Item transport device

Abstract

To provide an article conveyance device that delivers lined-up articles from a conveyance chute to a picker, which can prevent the articles from bouncing from the picker to the conveyance chute.SOLUTION: A picker 14 that is moved by a picker moving device is arranged at a receiving position opposing to an end edge part of a conveyance chute 12 through which caps C are conveyed in line, so that the caps C can be delivered. A first stopper 52 that engages with the cap C at the head of a row of the caps in the conveyance chute 12 to restrict the cap from moving in a conveying direction and a second stopper 53 that engages with the cap C at the second from the head of the row of the caps to restrict the cap from moving in the conveying direction are arranged. An insertable ejecting pusher 60 is provided between the cap C at the head and the cap C at the second from the head in the conveyance chute 12, and an insertable transfer pusher 68A is provided between the cap C at the m-th position and the cap C at the m+1-th position. Further, a third stopper 70 that restricts the cap C from moving is arranged closer to an upstream side than the transfer pusher 68A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article transport device that transfers aligned articles from a transport chute to a picker. [Background technology]

[0002] A known cap conveying device (Patent Document 1) sequentially transfers tube-attached caps conveyed in a line on a conveying chute to multiple pickers that move intermittently at the downstream end of the conveying chute perpendicular to the chute conveyance direction. The conveying chute in Patent Document 1 conveys the caps by blowing air onto the caps lined up on the inclined conveying chute, using the caps' own weight and wind pressure. Furthermore, to control the delivery of caps from the conveying chute to the pickers, multiple stoppers are provided downstream of the conveying chute to restrict the movement of the caps. The stoppers can be advanced and retracted in front of the caps being conveyed from above, allowing the leading cap to wait in front of the picker. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-15111 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, when the caps move from the transport chute to the picker, they may bounce back from the picker toward the transport chute, causing part of the leading cap to protrude into the transport chute. If the stopper at the downstream end is lowered in this state, the stopper may interfere with the leading cap, preventing the picker from transporting the leading cap.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to prevent articles from bouncing back from a picker to a transport chute in an article transport device that transfers aligned articles from a transport chute to a picker. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first invention of the present invention provides an article transport device comprising: a transport chute that supports articles in a line along a transport path; article transport means for positioning a picker that holds the articles at a receiving position opposite the terminal end of the transport chute; a first stopper provided at the terminal end of the transport chute that can engage with the first article in the line of articles to restrict forward movement in the transport direction; first stopper moving means for moving the first stopper between an engagement position where it can engage with the article and a standby position spaced apart from the article; a second stopper that can engage with the second article from the front of the line of articles to restrict forward movement in the transport direction; and a second stopper moving means for moving the second stopper between an engagement position where it can engage with the article and a standby position spaced apart from the article. and an article discharge means including a second stopper moving means for moving the first stopper to a first position, a discharge pusher having a discharge section that engages with the first article in the row of articles and sends it to the receiving position, and a locking section that can lock with the article discharged to the picker located at the receiving position, and an article discharge pusher moving means for moving the discharge pusher between a standby position and a discharge position along a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the conveying chute, wherein, when the engagement of the first stopper with the article is released, the discharge pusher is moved from the standby position to the discharge position, whereby the discharge section sends the first article in the row of articles to the picker located at the receiving position.

[0007] The second invention of the present invention is an item conveying device that, in the first invention, is characterized in that after the first item in the row of items is sent to the picker, the first stopper is moved to an engagement position and the discharge pusher is positioned at the sending position until the first stopper reaches the engagement position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, in an article transport device that transfers aligned articles from a transport chute to a picker, it is possible to prevent articles from bouncing back from the picker to the transport chute. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of a cap transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap transport device 10 of FIG. 1 taken along the arrow AA. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the cap transport device in the vicinity of the receiving position P1. [Figure 5] 5 is a view of the picker holding the cap, seen from the downstream side in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 10 is a plan view showing the first half of the cap delivery operation in the transport chute (from the initial state to the article discharge operation 2) in time sequence. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a plan view showing the latter half of the cap sending-out operation in the transfer chute (first to third transfer operations) in time sequence. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of an article transport device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The cap conveying device (item conveying device) 10 receives caps (items) C at a receiving position P1, conveys them to a delivery position (section) P2, and delivers the caps C to a downstream device such as a capper. The caps C have a tube T at the bottom center thereof, and are supplied to the cap conveying device 10 from a conveying chute 12 with the tube T hanging downward. The cap conveying device 10 sequentially receives the caps C from the conveying chute 12, for example, using a plurality of first pickers 14A arranged adjacently.

[0012] The first picker 14A is moved between a receiving position P1 and a delivery position P2 by a first picker moving device (article transport means) 16A. The first picker moving device 16A is attached, for example, along the outer periphery of a pair of upper and lower first endless chains 22A that are wound around a first driving sprocket 18A and a first driven sprocket 20A that rotate around a vertical axis. The receiving position P1 and the delivery position P2 are located on opposite span sides of the first endless chain 22A.

[0013] The first pickers 14A can move cyclically between a receiving position P1 and a delivery position P2 by rotation of the first drive sprocket 18A. When receiving caps C, the first endless chain 22A moves intermittently, and each first picker 14A is temporarily stopped just before the conveying chute 12. While the first endless chain 22A is stopped, the first pickers 14A receive one cap C from the conveying chute 12. Meanwhile, at the delivery position (section) P2, capping heads 23, the same number as the first pickers 14A, are positioned above each first picker 14A, and the caps C held by each first picker 14A are simultaneously picked up by the capping heads 23.

[0014] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap transport device 10 of Figure 1 taken along the line AA. As shown in Figure 2, the cap transport device 10 of this embodiment includes a second picker moving device (article transport means) 16B in parallel with a first picker moving device 16A. The second picker moving device 16B is disposed below the first picker moving device 16A, and includes the same number of second pickers 14B as the first pickers 14A along the outer periphery of a pair of upper and lower second endless chains 22B wound around a second driving sprocket 18B and a second driven sprocket 20B.

[0015] Because the first and second pickers 14A and 14B have the same configuration, common parts will be described below as the picker 14. As shown in the enlarged plan views of the picker in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the enlarged plan view of the vicinity of receiving position P1 in FIG. 4, the picker 14 includes a plate 24 that supports the cap body and a gripper 26 for gripping the tube T. A notch 24A is provided in the center of the outer edge of the plate 24, into which the tube T hanging down from the center of the cap C is inserted when the cap C is transferred onto the plate 24. The notch 24A is formed perpendicular to the outer edge of the plate 24, and the width of the notch 24A is wider than the outer diameter of the tube T and the length is slightly longer than the radius of the cap C. In addition, three protrusions 24B, for example, are provided around the notch 24A on the top surface of the plate 24 to position the cap C body transferred onto the plate 24.

[0016] As will be described later, the cap C transported in this embodiment is a cap with a dispenser equipped with a nozzle and a trigger, and a trigger guide 24C into which the trigger is inserted is provided on the rear side of the notch 24A on the outer edge of the plate 24 in the transport direction.

[0017] The plates 24 of the first and second pickers 14A and 14B are held by the first and second endless chains 22A and 22B via first and second support members 28A and 28B, respectively, which extend vertically. That is, the inner edges (opposite the outer edges) of the plates 24 are attached to the upper ends of the first and second support members 28A and 28B, and the base ends 30 of the first and second support members 28A and 28B are held between the pair of first endless chains 22A and the pair of second endless chains 22B, respectively. In FIG. 2, the first picker 14A is shown on the left side of the first picker moving device 16A, and the second picker 14B is shown on the right side of the second picker moving device 16B.

[0018] The base end portion 30 has a total of four pairs of rollers 30A, each pair positioned above and below, that rotate around a vertical axis, and a roller 30B, located at the center of the inner surface, that rotates around a horizontal axis. The rollers 30A run within grooves in guide rails 32A that are respectively arranged along the top and bottom of the pair of first endless chains 22A and the top and bottom of the pair of second endless chains 22B. The rollers 30B run within grooves in guide rails 32B (not shown) that are arranged along the inside of the track of the base end portion 30. This defines the track along which the base end portion 30, i.e., the picker 14, moves.

[0019] The vertical length of the second support member 28B is longer than the vertical length of the first support member 28A because the second endless chain 22B is positioned lower than the first endless chain 22A. As a result, the first picker 14A and the second picker 14B are positioned at the same height and circulate along the same track.

[0020] The first driving sprocket 18A is integrally attached around the shaft 34, and the second driving sprocket 18B is rotatably attached around the shaft 34. A gear 36A is provided at the lower end of the shaft 34 and is rotated by driving a motor 38A. A gear 36B is provided at the lower end of the second driving sprocket 18B and is rotated around the shaft 34 by driving a motor 38B. The drive of the motors 38A and 38B can be controlled independently.

[0021] Gripper 26 is attached to the underside of plate 24. Gripper 26 has a pair of left and right gripper pieces 26A, 26B, and the base ends thereof are attached to rotation shafts 40A, 40B that are journaled below plate 24. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, rotation shafts 40A, 40B have gears 42A, 42B that engage with each other, respectively, and rotate by the same angle in opposite directions.

[0022] A first lever arm 44A is attached to the gear 42A. One end of a biasing member 46 such as a spring is attached to the tip of the first lever arm 44A, and the other end of the biasing member 46 is attached to the plate 24. A second lever arm 44B is attached to the gear 42B, and a cam follower 48 for opening and closing the gripper is provided at the tip of the second lever arm 44B. The cam follower 48 engages with a cam 50 for opening and closing the gripper that is provided along the movement direction of the picker 14 (see FIG. 4).

[0023] That is, first lever arm 44A biases gripper piece 26A and, via gears 42A and 42B, gripper piece 26B in a closing direction by biasing member 46. This causes second lever arm 44B to rotate in a direction that presses cam follower 48 against cam 50. When cam follower 48 is pushed outward relative to the endless track due to the shape (protrusion) of cam 50, first lever arm 44A is rotated against the biasing force of biasing member 46, and gripper pieces 26A and 26B are released.

[0024] 1, 2, 4, and 5, the conveying chute 12 is disposed perpendicularly from the outside to the track of the picker 14, and the caps C are supplied with a tube T inserted between a pair of slide bars 12A and 12B of the conveying chute 12. In this embodiment, the caps C are caps with a dispenser, and are provided with a vertically long head portion H incorporating a pump (not shown) above the cap body, a nozzle N provided at the tip of the head portion H, and a trigger lever L located below the nozzle N and extending downward from the head portion H. Note that FIG. 5 is a view seen from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4.

[0025] The caps C are transported on the transport chute 12 in close contact with each other, with the longitudinal direction of the head portion H perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport chute 12. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of top surface guide bars 51 are provided above the transport chute 12 to guide the caps to the top surface of the head portion H. Also, above the downstream end of the transport chute 12, first and second stoppers 52 and 53 are arranged in this order from the downstream side in the cap transport direction. The first and second stoppers 52 and 53 each include locking members 52A and 53A that abut against the front side of the head portion H in the transport direction to restrict the movement of the caps C, and cylinders 52B and 53B (first and second stopper moving means) that are located above the locking members 52A and 53A and that raise and lower the locking members 52A and 53A. That is, the locking members 52A and 53A can move back and forth between an engagement position where they engage with the front surface of the head portion H and a standby position where they are separated from the head portion H.

[0026] The locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 can extend downward to a height that engages with the cap C being transported on the transport chute 12, and when the locking member 52A is lowered by the cylinder 52B, the locking member 52A engages with the front surface of the head portion H of the cap C located at the front (first) position on the transport chute 12, restricting the movement of the front (first) cap C (engaged position). When the locking member 52A is raised by the cylinder 52B, the lower end of the locking member 52A is moved to a position higher than the head portion H, and the restriction on the movement of the front (first) cap C is released (standby position).

[0027] In addition, the locking member 53A of the second stopper 53 can also extend downward to the same height as the locking member 52A. When the locking member 53A is lowered by the cylinder 53B, the locking member 53A is inserted between the first (leading) and second caps C on the conveying chute 12 and engages with the front surface of the second head portion H to restrict the movement of the second cap C (engaged position). When the locking member 53A is raised by the cylinder 53B, the lower end of the locking member 53A is moved to a position higher than the head portion H, and the restriction on the movement of the second cap C is released (standby position). The top surface guide bar 51 extends to just before the first cap C that is locked by the locking member 52A. Therefore, the locking member 53A is lowered to a position where it does not interfere with the pair of top surface guide bars 51.

[0028] Furthermore, this embodiment includes a pair of discharge pushers 60 for pushing the first (leading) cap C on the conveying chute 12, which is locked by the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52, into the picker 14. Each discharge pusher 60 is movable back and forth in a direction intersecting (perpendicular to) the conveying chute 12 by a discharge pusher drive actuator (discharge pusher moving means) 62, such as an air cylinder. As will be described later, after the first cap C is locked by the first stopper 52 and until the second cap C is locked by the second stopper 53, the discharge pushers 60 are positioned outside the conveying chute 12 where they are not engaged with the caps C (standby position). Thereafter, when the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 is moved to the engagement position, the discharge pusher drive actuator 62 pushes the left and right discharge pushers 60 onto the conveying chute 12 until their leading ends approach each other (sending position). An introduction sensor 66 is provided on the side of the conveying chute 12 at a position where it engages with the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52, for detecting whether or not the leading (first) cap C is present.

[0029] The discharge pusher 60 has a wedge-shaped (tapered) shape, for example, formed by cutting off the tip of a rectangular parallelepiped plate at an angle, and is disposed so that the inclined surface (sending portion) 60A of the wedge faces the picker 14. The width of the discharge pusher 60 roughly corresponds to the distance between the locking members 52A and 53A of the first and second stoppers 52 and 53, and when the discharge pusher drive actuator 62 pushes the discharge pusher 60 onto the conveying chute 12, the tip of the wedge-shaped discharge pusher 60 is pushed between the first cap C and the second cap C.

[0030] When the discharge pusher 60 is pushed out toward the sending-out position, the leading (first) cap C on the transport chute 12 is sent onto the picker 14 by the wedge-shaped inclined surface 60A. When the discharge pusher 60 reaches the sending-out position, the leading (first) cap C is transferred onto the plate 24 of the picker 14, and the tube T is inserted into the notch 24A. At this time, the movement of the leading cap C in the transport direction is restricted by an end stopper 64 fixedly disposed in front of the cap C, preventing the cap C from falling over.

[0031] Additionally, the front surface (locking portion) 60B of the discharge pusher 60, which has moved to the sending position, is located behind the leading cap C, and contact with the end stopper 64 prevents the leading cap C from bouncing back into the transport chute 12. This allows the leading cap C to be held in the correct position and orientation on the plate 24 of the picker 14. In Figure 4, the discharge pusher 60 in the sending position is depicted by a dashed line, and the cap C transferred to the picker 14 is held in the correct position and orientation between the end stopper 64 and the front surface 60B of the discharge pusher 60.

[0032] The gripper 26 of the picker 14 at the receiving position P1 is open due to contact of the cam follower 48 with the first cam 50A of the cam 50, and when the picker 14 starts moving in the conveying direction from the receiving position P1, the gripper 26 is temporarily closed.

[0033] A guide mechanism 54 is disposed immediately downstream of the receiving position P1, which regulates the posture and orientation of the head H to maintain the posture of the caps C. The guide mechanism 54 is composed of, for example, three guide plates extending in the conveyance direction, and includes a guide plate (not shown) that guides the top surface of the conveyed head H and guide plates 54A that guide both side surfaces. The main bodies of the left and right guide plates 54A are disposed parallel to each other with a gap slightly wider than the width of the head H, but their upstream portions are bent outward, and the distance between the two guide plates 54A increases as they move upstream. This aligns all caps C, even if the longitudinal orientation of the head H deviates from the conveyance direction, in the conveyance direction.

[0034] The tube T of the cap C that was transferred onto the plate 24 at the receiving position P1 is immediately gripped by the gripper 26, and therefore the orientation of the head H cannot be corrected by the guide mechanism 54 in this state. Therefore, when the head H reaches between the left and right guide plates 54A in the upstream section, the cam follower 48 of the second lever arm of the picker 14 is pushed outward by the second cam 50B (see FIG. 4), temporarily opening the gripper 26. The gripper 26 closes again while the head H is between the parallel guide plates 54A, and the cap C is firmly held by the picker 14.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the conveying chute 12 of this embodiment includes a cap transfer mechanism (article transfer means) 68 upstream of the second stopper 53 for sending the caps C on the conveying chute 12 downstream, and a third stopper 70 further upstream for restricting the movement of the caps C on the conveying chute 12. The conveying chute 12 is also configured so that its gradient gradually increases from downstream to upstream. That is, the tip of the conveying chute 12 is approximately horizontal (0° gradient) and is tilted to approximately 5° toward the cap transfer mechanism 68. The gradient further increases from approximately 5° to approximately 10° from the cap transfer mechanism 68 to the third stopper 70, and increases to approximately 10° to approximately 15° in the section upstream of the third stopper 70.

[0036] The cap transfer mechanism 68 includes a transfer pusher 68A inserted between the caps C that are in close contact on the transfer chute 12, and a transfer pusher drive actuator (pusher moving means) 68B that uses an air cylinder or the like to move the transfer pusher 68A back and forth. In this embodiment, the cap transfer mechanism 68 is disposed downstream of the transfer chute 12 in the picker transfer direction, and the transfer pusher 68A moves back and forth between a sending position and a standby position so as to cross the transfer path of the caps C from the side of the transfer chute 12.

[0037] On the other hand, the third stopper 70 restricts the movement of the cap C on the conveying chute 12, for example, by pressing a locking member 70A from the side of the conveying chute 12 against the side surface of the head portion H of the cap C being conveyed on the conveying chute 12. The locking member 70A is advanced and retreated in a direction intersecting the conveying chute 12 by a third stopper drive actuator 70B, and is moved between an engagement position where it engages with the head portion H and a standby position separated from the head portion H. The locking member 70A is sized to be pressed against the side surfaces of the head portions H of two adjacent caps C on the conveying chute 12.

[0038] The transfer pusher 68A in this embodiment has a wedge-shaped (tapered) shape, for example, formed by cutting off the tip of a rectangular parallelepiped plate at an angle, and a pressing portion 68C formed as a slanted surface (tapered face) of the wedge is arranged to face the downstream side of the conveying chute 12. The transfer pusher 68A is also arranged at a position on the conveying chute 12 where it can be inserted between the mth cap C and the (m+1)th cap C from the front of the row of caps locked by the first stopper 52 (the cap C locked by the first stopper 52).

[0039] When the transfer pusher 68A, which is in the standby position, is inserted between the mth cap C and the (m+1)th cap C by the transfer pusher drive actuator 68B and moved to the sending position, the tapered surface of the pressing part 68C facing downstream engages with the head part H of the mth cap C and pushes the cap C downstream. At the same time, a surface of the transfer pusher 68A that is perpendicular to the conveying direction and located on the opposite side (upstream side) from the pressing part 68C engages with the front surface of the head part H of the (m+1)th cap C and functions as a regulating part 68D that regulates its movement.

[0040] Next, the operation of feeding out the caps C in the conveying chute 12 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figures 6 and 7 are plan views showing in time sequence the operation of feeding out the caps C in the conveying chute 12 using the first and second stoppers 52 and 53, the discharge pusher 60, the transfer pusher 68A, and the third stopper 70. In the explanation up to this point, the first and second stoppers 52 and 53 have been shown as rod-shaped structures that move up and down, but in Figures 6 and 7, for convenience of explanation, they are shown as wedge-shaped structures that move up and down.

[0041] In Figure 6(a), the caps C are lined up closely on the conveying chute 12, and the leading cap C is held between the first and second stoppers 52, 53, which are in the locking position (initial state). Also in Figure 6(a), the discharge pusher 60 and the transfer pusher 68A are in the standby position, and the third stopper 70 is in the engagement position. When the introduction sensor 66 confirms the presence of the leading cap C in the initial state, the conveying chute 12 starts to discharge the caps C.

[0042] 6(b), when it is confirmed that the picker 14 is stopped with the locking member 53A of the second stopper 53 maintained in the locking position, the transfer pusher 68A maintained in the standby position, and the locking member 70A of the third stopper 70 maintained in the engagement position, the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 is retracted to the standby position and the discharge pusher 60 is pushed to the sending position (item discharge operation 1). At this time, the movements of the first stopper 52 and the discharge pusher 60 are adjusted so that the inclined surface 60A of the discharge pusher 60 abuts against the head portion H of the leading cap C after the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 leaves the head portion H of the leading cap C. This allows the leading cap C to be delivered to the picker 14.

[0043] At this time, the front surface of the head portion H of the second cap C is locked by the locking member 53A of the second stopper 53, restricting the movement of the second and subsequent caps C. In addition, the head portion H of the leading cap C sent to the picker 14 is sandwiched between the end stopper 64 and the front surface (locking portion) 60B of the discharge pusher 60, and its position is maintained.

[0044] 6(c), the introduction sensor 66 confirms that the leading cap C is not present, and after a predetermined time (e.g., 0.1 seconds) has elapsed since the discharge pusher 60 started to move to the sending-out position in item discharging operation 1, the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 is moved to the engagement position, and the discharge pusher 60 is moved to the standby position (item discharging operation 2). At this time, the movements of the first stopper 52 and the discharge pusher 60 are adjusted so that the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 engages with the head portion H of the leading cap C, and then the inclined surface 60A of the discharge pusher 60 moves away from the head portion H of the leading cap C delivered to the picker 14. In other words, the discharge pusher 60 is positioned at the sending-out position until the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 reaches a position where it can engage with the leading cap C sent to the picker 14. As a result, even if the discharge pusher 60 is moved to the standby position, the leading cap C delivered to the picker 14 is prevented from being returned to the transport chute 12, thereby preventing a malfunction such as the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 getting caught in the leading cap C returned to the transport chute 12. During this time, the locking member 53A of the second stopper 53 and the locking member 70A of the third stopper 70 are maintained in the engaged position, and the transfer pusher 68A is also maintained in the standby position. After the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52 reaches a position where it can engage with the leading cap C sent to the picker 14, the picker 14 holding the leading cap C can begin moving from the receiving position P1.

[0045] 7(d), when it is confirmed that the first stopper 52 is in the engaged position, the locking member 53A of the second stopper 53 starts to move from the engaged position to the standby position, and the transport pusher 68A starts to move from the standby position to the sending-out position. At this time, the movements of the second stopper 53 and the transport pusher 68A are adjusted so that the locking member 53A of the second stopper 53 moves away from the head portion H of the second cap C, and then the pressing portion 68C of the transport pusher 68A abuts against the head portion H of the m-th cap C. As a result, the transport pusher 68A pushes out the second to m-th caps C in the transport direction while restricting the movement of the (m+1)-th cap C in the transport direction (first transport operation), and the front surface of the head portion H of the second cap C abuts against the locking member 52A of the first stopper 52. Then, the picker 14 holding the leading cap C is moved from the receiving position P1 by the first or second picker moving device 16A or 16B, and the next picker 14 is moved to the receiving position P1.

[0046] 7(e), the locking member 70A of the third stopper 70 is maintained in the locking position, and when a predetermined time (e.g., 0.1 seconds) has elapsed since the transfer pusher 68A started to move to the send-out position in the first transfer operation, the transfer pusher 68A is returned to the standby position. As a result, the caps C positioned in front of the third stopper 70 in the transfer direction from the (m+1)th cap C move in the transfer direction on the transfer chute 12 due to their own weight or the blowing of air, and the head portion H of the (m+1)th cap C comes into close contact with the head portion H of the mth cap C (second transfer operation). Note that FIG. 7(e) shows a state in which the picker 14 holding the leading cap C is moved from the receiving position P1, and the next picker 14 is in the process of being moved to the receiving position P1.

[0047] Next, as shown in Fig. 7(f), after a predetermined time has elapsed since the second stopper 53 was moved to the standby position in the first transfer operation, when the introduction sensor 66 detects the presence of a cap C, the locking member 53A of the second stopper 53 is moved to the engagement position and the locking member 70A of the third stopper 70 is moved to the standby position. As a result, the row of caps C on the upstream side, whose movement in the transfer direction was restricted by the third stopper 70, is moved downstream of the transfer chute 12, and the locking member 70A of the third stopper 70 is moved to the engagement position (third transfer operation). As a result, the row of caps C on the transfer chute 12 returns to the same state as the initial state shown in Fig. 6(a).

[0048] As a result, the cap C that was previously second in the line of caps on the conveying chute 12 becomes the first cap C, and the sending operation shown in Figures 6(a) to 7(f) is repeated sequentially until all caps C have been delivered to the first picker 14A or the second picker 14B.

[0049] The first to third stoppers 52, 53, 70, discharge pusher 60, transfer pusher 68A, first and second picker moving devices 16A, 16B, and capping head 23 are driven synchronously by a control unit (control means) consisting of a microcomputer, PLC, personal computer, etc. (not shown) based on a signal from the introduction sensor 66.

[0050] As described above, according to the cap transport device of this embodiment, the locking portion of the discharge pusher prevents the caps delivered from the picker to the transport chute from being bounced back toward the transport chute by the end stopper. In addition, by providing the transfer pusher and the third stopper, the caps can be sent out more smoothly in the transport chute and the second stopper downstream of the transport chute can be prevented from getting caught. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10 Cap transport device 12 Transport chute 14 Pikka 14A 1st Picker 14B 2nd Picker 16A First picker moving device (item transport means) 16B Second picker moving device (item transport means) 52 First stopper 52B Cylinder (first stopper moving means) 53 Second stopper 53B Cylinder (second stopper moving means) 60 Discharge pusher 62 Discharge pusher drive actuator (discharge pusher moving means) 68 Cap transfer mechanism (item transfer means) 68A Transfer Pusher 68B Transfer pusher drive actuator (pusher moving means) 70 Third stopper C Cap H head section P1 Receiving position P2 Delivery location (section) T-tube

Claims

1. a conveying chute for supporting a single file of articles along a conveying path; an article conveying means for positioning a picker for holding the article at a receiving position opposite the terminal end of the conveying chute; a first stopper provided at a terminal end of the conveying chute and capable of engaging with a leading article in the row of articles to restrict forward movement in the conveying direction; a first stopper moving means for moving the first stopper between an engagement position where the first stopper can engage with the article and a standby position separated from the article; a second stopper that can engage with the second article from the top of the row of articles to restrict forward movement in the conveying direction; a second stopper moving means for moving the second stopper between an engagement position where the second stopper can engage with the article and a standby position separated from the article; an article discharge means including a discharge pusher having a delivery section that engages with the leading article in the row of articles and delivers it to the receiving position, and a locking section that can lock onto the article delivered to the picker located at the receiving position; and a discharge pusher moving means that moves the discharge pusher between a standby position and a delivery position along a direction that intersects with the conveying direction of the conveying chute, With the first stopper disengaged from the article, the discharge pusher is moved from the standby position to the sending position, whereby the sending section sends the article at the head of the row of articles to the picker located at the receiving position. An article transport device characterized by:

2. 2. The article transport device according to claim 1, wherein after the first article in the row of articles is sent to the picker, the first stopper is moved to an engagement position and the discharge pusher is positioned at the sending position until the first stopper reaches the engagement position.