Egg carton transfer device

Abstract

To provide an egg pack transfer device capable of transferring more egg packs to a storage space within a unit time.SOLUTION: There is provided an egg pack transfer device (1) for transferring a plurality of egg packs (P) collected in a temporary standby area (21) to a storage space (A), in which the egg pack transfer device comprises a holding section (11) and a control section (3). The control section (3) controls the operation of holding a plurality of egg packs (P) and releasing a state of holding one egg pack (P) of the plurality of egg packs (P) at a first position in a case (C) as a storage space (A), and then the operation of moving the holding section (11) and releasing a state of holding the other egg packs (P) of the plurality of egg packs (P) at a second position different from the first position in the case (C).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer device for an egg pack that transfers sequentially conveyed egg packs to a storage space provided in a case for egg packs or a roll inner.

Background Art

[0002] An egg pack boxing device for packing egg packs into a case for egg packs or the like is known. In this type of egg pack boxing device, egg packs corresponding to one stage of cases are arranged in a temporary waiting area. Then, the egg packs are packed into the case while maintaining the arrangement relationship of the arranged egg packs.

[0003] Cases have various sizes and shapes. Also, egg packs have various sizes and shapes. Therefore, the variations in combinations of cases and egg packs are diverse. An egg pack boxing device is required to accommodate such variations. In an egg pack boxing device, if it is intended to accommodate variations in combinations of cases and egg packs, it is assumed that the temporary waiting area will be enlarged, the conveyor arranged upstream of the temporary waiting area will be enlarged, and the alignment mechanism for egg packs will become complicated. Furthermore, it is assumed that the cost will increase with such enlargement and complication. As a patent document disclosing a method of filling an egg pack into a container for egg packs, for example, there is Patent Document 1.

[0004] As a countermeasure against such problems, an egg pack boxing device has been developed that boxes egg packs with a smaller number of egg packs to be boxed in a single boxing operation than the number of egg packs in one stage. In this egg pack boxing device, for example, an egg pack accommodated as one stage in a case is accommodated by two boxing operations or three boxing operations using a conventional articulated robot whose head part operates arbitrarily.

[0005] Specifically, if there are five egg cartons in one layer of the case, for example, they are packed in two separate boxes: one with three egg cartons and the other with two egg cartons. The three egg cartons gathered in the temporary waiting area are held by the head unit. The head unit, holding the three egg cartons, moves from the temporary waiting area to the case, where the holding state is released and the three egg cartons are placed inside the case. The head unit, now released from holding, moves from the case to the temporary waiting area. Next, the two egg cartons gathered in the temporary waiting area are held by the head unit. The head unit, holding the two egg cartons, moves from the temporary waiting area to the case, where the holding state is released and the two egg cartons are placed inside the case. In this way, the first layer of five egg cartons in the case is placed inside the case. The same operation is repeated thereafter, and the second layer of five egg cartons is placed on top of the first layer of egg cartons. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5802932 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2011 / 162601 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In conventional egg carton packing machines, the head unit makes one round trip between the temporary waiting area and the case for each packing operation. Therefore, if one layer of egg cartons in the case is to be packed into the case using two or more packing operations, the head unit will have to make multiple round trips between the temporary waiting area and the case. As a result, there is a limit to the number of egg cartons that can be packed into the case per unit of time.

[0008] The present invention was made to solve these problems, and its objective is to provide an egg carton transfer device that can transfer more egg cartons to a storage space including a case or the like within a unit of time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The egg carton transfer device according to the present invention is an egg carton transfer device that transfers a plurality of egg cartons gathered in a temporary waiting area to a storage space, and comprises a holding unit and a control unit. The holding unit holds a plurality of egg cartons, including one egg carton and other egg cartons, and moves the held plurality of egg cartons to the storage space. The control unit controls the operation of the holding unit, including the operation of holding the egg cartons, the operation of moving at least one of the held egg cartons and the storage space, and the operation of releasing the egg cartons from being held. The control unit holds the plurality of egg cartons, and after releasing the state of holding one egg carton at a first position in the storage space, it controls the operation of moving the holding unit to release the state of holding the other egg cartons at a second position different from the first position in the storage space.

[0010] The operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit preferably includes an operation to release the holding state of another egg carton at a second position, which is a height position different from the first position.

[0011] The operation of the holding unit controlled by the control unit preferably includes an operation to release the holding state of one egg carton when the second position is a position in which one egg carton is stacked on top of another egg carton.

[0012] The operation of the holding unit, controlled by the control unit, should preferably include the operation of changing the orientation of the held egg carton. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The egg carton transfer device according to the present invention makes it possible to increase the number of egg cartons that can be stored in the case within a unit of time.

[0014] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention, which is to be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] [Figure 1] It is a front view schematically showing a transfer device for egg packs according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a side view for explaining the operation of the transfer device for egg packs shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a side view showing one step of the transfer operation of the egg pack by the transfer device for egg packs shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a side view showing the step performed after the step shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a side view showing the step performed after the step shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a side view showing the step performed after the step shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing one step of the transfer operation of the egg pack by the transfer device for egg packs according to Modification 1. [Figure 8] In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing the step performed after the step shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing the step performed after the step shown in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing the step performed after the step shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] In the same embodiment, it is a plan view schematically showing the transfer device for egg packs according to Modification 2. [Figure 12] In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing one step of the transfer operation of the egg pack by the transfer device for egg packs according to Modification 2. [Figure 13] In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing the step performed after the step shown in FIG. 12. [Figure 14]In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing the steps performed after the steps shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] In the same embodiment, it is a side view showing the steps performed after the steps shown in FIG. 14.

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] An example of a transfer device for egg packs according to an embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer device 1 for egg packs transfers a plurality of conveyed egg packs P to a predetermined accommodation space A including a case. The transfer device 1 for egg packs transfers the egg packs P collected in the temporary waiting area 21 to the accommodation space A for egg packs. The transfer device 1 for egg packs includes a holding part 11, a head part 14, a holding release part 12, a vacuum mechanism 13, and a control part 3. Here, the accommodation space A in which the egg packs P are accommodated is formed inside a box-shaped case C.

[0017] The holding part 11 holds a plurality of egg packs P. The holding part 11 is composed of a first suction member 15 and a second suction member. The first suction member 15 can hold, for example, two adjacent egg packs P. The second suction member 16 can hold, for example, two egg packs P.

[0018] The first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are connected to the vacuum mechanism 13. A holding release part 12 is provided between the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 and the vacuum mechanism 13. The holding release part 12 includes a holding release part 12a and a holding release part 12b. In the first suction member 15, the holding state is released by the holding release part 12a. In the second suction member 16, the holding state is released by the holding release part 12b.

[0019] Each of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 has a bellows structure that can expand and contract in the vertical direction. When the egg pack is adsorbed, the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are in a contracted state. On the other hand, when the egg pack is not adsorbed, the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 are in a state of being extended by gravity.

[0020] The holding unit 11 is attached to the head unit 14. The head unit 14 moves between the temporary waiting area 21 and the case C. As the head unit 14, for example, a conventional articulated robot that can be moved arbitrarily, such as a 6-axis vertical articulated robot, can be used. In addition, various other robots or devices that can move arbitrarily in relation to the X, Y, and Z axes can be used as the head unit 14.

[0021] The egg carton transfer device 1, together with the conveying device 2, constitutes the egg carton transfer system 10. The conveying device 2 is, for example, a belt conveyor. A temporary waiting area 21 is provided downstream of the conveying device 2. Upstream of the conveying device 2, a packaging device (not shown) for placing eggs into cartons is located.

[0022] Egg cartons, with eggs placed inside by the packaging device, are transported to a temporary waiting area 21 by the conveying device 2. The temporary waiting area 21 is equipped with a stopper 22 to restrict the movement of the egg cartons. Once a predetermined number of egg cartons have gathered in the temporary waiting area 21, the conveying device 2 stops temporarily, and the egg carton transfer operation begins. This operation will be described later.

[0023] The operation of the egg carton transfer device 1 is controlled by the control unit 3. The control unit 3 controls the holding state and movement of the egg cartons P held by the holding unit 11. The control unit 3 controls the holding state of one egg carton P and the other egg cartons P separately from each other among the multiple egg cartons P held by the holding unit 11. After releasing the holding state of one egg carton P, the control unit 3 controls the holding state of the other egg cartons P. After releasing the holding state of one egg carton P, the control unit 3 controls the movement of the other egg cartons P before releasing the holding state of the other egg cartons P.

[0024] The control unit 3 controls the placement of other egg cartons P at a different height than the first egg carton P already placed in case C. The control unit 3 controls the placement of the first egg carton on the upper side S1 of the step S formed by the egg cartons P already stored in storage space A, and then controls the placement of the other egg cartons P on the lower side S2 of the step S.

[0025] The control unit 3 is composed of a dedicated computer or a general-purpose computer, including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), internal memory, input / output interfaces, and an AD conversion unit. The control unit 3 functions through the cooperation of the CPU and its peripheral devices according to the program stored in the internal memory.

[0026] Next, we will describe an example of the operation of the egg carton transfer device 1. The egg cartons P transported from the upstream side by the transport device 2 are collected in the temporary waiting area 21 on the downstream side. When, for example, four egg cartons P (2 vertically x 2 horizontally) are collected in the temporary waiting area 21, the transfer operation begins.

[0027] First, the head unit 14 moves above the collected egg cartons P. Next, the head unit 14 descends, and the first suction member 15 contacts two of the four egg cartons P, and the second suction member 16 contacts the remaining two egg cartons P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 is activated. The vacuum mechanism 13 causes the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 to begin creating a vacuum. The four egg cartons P are then held in the holding unit 11.

[0028] Next, the holding unit 11, which holds the egg cartons P, moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the case C. Then, the head unit 14 descends, and the release unit 12 is activated when, for example, the two egg cartons P held by the first suction member 15 are placed along the first side wall C1 of the case C. The release unit 12 stops the vacuum. The suction state of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 is released, and the first four egg cartons P are housed in the case C. The case C shown in Figure 3 shows the two egg cartons P in the foreground.

[0029] The holding unit 11, with the egg cartons P released, moves from the case C to the temporary waiting area 21. In the temporary waiting area 21, for example, with four egg cartons P gathered together, the holding unit 11 descends so that the first suction member 15 contacts two egg cartons P and the second suction member 16 contacts the remaining two egg cartons P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 starts to create a vacuum in the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16, and the four egg cartons P are held by the holding unit 11.

[0030] Next, as shown in Figure 4, the holding unit 11, which holds the egg cartons P, moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the case C. Then, the head unit 14 descends. At the position where the two egg cartons P held by the first suction member 15 are placed along the first side wall C1, the release unit 12a of the release unit 12 is activated. The release unit 12a releases the suction state of the first suction member 15, and two more egg cartons P are placed along the first side wall C1 on top of the initially placed egg cartons P. In other words, two more egg cartons P are placed on the upper side S1 of the step S formed by the initially placed egg cartons P.

[0031] Next, as shown in Figure 5, the holding unit 11, which holds the remaining two egg cartons P, moves to an area S3 within the case C where no egg cartons P have yet been placed. At the position where the two egg cartons P held by the second suction member 16 are placed along the second side wall C2, the release unit 12b of the release unit 12 is activated. The release unit 12b releases the suction state of the second suction member, and the two egg cartons P are placed in area S3 within the case C. In other words, the two egg cartons P are placed on the lower side S2 of the step S formed by the egg cartons P already contained within the case C.

[0032] The holding unit 11, with the egg cartons P released, moves from the case C to the temporary waiting area 21. In the temporary waiting area 21, for example, with four egg cartons P gathered together, the holding unit 11 descends so that the first suction member 15 contacts two egg cartons P and the second suction member 16 contacts the remaining two egg cartons P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 starts to create a vacuum in the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16, and the four egg cartons P are held by the holding unit 11.

[0033] Next, as shown in Figure 6, the holding unit 11, which holds the egg cartons P, moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the case C. Then, the head unit 14 descends. The release unit 12 is activated when the two egg cartons P, held by the second suction member 16, are placed along the second side wall C2. The release unit 12 stops the vacuum. The suction state of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 is released, and the four egg cartons P are placed on top of the four egg cartons P that are already placed. In other words, the four egg cartons P are placed in the area S4 inside the case C where the second layer of egg cartons P has not yet been placed. After the transfer of the egg cartons into the case C is complete, the holding unit 11 moves from the case C to the temporary waiting area 21.

[0034] The egg carton transfer device 1 according to this embodiment comprises a holding unit 11, a head unit 14, a holding release unit 12, a vacuum mechanism 13, and a control unit 3, and transfers egg cartons P collected in a temporary waiting area 21 to a case C which serves as a storage space A. When transferring egg cartons P to case C, during a single transfer operation, the device performs the operation of placing one egg carton on the upper side S1 of a step S formed by egg cartons P already stored in case C, and the operation of placing another egg carton P on the lower side S2 of the step S.

[0035] As a result, compared to conventional egg carton packing devices, the number of times the head unit moves back and forth between the temporary waiting area and the case during the operation of placing egg cartons P into case C can be reduced, and the number of egg cartons that can be placed in case C per unit time can be increased. In conventional egg carton packing devices, in the process corresponding to the process shown in Figures 3 to 6, the head unit needs to make four back and forth movements between the temporary waiting area and the case to place egg cartons P into case C, whereas in the egg carton transfer device 1 according to this embodiment, the head unit 14 can place egg cartons P into case C by making three back and forth movements between the temporary waiting area 21 and case C.

[0036] Furthermore, compared to conventional egg carton packaging equipment, it can accommodate various variations without increasing the size of the temporary waiting area 21 or the conveying device 2 located upstream, making it suitable for use in egg packaging facilities where usable space is often limited.

[0037] Furthermore, the holding section 11 consists of multiple first suction members 15 and second suction members 16 connected to the vacuum mechanism 13, and it suctions the egg carton P from above. Therefore, compared to a holding section that holds the egg carton P from below or the side, the holding section 11 is less likely to interfere with the egg carton P already housed in the case C, the first side wall C1 of the case C, or the second side wall C2 of the case C.

[0038] Of the holding release parts 12, the holding release part 12a operates when one egg pack P held by the first suction member 15 is placed along the first side wall C1, thereby releasing the holding state of the one egg pack. Of the holding release parts 12, the holding release part 12b operates when another egg pack P held by the second suction member 16 is placed along the second side wall C2, thereby releasing the holding state of the other egg pack. As a result, the egg packs P are positioned along the first side wall C1 or the second side wall C2 of the case C, respectively, making it easier to position the egg packs P.

[0039] (Variation 1) Next, the egg carton transfer device according to Modification 1 will be described. The egg carton transfer device according to Modification 1 has basically the same configuration as the egg carton transfer device 1 shown in Figure 1. For this reason, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and their descriptions will not be repeated unless necessary. In the egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 1, the storage order in which the egg cartons are stored in the storage space A is different from the storage order in the egg carton transfer device described above.

[0040] The egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 1 comprises a holding unit 11 and a control unit 3, and transfers the egg carton P to the egg carton storage space A (see Figure 7, etc.). The egg carton storage space A is formed inside a box-shaped case C.

[0041] The control unit 3 controls the holding state of one egg carton P and the other egg carton P separately so that the holding state is released for each of them. After releasing the holding state of one egg carton P, the control unit 3 controls the movement of the other egg carton P before releasing the holding state of the other egg carton P. The control unit 3 controls the other egg carton P to be housed at a different height position than the first egg carton P housed in the storage space A.

[0042] In the egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 1, the control unit 3 controls the placement of one egg carton P on top of the first egg carton P placed in the storage space A. Furthermore, after the first egg carton P has been placed, the control unit 3 controls the orientation of the other egg carton P.

[0043] Next, an example of the operation of the egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 1 will be described. The transfer operation begins when, for example, four egg cartons P are gathered in the temporary waiting area 21. First, the head unit 14 moves above the gathered egg cartons P. Next, the head unit 14 descends, and the first suction member 15 contacts two of the four egg cartons P, and the second suction member 16 contacts the remaining two egg cartons P. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 is activated. The vacuum mechanism 13 causes the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16 to start creating a vacuum. The four egg cartons P are then held in the holding unit 11.

[0044] Next, the holding unit 11, which holds the egg cartons P, moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the case C. Then, as shown in Figure 7, the head unit 14 descends, and the four egg cartons P are placed on the bottom plate C3 of the case C. Next, when the two egg cartons P held by the first suction member 15 are placed along the first side wall C1 of the case C, the release unit 12a of the release unit 12 is activated (see Figure 1). The release unit 12a releases the suction state of the first suction member 15, and the two egg cartons P are housed along the first side wall C1.

[0045] Next, as shown in Figure 8, the holding portion 11, which holds the remaining two egg cartons P, moves upward and rotates almost 180 degrees horizontally, thereby changing the orientation of the head portion 14. Next, as shown in Figure 9, the head portion 14 descends. At the position where the two egg cartons P held by the second suction member 16 are placed along the first side wall C1, the release portion 12b of the release portion 12 is activated.

[0046] The second suction member is released by the release unit 12b, and the two egg cartons P are placed on top of the two egg cartons P already housed in the case C. The holding unit 11, having released the egg cartons P, moves from the case C to the temporary waiting area 21. Next, with the four egg cartons P gathered in the temporary waiting area 21, the four egg cartons are held by the holding unit 11. Then, as shown in the fourth figure from the left in Figure 4, the holding unit 11, holding the egg cartons P, moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the case C, and the egg cartons P are housed in the remaining space within the case C.

[0047] The egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 1 can obtain the same effect as the egg carton transfer device 1, or an effect similar thereto, including the effect of increasing the number of egg cartons that can be stored in case C within a unit time.

[0048] (Modification 2) Next, we will describe the egg carton transfer device according to Modification 2. The egg carton transfer device according to Modification 2 has basically the same configuration as the egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 1. For this reason, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and their descriptions will not be repeated unless necessary. In the egg carton transfer device according to Modification 2, the shape of the storage space A and the method of storing (arranging) the egg cartons in the storage space A are different.

[0049] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, in the egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 2, the storage space A is formed on the bottom plate of the roll inner R or on the shelf R1. The roll inner R is a trolley that can be used for both transport and display in stores. In Figures 11, etc., only one section of the roll inner R is shown for ease of explanation. Before placing the egg cartons P on the roll inner R, the egg cartons P may be temporarily transferred to, for example, a tray. In this case, the storage space A will be formed on the tray.

[0050] The egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 2 comprises a holding unit 11 and a control unit 3, and transfers the egg carton P to the storage space A for egg cartons (see Figures 11 and 12, etc.).

[0051] The control unit 3 controls the holding state of one egg carton P and the other egg carton P separately, so that the holding state of the one egg carton P held by the holding unit 11 is released. After releasing the holding state of one egg carton P, the control unit 3 controls the movement of the other egg carton P before releasing the holding state of the other egg carton P. The control unit 3 controls the other egg carton P to be housed at the same height position as the one egg carton P housed in the housing space A, or at a different height position than the one egg carton P housed in the housing space A. After the one egg carton P housed in the housing, the control unit 3 controls the orientation of the other egg carton P to be changed.

[0052] Next, an example of the operation of the egg carton transfer device 1 according to modified example 2 will be described. In the egg carton transfer device 1, the egg carton transfer operation is performed in multiple steps, for example, four times, to place egg cartons in one layer of the storage space A. The transfer operation starts when a predetermined number of egg cartons P, for example, three (three rows vertically x one row horizontally), are gathered in the temporary waiting area 21. The first suction member 15 corresponds to one egg carton P located at one end. The second suction member 16 corresponds to two egg cartons P: one located at the other end and one located in the center between the two ends. A guide 23 is also placed in the temporary waiting area 21.

[0053] In the first transfer operation, the head unit 14 moves above the three egg cartons P that have been gathered in the temporary waiting area 21. Next, the head unit 14 descends, and the first suction member 15 contacts the egg carton P located at one end. The second suction member 16 then contacts the egg carton P located at the other end and in the center, respectively. Next, the vacuum mechanism 13 is activated, and the three egg cartons P are held by the holding unit 11. Then, the holding unit 11, which is holding the egg cartons P, moves from the temporary waiting area 21 to above the storage space A.

[0054] Next, as shown in Figure 12, the holding unit 11 descends, and the three egg cartons P are placed on the shelf R1 of the roll inner R. Next, the holding release unit 12a corresponding to the first suction member 15 is activated. The holding release unit 12a stops the vacuuming, and the suction state of the first suction member 15 is released.

[0055] Next, as shown in Figure 13, the holding unit 11, which holds the two egg cartons P held by the second suction member 16, moves upward. Next, the orientation of the head unit 14 is changed by rotating approximately 90 degrees horizontally, as shown in Figure 14. Next, as shown in Figure 15, the head unit 14 descends, and the release unit 12b corresponding to the second suction member 16 is activated when the two egg cartons P held by the head unit 14 are placed along the side wall R2 of the roll inner R. The release unit 12b releases the suction of the second suction member 16, and the two egg cartons P are placed on the shelf R1 of the roll inner R. Thus, the first transfer operation is completed.

[0056] Once the first transfer operation is complete, the holding unit 11 moves from the roll inner R to the temporary waiting area 21, and then the second transfer operation is performed. The second transfer operation is performed in accordance with the first transfer operation. Subsequent transfer operations are also performed in accordance with the first transfer operation. Figure 11 shows, for example, an example of the arrangement of egg cartons P housed in the roll inner R after four transfer operations. Of the egg cartons P, egg carton P1 is the egg carton P transferred in the first transfer operation. Egg carton P2 is the egg carton P transferred in the second transfer operation. Egg carton P3 is the egg carton P transferred in the third transfer operation. Egg carton P4 is the egg carton P transferred in the fourth transfer operation.

[0057] The egg carton transfer device 1 according to Modification 2 can obtain the same effect as the egg carton transfer device 1, or an effect similar thereto, including the effect of increasing the number of egg cartons that can be stored in case C within a unit time.

[0058] Furthermore, the egg carton transfer device according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In an egg carton transfer device, the transfer operation to accommodate one layer of egg cartons P in the storage space A may be performed in, for example, three or more separate operations. Furthermore, the number of egg cartons P transferred in a single transfer operation is not limited to the number listed in the above-described embodiment.

[0059] The number of eggs in one egg carton P and the number of eggs in other egg cartons P may be the same or different. Also, the number of eggs in one egg carton P and the other egg cartons P may be one or multiple.

[0060] When egg cartons are stored in storage space A, stacking them in multiple layers vertically, the number of egg cartons or the arrangement of the egg cartons may differ in each layer. It is desirable that the egg carton transfer device be able to accommodate such storage configurations by allowing the number and arrangement of egg cartons in one layer to differ from those in other layers. The number of layers of egg cartons P stacked in storage space A is not limited to the number shown in the illustration.

[0061] The temporary waiting area 21 may be a table or similar structure, for example, one that does not have a conveying device or a mechanism for transporting egg cartons. Furthermore, if a conveying device is installed in the temporary waiting area 21, it is desirable to operate the conveying device according to the degree to which egg cartons accumulate in the temporary waiting area 21, but this is not necessarily required.

[0062] The holding portion 11 may be provided with a pair of arms that support and hold the egg carton from the side and bottom, instead of the first suction member 15 and the second suction member 16, or in addition to the first suction member 15, etc. Patent document 2 discloses an example of such arms.

[0063] The size and shape of the egg carton P should be appropriately selected according to the size and number of eggs. The egg carton itself may be a regular pack or a molded pack, in addition to a flat pack.

[0064] The case that forms the storage space for the egg cartons can be any container capable of holding egg cartons containing eggs, such as a cardboard shipping box or a plastic container. The case does not need to have a lid.

[0065] Furthermore, between the operation of releasing one egg carton from being held and the operation of releasing another egg carton from being held, the case or the like that which forms the storage space may be moved without moving the holding part. Moreover, between the operation of releasing one egg carton from being held and the operation of releasing another egg carton from being held, both the operation of moving the holding part and the operation of moving the case or the like which forms the storage space may be performed.

[0066] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and not limiting. The present invention is indicated by the claims, not the scope described above, and all modifications in the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended.

[0067] The egg carton transfer device according to this embodiment includes the following embodiments. (Note 1) An egg carton transfer device that holds multiple egg cartons gathered in a temporary waiting area and transfers the held multiple egg cartons to a storage space, A holding unit that holds multiple egg cartons, including one egg carton and other egg cartons, that have been gathered in the temporary waiting area, and moves the multiple egg cartons that have been held to the storage space, A release unit for releasing the egg carton that has been held by the holding unit, and Equipped with, The release unit, while holding all of the egg cartons, On the upper side of the step formed by yet another egg carton housed within the aforementioned storage space, the state in which the first egg carton is held is released, An egg carton packing device that, after releasing the state in which it holds the first egg carton, releases the state in which it holds the other egg carton on the lower side of the step.

[0068] (Note 2) The egg carton transfer device described in Appendix 1, The holding portion is a suction member connected to a vacuum mechanism that suctions the egg carton from above.

[0069] (Note 3) An egg carton transfer device as described in Appendix 1 or 2, The aforementioned storage space is formed by the case, The aforementioned release mechanism is In the case, at a position where the egg carton is aligned with one side wall, the holding state of the egg carton is released. With the other egg carton positioned against the other side wall of the case, the holding state of the other egg carton is released. [Industrial applicability]

[0070] This invention can be used in an egg carton transfer device that stores egg cartons containing eggs into a storage space. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0071] 1 Egg carton transfer device, 3 Control unit, 11 Holding unit, 12, 12a, 12b Holding release unit, 13 Vacuum mechanism, 14 Head unit, 15 First suction member, 16 Second suction member, 21 Temporary standby area, P, P1, P2, P3, P4 Egg carton, C Case, C1 First side wall, C2 Second side wall, S1 Upper side, S2 Lower side, A Storage space.

Claims

[Claim 1] An egg carton transfer device, It is equipped with a holding unit that holds and moves one egg carton and other egg cartons, An egg carton transfer device wherein the holding unit moves the first egg carton and the other egg carton to a first position within a storage space for accommodating the first egg carton and the other egg carton, releases the holding state of the first egg carton at the first position, moves the other egg carton to a second position different from the first position within the storage space, and releases the holding state of the other egg carton at the second position.

Images