JP2003276840A - Guide interval automatic adjustment device for air conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact guide interval automatic adjustment device for an air conveyor with a high space efficiency which can continuously adjust an interval of opposed guide, can sufficiently cope with the various kinds of PET bottles, can be easily cleanly retained and requires no adjustment of balance. <P>SOLUTION: The interval W of a left guide rail G1 and a right guide rail G2 arranged opposed to each other at both sides of an article to be conveyed so as to prevent vibration of a conveyed article conveyed by the air conveyor is automatically adjusted by driving it making an electric mechanism as a driving source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor, and more particularly to an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor that automatically adjusts the guide interval when an empty PET bottle is conveyed by air.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, an air conveyor has been used which squeezes out air to convey a relatively lightweight conveyed object such as an empty PET bottle. In such an air conveyor, an empty PET bottle can be conveyed at high speed by sending the air flow generated by the blower to the neck portion of the PET bottle through the plenum.

When a PET bottle is conveyed at a high speed by such an air conveyor, guides are arranged on both sides of the PET bottle in order to prevent the PET bottle from swinging.

Further, in order to be able to deal with various kinds of PET bottles, the interval between guides arranged on both sides of this PET bottle is variable by an air cylinder or the like so that it can be automatically adjusted.

[0005]

However, when adjusting the distance between the guides by such an air cylinder, the distance between the opposing guides cannot be adjusted steplessly, so that there are various types and types. It was not possible to deal with PET bottles. In addition, because air cylinders are separately installed in each of the facing guides,
It was necessary to adjust the balance such as stroke difference.
Further, since the air piping for supplying the air pressure to the air cylinder is laid around, it becomes difficult to clean and it is difficult to keep the apparatus clean. Further, in the case of the structure using the air cylinder, the size of the device becomes large, resulting in poor space efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention can adjust the distance between the guides facing each other in a stepless manner, and can sufficiently cope with PET bottles of various kinds and types, and easily and cleanly maintain the apparatus. It is possible to provide a guide spacing automatic adjusting device for an air conveyor that is capable of performing the above-mentioned operations, does not require balance adjustment, is compact, and has high space efficiency.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was created to solve the above-mentioned problems, and firstly, to prevent the swinging of a conveyed product conveyed by an air conveyor, the conveyed product is prevented. An automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor that automatically adjusts the interval between guides arranged facing each other. Characterize.

In the automatic guide interval adjusting device for the air conveyor of the first structure, the interval between the opposing guides is automatically adjusted by driving the guides by using the electric mechanism as a drive source. As in the case of (3), since the air piping for supplying air pressure is not laid around, cleaning is easy and the device can be easily kept clean.

Secondly, there is provided an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor having the above-mentioned first structure, in which each guide is supported by a supporting arm and is threaded in opposite directions on the surface. A drive shaft formed with a pair of screw portions is disposed between the opposing support arms, and a pair of screw portions threaded in opposite directions of the drive shaft are screwed into the opposing support arms, By rotating the drive shaft by the electric mechanism, the supporting arms facing each other are moved in mutually opposite directions, and the distance between the guides is automatically adjusted.

In the automatic guide spacing adjusting device of the air conveyor of the second construction, each guide is supported by the support arm, and a pair of screw portions threaded in opposite directions at both ends are formed on the surface. A drive shaft is disposed between the opposing support arms, and a pair of screw portions threaded in opposite directions of the drive shaft are screwed into the opposing support arms, and the drive shaft is moved by the electric mechanism. By rotating, the opposing support arms are moved in opposite directions to automatically adjust the distance between the guides, so that one driving device can simultaneously move the opposing support arms in opposite directions. it can. Therefore, balance adjustment can be dispensed with.

Thirdly, there is provided an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor having the above-mentioned first or second construction, in which the opposing support arms are provided with two guide shafts which are projected in opposite directions. It is characterized by being made inducible.

In the automatic guide interval adjusting device of the air conveyor of the third structure, the opposing support arms can be guided by the two guide shafts projecting in opposite directions. The arm is smoothly guided, and the load on the drive shaft can be reduced. Further, it is possible to cancel the force of the support arm attempting to rotate, and it is possible to suppress a bending moment from being applied to the guide.

Fourthly, there is provided an automatic guide spacing adjusting device for an air conveyor having the above-mentioned first, second or third construction, wherein the electric mechanism is an electric servomotor.

In the automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor of the fourth construction, since the electric mechanism is an electric servomotor, the interval between the opposing guides can be adjusted steplessly, and various adjustments can be made. It becomes possible to adequately deal with conveyed goods of various types and kinds. In addition, since the interval between the guides facing each other can be finely adjusted, further high-speed conveyance becomes possible. In addition, the device is compact and space efficiency can be improved as compared with the case of the configuration using an air cylinder.

Fifth, an automatic guide spacing adjusting device for an air conveyor of the fourth construction, in which the drive shaft is provided for each of the plurality of support arms,
It is characterized in that a plurality of the support arms are driven by one electric servo motor.

In the automatic guide spacing adjusting device for the air conveyor of the fifth structure, the plurality of supporting arms are driven by the single electric servomotor, so that the device can be made more compact. It is possible to improve the space efficiency, and the structure can be simple and inexpensive.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor having the above-mentioned first, second, third, fourth, or fifth configuration, wherein the conveyed product is an empty PET bottle. And

In the automatic guide interval adjusting device of the air conveyor of the sixth construction, the conveyed product is an empty PE.
Since it is a T bottle, it is possible to adjust the distance between the opposing guides steplessly, so there are various types and varieties.
It becomes possible to respond appropriately to ET bottles.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An automatic guide interval adjusting device 1 for an air conveyor according to the present invention guides while guiding the air conveyor C while preventing the occurrence of shake when carrying a lightweight object such as an empty PET bottle (hereinafter referred to as a guide G). This is a device that automatically adjusts and changes the interval.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the automatic guide spacing adjusting device 1 for the air conveyor has support arms (left support arm 10, R10, right support arm 100, R).
100), drive shaft 20, R20, electric mechanism and AC servomotor 40 which is an electric servomotor, speed reducer 5
0, a transmission shaft 60, and gearboxes 70 and 700.

The left support arm 10 and the right support arm 10 described above.
0 is formed of steel material in a symmetrical shape facing each other. Then, a triple left guide rail G1 and a right guide rail G2, which are each formed in a circular rail shape on the upper side, are fixed inward.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the left support arm 10 and the right support arm 100 are formed of steel bars so as to face inward, that is, to face each other. Guide shafts 14, 104 are provided so as to project. The guide shaft 14 and the guide shaft 10
As shown in FIG. 1, 4 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction with a predetermined interval, and the tip end portions of each of them are shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the bearing 76 fixed to the upper side surface of the gear box 70 is slidably supported, and the tip end portion thereof projects to the opposite side of the gear box 70.

The drive shaft 20 has a pair of screws (screw portions 20a, 20a) threaded on opposite sides of the drive shaft 20 in opposite directions.
b) is formed. Then, the drive shaft 20
Are the left supporting arm 10 and the right supporting arm 10 facing each other.
0, and the screw portions 20a and 20b are screwed into female screw members 12 and 102 fixed to the lower end portions of the left support arm 10 and the right support arm 100, respectively.

Therefore, by rotating the drive shaft 20, the left support arm 10 and the right support arm 100 which face each other can be moved in opposite directions. Therefore, by rotating the drive shaft 20, the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 can be moved in opposite directions, and the distance W between them can be adjusted.

The drive shaft 20 is inserted through the gear box 70 in the horizontal direction, and is rotatably supported by bearings 78 fixed to both side surfaces of the center portion of the gear box 70. Further, a worm wheel 72 is fixed to a central portion of the drive shaft 20 at a portion inside the gear box 70.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transmission shaft 60 has the drive shaft 2 below the drive shaft 20.
0, that is, the left guide rail G1,
The AC servo motor 40 is arranged in the axial direction of the right guide rail G2, and the AC servo motor 40 is provided via the speed reducer 50.
It is driven to rotate by. In addition, the transmission shaft 60
Is inserted through the gear box 70, and is rotatably supported by a bearing 74 fixed to the lower front side of the gear box 70.

Further, the transmission shaft 60 has a worm wheel 62 fixed to the worm wheel 72 fixed to a position corresponding to the worm wheel 72 fixed to the drive shaft 20 inside the gear box 70. ing. Therefore, when the transmission shaft 60 is rotationally driven, the drive shaft 20 is rotated by the action of the worm wheel 62 and the worm wheel 72 in the gear box 70.

As shown in FIG. 5, the transmission shaft 60 extends to a plurality of other gear boxes 700 so that the rotational force of the AC servomotor 40 is transmitted to each gear box 700. Has been done. Further, when the number of the gear boxes 700 is large or the extension distance is long, or in the corner portion of the air conveyor C, the rotational force is transmitted through the coupling, the universal joint, or the like.

In each gear box 700, a worm wheel R62 and a worm wheel R72 (not shown) having the same structure as the worm wheel 62 and the worm wheel 72 are arranged. Further, similarly to the above-mentioned structure, as shown in FIG.
0, the guide shaft 14, the drive shaft R20 and the guide shaft R1 having the same configuration as the guide shaft 104.
4, a guide shaft R104 and the like are provided, and the left support arm R10 and the right support arm R100, which are engaged by the same mechanism, are driven. In addition, each of the left support arm R10 and the right support arm R1
00 is connected to the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 at corresponding portions.

Therefore, the left supporting arm 10 and the right supporting arm 10 are driven by the rotational force of the AC servomotor 40.
At the same time as 0, the other left support arm R10 and right support arm R100 can be driven.

Next, the use condition and effect of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
The neck portion of the ET bottle 200 is locked by the neck guide rails N1 and N100 at the lower end of the plenum C10 in a hanging state, and the air sent from the blower C20 is blown onto the neck portion so that the PET bottle 200 can be operated at high speed. Transport.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the PET bottles 200 have various kinds and types, and therefore the diameters thereof are also various, and the PET bottles 2 to be transported are the same.
When changing 00, it is necessary to adjust the distance W between the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2. Also,
Since the PET bottle 200 is transported at a high speed, it is necessary to adjust the sliding resistance between the PET bottle 200 and the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2, and thus it is necessary to finely adjust the interval W.

Therefore, in such a case, by driving the AC servomotor 40, the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 are moved in opposite directions to change the distance W.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, when the AC servomotor 40 is rotated in the normal direction from the minimum distance Wmin, the transmission shaft is passed through the speed reducer 50. 60 rotates forward. The rotation of the worm wheel 62, R62 and the worm wheel 72, R7 in the gear box 70, 700 causes the rotation.
The force is transmitted to the drive shafts 20 and R20 by the action of 2, so that the drive shafts 20 and R20 rotate. Therefore, by the rotation of the drive shafts 20 and R20, the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 are on the same axis along the drive shafts 20 and R20 in the outward direction in which the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 are opposite to each other by the above-described action. Since the distance W is moved, the distance W increases, and the distance W can be adjusted to the maximum distance Wmax in FIG.

When the AC servomotor 40 is rotated in the reverse direction, the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 are inwardly moved in the opposite directions by the same action.
Since the space W is moved along the drive shaft 20 and R20 on the same axis, the space W becomes small, and the space W can be adjusted to the minimum space Wmin in FIG.

With such a configuration, the automatic guide spacing adjusting device 1 for the air conveyor according to the present embodiment.
According to this, since the guide G is driven by using the AC servomotor 40, which is an electric mechanism, as a drive source, the interval between the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 that face each other is automatically adjusted. As in the case of (3), since the air piping for supplying air pressure is not laid around, cleaning is easy and the device can be easily kept clean.

The left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 are connected to the left support arm 10, R10 and the right support arm 10.
0, R100, and the support arms (left support arm 10, R10 and the left support arm 10, R10) facing the drive shaft 20, R20 having a pair of screw portions 20a, 20b screwed in opposite directions on both surfaces. Right support arm 1
00, R100), and the supporting arms (left supporting arm 10,
R10 and the right supporting arm 100, R100) are screwed into female screw members 12, 102 fixed to the supporting arm (100, R100), and the drive shaft 20, R20 is rotated by the AC servomotor 40. (Arm 10, R10 and right support arm 100, R100)
Are moved in opposite directions to automatically adjust the distance between the guides G, so that the plurality of support arms (the left support arms 10 and R) facing each other by one AC servomotor 40 are arranged.
10 and the right support arm 100, R100) can be moved simultaneously in opposite directions. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the balance such as the stroke difference as in the case where the air cylinders are separately provided for the facing guides, and such adjustment can be omitted.

A plurality of the support arms (the left support arm 10, R1) are driven by one AC servo motor 40.
0, the right support arm 100, R100) is driven, so that it is possible to significantly reduce the size of the device compared with the case where the guides facing each other are driven by a plurality of air cylinders, and space efficiency is improved. Can be improved, and a simple and inexpensive structure can be obtained.

The supporting arms (left supporting arm 10, R10 and right supporting arm 100, R100) facing each other.
The guide shafts (1
4, 104, R14, R104), the support arm is smoothly guided and the load on the drive shafts 20, R20 can be reduced. Therefore, the drive shaft 20,
Since the drive resistance of R20 can be reduced, the above A
It is possible to use the C servo motor 40 having a lower output and save power.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the guide shafts 14, R14 and the guide shafts 104, R are shown.
104 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction at a predetermined interval, and thus the support arm (left support arm 1
0, R10, the right support arm 100, R100) can cancel the rotational force such as the force that the drive shaft 20, R20 tries to rotate with the rotation of the drive shaft 20, R20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bending moment from being applied to the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide shaft 1
Nos. 4 and 104 have the above-mentioned gear box 7 at the tip thereof.
Since the length is set so as to project to the opposite side of 0, even if the distance between the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 in FIG. The tip portion does not project from the guide rail G1 or the right guide rail G2. Therefore, there is no risk of interference with other members, and it is possible to save space in the overall configuration.

The drive mechanism is the AC servo motor 4 described above.
Since it is set to 0, it is possible to adjust the interval between the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 that face each other in a stepless manner, and it is possible to sufficiently cope with the PET bottles 200 of various kinds and types.

The drive mechanism is the AC servomotor 4 described above.
Since it is set to 0, the distance between the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 that face each other can be finely adjusted at a minute distance by feedback control. Therefore, the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2, which have contradictory characteristics, are Since it is possible to adjust the reduction of sliding resistance generated between the PET bottle 200 and the deflection of the PET bottle 200 in a suitable balance, the PET bottle 200
It becomes possible to carry out higher speed transportation. In addition, the device is compact and space efficiency can be improved as compared with the case of the configuration using an air cylinder.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and various modes are possible. For example, in the present embodiment, transmission of rotation from the transmission shaft 60 to the drive shafts 20, R20 is performed by the worm wheels 62, R62 and the worm wheels 72, R72.
However, the structure is not limited to this, and any structure such as a mechanism using a bevel gear may be used.

Further, the guide interval automatic adjusting device 1 of the air conveyor is controlled by separately providing a control device,
It is also possible to automatically adjust the interval W based on the information from the database storing the conveyed object data. Alternatively, the size of the conveyed object may be automatically recognized by the CCD or the like, and the interval W may be automatically adjusted according to the recognized size.

Further, in the present embodiment, the guide G is the left guide rail G1 and the right guide rail G2 which are formed in the shape of a circular rail and are of a triple type, but the present invention is not limited to this and is a double type. It may be a circular rail of a four-row type or a four-row type, a rectangular slide plate, or the like.

[0047]

According to the automatic guide spacing adjusting device for an air conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention, the spacing between the opposing guides is automatically adjusted by driving the guides using an electric mechanism as a drive source. Therefore, unlike the case of the structure using the air cylinder, the air piping for supplying the air pressure is not laid around, so cleaning is easy and the device can be easily kept clean.

Further, in particular, according to the automatic guide interval adjusting device for the air conveyor of the second aspect, each guide is supported by the supporting arm, and a pair of screws are threaded in opposite directions on the surface at both ends. A drive shaft having a portion formed therein is disposed between the opposing support arms, and a pair of screw portions threaded in opposite directions of the drive shaft are respectively screwed into the opposing support arms to form the electric mechanism. By rotating the drive shaft by the above, the opposing support arms are moved in opposite directions to automatically adjust the spacing between the guides. Can be moved to. Therefore, balance adjustment can be dispensed with.

Further, in particular, according to the automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor of claim 3, the opposing support arms can be guided by two guide shafts which are projected in opposite directions. Therefore, the support arm is smoothly guided, and the load on the drive shaft can be reduced. Further, it is possible to cancel the force of the support arm attempting to rotate, and it is possible to suppress a bending moment from being applied to the guide.

Further, in particular, according to the automatic guide interval adjusting device for the air conveyor of the fourth aspect, since the electric mechanism is an electric servomotor, the interval between the opposing guides can be adjusted steplessly. It is possible, and it becomes possible to sufficiently deal with conveyed goods of various types and kinds. In addition, since the interval between the guides facing each other can be finely adjusted, further high-speed conveyance becomes possible. In addition, the device is more compact than in the case of the configuration using an air cylinder,
Space efficiency can be improved.

Further, in particular, according to the automatic guide interval adjusting device of the air conveyor of the fifth aspect, since the plurality of supporting arms are driven by the one electric servomotor, the device further comprises: It is possible to achieve compactness, increase space efficiency, and make a simple and inexpensive structure.

Further, in particular, according to the automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor of claim 6, since the conveyed product is an empty PET bottle, the interval between the opposing guides can be adjusted steplessly. Various types,
This makes it possible to respond favorably to PET bottles of various types.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of essential parts showing a configuration of an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of essential parts showing a configuration of an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor and a minimum guide interval state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part showing a configuration of an automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor and a maximum guide interval state according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a usage state of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a usage state of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic guide spacing adjustment device for air conveyors 10, R10, 100, R100 support arm 14, R14, 104, R104 Guide shaft 20, R20 drive shaft 20a, 20b screw part 40 Electric mechanism, electric servo motor 200 PET bottle C air conveyor G guide

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An automatic guide interval adjusting device for an air conveyor for automatically adjusting an interval between guides disposed on opposite sides of an object to prevent shake of the object conveyed by the air conveyor. By driving the guide with the electric mechanism as the drive source,
An automatic guide spacing adjustment device for air conveyors that automatically adjusts the spacing between guides. 2. A guide shaft supported by each support arm, and a drive shaft having a pair of threaded portions screwed in opposite directions on both surfaces of the guide shaft is provided between the support arms facing each other. A pair of screw parts threaded in opposite directions of the drive shaft are screwed into the opposing support arms, and the drive shaft is rotated by the electric mechanism, whereby the opposing support arms are moved in opposite directions. The automatic guide spacing adjusting device for an air conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the guide spacing is automatically adjusted by moving the guides. 3. The automatic guide interval of an air conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the opposing support arms are guided by two guide shafts that are projected in opposite directions. Adjustment device. 4. The automatic guide spacing adjusting device for an air conveyor according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the electric mechanism is an electric servomotor. 5. The drive shaft is provided for each of the plurality of support arms, and the plurality of support arms are driven by one electric servomotor. The automatic guide spacing adjustment device for the air conveyor described in. 6. The automatic guide spacing adjusting device for an air conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyed product is an empty PET bottle.