Method and apparatus for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages

An apparatus 1 for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages, includes: a stick supporting means 9 for supporting the stick 8 at a position 7 located downwardly of suspending portions 4 of hooks 5 each having the suspending portion 4 for suspending the loop 3 of the sausages 2; a first stick transferer 14 which is raised from a lowermost position 11 located downwardly of the stick 8 supported by the stick supporting means 9 to an upper position 13 located upwardly of the hooks 5 to raise the stick 8 moved onto the first stick transferer 14 from the stick supporting means 9, and which is subsequently lowered to the lowermost position 11; and a second stick transferer 15 which is provided at a position upwardly distant from the hooks 5 and which is raised to an uppermost position 17 located upwardly of the upper position 13 to raise the stick 8, which has been moved onto the second stick transferer 15 from the first stick transferer 14, to the uppermost position 17, and which is subsequently lowered toward the upper position 13 to lower the stick 8 with the loops 3 of the sausages 2 suspended therefrom.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages.

BACKGROUND ART

Sausages suspended from a smoke stick are subjected to heat treatment in a smoke house. To improve the productivity of heat treatment, it is necessary to use a longer smoke stick and suspend longer and a greater number of sausage loops from the smoke stick. Conventionally, sausage suspending apparatuses having wider hook intervals than the diameter of the sausage have been used. However, to enhance the productivity of heat treatment, there has been a demand for suspending longer and a greater number of sausage loops from the stick by using a sausage suspending apparatus having hook intervals close to the diameter of the sausage or hook intervals narrower than the diameter of the sausage.

As the above-described conventional apparatus, it is possible to cite the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 3 to 4-3 of JP-A-2003-158991. A stick reciprocally transferring means driving means17disposed at a position downwardly distant from hooks4reciprocatingly moves a stick reciprocally transferring means16between a lowered end position (5) and a raised end position (6). If longer sausage loops are suspended from the stick in this conventional apparatus, a case can occur in which the distance between the raised end position (6) and the hook4is shorter than the length of the sausage loop, in which case there can occur a case in which the loop cannot be removed from the hook4.

In another conventional apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 10 and 11 of JP-A-2006-197935, a stick reciprocally transferring means driving means58disposed at a position upwardly distant from hooks4is disclosed. The stick reciprocally transferring means driving means58reciprocatingly moves a stick reciprocally transferring means56between a lowered end position VII and a raised end position VIII. In this conventional apparatus as well, if an attempt is made to suspend longer sausage loops from the stick, a case can occur in which the distance to the raised end position VII is shorter than the length of the sausage loop, and there can occur a case in which the loop cannot be removed from the hook4.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages, which make it possible to reliably remove from hooks a multiplicity of long sausage loops suspended at narrow pitches by the raising of the stick, and which yield high productivity.

A secondary object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages, which make it possible to reliably remove from hooks long sausage loops having slender and long sausage links by the raising of the stick, and which yield high productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the above-described object concerning a method of transferring a stick for sausages is achieved by a method for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages, comprising:

a step of causing the stick at a stick supporting position located downwardly of suspending portions of hooks each having the suspending portion for suspending the loop of the sausages to enter into the loops respectively suspended from the suspending portions;

a first stick raising step of raising a first stick transferer from a lowermost position located downwardly of the stick to an upper position located upwardly of the hooks to raise the stick from the stick supporting position to the upper position;

a second stick raising step of raising a second stick transferer provided at a position upwardly distant from the hooks to an uppermost position located upwardly of the upper position to raise the stick moved onto the second stick transferer from the first stick transferer;

a first stick transferer lowering step of lowering the first stick transferer from the upper position to the lowermost position; and

a stick lowering step of lowering the second stick transferer from the uppermost position toward the upper position to lower the stick with the loops of the sausages suspended therefrom toward the upper position.

The above-described object concerning an apparatus for carrying out the above-described method is achieved by an apparatus for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages, comprising:

stick supporting means for supporting the stick at a position located downwardly of suspending portions of hooks each having the suspending portion for suspending the loop of the sausages;

a first stick transferer which is raised from a lowermost position located downwardly of the stick supported by the stick supporting means to an upper position located upwardly of the hooks to raise the stick moved onto the first stick transferer from the stick supporting means, and which is subsequently lowered to the lowermost position; and a second stick transferer which is provided at a position upwardly distant from the hooks and which is raised to an uppermost position located upwardly of the upper position to raise the stick, which has been moved onto the second stick transferer from the first stick transferer, to the uppermost position, and which is subsequently lowered toward the upper position to lower the stick with the loops of the sausages suspended therefrom.

According to the above-described invention, the following advantages are obtained.

(a) A multiplicity of long sausage loops suspended at narrow pitches can be reliably removed from the hooks by the raising of the stick.

(b) Long sausage loops having slender and long sausage links can be reliably removed from the hooks by the raising of the stick.

(c) The first stick transferer and the second stick transferer which are raised and lowered on the substantially vertical line are provided in a vertical direction, and the stick is raised to the position higher than the hooks by the first stick transferer, and that stick is moved onto the second stick transferer and is raised to the uppermost position by the second stick transferer. Therefore, the long sausage loops can be reliably removed from the hooks and can be suspended from the stick. The long sausage loops can be reliably removed from the hooks and can be suspended from the stick by merely moving the first and the second stick transferers in the vertical direction.

(d) Since the distance of movement in the raising and lowering of the first stick transferer and the second stick transferer can be made small, it is possible to reduce the idle time of the apparatus and enhance the positional accuracy during the movement of the first stick transferer and the second stick transferer.

(e) Since the first-stick-transferer driving means is provided at a position downwardly distant from the hooks, and the second-stick-transferer driving means is provided at a position upwardly distant from the hooks, the first-stick-transferer driving means and the second-stick-transferer driving means can be made compact.

(f) Since the use of the compact first-sick-transferer driving means at the position downwardly distant from the hooks is made possible, it is possible to reliably remove the long sausage loops from the hooks although the apparatus has such a hook height as to facilitate the end processing operation of the sausage loops.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, a description will be given of the embodiments of the invention.

First Embodiment

Prior to the description of a first embodiment, a description will be given of positional relationships among the respective parts in the apparatus of this embodiment inFIGS. 1 to 8, as well as a situation concerning the suspension of loops of sausages.

Referring mainly toFIGS. 3 and 8, reference character H denotes the height from a floor FL to a suspending portion4of a hook5. Reference character SL denotes the length of one sausage link S. Reference character d denotes a stuffed diameter of one sausage link S. Reference character SC denotes a linking portion which joins a first sausage link S1and a second sausage link S2suspended from the suspending portion4. Reference character5D denotes an interval between the hook5and the hook5. Reference numeral26denotes a suspended length of the loop3from the suspending portion4of the hook5. Reference character21H denotes a distance in a substantially vertical direction V between the suspending portion4of the hook5and an uppermost position17. Reference character27H denotes a distance in the substantially vertical direction V between the suspending portion4of the hook5and an upper position13. Reference numeral37denotes a distance in the substantially vertical direction V between the suspending portion4of the hook5and a stick supporting position7. Reference numeral38denotes a distance between the linking portion SC and an abutment point39against the sausage link S2by a stick8on a moving path36.

The hook height H is set to such a height that the end processing operation by an operator with respect to a front loop3F and a rear loop3R of the chain of sausages2suspended from the hooks5is facilitated. To suspend a greater number of loops3from the stick8, the mounting pitch P of the hooks5on a looper chain CH is set to be small. The interval5D is narrower than the mounting pitch P of the hooks5. There are cases where the interval5D is set to be identical to or narrower than the stuffed diameter d. The loop3of the chain of sausages2is removed from the hook5through this interval5D. The distance37is longer than the link length SL of the sausage link S. An angle of inclination α is set to not more than 45 degrees, i.e., an angle at which the loop3is easily removed from the hook5, preferably not more than 30 degrees.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 8, an apparatus1for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages in accordance with this embodiment includes a stick supporting means9for supporting the stick8at the position7located downwardly (in the direction of arrow6) of the suspending portions4of the hooks5each having the suspending portion4for suspending the loop3of the sausages2; a first stick transferer14which is raised from a lowermost position11(seeFIG. 2) located downwardly (in the direction of arrow10) of the stick8supported by the stick supporting means9to the upper position13(seeFIG. 2) located upwardly (in the direction of arrow12) of the hooks5, so as to raise the stick8moved from the stick supporting means9to the upper position13; and a second stick transferer15(seeFIG. 2) which is provided at a position upwardly (in the direction of the arrow12) distant from the hooks5, and which is raised to the uppermost position17located upwardly (in the direction of arrow16) of the aforementioned upper position13so as to raise the stick8moved from the first stick transferer14to the uppermost position17, and is subsequently lowered toward the upper position13so as to lower the stick8with the loops3of the sausages2suspended therefrom. The aforementioned hooks5can be easily understood by referring toFIGS. 1 and 3, and are arranged in a multiple number at a fixed pitch in an orthogonal direction to the plane of the drawing inFIG. 2. The sausages are formed spirally into loops and are suspended by the plurality of hooks5. These hooks are movable from the rear side toward the front side in the direction of their arrangement, and are intermittently stopped.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6, the first stick transferer14rises in a state in which it holds the stick8taken up and moved onto the first stick transferer14from the stick supporting member9, and also holds an ensuing stick8to be supplied to the stick supporting member9. During the lowering of the first stick transferer9, the ensuing stick8is supplied onto the stick supporting means9, and the stick supporting means9supports it.

Reference numeral70denotes a looper frame of an apparatus for suspending loops of sausages from hooks, and reference numeral80denotes a main frame, both being provided uprightly on the floor FL. The hooks5, the stick supporting means9, and the first stick transferer14are provided on the looper frame70, while the second stick transferer15, a second-stick-transferer driving means28, and a stick carrying-out means150are provided on the main frame80.

The first stick transferer14includes a front first stick transferer14F located in the front and a rear first stick transferer14R located in the rear, while the second stick transferer15includes a front second stick transferer15F located in the front and a rear second stick transferer15R located in the rear (seeFIGS. 3 and 5). Reference numeral19denotes a first center point in the longitudinal direction (conforming to the direction of arrangement of the hooks) (in the direction of arrow18) of the stick8between the front first stick transferer14F and the rear first stick transferer14R, and reference numeral20denotes a second center point in the longitudinal direction (in the direction of the arrow18) of the stick8between the front second stick transferer15F and the rear second stick transferer15R. Reference character V denotes a substantially vertical line on the first center point19and the second center point20, i.e., a center line of the first stick transferer14and the second stick transferer15. The first stick transferer14is disposed at a downward position distant from the second stick transferer15. The first stick transferer14and the second stick transferer15are adapted to be raised and lowered on the common substantially vertical line V with respect to a longitudinal axis8A of the stick8. The first stick transferer14and the second stick transferer15may be respectively adapted to be raised and lowered on separate substantially vertical lines V with respect to the longitudinal axis8A of the stick8.

InFIG. 2, reference numeral23denotes a first-stick-transferer driving means for reciprocatingly moving the first stick transferer14between the lowermost position11and the upper position13. The first-stick-transferer driving means23has a linear actuator24disposed at a position downwardly (in the direction of the arrow6) distant from the hooks5and in an attitude of being inclined upward at the angle of inclination α toward the hooks5. The first stick transferer14at the lowermost position11is mounted on the linear actuator24. When the linear actuator24is actuated, the first stick transferer14is raised diagonally upward (in the direction of arrow25U) from the lowermost position11toward the hooks5. The angle of inclination α is an angle between the moving direction (the direction of arrow25U and the direction of arrow25D) of the linear actuator24and the substantially vertical line V. The raising and lowering of the first stick transferer14is not limited to the reciprocal linear movement, and may be reciprocating rotation similar to that of the second stick transferer15.

The aforementioned upper position13is at a distance27from the suspending portion4, which distance27is shorter than the length26of the loop3suspended from the suspending portion4of the hook5, and the first stick transferer14is raised beyond the hook5until the stick8being held reaches the upper position13.

InFIGS. 2 and 6, reference numeral28denotes the second-stick-transferer driving means disposed at a position upwardly (in the direction of the arrow12) distant from the hooks5. The second-stick-transferer driving means28raises and lowers the second stick transferer15in the directions of arrows R (FIG. 6) such that the stick8being held by the second stick transferer15is raised to the uppermost position17which is at a longer distance21from the suspending portion4than the length26of the loop3, and is subsequently lowered toward the upper position13.

The second stick transferer15has a pair of stick holding portions15H which are raised by being rotated in the direction of arrow30from a starting point position29located downwardly (in the direction of arrow22) of the upper position13, abut from below (in the direction of the arrow30) against a front portion8F and a rear portion8R of the stick8at the upper position13to move the stick8from the first stick transferer14onto the second stick transferer15, and hold the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the moved stick8(seeFIGS. 4 and 6).

InFIGS. 4 to 6, reference numeral35denotes an arm body provided in the second stick transferer15.

The arm body35is connected to the second-stick-transferer driving means28, i.e., an air cylinder unit40having a rod40A in this embodiment, by means of a drive lever secured to a rotating shaft member31. A front arm body35F and a rear arm body35R of the arm body35are secured to the rotating shaft member31.

The arm body35has one portion32and another portion provided with a rotational center33for reciprocally rotating the one portion32in upward and downward directions (in the directions of the arrows R). A recessed portion, which is the aforementioned stick holding portion15H, is formed in the one portion32of the arm body35. The recessed portions15H which are respectively formed in the front arm body35F and the rear arm body35R of the arm body are adapted to hold the stick8at a predetermined position of the arm body35by supporting the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8from below.

InFIGS. 2 and 6, reference numeral36denotes a rectilinear moving path along which the first stick transferer14reciprocates in the direction of the arrow25U and the direction of arrow25D, and this rectilinear moving path36is constituted by the angle of inclination α which is inclined upward toward the hooks5. The rotational center33is disposed at a position which is on the hook5side from the moving path36and which is upwardly (in the direction of the arrow12) distant from the hooks5. in this embodiment, since the position of the rotational center33is set such that the upper position13and the uppermost position17are positioned in close proximity to the moving path36, the change in the moving direction of the second stick transferer15being raised is small relative to the moving direction of the first stick transferer14during its raising. For this reason, the holding of the stick8is stabilized.

Since the second stick transferer15is provided with the arm body35having the one portion32for holding the stick and the other portion34provided with the rotational center33for reciprocally rotating the one portion32in the upward and downward directions (in the direction of arrow34), the transferer can be raised and moved a longer distance by the compact stick-transferer driving means disposed above the hooks.

In such an apparatus of the first embodiment, the transfer of the stick with the loops of sausages suspended therefrom is performed sequentially by the following steps. Hereafter, referring toFIGS. 7A to 7Jin addition toFIGS. 1 to 6, a description will be given of the steps.

(1) Entry Step

The stick8at the stick supporting position7located downwardly (in the direction of the arrow6) of the suspending portions4of the hooks5each having the suspending portion4for suspending the loop3of the sausages2enters into the loops3suspended from the suspending portions4.

(2) First Stick Raising Step (A)

The first stick transferer14is raised from the lowermost position11located downwardly (in the direction of the arrow10) of the stick8to the upper position13located upwardly (in the direction of the arrow12) of the hooks5, to thereby raise the stick8from the aforementioned stick supporting position7to the aforementioned upper position13(FIGS. 7A and 7B).

(3) Second Stick Raising Step (B)

The second stick transferer15provided at a position upwardly (in the direction of the arrow12) distant from the hooks5is raised to the uppermost position17located upwardly (in the direction of the arrow16) of the aforementioned upper position13, to thereby raise the stick8, which has been moved onto the second stick transferer15from the first stick transferer14, to the aforementioned uppermost position17(FIGS. 7C and 7D).

The first stick transferer14is lowered from the aforementioned upper position13to the aforementioned lowermost position11(FIG. 7D).

The second stick transferer15is lowered from the aforementioned uppermost position17toward the aforementioned upper position13to thereby lower the stick8with the loops3of the sausages2suspended therefrom toward the aforementioned upper position13(FIG. 7E).

The apparatus of this embodiment is operated by undergoing the above-described steps. In the second stick raising step, while the second stick transferer15reaches the uppermost position17, the loops3of the sausages d suspended from the stick8have been raised to a sufficient height for the loops3to be removed from the hooks5. Even if the sausage2is caught between the adjacent two hooks5, the aforementioned height is sufficient enough for the sausage2to be removed from between these hooks5.

Thus, the loops3removed from the hooks5are suspended from the stick8. In the above-described stick lowering step, the stick8is lowered toward the aforementioned upper position13, and at an appropriate position this stick8with the loops3suspended therefrom is carried out for an ensuring processing step.

The above-described second stick raising step can be the step of: raising the second stick transferer15from the starting point position29located downwardly (in the direction of the arrow22) of the upper position13, causing the second stick transferer15to abut from below (in the direction of the arrow30) against the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8at the upper position13to move the stick8from the first stick transferer14onto the second stick transferer15, and holding the stick8by the portions15H abutting against the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8.

Meanwhile, the above-described stick lowering step can be the step of: lowering the second stick transferer15to the starting point position29.

Furthermore, the above-described second stick raising step can be the step of: starting the raising of the second stick transferer15after the second stick transferer15clamps and holds the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8at the upper position13.

Meanwhile, the above-described stick lowering step can be the step of: lowering the second stick transferer15toward the upper position13.

In this embodiment, the arrangement provided is such that after the second stick transferer15is lowered from the uppermost position17toward the upper position13, at an appropriate position the stick8is removed from that second stick transferer15and is carried out for the ensuring processing step of the sausages2. In this embodiment, a receiving means may be provided at this position of removal of the stick8, and the stick8may be received thereby so as to be ready for the carrying out of the stick8.

The apparatus shown inFIGS. 1 to 8is provided with a receiving means50as a preferable form, and a description will be given of this receiving means50.

As is well shown inFIGS. 4 to 6, the receiving means50is disposed between the uppermost position17of the second stick transferer15and the hooks5in the upward and downward directions, and has a movable (rotatable in the illustrated example) relay member51and a stick placing member52. The relay member51is provided at a position adjacent to the second stick transferer15in the longitudinal direction of the stick, is formed as an arm member rotatable together with a shaft member54by the actuation of a cylinder unit53, and rotates between a receiving position55at which the relay member51is oriented laterally after being raised and a standby position56at which the relay member51is oriented downward after being lowered. The aforementioned relay member51has at the aforementioned receiving position55an inclined surface51A (seeFIG. 4) with a gradient falling toward its leading. The inclined surface51A at the receiving position55is provided at a position of abutment against a lower surface of the stick8being supported by the second stick transferer15when the second stick transferer15is lowered from the uppermost position17toward the starting point position29. Due to this abutment, the stick8is received by the aforementioned inclined surface51A, and the second stick transferer15reaches the aforementioned starting point position29in the state in which the stick8is absent.

The stick8slides down on the aforementioned inclined surface51A toward its leading end, and the aforementioned stick placing member52is provided at a position for receiving the slid stick8and placing it thereon, its upper surface being formed into a substantially V-shaped groove for placing the stick8in a stable position. However, in the invention, the form of this stick placing member52is not limited.

In the above-described embodiment, when the first stick transferer14holding the stick8with the loops3of the sausages2suspended therefrom moves from the uppermost position17to the starting point position29, the relay member51is at the lowered standby position56so as not to interfere with that stick8, and allows the passage of the stick8on the aforementioned first stick transferer14.

The stick placing member52of the receiving means50is adapted to be reciprocally rotated in directions of arrows61by an air cylinder unit60by means of an arm57and a lever59both secured to a rotating shaft member58.

In this embodiment having the above-described receiving means50, the transfer of the stick8with the loops of sausages suspended therefrom is carried out subsequent to the already described steps (1) to (5), as follows:

(6) When the second stick transferer15is lowered from the uppermost position17toward the starting point position29via the upper position13, during its lowering the stick8is moved onto the relay member51of the receiving means50and is placed thereon, and the second stick transferer15itself is further lowered in a state in which the stick8is absent (FIG. 7F).

(7) The relay member51has the inclined surface51A, and the stick8slides down on this inclined surface51A, drops from the leading end of that relay member51, and is received by the stick placing member52(seeFIG. 7H).

(8) In due course of time, the stick8is carried out by the carrying-out means150, e.g., an arm body-shaped stick taking-up member152. In this case, to allow the stick8to prepare for the time of being carried out in its longitudinal direction, the stick placing member52of the receiving means50moves in the direction indicated by the arrow inFIG. 7I, so as to retreat to a position where no hindrance is caused to the movement of the carrying-out means150in the aforementioned longitudinal direction (FIGS. 7H to 7J).

Subsequently, the relay member51is at the receiving position55after having been raised, and the stick8which is now held by the second stick transferer15is lowered while being held by this second stick transferer15. During this time, the stick8abuts against the aforementioned relay member51, is received by the relay member51, slides down thereon, and reaches the stick placing member52. The stick8is carried out from the stick placing member52by the carrying-out means150which will be described later.

Next, referring toFIGS. 3 and 7, a description will be given of the positional relationship between the rising stick8and the linking portion SC of the sausage2suspended from the hook5. The sausage link S whose stuffed diameter d is narrow and whose link length SL is long is likely to easily undergo the bending of the sausage link S at its portion subjected to the abutment by the stick8which is raised on the moving path36. To cope with this, in the apparatus1, the distance between the suspending portion4and the linking portion SC which joins the first sausage link S1suspended from the suspending portion4of the hook5and the second sausage link S2is set to be shorter than the distance between the suspending portion4and the lower stick supporting position7distant from the suspending portion4of the hook5. Further, the supporting position7of the stick8and the angle of inclination α of the moving path36are correlated with the link length SL of the sausage2such that the position of abutment of the stick8against the sausage link S2on the moving path36of the first stick transferer is located downwardly of the linking portion SC.

Since the sausage link is thus adapted to receive the abutment of the stick8at the distance38lower than the linking portion SC, the stick8is raised in the direction of the arrow25U while lifting up the sausage link S2, and during its raising the stick8is engaged with the linking portion SC. If the angle of inclination α is preferably set to 30 degrees, the aforementioned engagement between the stick8and the linking portion SC is made more reliable. Thus, the stick8is able to raise the linking portion SC up to the upper position13while maintaining its state of retaining the linking portion SC.

Second Embodiment

Next, a description will be given of an apparatus100for transferring a stick for suspending loops of sausages in accordance with a second embodiment shown inFIGS. 9 to 14. In the apparatus1, the stick carrying-out means150carried out the stick8on the stick placing member52of the stick receiving means50. However, the apparatus100differs from the apparatus1mainly in that the apparatus100has the stick carrying-out means150which receives the stick8held by the second stick transferer15having an arm body101and which carries out the stick8in an orthogonal direction to the plane of the drawing inFIG. 9.

In the drawing, the second stick transferer15, the second-stick-transferer driving means28, and the stick carrying-out means150are provided on the main frame80. The arm body101shown inFIG. 10consists of a configuration in which a first arm body102having the one portion32and a second arm body103having the other portion34are connected. A connecting member104for rotatably connecting the first arm body102and the second arm body103is provided between the one portion32and the other portion34. In the same way as in the apparatus1, the recessed portion15H, which is the aforementioned stick holding portion, is formed in the one portion32, while the other portion34is provided with the rotational center33for causing the one portion32for holding the stick8to reciprocally rotate in the upward and downward directions (in the directions of the arrows R).

In this apparatus100, the second-stick-transferer driving means28has a main second-stick-transferer driving means28-1and a subordinate second-stick-transferer driving means28-2. As for the second stick transferer15at the upper position13shown inFIG. 12, the first arm body102is located at the upper position13, and a stick holding angle β formed by the first arm body102and the second arm body103is maintained at a predetermined angle by the subordinate second-stick-transferer driving means28-2, i.e., an air cylinder unit105in this embodiment. The air cylinder unit105is fixedly provided on the second arm body103, and its rod105A is connected to the first arm body102. The main second-stick-transferer driving means28-1, i.e., a known air cylinder unit106having a rod106A in this embodiment, is connected to a drive lever108secured to a rotating shaft member107, and a front arm body101F and a rear arm body101R are secured to the rotating shaft member107, as shown inFIG. 13. The respective recessed portions15H of the front arm body101F and the rear arm body101R are adapted to hold the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8at the upper position13.

The arm body101shown inFIGS. 11 and 13is rotated in the direction of arrow30by the actuation of the air cylinder unit106, thereby allowing the recessed portions15H holding the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8to be raised from the upper position13to the uppermost position17in the direction of arrow R1. Subsequently, the arm body101holding the stick8with the loops3suspended therefrom is rotated reversely in the direction of arrow30R, so that the recessed portions15H are lowered from the uppermost position17to a stick carrying-out position109, i.e., the upper position13in this example, in the direction of arrow R2, and stop there (FIG. 12). The arm body101has its stick holding angle β maintained at the predetermined angle by the air cylinder unit105during the above-described raising and lowering.

As shown inFIG. 12, the first arm body102which was lowered in the direction of the arrow R2and stopped at the upper position13remains at a standstill at the upper position13until the stick carrying-out means150, which will be described later, receives from the first arm body102the stick8with the loops3suspended therefrom. Upon taking up of the stick8from the first arm body102by the stick carrying-out means150, the first arm body102is rotated in the direction of arrow110, is lowered from the upper position13to the starting point position29, and remains on standby at the starting point position29in preparation for the carrying out of the stick8by the stick carrying-out means150in the direction of arrow151(FIG. 14). The air cylinder unit105is actuated to lower the first arm body102, and rotates the first arm body102about the connecting member104in the direction of the arrow110. The air cylinder unit105which maintained the stick holding angle β at the predetermined angle is thus configured to be actuated to change the stick holding angle β of the arm body101. It should be noted that the stick carrying-out position109may be set to be higher or lower than the upper position13in connection with the stick carrying-out means150.

Referring toFIG. 10, as the ensuing stick8is being raised to the upper position13by the first stick transferer14, the air cylinder unit105is actuated to rotate the first arm body102at the starting point position29in the direction of arrow111to thereby raise the first arm body102to the upper position13. By the above-described raising of the first arm body102to the upper position13, the arm body101, which returned its stick holding angle β to the predetermined angle, starts to be raised in the direction of the arrow R1by receiving the actuation of the main second-stick-transferer driving means28-1, as shown inFIG. 11. The arm body101abuts against the stick8from below, moves the stick8from the first stick transferer14, and is raised to the uppermost position17while holding the stick8.

Referring toFIG. 11, in this apparatus, the first arm body102is abutted against the stick8from below by the raising of the first arm body102due to the actuation of the main second-stick-transferer driving means28-1, and the stick8is raised from the first stick transferer14. Instead of this method, the first arm body102may be abutted against the stick8from below by the raising of the first arm body102due to the actuation of the subordinate second-stick-transferer driving means28-2without starting the actuation of the main second-stick-transferer driving means28-1, and after the stick8is raised from the first stick transferer14to a predetermined height, the main second-stick-transferer driving means28-1may be actuated to raise the first arm body102together with the second arm body103.

The stick carrying-out means150shown inFIG. 14is a means which takes up on the substantially vertical line V from the second stick transferer15the stick8on the second stick transferer15which was lowered to the stick carrying-out position109, i.e., the upper position13in this example, and carries out the stick8in the longitudinal direction (direction of the arrow151) of the stick8from the substantially vertical line V in a state of supporting the stick8with the sausage loops3suspended therefrom. The stick carrying-out means150includes the pair of stick taking-up members152shaped in hook form, a pair of stick-taking-up-member rotating means153for rotating the stick taking-up members152, and a stick carrying-out frame154which is at a standstill on the substantially vertical line V. The pair of stick taking-up members152and the stick-taking-up-member rotating means153are mounted on the stick carrying-out frame154. The stick carrying-out frame154is adapted to move from the substantially vertical line V in the direction of the arrow151when the stick taking-up members152takes up the stick8.

Referring toFIG. 12as well, the stick taking-up members152are adapted to rotate about a rotational axis155in the direction of arrow162(clockwise direction inFIG. 12) to take up the stick8on the second stick transferer151from the second stick transferer15to thereby support the front portion8F and the rear portion8R, respectively, of the stick8. The stick-taking-up-member rotating means153includes a shaft member157fixed to the stick carrying-out frame154by means of brackets156; a lever159having a tubular body158which is reciprocally rotatably fitted on the shaft member157; and an air cylinder unit160having a rod160A connected to the lever159. Since the stick taking-up member152is secured to tubular body158, stick taking-up member152is reciprocally rotated about the rotational axis155by the actuation of the air cylinder unit160in the direction of arrow161.

Since both end portions157A and157B of the shaft member157are supported by the brackets156secured to the stick carrying-out frame154, durability performance is high with respect to the stick8with the heavy loops3suspended therefrom. Maintainability is high since the stick taking-up member152is rotated by the lever159which is connected to the air cylinder unit160of a reciprocating type.

As the stick taking-up member152is rotated about the rotational axis155(in the direction of the arrow162), a recessed portion152H formed in the stick taking-up member152slightly scoops up the stick8from below in such a manner as to clamp the stick8in cooperation with the recessed portion15H holding the stick8on the second stick transferer15. The stick8taken up by the recessed portion152H is carried out by the movement of the stick carrying-out frame154.

Thus, the stick carrying-out means150takes up the stick8on the second stick transferer15which was lowered to the stick carrying-out position109located between the uppermost position17and the hooks5, and carries out the stick8in the longitudinal direction (arrow151) of the stick8in the state of supporting the stick8.

Although the recessed portion15H, which is the stick holding portion, is formed in the one portion32of the arm body101of the second stick transferer15in the above-described apparatus100, the apparatus100may alternatively be configured with the one portion32provided with a stick clamping means170.

The stick clamping means170shown inFIG. 15is adapted to move the stick8on the first stick transferer14onto the second stick transferer15by clamping and holding the respective ones of the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8which has reached the upper position13while being held by the first stick transferer14. Since the stick8is held by being clamped, the moving speed of the second stick transferer15can be speeded up.

The stick clamping means170has a clamping-member driving means, i.e., a known air actuator unit173in this example, for opening or closing right and left a pair of clamping members171and172for clamping the stick8from both sides of the stick8, the air actuator unit173being mounted to a lower end portion101A of the arm body101. The air actuator unit173has a pair of movable members173A which linearly reciprocate in directions of arrows174, and the aforementioned clamping members171and172are secured to these movable members173A. This clamping means170is applicable to the apparatus1as well.

Third Embodiment

Next, an apparatus200in accordance with a third embodiment is shown inFIG. 16. The second stick transferer15of the apparatus200is adapted to reciprocatingly move on a rectilinear moving path201which is inclined downward toward the hooks5at an angle of inclination y. The second stick transferer15has the pair of stick holding portions15H which are raised in the direction of arrow202from the starting point position29located downwardly of the upper position13, abut from below against the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the stick8at the upper position13to move the stick8from the first stick transferer14onto the second stick transferer15, and hold the front portion8F and the rear portion8R of the moved stick8.

A specific portion203of the second stick transferer15where the stick holding portion15H is formed is mounted rotatably with respect to another portion204. The arrangement provided is such that at the time when the stick8at the upper position13is moved onto the second stick transferer15, the specific portion203is rotated in a direction of arrow205to take up the stick8by the stick holding portion15H.

Since the angle of inclination y of the second stick transferer15is set to an angle which substantially conforms to the angle of inclination α of the first stick transferer14, the change in the direction (direction of arrow202) of movement of the stick8moved onto the second stick transferer15from the first stick transferer14is small, so that the holding of the stick8is stabilized.