JP2001122439A - Tiering device for container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a maintenance free container tiering device capable of stacking containers without imparting impact to products within containers, simplified in structure and capable of manufacture at a low cost. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an opening frame 1 made by opening an opening O through which a container V can be passed in the vertical direction by making an opening width larger than the width of the container V, a stopper 2 which is formed into an almost fan-shape in a side surface view and is rotatably mounted on a shaft in a pivot part of the fan at a position opposed to the opening frame 1, an energizing means 3 which is provided on the back surface side of the stopper 2 and energizes the stopper 2 to push to the front and an elevator 5 capable of moving upward within the opening O by mounting a container B on the elevator. By situating a front surface part 22 of the stopper 2 at a front inclined attitude within the opening O by energizing force of the energizing means 3 in a normal state and upward moving the elevator 5 on which the container B is mounted from a lower side of the opening O, abutting the container B on the stopper front surface part 22, the stopper 2 can be erected against energizing force of the energizing means 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container stacking apparatus used for stacking a plurality of containers and treating them as a unit, and is particularly suitable for stacking a plurality of containers containing products. The present invention relates to a device for stacking containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the manufacturing and shipping processes of products, the products are stored in containers (including trays) and then handled,
There are times when the containers are stacked in several stages and handled as a unit or set from the viewpoint of transportation or the like. If there is no problem even if a shock or the like is applied to the product, the containers can be simply stacked using a known device such as a conveyor or a lift.

[0003]

However, in the case where it is required that the product in the container is not shocked so as not to be defective, the containers are simply stacked using a simple device such as a conveyor. And a problem arises. This is because, when the containers are stacked, the product in the container is moved by the impact of a head or an external force, and the product is scratched or defective.

In such a case, it has been common practice to control the speed using a three-dimensional robot, and to place the container quietly when placing the container on the container. However, when a three-dimensional robot was introduced, the cost was high, the mechanism was complicated, and attention had to be paid to maintenance and the like.

The present invention solves the above problems,
It can be stacked without impacting the product in the container,
Moreover, it can be manufactured at very low cost with an extremely simple structure,
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container stacking apparatus that requires little attention to maintenance.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object,
The gist of the invention according to claim 1 is that an opening frame (1) in which the opening width is made larger than the width of the container and the opening through which the container can pass is opened in the vertical direction, and the opening frame (1) faces the opening frame. A stopper (2) which is substantially fan-shaped in a side view and is rotatably mounted on a main part of the fan as an axis, and biasing means provided on the back side of the stopper and biasing the stopper to push forward. (3) and an elevator (5) which can move the container upward by moving the container inside, and the front portion of the stopper is normally inclined forward in the opening by the urging force of the urging means. On the other hand, the stopper can be raised up against the urging force of the urging means by moving the elevator on which the container is loaded from below in the opening while moving the container against the front surface of the stopper. Characterized by the container stacking device Here, “approximately fan-shaped in side view”
5 (a). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), there is a regular fan shape having a predetermined central angle θ and a radius r1 = r2, as shown in FIG. B)
As shown in FIG. 5 (c), an irregular curve 23 is formed on the outer circumference with a radius r1 ≠ r2, the curvature changes, and a straight line 25 is formed on the outer circumference with a radius r1 ≠ r2 as shown in FIG.
As shown in (d), the shape in which the curve 23 and the straight line 25 are formed on the outer periphery with the radius r1 ≠ r2 is also substantially fan-shaped in a side view according to the present invention. In a container stacking apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the urging means is a coil spring.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the front portion of the stopper faces the opening in the forwardly inclined position by the urging force of the urging means in the normal state, and the elevator on which the container is loaded from below the opening is moved to the front surface of the stopper. When the stopper is raised up against the urging force of the urging means by moving the container upward while abutting the container, the container can be pushed up from below by an elevator or the like to easily stack the containers. A new container abuts the container already on the stopper at the controlled speed of the elevator from below, and does not impact the product in the container. Since the basic components of the container stacking device are only the stopper, the urging means, and the elevator, the container can be manufactured with a simple structure at a low cost, and the configuration is maintenance-free. When the coil spring is used as the urging means, the structure can be further simplified and the stopper can be smoothly opened and closed.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of a container stacking apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the container stacking device of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view thereof, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of peripheral devices including the container stacking device,
FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of the container stacking device, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a container stacking pattern, and FIG. 5 is a side view of various stoppers.

The container stacking device (hereinafter simply referred to as “stacking device”) includes an opening frame 1, a stopper 2, a biasing means 3, and a lift 5. The opening frame 1 is an opening frame formed by vertically opening an opening O having an opening width W2 slightly larger than the width W1 of the container B (FIG. 2). Here, the container B is a board-shaped tray container in which the product P is stored.
The opening frame 1 is mounted on a device base 9 for storing necessary equipment. The product storage container B is slid on two parallel guide bars 61 having an L-shaped cross section and sent from the transport equipment 6 to the stacking device.
The opening frame 1 is erected on the outside of the frame 1 by welding. The opening O of the opening frame 1 satisfies the opening O if a space for allowing the container B to pass in the vertical direction is secured. The opening frame 1 does not need to be a rectangular frame surrounding all sides. In the present embodiment, there is only a plate-shaped frame 1 facing at a predetermined interval, and there is no horizontal beam connecting the two. The opening frame 1 is a frame main body 1 serving as a main bone.
1 and a box 1 provided at the upper end of the frame body 11
2 (FIG. 1). The box 12 has an open surface facing the opening O, from which the front portion 22 of the stopper 2 is installed so as to face the inside of the opening O.

The stopper 2 is a locking member having a predetermined length in the direction perpendicular to the paper of FIG.
<Θ <180 °, preferably 10 ° <θ <90 °), and is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 4 disposed at a main portion of the fan. As for the stopper shape of the present invention, the shape in a side view as shown in FIGS. 5A is a regular sector-shaped stopper having a radius r1 = r2, and FIG. 5B is a stopper having a radius r1> r2, the curvature of which changes to form an irregular curve 23 on the outer periphery.
5C is a stopper having a radius r1 ≧ r2 and a straight line 25 formed on the outer periphery, and FIG. 5D is a stopper having a radius r1 ≧ r2 and having a curve 23 and a straight line 25 formed on the outer periphery. Reference numeral 26 indicates an inflection point. However, if it is considered that the opening O is on the right side of the stopper 2 in FIG.
(R1> r2), that is, the type of FIG. 1 as in this embodiment is more preferable. If the stopper shape shown in FIG. 1 is used, as will be described later, when a gap ε is formed in FIG. 4 (c) and then the stopper 2 enters under the stacked container S2 in FIG. 4 (d), r1> r2 For this reason, the stopper arc surface 23 immediately receives the container S2, and the impact received by the container is reduced. Although the side shape of the stopper 2 in FIG. 1 is different from the shape in FIGS. 3 and 4, the one in FIG.
Is smaller than the sector radius of the back portion 21. 3 and 4 are schematically shown. The containers B are placed on an arc surface 23 corresponding to a fan-shaped arc to enable the stacking of the containers (described later). Pairs are installed. The four stoppers 2 are on the same horizontal plane. Each stopper 2 is rotatably mounted on a lower portion of the box 12 by a support shaft 4, and a coil spring 3 as urging means is fixed to a back surface 21 of the stopper 2.

The coil spring 3 serving as a biasing means includes a stopper 2
And is urged to push the stopper forward. The coil spring 3 is interposed between the back surface 21 of the stopper 2 and the upright wall 121 of the box 12 and has both ends 31, 32 fixed to the back surface 21 of the stopper 2 and the upright wall 121. Under normal conditions, the front portion 22 of each stopper 2 is made to face the opening O in the forward inclined posture by the elastic biasing force of the coil spring 3. In the forward tilted posture, the elevation angle of the front portion 22 of the stopper 2 is 1
In the range of 5 to 70 degrees, the coil spring 3 is normally used.
The front portion 22 of each stopper 2 is arranged so as to interfere with the container B moving upward through the opening O by the elastic urging force (FIG. 2).
One end 32 of the coil spring 3 is fixed to the back surface 21 of the stopper, and the other end 31 of the coil spring 3 is fixed to the upright wall 121 of the box 12, so that the front portion 22 of the stopper 2 is opened by the repulsive force of the compressed coil spring. Face forward in O. In order to prevent the stopper 2 from falling into the opening O from the forwardly inclined posture in FIG. Thus, even if the container B is placed on the arcuate surface 23 of the stopper 2, the stopper 2 is maintained in the state by the coil spring 3 and the locking member. 23 and can be left standing. On the other hand, the coil spring 3 moves the elevator 5 on which the container B is mounted from below in the opening O,
By moving the container B upward while abutting the stopper front portion 22, the stopper 2 can be compressed so that it can be raised and expanded. Elevator 5 from different angles
When the container B is moved upward, the stopper 2 can be raised and expanded against the elastic repulsive force of the coil spring 3. In the present embodiment, the coil spring 3 is used as the urging means. Instead of the coil spring 3, an air cylinder, a solenoid valve, another elastic spring, rubber, foam, or the like can be used.

The elevator 5 can move the container B up and down with the container B placed in the opening O. Here, an air cylinder is used.
A flat receiving plate 52 on which the container B can be stably mounted horizontally is fixed to the upper end of the rod 51 of the air cylinder 5. The air cylinder 5 is located substantially at the center of the opening O and the rod 5
The receiving plate 52 is disposed at a position slightly lower than the guide bar 61 in a state in which the first plate 1 is retracted (FIG. 1).

Reference numeral 7 denotes a product supply unit, reference numeral 62 denotes a horizontal guide bar of the transport equipment 6, reference numeral 63 denotes a movable body, and reference numerals 64, 6
Reference numeral 5 denotes a stopping portion for stopping the movable body. After the inspection, the products P, P,... Conveyed to the product supply unit 7 are stored in the box of the container B, and the product is stored in the box of the container B. The container B
When the movable body 63 moves on the horizontal guide bar 62, the movable body 63 slides on the guide bar 61 and is sent to the left in FIG. Reference numeral 8 denotes a discharge conveyor. The containers B stacked in a predetermined number of stages (here, five stages) by the stacking device are transferred from the stacking device to the discharge conveyor 8 by a push plate (not shown), and the process proceeds to the final shipping process.

Next, the stacking operation of containers using the stacking apparatus described above will be described. 3 and 4, the first container B1 is already loaded on the stopper 2 in FIG. Put the product P in the box from the product supply department,
The product storage containers B with the lids are sequentially fed directly below the openings O by the transport equipment 6. After confirming that the container B2 has been sent just below the opening, the air cylinder 5 is operated. Then, the rod 51 extends and lifts the receiving plate 52 and the container B placed thereon. As the receiving plate 52 and the container B2 move upward, the corner of the upper surface of the container B2 hits the front portion 22 of the stopper 2 in the forwardly inclined posture (closed state). Initially,
The position where the upper surface corner of the container B2 contacts is substantially the center of the stopper front portion 22 as shown in FIG. With the extension of the rod 51, the receiving plate 52 and the container B2 are going to further rise. The stopper 2 is in a forwardly inclined position by the elastic biasing force of the coil spring 3 in a normal state, but can be rotated about the support shaft 4. As container B rises from B21 to B22 to B23,
The stopper front part 22 which is in contact with the upper corner of the container B is C1 →
The stopper moves from C2 to C3, and the stopper 2 rises. In this process, the stopper back surface 21 also retreats as shown by the broken line in FIG. The container B2 moves upward against the elastic biasing force (repulsive force) of the coil spring 3. On the other hand, the container B1 already loaded on the stopper 2 slides on the arc surface 23.

With further extension of the rod 51, the container B2 rises, and the corner of the upper surface of the container B2 soon raises the front portion 22 of the stopper 2 almost vertically to open the stopper 2, and the front portion 22 and the arcuate surface 23 (A in FIG. 4). On the other hand, the container B1 stacked on the stopper 2 slides on the arcuate surface 23, and its lower surface corner is
It comes to the front end 24 where 3 and the front part 22 intersect. The container B2 exactly overlaps the container B1 from below. In addition, container B1
In order to smoothly slide down to the front end 24, the fan-shaped stopper 2 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, with the further extension of the rod 51, the container B2 is moved to the vertical standing front portion 22.
(FIG. 4B). And container B
When the corner of the lower surface of 2 rises with a slight gap ε from the front end 24 of the stopper (C in FIG. 4), the elastic biasing force (repulsive force) of the coil spring 3 which has been regulated by the container acts. At this point, the repulsive force of the coil spring 3 is large, and the moment the container B2 separates from the stopper 2, the coil spring 3 is elastically restored and returns to the stopper 2 in the normal forward tilt posture at a stretch. Thereafter, when the rod 51 of the air cylinder 5 is retracted and lowered, the containers B1 and B2 stacked in two stages become four containers.
It is supported by the stopper 2 located at a certain position, and is placed on the arc surface 23 in a state where it is properly overlapped (d in FIG. 4). In the process of shifting from FIG. 4 (c) to (d), since the stopper 2 of the type shown in FIG. 5 (b) is employed, the arc surface 23 of the stopper 2 can quickly receive and support the container B2 from below. And the impact of the containers B1 and B2 can be reduced. Next, container B
After confirming that 3 has been sent just below the opening, the air cylinder 5 is operated (FIG. 1), and the same stacking operation as described above is performed. This operation is repeated, and when the containers B are stacked in five stages, the containers are transferred from the stacking device to the discharge conveyor 8 by a push plate (not shown). Then, new stacking will be performed again.

In the stacking device thus constructed, the container B is lifted from below, and the stopper 2 is pushed and spread using the movement of the container B to perform stacking. The container B rises from below while contacting the front portion 22 of the stopper 2, and at the moment the container B separates from the stopper 2, the elastic repulsive force of the coil spring 3 causes the stopper 2 to return to the original forwardly inclined posture. If the air cylinder 5 is retracted, the container B can be reliably supported by the stopper 2. By repeating such an operation, the containers B can be easily stacked. Moreover, the container B rises while abutting on the front portion 22 of the stopper 2 at the speed of the air cylinder 5, and is stacked so that the upper surface thereof overlaps the lower surface of the container B already mounted on the stopper 2. There is no impact or vibration applied to the product P in B. The containers B are placed at fixed positions on the arc surface 23, and the stacked containers B are properly stacked and in an orderly shape. Since a new container B is brought into contact with the container B already on the stopper 2 from below, there is no problem caused by dropping the container B from a place where there is a drop using a lift or the like. That is, the quality of the product P can be maintained without giving an impact or vibration to the product P.

However, as described above, the structure of the stacking device is simple, so that it can be manufactured at low cost and has a structure that is very easy to maintain. In addition, since the stacking mechanism of the stacking device utilizes the lifting of the container B and the elastic biasing force of the coil spring 3, the stopper 2 can be opened and closed without providing a new power source. Since only the air cylinder 5 is required as a power-requiring device, the running cost is low.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention depending on the purpose and application. The shape, size, number, and the like of the opening frame 1, the stopper 2, the urging means 3, the air cylinder 5, and the like can be appropriately selected according to the application.

[0019]

As described above, the container stacking apparatus according to the present invention can be used to impact products in containers without using a robot or the like.
It can be stacked without giving vibration and the like, and since it has a simple structure, it is hard to break down and can be manufactured at low cost, and in addition, it has excellent effects such as lower running cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a container stacking apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of peripheral devices including a container stacking device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of the container stacking device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a stacked pattern of containers.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a typical stopper according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Opening frame 121 Standing wall 2 Stopper 21 Back part (rear surface) 22 Front part 3 Coil spring (biasing means) 31, 32 End part 5 Air cylinder (elevator) B, B1, B2 Container W1 Container width W2 Opening width

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An opening frame (1) in which an opening width is made larger than the width of a container so as to allow the container to pass through the opening frame (1), and a substantially fan-shaped side view at a position facing the opening frame. A stopper (2) rotatably mounted on a main part of the fan as an axis, and a biasing means (3) provided on the back side of the stopper and biasing the stopper to push forward. An elevator (5) capable of placing a container thereon and moving the opening upward in the opening, wherein the urging force of the urging means normally causes the front surface of the stopper to face the opening in a forwardly inclined position, and A container on which the stopper is raised against the urging force of the urging means by moving the elevating machine on which the container is mounted from below under the container in contact with the front surface of the stopper. Stacking equipment. 2. The container stacking device according to claim 1, wherein said urging means is a coil spring.