JP2001106326A - Conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyor capable of attaining substantial reduction in initial cost and running cost on the whole. SOLUTION: This conveyor is constituted so that a first state A may occur in which a series of conveyance paths are formed by disposing a third conveyor 3 between a first conveyer 1 and a second conveyor 2 bridging over the conveyors 1, 2 so as to be capable of rotating around a vertical axis P and a second state B may occur in which a path Q is formed between the conveyors 3, 2 in accordance with the rotation of the third conveyor 3. In this conveyor, a power transmitting means 40 is disposed which transmits, only under the first state A, rotational power to each of a rotation driving system 26 across the first and the third conveyors 1, 3 and a rotation driving system 33 across the third and the second conveyors 3, 2 and one motor M is provided to drive the first to third conveyors 1 to 3 in series.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a conveyor device for transporting various works.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the above-described conveyor apparatus, it is necessary to detour the transport path in order to move from one side of the transport path to the other side. If the transport path is long, the transport path must be largely bypassed. Although it could not be obtained, there was a problem in that this was troublesome and involved time loss.

In consideration of this point, conventionally, a part of the conveyor forming the transfer path is made independent, and the first and second conveyors before and after the part are separated from each other. (Referred to as a third conveyor) so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis, and thereby a first state in which a series of transport paths are formed, and a second state in which a path is formed between the conveyors as the third conveyor rotates. To appear.

[0004]

By the way, conventionally, the third
Since the conveyors were made independent, a driving motor was connected to the rotary drive system of the third conveyor and the front and rear first and second conveyors, and each conveyor was driven independently. However, there is a problem in that the initial cost of the conveyor device is high because three motors, a mount for the motors, and three sets of transmission means for connecting the motors and the rotary drive system are required.

[0005] In addition, even if the capacity of each motor is small, if three motors are used in total, the power consumption of the three motors is large, and there is also a problem in that the running cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its object is to use a rational improvement technique.
The first to third conveyors can be driven in series by a single motor, thereby significantly reducing initial costs and running costs.

[0007]

The technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above object are as follows. That is, the present invention provides a conveyor apparatus configured to exhibit a first state in which a series of transport paths are formed and a second state in which a path is formed between conveyors, and a rotary drive system extending over the first and third conveyors. Power transmission means for transmitting rotational power only when the first state is present, in each of the rotary drive systems extending over the third and second conveyors;
It is characterized in that it comprises one motor for driving the conveyor in series.

[0008] According to the above-mentioned characteristic configuration, the first to third conveyors are interlocked and connected to each other by the power transmission means so that the third conveyor can be turned. Conveyors can be driven in series by a single motor, and conventional conveyor devices that individually drive the first to third conveyors individually require three sets of motors, motor mounts, and transmission means. Although the conveyor apparatus according to the present invention requires a large-capacity motor and two power transmission means, one large-capacity motor is less expensive than three small-capacity motors. In addition, since the amount of the motor base and the transmission means and the amount of wiring can be reduced, and the power transmission means is inexpensive, the conveyor device according to the present invention can reduce the initial cost as a whole. It can be reduced in width.

In addition, one large-capacity motor consumes less power than three small-capacity motors, and the running cost is greatly reduced. It is also suitable in terms of.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a long conveyor line C equipped with various types of processing machines and assembling machines. In this embodiment, a part of a line forming a series of transport paths on the conveyor line C is formed at three positions. And the conveyors before and after this (the upstream conveyor is called the first conveyor 1 and the downstream conveyor is called the second conveyor 2. The independent conveyor is the third conveyor Since the present invention will be described below with reference to the third conveyor 3, the conveyors between the three third conveyors 3 are provided with reference numerals 1 and 2 for the first and second conveyors. The third conveyor 3 can be turned around a vertical axis P (see FIG. 4) between the first and second conveyors.

In the above-described conveyor apparatus using the first to third conveyors 1 to 3, there is no restriction on the length of the third conveyor 3, but in this embodiment, the total length is as short as about 1.7 m. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a rotating unit 6 having an inner shaft 5 rotatable about a longitudinal axis P is installed on the fixed base 4 on the floor, and the inner shaft 5 of the rotating unit 6 is attached to the rotating unit 6. The one end side of the revolving frame 7 (the left side in this embodiment, but may be the right side or the center side) may be attached in a cantilever manner,
Further, a pair of support shafts 9 having sprockets 8, 8 at both ends thereof on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the revolving frame 7,
Ten are hung.

An input shaft 12 having sprockets 11, 11 at both ends and a path inflection shaft 13 are arranged on the lower side between the shafts 9, 10 and the lower side of the downstream shaft 10, respectively. Endless chains 14 and 15 for loading and transferring the workpiece W are connected to the sprockets 8 and
The endless chain 15 is wound around the sprockets 8, 11, and the other sprockets 8, 8, 11, 11, and a guide 16 for path inflection is provided for one endless chain 15.

In the illustrated example, as the first conveyor 1,
Although only the structure on the downstream side is shown and only the structure on the upstream side is shown as the second conveyor 2, the structure of the first conveyor 1 is the same as that of the first conveyor 1 except for the rotation drive system 17 of the motor M described later.
On the upstream side, the same structure as that shown on the downstream side of the second conveyor 2 is continuously provided, and on the downstream side of the second conveyor 2,
The same structure as the upstream structure of the first conveyor 1 is continuously provided.

The first and second conveyors 1 and 2 will be described based on this configuration. A conveyor frame 19 is fixedly arranged on a fixed base 18 on the floor, and both sides of each frame 19 in the longitudinal direction are respectively provided. Sprocket 2
A pair of support shafts 21 and 22 provided with a pair of support shafts 0 and 20 are horizontally mounted.
A path inflection shaft 24 provided with an endless chain 25,
25 to each of the sprockets 20, 20, 2 on both sides of the transport path.
It consists of three turns.

The rotary drive system 26 extending over the first and third conveyors 1 and 3 is configured as follows. That is, between the first and third conveyors 1 and 3, both ends of the sprocket 2
An endless chain 30 is wound around one sprocket 27 and a sprocket 29 provided on the support shaft 24 of the first conveyor 1 with the intermediate shaft 28 provided with the other sprockets 27, 27. An endless chain 32 is wound around a sprocket 31 provided on the input shaft 12 of the third conveyor 3.

The rotation drive system 33 extending over the third and second conveyors 3 and 2 extends over the sprocket 11 provided on the path inflection shaft 13 of the third conveyor 3 and the sprocket 34 provided on the support shaft 22 of the second conveyor 2. And an endless chain 35.

In the above-mentioned rotary drive systems 26 and 33, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the intermediate shaft 28 and the path inflection shaft 13 provided therein are divided into two in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 4, a bracket 36 is connected to the fixed base 4 of the third conveyor 3 and
A bracket 37 is also connected to the conveyor frame 19, and one of the divided shafts a is held in a cantilever manner on each of the brackets 36, 37, and the brackets 38, 38 are also provided on both sides of the third conveyor 3 in the longitudinal direction. The brackets 38, 38 are connected to each other so that one of the divided shafts a is held concentrically with the other of the divided shafts b in a cantilever manner, and power is transmitted over the concentric divided shafts a, b, respectively. Means 40, 40 are provided.

In this embodiment, the power transmission means 40 comprises a coupling having a so-called meshing clutch structure, and only when the third conveyor 3 is in the first state A where a series of transport paths are formed. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first coupling body 40A is integrally connected to one of the divided shafts a.
And a second coupling body 40B that is slidably held on the other split shaft b.

First and second coupling bodies 40A, 4
0B is provided with a plurality of engaging pieces c that mesh with each other at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction on their opposing end surfaces, and the first coupling body 40A has A cylindrical body 41 provided with a fitting guide d for the two coupling bodies 40B is provided.

On the other hand, the second coupling body 40B is slidably held on the split shaft b along a key e engaged in the key groove of the split shaft b. The retaining member 42 of the key 40B and the key e is bolted to the divided shaft b. In order to urge the second coupling body 40B toward the retaining member 42, the large-diameter portion h of the split shaft b and the second coupling body 40B
And a spring 43 is provided between them.

The first coupling body 40A is connected to a split shaft b.
And the second coupling body 40B may be provided on the split shaft a.

The above-described rotary drive system 17 of the motor M is linked to a support shaft 24 of a rotary drive system 26 extending over the first and third conveyors 1 and 3. The sprocket 45,
46, and an endless chain 47 is wound around the sprockets 45 and 46.

3 to 5, reference numeral 48 in the drawings denotes stopper means for defining the turning angle of the third conveyor 3, for example, two stopper members 49, 90 having a phase angle of 90 degrees. 49 is provided on the base 4 while the third conveyor 3
5 that comes into contact with the stopper member 49 with the turning of
0 is provided on the turning frame 7.

Reference numerals 51 and 52 denote work guides, and reference numerals 53 and 53 denote pulling handles connected to the turning frame 7 of the third conveyor 3.

According to the above configuration, the third conveyor 3 and the second conveyor 2 are driven in series in conjunction with the driving of the first conveyor 1 by one motor M.

The rotation drive system 26 extending over the first and third conveyors 1 and 3 and the rotation drive system 33 extending over the third and second conveyors 3 and 2 rotate only under the first state A. By providing the power transmission means 40 for transmitting power, the first to third conveyors 1 to 3 can be driven in series by one motor M, but the driving of the motor M is stopped as necessary. Then, one of the handles 53 may be pulled (the other handle 53 or the turning frame 7 may be pushed), and the third conveyor 3 is turned around the longitudinal axis P to thereby rotate the third conveyor 3 and the second conveyor. 2, a passage Q can be formed.

On the other hand, if the passage Q is no longer needed,
By pulling the other handle 53 (the one handle 53 may be pushed or the revolving frame 7 may be pushed back), the third conveyor 3 is returned to the first state A where a series of transport paths is formed. The power transmission means 40 is switched to the transmission state of the rotational power, and by driving the motor M here, the conveyance of the work W can be resumed.

Although not shown, a lock means for locking the third conveyor 3 in the first state A is provided between the third conveyor 3 and the second conveyor 2, for example. It is preferable that the lock is automatically released in conjunction with the pulling operation of one handle 53 (or the pushing operation of the other handle 53).

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the rotation driving systems of the first to third conveyors are connected to each other by power transmission means so that the third conveyor can be turned, and the first to third conveyors are rotated. 3 is configured to be able to be driven in series by one motor, whereby the conveyor device according to the present invention has a total initial cost and running cost compared to the conventional conveyor device. Will be greatly reduced.

[0030] In particular, reduction of running cost is not only preferable in terms of energy saving and ecology, but also
Although very small in scale, it has the advantage of contributing to the suppression of global warming.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a conveyor line.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of first to third conveyors.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first to third conveyors, in which a state of formation of a passage by turning of the third conveyor is indicated by a virtual line.

FIG. 4 is a side view of first to third conveyors.

FIG. 5 is an end view of a third conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a drive system diagram of first to third conveyors.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which transmission of rotational power is canceled by the power transmitting means, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which rotational power is transmitted by the power transmitting means.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st conveyor, 2 ... 2nd conveyor, 3 ... 3rd conveyor, 26, 33 ... Rotation drive system, 40 ... Power transmission means, A
... first state, B ... second state, M ... motor, P ... vertical line,
Q: Passageway.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first state in which a third conveyor across both conveyors is arranged between the first and second conveyors so as to be pivotable about a longitudinal axis to form a series of transport paths;
In a conveyor device configured to exhibit a second state in which a path is formed between the conveyors as the third conveyor rotates, a rotation drive system that spans the first and third conveyors;
Each of the rotary drive systems extending over the third and second conveyors is provided with a power transmission means for transmitting the rotational power only when the first state is present, and a one-way drive for driving the first to third conveyors in series. A conveyor device comprising a plurality of motors.