JP2003128237A - Converting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a converting device which can easily perform various kinds of detection of branched articles. SOLUTION: This converting device comprises endless turning bodies 40 disposed along a main carrying passage 45, a large number of article supporters 50 fitted between the endless turning bodies 40 orthogonal to the main carrying passage 45, article transverse-pushing bodies 70 guided by the article supporters 50, guide device groups 90 and 100 for guiding guided bodies 80 provided on the article transverse-pushing bodies 70, and sorting means 110 and 111 disposed on branch parts of the guide device groups 90 and 100. The sorting means 110 and 11 can perform the sorting operation based on the detection of a tip part 180a of a carried article 180. By abutting the article transverse-pushing bodies 70 at the front end on the tip part 180a of the article 180, the article 180 can be sorted and branched with tip surfaces fitted to each other irrespective of any change in the length, and various kinds of detection of the article 180 can be easily and correctly performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conversion equipment used for transferring an article conveyed on a main conveyance path to a branch conveyance path provided outside a side portion of the main conveyance path. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of equipment, for example, a slat conveyor disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-157641 has been provided. In this conventional configuration, a large number of slats are mounted between a pair of left and right chains, and guided members (pins and guide rollers) are provided on the back side of the pressing shoe guided by these slats. A group of guide bodies for guiding the guided member and a branching device arranged at a branching portion of the group of guide bodies are provided. In the branching device, an orthogonal direction changing tool provided with a plurality of direction changing members is operated in the conveyor width direction by an air cylinder, and a pin is guided by an inclined guide surface formed on each direction changing member to branch the orthogonal direction. It is configured to guide you.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned conventional structure, the article can be branched to the carry-in conveyor with the center of the front-rear length of the article aligned with the width center of the carry-in conveyor. If the distance is constant, a suitable branch can be performed. However, when the front and rear lengths of the article group are not uniform, when the center of the front and rear length is aligned with the width center of the carry-in conveyor, the front and rear end faces of the article group become a step-like shape in the width direction of the carry-in conveyor. Due to the non-uniformity, there may be a case where various detections on the article cannot be easily performed.

Further, when the orthogonal direction change tool is operated by the air cylinder, all the pressing shoes of the slat group supporting the article are branched and actuated. Therefore, the orthogonal direction change tool and the changeover tool are switched. Means and the like have a complicated configuration. In particular, when branching a long article, its configuration becomes more complicated.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is intended to provide a conversion equipment capable of easily performing various detections on branched products. Further, the invention according to claims 3 and 4 is intended to provide a conversion equipment capable of branching a small number of article lateral pushing bodies.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the conversion equipment according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a pair of left and right endless rotating bodies arranged along a main transport path,
A large number of article supports mounted between these endless rotating bodies and having a lengthwise direction orthogonal to the main transport path,
An article lateral pushing body guided by the article supporting body, a guided body provided on the back side of the article lateral pushing body, a guide device group for guiding the guided body, and a branch of the guide device group. And a sorting means disposed on the main portion, the sorting means being configured to perform sorting based on detection of a tip portion of an article conveyed on the main conveyance path. Is.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, by rotating the endless rotating body to move the article supporting member group,
The article supplied to the start end of the main conveyance path can be conveyed toward the end. Then, the guided body of the article lateral pushing body that moves integrally with the article support body can be guided by the guide device group. At that time, the guide means can be moved in a passing manner without being distributed in the distribution means by moving the distribution means provided in the branch portion of the guide device in a non-sorting manner. Further, by distributing the distributing means, a plurality of target guided bodies can be distributed simultaneously in the distributing means.

That is, when the articles conveyed on the main conveyance path are sorted and branched, first, the leading end portion of the articles conveyed on the main conveyance path is detected, and the sorting means is moved based on the detection. That is, when a plurality of target guided objects reach the portion of the sorting means, the sorting means is moved according to an instruction from the control unit.

As a result, the article lateral pushing body group moves in the carrying direction and traverses the main carrying path in a synchronous manner (integrated), so that the article lateral pushing operation acts on the article and the article is pushed in its direction. Without changing, the sheet is moved in parallel with the main transport path and pushed out laterally from the main transport path. At this time, the article lateral pushing body at the foremost end is brought into contact with the tip end portion of the article, so that the article can be divided and branched with the tip end surfaces thereof aligned regardless of changes in the front-rear length.

The conversion equipment according to claim 2 of the present invention is
In the above-mentioned configuration according to claim 1, the article is provided with a display unit on a front end surface portion thereof, and a reading means capable of facing the display unit is provided on a branch path for receiving the article branched from the main transport path. It is characterized by being present.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the article distributed from the main transport route to the branch route can be transported on the branch route, and the display section can be read by the reading means during the transport. At that time, the articles are being conveyed with their tip surfaces aligned,
The display unit can be opposed to the reading unit at a constant distance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the conversion equipment according to the first or second aspect, the allocating means is configured to simultaneously guide and guide a predetermined number of plural guided objects. It is characterized by being present.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the plurality of article lateral pushing bodies arranged at a predetermined number cross the main conveyance path in a synchronous manner (integrated) while moving in the conveyance direction.
Thus, a small number of article lateral pushing bodies may be bifurcated.

Further, in the conversion equipment according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the configuration according to claim 1 or 2 described above, the distribution means can simultaneously distribute and guide a plurality of guided bodies at an arbitrary set number. It is characterized by being configured into.

Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to move the plurality of article lateral pushing bodies in a synchronous manner in the most preferable form mainly depending on the length of the article to be handled.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, FIG. 2, (a), FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 10, and FIG. Material 1
It is composed of an intermediate frame member 2 for connecting 0 and 20 and a leg body 3 connected downward from the lower frame member 20. The intermediate frame member 2 is composed of a vertical connecting member 4 and a horizontal connecting member 5. It

The upper frame member 10 is formed of an aluminum molded product and has a rectangular cross section, and an upright portion 11 is formed at the center thereof, and a notched step portion is formed inside and outside the upright portion 11. 12 and 13 are formed. Further, the upper frame material 10 is formed with an upward dovetail groove 14 at the upper end of the standing portion 11 and an inner downward dovetail groove 1 at the lower end.
6 and an outer downward dovetail groove 17 are formed.

Further, the upper frame member 10 is formed with an outward guide rail portion 18 projecting inward from the position of the inner step portion 12 for supporting and guiding the article support. These dovetail grooves 14 to 17 and the outward guide rail portion 18
Are integrally formed over the entire length in the length direction when the upper frame material 10 is molded.

The lower frame member 20 is formed of an aluminum molded product and has a rectangular cross section. An inner upward dovetail groove 21 and an outer upward dovetail groove 22 are formed at the upper end, and an inner downward dovetail groove 23 is formed at the lower end. Outward downward dovetail 2
4 are formed. Further, a return path side guide rail portion 25 for supporting and guiding the article support body from the inner middle portion is formed, and is located above the step portion 26 formed by the return path side guide rail portion 25. Thus, the upper end extension portion 27 is formed. These dovetails 21
˜24 and the return-path side guide rail portion 25 are integrally formed over the entire length in the length direction when the lower frame member 20 is molded.

The intermediate frame member 2 is an upper frame member 10
The plate-shaped nut body 6 is positioned in both downward dovetail grooves 16 and 17 of the intermediate frame member 2, and the bolt 7 passed from below to the horizontal connecting member 5 of the intermediate frame member 2 is screwed into the nut body 6 and tightened. As a result, it is integrated with the upper frame member 10. Also,
By utilizing both upward dovetail grooves 21 and 22 of the lower frame member 20, the lower frame member 20 is integrated with the nut body 6 and the bolt 7 as described above. This intermediate frame member 2
A plurality of the frame members 10 and 20 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the length direction. The leg body 3 is connected to the lower frame member 20 by the nut body 6 and the bolt 7 by using the downward dovetail groove 24 of the lower frame member 20.

A driven shaft 30 in the left-right direction is rotatably arranged at the start end of the body frame 1 constructed as described above, and a drive shaft 31 in the same direction is rotatably arranged at the end. It Here, the driven shaft 30 and the drive shaft 31 include a pair of left and right support members 32 arranged between the frame members 10 and 20.
Are rotatably supported by bearings 33, respectively. Drive device 34 interlockingly connected to the drive shaft 31
Has an electric motor 35 and a speed reducer 36 integrated with the motor 35, and an output portion of the speed reducer 36 is linked to the drive shaft 31.

Sprockets (an example of a ring) 38, 39 are provided between the opposite ends of the driven shaft 30 and the drive shaft 31 between the facing portions.
An endless chain (an example of an endless rotating body) 40 is disposed via the. Here, the sprockets 38 and 39 are arranged inside the support member 32. Also, the chain 40
Comprises a link 41 and a link pin 42, and a specific link pin 42a at a predetermined pitch is projected inward.

The chain 40 is positioned inside the step portion 12 on the outward path side and inside the step portion 26 on the return path side. A large number of article supports 50 are attached between the left and right chains 40. Here, the article support 50 is the main transport path 4 in the moving direction of both chains 40.
The direction orthogonal to 5 is arranged as the length direction 51.

As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, the article support 50 has a flat surface with a recess 52 along the length direction 51 in the direction of the main transport path 45. In 2
Article placement plate portion 5 formed in multiple lines (single or multiple lines)
3, a pair of leg plates 54 that are consecutively provided in a pair in the direction of the main conveyance path 45 from the back surface intermediate portion of the article placing plate portion 53 and along the straightness direction 51, and from the front end of the article placing plate portion 53. A front plate portion 55 extending downward, a stepped front bottom plate portion 56 connecting a lower end of the front plate portion 55 and a lower end of the front leg plate portion 54, and a rear portion extending downward from a rear end of the loading plate portion 53. It is composed of a plate portion 57 and a step-like rear bottom plate portion 58 connecting the lower end of the rear plate portion 57 and the lower end of the rear leg plate portion 54.

A groove-like fitting portion 59 that opens downward is formed at the lower ends of both leg plate portions 54. Further, in the middle of the back surface of the article placing plate portion 53 and outside the leg plate portion 54,
Groove-shaped screwing portions 60 that open downward are formed.

The article support 50 thus formed
Side members 61 are attached to both ends in the length direction 51 of FIG. These side members 61 have the same shape, and are located at the front and rear two positions on the inner surface side of the main body 62 that is long in the front-back direction.
A rectangular tubular insertion portion 63 protruding inward is provided, and a pair of through holes 64 are formed between the insertion portions 63.

Further, the main body portion 62 of the side member 61
A cylindrical connecting portion 65 protruding outward is formed at one end side in the front-rear direction at an upper and lower intermediate portion on the outer surface side thereof, and at the other end side in the front-rear direction, both inner and outer both sides and another end outer side are formed. A recessed fitting portion 66 that is open to the inside is formed. Connection part 6 here
5 is a large-diameter portion 65a located on the main body 62 side, and a collar portion 65b located outside the large-diameter portion 65a,
It is formed by the small diameter portion 65c located outside the flange portion 65b. An example of the side member 61 is configured by the above 62 to 66 and the like.

The side member 61 thus formed is
The article placement plate portion 53 and the front plate portion 5 of the article support 50.
5 (or the rear plate portion 57), the front bottom plate portion 56 (or the rear bottom plate portion 58), and the pair of front and rear space portions 50a formed by the screwing portion 60, the pair of insertion portions 63 are inserted. Then, the bolts 67 that are passed through the through holes 64 from the outside are screwed and coupled to the screwing portions 60, so that the bolts 67 are attached to both ends of the article support body 50.

At this time, when the pair of side members 61 are attached to both ends of the article support body 50, the connecting portions 65 are positioned so as to be distributed forward and backward. Then, the specific link pin 42a of the endless chain 40 is inserted into and coupled to the hole of the connecting portion 65, whereby the article support 5
Both ends of 0 are connected to the endless chain 40 via the side members 61, respectively, so that the pair of left and right endless chains 40
A number of article supports 50 are attached in between. At this time, the fitting portion 66 of the side member 61 is externally fitted to the large diameter portion 65a of the connecting portion 65 of the adjacent side member 61.

The connecting portion 65, that is, the small diameter portion 65c.
A rotating body (an example of a guided member, which is of a bearing type or a roller type) 68 having an outer peripheral portion made of urethane is externally fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the guide rail. The parts 18 and 25 are supported and guided.

Each of the article supports 50 has the article support 5
An article lateral pushing body 70 that is guided by 0 and is movable in the longitudinal direction 51 is provided. These article lateral pushing bodies 70 are fitted onto the article support body 50, and include an upper plate member 71 facing the load carrying plate portion 53 from above and a front plate member facing the front plate portion 55 from the front side. 72, a rear plate member 73 that faces the rear plate portion 57 from the rear side, and a bottom plate member 74 that faces the bottom plate portions 56 and 58 from the lower side.

From the other (front) in the front-rear direction with the bottom plate member 74 and the both leg plate portions 54 inward, the front leg plate portion 5 is formed.
The fitting portion 59 formed in No. 4 is fitted from below, and a projection-shaped fitted portion 75 which is fitted and guided to the back surface side of the article support body 50 is formed. Further, in the bottom plate member 74 and in one of the front and rear directions (backward) with both leg plate parts 54 in the middle, the back surface formed by the bottom plate part 58 of the article support 50 elastically abuts and prevents rattling. The part 76 is formed. Here, the rattling prevention portion 76 is formed in a tongue shape by making a U-shaped cut in the bottom plate member 74, and
A contact portion to the back side is formed in a protruding shape at the free end.

A pair of projections 77 are formed on the upper plate member 71 of the article lateral pushing body 70 to engage with the recesses 52 formed in the article support member 50 from above, and the bottom plate member 7 is formed.
A guided portion 78 that is fitted between the two leg plate portions 54 and is slidably guided is formed at 4. In addition, the article side pushing body 70
Is made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and the upper plate 71
An action portion 79 for lateral pushing is integrally formed on the surface side of the.
An example of the article lateral pushing body 70 is configured by the above 71 to 79 and the like.

A guided body 80 is attached using the guided portion 78. That is, a roller shaft 81 is vertically provided from the center of the guided portion 78 by supporting the upper portion thereof by embedding and molding, and a guide roller 82 is rotatably attached to an intermediate portion of the roller shaft 81. The roller shaft 81, the guide roller 82, and the like constitute an example of the guided body 80, and thus the guided body 80 is provided on the outer side of the back surface of the article lateral pushing body 70.

The upper frame member 10 is provided with the endless chain 40 and above the inner step portion 12 which forms the outward guide rail portion 18, and above the step portion 12, an upper cover for closing the step portion 12 is closed. 83 is arranged. The upper cover 83 has bolt holes 84 formed at a plurality of positions in its length direction. Then, the upper cover 83 is mounted on the upright portion 11 from above, and the bolt 85 that has passed through the bolt hole 84 is screwed into the nut body 86 that is pre-positioned in the inner upward groove portion 14. , Is fixed to the upper frame material 10.

FIG. 2B, FIG. 3, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a forward guide device 90 that guides the guide roller 82 is disposed on the upper horizontal connecting member 5 of the intermediate frame member 2 of the main body frame 1, and the lower horizontal connecting member 5 includes a return path. A guide device 100 is provided. A left side distribution means 110 and a right side distribution means 111 are arranged on the outward path side, and a switching means 130 is arranged at the central branch portion on the return path side.

The forward guide device 90 includes a pair of left and right starting end guide portions 91A, 91 on both sides of the starting end portion.
B, the upper guide portion 92 continuous to the end of one of the starting end guide portions 91A, and the intermediate guide portion 9 that faces the end of the other starting end guide portion 91B via the left side distribution means 110.
3, the lower guide portion 94 facing the end of the upper guide portion 92 via the left sorting means 110 and the right sorting means 111, the end of the lower guide portion 94, and the intermediate guide portion 93. It is composed of a pair of left and right end guide portions 95A and 95B which are opposed to the end through the right distribution means 111.

The return path guide device 100 includes a pair of left and right inner movement guide portions 101A which are inclined inward toward the lower side.
101B and these inner movement guide portions 101A and 101B
It is composed of a pair of left and right outer movement guide portions 102A and 102B which are opposed to the end of the sheet through the switching means 103 and are inclined outward toward the lower side.

Both guide devices 90 and 100 are, for example, the start guide portion 91B and the outer movement guide portion 102 of FIG.
As shown by B, it is composed of a main body 105 made of an aluminum extruded product and a resin guide plate 106 mounted on the inner surface side of the main body 105, and the main body 105 is connected to the lateral connecting member 5 via a bracket 107. Fixed. Note that, as shown in FIG.
In order to guide the guide rollers 82, the guide rollers 82 are allowed to be fitted to the portions of the shafts 30 and 31 for reversing guide bodies 108A and 108A.
B, 109A and 109B are attached.

The left sorting means 110 and the right sorting means 111 are configured in the same manner with the sorting directions thereof being reversed, and in the following, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, the left sorting means 110 will be described. The right sorting means 111 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The left side allocating means 110 is capable of simultaneously allocating and guiding five (a plurality of) guided objects 80 (every predetermined number), and the other starting end guide portion 91.
On the right side base body 112 provided between B and the intermediate guide portion 93, five (plurality) sorting guide bodies 130 are arranged at a predetermined pitch. That is, the right base body 112 is formed with the slit 113 at a predetermined angle, and the through hole 114 for coupling and the hole 115 for fixing the swing support shaft are formed in a pair with the slit 113. .

The block body 120 is fixed on the right side base body 112. The block body 120 includes a lower portion 120a, a vertical portion 120b rising from one end of the lower portion 120a, and an upper portion 12 extending from the upper end of the vertical portion 120b to the opposite side of the lower portion 120a.
0c forms a Z-shape (reverse Z-shape) in a side view. On the lower surface of the lower portion 120a, a protrusion 12 that can be fitted into the slit 113 from above.
1 is formed, and further, a through hole 122 for connection which can communicate with the through hole 114 for connection is formed in the lower portion 120a.

The upper portion 120c is formed into an acute angle in a plan view, and both side surfaces thereof are pin guide surfaces 123A,
It is formed in 123B. A through hole 124 for a rocking support shaft that can face the fixing hole 115 from above is formed at a position near the vertical portion 120b of the upper portion 120c, and a lower surface near the free end for rocking regulation. Protrusion 125
Is formed downward. A slit-shaped engaging portion 126 is formed at the upper end of the vertical portion 120b.

In the block body 120 having the above-described structure, the coupling member (bolts, nuts, etc.) 127 is inserted between the coupling through holes 114, 122 which are in communication with each other, with the protrusion 121 thereof fitted into the slit 113 from above. By acting
It will be fixed on the right side base body 112 in a predetermined direction and in a rotation-stopped state.

The distribution guide body 130 comprises a distribution guide portion 131 and a link portion 136, and the distribution guide portion 131 and the link portion 136 are 9 in plan view.
It is integrally formed as a 0 degree shape. The distribution guide body 130 includes a distribution guide unit 131 and a link unit 136.
A through hole 132 for a swing support shaft is formed in a corner portion formed by.

On the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the distribution guide portion 131, there is formed a rocking restriction recess 133 into which the projection 125 on the block body 120 side can be fitted. Further, a cam body 134 is formed so as to project upward from the upper surface of the free end portion of the sorting guide portion 131. The cam body 134 has an acute angle in plan view, and the left side surface thereof is a sorting cam surface 135A. In addition to being formed, the right side surface is formed as a non-sorting cam surface 135B. The free end of the link portion 136 is formed in a bifurcated shape, and a connecting hole 137 is formed in the bifurcated portion.

In the distribution guide body 130 having the above-described structure, the through hole 132 is made to communicate with the upper through hole 124 in a state where the concave portion 133 is fitted in the projecting portion 125 and the rocking is performed between the through holes 132 and 124. By inserting the support shaft 138, the block shaft 120 is configured to be swingable around the vertical axis 138a. And distribution guide 130
Is configured to be freely switchable between the sorting guide position and the non-sorting position by swinging.
36 is swung integrally.

The swing support shaft 138 is fixed to the right base body 112 side by a fixture (bolts, nuts, etc.) 139 utilizing the fixing holes 115. Above 1
An example of the sorting guide body 130 is configured by 31 to 139 and the like.

The group of sorting guides 130 having the above-mentioned configuration is provided with a common push / pull body 140 via each link portion 136.
Is rotatably connected to. That is, the push / pull body 140 is in the form of a long link body, and each link portion 136 is
In the state of being passed through the bifurcated portion of the above, it is relatively rotatably connected via a connecting pin 141 using a connecting hole 137. A cylinder device (an example of a push-pull drive device) 142 is interlocked with the push-pull body 140.

Here, in the cylinder device 142, the cylinder body 143 of the cylinder device 142 is arranged via the vertical axis 145 to the right side base body 1.
12 side is swingably connected, and piston rod 1
44 is connected to one end of the push-pull body 140 via a vertical pin 146 so as to be relatively rotatable. A solenoid valve device 148 for controlling oil supply / discharge of the cylinder device 142 is provided on the right side base body 112 near the cylinder device 142.

The push-pull body 140 and the right side base body 11
A push-pull amount regulating means 150 is provided between the two. That is, a U-shaped bracket 151 is provided on the right side base body 112, and a pair of stopper bodies 152 are provided on the bracket 151 so that their positions can be adjusted in the pushing and pulling direction. On the push-pull body 140 side, a stopper body 153 located between both stopper bodies 152 is integrally formed.

A left side base body 155 is provided between the upper hand guide portion 92 and the right side distributing means 111 in parallel with the right side base body 112 and slightly offset from the right side base body 112. There is. A relay guide body 156 is provided on the left side base body 155 so as to be continuous with the upper guide portion 102.

A distribution guide body 157 for guiding the guide roller 82 in the distributed guided body 80 is disposed between the distribution guide body 130 and the relay guide body 156. The distribution guide body 157 is in the form of a strip plate, the start end portion of which is engaged with the engaging portion 126, and the end portion of the distribution guide body 157 with a predetermined distance from the relay guide body 156. It is connected to the relay guide body 156 side via a connecting body 158 or the like. The middle portion of the sorting guide body 157 is maintained in the inclined posture via a bracket 159 provided between the base bodies 112 and 155.

Transfer guide bodies 160 are arranged between the distribution guide bodies 130, and these transfer guide bodies 160 are connected to each other on the right side base body 112 via a connecting tool 161. Due to the above 112 to 161, etc.,
An example of the left side distribution unit 110 is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 7, and 11,
Branch conveyors 172A and 172B that form branch paths 171A and 171B that are perpendicular to the main transport path 45 are provided on both outer sides of the main body frame 1. Here, the branch conveyors 172A and 172B have a large number of rollers 173, and the ends of these rollers 173 are located inside the step portion 13 outside the upper frame member 10 and are sufficiently close to the upright portion 11. Arranged in a state. The upper upward dovetail 17 of the upper frame member 10 and the like can be used for connection with the branch conveyors 172A and 172B.

The left side allocating means 110 and the right side allocating means 111 are configured to perform the allocating movement based on the detection of the leading end portion 180a of the article 180 conveyed on the main conveying path 45. That is, the detection means (sensor or the like) 175 for detecting the leading end portion 180a of the conveyed article 180 is provided on one side of the main conveyance path 45 in the upper part of the left sorting means 110.

This detecting means 175 is connected to a control section (not shown), and the control section receives the signal from the detecting means 175, so that the left side distributing means 110 and the right side distributing means 111 are distributed after a set time. It is configured to move. At that time, the sorting movement is configured such that the frontmost article lateral pushing body 70 is brought into contact with the front end portion 180a of the article 180.

The article 180 is provided with a display portion 181 such as a bar code on the tip surface portion thereof. And
A reading unit 177 such as a bar code reader that can face the display unit 181 is provided on one side of the branch paths 171A and 171B that receive the article 180 branched from the main transport path 45.

In the following, in the above-described first embodiment, the conversion equipment is assembled and the article 180 is transported.
The branching action will be described. At the time of construction of conversion equipment,
After assembling the main body frame 1 into a frame shape and incorporating the endless chain 40, the article support 50, and the like into the main body frame 1, the upper covers 83 are arranged on the upper ends of both upper frame members 10.

That is, the pair of insertion portions 63 of the side member 61 are inserted into the pair of front and rear space portions 50a formed in the article support 50, and the inner surface side of the side member 61 is brought into contact with the end surface side of the article support body 50. After that, the bolt 67 that has passed through the through hole 64 from the outside is screwed and coupled to the screwing portion 60.
Thereby, the side members 61 can be attached to both ends of the article support 50, and at that time, before the both side members 61 are attached or after one of the side members 61 is attached, the article lateral push is performed with respect to the article support 50. The body 70 is fitted on the outside.

In this way, when the side members 61 are attached to both ends of the article support 50, both side members 61
Can be located by allocating the connecting portion 65 to the front and rear. Then, the specific link pin 42 in the endless chain 40
By inserting a into the hole of the connecting portion 65 and connecting it, both ends of the article support body 50 can be connected to the endless chain 40 via the side members 61, respectively. By sequentially performing such connection, a large number of article supports 50 can be attached between the pair of left and right endless chains 40. At that time, the fitting portion 66 of the side member 61 is fitted onto the large-diameter portion 65a of the connecting portion 65 of the side members 61 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction.

Therefore, the article support 50 is connected to the endless chain 40 through the pair of left and right connecting portions 65 which are distributed to the front and rear.
Can be directly linked to, i.e. directly at two points in a diagonal position. And the fitting portion 6 of the side member 61 on one side
6 is externally fitted to the connecting portion 65 of the side member 61 of the article support 50 adjacent to the front side, and the fitting portion 66 of the side member 61 on the other side is attached to the article support 50 adjacent to the rear side.
By externally fitting to the connecting portion 65 of the side member 61 in, the two points at different diagonal positions can be indirectly connected to the endless chain 40 in a state of being distributed to the front and rear article support bodies 50.

That is, since the left and right side members 61 have the same shape and are common parts, they can be easily and inexpensively manufactured and easily managed. Then, the article supports 50 attached between the endless chains 40 via the side members 61 can be directly connected only at two diagonal positions, thereby simplifying the connection structure for the endless chains 40 and connecting them. Has good workability and can be performed quickly. Moreover, since each article support 50 is connected to the endless chain 40 at four points, the article 1
80 can be stably supported and conveyed.

Further, when the article support 50 is removed due to some trouble with the side member 61 left, the article support 5 adjacent to the front and rear of the article support 50.
0 is a fitting portion 66 for the removed article support 50 side.
It becomes 3 points of connection (3 points of support) excluding 1 point of connection by (3), so that the desired transport movement can be performed without any trouble.

In the conversion equipment assembled in this way, the electric motor 35 of the drive device 34 is operated, and the sprocket 39 is forcibly rotated via the drive shaft 31 linked with the speed reducer 36.
Thus, both endless chains 40 can be moved. By moving the two endless chains 40, the article support 50 group is
It is possible to move while being supported and guided by both guide rail portions 18 and 25 via 8. As a result, the group of article supports 50 circulates, so that the articles 180 supplied onto the article supports 50 at the starting end can be transported on the main transport path 45.

When carrying out such conveyance, the article support 5
The article lateral pushing body 70 that moves integrally with the 0 group moves in the length direction 51 of the article support body 50 via the guided portion 78 when the guided body 80 is guided by the guide devices 90 and 100. , A plurality of them reciprocate at the same time, or move linearly along the main transport path 45 together with the article support 50.

That is, in FIG. 3, for example, the guide roller 82 guided by the starting end guide portion 91A on one side.
Will be guided from the upper guide portion 92 to the relay guide body 156, and will be guided straight when the right allocating means 111 is in the non-allocating posture, and then will be guided from the lower guide portion 94 to the end guide portion 95A. . As a result, the article lateral pushing body 70 does not act on the article 180, and
80 is conveyed straight on the main conveyance path 45.

The same applies to the other side, and the guide roller 82 of the starting end guide portion 91B is the left side allocating means 110.
Is guided straight when it is in the non-sorting posture, then guided from the intermediate guide portion 93 to the relay guide body 156, and then moved to the end guide portion 95B.

The non-distributing postures of the left distributing means 110 and the right distributing means 111 described above are set by moving the cylinder device 142 as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 9, the solid lines in FIG. 10, and the solid lines in FIGS. 11 and 12. The pushing / pulling body 140 is pushed and moved to the position regulated by the pushing / pulling amount regulating means 150, and the group of sorting guides 130 is swung around the vertical axis 138a via the link 136, so that the sorting guide 131 is moved. It becomes possible by moving it inward.

In such a non-sorting posture, for example, the roller shaft 81 from the starting end guide portion 91B on the other side.
Is guided from the non-sorting cam surface 135B of the best sorting guide unit 131 to the pin guide surface 123B,
Then, after being guided by the delivery guide body 160, it is guided by the non-sorting cam surface 135B of the next sorting guide portion 131. As a result, in the left side distribution means 110, it is moved in a passing manner without being distributed.

The distribution postures of the left side distribution means 110 and the right side distribution means 111 are shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 9 and FIG.
12 and the phantom line in FIG. 12, the cylinder device 142 is contracted to move the push / pull body 140 to the regulated position by the push / pull amount regulating means 150, and the distribution guide is performed via the link portion 136. The group of bodies 130 is swung around the vertical axis 138a, and the distribution guide portion 13
It becomes possible by moving 1 to the outside.

That is, when the articles 180 transported on the main transport path 45 are sorted and branched to the other branch conveyor 172A by the left sorting means 110, the articles 180 transported on the main transport path 45 first. The leading end portion 180a of the is detected by the detecting means 175. Then, after the signal from the detection means 175 is input, the control section causes the left side distribution means 110 to be distributed after a set time. That is, the target five guided bodies 8
When the roller shaft 81 at 0 reaches the upper part of each distribution guide part 131, for example, the part of the transfer guide body 160,
The cylinder device 142 is contracted based on an instruction from the control unit.

As a result, the group of sorting guides 131 is moved to the outside as described above, so that the group of roller shafts 81 is simultaneously moved from the facing sorting cam surfaces 135A to the pin guide surfaces 123A. After being guided by the distribution guide body 157, the distribution guide body 157 is moved to reach the relay guide body 156.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the group of article lateral pushing members 70 moves in the carrying direction and moves in the main carrying path 4
5 are synchronously (integratedly) traversed, so that the action groups 79 on the other side laterally push the article 180, and the main transport path 45 does not change the orientation of the article 180.
In parallel with that, it is distributed and moved to the left side, and is transferred to the other branch conveyor 172A.

At this time, because the front and rear lengths of the article 180 are different (long article or short article), the article lateral pushing body 70 on the rear end side traverses the article 180 without acting laterally. . However, since the article lateral pushing body 70 at the foremost end abuts on the tip end portion 180a of the article 180, the tip end face of the article 180 is aligned as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 1 regardless of the change in the front-rear length. In this state, the other branch path 171A can be distributed and branched.

Further, the left side allocating means 110 simultaneously distributes and guides the five guided bodies 80 every other one, so that the five lateral article pushing bodies 70 every other one are moved while moving in the carrying direction. Since the conveyance path 45 is synchronously (integratedly) traversed, and only a small number of article lateral pushing bodies 70 need to be branched, the configuration of the left-side sorting means 110 and the like can be simplified. In particular, when branching the long article 180, the simple structure becomes more effective.

As described above, the other branch route 17
The articles 180 sorted and branched to 1A are the branch conveyor 1
72A, and the display unit 181 provided on the front end face portion can be read by the reading means 177 during the conveyance. At this time, since the article 180 is conveyed with its front end surfaces aligned, the display unit 181 can be opposed to the reading unit 177 at a constant distance, so that various types of articles 180 can be provided. The detection and the like can be performed easily and accurately.

The same applies to the right side allocating means 111, in which the operating portion 79 on one side of the group of article lateral pushing bodies 70 is the article 18.
The article 180 is laterally pushed to move the article 180 to the right side in parallel with the main conveyance path 45 without changing its direction, and transfers the article 180 to one branch conveyor 172B. In this way, both branch conveyors 172A, 17
2B, the article 1 on the article support 50 when handed over
80 is an upper cover 83 fixed to the upper frame member 10.
Of the two branch conveyors 172A and 172B located on the stepped portion 13 of the roller 173.

As described above, the end guide portion 95A,
The guide roller 82 reaching the end portion of 95B is guided by the reversing guide bodies 109A and 109B to be reversed, and is guided to the inner movement guide portions 101A and 101B to be moved to the central portion. Then, after being switched to the left and right by the switching means 103, it is moved to the outside by the guidance of the outer movement guide portions 102A and 102B, and further the reversing guide body 108.
After being guided by A and 108B and inverted, it is moved to one of the starting end guide portions 91A and 91B.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
4 will be described. That is, the distribution means 11
0, 111 (every 2) (predetermined number) 4 (plural)
The guided body 80 of FIG. In addition, similarly, the guide members 80 of every three or four may be simultaneously sorted and guided.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on 5. That is, the distribution means 11
Nos. 0 and 111 are formats in which a plurality of arbitrarily set guided bodies 80 can be simultaneously sorted and guided. Here, it is a format in which four (plural) guided objects 80, one every one and two every two, can be distributed and guided at the same time. The lateral pushing body 70 acts laterally, and the short article 180
The individual article lateral pushing body 70 acts laterally.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
6 will be described. That is, the distribution means 11
0, 111 is a form in which it is possible to simultaneously guide and guide four (plural) guided objects 80, one for two and one for two, and four for a long article 180. The article lateral pushing body 70 of FIG.
The individual article lateral pushing body 70 acts laterally.

By combining the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment and the like, it is possible to simultaneously sort and guide a plurality of arbitrarily set guided bodies 80 at a time. According to the length of the article 180 mainly handled by the conversion equipment, the desired distribution branch can be performed in the most preferable form.

As in the above-described second to fourth embodiments, the change of the guided body 80 to be simultaneously distributed and guided can be achieved by adjusting the arrangement positions (pitch etc.) of the plurality of distribution guides 130. It will be possible.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the distribution means 110 and 111 are provided with a predetermined number of plural guided bodies 80.
It is configured such that the plurality of guided objects 80 can be simultaneously distributed and guided, or a plurality of arbitrarily set guided objects 80 can be simultaneously distributed and guided. It is also possible to have a configuration in which it is possible to distribute and guide at the same time.

In the above-described embodiment, the main transport path 45
Although the branch paths 171A and 171B are formed on both outer sides of the above, a single path or a plurality of branch paths may be formed on only one of them.

In the above-described embodiment, the endless chain 40 is adopted as the pair of left and right endless rotating bodies, and the connecting portion 65 of the side member 61 is connected via the left and right link pins 42a.
Although it may be a belt, a wire, or the like, in this case, it is connected to the connecting portion 65 of the side member 61 via an appropriate connecting means.

In the above-described embodiment, the guided body 80
In the above description, the form of the roller shaft 81 and the guide roller 82 is shown, but this may be the form of only one of the roller shaft 81 and the guide roller 82.

In the above-described embodiment, the cylinder device 142 is shown as the push-pull drive device, but this may be a screw shaft type or solenoid type. In the above-described embodiment, as the sorting guide body 130,
Although the distribution guide part 131 and the link part 136 are integrally formed, the distribution guide part 13 is shown.
The configuration may be such that 1 and the link portion 136 are formed separately.

In the above-described embodiment, the connecting portion 65 has
Although the rotary body 68 guided by the guide rail portions 18 and 25 is externally fitted, the rotary body 68 may be provided in a different location.

In the above embodiment, the endless chain 4
As a connection between 0 and the side member 61, a form in which only two points at diagonal positions are directly connected is shown, but this is a form in which four points at each corner are directly connected. Good.

[0092]

According to the first aspect of the present invention described above, by rotating the endless rotating body to move the group of article supports, the articles supplied to the starting end of the main transport path are directed toward the ending end. Can be transported. Then, the guided body of the article lateral pushing body that moves integrally with the article support body can be guided by the guide device group. At that time, by moving the sorting means provided in the branch portion of the guide device in a non-sorting manner, the guided object can be moved in a passing manner without being sorted in the sorting means, and the sorting means is also sorted. As a result, a plurality of target guided bodies can be distributed and moved simultaneously in the distribution means.

That is, when the articles conveyed on the main conveyance path are sorted and branched, first, the leading end portion of the articles conveyed on the main conveyance path is detected, and the sorting means is moved based on the detection. That is, when a plurality of target guided objects reach the portion of the sorting means, the sorting means is moved according to an instruction from the control unit.

As a result, the article lateral pushing body group synchronously (integrally) traverses the main carrying path while moving in the carrying direction, whereby the article is laterally pushed to move the article in its direction. It is possible to push and move laterally from the main transport path by changing the distribution of the main transport path in parallel with the main transport path. At that time, by bringing the article lateral pushing body at the foremost end into contact with the tip portion of the article, the article can be divided and branched in a state in which the tip surfaces are matched regardless of the change in the front-rear length. Various detections on an article can be easily and accurately performed.

According to claim 2 of the present invention described above,
Articles distributed and branched from the main transport route to the branch route can be transported on this branch route, and during transport,
The display unit can be read by the reading means.
At that time, since the article is conveyed with its front end face aligned, the display section can be always opposed to the reading means with a certain distance, so that the data of the article can be easily and easily obtained. Can be read accurately.

According to the third aspect of the present invention described above, a predetermined number of the plurality of article lateral pushing bodies cross the main transport path in a synchronous (integrated) manner while moving in the transport direction. By shunting a small number of article lateral pushing bodies, the configuration of the sorting means and the like can be simplified. In particular, when branching a long article, a simple structure becomes more effective.

Further, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention described above, a plurality of article lateral pushing bodies can be moved in a synchronous manner in a most preferable form mainly depending on the length of the article to be handled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a schematic plan view of conversion equipment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the conversion equipment, in which (a) is an entire part and (b) is a guide device group.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an outward guide device group of the conversion facility.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a return route guide device group of the conversion facility.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view of a main part of the conversion facility.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of the conversion facility.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a main part of the conversion facility.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway side view of an article support body portion to which an article lateral pushing body is attached in the conversion facility.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a left side distribution means in the conversion equipment.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway front view of a main part of the conversion facility.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway front view of a left side distribution means in the conversion facility.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a main part of a left side distribution means in the conversion facility.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a main part of a left side distribution means in the conversion facility.

FIG. 14 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view of a main part of conversion equipment.

FIG. 15 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view of a main part of conversion equipment.

FIG. 16 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view of a main part of conversion equipment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body frame 10 Upper frame material 18 Forward guide rail 20 Lower frame material 25 Return side guide rail 30 Driven shaft 31 Drive axis 34 Drive 38 Sprocket (wheel) 39 sprockets 40 endless chain (endless rotating body) 45 Main transport route 50 Article support 51 length direction 53 Article Placement Plate 61 Side member 62 Main body 65 Connection 68 Rotating body (guided member) 70 Article side pushing body 79 Working part 80 Guided body 81 roller shaft 82 Guide roller 90 Forward guide device 100 Return guide device 103 switching means 110 Left side distribution means 111 Right distribution means 112 Right base body 120 blocks 123A Pin guide surface 123B Pin guide surface 130 distribution guide 131 Sorting Information Department 135A sorting cam surface 135B Non-sorting cam surface 136 Link 138 Swing support shaft 140 Push-pull body 142 Cylinder device (push / pull drive device) 150 Push / pull amount control means 155 Left side base body 156 Relay guide body 157 Sorting guide body 160 Passing guide body 171A branch route 171B Branching route 172A branch conveyor 172B branch conveyor 175 detection means 177 reading means 180 articles 180a tip part 181 display

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pair of left and right endless rotating bodies arranged along a main conveying path, and a plurality of endless rotating bodies are attached between the endless rotating bodies, and a direction orthogonal to the main conveying path is a length direction. An article support, an article lateral pushing body guided by the article supporting body, a guided body provided on the back side of the article lateral pushing body, and a guide device group for guiding the guided body,
Distributing means disposed at the branching portion of the guide device group is provided, and the distributing means is configured to perform sorting operation based on detection of the leading end portion of the article conveyed on the main conveyance path. Conversion equipment characterized by the following. 2. The article is provided with a display portion on the tip surface portion,
2. The conversion equipment according to claim 1, wherein the branching route for receiving the articles branched from the main transporting route is provided with a reading unit that can face the display unit. 3. The conversion equipment according to claim 1, wherein the allocating means is configured to simultaneously guide and distribute a predetermined number of plural guided objects. 4. The conversion equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distribution means is configured to simultaneously guide a plurality of arbitrarily set guided bodies in a distributed manner.