JP2005335920A - Conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyor capable of transmitting the sensing information of an object sensor to a controlling means without requiring troublesome procedures. <P>SOLUTION: The conveyor is furnished with the object sensor 3 to sense an object being transported by a conveyor body 1, the controlling means 4 to control the motions of the conveyor body 1 on the basis of the information sensed by the sensor 3, and a radio communication means 24 for sensor to send wirelessly the information sensed by the sensor 3 to the controlling means 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is provided with an article detection sensor for detecting an article conveyed by the conveyor body, and a control means for controlling the operation of the conveyor body based on detection information of the article detection sensor. Conveyor related.

  The conveyor as described above includes, as an article detection sensor, a sensor that detects whether or not an article exists at an upstream position in the transport direction, a sensor that detects whether or not an article has reached a set position in the transport direction, and the like. By providing and communicating the detection information of the article detection sensor to the control means, the control means controls the start and stop of the operation of the conveyor body and the conveyance speed based on the detection information of the article detection sensor. It is what.

  Conventionally, as such a conveyor, a signal line for communicating detection information of the article detection sensor to the control means is provided, and the signal line is a shield provided on a long support frame in the conveying direction for supporting the conveyor body. There is one in which an article detection sensor and a control unit are connected through a space so that detection information of the article detection sensor is communicated to the control unit by wire.

JP-A-10-139124

In the conventional conveyor described above, when the conveyor is installed, in order to communicate the detection information of the article detection sensor to the control means, it is necessary to manually wire the signal line by a person, which is troublesome. It has become.
In addition, when there are a plurality of article detection sensors, the distance between each of the article detection sensors and the control means is different. Therefore, a signal line having a different length is prepared and wired for each of the article detection sensors. Therefore, the wiring work becomes a troublesome work.

  This invention is made paying attention to this point, and the objective is to provide the conveyor which can communicate the detection information of an article | item detection sensor to a control means, without requiring a troublesome operation | work. .

In order to achieve this object, the first characteristic configuration of the conveyor according to the present invention is based on an article detection sensor that acts on an article conveyed by the conveyor body, and detection information of the article detection sensor. In a conveyor provided with control means for controlling the operation of the conveyor body,
Sensor wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating detection information of the article detection sensor to the control means is provided.

In other words, simply by installing the sensor wireless communication means, the sensor wireless communication means can communicate the detection information of the article detection sensor to the control means, so that the sensor wireless communication means is simply installed. The detection information of the article detection sensor can be communicated to the control means by a simple operation.
Therefore, it has become possible to provide a conveyor that can communicate the detection information of the article detection sensor to the control means without requiring troublesome work.

  A second characteristic configuration of the conveyor according to the present invention is such that the wireless communication means for the sensor passes through a shielding space provided in a support frame that is long in the transport direction for supporting the conveyor body, and the communication section on the control means side. And the communication unit on the article detection sensor side are configured to project and receive communication light.

That is, the detection information of the article detection sensor is transmitted to the control means by projecting and receiving communication light between the communication section on the control means side and the communication section on the article detection sensor side through the shielding space provided in the support frame. Wireless communication is possible.
Therefore, since the communication light can be projected and received through the shielded space where disturbance is unlikely to occur, the detection information of the article detection sensor can be easily wirelessly communicated with the control means accurately.

  A third characteristic configuration of the conveyor according to the present invention is that the conveyor main body is configured by a roller conveyor main body including a plurality of rollers that are driven to rotate, and generates electric power in conjunction with the rotation of the rollers. Sensor power supply means for supplying to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means is provided.

That is, since the sensor power supply means generates power in conjunction with the rotation of the roller and supplies the power to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means, to supply power to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means. In addition, for example, it is possible to supply power to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means by providing the sensor power supply means without wiring the power supply line from the control means to the article detection sensor or the sensor wireless communication means. It will be possible.
Therefore, in order to supply power to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means, it is not necessary to carry out wiring work of the power supply line, and the work can be simplified.

  According to a fourth characteristic configuration of the conveyor of the present invention, a power supply rail is provided in the conveyor main body along a conveying direction thereof, and the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication unit can be connected to the power supply rail. It is in the point.

That is, by connecting the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means to the power supply rail provided along the conveying direction of the conveyor body, it is possible to supply power to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means. .
Therefore, for example, the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means can be connected to the power supply rail without performing an operation of connecting the control means to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means separately from each other. By simply performing the connection work, power can be supplied to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication means, and the work can be simplified.

An embodiment of a conveyor according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, the conveyor according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor includes an article detection sensor 3 that acts on an article 2 conveyed by the conveyor body 1, and the article. Based on the detection information of the detection sensor 3, a controller 4 is provided as a control means for controlling the operation of the conveyor body 1.

The conveyor main body 1 is configured by providing a pair of left and right chain type conveyor main bodies each including a chain 7 for conveying articles spanned between a drive sprocket 5 and a driven sprocket 6.
The pair of left and right drive sprockets 5 and the pair of left and right driven sprockets 6 are connected by a transmission shaft 29 so as to rotate integrally.

It is framed by a pair of left and right support frames 8 that are elongated in the transport direction for supporting the conveyor body 1 and an auxiliary frame 9 that connects the support frames 8 together.
The support frame 8 is formed as an integrally molded product by aluminum extrusion, and a drive sprocket 5 is disposed at one end of the support frame 8 in the conveying direction, and a driven sprocket 6 is disposed at the other end. Yes.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, which are longitudinal sectional views of the conveyor body 1, the support frame 8 is formed in a substantially rectangular hollow long shape whose sectional shape is long in the vertical direction, and the hollow portion is a partition wall 10. Thus, the upper storage space 11 and the lower storage space 12 are divided into upper and lower spaces.
Then, both the upper storage space 11 and the lower storage space 12 are configured as a shielding space with a closed periphery, and an upper guide rail 13 for guiding and supporting the upper side of the chain 7 is provided on the upper surface of the support frame 8. A lower guide rail 14 for guiding and supporting the lower side of the chain 7 is provided on the upper surface of the partition wall 10.

In the support frame 8, the outer surface corresponding to the upper storage space 11 is transported in the state in which upper and lower left and right mounting grooves 15 for mounting components having a substantially rectangular cross section enter the upper storage space 11. It is provided along the direction.
Further, in the support frame 8, a dovetail groove 16 is formed on the lower surface of the partition wall 10 along the conveying direction, and a feed rail 25 to which power is supplied from the controller 4 is disposed in the dovetail groove 16. A rail 25 is provided over the entire length of the support frame 8 in the transport direction.

Incidentally, near the both ends of the support frame 8, the upper wall portion is cut and opened, and the drive sprocket 5 and the driven sprocket 6 are located in the upper storage space 11, and the upper portions thereof are notched. It is provided so as to protrude from the upper surface of the support frame 8 from the opened opening.
Then, by the rotational drive of the drive sprocket 5, the upper side of the chain 7 is guided and supported by the upper guide rail 13 and moves in the longitudinal direction, and the lower side of the chain 8 is guided and supported by the lower guide rail 14 and the upper storage space 12. It is configured to move in its longitudinal direction.

  As the article detection sensor 3, an upstream position sensor 17 for detecting whether or not the article 2 is placed at an upstream position in the transport direction, a deceleration position sensor 18 for detecting whether or not the article 2 has reached a deceleration position, and a stop A stop position sensor 19 for detecting whether or not the article 2 has reached the position is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the upstream position sensor 17 uses the mounting groove 15 to attach the bracket 20 to the support frame 8 by bolting, and arranges the light projecting / receiving unit 17a below the article 2 to be placed. The light emitting / receiving unit 17a projects light toward the product 2 and the reflected light reflected by the product 2 is received by the light projecting / receiving unit 17a. It is comprised so that it may be detected whether or not.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the deceleration position sensor 18 and the stop position sensor 19 are provided with light projecting / receiving portions 18a and 19a at one end and a reflector 18b at the other end in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. 19b is provided and configured.
The light projecting / receiving units 18a and 19a and the reflectors 18b and 19b are attached to the support frame 8 by bolting the bracket 21 using the mounting groove 15 and are projected and received at one end in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. 19a and reflectors 18b and 19b at the other end.
Then, the light projecting / receiving units 18a and 19a project light toward the reflectors 18b and 19b, and the reflected light reflected by the reflectors 18b and 19b is received by the light projecting / receiving units 18a and 19a. It is configured to detect whether the article 2 has reached the deceleration position or the stop position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the controller box 28 including the controller 4 is disposed on the outer surface portion of the support frame 8 by attaching the base plate 22 to the support frame 8 by bolting using the attachment groove 15. Has been.
As shown in FIG. 1, an electric motor 23 for rotating the drive sprocket 5 is provided near the drive sprocket 5. The electric motor 23 is also illustrated in the same manner as the controller box 22. However, the base plate is attached to the support frame 8 by bolting using the attachment groove 15, and is disposed on the outer surface portion of the support frame 8.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, legs 26 are attached to the support frame 8 with a set interval in the transport direction, and these legs 26 are also attached as shown in FIG. The bracket 27 is attached to the support frame 8 by bolting using the groove 15 and connected to the support frame 8.

When the controller 4 detects that the article 2 is placed at the upstream position by the upstream position sensor 17 based on the detection information of the article detection sensor 3, the controller 4 operates the electric motor 23 to convey the article 2. When the deceleration position sensor 18 detects that the article 2 has arrived at the deceleration position, the conveyance speed of the article 2 is reduced, and when the stop position sensor 19 detects that the article 2 has reached the stop position, the electric motor 23 is detected. It is comprised so that the action | operation of may be stopped.
A sensor wireless communication device 24 is provided as a sensor wireless communication unit that wirelessly communicates detection information of the article detection sensor 3 including the upstream position sensor 17, the deceleration position sensor 18, and the stop position sensor 19 to the controller 4. .

The sensor wireless communication device 24 includes a communication unit 24 a on the controller 4 side and a communication unit 24 b on the article detection sensor 3 side, and communicates on the controller 4 side through the lower storage space 12 as a shielding space of the support frame 8. The communication light is projected and received between the unit 24a and the communication unit 24b on the article detection sensor 3 side.
The article detection sensor 3 and the communication section 24b on the article detection sensor 3 side are provided in the dovetail groove 16 in the lower storage space 12 of the support frame 8 along the conveying direction over the entire length of the support frame 8. 25 can be connected.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, as the communication unit 24 b on the article detection sensor 3 side, the communication unit 24 b corresponding to the upstream position sensor 17, the communication unit 24 b corresponding to the deceleration position sensor 18, and the stop position A communication unit 24b corresponding to the sensor 19 is provided.
All of the three communication units 24b are disposed in the lower storage space 12 of the support frame 8 and between the communication unit 24a on the controller 4 side disposed in the lower storage space 12 of the support frame 8. Thus, communication light (for example, laser light) is projected and received through the lower storage space 12.

  The upstream position sensor 17, the deceleration position sensor 18, the article detection sensor 3 of the stop position sensor 19, and the three communication units 24 b on the article detection sensor 3 side are each connected to the power supply rail 25 in contact connection. The connection part 30 provided with these is provided.

In this way, the controller 4 acquires the detection information of the upstream position sensor 17 by wireless communication between the communication unit 24a and the communication unit 24b corresponding to the upstream position sensor 17, as shown in FIG. The detection information of the deceleration position sensor 18 is acquired by wireless communication between the unit 24a and the communication unit 24b corresponding to the deceleration position sensor 18, and between the communication unit 24a and the communication unit 24b corresponding to the stop position sensor 19 The stop position sensor 19 is configured to acquire by wireless communication.
And about each of the upstream position sensor 17, the deceleration position sensor 18, the stop position sensor 19, and each of the three communication parts 24b, the connection part 30 is contact-connected to the electric power supply rail 25, Electric power for operation is supplied.
Incidentally, although not shown, a power supply line is wired between the controller 4 and the drive motor 23, and the drive motor 23 is configured to be supplied with power from the controller 4.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the conveyor according to the second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, power is supplied to the conveyor main body according to the first embodiment and the communication unit 42b on the article detection sensor 3 and the article detection sensor 3 side. It is another embodiment about the structure to perform, it demonstrates in detail about the form of a conveyor main body, and the structure which supplies electric power to the communication part 42b of the article | item detection sensor 3 and the article | item detection sensor 3 side, and is demonstrated in detail about the other structure. Is omitted.

In the conveyor according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the conveyor body is composed of a roller conveyor body provided with a plurality of rollers 31 that are rotationally driven, and the roller conveyor body includes a pair of left and right support frames. 32.
As shown in FIG. 8, annular recesses 33 are formed at two locations on the end side of the roller 31, and a circular belt 34 is stretched between the annular recesses 33 of the adjacent rollers 31, so It is comprised so that transmission of rotational force is possible.
In addition, among the plurality of rollers 31, the roller 31 arranged at a set interval is provided with a rotation driving motor 35 in the roller 31. The motor 35 is driven and rotated by the round belt 34. It is configured to convey the article 2 placed on the roller 31 by transmitting force.

  The support frame 32 is divided into an upper space 36 and a lower space 37 in a state where a plurality of mounting grooves 38 are formed on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and the roller 31 is rotatably supported in the upper space 36. In the lower space 37, a communication unit 24a on the controller 4 side and a communication unit 24b on the article detection sensor 3 side are arranged.

  Then, power is generated in conjunction with the rotation of the roller 31, and the generated electric power is used as an upstream position sensor 17, a deceleration position sensor 18, a stop position sensor 19, and an article detection sensor 3 side as the article detection sensor 3. A sensor power supply device 39 is provided as sensor power supply means for supplying to the communication unit 42b.

If it demonstrates, the power supply device 39 for sensors will be comprised from the generator 40 which generate | occur | produces with rotation of the roller 31, and the electric power line 41 for supply which can supply the electric power generated with the generator 40. FIG.
The generator 40 is arranged at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the article detection sensor 3 of the upstream position sensor 17, the deceleration position sensor 18, and the stop position sensor 19 in the conveyance direction. It is comprised so that it may generate electric power with rotation of the roller 31 near the arrangement | positioning position.
The supply power line 41 connects the generator 40 with the upstream position sensor 17, the deceleration position sensor 18, the article detection sensor 3 of the stop position sensor 19, and each of the three communication units 24b. The power generated by the generator 40 is supplied to the upstream position sensor 17, the deceleration position sensor 18, the article detection sensor 3 of the stop position sensor 19, and the three communication units 24b.

Based on FIG. 8, the configuration for supplying electric power to the upstream position sensor 17 and its communication unit 24 b in the sensor power supply device 39 will be specifically described. It is stored inside.
The supply power line 41 connects the generator 40 and the communication unit 24b accommodated in the lower space 37, and the light projecting / receiving unit 17a supported by the support frame 32 via the bracket 20 and the generator 40. And is configured to connect.
Further, the light projecting / receiving unit 17a and the communication unit 24b are connected by a signal line, and the communication light is transmitted through the lower space 37 as a shielding space by the communication unit 24b based on the detection information detected by the light projecting / receiving unit 17a. It is configured to receive light and wirelessly communicate with the communication unit 24 a of the controller 4.

  In this way, power is generated by the generator 40 by the rotation of the roller 31 without wiring a power line for supplying power from the controller 4 to the article detection sensor 3 and the communication unit 24b on the article detection sensor 3 side. It is comprised so that electric power can be supplied to the communication part 24b by the goods detection sensor 3 and the goods detection sensor 3 side.

[Another embodiment]
(1) In the first and second embodiments, the example in which one conveyor configured to wirelessly communicate the detection information of the article detection sensor 3 to the controller 4 has been described. A plurality of conveyors configured to wirelessly communicate detection information to the controller 4 may be provided.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a management unit 43 that manages the operation of a plurality of conveyors 42 configured to wirelessly communicate detection information of the article detection sensor 3 to the controller 4 is provided. The controller 4 is configured to communicate information such as the operating state of each conveyor 42 and the conveyance position of articles to the management unit 43.
An inter-controller wireless communication device 44 that wirelessly communicates information between the controllers 4 provided in each conveyor 42, and a management wireless that wirelessly communicates information between one of the controllers 4 and the management unit 43 A communication device 45 is provided, and is configured to perform wireless communication while relaying information exchange between the plurality of controllers 4 and the management unit 43 by the inter-controller wireless communication device 44.

  In addition, although not shown, a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates information between the management unit and the controller provided in each conveyor is provided so that wireless communication is performed separately between the management unit and the controller. It can also be configured and implemented, and when managing the operation of multiple conveyors etc. in the management unit, what type of wireless communication is used to exchange information between the controller and the management unit Can be appropriately changed.

(2) In the first embodiment, the example in which the main body conveyor 1 is constituted by the chain conveyor main body has been shown. However, for example, as shown in the second embodiment, the main body conveyor 1 is constituted by the roller conveyor main body. It is also possible to implement, and it is possible to appropriately change the form of the main body conveyor to be configured.

(3) In the first and second embodiments, the article detection sensor 3 is exemplified by the upstream position sensor 17, the deceleration position sensor 18, and the stop position sensor 19. Various sensors such as a contact sensor that detects the presence or absence of the article 2 by acting on the contact 2 can be applied, and the number of the article detection sensors 3 can be changed as appropriate.

(4) In the second embodiment, the generator 40 is arranged at a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the article detection sensor 3, and the generator 40, the article detection sensor 3, and the communication unit 24 b are connected to the supply power line 41. The power generated by the power generator 40 is supplied to the article detection sensor 3 and the communication unit 24b by connecting the power supply rail. For example, a power supply rail that supplies power generated by the power generator 40 is conveyed. It arrange | positions over the full length of a direction, and the goods detection sensor 3 and the communication part 24b are connectable with the electric power feeding rail, The electric power generated with the generator 40 is used for the goods detection sensor 3 and the communication part 24b. It is also possible to carry out the method by supplying to the above.

(5) In the first and second embodiments, communication is performed between the communication unit 24a on the controller 4 side and the communication unit 24b on the article detection sensor 3 side through the lower storage space 12 or the lower space 37 as a shielding space. Wireless communication is performed by projecting and receiving light. However, wireless communication is not limited to wireless communication using communication light, and wireless communication using radio waves or the like is also possible.
Further, even when wireless communication is performed using communication light, wireless communication is possible not only through the shielding space provided in the support frame 8 but also through other spaces.

The perspective view of the conveyor in 1st Embodiment Side view of the conveyor in the first embodiment Main part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conveyor in 1st Embodiment Main part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conveyor in 1st Embodiment Main part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conveyor in 1st Embodiment Block diagram of the conveyor in the first embodiment Plan view of the conveyor in the second embodiment Main part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the conveyor in 2nd Embodiment Configuration diagram in another embodiment provided with a plurality of conveyors

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor body 2 Goods 3 Goods detection sensor 4 Control means 12, 37 Shielding space 24 Wireless communication means for sensors 24a Communication part on the control means side 24b Communication part on the goods detection sensor side 25 Power supply rail 31 Roller 39 Sensor power supply means

Claims (4)

A conveyor provided with an article detection sensor for detecting an article conveyed by the conveyor body, and a control means for controlling the operation of the conveyor body based on detection information of the article detection sensor. ,
A conveyor provided with wireless sensor communication means for wirelessly communicating detection information of the article detection sensor to the control means.   The sensor wireless communication means passes between the communication means on the control means side and the communication part on the article detection sensor side through a shielding space provided in a support frame that is long in the transport direction for supporting the conveyor body. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor is configured to project and receive communication light. The conveyor body is composed of a roller conveyor body provided with a plurality of rollers that are driven to rotate,
The conveyor according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor power supply unit configured to generate power in conjunction with the rotation of the roller and supply the generated power to the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication unit. The conveyor body is provided with a power supply rail along its conveying direction,
The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the article detection sensor and the sensor wireless communication unit are configured to be connectable to the power supply rail.

Images