JP2006182515A - Carrying device with paired chain conveyor means - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrying device adapted to carry pre-moldings 36, 36' having shell portions different in outer diameter right under flanges 42, 42' by applying a simple change thereto. <P>SOLUTION: A protrusion length L1 of each of supporting protruded pieces 28a-1, 28b-1 arranged on one side of chain members 24a, 24b is different from a protrusion length L2 of each of supporting protruded pieces 28a-2, 28b-2 arranged on the other side thereof. Otherwise, at least two sets of chain members 24a-1 and -2, 24b-1 and -2 to be selectively used are mounted. A protrusion length L1 of each of supporting protruded pieces 28a-1, 28b-1 arranged on the inside of one set of chain members 24a-1, 24b-1 in a cross direction is different from a protrusion length L2 of each of supporting protruded pieces 28a-2, 28b-2 arranged on the inside of the other set of chain members 24a-2, 24b-2 in a cross direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus comprising a pair of chain conveyor means arranged at intervals in the width direction, and more specifically, but not limited thereto, so-called before forming into a container by blow molding in particular. The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus suitable for conveying a molded body.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, a synthetic resin container for beverages or the like is generally formed by compressing or injection molding a preform (also referred to as a preform) having an annular flange, and then forming the preform. Manufactured by blow molding. In such a container manufacturing process, it is necessary to transport the pre-molded body that has been compressed or injection molded and taken out of the mold to the next blow molding place or the required storage place. And, as disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, a conveying device having a pair of chain conveyor means disposed at intervals in the width direction is used for conveying such a preformed body. Yes. Each of the pair of chain conveyor means includes a chain composed of a large number of chain members that are pivotably connected. A typical example of a chain member constituting a chain has symmetrical support protrusions on both sides (the support protrusion can be formed only on one side, but a common conveying member is applied to a pair of chain conveyor means. In order to be able to do this, it is usually formed symmetrically on both sides). In such a transport apparatus, the pre-formed body is supported between the chains of the pair of chain conveyor means, and more specifically, the flange of the pre-formed body is formed on the support projecting piece located on the inner side in the width direction of the transport member constituting the chain. The pre-formed body is transported according to the movement of the chain.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-2674 JP 2003-176010 A

  Thus, the conventional conveying apparatus as described above has the following problems to be solved. When conveying preforms having different outer diameters of the body portion directly below the flange, it is necessary to change the interval between the pair of chain conveyor means. And it is important to change the distance between the chain conveyor means by usually displacing both the pair of chain conveyor means symmetrically inward or outward in the width direction. Even if only one of the pair of chain conveyor means is displaced in the width direction, the distance between the pair of chain conveyor means can be changed. However, when only one of the pair of chain conveyor means is displaced, the center line in the width direction of the transport track is changed. In many cases, it will be displaced, and it will be impossible or extremely difficult to link with the apparatus installed on the upstream side or downstream side of the transport apparatus. In any case, it is not easy to displace both or one of the pair of chain conveyor means in the width direction, which is a complicated and expensive operation. Furthermore, when the conveyance path is an arc shape, the curvature changes when the distance between the pair of chain conveyor means is changed. Therefore, at least one of the chain conveyor means needs to be replaced with a new one.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and the main technical problem thereof is that when a preformed body having a different outer diameter of the body portion directly under the flange is conveyed, only a simple change is made. It is to provide a new and improved transport device that can be addressed.

  According to the present invention, the protruding length of the supporting protruding piece arranged on one side of the chain member and the protruding length of the supporting protruding piece arranged on the other side are made different from each other or selectively used. At least two sets of chain members, and a support length disposed on the inner side in the width direction of one set of chain members and a support length disposed on the inner side in the width direction of the other chain member. The main technical problem is achieved by making the protruding lengths of the protruding pieces different from each other.

That is, according to one aspect of the present invention, the conveying device that achieves the main technical problem includes a pair of chain conveyor means arranged at intervals in the width direction. In each of the conveying devices including a chain composed of a large number of chain members that are pivotably connected,
The chain member has support projecting pieces disposed on both sides in the width direction, and the projecting length of one side of the projecting protrusion and the projecting length of the other side projecting piece are different from each other. Is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a pair of chain conveyor means arranged at intervals in the width direction is provided, and each of the pair of chain conveyor means includes a plurality of pivotally connected to each other. In a transport device including a chain composed of chain members,
The chain member includes at least two pairs of chain members that are selectively used, and each of the pair of chain members has a support protruding piece disposed on the inner side in the width direction. There is provided a conveying device characterized in that the protruding length of the supporting protruding piece is different from the protruding length of the supporting protruding piece of the other pair of chain members.

  In a preferred embodiment, the article to be conveyed is a pre-formed body having an annular flange and formed into a container by blow molding, and the pre-formed body is formed on a support projecting piece disposed on the inner side in the width direction of the chain member. The flange is mounted.

  In the transport device of the present invention, two types of pre-molding in which the diameters of the annular flanges are different simply by exchanging the left and right chains, or simply by exchanging one set of chain members with the other set of chain members. Can deal with the body.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a transport apparatus constructed according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a preferred embodiment of a transport apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. This conveying apparatus includes stationary upright walls 2a and 2b arranged at a predetermined interval in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1). The stationary upright walls 2a and 2b are extended in parallel to each other in the transport direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1). Brackets 4a and 4b having an L-shaped cross section are fixed to the inner surfaces in the width direction of the stationary upright walls 2a and 2b by fastening bolts 6a and 6b. The brackets 4a and 4b have support portions 8a and 8b extending substantially horizontally, and guide rails 10a and 10b are fixed on the support portions 8a and 8b by fastening bolts 12a and 12b. The upper surfaces of the guide rails 10a and 10b extending substantially horizontally along the support portions 8a and 8b of the brackets 4a and 4b are formed on a three-step staircase, and the lower step surfaces 14a and 14b positioned at the lowermost position are provided in the middle. It has the middle step surfaces 16a and 16b located, and the upper step surfaces 18a and 18b located at the top. The lower step surfaces 14a and 14b, the middle sections 16a and 16b, and the upper step surfaces 18a and 18b are also extended substantially horizontally in the transport direction. Guide protrusions 20a and 20b are formed at the center in the width direction of the lower step surfaces 14a and 14b.

  Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the transport device is provided with a pair of chain conveyor means 22a and 22b spaced apart in the width direction. Each of the pair of chain conveyor means 22a and 22b includes an endless chain wound around a driving wheel and a driven wheel (not shown) disposed at an appropriate interval in the conveying direction. A large number of chain members 24a and 24b are pivotally connected to each other. More specifically, the front ends and rear ends of the chain members 24a and 24b are respectively positioned at the rear end and the rear of the chain members 24a and 24b located at the front. The chain members 24a and 24b are configured to be pivotably connected to front ends of the chain members 24a and 24b via pins (not shown). In each of the chain members 24a and 24b, guided grooves 26a and 26b corresponding to the guide protrusions 20a and 20b formed on the lower step surfaces 14a and 14b of the guide rails 10a and 10b described above are formed. The chain members 24a and 24b are further formed with support protruding pieces 28a-1 and 28a-2 and 28b-1 and 28b-2 protruding from both sides of the upper end portion. The support protruding pieces 28a-1 and 28a-2 and 28b-1 and 28b-2 are protruded substantially horizontally. In the conveying apparatus configured according to the present invention, the protruding length L1 of the supporting protruding piece 28a-1 formed on one side of the chain member 24a and the protruding length of the supporting protruding piece 28a-2 formed on the other side. It is important that L2 is different from L2, in the illustrated case, L1> L2. Similarly, the protrusion length L1 of the support protrusion piece 28b-1 formed on one side of the chain member 24b and the protrusion length L2 of the support protrusion piece 28b-2 formed on the other side are different from each other. In the case, it is important that L1> L2. The chain member 24a and the chain member 24b are preferably line-symmetric. The endless chain constituted by connecting the chain members 24a and 24b is moved through the endless moving path, but when the endless chain is moved through the upper traveling part, that is, the transporting traveling part in the endless moving path, FIG. As shown, the guided grooves 26a and 26b of the chain members 24a and 24b are engaged with the guide protrusions 20a and 20b of the guide rails 10a and 10b, and the chain members 24a and 24b are moved along the guide rails 10a and 10b. It is done.

  1, the cover plates 30a and 30b extending in the transport direction are fixed on the upper step surfaces 18a and 18b of the guide rails 10a and 10b. More specifically, the cover plates 30a and 30b are formed with slits 32a and 32b, and the fastening bolts 34a and 34b are screwed onto the upper surface 18a and 18b of the guide rails 10a and 10b through the slits 32a and 32b. Thus, the cover plates 30a and 30b are fixed to the upper step surfaces 18a and 18b of the guide rails 10a and 10b. The width direction dimensions of the slits 32a and 32 are larger than the shaft diameters of the fastening bolts 34a and 34b, and the cover plates 30a and 30b are fixed so that the positions in the width direction can be adjusted. Instead of forming slits 32a and 32b extending in the width direction and mounting the cover plates 30a and 30b so that the position in the width direction can be adjusted, a plurality of holes (not shown) are formed at intervals in the width direction. Then, the cover plates 30a and 30b can be fixed so that the position in the width direction can be adjusted by screwing the fastening bolts 34a and 34b to the upper step surfaces 18a and 18b of the guide rails 10a and 10b through any of these holes. Inner edges in the width direction of the cover plates 30a and 30b have a predetermined length than inner edges in the width direction of the support protruding pieces 28a-1 and 28b-1 formed on one side (inner side in FIG. 1) of the chain members 24a and 24b. It is convenient that it is positioned on the inner side in the width direction by a length (a length that is somewhat smaller than the extension length of the annular flange of the preformed body described later). As can be understood by referring to FIG. 1, the cover plates 30a and 30b cover most of the upper surfaces of the chain members 24a and 24b, and the chain members 24a and 24b are displaced upward from the state shown in FIG. To prevent.

  FIG. 1 also shows a typical example of a pre-formed body 36 that is an article to be transported by a transport device. The preform 36, which may be in a known form, can be compressed or injection molded from a suitable synthetic resin. The preformed body shown in the figure has a cylindrical mouth / neck portion 38 having an open upper surface and a body portion including a blow molding portion 40 following the mouth / neck portion 38. An annular flange 42 extending outward in the radial direction is formed in the boundary region. The main part of the blow molding part 40 has an inverted truncated cone shape whose outer diameter gradually decreases downward, and the bottom part is substantially hemispherical. The pre-formed body 40 is mounted on the support projecting pieces 28a-1 and 28b-1 of the chain members 24a and 24b constituting the chain, and the preform 40 is conveyed along with the movement of the chain. The inner edges in the width direction of the cover plates 30a and 30b are located close to the outer peripheral edge of the annular flange 42 of the preformed body 36, and guide the annular flange 42 in the transport direction.

  3 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 together with FIG. 1. The preform 36 shown in FIG. 1 has a relatively small diameter, the outer diameter of the annular flange 42 is D1, and the barrel just below the annular flange 42. The outer diameter of the portion is d1, but the preform 36 'shown in FIG. 3 has a relatively large diameter, and the outer diameter of the annular flange 42' is D2 (D1 <D2). The outer diameter of the body portion directly under 42 'is d2 (d1 <, d2). When the pre-formed body to be transported is changed from the pre-formed body 36 shown in FIG. 1 to the pre-formed body 36 ′ shown in FIG. 3, in the transport device constructed according to the present invention, FIGS. As can be clearly understood by comparing and referring to the above, it can be accommodated by replacing the left and right chain conveyor means 22a and 22b with each other. That is, the chain conveyor means 22a and the chain conveyor means 22b are exchanged so that the support protruding piece 28a-2 having the protruding length L2 (that is, the protruding length is relatively short) in the chain member 24a is positioned on the inner side in the width direction. The support projecting piece 28a-2 and the support projecting piece 28b having the projecting length L2 (FIG. 2) in the chain member 24b (that is, the projecting length is relatively short) are positioned inward in the width direction. -2 and the annular flange 42 'of the pre-formed body 36' may be placed. Further, the width direction positions of the cover plates 30a and 30b are adjusted as necessary so that the inner edges in the width direction of the cover plates 30a and 30b are located close to the annular flange 42 'of the preform 40'. It can be shown. It is not necessary to change the arrangement position of the chain conveyor means 22a and / or 22b itself, simply replacing the left and right chains, and adjusting the width direction positions of the cover plates 30a and 30b as necessary Only the change from the relatively small-diameter preform 36 to the relatively large-diameter preform 36 'or the relatively large-diameter preform 36' to the relatively small-diameter preform 36 is dealt with. can do.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the annular flange 42 or 42 ′ of the preform 36 or 36 ′ is guided by one side edge of the cover plates 30a and 30b fixed to the upper surfaces of the chain members 24a and 24b. However, if desired, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, guide protrusions 29a and 29b having a required width are provided on the upper surfaces of the chain members 24a and 24b themselves, and one side of the guide protrusions 29a and 29b is provided. It is also possible to guide the annular flange 42 or 42 'of the preform 36 or 36' by the edge.

4 to 7 illustrate a modified embodiment of a transport device constructed in accordance with the present invention. In this modified embodiment, two sets of multiple chain members constituting the chain of the chain conveyor means 122a, that is, a first set of multiple chain members 124a-1 (FIG. 4) and multiple chain members 124a-2. Two sets are prepared with the second set consisting of (Fig. 5). Similarly, two sets of multiple chain members constituting the chain of the chain conveyor means 122b, that is, a first set of multiple chain members 124b-1 (FIG. 4) and multiple chain members 124b-2 (FIG. A second set of 5) is prepared. A support projecting piece 128a-1 projecting inward in the width direction is disposed at the upper end of the chain member 124a constituting the first set, and the support projecting piece 128a-1 has a relatively long projecting length L1 ( (Fig. 2)
Have A support projecting piece 128a-2 projecting inward in the width direction is also disposed at the upper end portion of the chain member 124a-2 constituting the second group. The support projecting piece 128a-2 has a relatively short projecting length. Having L2. Similarly, a support projecting piece 128b-1 projecting inward in the width direction is disposed at the upper end of the chain member 124b constituting the first set, and the support projecting piece 128b-1 has a relatively long projecting length. Has a length L1. A support projecting piece 128b-2 projecting inward in the width direction is also disposed at the upper end portion of the chain member 124b-2 constituting the second group. The support projecting piece 128b-2 has a relatively short projecting length. Having L2. The construction of the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 is substantially the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 except for the chain conveyor means 122a and 122b.

  In the case where the pre-formed body to be conveyed is the pre-formed body 36 having a relatively small diameter, the outer diameter of the annular flange 42 is D1, and the outer diameter of the body portion directly below the annular flange 42 is d1. As shown in FIG. 6, a chain composed of the first set of chain members 124a-1 and a chain composed of the first set of chain members 124b-1 are used. The pre-formed body to be conveyed is a pre-formed body 36 'having a relatively large diameter, the outer diameter of the annular flange 42' is D2, and the outer diameter of the body portion directly below the annular flange 42 'is d2. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 7, a chain comprised of a second set of chain members 124a-2 and a chain comprised of a second set of chain members 124b-2 are used. When changing from a relatively small diameter preformed body 36 to a relatively large diameter preformed body 36 'or from a relatively large diameter preformed body 36' to a relatively small diameter preformed body 36 ', A chain composed solely of the first set of chain members 124a-1 and a chain composed of the first set of chain members 124b-1 and a chain composed of the second chain members 124a-2 and the second This can be dealt with by selectively using a chain made up of chain members 124b-2, and also adjusting the width position of the cover plates 30a and 30b as needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a transport apparatus configured according to the present invention in a state of transporting a relatively small-diameter preform. Sectional drawing which shows the chain member which comprises the chain in the chain conveyor means used for the conveying apparatus of FIG. The simplified sectional view which shows the conveyance apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in the state which conveys the comparatively large diameter preform. FIG. 6 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing a modification of the chain member in the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a state where a relatively small diameter preforming field is conveyed. FIG. 6 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing a modification of the chain member in the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a state where a relatively large diameter preforming field is conveyed. Sectional drawing which shows the 1st set of chain member selectively used with the deformation | transformation embodiment of the conveying apparatus comprised according to this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the 2nd set of chain member selectively used with the deformation | transformation embodiment of the conveying apparatus comprised according to this invention. The simplified sectional view showing the modification embodiment of the conveying device constituted according to the present invention in the state where the comparatively small-diameter preform is conveyed. The simplified sectional view showing the modification embodiment of the conveying device constituted according to the present invention in the state where the comparatively large-diameter preform is conveyed.

Explanation of symbols

22a, 22b: Chain conveyors 24a, 24b: Chain members 28a-1 and 2, 28b-1 and 2: Support projecting pieces 36, 36 ': Pre-formed bodies 42, 42': Annular flanges 122a, 122b: Chain conveyor means 124a-1 and 2, 124b-1 and 2: chain member 128a-1 and 2, 128b-1 and 2: supporting protruding piece

Claims (3)

A pair of chain conveyor means arranged at intervals in the width direction, each of the pair of chain conveyor means including a chain composed of a number of chain members pivotably connected to each other In the device
The chain member has support projecting pieces disposed on both sides in the width direction, and the projecting length of one side of the projecting protrusion and the projecting length of the other side projecting piece are different from each other. . A pair of chain conveyor means arranged at intervals in the width direction, each of the pair of chain conveyor means including a chain composed of a number of chain members pivotably connected to each other In the device
The chain member includes at least two pairs of chain members that are selectively used, and each of the pair of chain members has a support protruding piece disposed on the inner side in the width direction. And a protruding length of the supporting protruding piece of the other pair of chain members is different from each other.   The article to be conveyed is a pre-formed body having an annular flange and formed into a container by blow molding, and the flange of the pre-formed body is placed on a support projecting piece disposed on the inner side in the width direction of the chain member. The transfer apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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