Egg conveyance mechanism

Abstract

The present invention causes eggs to drop stably, while improving egg conveyance ability. A plurality of egg holding / releasing tools 2 are provided along a conveyance direction. Each egg holding / releasing tool 2 has a first holding section 21 located on the front side in the conveyance direction by a movement mechanism 3, and a second holding section 22 located on the rear side in the conveyance direction, and uses the first holding section 21 and the second holding section 22 to hold an egg E. The first holding section 21 is fixed to the movement mechanism 3. The second holding section 22 is provided so as to be able to rotate around a horizontal rotational axis 22C orthogonally intersecting the conveyance direction, and is displaced between a holding position P, where the same holds the egg E together with the first holding section 21, and a releasing position Q, where the same releases the egg E downward. The releasing position Q of the second holding section 22 is a condition in which the same has moved to below the first holding section 21 of the neighboring egg holding / releasing tool 2 to the rear in the conveyance direction.

Description

Egg conveying mechanism

[0001] The present invention relates to an egg conveying mechanism.

[0002] As shown in Patent Document 1, some conventional sorting and packaging systems include a plurality of egg holding and releasing tools that transition between a first state of holding an egg received from above and a second state of releasing the held egg downward.

[0003] Each holding and releasing tool includes a first holding member and a second holding member. The first holding member is configured not to move to release the egg in the second state, while the second holding member is configured to move to release the egg in the second state. The first holding member has a taper, and in the second state, the egg is configured to fall along the taper of the first holding member.

[0004] Here, in order to improve the processing capacity of the sorting and packaging system, it is conceivable to increase the number of holding and releasing tools provided in the system and narrow the arrangement interval (pitch) between the plurality of holding and releasing tools adjacent in the conveying direction.

[0005] However, if the pitch of the plurality of holding and releasing tools is narrowed, there is a risk that the second holding member will interfere with the first holding member located rearward in the conveying direction when opening, and there is a limit to narrowing the pitch of the holding and releasing tools. Further, when the pitch of the holding and releasing tools is narrowed, the movement range of the second holding member is restricted, and the second holding member comes into contact with the egg falling along the first holding member. As a result, the posture of the falling egg is inclined, and the egg cannot be stably dropped.

[0006] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-151229

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to stably drop eggs while improving the egg conveying capacity.

[0008] In other words, the egg transport mechanism according to the present invention comprises a plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices that hold eggs received from above and release the held eggs downward, and a moving mechanism that moves the plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices in a horizontal transport direction, wherein a plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices are provided along the transport direction, and each egg-holding and releasing device has a first holding part located on the front side in the transport direction by the moving mechanism and a second holding part located on the rear side in the transport direction, and holds the eggs with the first and second holding parts, the first holding part is fixed to the moving mechanism, the second holding part is rotatable around a horizontal rotation axis perpendicular to the transport direction and is displaceable between a holding position in which it holds the eggs together with the first holding part and a release position in which it releases the eggs downward, and the second holding part in the release position is characterized in that it is positioned below the first holding part of the egg-holding and releasing device adjacent to it in the rear side in the transport direction.

[0009] According to the present invention configured in this way, it is possible to improve the egg transport capacity while stably dropping the eggs. Specifically, since the second holding part is positioned below the first holding part when it reaches the release position, the distance between adjacent second holding parts and first holding parts at the release position in the transport direction can be shortened. In other words, the spacing (pitch) between multiple egg holding and releasing devices can be reduced, so the number of egg holding and releasing devices per unit length can be increased, thereby improving the transport capacity.

[0010] This is a schematic front view showing the configuration of an egg transport mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of an egg holding and releasing device of the same embodiment. This is a schematic front view showing the configuration of an egg holding and releasing device of the same embodiment (with the second holding part in the holding position). This is a schematic front view showing the configuration of an egg holding and releasing device of the same embodiment (with the second holding part in the releasing position). This is a schematic front view showing the (a) locked state and (b) unlocked state of the locking mechanism of the same embodiment. This is a schematic front view showing the positional relationship between two adjacent egg holding and releasing devices of the same embodiment. This is a schematic front view showing the state in which eggs are released according to the same embodiment.

[0011] An embodiment of the egg transport mechanism according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, for the sake of clarity, all the following figures are schematic representations, with some details omitted or exaggerated as appropriate. The same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0012] <Configuration of the egg conveying mechanism 100> The egg conveying mechanism 100 of this embodiment is used, for example, in an egg sorting and packaging system called a grader, or in an egg distribution and filling system called a farm packer. This egg conveying mechanism 100 transfers eggs E to an egg carton, egg tray, or bucket 111 of the egg storage mechanism 11.

[0013] Specifically, as shown in Figure 1, the egg transport mechanism 100 includes a plurality of egg holding and releasing devices 2 and a moving mechanism 3 that moves the plurality of egg holding and releasing devices 2 in a horizontal transport direction. In Figure 1, to show the moving mechanism 3, some of the egg holding and releasing devices 2 are shown with dashed lines of varying thickness.

[0014] Multiple egg-holding and releasing devices 2 are provided along the conveying direction. Each egg-holding and releasing device 2 holds the egg E received from above and releases the held egg E downwards. The specific configuration of the egg-holding and releasing devices 2 will be described later.

[0015] The moving mechanism 3 moves a plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices 2 in a horizontal transport direction and includes an endless annular transport chain 31 and a circulating drive unit 32 that circulates the transport chain 31. This moving mechanism 3 circulates and transports the plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices 2 by circulating the transport chain 31. The plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices 2 are provided along the transport chain 31.

[0016] Then, the multiple egg-holding and releasing devices 2, which are circulated and transported by the moving mechanism 3, receive eggs E from above in a transfer area X set on the upstream side of the transport direction by the moving mechanism 3, and release the eggs E downward in a release area Y set on the downstream side of the transport direction.

[0017] In the transfer area X, eggs E are sequentially transferred to each of the multiple moving egg-holding and releasing devices 2 by the egg transfer device 10. The egg transfer device 10 in this embodiment is configured to transfer a predetermined number of eggs E to a predetermined number of egg-holding and releasing devices 2 at once.

[0018] Furthermore, in the release area Y, multiple egg-holding and releasing devices 2 transfer the eggs E from predetermined release positions to the buckets 111 of the egg-containing mechanism 11. In addition, when the present invention is used in an egg sorting and packaging system, in the release area Y, the release positions may be varied according to egg information such as the size or weight of the eggs E, and the eggs E may be transferred to different groups of buckets 111, or the eggs E may be transferred from the egg-holding and releasing devices 2 to egg cartons or egg trays.

[0019] <Specific Configuration of Egg Holding and Dispensing Device 2> As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the egg holding and dispensing device 2 has a first holding part 21 located on the front side in the direction of transport by the moving mechanism 3, and a second holding part 22 located on the rear side in the direction of transport, and the egg E is held by these first holding part 21 and second holding part 22. In this embodiment, the egg holding and dispensing device 2 holds the egg E in a position where the sharp end of the egg E (blunt end and sharp end) is located downwards.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first holding portion 21 is fixed to the transport chain 31 of the moving mechanism 3. In this embodiment, the first holding portion 21 is fixed by being integrally formed with the connecting base portion 23 which is connected to the link pin of the transport chain 31.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first holding portion 21 has a first holding surface 21x for holding the egg E. This first holding surface 21x surrounds a part of the outer surface of the egg E and has a downward slope toward the rear in the conveying direction. Specifically, in the orientation of the transfer area X, the first holding surface 21x has a downward slope toward the rear in the conveying direction. In addition, the first holding surface 21x has a partially cylindrical shape, which is a part along the circumferential direction of a cylinder, and has a curved shape in which the cross section perpendicular to the downward slope direction is a circular arc. This first holding surface 21x also functions as a guide surface that guides the fall of the egg E when releasing it.

[0022] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second holding part 22 is rotatably mounted around a horizontal rotation axis 22C perpendicular to the conveying direction. In this embodiment, the second holding part 22 is rotatably mounted, for example, with respect to the connecting base part 23. Here, the rotation axis 22C is coaxial with the link pin of the conveying chain 31. The second holding part 22 is displaced together with the first holding part 21 between a holding position P in which it holds the egg E and a release position Q in which it releases the egg E downward.

[0023] Furthermore, the second holding part 22 has a second holding surface 22x for holding the egg E. This second holding surface 22x surrounds a part of the outer surface of the egg E and has a downward slope toward the front in the transport direction at the holding position P. Specifically, the second holding surface 22x has a downward slope toward the front in the transport direction at the orientation of the transfer area X (the orientation at the holding position P). The second holding surface 22x also has a partially cylindrical shape, which is a part along the circumferential direction of a cylinder, and has a curved shape in which the cross section perpendicular to the direction of the downward slope is a circular arc. When the second holding part 22 is at the holding position P, this second holding surface 22x holds the egg E together with the first holding surface 21x of the first holding part 21. When the second holding part 22 is at the release position Q, the second holding surface 22x separates from the egg E and causes the egg E to fall.

[0024] Furthermore, at least one of the first holding surface 21x or the second holding surface 22x may be a partial cone shape, which is a part along the circumferential direction of the cone, or it may be a partial cylindrical shape or a partial cone shape that is curved inward or outward in the front-to-back or up-and-down direction. Also, at least one of the first holding surface 21x or the second holding surface 22x may not be a partial cylindrical shape or a partial cone shape, but may have a plurality (for example, three) of planar parts that surround the egg E.

[0025] Furthermore, in order to stably hold the egg E, it is preferable that the egg E is supported at four points by the first holding surface 21x and the second holding surface 22x. For this reason, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the first holding part 21 and the second holding part 22 each have notches 21K and 22K formed in the central part of their lower ends.

[0026] The egg holding and releasing device 2 of this embodiment includes an elastic member 24 that applies elastic force to the second holding part 22 toward the release position Q, and a locking mechanism 25 that locks the second holding part 22 relative to the first holding part 21 when the second holding part 22 is in the holding position P.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5 in particular, the elastic member 24 has one end connected to the second holding portion 22 and the other end connected to the operating lever 251 of the locking mechanism 25.

[0028] The locking mechanism 25 includes an operating lever 251 with a hook portion 25a formed thereon, and a locking portion 25b provided on the second holding portion 22, which the hook portion 25a catches onto. The locking mechanism 25 receives the elastic force of the elastic member 24, and the hook portion 25a catches onto the locking portion 25b, thereby locking the second holding portion 22 in the holding position P.

[0029] The operating lever 251 is rotatably mounted between a locked position R (see Figure 5(a)) where the hook portion 25a is engaged with the locking portion 25b, and a released position S (see Figure 5(b)) where the lock is released. In this embodiment, the operating lever 251 is rotatably mounted around a rotation axis 251C that is coaxial with the link pin of the transport chain 31. Furthermore, an operating portion 25c is formed at the upper end of the operating lever 251, which is operated by the lock release portion 4 described later. Also, a hook portion 25a is formed at the lower end of the operating lever 251.

[0030] The locking portion 25b has a shape that the hook portion 25a catches on. This locking portion 25b is formed on a rotating portion 26 which is integrally provided on the second holding portion 22, and rotates together with the second holding portion 22 around the rotation axis 22C. The rotating portion 26 may be integrally formed with the second holding portion 22, or it may be a separate part fixed to the second holding portion 22.

[0031] Furthermore, the locking portion 25b has a contact surface 262 formed thereon that stops the rotation of the second holding portion 22 at the holding position P. When the lock is released, this contact surface 262 contacts the fixing member 27 fixed to the connecting base portion 23, stopping the rotation of the second holding portion 22 at the holding position P.

[0032] Furthermore, on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating part 26, a cylindrical sliding surface 261 is formed behind the locking part 25b in the rotational direction, on which the hook part 25a, which has been released from the locking part 25b, slides. This sliding surface 261 maintains the operating lever 251 in the release position S after the hook part 25a has been released from the locking part 25b.

[0033] In this locking mechanism 25, the hook portion 25a of the operating lever 251 catches on the locking portion 25b of the rotating portion 26, thereby locking the second holding portion 22 in the holding position P. On the other hand, by disengaging the hook portion 25a of the operating lever 251 from the locking portion 25b, the elastic member 24 displaces the second holding portion 22 toward the release position Q, and the contact surface 262 of the rotating portion 26 comes into contact with the fixing member 27, causing the second holding portion 22 to stop at the release position Q.

[0034] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, a release unit 4 is provided that acts on the operating part 25c of the operating lever 251 of the egg holder / dispenser 2, which is moved by the moving mechanism 3, to release the locking mechanism 25. The release unit 4 is provided outside the egg holder / dispenser 2 and the moving mechanism 3, and contacts the operating part 25c of the operating lever 251 on the moving egg holder / dispenser 2. Although multiple release units 4 are provided corresponding to multiple egg holder / dispenser 2, Figure 1 shows one release unit 4 as a representative example. Multiple release units 4 cause multiple (e.g., 6) eggs E to fall sequentially or at once into multiple buckets 111. These release units 4 are provided so as to be movable back and forth along the transport direction according to the transport speed of the moving mechanism 3. By making the release unit 4 movable back and forth along the transport direction, the landing position of the released eggs E can be adjusted. Specifically, the unlocking unit 4 contacts the operating part 25c of the operating lever 251 at the position where the egg E released from the egg holding and dispensing device 2 enters the bucket 111 of the egg storage mechanism 11.

[0035] In addition, as shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, a return part 5 is provided that acts on the second holding part 22 of the egg holding and releasing device 2, which is moved by the moving mechanism 3, to return the second holding part 22, which has been displaced to the release position Q, back to the holding position P. This return part 5 is fixed in a position that contacts the second holding part 22 of the moving egg holding and releasing device 2. Specifically, at the aforementioned "contact position," the return part 5 contacts a return lever 221 provided on the second holding part 22.

[0036] Then, as shown in Figure 6, the second holding portion 22 at the release position Q is positioned below the first holding portion 21 of the egg holding and releasing device 2 adjacent to it in the rear direction of the conveying direction. In this state, the second holding surface 22x of the second holding portion 22 at the release position Q is located below the first holding surface 21x of the first holding portion 21 adjacent to it in the rear direction of the conveying direction. In this embodiment, the second holding portion 22 at the release position Q is located in the space K formed below the first holding surface 21x of the first holding portion 21 adjacent to it in the rear direction of the conveying direction. Furthermore, at least a portion of the second holding portion 22 at the release position Q is located further rearward in the conveying direction than the front end portion 21a of the first holding portion 21 adjacent to it in the conveying direction. Moreover, the second holding portion 22 at the release position Q is located below the front end portion 21a of the first holding portion 21 adjacent to it in the conveying direction.

[0037] Furthermore, the first holding portion 21 has a shape that allows displacement of the second holding portion 22 of the egg holding and releasing device 2 adjacent to it in the forward direction of transport to the release position Q. Specifically, the surface 21y of the first holding portion 21 facing forward in the transport direction is a surface that has an upward slope toward the forward direction of transport. In this embodiment, the surface 22y of the second holding portion 22 at the release position Q facing backward in the transport direction and the surface 21y of the first holding portion 21 facing forward in the transport direction are substantially parallel. By making these surfaces substantially parallel, the distance between the first holding surface 21x and the second holding surface 22x of each egg holding and releasing device 2 can be made as large as possible while reducing the spacing (pitch) between the multiple egg holding and releasing devices 2, and it is possible to accommodate larger sized eggs E.

[0038] Furthermore, when the second holding part 22 is displaced to the release position Q, the second holding part 22 will be in a state where it does not come into contact with the egg E falling along the first holding surface 21x, as shown in Figure 7. That is, the release position Q of the second holding part 22 is a position where it does not come into contact with the egg E falling along the first holding surface 21x. Here, the position where it does not come into contact with the egg E falling along the first holding surface 21x is a position where the second holding part 22 does not come into contact with the egg E falling in a posture where the sharp end of the egg E is positioned downwards. In this specification, the posture in which the sharp end of the egg E is positioned downwards is referred to as the "upright posture" of the egg E. The upright posture includes not only the state in which the sharp end and blunt end of the egg E are aligned vertically (a state where it is standing straight up), but also the state in which it is inclined at a predetermined angle (e.g., 30 degrees) forward in the conveying direction relative to the straight upright state, and then inclined at a predetermined angle (e.g., 30 degrees) backward in the conveying direction.

[0039] Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the rotation axis 22C of the second holding part 22 is located behind the upper end 22T of the second holding surface 22x surrounding the egg E of the second holding part 22 in the transport direction, and above the upper end 22T of the second holding surface 22x, in the posture of the holding position P. The shaded area Z in Figure 3 is an example of the range in which the rotation axis 22C can be positioned. As a result, while the second holding part 22 moves from the holding position P to the release position Q, the second holding surface 22x is displaced backward in the transport direction, without being displaced forward in the transport direction from the second holding surface 22x at the holding position P. In this embodiment, the rotation axis 22C is positioned such that the second holding part 22 at the release position Q is positioned below the first holding part 21 of the egg holding and releasing device 2, which is adjacent to it in the transport direction.

[0040] Furthermore, the following configuration is also acceptable, as long as the second holding part 22 is displaced backward in the transport direction without being displaced forward in the transport direction from the second holding surface 22x at the holding position P while moving from the holding position P to the release position Q. In other words, the rotation axis 22C is located behind the upper end 22T of the second holding surface 22x in the transport direction in the posture of the holding position P, and may be at the same height as or below the upper end 22T of the second holding surface 22x. Alternatively, the rotation axis 22C is located above the upper end 22T of the second holding surface 22x in the posture of the holding position P, and may be at the same position as or forward in the transport direction of the upper end 22T of the second holding surface 22x. Furthermore, even if the second holding surface 22x is displaced forward in the transport direction from the second holding surface 22x at the holding position P while the second holding part 22 moves from the holding position P to the release position Q, the rotation axis 22C may be positioned in a range that does not affect the egg E falling along the first holding surface 21x, or the rotation axis 22C may be positioned in a range that does not obstruct the falling of the egg E along the first holding surface 21x. As described above, the range in which the rotation axis 22C is positioned is not limited to the shaded area Z shown in Figure 3.

[0041] Furthermore, if the release position Q of the second holding portion 22 is in a position that does not come into contact with the egg E falling along the first holding surface 21x, the rotation axis 22C of the second holding portion 22 may be located within a predetermined range including the upper end 22T of the second holding surface 22x in a front view.

[0042] In addition, the inclination angle and / or surface friction force of the first holding surface 21x of the first holding part 21 are adjusted so that the falling egg E is in a desired position. Specifically, the inclination angle and / or surface friction force of the first holding surface 21x can be adjusted so that the falling egg E is either standing upright or with its blunt end tilted upstream in the conveying direction (up to a maximum tilt of 30 degrees).

[0043] <Effects of the Present Embodiment> According to the egg transport mechanism 100 of the present embodiment, the second holding portion 22 reaches the discharge position Q in a state where it enters below the first holding portion 21 adjacent to the rear in the transport direction, so the arrangement interval (pitch) of the plurality of egg holding and discharging tools 2 can be reduced to improve the transport capacity. Further, when the second holding portion 22 is rotated from the holding position P to the discharge position Q, the distance between the second holding surface 22x of the second holding portion 22 and the first holding surface 21x of the first holding portion 21 can be increased, so that the second holding portion 22 does not obstruct the falling egg E, and the egg E can be stably dropped into the bucket 111 of the egg storage mechanism 11, an egg pack or an egg tray.

[0044] Further, in the present embodiment, the second holding portion 22 at the discharge position Q is displaced to a position where it does not come into contact with the egg E falling along the first holding surface 21x, so it does not obstruct the egg E falling along the first holding surface 21x, and the posture of the egg E can be stabilized. As a result of the stabilized posture of the egg E, the egg E can be stably dropped into the bucket 111 of another transport mechanism 11, an egg pack or an egg tray.

[0045] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first holding surface 21x of the first holding portion 21 has a downward slope toward the rear in the transport direction, so when the egg E is discharged, the egg E is discharged while moving (returning) rearward in the transport direction along the first holding surface 21x. Thereby, even when the transport speed in the transport direction is increased, the speed of the egg E in the transport direction at the time of falling can be reduced. As a result, even if the moving speed by the moving mechanism 3 (the transport speed of the egg E) is increased, the egg E can be stably and accurately dropped into the bucket 111 of another transport mechanism 11, an egg pack or an egg tray.

[0046] <Modified Embodiments of the Present Invention> The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment.

[0047] For example, the moving mechanism 3 of the aforementioned embodiment may be configured to have a plurality of rows of transport chains 31, and move the plurality of egg holding and discharging tools 2 in alignment in the width direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

[0048] In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

[0049] According to the present invention, it is possible to stably drop eggs while improving the egg conveying capacity.

[0050] 100... Egg conveying mechanism E... Egg 2... Egg holding and releasing tool 3... Moving mechanism 21... First holding part 22... Second holding part 22C... Rotation axis P... Holding position Q... Release position

Claims

1. An egg transport mechanism comprising: a plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices for holding eggs received from above and releasing the held eggs downward; and a moving mechanism for moving the plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices in a horizontal transport direction, wherein a plurality of egg-holding and releasing devices are provided along the transport direction, and each egg-holding and releasing device has a first holding portion located on the front side in the transport direction by the moving mechanism and a second holding portion located on the rear side in the transport direction, and holds the eggs with the first and second holding portions, the first holding portion is fixed to the moving mechanism, the second holding portion is rotatable around a horizontal rotation axis perpendicular to the transport direction, and is displaceable between a holding position in which it holds the eggs together with the first holding portion and a release position in which it releases the eggs downward, and the release position of the second holding portion is in a state where it is positioned below the first holding portion of an adjacent egg-holding and releasing device in the rear in the transport direction.

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