JPH10316209A - Equipment for packing goods - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable articles stored in a horizontal rotating shelf to be packed in a desired order at a high speed. SOLUTION: A rotating shelf 1 is formed by stacking a plurality of rotating shelf units 11 that rotate along a horizontal circulation path, and a plurality of article transporters 27 are provided facing the rotating shelf 1 and are provided. A vertical circulating conveyor 2 is provided, and a buffer space is provided between each rotating shelf unit 11 and the vertical circulating conveyor 2 so that a plurality of articles 6 taken out and conveyed from the rotating shelf 1 are transferred from the vertical circulating conveyor 2. When there is a packing order so that the articles are taken out in a predetermined order, the take-out timing of the articles 6 to be taken out from the buffer space to the respective article carrying tools 27 in a different order from the order in which they are taken out from the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is set in advance. Is transferred to the buffer space when the article transporter 27 is rotated to a position facing the buffer space where the article 6 to be taken out is transferred. The article 6 is taken out to a predetermined article carrier 27 and articles are packed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article packing apparatus, and more particularly to an article packing apparatus for taking out articles stored in a horizontal rotating shelf and packing them in a desired order. It concerns equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique relating to an article packing equipment, there is known a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-22708.

[0003] The prior art described in the above publication is described.
A loading / unloading method of a multi-stage rotary shelf apparatus having a multi-stage rotary shelf in which a plurality of rotary shelf units having a plurality of trays capable of horizontal circulation rotation are stacked and a loading / unloading transfer machine is described.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

That is, in the method of loading and unloading a multi-stage rotary shelf apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 64-22708, a large number of container supports (article transport tools) are provided in a transfer machine for unloading. Nevertheless, only three containers (articles) can be loaded at most, and even if the container support downstream of the container support on which the container is mounted is empty, the empty container Since the container cannot be taken out from the support, the container cannot be taken out at high speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article packing apparatus capable of packing articles stored in a horizontal rotating shelf in a desired order at a high speed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a rotating shelf comprising a plurality of stacked rotating shelves which rotate along a horizontal circulation path, and a plurality of rotating shelves arranged opposite to the rotating shelf. A vertical circulating conveyor with an article conveying tool is provided, and a buffer space is provided between each rotating shelf alone and the vertical circulating conveyor, and a plurality of articles taken out from the rotating shelf and conveyed are vertically mounted. When there is a packing order to be taken out from the circulating conveyor in a predetermined order, the take-out timing of the articles taken out from the buffer space to the respective article carrying tools in a different order from the order taken out from the vertical circulating conveyor is set in advance. When the predetermined article carrier is turned to a position facing the buffer space where the articles to be taken out are transferred, The mounting article is obtained by achieving the above object by providing a load of articles aligned equipment, characterized in that are no to Nisoroe the article is taken out to the predetermined article transport device.

The order of picking up the articles taken out from the buffer space to the respective article carriers is determined by the packing order according to the packing command and the stacking position of the rotary shelf alone in which the articles taken out from the buffer space are stored. Preferably, the setting is made based on the distance from the position.

Further, when the predetermined article carrier is turned to a position facing the buffer space where the articles to be taken out are transferred, the vertical circulation conveyor is decelerated or stopped to remove the articles transferred to the buffer space. It is preferable to take out to the above-mentioned predetermined article carrier.

A pulse generator for generating a pulse according to the rotation of the vertical circulation conveyor is provided, and the vertical circulation conveyor is decelerated or stopped according to the number of pulses generated by the pulse generator. Preferably, there is.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an embodiment of an article packing apparatus of the present invention in which a buffer space is not shown, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line X--X of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is an enlarged side view.

In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a rotating shelf formed by stacking a plurality of rotating shelves 11 that rotate along a horizontal elliptical circulation path at appropriate intervals, and 2 denotes a reversing path portion R of the rotating shelf 1. And a vertical circulation conveyor 3 that includes a plurality of article transporters 27 having a skewer (fork) -shaped article placement portion 27a and transports the articles 6 downward at a constant pitch. 2 is a pulse generator (not shown) that generates a pulse in accordance with the rotation of the motor 2. Note that a buffer space (not shown) is provided between each of the rotating racks 11 and the vertical circulation conveyor 2 so that the articles 6 are not directly taken out from the rotating shelf 1 (the article storage unit 12 thereof) to the article carrier 27. There is something. Thus, the articles 6 to be taken out from the rotating shelf 1 to the respective article carrying tools 27 are set in advance according to the packing order, and the articles 6 to be taken out of the predetermined article carrying tool 27 are opposed to the buffer space where the articles 6 are transferred. When the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is rotated to the position (take-out) A, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped, the articles 6 transferred to the buffer space are taken out to a predetermined article carrier 27, and the articles 6 are packed in a desired order. It is made to do. The vertical circulating conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped according to the number of pulses generated by the pulse generator 3. Further, by providing the buffer space, the articles 6 are transferred from the article storage section 12 to the buffer space before the predetermined article carrier 27 is rotated, and the articles 6 to be taken out next are transferred to the reverse path section. Since it is possible to rotate to R, it is possible to reduce the time that the vertical circulation conveyor 2 has to wait because the article 6 to be removed has not arrived.

To explain each part in the above embodiment, each of the rotating shelves 11 in the rotating shelf 1 supports a large number of article storage sections 12 on an elliptical traveling rail so as to be able to travel and along the traveling rail. By driving a drive chain between the drive gear wheel and the idler gear wheel, fixing the article storage portions 12 to the drive chain at equal intervals, and driving the drive gear wheel with a motor, Rotating shelf unit 11
The rotating racks 11 are stacked in nine levels to form the rotating shelf 1. Also,
A buffer space (not shown) is provided between each rotating shelf unit 11 and the vertical circulation conveyor 2.

The vertical circulating conveyor 2 is disposed to face the reversing path R on the driven side of the rotary shelf 1 and takes out the articles 6 taken out of the article storage section 12 into the buffer space by the take-out device 5. B, and a vertical circulating surface of a rotating body (chain) 21 stretched endlessly of the vertical circulating conveyor 2 is disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the linear movement path S of the rotating shelf 1. I have. Reference numeral 22 denotes a first guide frame disposed along the rotation locus of the rotating body 21. Reference numeral 23 denotes a first guide frame having substantially the same shape as the rotation locus of the rotating body 21, and a vertical moving path S of the rotating shelf 1. The second guide frame 24, which is displaced in a substantially right-angle direction, is driven by a motor 26 via a transmission chain 25 by a tooth wheel that stretches the rotating body 21. Reference numeral 27 denotes an article carrier having a skewered (fork) -shaped article placement portion 27a, and reference numeral 28 denotes a guide roller attached to the article carrier 27. Note that seven article transporters 27 are attached to the rotating body 21 at a constant pitch (three times the stacking interval of the rotating shelf 11 alone). Further, a total of nine take-out positions A are determined so as to face the respective buffer spaces.
Each of the positions is on a path along which the article carrier 27 moves downward. Further, although the carry-out position B is provided below the take-out position A, it may be at the same height as the take-out position A at the lowest stage. Note that the article 6 is prevented from being directly taken out of the article storage section 12 to the article carrier 27 by the buffer space.

The pulse generator (pulse encoder) 3 generates a pulse in accordance with the rotation distance of the vertical circulation conveyor 2. Rotating distance (1
mm / pulse), the value obtained by dividing the distance that the article carrier 27 rotates from the start of packing to the removal of each article 6 should be taken out of the articles 6 stored in the respective rotating racks 11 alone. It becomes a pulse value.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an unloading conveyor for unloading the articles 6 from the unloading position B of the vertical circulating conveyor 2 and having a skewered driving roller 41. The portion 27a is configured to be able to cross.

The take-out device 5 is used to take out the articles 6 stored in the article storage section 12 in the reversing path section R of the rotary shelf 1. The delivery pusher 51 is disposed at a position facing the
There are provided nine sets in total, one set corresponding to each rotating shelf unit 11.

A take-out control device (not shown) is provided. When the number of pulses generated by the pulse generator 3 reaches a predetermined value, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped and moved to a predetermined buffer space. Article 6 loaded
Is taken out to a predetermined article carrier 27.

In order to supply the articles 6 to the article storage section 12 of the rotating shelf 1, another vertical circulation conveyor (not shown) is provided.

Next, an article packing method carried out by using the above-described article packing apparatus will be described.

When there is a packing order so that a plurality of articles 6 taken out of the rotating shelf 1 and conveyed are taken out of the vertical circulation conveyor 2 in a predetermined order, the packing order and the buffer space of the packing order are given. Based on the distance (offset value α) between the stacking position of the rotary shelf unit 11 in which the articles 6 to be taken out are stored and the reference position (offset value α), the removal timing of the articles 6 to be taken out from the buffer space to the respective article carrying tools 27 is determined in advance. When the number of pulses generated by the pulse generator 3 reaches a predetermined value, that is, the article 6 from which the predetermined article transporter 27 is taken out
Is rotated to the take-out position A opposite to the buffer space to be transferred, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped, and the articles 6 transferred to the predetermined buffer space are taken out to the predetermined article carrier 27. The taken-out articles 6 are conveyed downward by the vertical circulating conveyor 2 and are unloaded from the unloading position B to the unloading conveyor 4 so as to be packed in a desired order.

11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11
Reference numerals e, 11f, 11g, 11h, and 11i denote individual rotating racks 11 stacked in nine layers, and the stacking interval is 7
In the case of 00 mm, the distance between the stacking position of each rotating shelf unit 11 and the uppermost rotating shelf unit 11i (reference position), that is, the offset value α, is 700 mm for the rotating shelf unit 11h in the eighth stage from the bottom. , The rotating shelf unit 11 at the seventh level from the bottom
g is 1400 mm, the rotating shelf unit 11f at the sixth tier from the bottom is 2100 mm, and the rotating shelf unit 11e at the fifth tier from the bottom is 28
00mm, 4d rotating shelf 11d from bottom is 3500
mm, the rotating shelf unit 11c at the third stage from the bottom is 4200m
m, the second rotating shelf unit 11b from the bottom is 4900 mm,
The lowermost rotating shelf 11a is 5600 mm.

Also, various types of articles 6a are stored on the rotating shelf 11a, and various types of articles 6a are stored on the rotating shelf 11b.
b, various kinds of articles 6c on the rotating shelf 11c,
Various types of articles 6d are provided on the rotating shelf 11d, and various types of articles 6e are provided on the rotating shelf 11e.
1f, articles 6f of various types, articles 11g of various types on the rotating shelf 11g, articles 6h of various types on the rotating shelf 11h, and articles of various types on the rotating shelf 11i. 6i are stored in plurals.

Thus, for example, 10
The individual articles 6 are arranged in the following order: articles 6a, 6g, 6f, 6
When there is a packing order to be taken out at f, 6d, 6i, 6i, 6h, 6f, 6d, calculation and control are performed as follows, and the desired articles 6 are packed in a desired order.

That is, the article 6a first taken out to the carry-out conveyor 4 is stored in the rotating shelf unit 11a and is taken out from the rotating shelf unit 11a, but the rotating shelf unit 11a is located at the lowermost stage where the offset value α is 5600 mm. The articles 6a are placed in the buffer space of the rotary shelf unit 11a with a delay of the offset value α from the start of packing (when any article carrier 27 is located at the uppermost take-out position A). The articles are conveyed to the opposing article transporter 27 (the article transporter 27 that was located at the uppermost take-out position A at the time of starting the packing). That is, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated after 5600 pulses, which is the timing for taking out the articles 6a from the start of packing, (if the predetermined articles 6a
Is not transferred to the buffer space, the vertical circulating conveyor 2 stops, and waits until the predetermined article 6a is transferred to the buffer space). Is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11a. The vertical circulation conveyor 2 has the pulse value of 560.
When the number of pulses reaches 0 (or when the pulse approaches 5600 pulses), the speed may be reduced to a speed that does not hinder the removal of the article 6 (the stop may be performed if necessary). 2 is returned to the normal speed and rotated.

The articles 6g to be taken out to the carry-out conveyor 4 after the articles 6a are stored in the rotating shelf 11g, and the article transporter 27 from which the articles 6a are taken out from the start of the packing.
The rotating shelf unit 11 is moved to a distance 2100 mm in which the next article carrier 27 rotates until it is positioned at the uppermost take-out position A.
article 6 delayed by the offset value α (1400 mm)
g is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11g alone. That is, the vertical circulating conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped after 2100 pulses + 1400 pulses = 3500 pulses from the start of packing, and a predetermined article 6g is moved from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11g to an article facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11g. An article take-out instruction is given to take out the goods to the carrier 27.

The articles 6f to be taken out to the unloading conveyor 4 next to the articles 6g are stored in the rotary shelf 11f alone, and the article carrier 27 from which the articles 6g are taken out from the start of the packing.
The rotating shelf unit 11 is moved to a distance of 4200 mm until the next article transport device 27 is positioned at the uppermost take-out position A.
article 6 delayed by the offset value α (2100 mm) of f
f is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11f. That is, the vertical circulating conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped after 4200 pulses + 2100 pulses = 6300 pulses from the start of packing, and a predetermined article 6f is moved from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11f to the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11f. An article take-out instruction is given to take out the goods to the carrier 27.

Since the article 6f is also continuously taken out after the article 6f, the article 6f is delayed by the above-described take-out pulse value, that is, the pulse value (2100 pulses) required for the next article carrier 27 to arrive after 6300 pulses. 6f is taken out by the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11f. That is, 6300 pulses + 2
Vertical circulation conveyor 2 after 100 pulses = 8400 pulses
Is decelerated or stopped, and an article take-out instruction is given so as to take out a predetermined article 6f from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11f to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11f.

The articles 6d to be taken out to the unloading conveyor 4 after the articles 6f are stored in the rotating shelf 11d alone, and from the start of packing, the article transporter 27 from which the articles 6f are taken out.
The rotating shelf unit 11 is moved to a distance 8400 mm at which the next article carrier 27 rotates until it is positioned at the uppermost take-out position A.
The product 6 is delayed by the offset value α (3500 mm) of d.
d is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11d. That is, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped after 8400 pulses + 3500 pulses = 11900 pulses from the start of packing, and the predetermined articles 6d are removed from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11d.
Is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11d.

The articles 6i to be taken out to the unloading conveyor 4 next to the articles 6d are stored in the rotating shelf 11i alone, and the article carrier 27 from which the articles 6d are taken out from the start of packing.
The rotating shelf unit 1 is set at a distance of 10500 mm in which the next article carrier 27 rotates until it is positioned at the uppermost take-out position A.
The article 6i is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotary shelf unit 11i with a delay of the offset value α (0 mm) of 1i. That is, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped after 10500 pulses + 0 pulses = 10500 pulses from the start of packing, and the rotating shelf 1
An article take-out command is given to take out a predetermined article 6i from the buffer space 1i to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11i alone.

Since the article 6i is continuously taken out after the article 6i, the above-mentioned take-out pulse value, that is, 10500
After the pulse, the next article 6i is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotary shelf unit 11i with a delay by the pulse value (2100 pulses) required for the next article carrier 27 to arrive. That is, after 10500 pulses + 2100 pulses = 12600 pulses, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped, and a predetermined article 6i is transferred from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11i to the rotating shelf unit 11i.
An article take-out instruction is given to take out the article to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space.

The articles 6h to be taken out to the unloading conveyor 4 next to the articles 6i are stored in the rotating shelf 11h, and from the start of packing, the article transporter 27 from which the articles 6i have been taken out.
Next to the article transporter 27 (the same article transporter 27 on which the articles 6a to be first taken out to the unloading conveyor 4 after the seven article transporters 27 of the vertical circulating conveyor 2 make a circuit) 27) is a rotating shelf unit 11h at a distance of 14700 mm for rotating until it is positioned at the uppermost take-out position A.
The article 6h is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11h with a delay of the offset value α (700 mm). That is, the vertical circulation conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped after 14700 pulses + 700 pulses = 15400 pulses from the start of packing, and the predetermined article 6h is moved from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11h to the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11h. An article take-out instruction is given to take out the goods to the carrier 27.

The articles 6f to be taken out to the unloading conveyor 4 next to the articles 6h are stored in the rotary shelf 11f alone, and from the start of packing, the article carrier 27 from which the articles 6h have been taken out.
Is rotated until the next article transporter 27 (the same article transporter 27 as the article transporter 27 on which the article 6g to be unloaded to the second unloading conveyor 4 is placed) is positioned at the uppermost removal position A. To the distance of 16800mm
6f delayed by the offset value α (2100 mm)
Is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11f. That is, the vertical circulating conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped after 16800 pulses + 2100 pulses = 18900 pulses from the start of packing, and the predetermined articles 6f are removed from the buffer space of the rotary shelf unit 11f.
Is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11f.

The articles 6d to be taken out to the unloading conveyor 4 next to the articles 6f are stored in the rotating shelf 11d alone.
Is rotated until the next article transporter 27 (the same article transporter 27 as the article transporter 27 on which the article 6f to be taken out to the third conveyor 4 is placed) is located at the uppermost take-out position A. 11d rotating shelf alone at a distance of 18900mm
6d delayed by the offset value α (3500 mm)
Is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11d. That is, the vertical circulating conveyor 2 is decelerated or stopped after 18900 pulses + 3500 pulses = 22400 pulses from the start of packing, and a predetermined article 6d is removed from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11d.
Is taken out to the article carrier 27 facing the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11d.

As described above, the article 6a is transferred from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11a after 5600 pulses so that the article 6g is taken out from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11g to the article carrier 27 after 3500 pulses from the start of packing. In order to take out the article 6, the article 6 after 6300 pulses, after 8400 pulses, and after 18900 pulses
After 10500 pulses, 12 f is taken out from the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11 f to the article carrier 27.
In order to take out the article 6i from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11i to the article carrier 27 after 600 pulses,
After 1900 pulses and after 22400 pulses, the article 6d is moved from the buffer space of the rotating shelf 11d to the article carrier 2
7, the removal timing is set in advance so that the article 6h is removed from the buffer space of the rotating shelf unit 11h to the article carrier 27 after 15400 pulses, and a removal command is given. That is, (the order in which the items are taken out on the unloading conveyor 4 and packed are the articles 6a and 6g,
..), The articles 6g, 6a, 6f, 6f, 6i, 6d, 6i, 6
h, 6f, 6d (from vertical circulation conveyor 2 to article 6
Of the vertical circulation conveyor 2 from the buffer space of each rotating shelf 11.
7 is taken out by the skewered (fork) -shaped article mounting portion 27a passing through the skew-shaped drive roller 41 of the unloading conveyor 4 from the upper side to the lower side at the unloading position B. Goods 6a, 6g, 6
f, 6f, 6d, 6i, 6i, 6h, 6f, and 6d are taken out and packed.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the article packing equipment of the present invention is not limited to these. For example, the pulse generated by the pulse generator 3 may be reset every time the vertical circulation conveyor 2 makes a round.

[0038]

As described above, the article packing apparatus of the present invention is constructed as described above, so that the articles stored in the horizontal rotating shelf can be kept free from the article carrier which is continuously rotated. The articles can be taken out in a desired order and at a high speed in a desired order.

Further, a pulse is generated in accordance with the rotation of the vertical circulation conveyor, and the article carrier is rotated by a unit amount during one pulse.
By measuring the pulse value without using complicated detection control equipment, it is possible to easily calculate the position of the article carrier and take out a desired article.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing one embodiment of an article packing apparatus of the present invention in which a buffer space is not shown.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a main part of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 rotating shelf 2 vertical circulation conveyor 6 articles 11 rotating shelf alone 27 article transporter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A rotating shelf formed by stacking a plurality of rotating shelves that rotate along a horizontal circulation path, and a vertical circulation device that is disposed to face the rotating shelf and includes a plurality of article transporters. With a conveyor, a buffer space is provided between each rotating shelf alone and the vertical circulation conveyor,
When there is a packing instruction so that a plurality of articles taken out of the rotating shelf and conveyed are taken out of the vertical circulation conveyor in a predetermined order, the buffer space is taken out of the buffer space in an order different from the order taken out of the vertical circulation conveyor. The removal timing of the articles to be taken out by each article carrier is set in advance, and when the predetermined article carrier is turned to a position facing the buffer space to which the articles to be taken out are transferred, the articles are transferred to the buffer space. An article loading and unloading facility, wherein the articles are taken out to the predetermined article transporter and the articles are unloaded. 2. The order in which articles taken out from the buffer space to the respective article carriers are taken into account according to the packing order given by the packing command and the stacking position and reference of the single rotating shelf storing the articles taken out from the buffer space. 2. The article packing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article is set based on a distance from the position. 3. A vertical circulation conveyor is decelerated or stopped when a predetermined article carrier is rotated to a position facing a buffer space to which an article to be taken out is transferred, and the article transferred to the buffer space is moved. 3. The article packing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article is taken out to the predetermined article carrier. 4. A pulse generator for generating a pulse according to rotation of the vertical circulation conveyor, wherein the vertical circulation conveyor is decelerated or stopped according to the number of pulses generated by the pulse generator. An article packing apparatus according to claim 3.