. The "adjustment area γ" is, for example, a range from the "first adjustment point A", which is a virtual point set 50 mm upstream of the "workpiece delivery position β" of the pitch maker 3, to the "second adjustment point B", which is a virtual point set 10 mm upstream of the "workpiece delivery position β" of the pitch maker 3. That is, the "adjustment area γ" is set to have a width of 40 mm in the conveying direction of the workpiece W, and the "workpiece delivery position β" of the pitch maker 3 is set at a position 10 mm downstream of the "adjustment area γ". For example, in the "adjustment area γ", when the placement point P5 on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 is relatively far, the pitch maker 3 conveys the workpiece W5 downstream on the slower side. Then, in the "adjustment area γ", when the placement point P5 on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 approaches, the pitch maker 3 synchronizes its conveying speed with the conveying speed of the second conveyor device 4 (increases the conveying speed), and conveys the central position at the bottom of the workpiece W5 to the "workpiece handover position β" in accordance with the placement point P5. The "first adjustment point A" and the "second adjustment point B" are generated by the control unit 6 based on the "workpiece position information" and stored in the storage device. Also, the distances from the "workpiece handover position β" at which the "first adjustment point A" and the "second adjustment point B" are set, as well as the range and position of the "adjustment area γ", etc., are set to arbitrary values by the operator, and the set values can be changed.

[0032] As described above, the "conveying mode information" is configured such that the conveying mode of the workpiece W by the pitch maker 3 is different in the adjustment area γ and the area upstream of the adjustment area γ in the conveying direction of the workpiece W. Since the adjustment area γ is an area where the pitch maker 3 adjusts the conveying speed of the workpiece W so that the workpiece W can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 at a predetermined pitch, the workpiece W conveyed in the first conveyor device 2 and the pitch maker 3 can be efficiently cut out to the second conveyor device 4, and the workpiece W conveyed in the first conveyor device 2 and the pitch maker 3 can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without being reliably stopped.

[0033] The control unit 6, considering the workpiece W detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5, the detection pitch information, the conveying capacity of the pitch maker 3 (the set maximum speed for conveying the workpiece W), the position of the placement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 closest to the "workpiece handover position β" (the distance from the "workpiece handover position β" to the closest placement point P), and the moving speed of the placement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 (the conveying speed of the second conveyor device 4), etc., determines that among the plurality of placement points P, the placement point P for placing the next workpiece W is not the placement point P closest to the "workpiece handover position β", but one of the plurality of placement points P located downstream of the placement point P closest to the "workpiece handover position β", and generates "conveying mode information". When the pitch maker 3 performs an operation of cutting out the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 based on such "conveying mode information", a state where the workpieces W are not continuously placed at the placement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 (a so-called state of missing teeth of the workpiece W) occurs. In such a case, the control unit 6 stores information regarding the position of the placement point P where the workpiece W is not placed and the time when the workpiece W was not placed in the storage device. Also, in such a case, the control unit 6 communicates information to the working machine that performs work on the workpiece W conveyed to the second conveyor device 4 (or the conveying device downstream of the second conveyor device 4) indicating that no work is to be performed on the placement point P where the workpiece W is not placed.

[0034] As described above, the control unit 6 takes into account the workpiece W detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5, the detection pitch information, the conveying capacity of the pitch maker 3, the position of the placement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 closest to the "workpiece transfer position β", and the moving speed of the placement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4, etc., and determines the placement point P for placing the next workpiece W among the plurality of placement points P to be a placement point P among the plurality of placement points P located on the downstream side of the placement point P closest to the "workpiece transfer position β", thereby generating the "conveying mode information". For example, even when the distance between two workpieces W·W received by the pitch maker 3 from the first conveyor device 2 is relatively long and the pitch maker 3 cannot continuously transfer the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 at predetermined pitches, the pitch maker 3 transfers the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 in a so-called tooth-missing state of the workpiece W, so that the conveying operation of the workpiece W can be stopped or the workpiece W can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without stopping or pausing the workpiece W.

[0035] Next, in the workpiece cutting device 1, a series of operations for sequentially cutting out a plurality of workpieces W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 to the second conveyor device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the first conveyor device 2 of the workpiece cutting device 1 starts operating to convey a plurality of workpieces W from the upstream side to the downstream side (step S1). When step S1 is performed, the process proceeds to step S2.

[0037] Next, the pitch maker 3 of the workpiece cutting device 1 sequentially cuts out the workpiece W located on the downstream side among the plurality of workpieces W, W,... conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 so as to be conveyed side by side at a predetermined pitch along its conveying direction in the second conveyor device 4 (step S2). At this time, the pitch maker 3 receives the workpiece W in motion (during the conveying operation) conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 at the downstream end of the conveying path of the first conveyor device 2, and delivers the received workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 in which the conveying drive is in progress at the upstream end of the conveying path of the second conveyor device 4. When step S2 is performed, the process proceeds to step S3.

[0038] The second conveyor device 4 of the workpiece cutting device 1 conveys the workpiece W delivered by the pitch maker 3 in step S2 from the upstream side to the downstream side (step S3). By repeating the above operations, in the workpiece cutting device 1, the plurality of workpieces W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 are sequentially cut out to the second conveyor device 4.

[0039] As described above, in the workpiece cutting device 1, the pitch maker 3 receives the workpiece W in motion conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 from the first conveyor device 2, and delivers the received workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 in which the conveying drive is in progress without stopping its movement. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the conveyance failure of the workpiece W caused by repeating the stop of the conveyance of the workpiece W and the movement of the workpiece W.

[0040] Next, a series of operations of generating "conveyance mode information" in the control unit 6 after the workpiece W is detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5 of the workpiece cutting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the workpiece detection sensor 5 sequentially detects the workpiece W conveyed to the pitch maker 3 (or the first conveyor device 2), and sequentially transmits the detected "workpiece position information" to the control unit 6 (step S10). When step S10 is performed, the process proceeds to step S11.

[0042] Next, the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" based on the "work position information" (step S11). At this time, if there is no work W on the immediate downstream side of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3, the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" to that effect. When step S11 is performed, the process proceeds to step S12.

[0043] Next, the control unit 6 generates "conveying mode information" based on the "detection pitch information" and the "supply pitch information" (step S12). The "conveying mode information" generated by the control unit 6 is configured such that the conveying mode of the work W by the pitch maker 3 is different between the "adjustment area γ" and another area (the area on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the work W from the "adjustment area γ"). In addition, the control unit 6 takes into account the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5, the detection pitch information, the conveying capacity of the pitch maker 3 (the set maximum speed for conveying the work W), the position of the arrangement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 closest to the "work transfer position β" (the distance from the "work transfer position β" to the closest arrangement point P), and the moving speed of the arrangement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 (the conveying speed of the second conveyor device 4), etc., and does not set the arrangement point P for arranging the next work W among the plurality of arrangement points P as the arrangement point P closest to the "work transfer position β", but sets it as one of the plurality of arrangement points P located downstream of the arrangement point P closest to the "work transfer position β", and generates the "conveying mode information" accordingly. Also, when there is no workpiece W immediately downstream of the workpiece W detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the workpiece W by the workpiece detection sensor 5 and the "workpiece transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3, the "conveyance mode information" for the workpiece W detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5 is conveyed at a predetermined speed (constant speed) up to the upstream side near the "workpiece transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3, and then the conveyance speed of the workpiece W between the upstream side near the "workpiece transfer position β" and the "workpiece transfer position β" is set to be the same as the conveyance speed of the workpiece W in the second conveyor device 4. As described above, the workpiece cutting device 1 detects the workpiece W with the workpiece detection sensor 5 and then generates "conveyance mode information" in the control unit 6. Then, when sequentially cutting out a plurality of workpieces W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 in the workpiece cutting device 1 to the second conveyor device 4, the above operations (a series of operations of detecting the workpiece W with the workpiece detection sensor 5 and then generating "conveyance mode information" in the control unit 6) are repeatedly performed.

[0044] As described above, the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information", generates "conveyance mode information", and causes the pitch maker 3 to perform an operation of cutting out the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4 based on the "conveyance mode information". Therefore, in the workpiece cutting device 1, it is possible to suppress conveyance defects of the workpiece W caused by repeatedly stopping and moving the conveyance of the workpiece W. Also, in the workpiece cutting device 1, the workpiece W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 or the pitch maker 3 can be efficiently cut out to the second conveyor device 4, and the workpiece W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 or the pitch maker 3 can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without surely stopping it.

[0045] As described above, since the adjustment area γ of the "conveyance mode information" is an area for adjusting the conveyance speed of the work W so that the pitch maker 3 can cut out the work W to the second conveyor device 4 in accordance with a predetermined pitch, the work W conveyed in the first conveyor device 2 and the pitch maker 3 can be efficiently cut out to the second conveyor device 4, and the work W conveyed in the first conveyor device 2 and the pitch maker 3 can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without surely stopping it.

[0046] As described above, the control unit 6 generates the "conveyance mode information" such that the placement point P for placing the work W next among the plurality of placement points P is one of the placement points P located on the downstream side of the placement point P closest to the "work handover position β", considering the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5, the detected pitch information, the conveyance capacity of the pitch maker 3, the position of the placement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4 closest to the "work handover position β", and the moving speed of the placement point P on the upper surface of the belt 41 of the second conveyor device 4. Therefore, the pitch maker 3 can hand over the work W to the second conveyor device 4 in a so-called tooth-missing state of the work W, and the work W can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without stopping the conveyance operation of the work W or without stopping the work W.

[0047] Next, the work cutting device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Regarding the description of the work cutting device 1 according to the second embodiment, the description of the same parts as those of the work cutting device 1 according to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the description will be centered on the different parts.

[0048] The control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" based on the "work position information" detected by the work detection sensor 5. The "detection pitch information" is information regarding the distance between the work W and the work W located immediately downstream of the work W. When there is no work W immediately downstream of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3, the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" to that effect.

[0049] The control unit 6 generates "conveyance mode information" based on the "detection pitch information" and the "supply pitch information". The control unit 6 generates "conveyance mode information" regarding the work W located immediately upstream of the delivered work W immediately after the pitch maker 3 delivers the work W to the second conveyor device 4 at the "work transfer position β". For example, the "conveyance mode information" regarding the work W4 detected by the work detection sensor 5 shown in FIG. 1 is generated by the control unit 6 after the work W3 is delivered to the second conveyor device 4 at the "work transfer position β". That is, every time the work W is delivered to the second conveyor device 4, the control unit 6 generates "conveyance mode information" regarding the work W located immediately upstream of the work W based on the "detection pitch information" and the "supply pitch information".

[0050] Here, when there is no work W between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3 immediately after the pitch maker 3 delivers the work W to the second conveyor device 4 and the work W is not detected by the work detection sensor 5, the control unit 6 does not generate "conveyance mode information" until the work W is next detected by the work detection sensor 5. And in such a case, when the work W is next detected by the work detection sensor 5, it corresponds to the case where "there is no work W immediately downstream of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work transfer position β" of the pitch maker 3", and the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" to that effect.

[0051] Next, a series of operations for generating "conveyance mode information" in the control unit 6 after the work detection sensor 5 of the work cutting device 1 detects the work W will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the work detection sensor 5 sequentially detects the work W conveyed to the pitch maker 3 (or the first conveyor device 2), and sequentially transmits the detected "work position information" to the control unit 6 (step S10). When step S10 is performed, the process proceeds to step S11.

[0053] Next, the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" based on the "work position information" (step S11). At this time, when there is no work W on the immediate downstream side of the work W detected by the work detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the work W by the work detection sensor 5 and the "work handover position β" of the pitch maker 3, the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" to that effect. When step S11 is performed, the process proceeds to step S12.

[0054] Next, the control unit 6 generates "conveyance mode information" based on the "detection pitch information" and the "supply pitch information" (step S12). The control unit 6 generates "conveyance mode information" for the work W located immediately upstream of the work W delivered by the pitch maker 3 to the second conveyor device 4 at the "work handover position β". That is, every time the work W is delivered to the second conveyor device 4, the control unit 6 generates "conveyance mode information" for the work W located immediately upstream of the work W based on the "detection pitch information" and the "supply pitch information". Immediately after the pitch maker 3 delivers the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4, if there is no workpiece W between the detection position of the workpiece W by the workpiece detection sensor 5 and the "workpiece delivery position β" of the pitch maker 3 and the workpiece W is not detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5, the control unit 6 does not generate "conveying mode information" until the workpiece W is detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5 next. And in such a case, when the workpiece W is detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5 next, it corresponds to the case where "there is no workpiece W on the immediate downstream side of the workpiece W detected by the workpiece detection sensor 5 between the detection position of the workpiece W by the workpiece detection sensor 5 and the 'workpiece delivery position β' of the pitch maker 3", and the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information" to that effect. As described above, the workpiece cutting device 1 detects the workpiece W by the workpiece detection sensor 5 and then the control unit 6 generates "conveying mode information". And when sequentially cutting out a plurality of workpieces W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 in the workpiece cutting device 1 to the second conveyor device 4, the above operations (a series of operations of detecting the workpiece W by the workpiece detection sensor 5 and then generating "conveying mode information" by the control unit 6) are repeatedly performed.

[0055] As described above, the control unit 6 generates "detection pitch information", generates "conveying mode information", and based on the "conveying mode information", causes the pitch maker 3 to perform an operation of cutting out the workpiece W to the second conveyor device 4. Therefore, in the workpiece cutting device 1, it is possible to suppress defective conveyance of the workpiece W caused by repeatedly stopping and moving the conveyance of the workpiece W. Also, in the workpiece cutting device 1, the workpiece W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 or the pitch maker 3 can be efficiently cut out to the second conveyor device 4, and the workpiece W conveyed by the first conveyor device 2 or the pitch maker 3 can be cut out to the second conveyor device 4 without surely stopping it.

Explanation of symbols

[0056] 1 Workpiece cutting device 2 First conveyor device 3 Pitch maker 4 Second conveyor device 5 Work detection sensor 6 Control unit A First adjustment point B Second adjustment point W Workpiece P Placement point α Work receiving position β Work transfer position γ Adjustment area

Claims

1. A first conveyor device for conveying a plurality of workpieces from an upstream side to a downstream side, and a second conveyor device arranged on the downstream side of the first conveyor device for conveying the plurality of workpieces from the upstream side to the downstream side, and a pitch maker for cutting out the plurality of workpieces conveyed by the first conveyor device and arranging them in a line at a predetermined pitch and conveying them to the second conveyor device, comprising: The pitch maker receives the moving workpiece conveyed by the first conveyor device from the first conveyor device, and delivers the received workpiece to the second conveyor device that is being driven for conveyance without stopping its movement, a workpiece detection sensor for detecting the workpiece conveyed to the pitch maker, a control unit, comprising: The workpiece detection sensor sequentially transmits workpiece position information, which is information regarding the position of the detected workpiece, to the control unit, The control unit generates detection pitch information, which is information regarding the distance between the workpiece and the workpiece located immediately downstream of the workpiece, based on the workpiece position information, The control unit generates conveyance mode information based on the detection pitch information and supply pitch information, The supply pitch information is preset information regarding the predetermined pitch at which the pitch maker sequentially cuts out the workpieces and conveys them to the second conveyor device so that the workpieces are conveyed in a line at the predetermined pitch in the second conveyor device, The conveyance mode information is information regarding the conveyance mode of the workpiece in the pitch maker for the pitch maker to cut out the workpiece and convey it to the second conveyor device so that the workpieces are conveyed in a line at the predetermined pitch in the second conveyor device, The control unit causes the pitch maker to perform an operation of cutting out the workpiece and conveying it to the second conveyor device based on the conveyance mode information, After the pitch maker delivers the workpiece to the second conveyor device, the control unit generates conveyance mode information regarding the workpiece located immediately upstream of the delivered workpiece, A workpiece cutting-out device.

2. The conveyance mode information is configured such that the conveyance mode of the workpiece by the pitch maker is different in an adjustment area and an area upstream of the adjustment area in the conveyance direction of the workpiece, The adjustment area is an area for adjusting the conveyance speed of the work so that the pitch maker can cut out the work to the second conveyor device in accordance with the predetermined pitch. The work cutting device according to claim 1.

3. The work is a container having an opening at the upper part. The work cutting device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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