Conveying system

Abstract

To provide a conveyance system that is advantageous for properly transferring articles from the secondary conveyance channel to the main conveyance channel.SOLUTION: A conveyance system 10 includes: a main conveyance unit 11 conveying articles 90 in a main conveyance channel 21 including a confluence point Pm; a secondary conveyance unit 12 conveying articles 90 in a secondary conveyance channel 22; a guide bottom 41; and a merging guide 13 that includes a guide upright 42 connected to the guide bottom 41 without gaps and extending upward from the guide bottom 41. The merging guide 13 pushes out the articles 90 conveyed by the secondary conveyance unit 12 horizontally by the guide upright 42 and transfers the entire articles 90 to the main conveyance channel 21 at the confluence point Pm, with at least part of the articles 90 being mounted on the guide bottom 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a conveyance system.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a conveyance system in which two conveyance paths for conveying articles merge midway and a plurality of articles are finally conveyed in a single conveyance path (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to merge the articles conveyed in each of the main conveyance path and the sub-conveyance path and convey them in the main conveyance path, a conveyance system is conceivable in which the article is transferred from the sub-conveyance path to the main conveyance path by dropping the article from the end portion of the sub-conveyance path located above the main conveyance path toward the main conveyance path.

[0005] In such a conveyance system, in order to position the end portion of the sub-conveyance path above the main conveyance path, it may be required that a portion of the sub-conveyance path upstream of the end portion has an upward slope. In order to secure such an upward slope portion, the sub-conveyance path may be lengthened as a whole, and it may be necessary to secure a large installation space for the sub-conveyance path. In addition, there is a concern that foreign matters such as dust also fall from the sub-conveyance path and adhere to the main conveyance path and the articles on the main conveyance path as the article falls from the sub-conveyance path.

[0006] Another transport system is conceivable in which the main transport path and the secondary transport path are arranged horizontally at the same height, and the articles being transported on the secondary transport path are moved horizontally (particularly in the transport path width direction perpendicular to the transport direction) to transfer the articles from the secondary transport path to the main transport path. In this transport system, as the articles are transported on the secondary transport path, one side edge of the articles (e.g., the side seal) is pushed toward the main transport path by a guide plate erected vertically, thereby transferring the articles from the secondary transport path to the main transport path.

[0007] In such a conveying system, there is a concern that items guided by guide plates may get stuck in the gap between the vertically extending guide plates and the horizontally extending secondary conveying paths. In this case, it may not be possible to transfer the items from the secondary conveying path to the main conveying path in the correct orientation, the items may be damaged, or the items stuck between the guide plates and the secondary conveying paths may get stuck and block subsequent items.

[0008] This disclosure is made in view of the circumstances described above and aims to provide a conveying system that is advantageous for appropriately transferring goods from a secondary conveying path to a main conveying path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a transport system comprising: a main transport unit for transporting articles in a main transport path including a merging point; a secondary transport unit for transporting articles in a secondary transport path; and a merging guide including a guide bottom and a guide upright portion connected seamlessly to the guide bottom and extending upward from the guide bottom, wherein the merging guide pushes articles transported by the secondary transport unit horizontally by the guide upright portion with at least a portion of the articles resting on the guide bottom, thereby transferring the entire articles to the main transport path at the merging point.

[0010] The secondary transport path is positioned horizontally adjacent to the main transport path at least immediately before the merging point, at the same height as the main transport path or at a higher position than the main transport path, the timing of articles arriving at the merging point from the secondary transport path is staggered from the timing of articles arriving at the merging point from the main transport unit, articles transported by the secondary transport unit pass above the overlapping start point of the guide bottom, and the merging point of the guide bottom located downstream of the overlapping start point may be positioned at a higher position than the corresponding point on the secondary transport path.

[0011] The articles transported by the auxiliary transport unit include bags having a thin film-like extension that protrudes horizontally, and the articles transported by the auxiliary transport unit may be pushed towards the merging point while the thin film-like extension is pushed by the guide erection section.

[0012] The article being transported by the auxiliary transport unit may begin contact with the guide bottom at the contact initiation point of the guide bottom, and the center of the article in the transport path width direction, which is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction by the auxiliary transport unit, may be located closer to the guide erection part than the center of the section of the auxiliary transport path on which the article is placed, in the transport path width direction.

[0013] The size of the auxiliary transport path in the transport path width direction, which is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the articles by the auxiliary transport unit, may be smaller than the size of the articles transported by the auxiliary transport unit in the transport path width direction.

[0014] The secondary transport route may be positioned higher than the main transport route, at least immediately before the merging point.

[0015] The transport speed of items by the auxiliary transport unit is different from the transport speed of items by the main transport unit, and the timing at which items transported by the auxiliary transport unit reach the merging point may differ from the timing at which items transported by the main transport unit reach the merging point.

[0016] At least one of the main conveyance path and the sub-conveyance path extends at least partially in a curved manner, and the conveyance distance of the article from the location where the article is supplied to the merging location in the sub-conveyance path is different from the conveyance distance of the article from the location where the article is supplied to the merging location in the main conveyance path. The timing at which the article conveyed by the sub-conveyance unit reaches the merging location may be deviated from the timing at which the article conveyed by the main conveyance unit reaches the merging location.

Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a conveyance system that is advantageous for appropriately transferring an article from the sub-conveyance path to the main conveyance path.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a conveyance system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyance system taken along the cross-section line II-II of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyance system taken along the cross-section line III-III of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyance system taken along the cross-section line IV-IV of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyance system taken along the cross-section line V-V of FIG. 1.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] An exemplary description will be given of an embodiment of the present disclosure with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are based on the conveyance of an article unless otherwise specified.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the conveying system 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying system 10 taken along the section line II-II of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying system 10 taken along the section line III-III of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying system 10 taken along the section line IV-IV of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying system 10 taken along the section line V-V of FIG. 1.

[0021] The conveying system 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 includes a main conveying unit 11, a sub-conveying unit 12, and a merging guide 13.

[0022] The main conveying unit 11 conveys the article 90 in the main conveying path 21 including the merging point Pm. The sub-conveying unit 12 conveys the article 90 in the sub-conveying path 22.

[0023] The specific form of the article 90 is not limited, and any article can be conveyed by the main conveying unit 11 and the sub-conveying unit 12. The main conveying unit 11 and the sub-conveying unit 12 may convey the same type of article 90 as each other, or may convey different types of article 90.

[0024] The article 90 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is a flat bag packaging product including a bag B and contents enclosed inside the bag B. That is, the article 90 in this example conveyed by the main conveying unit 11 and the sub-conveying unit 12 includes a bag B having a thin film-like extending portion Bs protruding in the horizontal direction. The bag B has a rectangular planar shape, and the top (mouth portion), bottom, and both side portions extending between the top and the bottom constituting the four sides are sealed (for example, heat-sealed) to form the thin film-like extending portion Bs. Among the articles 90 laid on the conveying paths 21 and 22, one side surface contacts the conveying paths 21 and 22, and the other side surface is directed upward and exposed. The thickness (the size in the vertical direction Dv) of each article 90 in the state of being placed on the conveying paths 21 and 22 is not limited, and is, for example, 10 mm to 25 mm.

[0025] In this embodiment, the main transport unit 11 continuously transports multiple articles 90 arranged in a single line downstream along the main transport path 21. The sub-transport unit 12 also continuously transports multiple articles 90 downstream. The sub-transport path 22 may carry only one article 90 at a time, or it may carry two or more articles 90 at a time.

[0026] As described later, the articles 90 transported in the secondary transport path 22 merge with the articles 90 transported in the main transport path 21 at the main transport path 21 (particularly at the merging point Pm), and are then transported downstream in the main transport path 21. The articles 90 sent from the secondary transport path 22 to the merging point Pm are transported to the merging point Pm so as to be positioned between the articles 90 that have been sent to the merging point Pm via the main transport path 21.

[0027] The distance (especially the transport distance) between articles 90 placed upstream of the junction Pm on the main transport path 21 is greater than or equal to the transport direction size of the articles 90 transported on the secondary transport path 22.

[0028] The conveying structure of the main conveying unit 11 and the sub-conveying unit 12 is not limited. In this example, the main conveying path 21 has an endless main conveyor belt 23 and a main belt guide 25 that supports the main conveyor belt 23 so as to be movable from the inside, as shown in Figures 2 to 5. Similarly, the sub-conveying path 22 has an endless sub-conveyor belt 24 and a sub-belt guide 26 that supports the sub-conveyor belt 24 so as to be movable from the inside. The main conveyor belt 23 and the sub-conveyor belt 24 are driven by power transmitted from a belt drive source 27 (see Figure 1) via the main belt guide 25 and the sub-belt guide 26, respectively. Separate belt drive sources 27 may be provided to correspond to the main conveyor belt 23 and the sub-conveyor belt 24, or both the main conveyor belt 23 and the sub-conveyor belt 24 may be driven by power output from a single belt drive source 27.

[0029] The main belt guide 25, the sub-belt guide 26, and the belt drive source 27 are supported by the main frame 50. The main frame 50 is fixed to the installation location (e.g., an installation platform or the ground) via frame legs 52 (see Figure 5).

[0030] The size of the sub-conveyor path 22 (particularly the upward exposed surface on which the article 90 is placed (the portion of the sub-conveyor belt 24 running above the sub-belt guide 26)) in the direction of the width of the conveyor path, Dw, which is perpendicular to the conveying direction Dc of the article 90 by the sub-conveyor unit 12, is smaller than the size of the article 90 conveyed by the sub-conveyor unit 12 in the direction of the width of the conveyor path, Dw. This ensures that the article 90 is reliably supported by the merging guide 13.

[0031] The secondary transport path 22 is positioned horizontally adjacent to the main transport path 21 at least immediately before the merging point Pm, and is positioned at the same height as the main transport path 21 or at a higher position than the main transport path 21. Here, "main transport path 21 and secondary transport path 22 positioned horizontally adjacent to each other" does not require the main transport path 21 and secondary transport path 22 to be in close proximity to each other, nor does it require the main transport path 21 and secondary transport path 22 to be at the same height.

[0032] The secondary transport path 22 shown in Figure 1 is arranged horizontally adjacent to the main transport path 21 throughout its entire length. However, the secondary transport path 22 does not need to be arranged horizontally adjacent to the main transport path 21 throughout its entire length, and the upstream section of the secondary transport path 22 that is far from the merging point Pm does not need to be arranged horizontally adjacent to the main transport path 21. Thus, the relative positional relationship between the upstream section of the main transport path 21 that is far from the merging point Pm and the upstream section of the secondary transport path 22 that is far from the merging point Pm is not limited. Therefore, for example, goods 90 may be supplied to the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22 from the same upstream device (goods supply device), or goods 90 may be supplied to the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22 respectively from separate upstream devices installed in different locations.

[0033] The merging guide 13 includes a guide base 41 extending horizontally and a guide erection portion 42 that is seamlessly connected to the guide base 41 and extends upward from the guide base 41. The guide base 41 supports the article 90 from below. Multiple merging guide mounting members 51 are attached to the guide erection portion 42. The merging guide 13 is fixedly supported by the main frame 50 via the multiple merging guide mounting members 51.

[0034] In the confluence guide 13 shown in Figures 2 to 4, the extension direction of the guide base 41 coincides with the horizontal direction, the extension direction of the guide upright portion 42 coincides with the vertical direction, and the angle formed by the guide base 41 and the guide upright portion 42 is 90°. However, the extension direction of the guide base 41 does not have to coincide with the horizontal direction, and at least a part of the guide base 41 may extend in a direction oblique to the horizontal direction. When at least a part of the guide base 41 extends in a direction oblique to the horizontal direction, from the viewpoint of suppressing the snagging of the article 90 on the guide base 41, it is preferable that the at least part of the guide base 41 extends in a downward oblique direction with respect to the horizontal direction. Also, the extension direction of the guide upright portion 42 does not have to coincide with the vertical direction, and at least a part of the guide upright portion 42 may extend in a direction oblique to the vertical direction.

[0035] Furthermore, the angle formed by the guide base 41 and the guide upright portion 42 is not limited, but is preferably 60° to 120°. From the viewpoint of preventing the article 90 from getting caught on the confluence guide 13, it is preferable that the angle formed by the guide base 41 and the guide upright portion 42 is 60° or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of ensuring proper guidance of the article 90 by the confluence guide 13 (especially the guide upright portion 42), it is preferable that the angle formed by the guide base 41 and the guide upright portion 42 is 120° or less.

[0036] The article 90 being transported by the sub-transport unit 12 is pushed horizontally by the guide erection section 42 with at least a portion of the article 90 resting on the guide bottom section 41, and at the merging point Pm, the entire article 90 is transferred to the main transport path 21.

[0037] In particular, in the examples shown in Figures 1 to 5, the articles 90 transported by the sub-transport unit 12 are pushed out to the confluence point Pm while the guide erection portion 42 is in contact with the thin film-like extended portion Bs of the bag B, and the thin film-like extended portion Bs is pushed by the guide erection portion 42.

[0038] The merging guide 13 (guide bottom 41 and guide upright portion 42) shown in Figure 1 extends diagonally across the upper part of the secondary transport path 22 so as to gradually approach the main transport path 21, at least near the merging point Pm.

[0039] The timing of the articles 90 arriving at the merging point Pm from the secondary transport path 22 is different from the timing of the articles 90 being transported by the main transport unit 11 arriving at the merging point Pm. The timing of the articles 90 arriving at the merging point Pm can be adjusted in any way. For example, the timing of the articles 90 arriving at the merging point Pm can be adjusted based on the difference in transport speed and / or transport distance between the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22.

[0040] In other words, by making the transport speed of the articles 90 by the sub-transport unit 12 different from the transport speed of the articles 90 by the main transport unit 11, the timing at which the articles 90 transported by the sub-transport unit 12 reach the merging point Pm may be shifted from the timing at which the articles 90 transported by the main transport unit 11 reach the merging point Pm. In this case, the transport speed of the articles 90 by the sub-transport unit 12 may be slower or faster than the transport speed of the articles 90 by the main transport unit 11, and it may be preferable for the transport speed of the articles 90 by the main transport unit 11 to be faster than the transport speed of the articles 90 by the sub-transport unit 12.

[0041] Furthermore, at least one of the main transport path 21 and the sub-transport path 22 may extend in a curve (e.g., an arc) at least partially. In this case, it is easy to make the transport distance of the articles 90 from the point in the sub-transport path 22 where the articles 90 are supplied to the merging point Pm different from the transport distance of the articles 90 from the point in the main transport path 21 where the articles 90 are supplied to the merging point Pm. In this case as well, the timing at which the articles 90 transported by the sub-transport unit 12 reach the merging point Pm can be shifted from the timing at which the articles 90 transported by the main transport unit 11 reach the merging point Pm.

[0042] In the example shown in Figure 1, both the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22 include curved transport path sections, resulting in a difference in the transport distance of the goods 90 between the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22. However, there is no difference in the transport distance of the goods 90 between the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22. For example, the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22 may consist only of straight paths and not include curved transport path sections, and the transport distance of the goods 90 from the point where the goods 90 are supplied in the secondary transport path 22 to the merging point Pm may be approximately the same as the transport distance of the goods 90 from the point where the goods 90 are supplied in the main transport path 21 to the merging point Pm. In such a case, it is effective to adjust the timing of when the goods 90 reach the merging point Pm based on the difference in the transport speed of the goods 90 between the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22.

[0043] The timing at which the article 90 reaches the merging point Pm may be adjusted based on only one of the difference in conveying speed and the difference in conveying distance between the main conveying path 21 and the sub-conveying path 22, or it may be adjusted based on both the difference in conveying speed and the difference in conveying distance. Alternatively, the timing at which the article 90 reaches the merging point Pm between the main conveying path 21 and the sub-conveying path 22 may be adjusted based on other adjustment factors. For example, instead of, or in addition to, the difference in conveying speed and / or conveying distance, the position of the point at which the article 90 is supplied between the main conveying path 21 and the sub-conveying path 22 may be adjusted so that the conveying distance of the article 90 from the point at which it is supplied to the merging point Pm is changed between the main conveying path 21 and the sub-conveying path 22.

[0044] The article 90 transported by the sub-transport unit 12 passes above the overlapping start point Pv (see Figure 2) of the guide bottom 41. By lowering the overlapping start point (especially the upper exposed surface) Pv of the guide bottom 41 to a level lower than the article 90 transported by the sub-transport unit 12 and the sub-transport path 22 (especially the upper exposed surface (article support surface) of the sub-conveyor belt 24 on which the article 90 is directly placed), it is advantageous that the article 90 can be smoothly placed on the guide bottom 41 without getting caught on it.

[0045] The article 90, which is transported by the sub-transport unit 12, begins contact with the guide bottom 41 at a contact start point Pc (see Figure 3) located downstream of the overlap start point Pv on the guide bottom 41.

[0046] At the point of contact Pc, the center of the article 90 in contact with the guide bottom 41, relative to the horizontal direction Dw of the transport path width which is perpendicular to the transport direction Dc by the sub-transport unit 12, is positioned closer to the guide erection part 42 than the center of the section of the sub-transport path 22 on which the article 90 is placed, relative to the transport path width Dw. In other words, at the point of contact Pc, the center of the transport path width Dw of the article 90 transported by the sub-transport unit 12 is horizontally offset from the center of the transport path width Dw of the sub-transport path 22 (particularly the upper exposed surface of the sub-conveyor belt 24) toward the guide erection part 42 (i.e., opposite to the main transport path 21). This makes it possible to reliably support the article 90 by the merging guide 13 and push the article 90 toward the merging point Pm.

[0047] In Figures 2 to 4, the symbol "L1" indicates the sub-conveyor width centerline, which is a vertical line passing through the center of the sub-conveyor width direction Dw of the upward exposed surface on which the articles 90 are placed (the sub-conveyor belt 24 running above the sub-belt guide 26). The symbol "L2" indicates the article width centerline, which is a vertical line passing through the center of the article 90 being conveyed in the sub-conveyor 22 on the same side as the width direction Dw of the conveyor.

[0048] The confluence vicinity Pn (see Figure 4) of the guide bottom 41 located downstream of the overlapping start point Pv and the contact start point Pc is positioned higher than the corresponding location of the confluence vicinity Pn in the sub-conveyor path 22, and also higher than the confluence point Pm of the main conveyor path 21. The confluence vicinity Pn is the location of the confluence point Pm of the main conveyor path 21 (the location of the main conveyor path 21 in the range corresponding to the confluence point Pm with respect to the conveyor path width direction Dw). In this example, as described above, the confluence guide 13 extends across the sub-conveyor path 22, and the confluence vicinity Pn of the guide bottom 41 is located above the location of the corresponding location of the confluence vicinity Pn in the sub-conveyor path 22.

[0049] Then, before and after the confluence point Pn of the guide bottom 41, the guide erection section 42 gradually approaches the confluence point Pm of the main transport path 21 as it moves downstream. As a result, the article 90 that has been transported via the secondary transport path 22 and placed on the guide bottom 41 receives a force from the guide erection section 42 toward the confluence point Pm of the main transport path 21, and ultimately, the article 90 can be reliably moved from the secondary transport path 22 toward the confluence point Pm of the main transport path 21.

[0050] The vertical distance Dv (height distance) between the confluence point Pn of the guide bottom 41 and the point in the sub-conveyor path 22 corresponding to the confluence point Pn, and the confluence point Pm of the main conveyor path 21 is not limited and may be, for example, about 5 mm.

[0051] Thus, the height of the guide bottom 41 of the confluence guide 13 is not constant, and the guide bottom 41 has different heights at the overlapping start point Pv (see section line II-II in Figure 1), the contact start point Pc (see section line III-III in Figure 1), and the confluence vicinity point Pn (see section line IV-IV in Figure 1). More specifically, in this example, the guide bottom 41 is continuously inclined upward from the intermediate point between the overlapping start point Pv and the contact start point Pc to the confluence vicinity point Pn.

[0052] According to the conveying system 10 of this embodiment described above, for example, articles (flat-bag packaged products) 90 released from a packaging machine in two rows at the same height can be placed on the main conveying path 21 and the sub-conveying path 22, respectively.

[0053] The two articles 90 placed on the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22 are transported downstream by the main transport path 21 and the secondary transport path 22.

[0054] Then, just before the merging point Pm, the lower surface of one side (for example, the side seal portion) of the article 90 being transported in the secondary transport path 22 is supported by the guide bottom 41 of the merging guide 13.

[0055] Then, with the lower surface of one side of the article 90 being transported in the secondary transport path 22 supported by the guide bottom 41, the article 90 is transported downstream, and the guide erection portion 42 of the merging guide 13 comes into contact with that one side, causing the article 90 to receive a horizontal force from the guide erection portion 42, and as a result, the article 90 is gradually moved from the secondary transport path 22 to the main transport path 21 (particularly the merging point Pm). This merging of articles 90 is achieved by the article 90 from the secondary transport path 22 entering the space between the articles 90 being transported by the main transport unit 11.

[0056] The items 90 that merge at the merging point Pm are then transported further downstream by the main transport unit 11 in a single line along the main transport path 21.

[0057] Each article 90, transported by the auxiliary transport unit 12 from the auxiliary transport path 22 toward the merging point Pm, is initially transported downstream only by the auxiliary transport path 22 (particularly the auxiliary conveyor belt 24) immediately after being placed on the auxiliary transport path 22 (at the upstreammost point). Subsequently, the article 90 may partially ride onto the main transport path 21, in which case it is transported downstream by force not only from the auxiliary transport path 22 but also from the main transport path 21 (particularly the main conveyor belt 23). After that, just before reaching the merging point Pm, the article 90 is transported downstream mainly by inertial force and enters the merging point Pm. The article 90 may also receive downstream transporting force from the main transport path 21 and / or the auxiliary transport path 22 just before reaching the merging point Pm.

[0058] As described above, according to the transport system 10 of this embodiment, the merging guide 13 that guides the article 90 from the sub-transport path 22 to the merging point Pm of the main transport path 21 has a guide bottom 41 and a guide upright portion 42 that are connected without any gaps. Therefore, the article 90 does not get stuck in the "gap between the guide bottom 41 and the guide upright portion 42", and the article 90 is properly transferred from the sub-transport path 22 to the main transport path 21.

[0059] Therefore, according to the transport system 10 of this embodiment, the articles 90 can be moved from the sub-transport path 22 to the main transport path 21 in an appropriate posture, damage such as scratches to the articles 90 from the merging guide 13 can be effectively avoided, and jamming of articles 90 in the sub-transport path 22 can be avoided, enabling continuous and smooth transport of articles 90 in the sub-transport path 22.

[0060] [Differentiation] A stopper may be provided to stop (stopper on) and allow (stopper off) the downstream transport of the articles 90 in the main transport path 21 and / or the sub-transport path 22. For example, the transport status (e.g., transport position) of the articles 90 in the main transport path 21 and the sub-transport path 22 may be detected by a sensor, and the control unit may control the on and off of the stopper based on the detection result of the sensor. If the control unit determines from the sensor detection result that there is a possibility that the articles 90 transported by the main transport unit 11 and the articles 90 transported by the sub-transport unit 12 may collide at the merging point Pm, the control unit may temporarily stop the downstream transport of the articles 90 in the main transport path 21 or the sub-transport path 22 upstream of the merging point Pm using a stopper. Thereafter, the control unit turns the stopper off at a time when the articles 90 will not collide with each other at the merging point Pm, and the articles 90 whose downstream transport was temporarily stopped are transported towards the merging point Pm.

[0061] The article 90 transported in the above-described embodiment includes a bag B having a sealed top, bottom, and both sides, but may instead include other bags such as a self-standing bag. A self-standing bag, as used herein, means a bag that can stand on its own, and may include, for example, a foldable bottom. In the above-described embodiment, the article 90 including the bag B is transported, but the transport system 10 may transport the article 90 including containers other than bags.

[0062] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above. For example, various modifications may be made to each element of the embodiments and modifications described above, and the configurations may be combined partially or entirely between the embodiments and modifications described above. Furthermore, the effects achieved by this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and unique effects may be achieved depending on the specific configuration of each embodiment. In this way, various additions, changes, and partial deletions are possible to each element described in the claims, specification, and drawings, without departing from the technical idea and spirit of this disclosure.

[0063] [Note] This disclosure may also take the following form:

[0064] [Item 1] A main transport unit that transports goods along the main transport path including the merging point, A secondary transport unit that transports goods on a secondary transport path, A merging guide comprising a guide base and a guide erection portion connected seamlessly to the guide base and extending upward from the guide base, wherein the merging guide pushes articles transported by the sub-transport unit horizontally by the guide erection portion with at least a portion of the articles resting on the guide base, thereby transferring the entire articles to the main transport path at the merging point. A transport system equipped with the following features.

[0065] [Item 2] The aforementioned secondary transport path, at least immediately before the merging point, The main transport path is arranged adjacent to the main transport path in the horizontal direction, It is positioned at the same height as the main transport path or at a higher position than the main transport path. The timing of the articles arriving at the merging point from the aforementioned secondary transport path is different from the timing of the articles arriving at the merging point from the aforementioned main transport unit. The articles transported by the aforementioned sub-transport unit pass over the overlapping starting point of the guide bottom, The section of the guide bottom located downstream from the overlapping start point is positioned higher than the section of the secondary transport path corresponding to the said section of the confluence. The transport system described in item 1.

[0066] [Item 3] The articles transported by the aforementioned sub-transport unit include a bag having a thin film-like extension that protrudes horizontally, The articles transported by the sub-transport unit are pushed towards the merging point while the thin film-like extension is pressed by the guide erection section. The transport system described in item 1 or 2.

[0067] [Item 4] The article being transported by the sub-transport unit begins contact with the bottom of the guide at the contact initiation point of the bottom of the guide, The center of the article in contact with the bottom of the guide at the contact initiation point, with respect to the width of the transport path which is perpendicular to the transport direction by the sub-transport unit, is located closer to the guide erection portion than the center of the section of the sub-transport path on which the article is placed, with respect to the width of the transport path. A transport system as described in any of items 1 to 3.

[0068] [Item 5] The size of the auxiliary transport path in the transport path width direction, which is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the article by the auxiliary transport unit, is smaller than the size of the article transported by the auxiliary transport unit in the transport path width direction. A transport system as described in any of items 1 to 4.

[0069] [Item 6] The secondary transport path is positioned at a higher level than the main transport path, at least immediately before the merging point. A transport system as described in any of items 1 to 5.

[0070] [Item 7] The transport speed of articles by the sub-transport unit is different from the transport speed of articles by the main transport unit, and the timing at which articles transported by the sub-transport unit reach the merging point is different from the timing at which articles transported by the main transport unit reach the merging point. A transport system as described in any of items 1 to 6.

[0071] [Item 8] At least one of the main transport path and the secondary transport path extends in a curved manner, The distance traveled by the goods from the supply point of the secondary transport route to the merging point is different from the distance traveled by the goods from the supply point of the main transport route to the merging point, and the timing at which the goods transported by the secondary transport unit reach the merging point is different from the timing at which the goods transported by the main transport unit reach the merging point. A transport system as described in any of items 1 through 7. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0072] 10 Conveying system, 11 Main conveying unit, 12 Sub-conveying unit, 13 Confluence guide, 21 Main conveying path, 22 Sub-conveying path, 23 Main conveyor belt, 24 Sub-conveyor belt, 25 Main belt guide, 26 Sub-belt guide, 27 Belt drive source, 41 Guide bottom, 42 Guide mounting part, 50 Main frame, 51 Confluence guide mounting member, 52 Frame legs, 90 Item, B Bag, Bs Thin film extension, Dc Conveying direction, Dv Vertical direction, Dw Conveying path width direction, L1 Sub-conveying path width centerline, L2 Item width centerline, Pc Contact start point, Pm Confluence point, Pn Near confluence point, Pv Overlap start point

Claims

1. A main transport unit that transports goods along the main transport path including the merging point, A secondary transport unit that transports goods on a secondary transport path, A merging guide comprising a guide base and a guide erection portion connected to the guide base and extending upward from the guide base, wherein the guide erection portion pushes the articles being transported by the sub-transport unit horizontally, transferring the entire articles to the main transport path at the merging point; A transport system equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned secondary transport path, at least immediately before the merging point, The main transport path is arranged adjacent to the main transport path in the horizontal direction, It is positioned at the same height as the main transport path or at a higher position than the main transport path. The timing of the articles arriving at the merging point from the secondary transport path is different from the timing of the articles arriving at the merging point from the main transport unit. The transport system according to claim 1.

3. The article conveyed by the sub-conveying unit begins to come into contact with the guide bottom after passing over a predetermined location on the guide bottom. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The articles transported by the aforementioned sub-transport unit include a bag having a thin film-like extension that protrudes horizontally, The articles transported by the sub-transport unit are pushed towards the merging point while the thin film-like extension is pressed by the guide erection section. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The article being transported by the sub-transport unit begins contact with the bottom of the guide at the contact initiation point of the bottom of the guide, The center of the article in contact with the bottom of the guide at the contact initiation point, with respect to the width of the transport path which is perpendicular to the transport direction by the sub-transport unit, is located closer to the guide erection portion than the center of the section of the sub-transport path on which the article is placed, with respect to the width of the transport path. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The size of the auxiliary transport path in the transport path width direction, which is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the article by the auxiliary transport unit, is smaller than the size of the article transported by the auxiliary transport unit in the transport path width direction. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The secondary transport path is positioned at a higher level than the main transport path, at least immediately before the merging point. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The transport speed of articles by the sub-transport unit is different from the transport speed of articles by the main transport unit, and the timing at which articles transported by the sub-transport unit reach the merging point is different from the timing at which articles transported by the main transport unit reach the merging point. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

9. At least one of the main transport path and the secondary transport path extends in a curved manner, The distance traveled by the goods from the supply point of the secondary transport route to the merging point is different from the distance traveled by the goods from the supply point of the main transport route to the merging point, and the timing at which the goods transported by the secondary transport unit reach the merging point is different from the timing at which the goods transported by the main transport unit reach the merging point. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The merging guide is, The guide bottom and the guide erection portion are connected without any gaps, The article being transported by the sub-transport unit is pushed horizontally by the guide erection section with at least a portion of the article resting on the guide bottom, and the entire article is transferred to the main transport path at the merging point. The transport system according to claim 1 or 2.

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