Item handling equipment

Abstract

To provide an article processing device with a high operating rate enabling operation even when a problem occurs in a downstream processing device.SOLUTION: An article processing device 10 supplies ingredients to containers V in an ingredient supplying device 20 and seals opening parts of the containers V in a sealing device 22 while conveying the containers V in multiple rows along a transport conveyor 14. Portions of the containers V processed by the transport conveyor 14 are discharged to first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B, respectively. First and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B are provided on the downstream of the first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B, respectively. When one of the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B stops, the conveying direction of the first or second discharge conveyor 16A or 16B is changed so that the containers V are conveyed to the other downstream processing device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article processing apparatus that processes containers that are transported in multiple rows. [Background technology]

[0002] A lid sealing device is known that transports multiple bowl-shaped containers in multiple rows and seals the container openings with lids (Patent Document 1). Downstream of the lid sealing device, a pair of conveyor belts are provided on the left and right sides that transport the containers row by row perpendicular to the transport direction of the lid sealing device, and the containers transferred to each conveyor belt are transported in opposite directions and discharged to a processing device on the downstream side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3192213 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional configuration, if a problem occurs in a downstream processing device, the entire line must be stopped, resulting in a decrease in the operating rate.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an article processing apparatus with a high availability rate that can continue to operate even when a problem occurs in a downstream processing apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention is an article processing apparatus comprising a conveying means for conveying articles in multiple rows, a first processing means for performing a predetermined process on the articles conveyed by the conveying means, a discharge means for discharging the articles processed by the first processing means from the conveying means, and a second processing means for performing a process different from that performed by the first processing means on the discharged articles, wherein the discharge means comprises a first discharge conveyor for discharging a portion of the articles processed by the first processing means, and a second discharge conveyor for discharging a portion of the articles processed by the first processing means, and the second processing means are provided downstream of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor, and when one of the second processing means stops, The first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are driven in the same direction so that all of the articles transferred from the transport means onto the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor can be transported to the other second processing means that is not stopped. It is characterized by the following.

[0007] The second invention of the present invention is an article processing device that, in the first invention, is characterized in that the first and second discharge conveyors are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which articles are transported by the transport means, and each transports half of the row of articles transported by the transport means to the second processing means.

[0008] The article processing device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the article processing device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, characterized in that the first and second discharge conveyors are each capable of forward and reverse operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article processing apparatus with a high availability rate that can continue to operate even when a problem occurs in a downstream processing apparatus. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of an article processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a side view showing a configuration of a portion of the article processing apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the state of transport of containers in a first operation mode. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the container transport state in the second operation mode when the second downstream processing device has stopped. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the state of container transport in the second operation mode when the first downstream processing device has stopped. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the layout of an article processing apparatus according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of a part of the article processing apparatus.

[0012] In this embodiment, article processing apparatus 10 is supplied with multiple rows of articles such as containers V from upstream processing apparatus 12. Article processing apparatus 10 in this embodiment includes a transport conveyor (transport means) 14 that transports the containers V in multiple rows, first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B that transport the containers V discharged from transport conveyor 14, and first and second downstream processing apparatuses (second processing means) 18A, 18B that are disposed downstream of first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B, respectively.

[0013] The containers V are held in holes in a retainer 12B that is hung on a pair of left and right chains 12A of the upstream processing device 12, and are transported intermittently. A lift 19 is disposed below the retainer 12B downstream of the upstream processing device 12, and each container V held in the retainer 12B is lifted by the lift 19. Each container V lifted by the lift 19 is held by a transfer device 21 that is hung from the upstream processing device 12 to above the transport conveyor 14, and is transported onto the transport conveyor 14.

[0014] Similar to the upstream processing device 12, the transport conveyor 14 also has a retainer 14B suspended between a pair of left and right chains 14A. At the upstream portion of the transport conveyor 14, lifts 24 are disposed below the retainer 14B in correspondence with each hole in the retainer 14B, and the container V held by the transfer device 21 is placed on the raised lift 24, and is held in each hole in the retainer 14B by the lowering of the lift 24.

[0015] Above the transport conveyor 14, there are provided an ingredient insertion device (first processing means) 20 that inserts ingredients and other contents from the upstream side, and a sealing device (first processing means) 22 that seals the opening of the container V into which the ingredients have been inserted with a lid. In this embodiment, two ingredient insertion devices 20 are provided, and ingredients are inserted into the container V in two batches for each type. Note that the retainers 14B of the transport conveyor 14 are transported intermittently.

[0016] At the downstream end of the transport conveyor 14, first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B are arranged along the width direction of the transport conveyor 14 (a direction perpendicular to the transport direction). At the downstream portion of the transport conveyor 14, a lift 26 is arranged below the retainer 14B, and each container V held by the retainer 14B is lifted by the lift 26. Each container V lifted by the lift 26 is held by a transfer device 28 that spans from the transport conveyor 14 to above the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B, and is transferred onto the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B.

[0017] The containers V are transferred row by row from the transfer conveyor 14 to the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B by the transfer device 28. That is, some of the containers V constituting each row of the transfer conveyor 14 are transferred to the first discharge conveyor 16A by the transfer device 28, and the remainder are transferred to the second discharge conveyor 16B. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the containers V are transported in 12 rows on the transfer conveyor 14, and six containers V are transferred to each of the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B, but the number of containers V transferred to the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B does not have to be equal.

[0018] The ends of the first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B located on the inside in the width direction of the transport conveyor 14 are adjacent to each other near the center in the width direction of the transport conveyor 14, with a crossing plate 30 in between. In addition, the ends of the first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B located on the outside in the width direction of the transport conveyor 14 are connected to the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B via conveyors such as the first and second curved conveyors 32A, 32B and the third and fourth take-out conveyors 34A, 34B, respectively.

[0019] The first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B can each operate in both forward and reverse directions, and in the normal first operating mode, they are driven in opposite directions to transport containers V toward the outside of the width direction of the transport conveyor 14. That is, containers V on the first discharge conveyor 16A are transported to the first downstream processing device 18A via the first curved conveyor 32A and the third discharge conveyor 34A, and containers V on the second discharge conveyor 16B are transported to the second downstream processing device 18B via the second curved conveyor 32B and the fourth discharge conveyor 34B. The containers V transported to the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B are then subjected to, for example, a shrink treatment, and the entire container is wrapped in film.

[0020] On the other hand, in a second operating mode in which operation of one of the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B is stopped, the first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B operate in the same direction, and containers V on the first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B are supplied to one of the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B through either the first curved conveyor 32A and the third discharge conveyor 34A, or the second curved conveyor 32B and the fourth discharge conveyor 34B.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the transport state of the container V in the first operation mode, Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the transport state of the container V in the second operation mode when the second downstream processing device 18B is stopped, and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the transport state of the container V in the second operation mode when the first downstream processing device 18A is stopped.

[0022] 3, in the normal first operating mode, the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B run in opposite directions toward the outside of the width direction of the transfer conveyor 14. As a result, containers V on the first discharge conveyor 16A are transported via the first curved conveyor 32A and the third discharge conveyor 34A to the first downstream processing device 18A for processing, and containers V on the second discharge conveyor 16B are transported via the second curved conveyor 32B and the fourth discharge conveyor 34B to the first downstream processing device 18B for processing. The first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B are driven by motors 17A and 17B, respectively, and the third and fourth discharge conveyors 34A and 34B are driven by motors 35A and 35B, respectively. Each motor is driven in synchronization with the transfer conveyor 14 and the transfer device 28 by a control unit (not shown) according to the operating mode.

[0023] 4 and 5, when one of the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B is stopped due to some malfunction, the article processing device 10 is operated in the second operating mode. In Fig. 4, the operation of the second downstream processing device 18B is stopped, and the first downstream processing device 18A performs downstream processing on all containers V.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, when the second downstream processing device 18B is stopped, the second discharge conveyor 16B operates in the same direction and at the same speed as the first discharge conveyor 16A, but in the opposite direction to the normal first operating mode. As a result, the containers V on the second discharge conveyor 16B are transferred to the first discharge conveyor 16A via the crossing plate 30 and, following the containers V on the first discharge conveyor 16A, are transported toward the first curved conveyor 32A. That is, the containers V transferred from the transport conveyor 14 onto the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B are discharged to the first downstream processing device 18A via the first curved conveyor 32A and third discharge conveyor 34A for processing. When the operation of the second downstream processing device 18B is stopped, the operation of the second curved conveyor 32B and fourth discharge conveyor 34B is also stopped.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, when the first downstream processing device 18A is stopped, the first discharge conveyor 16A operates in the same direction and at the same speed as the second discharge conveyor 16B, but in the opposite direction from the normal first operating mode. As a result, the container V on the first discharge conveyor 16A is transferred to the second discharge conveyor 16B via the crossing plate 30 and, following the container V on the second discharge conveyor 16B, is transported toward the second curved conveyor 32B. In other words, the container V transferred from the transport conveyor 14 onto the first and second discharge conveyors 16A and 16B is discharged to the second downstream processing device 18B via the second curved conveyor 32B and fourth discharge conveyor 34B and processed there. At this time, the operation of the first curved conveyor 32A and third discharge conveyor 34A is stopped.

[0026] In the second operation mode, processing is performed using only one of the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B, so the conveying speed of the transfer conveyor 14 is set to less than half of that in the normal first operation mode, and the drive timings of the ingredient inserting device 20 and the sealing device 22 are adjusted accordingly. The conveying speed of the transfer conveyor 14 in the first and second operation modes is adjusted depending on the number of containers V distributed to the first and second discharge conveyors 16A, 16B and which of the first and second downstream processing devices 18A, 18B is stopped.

[0027] As described above, according to this embodiment, even if operation of one of the first and second downstream processing devices is stopped, downstream processing can be performed on all items using the other downstream processing device, thereby achieving a high operating rate.

[0028] Although the articles handled by the article processing device in this embodiment are containers, the type of article is not limited as long as it undergoes some kind of processing on the transport conveyor and in the downstream processing device, and the processing performed on the articles is also optional depending on the type of article and is not limited to this embodiment. Also, in this embodiment, articles are transported from the first and second discharge conveyors to the first and second downstream processing devices, respectively, but it is also possible to divide the downstream end of the transport conveyor into three or more sections in the width direction, receive containers on three or more discharge conveyors, and provide downstream processing devices downstream of each section.

[0029] Although the article processing device of this embodiment has been described as transporting articles in even-numbered rows (12 rows), articles may also be transported in odd-numbered rows. For example, in the case of (2n+1) rows, n articles may be transferred onto one discharge conveyor and (n+1) articles may be transferred onto the other discharge conveyor.

[0030] In this embodiment, a lift is used to raise and lower the container, but the container may be gradually raised above the retainer using a fixed guide that engages with the container, etc. Also, the transfer device shown in this embodiment uses a chuck to hold the container and transfer it to the downstream conveyor, but the container lifted by the lift can also be pushed onto the downstream conveyor using a pusher, etc.

[0031] The first and second downstream processing devices may have different capacities. In this case, the ratio of the number of articles discharged onto each discharge conveyor (the length ratio of the first and second discharge conveyors) is set according to the capacity ratio of the downstream processing devices. When one of the downstream processing devices stops, the capacity of the upstream processing device is adjusted according to the capacity ratio. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10. Material handling equipment 14 Conveyor (transport means) 16A First discharge conveyor (discharge means) 16B Second discharge conveyor (discharge means) 18A First downstream processing device (second processing means) 18B Second downstream processing device (second processing means) 20 Ingredient inserting device (first processing means) 22 Sealing device (first processing means)

Claims

1. a conveying means for conveying articles in multiple rows; a first processing means for performing a predetermined processing on the article conveyed by the conveying means; a discharge means for discharging the article processed by the first processing means from the conveying means; In an article processing apparatus having a second processing means for performing a process different from that performed by the first processing means on the discharged articles, the discharge means comprises a first discharge conveyor for discharging a portion of the articles processed by the first processing means, and a second discharge conveyor for discharging a portion of the articles processed by the first processing means; the second processing means is provided downstream of the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor, respectively; When one of the second processing means is stopped, the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor are driven in the same direction so that all of the articles transferred from the transport means to the first discharge conveyor and the second discharge conveyor can be transported to the other second processing means that is not stopped. An article processing device characterized by:

2. 2. The article processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second discharge conveyors are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the articles are transported by the transport means, and each conveys approximately half of the row of articles transported by the transport means to the second processing means.

3. 3. The article processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second discharge conveyors are each capable of forward and reverse operation.

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