JP2007326659A - Article separating and feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article separating and feeding device capable of enhancing the separating performance of slender and columnar articles. <P>SOLUTION: The article separating and feeding device comprises a center disk part (34) for guiding a slender article group thrown onto an upper surface to its outer circumferential side, an outer circumferential rotating flange (1) which is located along the outer circumference of the center disk part (34) and has a plurality of longitudinal holes (11) of the size capable of storing only one guided article (B) in an upright posture formed in the circumferential direction at a predetermined pitch, an article receiving means (61) which receives the article (B) stored in the longitudinal hole (11) from the lower side, and drops the article downwardly by releasing the reception, and a lower flange (4) connected and fixed to a lower side of the outer circumferential rotating flange (1). Top-open bucket parts (44) having the shape capable of receiving the article (B) dropped from the longitudinal hole (11) and storing it in a horizontally-collapsed posture are formed in the lower flange (1) at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. A transferring means (7) is also provided thereon, which transfers the article (B) in the bucket part (44) to the conveying device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an article separation and supply device that separates a large number of articles such as confectionery pieces that are thrown in an irregular posture and supplies them to a subsequent conveying apparatus or the like.

  An example of a structure in which articles such as confectionery pieces thrown in an irregular posture are separated one by one and supplied to a subsequent conveying apparatus is shown in FIG. This consists of a flat outer cylinder (15) constituting a separation case (10), a flat conical centrifuge umbrella (34) housed in the inside, and an outer circumference of the centrifuge umbrella (34). The outer peripheral rotary flange (1) is provided, and an article accommodation hole (16) penetrating vertically is formed around the outer peripheral rotary flange (1). The articles (B) and (B) separated one by one are supplied to the transport device (2) disposed near the outer periphery of the separation case (10).

On the outer periphery of the separation case (10), brush units (12) and (12) for scraping the articles (B) and (B) into the article receiving holes (16) formed in the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) are arranged. It is installed.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where the articles (B) and (B) are transferred to the transfer device (2).
In the outer periphery of the bottom plate (13) fixed to the separation case (10), a drop hole (13a) is provided for dropping the article (B) to the conveying device (2) side. The article accommodation holes (16), (16) formed in 1) are sequentially passed through the upper region of the drop hole (13a).

Further, the transport device (2) for transporting the separated articles (B) and (B) to a downstream packaging device or the like (not shown) is provided with a drop hole (opened in the bottom plate (13) of the separation case (10) ( 13a) is provided with an article traveling plate (21) passing through the lower region, and a slit (22) formed in the longitudinal direction of the article traveling plate (21) is erected and fixed to the conveying chain (23). The rods (24) and (24) penetrate vertically.
In this thing, the article (B) (B) put on the centrifugal umbrella (34) from the external feeder (not shown) moves to the outer periphery by the centrifugal force of the centrifugal umbrella (34), and further the brush unit (12). In (12), it is scraped into the article receiving holes (16), (16) of the outer peripheral rotating flange (1). The articles (B) and (B) in the article receiving holes (16) and (16) are dropped holes (13a) opened in the bottom plate (13) of the separation case (10) along with the rotation of the outer peripheral rotating flange (1). (See FIG. 7). And it falls on a conveyance apparatus (2) from a fall hole (13a), and is conveyed to a subsequent packaging apparatus etc. with the transfer rod (24) (24) provided in this.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-246033

  However, in the above-mentioned conventional one, when processing an elongated columnar article (B) (B) as shown in FIG. 6, it is damaged or empty (not loaded with articles (B) (B). Article receiving holes (16) and (16) may occur, and there is a problem that the separation performance of the articles (B) and (B) is poor.

That is, when separating the elongated columnar article (B) (B) with the conventional separation and supply device, the article accommodation hole (16) having a shape slightly larger than the planar shape of the article (B) in the lying position is formed. A device having an outer peripheral rotating flange (1) is used. In this case, depending on the ratio between the length and the thickness of the article (B), the two articles (B) and (B) are combined in a standing posture as shown in the loading defect part (a) in FIG. In such a case, the upper parts of the articles (B) and (B) protrude upward from the article accommodation hole (16). Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper part of the soft article (B) (B) such as a confectionery piece protruding from the article accommodation hole (16) is caught in the rotating brush (120) of the brush unit (12) and damaged. There is a possibility that damaged articles (B) and (B) may be supplied to the subsequent conveying device (2). Further, when the upper part of the article (B) fitted in the article accommodation hole (16) in the standing posture is scraped upward by the rotation of the brush unit (12), the article (B) is moved to the article accommodation hole (16). In this case, the article (B) is not supplied to the transport device (2). For these reasons, in the above-described conventional products, when the elongated columnar articles (B) and (B) are processed, the separation performance of the articles (B) and (B) is deteriorated.
The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to improve the separation performance of the elongated columnar article (B).

[Invention of Claim 1]
The solving means of the invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is as follows:
“A central disk portion that guides a group of elongated articles placed on the upper surface to the outer periphery side,
An outer peripheral rotating flange that is positioned along the outer periphery of the central disk portion and that has a plurality of vertical holes that can accommodate only one guided article in a standing posture at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. When,
While receiving the article accommodated in the vertical hole from below, article receiving means for dropping the article by releasing the receiving,
A lower flange connected and fixed to the lower side of the outer peripheral rotation flange,
Each of the lower flanges has an upper open bucket portion that is positioned below each of the vertical holes, and that is configured to receive articles falling from the vertical holes and accommodate them in a predetermined sideways posture at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. Formed with
Furthermore, there is provided a transfer means for transferring the article in the bucket unit to the transfer device when the bucket portion containing the article in the lying position moves to the transfer position on the downstream transfer device side. It is.
According to the above solution, the group of articles supplied in an irregular posture on the upper surface of the central disk portion is guided and moved to the outer peripheral side by the central disk portion. And the articles | goods which moved to the outer peripheral side fall in the vertical hole formed in the outer periphery rotation flange following this. Since this vertical hole is set to a size that can accommodate only one elongate article in a standing posture, two articles are combined and fitted in a standing posture as in the conventional one described above. There is nothing.

  Therefore, even when a rotating brush such as the above described rotary brush that scrapes the article into the vertical hole formed in the outer peripheral rotating flange is provided, the upper part of the soft article such as a confectionery piece accommodated in the vertical hole serves as the rotating brush. There is no inconvenience of being caught and damaged, or scraped with a rotating brush.

  Then, when the outer peripheral rotating flange rotates in a state where one article (in a standing posture) is accommodated in the vertical hole, the accommodated article is received from below by the article receiving means. This prevents the article (B) from falling from the vertical hole.

Further, the outer peripheral rotating flange and the lower flange connected and fixed to the lower side thereof integrally rotate, and the bucket portion formed on the lower flange is positioned below the vertical hole.
Therefore, after that, when the article receiving means releases the receipt of the article, the article accommodated in the vertical hole falls to the lower bucket portion (formed on the lower flange). Since each bucket part is a shape which can accommodate articles | goods in a predetermined sideways attitude | position, the articles | goods hold | maintained in this sideways attitude | position are transferred to the transfer position by the bucket part by the bucket part. Then, the articles in the bucket portion that have reached the transfer position (in the lying position) are transferred to the transport device by the transfer means.

[Invention of Claim 2]
In the invention according to claim 1,
“The article receiving means
In the receiving area, the article is a fixed plate positioned above the lower flange in a mode along the lower side of the vertical hole arrangement area of the outer peripheral rotating flange. In the receiving area, it is supported from below by the fixing plate and kept in a fall-prevented state. When the vertical hole containing the article has passed through the receiving area, the fixing plate does not face the vertical hole. As a result, the article in the vertical hole falls into the bucket portion formed in the lower flange below it, and is stored and held in a lying position.

[Invention of Claim 3]
In the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2,
“The bucket portion is open toward the outside in the radial direction of the lower flange,
The transfer means pushes the article in the bucket portion outward in the radial direction and transfers it to the transfer device ”, wherein the transfer surface of the transfer device is configured to have substantially the same height as the bottom of the bucket portion, By pushing the articles in the section outward in the radial direction, the articles can be transferred to the transport surface.
Therefore, a bottom cover that can be opened and closed is provided on the bucket part, and the bottom part of the bucket part and the transport surface of the transport apparatus are moved as in the case of opening the bottom cover and dropping the article vertically onto the transport apparatus. The difference in height does not increase. Therefore, the article does not drop impactively on the transport device, and the transfer to the transport device is smooth.

The present invention has the following specific effects.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the vertical hole formed in the outer peripheral rotating flange is set to a size that can accommodate only one elongated article in a standing posture. The two articles do not merge in a standing posture and fit into a common vertical hole. Therefore, even when a rotating brush such as the above described rotary brush that scrapes the article into the vertical hole formed in the outer peripheral rotating flange is provided, the upper part of the soft article such as a confectionery piece accommodated in the vertical hole serves as the rotating brush. There is no inconvenience of being caught and damaged, or scraped with a rotating brush. Therefore, the separation performance of the elongated columnar article is improved.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the article receiving means for receiving the article in the vertical hole from below is constituted by a fixed plate. Therefore, since there is no movable part as in the case where a bottom cover that can be freely opened and closed is provided at the lower open part of the vertical hole, the structure can be simplified.

  In the invention according to claim 3, as described above, unlike the case where the openable bottom cover provided in the bucket portion of the lower flange is opened and the article is dropped in the vertical direction, the article is shockedly dropped. Since there is no, there is a smooth transfer to the transport device.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus for separating and supplying articles according to the present embodiment includes a flat conical centrifuge umbrella (34) housed in a separation case (6) ), An outer peripheral rotating flange (1) that is fitted to the centrifugal umbrella (34) so as to be rotatable relative to the centrifugal umbrella (34), and a bolt (41) ( 41) and a disk-shaped lower flange (4) fixed to the connection ring (42) with bolts (43) (43). The gantry (5) for supporting the separation case (6) and the like has first and second motors (51) and (52) for independently rotating the lower flange (4) and the centrifugal umbrella (34). Is arranged.
Details of each part will be described below.

[Separation case (6)]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the separation case (6) is configured to have brush units (12) and (12) projecting upward in the interior thereof, and the cylindrical shape constituting each brush unit (12). The rotating brush (120) protrudes into the separation case (6) through a rectangular notch (64) that opens to the upper edge of the outer cylinder (60). Each rotating brush (120) is driven by a motor (121) and covered with an upper cover (122).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a ring-shaped fixing plate (61) projecting to the inner periphery is provided with a bolt (63) on the outer peripheral flange (62) projecting to the lower end of the outer peripheral tube (60) of the separation case (6). The fixing plate (61) corresponds to “article receiving means” which is the invention specific matter of the invention of claim 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 (a diagram in which the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) is cut in the circumferential direction), the inner periphery of the fixed plate (61) is the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) and the lower flange (4). Are provided so as to face the moving area of the vertical holes (11) and (11) formed in the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) from below. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a part of the fixed plate (61) is sequentially opposed to the vertical holes (11) and (11) moving with the rotation of the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) from below. A drop hole (610) is opened.

[About centrifugal umbrella (34)]
The centrifugal umbrella (34) is disposed concentrically with the outer peripheral cylinder (60) of the separation case (6) and has a fixing screw (32) with respect to the upper end of the rotating shaft (31). 1), the gear (33) fixed near the lower end of the rotary shaft (31) is connected to a drive gear (520) provided on the rotary shaft of the second motor (52), as shown in FIG. ). Accordingly, the rotational force of the second motor (52) is transmitted through the path of the drive gear (520) → the gear (33) → the rotating shaft (31) → the centrifugal umbrella (34), and the centrifugal umbrella (34) Rotate.

[About outer peripheral rotating flange (1)]
On the outer periphery of the centrifugal umbrella (34), an outer peripheral rotation flange (1) is externally fitted to the centrifugal umbrella (34) so as to be relatively rotatable, and the outer peripheral rotation flange (1) is circular. The vertical holes (11) and (11) penetrate vertically, and the inner diameter of the vertical holes (11) is larger than the diameter of the elongated cylindrical article (B) (the confectionery piece in this embodiment) and has a diameter The inner diameter is set to be shorter than the length of the article (B). Thereby, the vertical hole (11) has a shape that allows only a single article (B) to be accommodated in a standing posture. Further, the depth of the vertical hole (11) is set to a dimension that substantially matches the length of the article (B) in the present embodiment.

  Also, the lower flange (4) is fixed with bolts (43) and (43) to the connecting ring (42) joined to the lower inner periphery of the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) with bolts (41) and (41). At the same time, the lower flange (4) is positioned below the fixing plate (61) at the bottom of the separation case (6), as shown in FIGS.

  The outer periphery of the lower flange (4) is formed with recesses (44) and (44) that are open on the radially outer side and upper side of the lower flange (4), and the recesses (44) and (44) are described above. It corresponds to a “bucket part” which is an invention specific matter. The recess (44) has a circumferential dimension L1 that is slightly larger than the length of the article (B), and the radial dimension L2 is set slightly larger than the diameter of the article (B). As a result, the recess (44) has a shape that can accommodate the article (B) in the lying position in a predetermined position (an attitude long in the circumferential direction of the lower flange (4)). Moreover, each recessed part (44) is formed in the position which each opposes from the bottom with respect to each vertical hole (11) formed in the outer periphery rotation flange (1).

  The central boss member (45) fixed to the center portion of the lower flange (4) is externally fitted in a non-rotating state on the cylindrical shaft (46) that is rotatably fitted on the rotary shaft (31). At the same time, the gear (47) externally fitted and fixed to the lower portion of the cylindrical shaft (46) meshes with the drive gear (510) provided on the rotating shaft of the first motor (51). The cylindrical shaft (46) is rotatably supported by a cylindrical bearing (53) provided on the gantry (5). Accordingly, the rotational force of the first motor (51) is transmitted through the path of the drive gear (510) → the gear (47) → the cylinder shaft (46) → the central boss member (45) → the lower flange (4), The flange (4) rotates integrally with the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) above it. Note that the centrifugal umbrella (34) is configured to rotate at a higher speed than the lower flange (4), so that the centrifugal force of the centrifugal umbrella (34) allows the articles (B) and (B) to be It can be reliably guided to the vertical holes (11) and (11).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, from the drop hole (610) formed in the fixing plate (61) fixed to the bottom of the outer peripheral cylinder (60) of the separation case (6), the counterclockwise direction (the outer peripheral rotation flange ( In the position shifted in the rotational direction (1), the article (B) housed in the recess (44) on the outer periphery of the lower flange (4) is pushed out to the outside in the radial direction of the lower flange (4). An extrusion guide (7) as a “transfer means” for transferring to (2) is provided. This extrusion guide (7) is a rectangular plate with an inclined side (70) formed at the tip that contacts the article (B) accommodated in the recess (44) and guides it to the conveying device (2) side. The fixing unit (not shown) of the separation and supply device is appropriately fixed.

  In addition, in the range from the drop hole (610) to the upstream vicinity of the extrusion guide (7), the article (B) housed in each recess (44) of the lower flange (4) falls outside. A peripheral side plate (48) for preventing the above is disposed in a manner along the outer periphery of the lower flange (4). As a result, the article (B) that has fallen into the recess (44) from the drop hole (610) does not escape from the recess (44) until it reaches the disposition portion of the extrusion guide (7).

[About transfer device (2)]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the conveying device (2) for receiving the article (B) supplied from the recess (44) of the lower flange (4) is an article extending in the tangential direction of the outer periphery of the lower flange (4). A travel plate (21) is provided. The conveyance surface (25) of the article (B), which is the upper surface of the article traveling plate (21), is substantially the same height (conveyance) as the bottom surface (440) of the recess (44) formed on the upper surface of the lower flange (4). The surface (25) is located slightly lower or the same height as the bottom surface (440). As a result, the article (B) in the recess (44) is pushed out in the horizontal direction by the extrusion guide (7) and slid to the transport surface (25) having the same height as the bottom surface (440) of the recess (44). To do. Therefore, unlike the case of providing a bottom lid that can be opened and closed in the concave portion (44) as the bucket portion, opening the bottom lid, dropping the article (B) in the vertical direction, and transferring it to the conveying surface (25), the article (B) does not drop shockably on the transfer surface (25). Therefore, the transfer to the transfer device (2) is smooth.
The transfer rods (24) and (24) penetrating vertically with respect to the central slit (22) in the longitudinal direction formed on the article travel plate (21) are arranged and fixed at a predetermined pitch on the transport chain (23). ing.

[Description of operation]
Next, the operation of the separation and supply apparatus according to the above embodiment will be described.
2 and 3, the centrifugal umbrella (34) and the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) concentrically fitted to the centrifugal umbrella (34) rotate counterclockwise, and the centrifugal umbrella (34) rotates outer peripherally. It rotates faster than the flange (1). As a result, the articles (B) and (B) put on the centrifugal umbrella (34) in an irregular posture from an external feeder (not shown) are moved to the outer periphery by the centrifugal force of the centrifugal umbrella (34). Then, the articles (B) and (B) moved to the outer periphery are scraped into the vertical holes (11) and (11) of the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) by the rotating brush (120) of the brush unit (12). In this case, the inner diameter of the longitudinal hole (11) is set to a dimension larger than the diameter of the article (B) and less than twice the diameter, and the inner diameter is set to a dimension shorter than the length of the article (B). Yes. Accordingly, only a single article (B) is accommodated in the vertical hole (11) in a standing posture. Therefore, unlike the conventional one in which the two articles (B) and (B) are combined in a standing posture and fit into the common vertical hole (11), soft articles (B) (B There is no fear that the upper end protruding part of) will be caught in the brush unit (12) and damaged. Further, there is little fear that the articles (B) and (B) are scraped out of the vertical holes (11) by the brush unit (12) to form empty vertical holes (11).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, with the article (B) being housed in the vertical hole (11) of the outer peripheral rotating flange (1), up to the drop hole (610) portion of the fixing plate (61) therebelow. When moved, the article (B) in the vertical hole (11) enters the recess (44) formed in the lower flange (4) (rotating integrally with the outer peripheral rotating flange (1)) from the drop hole (610). It falls and is accommodated in a long lying posture in the circumferential direction of the lower flange (4).

  Then, when the recess (44) containing the article (B) in the lying position moves to the arrangement portion of the extrusion guide (7) with the rotation of the lower flange (4), the article (B) is moved to the extrusion guide (7 ) And move outward (see FIG. 2). As a result, the article (B) is pushed out between the transfer rods (24) and (24) of the transport device (2) and transported to the subsequent packaging measure (not shown) or the like.

[Others]
1. In the above embodiment, the article in the recess (44) formed on the outer periphery of the lower flange (4) was transferred to the conveying device (2) by the extrusion guide (7), but at the bottom of the recess (44). An openable / closable bottom cover is provided, and when the recess (44) reaches the transport device (2), the bottom cover is opened and the article (B) is dropped from the recess (44) to the transport device (2) side. Those to be made are also included in the inventions of claims 1 and 2.

2. In the above embodiment, the fixing plate (61) connected to the bottom of the separation case (6) prevents the article (B) in the vertical hole (11) from dropping downward. (11) A bottom cover that can be freely opened and closed is provided at the bottom, and when the article (B) is dropped from the vertical hole (11) into the recess (44) of the lower flange (4), the bottom cover may be opened. It is included in the invention of claim 1.

3. In the above embodiment, the articles (B) and (B) are moved to the outer periphery by rotating the centrifugal umbrella (34). On the other hand, if the centrifugal umbrella (34) has a conical shape with a small zenith angle or has a structure in which the separation case (6) is entirely inclined, the separation umbrella (34) need not be rotated. It is possible to guide the article (B) to the outer peripheral side.

4). The centrifugal umbrella (34) and the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) may be coupled to rotate integrally.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the separation supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention The perspective view of the partial notch of the separation supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention The top view of the notch of the separation supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention The enlarged view of the arrangement | positioning part of the conveying apparatus (2) in the separation supply apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention Figure of the outer peripheral rotating flange (1) cut in the circumferential direction Illustration of conventional example Illustration of conventional example

Explanation of symbols

(1) ・ ・ ・ Outer peripheral rotation flange
(4) ・ ・ ・ Lower flange
(7) ・ ・ ・ Extrusion guide
(11) ・ ・ ・ Vertical hole
(44) ・ ・ ・ Recess
(61) ・ ・ ・ Fixed plate
(B) ... Goods

Claims (3)

A central disk part for guiding the group of elongated articles placed on the upper surface to the outer peripheral side;
An outer peripheral rotating flange that is positioned along the outer periphery of the central disk portion and that has a plurality of vertical holes that can accommodate only one guided article in a standing posture at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. When,
While receiving the article accommodated in the vertical hole from below, article receiving means for dropping the article by releasing the receiving,
A lower flange connected and fixed to the lower side of the outer peripheral rotation flange,
The lower flange is formed with an upper open bucket portion at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction, which is positioned below each of the vertical holes and has a shape capable of receiving the falling article and accommodating it in a predetermined lateral position. And
Further, the article is provided with transfer means for transferring the article in the bucket part to the transfer device when the bucket unit containing the article in the lying position moves to the transfer position on the downstream transfer device side. Separation feeder. The apparatus for separating and supplying articles according to claim 1,
The article receiving means is
In the receiving area, the article separating and supplying apparatus, which is a fixed plate positioned above the lower flange in a mode along the lower side of the vertical hole arrangement area of the outer peripheral rotating flange. In the separation and supply apparatus for articles according to claim 1 or 2,
The bucket portion is open toward the outside in the radial direction of the lower flange;
The transfer means is an article separation and supply device that pushes the article in the bucket portion outward in the radial direction and transfers the article to the transfer device.

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