JP2000335730A - Carrier device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrier device for carrying and detecting carried materials corresponding to a rotating property and secular change inherent to a motor roller by using the motor roller. SOLUTION: A pulse generating part 26 built in a motor roller 14 generates pulses in the rotation of the motor roller 14. The number of unit pulses per unit time is compared with the number of reference pulses stored in a storage means 42 for monitoring that the number of unit pulses is changed out of the range of the number of reference pulses. With the number of unit pulses changed out of the range of the number of the reference pulses, a change in load of the motor roller 14, namely the arrival or discharge of materials to be carried, is detected. A setting means 41 for the number of reference pulses is used in storing the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generating part 26 as the number of reference pulses in the storage means 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transport device for transporting and detecting a transported object using a motor roller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a transfer device such as an accumulating conveyor, a plurality of transfer areas are separately set along a transfer direction for transferring a transfer article, and the transfer article is temporarily stopped in a transfer area on a downstream side. When a transported object is transported to the upstream transport area, the transported article in the upstream transport area is temporarily stopped, and when the transported article is transported from the downstream transport area, the transported article in the upstream transport area is removed. By transporting, the transported articles are sequentially transported without contacting each other.

[0003] In such a transfer apparatus, a detecting means using a photoelectric switch, for detecting a transferred object,
Detecting means that the switch is switched when the rotatable free roller is pressed down by the weight of the conveyed product,
Detecting means or the like is used in which a rotatable free roller is driven and rotated by the passage of a conveyed object to output a pulse from an encoder incorporated in the free roller.

[0004]

However, in the conventional transfer device, a special detection means must be used separately from the transfer mechanism to detect the transfer object, which increases the number of parts and complicates the configuration. Problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and does not require any special detecting means, has a simple structure using only a motor roller, and has a unique rotation characteristic and a secular change of the motor roller. It is another object of the present invention to provide a transport device capable of transporting a transported object and accurately detecting the transported object.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying apparatus comprising: a motor unit having a motor unit, a roller unit rotated by the motor unit, and a pulse generating unit for generating a pulse according to the rotation of the roller unit; A transport mechanism for transporting the transported object by the rotational driving force of the motor roller, storage means for storing a reference pulse number, and a unit pulse number per unit time generated by a pulse generator when the motor roller rotates. A pulse number change detection unit that compares the reference pulse number stored in the storage unit and detects that the unit pulse number has changed out of the range of the reference pulse number, and the motor roller when the motor roller rotates in a no-load state. Reference pulse number setting means for storing the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generation unit per unit time as the reference pulse number in the storage means. .

The number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generator while rotating the motor roller by utilizing the pulse generator provided for the speed control of the motor roller and the number of reference pulses stored in the storage means. And the unit pulse number changes outside the range of the reference pulse number, thereby detecting that the load on the motor roller has changed, that is, the arrival or discharge of the conveyed object. In addition, since the change in the number of unit pulses generated by the pulse generator is monitored while rotating the motor roller, even if the motor roller has a built-in reduction gear, for example, compared to the state in which the rotation is stopped, the conveyed material is When the vehicle arrives, a change in the rotation of the roller portion is likely to occur, and the detection of a light conveyed object is ensured. In addition, the reference pulse number setting means stores the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generation unit when the motor roller rotates in a no-load state in the storage means as the reference pulse number. In addition to accurately setting the number of reference pulses corresponding to the rotation characteristics of the above, even when the number of rotations fluctuates due to aging of the motor roller, the number of reference pulses can be updated by updating the number of reference pulses.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the rotation speed of the motor roller is controlled, and when the pulse number change detecting means detects the pulse number change,
And a control means for rotating the motor roller at a detection speed lower than the transport speed for transporting the article when the reference pulse number is set by the reference pulse number setting means.

When the change in the number of pulses is detected by the pulse number change detecting means, that is, when the object is detected, the motor roller is rotated at a detection speed lower than the conveying speed at which the object is conveyed. When the conveyed object arrives at, the rotation of the roller unit is likely to change, and the detection of a light conveyed object is ensured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the control means increases the rotation of the motor roller to the transport speed when the pulse number change detecting means detects the pulse number change. Control is performed to either stop rotation.

[0011] When the transported object is detected, the rotation of the motor roller is increased to the transport speed or controlled to stop the rotation, so that the transported article can be transported and stopped.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the transport apparatus of the second or third aspect, the transport mechanism includes a plurality of transport areas each having a motor roller along a transport direction of the transported object, and the control means includes: When the transport object is temporarily stopped in the downstream transport area, the motor rollers in the upstream transport area are rotated at the detection speed, and when the transport article is detected in the upstream transport area, the upstream transport area is stopped. The transported article is temporarily stopped, and when the transported article is transported from the downstream transport area, the transported article in the upstream transport area is transported.

When the transported object is temporarily stopped in the downstream transport area, the motor roller in the upstream transport area is rotated at the detection speed, and when the transported article is detected in the upstream transport area, the upstream transport area is detected. The transported articles in the transport area are temporarily stopped, and when the transported articles are transported from the downstream transport area, the transported articles in the upstream transport area are transported to accumulate the transported articles.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a roller conveyor type accumulating conveyor 11 as a conveying mechanism for conveying a conveyed object, and 12 is a conveyor frame. The conveyor frame 12 is provided on both sides in the conveying direction F for conveying the conveyed object. It has a pair of side frames 13 arranged in parallel along with each other, and a plurality of horizontal connecting members (not shown) connecting these side frames 13 to each other.

Side frames on both sides of the conveyor frame 12
A plurality of motor rollers 14 and a plurality of free rollers 15 are arranged in parallel along the transport direction F between the transport rollers 13, and a transport surface 16 for transporting the article by the plurality of motor rollers 14 and the plurality of free rollers 15. Is configured.

The transport surface 16 is divided into a plurality of transport areas along the transport direction F, and is provided with at least one motor roller 14 and a plurality (two) of free rollers 15 for each transport area. That is, a plurality of motor rollers 14 are arranged at a predetermined pitch (every two pitches), and a plurality of (two) free rollers 15 are arranged between these motor rollers 14.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the motor roller 14. The motor roller 14 has a cylindrical roller portion 21, and shaft portions 22 and 23 projecting from both ends of the roller portion 21 and rotatably supporting the roller portion 21. The motor unit 24 attached to the shaft 22 at one end in the roller unit 21, the reduction gear unit 25 that transmits the rotational driving force of the motor unit 24 to the roller unit 21, and the rotation of the roller unit 21 (motor unit 24) Pulse generator that generates a pulse according to
Has 26.

The roller portion 21 is rotatably supported at one end and near the other end by a shaft portion 22 at one end via bearings 27 and 28, and has the other end at the other end via a bearing 29. The shaft 23 is rotatably supported.

The shaft portions 22 and 23 are divided in the axial direction, and are arranged coaxially with each other via a roller portion 21. Shaft at one end
Reference numeral 22 denotes a hollow shape, in which a wiring space (not shown) through which wiring passes is formed, and a mounting portion 30 is formed at an end protruding from the roller portion 21 so as to be prevented from rotating to the side frame 13. The shaft portion 23 at the other end is a roller portion with respect to the bearing 29.
The roller unit 21 is movable along the axial direction between a position protruding from an end of the roller unit 21 and a position entering the roller unit 21.
Spring 32 disposed between the spring receiver 31 on the side
At the end protruding from the roller portion 21, the end portion protruding from the roller portion 21 is fixed to the side frame 13 so as to be prevented from rotating.
Are formed. Then, for example, after the attachment portion 30 of the shaft portion 22 at one end is inserted and connected from the inside of the side frame 13 on one side, the roller portion 21 is retracted with the shaft portion 23 at the other end retracted into the roller portion 21. The other side enters the inside of the side frame 13 on the other side, and the mounting portion 33 is inserted and connected from the inside of the side frame 13 on the other side, thereby connecting the motor roller 14 between the side frames 13 on both sides. Can be easily assembled.

The motor portion 24 is a DC motor, and a stator 34 is fixed to the shaft portion 22 at substantially the center of the roller portion 21, and a cylindrical member arranged to face the outer periphery of the stator 34. Both ends of the rotor 35 are rotatably supported via bearings 36. The stator 34 has a stator core and a stator winding, and a lead wire 34a connected to the stator winding is drawn outside through the shaft portion 22.

The reduction gear portion 25 reduces the rotational force of the rotor 35 and transmits it to the roller portion 21. The reduction gear portion 25 has an internal gear 37a mounted on the inner periphery of the rotor portion 21 and a planetary gear mechanism 37.
The rotational force of the rotor 35 is configured to be transmitted at a reduced speed via b.

As the pulse generator 26, a Hall sensor is used. The Hall sensor is mounted on the shaft portion 22 in the form of an annular magnet 38 concentrically mounted on the rotor 35 and opposed to the magnet 38. It has a Hall element 39. The lead wire connected to the Hall element 39 is
It is drawn out through the inside. The magnet 38
As shown in FIG. 4, the number of S poles and N poles is 9 along the circumferential direction.
It is magnetized alternately at every 0 degree.

One rotation of the rotor 35 causes the Hall element 39 to rotate.
Outputs two pulses. For example, when the reduction ratio of the reduction gear unit 25 is 1/43, the Hall element 39 outputs 86 pulses for one rotation of the roller unit 21.

The free roller 15 is similar in appearance to the motor roller 14, and has a cylindrical roller portion and protrudes from both ends of the roller portion and rotatably supports the roller portion via bearings. It has a shaft part.

In FIG. 1, a control means 41 for executing accumulation control of the accumulating conveyor 11 is shown.
The control means 41 controls the drive of the motor unit 24 of each motor roller 14 and inputs a pulse output generated by the pulse generator 26 according to the rotation of the motor unit 24, and controls the current to the motor unit 24. The rotation speed of the roller unit 21 is adjusted by the control.

The control means 41 stores the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generator 26,
Storage means 42 for storing the number of reference pulses is connected.

The control means 41 has the following control functions.

When the motor roller 14 rotates, the pulse generator 26
The number of unit pulses per unit time at which
The number of pulses that detects that the unit pulse number has changed outside the range of the reference pulse number (a range obtained by adding and subtracting a predetermined number of pulses to and from the reference pulse number) is compared with the number of reference pulses stored in. Function of detection means.

The function of reference pulse number setting means for storing the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generating unit 26 when the motor roller 14 rotates in a no-load state in the storage means 42 as the number of reference pulses.

The rotation speed of the motor roller 14 is controlled, and a predetermined (normal) conveyance speed for conveying the conveyed object when the pulse number change detection means detects the pulse number change and when the reference pulse number setting means sets the reference pulse number. When the motor roller 14 is rotated at a lower detection speed (hereinafter, the detection speed is referred to as a low speed) and the pulse number change detection means detects a change in the number of pulses, The function of the rotation control means for controlling the rotation of the roller to either increase the transport speed or stop the rotation.

When the transported material is temporarily stopped in the downstream transport area, the motor roller 14 in the upstream transport area is rotated at a low speed, and when the transported article is detected in the upstream transport area, the upstream transport is stopped. An accumulation function that temporarily stops the transported material in the area and, when the transported material is unloaded from the downstream transport area, carries out the transported material in the upstream transport area at high speed.

Then, when the accumulation conveyor 11 is initially installed, the number of reference pulses corresponding to the motor roller 14 is stored and set in the storage means 42. That is, the control means
The function of 41 reference pulse number setting means
14 is rotated at a low speed in a no-load state, and the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generator 26 at this time is stored in the storage means 42 as the number of reference pulses. As a result, the number of reference pulses corresponding to the unique rotation characteristics of the motor roller 14 can be set accurately.

The detection of a conveyed object by the control means 41 will be described with reference to FIGS.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, in a state in which the motor roller 14 in the downstream transport area A1 is stopped and the article M1 is temporarily stopped, the transport area adjacent to the upstream side of the transport area A1 is stopped. When detecting the transported object M2 transported from the transport direction F with respect to A2, the motor roller in the transport area A2 is detected.
Rotate 14 at low speed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6A, the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generator 26 of the motor roller 14 that rotates at low speed with no load is P1. The unit pulse number P1 is stored in the storage unit.
It is assumed that the value falls within the range of the reference pulse number stored in 42.

When the motor roller 14 in the upstream transport area A3 is rotated at a high speed and the transported object M2 is transported to the transport area A2 at a high speed, the speed is higher than the peripheral speed of the motor roller 14 rotating at the detection speed. , The rotation of the motor roller 14 is temporarily increased when the conveyance object comes into contact with the motor roller 14. At this time, as shown in FIG.
The number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generator 26 of the motor roller 14 rotating at a low speed is P2, which is greater than the number of unit pulses P1.

When the unit pulse number P2 increases outside the range of the reference pulse number stored in the storage means 42, it is determined that the transported object M2 has reached the transport area A2, and the motor roller 14 in the transport area A2 is determined. Is controlled to stop and convey the article M2 by braking.

As described above, the motor roller 14 uses the pulse generator 26 for speed control.
The number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generation unit 26 is compared with the number of reference pulses stored in the storage unit 42 while rotating, and the number of unit pulses is changed to a value outside the range of the number of reference pulses. Since the object can be detected, the conveyance and detection of the conveyed object can be performed with a simple configuration using only the motor roller 14 without requiring any special detecting means.

In particular, when detecting a conveyed object, the motor roller is driven at a lower detection speed than the high speed for conveying the conveyed object.
Since the change of the number of unit pulses generated by the pulse generator 26 is monitored while rotating 14, the rotation of the roller unit 21 is likely to change when a high-speed conveyed object arrives, and even light objects can be detected reliably. it can.

If it is attempted to detect a conveyed object with the motor roller 14 stopped, the motor unit 24 and the roller unit 21
In the case of a light conveyed object, even if the conveyed object arrives at the motor roller 14, the conveyed object only slips on the roller section 21 and the roller The unit 21 does not rotate and cannot be detected. For example, if a clutch that turns on and off the drive system between the motor unit 24 and the roller unit 21 is built in, the rotation of the roller unit 21 when the transported object arrives is allowed, but by incorporating the clutch, the structure and control become complicated. And the problem that it becomes expensive arises. Therefore, when detecting a conveyed object, a change in the number of unit pulses generated by the pulse generator 26 is monitored while rotating the motor roller 14 at a detection speed lower than the high-speed conveyance speed for conveying the conveyed object. When the conveyed article arrives, a change in the rotation of the roller unit 21 is likely to occur, so that even a light article can be reliably detected. That is, instead of static friction,
By trying to rotate the roller unit 21 against the kinetic friction, the rotation of the roller unit 21 can be easily changed even with a small force by a light conveyed object, and the detection can be reliably performed.

Further, the reference pulse number setting means of the control means 41 stores the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generation section 26 when the motor roller 14 rotates in a no-load state as the reference pulse number. , The number of reference pulses corresponding to the unique rotation characteristics of the motor roller can be set accurately. Storage means for this reference pulse number
The setting to 42 is automatically performed periodically by the control means 41, and can be arbitrarily performed manually, so that the reference pulse number is constantly updated. By updating the reference pulse number in this way, even if the rotation number fluctuates due to aging of the motor roller 14, it is possible to easily cope with the rotation number and to always set an accurate reference pulse number.

Next, the accumulation function of the control means 41 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the accumulation procedure shown in FIG. 7 will be described. For example, the accumulating conveyor 11 sequentially moves the plurality of transport areas A1 from the downstream side in the transport direction F.
~ A5, accumulating conveyor
When an accumulation command signal is output from a processing device on the downstream side of 11, the motor roller 14 in the transport area A1 on the most downstream side is output.
Is stopped to temporarily stop the conveyed article M1. In this state, the motor rollers 14 in the upstream transport areas A2 to A5 are rotated at a low speed, or the motor rollers 14 in the transport areas A3 and A4 are rotated.
Is stopped, and the motor rollers 14 in the transport area A2 and the transport area A5 on the most upstream side are rotated at a low speed (the state shown in FIG. 7A).

When the arrival of the transported object M2 is detected in the transport area A5 on the most upstream side, the motor rollers 14 of the transport areas A3 to A5 are rotated at a high speed to transport the transported article M2 downstream, and the motor of the transport area A2 is rotated. The roller 14 is rotated at a low speed and waits for the transported object M2 to arrive.

When the arrival of the article M2 is detected in the area A2, the rotation of the motor roller 14 is stopped, and the article M2 is braked and stopped. In the transport area A3 and the transport area A5, which are upstream of the transport area A2, the motor roller 14 is rotated at a low speed to wait for the next transported article to arrive (the state shown in FIG. 7B). In the transport area A4, the high transport speed is maintained, and after a predetermined time elapses, the rotation is performed at a low speed or stopped.

As described above, the motor roller 14 in the transport area adjacent to the upstream side of the transport area in which the transported article is stopped is rotated at a low speed to wait for the next transported article. By stopping the rotation of 14 and stopping the conveyed object, the accumulating conveyor 11
A plurality of articles conveyed above are stopped without making contact with each other.

The starting procedure after accumulation shown in FIG. 8 will be described. For example, in a state where the articles M1 to M4 are stopped in the respective transport areas A1 to A4 of the accumulating conveyor 11, the accumulating conveyor 11
When a payout command signal is output from the downstream processing device, the motor roller 14 in the most downstream transport area A1 is rotated at a high speed,
Pays out the transported material M1 in the transport area A1 to the downstream side at high speed (FIG. 8).
(a) state).

When the processing equipment on the downstream side of the accumulating conveyor 11 detects the conveyed object M1 conveyed from the conveyance area A1, the motor roller 14 in the conveyance area A1 is rotated at a low speed and the motor roller 14 in the conveyance area A2 is rotated. It is rotated at a high speed, and the transported object M2 in the transport area A2 is discharged to the downstream side at a high speed (the state shown in FIG. 8B).

When the conveyance object M2 conveyed from the conveyance area A2 is detected in the conveyance area A1, if an accumulation command signal is output from a processing device on the downstream side of the accumulating conveyor 11, the motor roller 14 of the conveyance area A1 will be turned off. Stop the rotation, stop the transported object M2 in the transport area A1, and if a payout command signal is issued, rotate the motor roller 14 in the transport area A1 at a high speed to rotate the transported article M2 in the transport area A1 at a high speed. Discharge to the downstream side, and further, the motor roller in the transport area A2
While rotating 14 at a low speed, the motor roller 14 in the transport area A3 is rotated at a high speed, and the transported object M3 in the transport area A3 is paid out at a high speed to the downstream side (the state shown in FIG. 8C).

As described above, when a conveyed article is dispensed from a certain conveyance area, the motor roller 14 in the conveyance area is rotated at a low speed to wait for the conveyed article from the upstream side, and
By rotating the motor roller 14 at a high speed to the upstream conveyance area to discharge the conveyed goods to the downstream side, the plurality of conveyed goods on the accumulating conveyor 11 are sequentially conveyed without contacting each other.

Next, another accumulation function performed by the control means 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9 (a), when handling the conveyed objects S1, S2 having a short length in the conveying direction F and the long conveyed objects L1, L2, the pitch of one transfer area (accumulation pitch). Is set to the maximum length + α, and one transport area A1,
A2 is provided with a plurality (two) of motor rollers 14, of which the downstream motor roller 14 is used as a master roller and the upstream motor roller 14 is used as a slave roller. Even in such a case, the transfer force is not interrupted.

First, the accumulation procedure shown in FIG. 9 will be described. When the accumulation command is issued to the downstream transport area A1, the motor roller 14 on the downstream side of the transport area A1 is rotated at a low speed, and the motor rollers 14 on the upstream side are rotated at a high speed, and the transport is performed. The article S1 or the article L1 is transported at a high speed in the downstream direction (the state shown in FIG. 9B).

When the conveyance object S1 or the conveyance object L1 arrives at the motor roller 14 on the downstream side of the conveyance area A1 and is detected, the conveyance area
Stop the rotation of all the motor rollers 14 of A1, and
Alternatively, the transported object L1 is braked and stopped in the transport area A1, and the transport area A2 adjacent to the upstream side of the transport area A1 is further moved.
Then, the motor roller 14 on the downstream side is rotated at a low speed and waits for the arrival of the succeeding article S1 or article L1 (the state shown in FIG. 9C).

As described above, the motor roller 14 on the downstream side of the transport area where the accumulation command is issued is rotated at a low speed, and the motor roller 14 on the upstream side is rotated at a high speed to wait for the next transported article to arrive. When the object arrives, the rotation of all the motor rollers 14 in the transfer area is stopped to stop one transfer object in one transfer area,
A plurality of types of conveyed articles having different lengths conveyed on the accumulating conveyor 11 are stopped without making contact with each other.

The starting procedure after the accumulation shown in FIG. 10 will be described. For example, while the transported objects L1 and L2 are stopped in the respective transport areas A1 and A2 of the accumulating conveyor 11, the accumulating conveyor 11
When a payout command signal is output from the processing equipment downstream of 11,
All the motor rollers 14 in the lowermost transport area A1 are rotated at a high speed, and the conveyed article L1 in the transport area A1 is discharged to the downstream side at a high speed (the state shown in FIG. 10A).

When the processing equipment on the downstream side of the accumulating conveyor 11 detects the conveyed material L1 unloaded from the transport area A1, the motor roller 14 on the downstream side of the transport area A1 is rotated at a low speed, and the upstream of the transport area A1 is rotated. The motor roller 14 on the side and all the motor rollers 14 in the transfer area A2 are rotated at a high speed, and the conveyed article L2 in the transfer area A2 is discharged to the downstream side at a high speed (the state shown in FIG. 10B).

When the transported object L2 conveyed from the transport area A2 is detected in the transport area A1, if an accumulation command signal is output from a processing device on the downstream side of the accumulating conveyor 11, all the motor rollers in the transport area A1 are output. The rotation of 14 is stopped, the transported object L2 is stopped in the transport area A1, and if the payout command signal is issued, all the motor rollers 14 in the transport area A1 are rotated at a high speed, and the transported article in the transport area A1 is rotated. Dispense L2 at high speed downstream.

As described above, when all the motor rollers 14 in the transfer area A1 are rotated at a high speed and the conveyed article L1 is paid out, the motor rollers 14 on the downstream side in the transfer area A1 are rotated at a low speed and the upstream side is rotated. The motor rollers 14 are rotated at a high speed to wait for the transported object L2 to arrive from the upstream side, and all the motor rollers 14 in the upstream transport area A2 are rotated at a high speed to discharge the transported object L2 to the downstream side. Then, a plurality of types of articles having different lengths on the accumulating conveyor 11 are sequentially carried out without abutting each other.

As described above, since the motor roller 14 has a function of detecting a conveyed object, a function of conveying the conveyed object, and a function of stopping the conveyed object, the accumulating method can be performed with a simple configuration using only the motor roller 14. Conveyor 11 can be configured.

When the conveyed object is a heavy object, the motor roller 14 for detecting the arrival of the conveyed object does not need to be set at a lower detection speed than the conveying speed, and the motor roller 14 is rotated at a constant speed while maintaining the conveying speed. The detection output of the pulse generation unit 26 may be monitored, and even in this case, the rotation of the roller unit 21 is more likely to occur at the time of arrival of the conveyed product, and the conveyed product can be detected, compared to the state in which the rotation is stopped . Alternatively, when the conveyed object is a heavy object, the conveyed object can be detected by rotating the roller unit 21 when the conveyed object arrives, even if the motor roller 14 for detecting the arrival of the conveyed object is stopped.

Although the arrival of the conveyed object is detected by the motor roller 14, when the conveyed object is unloaded, the pulse generator 26 is rotated while rotating the motor roller 14 at a constant speed at the conveying speed.
Monitor the change in the number of unit pulses that occur, and monitor and judge that the rotation of the motor roller 14 changes instantaneously so that the load moves away from the motor roller 14 and the load disappears. Thus, the carry-out of the conveyed object can be detected.

The same operation and effect can be obtained by using an encoder for the pulse generator 26 of the motor roller 14 instead of the Hall sensor.

The motor section 24 of the motor roller 14 includes
By using a DC motor, the rotation speed and the like can be accurately controlled, but the same operation and effect can be obtained by using an AC motor.

The transport mechanism is not limited to the roller conveyor type accumulating conveyor, but may be applied to a belt conveyor type accumulating conveyor. In this case, at least one motor roller 14 rotates the belt for each transport area.

[0066]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generator while rotating the motor roller is utilized by utilizing the pulse generator provided for the motor roller for speed control. And the reference pulse number stored in the storage means, the unit pulse number changes outside the range of the reference pulse number, thereby detecting that the load on the motor roller has changed, that is, the arrival or discharge of the conveyed object. ,
Therefore, the conveyance and detection of the conveyed article can be performed with a simple configuration using only the motor roller without requiring any special detecting means.

Further, since the change of the number of unit pulses generated by the pulse generator is monitored while rotating the motor roller, even if a reduction gear is incorporated in the motor roller, for example, compared to a state where the rotation is stopped, In addition, the rotation of the roller unit is likely to occur when a conveyed article arrives, and even a lightly conveyed article can be reliably detected.

Further, the reference pulse number setting means stores the number of unit pulses per unit time generated by the pulse generator when the motor roller rotates in a no-load state in the storage means as the reference pulse number. In addition to accurately setting the reference pulse number corresponding to the unique rotation characteristics of the above, even when the rotation number fluctuates due to aging of the motor roller, the reference pulse number can be easily updated by updating the reference pulse number.

According to the transport device of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the transport device of the first aspect, the transported object is transported when the pulse number change detecting means detects the pulse number change, that is, when the transported object is detected. Since the motor roller is rotated at a lower detection speed than the transport speed, when the transported material that is transported from the upstream side at the transport speed arrives, the rotation of the roller unit tends to change, and even light transported objects can be detected reliably. .

According to the transport device of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the transport device of the second aspect, when a transport object is detected, one of the rotation of the motor roller is increased to the transport speed and the rotation is stopped. , The transport and stop of the transported article can be reliably controlled.

According to the transport device of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the transport device of the second or third aspect, when the transported material is temporarily stopped in the downstream transport region, the upstream transport region is stopped. The motor roller is rotated at the detection speed, and when a transported object is detected in the upstream transport area, the transported article in the upstream transport area is temporarily stopped, and when the transported article is transported from the downstream transport area, the upstream Since the transported object in the transport area is transported, the transported object being transported can be reliably accumulated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of the transfer device, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the transfer device as viewed from a side.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a motor roller of the conveyance device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a magnet of the motor roller.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating detection of a transported object by the transporting device.

FIG. 6A is a waveform diagram of a pulse output from the pulse generator before the transported object reaches the motor roller, and FIG. 6B is a pulse output from the pulse generator when the transported object arrives at the motor roller. FIG.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an accumulation procedure.

8 (a), 8 (b) and 8 (c) are explanatory diagrams for explaining a starting procedure after accumulation in FIG. 7;

9 (a), 9 (b) and 9 (c) are explanatory diagrams for explaining another accumulation procedure.

10 (a) and 10 (b) are explanatory diagrams for explaining a starting procedure after the accumulation in FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Accumulating conveyor as a transport mechanism 14 Motor roller 21 Roller unit 24 Motor unit 26 Pulse generation unit 41 Control unit having the function of pulse number change detection unit and reference pulse number setting unit 42 Storage unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A motor roller having a motor section, a roller section rotated by the motor section, and a pulse generating section for generating a pulse in accordance with the rotation of the roller section, and a conveyed object being driven by the rotational driving force of the motor roller. A transport mechanism for transporting, a storage unit for storing a reference pulse number, and comparing the unit pulse number per unit time generated by the pulse generation unit when the motor roller rotates with the reference pulse number stored in the storage unit. A pulse number change detecting means for detecting that the unit pulse number has changed outside the range of the reference pulse number, and a unit pulse number per unit time generated by a pulse generation unit when the motor roller rotates in a no-load state. A reference pulse number setting means for storing the reference pulse number in the storage means as a reference pulse number. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed of the motor roller is controlled, and when the pulse number change is detected by the pulse number change detecting means, and when the reference pulse number is set by the reference pulse number setting means, a speed lower than the conveying speed for conveying the conveyed object is detected. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for rotating the motor roller at a speed. 3. The control means controls the rotation of the motor roller to one of a conveyance speed and a rotation stop when a pulse number change is detected by the pulse number change detection means. The transfer device as described in the above. 4. The transport mechanism includes a plurality of transport areas each having a motor roller along a transport direction of the transported article. When the transported article is temporarily stopped in the downstream transport area, the control section controls the upstream section. While rotating the motor roller in the transport area on the side at the detection speed, and when the transported article is detected in the upstream transport area, the transported article in the upstream transport area is temporarily stopped,
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the transported article is transported from the downstream transport area, the transported article in the upstream transport area is transported.
Or the transfer device according to 3.