JPH0525773B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a basket stacking machine used for stacking baskets containing, for example, chickens.

Conventional technology The broiler industry is plagued by chicken diseases, and to prevent diseases, the cages in which chickens are carried must be cleaned and disinfected with chemicals and hot water at 80 to 90 degrees Celsius.

Conventionally, the sterilized baskets are stacked up to a height of 5 to 8 levels by hand during the work process and then sent to the next stage of work.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 59-69320 discloses a stacking device that stacks shopping baskets that are transported laterally by a conveying means using lifting claws provided on a chain.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 49-88271 discloses that the number of stacked containers is counted by a counting device,
It shows a dosing and stacking device that automatically sends containers to a transport wagon when a predetermined number is reached.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-216830 discloses a method for stacking boxes, in which the number of stacks is detected by a plurality of stack detection photoelectric sensors.

Problems that the invention aims to solve During the stocking process, the smell of chemicals makes workers feel sick, work is especially difficult in the summer because hot water is used to disinfect the baskets, and the efficiency of filling baskets is extremely poor, making it difficult to automate the work. desired.

In the above-mentioned invention disclosed in JP-A No. 59-69320, the stacking operation is automated, but the shopping basket lifted by the lifting claw and the shopping basket that is then fed laterally come into contact with each other. Because of this, it is not possible to lift the shopping basket smoothly. Therefore,
Problems arise, such as the efficiency of stacking operations being reduced and shopping baskets falling off conveyors and lifting claws.

Further, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-88271, a lifter for lifting the containers upward and a stocker for stacking the containers are provided separately, so the structure and operation tend to be complicated.

Furthermore, in the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-216830, the boxes are stacked using a lift or a conveyor, which results in poor stacking efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a basket stacking machine that can solve the above-mentioned problems and automate the basket stacking operation to improve stacking efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a loading section that sequentially transports and positions the baskets to one predetermined position, and an endless arrangement between the one predetermined position and the other predetermined position. a rotating means that rotates, a basket conveying support that is attached to the rotating means and sequentially lifts the baskets at one predetermined position and transfers them to the other predetermined position and stacks them in multiple stages; It is provided with a counting means and a carry-out section for carrying out a predetermined number of carts stacked at the other predetermined position in response to a stacking completion signal from the counting means, and a positioning stopper is provided at a predetermined position of the carry-in section, and the basket is positioned by the positioning stopper. The gist of the present invention is a basket stacking machine that is provided with a detection section that detects the presence or absence of a basket, and a standby stopper that waits for the next basket when the detection section detects the presence of a basket.

Operation The carrying unit 1 sequentially positions the baskets C at one predetermined position P1, and the baskets C at one predetermined position P1 are moved to the other predetermined position by the basket conveying supports 12, 12 attached to the rotary chains 9, 9. The baskets C are transported to P2 and stacked in multiple stages, and after checking whether or not a predetermined number of baskets C have been stacked by detecting with the basket counters D1 to D5, the stacked baskets C are carried out by the carrying out section 17.

Further, the presence or absence of a car C positioned by the positioning stopper 6 is detected by a predetermined position detector 7, and when the presence of a car is detected, the next car is put on standby by the standby stopper 5.

Embodiments The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a preferred embodiment of the basket stacking machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the basket stacking machine. For convenience of explanation, the number of stacked cages in each of the front and side views has been changed, and the position of the cage transport support has also been changed.

In the figure, 1 is a loading section. This loading section 1
has a first conveyor 2 and a second conveyor 3 provided following the first conveyor 2 for quickly transporting the baskets C. The first conveyor 2 and the second conveyor 3 are roller type, for example, and carry sterilized baskets C (C1 to C8 to Cn) at a predetermined position P1 on one side.
This is for sequentially transporting and positioning.

A car detector 4 for detecting passage of a car C is provided in the middle of the first conveyor 2. This car detector 4 is electrically connected to a control device 8. For example, in the illustrated example, a contact type object presence/absence detector such as a limit switch is used, but a non-contact type object presence/absence detector such as a photoelectric switch is used. You can also use a container.

In front of the car detector 4, there is provided a standby stopper 5 for keeping the car C on standby.
This standby stopper 5 is configured so that the car detector 4 detects the car C.
When the car C is detected, the standby stopper 5 can be commanded by the control device 8 to protrude upward and stop the car C. When the car detector 4 does not detect the car C, the standby stopper 5 stops the car C on the first conveyor 2. It is located in a lower position.

A positioning stopper 6 is formed on the terminal end side of the second conveyor 3 for positioning the conveyed basket C at the one predetermined position P1.
At one of the predetermined positions P1, there is a predetermined position detector 7.
is set. This predetermined position detector 7 is for detecting whether or not there is a car C at one predetermined position P1. For example, a light emitting diode can be used as the light emitter 7a, and a photodiode can be used as the light receiver 7b. .

The standby stopper 5 may be, for example, an air cylinder with a stopper member attached thereto. This standby stopper 5 is connected to a predetermined position detector 7.
only when the controller gives a signal to the control position 8 that there is no car C at one predetermined position P1, even if the car C contacts the car detector 4, the waiting state of the car C is canceled.
The continuously flowing cars C can be moved one by one to one predetermined position P1.

Reference numerals 9 and 9 designate a rotating chain as a rotating means that rotates endlessly between one predetermined position P1 and the other predetermined position P2. The rotating chains 9, 9 are wound around a plurality of sprockets 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e for smooth rotation.

A motor 11 for driving a rotating chain is connected to the sprocket 10d via a chain 10f.

Specifically, this motor 11 is, for example,
It is a motor with a small reducer of about 0.4KW,
It has a function of rotating the rotating chains 9, 9 clockwise in FIG. 1 at a predetermined number of rotations, for example, about 0 to 3 times per minute.

Car transport supports 12, 12 are attached to the inner sides of the rotary chains 9, 9 so as to face each other. The car transport supports 12, 12 are connected to the rotary chain 9,
9, the basket C is in one predetermined position P1.
This is for sequentially transporting the materials to the other predetermined position P2 and stacking them in multiple stages.

Since the basket conveyance supports 12, 12 have a left-right symmetrical shape, FIG.
will be shown as a representative and its structure will be explained.

The car transport supports 12, 12 are attached via pins 13 to pins 9a, 9a of the left and right rotating chains 9, 9. That is, the basket conveying supports 12, 12 move in the direction of the arrow A with the pin 13 as the center.
It can be rotated in any direction. Each car transport support 12 has a mounting member 14 attached to the rotation chains 9, 9 by a pin 13, and a claw 16 attached to the lower end of the mounting member 14 via a pin 15 so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle. have.

The claw 16 has a receiving surface 16a that receives the bottom surface of the basket C and has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is tapered at the lower part and has an engaging protrusion 16b formed therein. On the other hand, the mounting member 14 has a protruding stop portion 14a formed on its side surface, and this stop portion 14a can be engaged with the engagement protrusion 16a.

That is, the claw 16 can be retracted toward the mounting member 14 to a position that avoids both sides of the basket C (C1, C2) as illustrated in FIG. They can be opened in directions facing each other with the pin 15 as the center so that they can be placed on the receiving surface 16a. In this open state, the engaging protrusion 1 of the pawl 16
6b comes into contact with the stopper 14a of the mounting member 14, and the opening degree of the claw 16 can be set from the stopper 14a.

In FIG. 1, a stacking basket counter group is provided near the other predetermined position P2. This accumulation basket counter group consists of basket counters D1 to D5, which are counting means. In the embodiment, the basket counter D1 is capable of detecting the fourth basket C (C4) stacked at the other predetermined position P2. Similarly, the car counters D2 to D5 are placed at the other predetermined position P2.
Cart C from the 5th to 8th tier (C5
~C8) can be detected. The predetermined number of accumulation completion signals of each basket counter D1 to D5 are as follows:
It is designed so that it can be electrically input to the control device 8.

Further, at the other predetermined position P2, there is provided a carry-out section 17 that conveys the plurality of stacked baskets C to the next stage. A roller type conveyor is preferable as this unloading section 17, and a stacking basket stopper 18 is provided in the vicinity of the other predetermined position P2 on the way.
is installed. This savings basket stopper 18
is similar to the standby stopper 5,
It is electrically connected to the control device 8. That is, when the basket C reaches a predetermined number of accumulations (e.g., 8 stages in the embodiment), the basket counter D5 detects the eighth basket C8 and provides an accumulation completion signal to the control device 8. 8, the stacking basket stopper 18 is lowered from the unloading section 17,
Cart C stacked in 8 stages by the unloading section 17
(C1-C8) are ready to be transported to the next stage, for example, to a truck unloading station.

Note that the cage C is made of plastic, for example, and can accommodate a plurality of chickens (for example, about 5 to 8 chickens).

Approximately 20 to 26 baskets C are disinfected every minute and then transported to the loading section 1. There are various types of baskets C, including those that have been repaired and deformed, those made only of plastic, and those made of plastic with a wire mesh lid attached.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

A cage C containing a plurality of chickens (for example, 5 to 8 chickens) is cleaned and then sequentially disinfected with chemicals and hot water.
Thereafter, it is carried by the first conveyor 2 to a position near the standby stopper 5.

When the first basket C1 is conveyed by the first conveyor 2, even if the basket C1 contacts the basket detector 4, there is no basket C at one predetermined position P1, and the predetermined position detector 7 detects the basket C. Therefore, the standby stopper 5 does not protrude beyond the first conveyor 2. Therefore, the first basket C is not stopped by the standby stopper 5, but is carried by the second conveyor 3 to one predetermined position P1, and is reliably positioned at one predetermined position P1 by the positioning stopper 6.

On the other hand, the rotating chains 9,9 are preferably rotated 2 to 3 times per minute. This rotation speed is set according to the speed at which the sterilized baskets C are fed.

At one predetermined position P1, the first basket C1 (indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) is positioned, and the second basket C2 (indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) is placed on the first conveyor 2. It is carried by. The second car C2 is detected by the car detector 4, and the standby stopper 5 immediately protrudes from the first conveyor 2, so that the second car C2 waits on the first conveyor 2.

When the car transport supports 12, 12 reach the first car C1 located at one predetermined position P1 by the rotation of the rotary chains 9, 9, the claws 16, 16 move the car C1.
1 and automatically opens diagonally in opposite directions centering on the pin 15 to support the bottom of the basket C1. The car C1 is supported by the claws 16, 16, and is raised as the rotary chains 9, 9 rotate.

The car transport supports 12, 12 are connected to the sprocket 1.
0a, 10b, 10c in this order and reaches the sprocket 10d, but during this time the car transport support 1
2 and 12 are always kept facing the direction of gravity in any position as shown in Figs.
Carried up to 2. Therefore, the chickens in the cage C will not come out of the cage C or receive any impact, and the chickens will not be damaged.

When the predetermined position detector 7 confirms that the basket C1 is missing at one predetermined position P1, the next basket C2 is positioned at one predetermined position P1. That is, the standby stopper 5 is lowered from the first conveyor 2, and the basket C2 is lowered from the first conveyor 2.
Then, the second conveyor 3 carries it to one predetermined position P1, and the positioning stopper 6 positions it.

This second basket C2 is carried to the other predetermined position P2 in the same manner as the first basket C1, and is stacked on the basket C1. As shown in FIG. 4, at this time, the claws 16, 16 detached from the cage C2
Although it hits both sides of the car C1, it is returned to the outside of the car C1 (toward the rotating chains 9, 9), so it can easily avoid the sides of the car C1 and pass through.

Similarly, the third basket C3 and the fourth basket C4 are sequentially conveyed to the other predetermined position P2, and are stacked on the basket C2 one after another, and the claws 16, 16 are stacked each time.
avoids both sides of the stacked baskets C, and is returned from the other predetermined position P2 to the one predetermined position P1. Cart C4 is car counter D1
This is detected and the control device 8 is notified that four baskets have been stacked.

Similarly, when the baskets C5, C6, C7, and C8 are accumulated in sequence, the basket counters D2, D3, and D
4 and D5 are sequentially detected, and the control device 8 is notified of the number of stacked stages.

The control device 8 sets the car C to a predetermined number of stages, 8
When a stacking completion signal indicating that the tiers have been stacked is given, the carry-out unit 17 is driven, the stacking basket stopper 18 is lowered from the carry-out unit 17, and the 8 stacked baskets C1 to C8 are moved by the carry-out unit 17. It is transported to the next stage.

Similarly, although not shown, the next basket C
is from one predetermined position P1 to the other predetermined position P2
will be re-funded.

In this way, any type of basket C that is sent one by one to one predetermined position P1 is piled up a predetermined number of stages at the other predetermined position P2, and then the transport unit 1
7, it can be moved to a predetermined location. By doing this, there is no need to make a mechanical return movement in response to the flow of baskets C, and it is less likely to break down because it is natural, and the work of stacking the baskets in 5 to 8 tiers by hand, which was conventionally done, can be done easily. This eliminates the need to accumulate money in any basket without stopping the flow, automating the accumulation work and making work easier, especially in the summer.

In addition, when the predetermined number of stacking stages is set to 5 to 7 instead of 8, the stacking basket stopper 18 may be lowered when the basket counters D1 to D4 detect a basket.

7 and 8 show other embodiments of the cage transport support.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is similar to the previously described embodiment in that the claw 26 of the car transport support 22 is attached to the lower end of the attachment member 24 via a pin 25. The upper end of this attachment member 24 is rotatably attached to the inside of the rotary chain 9 via a pin 23.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a spring 40 is installed between the attachment member 34 of the car transport support 32 and the claw 36. This spring 40
This is to facilitate the backward motion when the holder 6 closes toward the mounting member 34 side. Claw 36
is attached to the lower end of the attachment member 34 by a pin 35, and the upper end of the attachment member 34 is attached to the rotary chain 9 via a pin 33, as in the previous embodiment.

By the way, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various embodiments are possible. For example, instead of a rotating chain, a toothed belt may be used as the rotating means.

Further, the basket conveying support body can have various shapes other than the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, in the car transport supports 12 and 22 shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the claw 16 and the mounting member 14, the claw 26 and the mounting member 2,
A spring for return operation may be installed between the 4 and 4.

Furthermore, the number of cage transport supports to be attached is not limited to one set, and a plurality of cage transport supports may be attached as necessary.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the baskets that have been disinfected and have a chemical odor are sequentially brought in one by one, and after positioning them at the first predetermined position, the basket conveying support attached to the rotating means The baskets are lifted up and carried to another predetermined position by the handle, and stacked one after another, and when the number of stacked stages reaches a predetermined number, the baskets are unloaded, so the baskets are automatically and reliably stacked without stopping the flow and without human intervention. A predetermined number of baskets can be accumulated and sent to the next stage, and the worker does not have to touch the basket, making it possible to carry out the accumulation work extremely efficiently even in the summer, which is an unprecedented and excellent effect.

Additionally, a positioning stopper is provided at a predetermined position in the loading section, a detector is provided to detect the presence or absence of a basket positioned by the positioning stopper, and when the detector detects the presence of a basket, the next basket is placed on standby. Since the standby stopper is provided, a basket positioned at a predetermined position in the carry-in section can be lifted while being separated from the next basket. In this case, when lifting, it is possible to completely prevent the basket positioned at a predetermined position from getting caught by the next basket. Therefore,
You can lift the basket smoothly. Thereby, the efficiency of stacking work can be improved. Further, it is possible to prevent the basket from falling off from the carry-in section or the basket transport support. Moreover, since the basket can be lifted in any direction, the rotation locus of the rotating means can be set arbitrarily. For example, the rotating means can be set so that the direction in which the baskets are lifted and the direction in which the baskets are stacked are both perpendicular. In this case, the locus of the rotation means can be in the form of an elongated track. Therefore, compared to the case where the direction in which the baskets are lifted is inclined with respect to the direction in which they are stacked, the rotating means can be made more compact.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a basket stacking machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the basket stacking machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basket conveying support. A perspective view, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the claws of the basket conveying support are protruding from both sides of the basket, and FIG.
Figure 6 shows the state in which the basket is carried vertically.
7 is a perspective view showing a basket conveying support according to another embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a basket conveying support according to another embodiment. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Carrying-in part, 2... First conveyor, 3... Second conveyor, 4... Car detector, 5... Standby stopper, 7... Predetermined position detector, 8... Control device, 9... Rotating chain (rotating means), 11...
Motor, 12... Car transport support, 17... Carrying out section, D1 to D5... Car counting device (counting means), P
1... One predetermined position, P2... The other predetermined position, C (C1 to C8)... Basket.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A loading section that sequentially transports and positions the baskets to one predetermined position, a rotating means that rotates endlessly between one predetermined position and the other predetermined position, and a rotating means that is attached to this rotating means and moves the basket to one predetermined position. a basket conveying support that sequentially lifts the baskets and transfers them to another predetermined position to stack them in multiple stages; a counting means for counting the number of stacked baskets; and a counting means for counting the predetermined number of baskets stacked at the other predetermined position. The carry-in section is equipped with a carry-out section that carries out the carry-out in response to a loading completion signal, a positioning stopper is provided at a predetermined position of the carry-in section, and a detector is provided to detect the presence or absence of a basket positioned by the positioning stopper. A basket stacking machine equipped with a standby stopper that waits for the next basket when it detects this.