JP2006290578A - Air conveyance device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convey a workpiece upward or downward without damaging it. <P>SOLUTION: This air conveyance device is provided with a vertical direction conveyance passage 3 for using a vertical direction as a direction of conveyance and driving to convey the workpiece W in one direction of the direction of conveyance. The vertical direction conveyance passage 3 is provided with a basic plate member 31 having a plurality of air injection holes for injecting air obliquely toward one direction of the direction of conveyance, a guide member 32 arranged at a position opposing to the basic plate member 31 and having a plurality of second injection holes 32c for injecting air toward the workpiece W, and side members 33 arranged on the left and right sides between the basic plate member 31 and the guide member 32 and arranged on a basic plate member 31 side from the guide member 32 with an interval. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conveyance device capable of conveying a workpiece upward or downward.

  As this type of air conveyance device, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, the work W supplied from the low-position conveyance path b is fed into the vertical pipe a by sending air that is an upward flow into the vertical pipe a. Is configured to be conveyed upward and supplied to a high position conveyance path (not shown).

  The workpiece W is a cap used to close the mouth of the bottle, and has an end surface portion W2 at one end of a cylindrical tube portion W1. The workpiece W may be a beer can or the like provided with end face portions at both ends of the cylindrical portion W1.

  The interval between the side walls a1 and a2 guiding the one end and the other end of the workpiece W in the vertical pipe a is such that the direction of the end face W2 of the workpiece W changes from one side wall a1 side to the other side wall a2 side. It is narrowed so that there is no gap. As a result, the workpiece W is conveyed to the capping machine while the direction of the end face W2 is always maintained in a constant direction, and is thus automatically attached to the bottle mouth by the capping machine.

  However, in the conventional air transfer device, one end or the other end of the work W comes into contact with one or the other wall portions a1 and a2 of the vertical pipe a during the transfer of the work W. This is due to the phenomenon that the workpiece W has a characteristic that the end face W2 that is closed as the aerodynamic characteristic due to the shape of the work W tends to be stabilized in the downward direction and the open end is in the upward direction. For this reason, when the corner | angular part of the front end side of the conveyance direction in the workpiece | work W contacts one or the other side wall a1, a2 of the vertical pipe | tube a, the said corner | angular part bites into one or the other side wall a1, a2. Since the rotational force acts, there is a problem that the workpiece W is easily damaged and the vertical pipe a is also easily damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and while being able to smoothly carry the workpiece by air, at the same time, reliably prevents the workpiece from coming into contact with the wall portion of the conveyance path and being damaged. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conveyance device that can perform the above.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an air conveyance device according to claim 1 is provided with a vertical conveyance path that drives the workpiece to convey the workpiece in one direction of the conveyance direction, with the vertical direction being the conveyance direction. The direction conveying path is formed at a position facing the substrate member, and a substrate member having a plurality of air ejection holes for ejecting air obliquely toward the one direction of the conveying direction and driving the workpiece in the one direction. And a guide member having a plurality of second ejection holes for ejecting air toward the workpiece, and arranged on the left and right between the substrate member and the guide member to guide the workpiece in the transport direction. And a side member disposed at a distance from the guide member.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the vertical direction conveyance path and the low position conveyance path are provided between the lower end portion of the vertical direction conveyance path and the low position conveyance path. A lower direction changing transfer path that enables continuous transfer of the workpiece between the lower part direction changing transfer path, the lower part direction changing transfer path includes a lower substrate member, a lower guide member, and a lower portion The lower substrate member is continuously curved in the plate surface direction, and one end portion in the bending direction is disposed at a position along the lower end portion of the substrate member, The other end is arranged at a position above the transport plate in the low position transport path, so that the other end is gradually changed from the direction along the vertical transport path to the direction along the low position transport path, and Air is ejected obliquely toward the one direction of the conveying direction, and the workpiece is A plurality of air ejection holes that are driven in the direction, and the lower guide member is continuously curved so as to face the lower substrate member, and one end of the curved direction is the guide member. A plurality of third ejection holes that are disposed at positions along the lower end portion of the first and second ends and are disposed at positions along the conveyance plate in the low-position conveyance path and that eject air toward the workpiece. The low side member is disposed on the left and right between the low substrate member and the low guide member to guide the workpiece in the transport direction, and the low portion It is characterized by being arranged at a distance from the guide member.

  Here, the invention according to claim 3 is a rectangular tube member in which the lower part guide member according to claim 2 has one side faced to the workpiece and the air flow path is formed therein. A plurality of the third air ejection holes are formed in the central portion of the one side surface toward the conveyance direction, and the both sides of the one side surface sandwiching the third air ejection hole are directed toward the conveyance direction. A convex step portion made of a softer material than the workpiece is formed.

  On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 4, the lower part guide member according to claim 2 comprises a square tube member having one side faced to the work and the air flow path formed therein, and The two square tube members are disposed on both sides of the workpiece in the conveying direction at intervals, and the third air ejection hole is formed on the one side surface of each of the square tube members. It is characterized by.

  According to the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, the work is moved upward or downward in the longitudinal conveyance path by the air that is obliquely ejected from the plurality of air ejection holes in the substrate member in one direction of the conveyance direction. Can be transported.

  That is, when one direction of the conveyance direction in the vertical conveyance path is upward, the workpiece can be conveyed upward by the air jetted obliquely upward from each air ejection hole. In this case, the air ejected from each air ejection hole flows out of the longitudinal conveyance path through the gap between the guide member and each side member. For this reason, since the flow of the air which raises continuously in the vertical direction conveyance path does not arise, it can prevent that the rotational force which prevents smooth conveyance acts on a workpiece | work.

  Moreover, when one direction of the conveyance direction in a vertical direction conveyance path is a downward direction, a workpiece | work can be conveyed below with the air jetted diagonally downward from each air ejection hole. Also in this case, since the air ejected from each air ejection hole does not flow downward continuously in the longitudinal conveyance path, it is possible to prevent the rotational force from acting on the workpiece.

  In addition, by blowing sufficient air from the air ejection hole of the guide member toward the workpiece, the workpiece can be prevented from coming into strong contact with the guide member and being damaged. Can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the workpiece from being damaged regardless of whether the one direction of the conveyance is upward or downward. Furthermore, the longitudinal conveyance path can be maintained in a clean state for a long time. It is extremely advantageous from the viewpoint of hygiene management to maintain the vertical conveyance path in a clean state.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the work is moved from the low position conveyance path side to the vertical conveyance path side or longitudinally by the air that is obliquely ejected from the plurality of air ejection holes in the lower substrate member in one direction of the conveyance direction. It can be conveyed from the direction conveyance path side to the low position conveyance path side.

  That is, when one direction of the conveyance direction in the vertical direction conveyance path is upward, the workpiece is moved to the vertical direction conveyance path side by the air jetted obliquely in one direction of the conveyance direction from each air ejection hole of the lower substrate member. Can be conveyed. In this case, the air ejected from each air ejection hole similarly flows out between the low part guide member and each low part side member and flows out of the low direction changing conveyance path. For this reason, since the flow of the air which moves continuously in one direction in the conveyance direction does not occur in the low direction changing conveyance path, it is possible to prevent the rotational force from acting on the workpiece.

  Further, when one direction of the conveyance direction in the vertical direction conveyance path is downward, the workpiece is moved to the vertical direction conveyance path side by the air that is obliquely ejected from each air ejection hole of the lower substrate member in one direction of the conveyance direction. To the low-position conveyance path side. Also in this case, the air blown out from each air jet hole does not flow in the low direction changing transfer path continuously in one direction of the transfer direction, thus preventing the rotational force from acting on the workpiece. can do.

  In addition, since the moving direction of the workpiece gradually changes in the lower direction conversion conveyance path, the centrifugal force acts on the workpiece, and as a result, the centrifugal force acts in the direction in which the workpiece is brought into contact with the lower portion guide member. However, since the work is ejected from the third air ejection hole of the low part guide member toward the work, sufficient air is ejected from the low part guide member. It is also possible to prevent damage due to strong contact.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the workpiece from being damaged regardless of whether the direction of conveyance in the lower direction conversion conveyance path is the upper or lower direction, and the low direction conversion conveyance path can be cleaned for a long period of time. Can be maintained in a stable state.

  In particular, since the lower portion direction conversion conveyance path is curved, the centrifugal force acts on the workpiece as a result of the gradual change of the movement direction of the workpiece as described above. A large gap is generated between the part guide members. For this reason, even when air is ejected from the third air ejection hole toward the workpiece, the front and rear end portions in the conveyance direction of the workpiece easily come into contact with the low-level guide member.

  In this respect, in the invention described in claim 3, the convex portion made of a softer material than the workpiece is formed on both sides of the third air ejection hole of the square tube member constituting the lower portion guide member with the third air ejection hole therebetween. Since the step portion is formed, even if the workpiece is close to the lower portion guide member, both ends of the workpiece in the conveyance direction are in contact with and guided by the soft convex step portion, thereby leading the tip of the workpiece. It can prevent beforehand that a part contacts a low part guide member strongly.

  On the other hand, according to the invention described in claim 4, since the two square tube members are arranged on both sides in the workpiece conveyance direction with an interval therebetween, the front and rear end portions of the workpiece are positioned between the square tube members. Will do. In addition, since air is being ejected from the third air ejection holes formed in each square tube member toward both sides in the workpiece conveyance direction, the workpiece conveyance posture can be stabilized, In addition, it is possible to prevent a collision with the lower part guide member.

  An embodiment as the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the air conveyance device 10 shown in this embodiment includes a low-position conveyance path 1 installed at a low position and a high-position conveyance path 2 installed at a higher position. It is configured to enable continuous conveyance of workpieces W, and has a configuration including a vertical direction conveyance path 3, a low direction conversion conveyance path 4, and a high direction conversion conveyance path 5. Yes.

  The workpiece W is a cap configured to close the mouth of the bottle, and is provided with an end surface portion W2 at one end of a cylindrical tube portion W1 and the other end opened. The workpiece W may have a shape such as a beer can having end face portions at both ends of the cylindrical portion W1. In addition, the cylindrical portion W1 may have a polygonal cylindrical outer peripheral surface or an uneven surface such as a serration.

  The low-position transport path 1 extends substantially horizontally and is disposed on the left and right in the width direction of the transport plate 11 and a strip-shaped transport plate 11 having a plurality of air ejection holes 11a at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. And a strip-shaped guide plate 12.

  The conveying plate 11 is configured to constitute one side surface (upper surface) of the plenum chamber 1a, for example, having a quadrangular cross section for introducing compressed air. In this example, the air ejection hole 11a has a direction from the low-position conveyance path 1 to the longitudinal conveyance path 3 as one direction of the conveyance direction, and air in the plenum chamber 1a is one direction from the upper surface of the conveyance plate 11 in the conveyance direction. Is formed so as to be ejected obliquely upward. Further, the air ejection holes 11a are arranged in a line at a constant interval in the transport direction.

  The high position conveyance path 2 is also configured to include a conveyance plate 21, an air ejection hole 21 a, a guide plate 22, and a plenum chamber 2 a configured in the same manner as the low position conveyance path 1. However, the air ejection hole 21a has a direction from the vertical conveyance path 3 toward the high position conveyance path 2 as one direction of the conveyance direction, and air in the plenum chamber 2a is directed from the upper surface of the conveyance plate 21 to one direction of the conveyance direction. Are formed so as to be ejected obliquely upward.

  Further, the low-position conveyance path 1 and the high-position conveyance path 2 convey the workpiece W having the end face W2 facing the upper surface of the conveyance plates 11 and 21 in one direction of conveyance while floating from the conveyance plates 11 and 21. It is supposed to be.

The vertical conveyance path 3 includes a substrate member 31, a guide member 32, and a pair of side members 33.
The substrate member 31 is formed by a belt-like plate having a plurality of air ejection holes 31a at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction, and is installed to extend substantially vertically. Moreover, the board | substrate member 31 comprises one side surface of the plenum chamber 3a which introduces compressed air. The air ejection holes 31a are formed so that the air in the plenum chamber 3a is ejected obliquely in one direction (upward in this example) in the transport direction. Further, the air ejection holes 31 a are formed on the center line in the width direction of the substrate member 31 at regular intervals.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide member 32 is a square tube member having an air flow path 32a formed therein, and one side 32b of one side of the substrate member 31 on the side from which air is ejected. It arrange | positions so that it may oppose in parallel with 31b. On the center line in the width direction of the guide member 32, a plurality of second ejection holes 32c for ejecting air toward the end surface portion W2 of the workpiece W are formed in the transport direction. Further, the width of the guide member 32 is set slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion W1 of the workpiece W.

  The side members 33 are arranged on the left and right between the substrate member 31 and the guide member 32 and are arranged at a certain distance from the guide member 32 to the substrate member 31 side. That is, each side member 33 is formed of a belt-like plate, and is fixed to the substrate member 31 in a state where one side edge of the width direction is in contact with one surface 31b of the substrate member 31. The side edges are installed from the guide member 32 to the substrate member 31 side with a certain distance.

  In addition, each side member 33 is installed at a position that is equidistant from the line in which the air ejection holes 31 a are arranged on the left and right, and the dimension between the inner surfaces facing each other is the same as that of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion W1 of the workpiece W. It is larger than the diameter. However, the gap between the guide member 32 and each side member 33 is limited to such a size that the workpiece W does not jump out of the longitudinal conveyance path 3.

  The low part direction conversion conveyance path 4 continuously connects the work W from the low position conveyance path 1 to the vertical conveyance path 3 by continuously connecting the lower end of the vertical conveyance path 3 to one end of the low position conveyance path 1. The lower part board member 41, the lower part guide member 42, and the lower part side member 43 are provided.

  The lower substrate member 41 is formed so as to draw a circle of about ¼ in the longitudinal direction by continuously curving the belt-like plate in the plate surface direction, and the curved direction (longitudinal direction). Is disposed so that the other end is placed on the upper edge of the guide plate 12 in the low-position conveyance path 1. Thus, the lower substrate member 41 is formed so as to gradually change from a substantially vertical direction along the longitudinal conveyance path 3 to a substantially horizontal direction along the low position conveyance path 1. The lower substrate member 41 is formed integrally and continuously with the substrate member 31, and constitutes one closed surface of the plenum chamber 3a.

  Further, the air in the plenum chamber 3a is jetted obliquely toward the lower substrate member 41 in one direction in the conveyance direction (in this example, the direction from the low position conveyance path 1 to the vertical conveyance path 3). A plurality of air ejection holes 41a are formed. The air ejection holes 41a are continuous with the line in which the air ejection holes 31a are formed, and are arranged at regular intervals on a linear line that is continuous with the line in which the air ejection holes 11a of the conveying plate 11 are formed. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lower portion guide member 42 is a square tube member that is continuously curved so as to face one surface 41b of the lower portion substrate member 41 on the side from which air is ejected with a certain distance. The one end portion in the bending direction is continuously connected to the lower end portion of the guide member 32 so that the air flow passage 42a communicates with the flow passage 32a of the guide member 32 inside. Is formed. A third air ejection hole 42c for ejecting air toward the end surface portion W2 of the workpiece W is formed on one side surface 42b of the lower portion guide member 42 facing the lower portion substrate member 41 on the center line in the width direction. Are perforated in the transport direction.

Further, Teflon (registered trademark, hereinafter abbreviated) tape 6, which is a softer material than the workpiece W, is affixed to both sides of one side surface 42 b sandwiching the third air ejection hole 42 c therebetween. Yes. Thereby, the convex step part which has a predetermined thickness dimension is formed in the both sides of the said one side 42a.
Further, the other end portion of the low portion guide member 42 is disposed at a position along the transport plate 11 of the low position transport path 1. In this case, the lower part guide member 42 is installed such that the inner surface of the other end is flush with the upper surface of the transport plate 11 or slightly lower than the upper surface.

  Here, the lower guide member 42 is formed to have the same width as the guide member 32 and is formed continuously from the guide member 32. The interval between the lower substrate member 41 and the lower guide member 42 is set to be the same as the interval between the substrate member 31 and the guide member 32. Furthermore, the low part guide member 42 is installed so that the center line of the width direction in which the 3rd air ejection hole 42c is arranged may overlap with the line in which the air ejection hole 41a is arranged.

  The low side member 43 is disposed on the left and right between the low substrate member 41 and the low guide member 42 so as to guide the workpiece W in the transport direction, and from the low guide member 42 to the low substrate member. It is arranged at an interval on the 41 side. In other words, each of the lower side members 43 is formed by continuously bending a belt-like plate in the width direction, and one side edge of the curve contacts one surface 41b of the lower substrate member 41. The other side edge that is fixed to the lower substrate member 41 in contact and is curved is disposed from the lower guide member 42 to the lower substrate member 41 side with an interval.

  In addition, each of the lower side members 43 is installed at a position that is equidistant from the line in which the air ejection holes 41a are arranged, and the dimension between the opposing inner surfaces is that of the cylindrical portion W1 of the workpiece W. It is larger than the diameter of the outer peripheral surface. In addition, the clearance gap between the low part guide member 42 and each low part side member 43 is set to be the same as the clearance between the guide member 32 and each side member 33, and the workpiece W is transferred to the low part direction conversion conveyance path 4. It is designed not to be discharged from. Each of the low side members 43 has one end continuously connected to each side member 33 of the longitudinal conveyance path 3 and the other end of each guide plate 12 of the low position conveyance path 1. It is arranged at a position along.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the high part direction conversion conveyance path 5 continuously connects the upper end of the vertical conveyance path 3 to the high position conveyance path 2, thereby moving the workpiece W from the vertical conveyance path 3. It is configured to be capable of being continuously conveyed to the high position conveyance path 2 and includes a high part substrate member 51, a high part guide member 52, and a high part side member 53.

  The high substrate member 51 is integrally formed by a first high substrate member 54 and a second high substrate member 55.

  The first high-part substrate member 54 is formed so as to gradually turn downward while projecting upward from the upper end of the substrate member 31 by continuously bending the belt-like plate in a semicircular shape in the width direction. Has been. The plate surface of the first high substrate member 54 is formed in a flat shape. Further, the first high substrate member 54 is formed integrally and continuously with the substrate member 31.

  The second high-part substrate member 55 is formed so as to draw a circle of about ¼ in the longitudinal direction by continuously curving the belt-shaped plate in the plate surface direction, and the direction in which it is curved ( One end in the longitudinal direction is continuously connected to the lower end of the first high substrate member 54, and the other end is placed on the upper edge of the guide plate 22 in the high position conveyance path 2. Is arranged. Thus, the second high substrate member 55 is configured to gradually change from a substantially vertical direction along the lower end portion of the first high substrate member 54 to a substantially horizontal direction along the high position conveyance path 2. .

  The high substrate member 51 including the first high substrate member 54 and the second high substrate member 55 constitutes one closed surface of the plenum chamber 5 a as with the substrate member 31. In addition, you may comprise the plenum chamber 5a shown here and the plenum chamber 3a in the said vertical direction conveyance path 3 or the low part direction conversion conveyance path 4 by the same room.

  Further, the air in the plenum chamber 5a is obliquely ejected onto the high substrate member 51 in one direction in the conveyance direction (in this example, the direction from the vertical conveyance path 3 toward the high position conveyance path 2). A plurality of air ejection holes 51a are formed. The air ejection holes 51 a extend continuously from the line in which the air ejection holes 31 a are arranged, and are arranged on the substantially center line in the width direction of the high-part substrate member 51 at a constant interval.

  The high part guide member 52 is a square tube member that is continuously curved so as to face one surface 51b of the high part substrate member 51 on the side from which air is ejected at a certain interval, and one end part thereof is the guide member 32. The other end is arranged at a position along the transport plate 21 of the high position transport path 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the high portion guide member 52 also has an air flow path 52 a communicating with the flow path 32 a of the guide member 32, as in the low portion guide member 42. A plurality of third air ejection holes 52c for ejecting air toward the end surface W2 of the workpiece W are formed on the center line in the width direction of the one side surface 52b facing the member 51 in the transport direction, and the first The Teflon tape 6 is stuck on both sides of one side surface 52b sandwiching the three air ejection holes 52c therebetween in the transport direction.

  The high portion guide member 52 is formed to have the same width as the guide member 32 and is formed continuously from the guide member 32. The distance between the high part substrate member 51 and the high part guide member 52 is set to be the same as the distance between the substrate member 31 and the guide member 32. Furthermore, the high part guide member 52 is installed so that the center line of the width direction may correspond with the line in which the air ejection holes 51a are arranged.

  The high part side members 53 are arranged on the left and right between the high part substrate member 51 and the high part guide member 52 so as to guide the workpiece W in the transport direction, and from the high part guide member 52 to the high part substrate member. It is arranged at an interval on the 51 side. That is, each of the high side members 53 is formed by continuously curving a belt-like plate in a semicircular shape in the plate surface direction in a portion corresponding to the first high board member 54. The portion corresponding to the second high-part substrate member 55 is formed by continuously curving in a width of about 1/4 in the width direction, and one side edge is one of the high-part substrate members 51. The other side edge is arranged at a distance from the high part guide member 52 to the high part substrate member 51 side while being fixed to the high part substrate member 51 in contact with the surface 51b.

  In addition, each of the high side members 53 is installed at a position that is equidistant on the left and right with respect to the line in which the air ejection holes 51a are arranged, and the dimension between the opposing inner surfaces is a cylindrical portion of the workpiece W. It is larger than the diameter of W1. In addition, the clearance gap between the high part guide member 52 and each high part side member 53 is set so that it may become the same as the clearance gap between the guide member 32 and each side member 33, and the workpiece | work W changes high part direction. It does not jump out of the conveyance path 5. In addition, each high portion side member 53 has one end portion continuously connected to the upper end portion of each side member 33 of the longitudinal conveyance path 3, and the other end portion being one guide plate of the high position conveyance path 2. It is installed so as to abut at a substantially right angle from the lateral direction. In addition, one guide plate 22 is notched so that the workpiece W can be moved between the pair of high portion side members 53.

  In the air conveyance device configured as described above, the plurality of air ejection holes 41a, 31a, 51a in each of the lower substrate member 41, the substrate member 31, and the higher substrate member 51 are obliquely inclined in one direction of the conveyance direction. The workpiece W supplied from the low position conveyance path 1 is conveyed to the high position conveyance path 2 via the low direction conversion conveyance path 4, the vertical direction conveyance path 3, and the high direction conversion conveyance path 5 by the jetted air. Can do.

  That is, the workpiece W supplied from the low position conveyance path 1 to the low direction changing conveyance path 4 is longitudinally driven by air that is obliquely ejected from each air ejection hole 41a of the low substrate member 41 in one direction of the conveyance direction. It is transported to the transport path 3. At this time, the air ejected from each air ejection hole 41 a flows out of the low direction changing conveyance path 4 through the gap between the low portion guide member 42 and each low side member 43. Become. For this reason, since the flow of the air which moves continuously in one direction in the conveyance direction in the low portion direction conversion conveyance path 4 does not occur, the corner portion of the end surface portion W2 of the workpiece W bites into the low portion guide member 42. It is possible to prevent the rotational force in such a direction from acting on the workpiece W.

  In addition, since the moving direction of the workpiece W gradually changes in an arc shape in the lower direction changing conveyance path 4, as a result of the centrifugal force acting on the workpiece W, the centrifugal force hits the lower guide member 42. Although acting in the direction of contact, the air is sufficient for the workpiece W to float from the lower portion guide member 42 toward the end surface W2 of the workpiece W from the third air ejection hole 42c of the lower portion guide member 42. Similarly, it is possible to prevent the work W from coming into strong contact with the lower part guide member 42 and being damaged.

  Moreover, since the Teflon tape 6 made of a softer material than the work is pasted on both sides of the lower part guide member 42 sandwiching the third air ejection hole 42c therebetween, the work W should be Even when close to the low part guide member 42, it is possible to prevent the tip of the work W from coming into strong contact with the low part guide member 42 by guiding both sides of the work W in the conveying direction against the Teflon tape 6. Can be prevented.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the workpiece W from being damaged in the lower direction changing conveyance path 4. For this reason, the low direction change conveyance path 4 can be maintained in a clean state over a long period of time. In addition, it is very advantageous also from hygiene management to maintain the low part direction conversion conveyance path 4 in a beautiful state.

Next, the workpiece | work W supplied to the vertical direction conveyance path 3 from the low part direction conversion conveyance path 4 will be conveyed upward by the air which injects diagonally upward from each air ejection hole 31a.
Also in this case, the air ejected from each air ejection hole 31 a flows out between the guide member 32 and each side member 33 and out of the vertical conveyance path 3. For this reason, since the air flow which raises the inside of the vertical conveyance path 3 continuously does not arise, a rotational force does not act on the workpiece | work W, and it can hold | maintain the stable attitude | position.

In addition, sufficient air is ejected from the air ejection hole 32c of the guide member 32 toward the end surface portion W2 of the workpiece W, so that the workpiece W comes into strong contact with the guide member 32. Damage can also be prevented.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the workpiece W from being damaged in the vertical conveyance path 3 and to maintain the vertical conveyance path 3 in a clean state for a long period of time.

  Next, the workpiece | work W supplied to the high part direction conversion conveyance path 5 from the vertical direction conveyance path 3 is conveyed by the high position conveyance path 2 by the air which injects diagonally to one direction of a conveyance direction from each air ejection hole 51a. Will be. Also in this case, the air ejected from each air ejection hole 51 a flows out of the high direction changing conveyance path 5 through between the high portion guide member 52 and each high portion side member 53. For this reason, there is no flow of air that continuously moves in one direction of the conveyance direction in the high direction changing conveyance path 5, so that the corner portion of the end surface portion W <b> 2 in the workpiece W bites into the high portion guide member 52. It is possible to prevent the rotational force in such a direction from acting on the workpiece W.

  Further, since the moving direction of the work W gradually changes in an arc shape in the section where the first high part substrate member 51 exists, as a result of the centrifugal force acting on the work W in the same manner as the high part direction conversion conveyance path 4, Centrifugal force acts in the direction in which the workpiece W is brought into contact with the high portion guide member 52, but the workpiece is directed from the third air ejection hole 52c of the high portion guide member 52 toward the end surface portion W2 of the workpiece W. By blowing out sufficient air to cause W to float from the high portion guide member 52, it is possible to prevent the workpiece W from coming into strong contact with the high portion guide member 52 and being damaged.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the workpiece W from being damaged in the high direction changing transfer path 5 and to maintain the high direction changing transfer path 5 in a clean state for a long period of time.

  In addition, the workpiece W with the end surface portion W2 facing downward in the low position conveyance path 1 passes through the low direction conversion conveyance path 4, the vertical direction conveyance path 3, and the high direction conversion conveyance path 5 to thereby move in the vertical direction. Without being changed, the sheet is supplied to the high-position conveyance path 2 with the end face W2 facing downward. Accordingly, the work W supplied to the high-position transport path 2 is transported to, for example, a capping machine while maintaining a certain posture with the end face W2 facing downward, and the bottle mouth can be closed without delay. Become.

  In the above embodiment, one direction of the transport direction is the direction from the low-position transport path 1 to the vertical transport path 3 in the low direction conversion transport path 4 and the upper direction in the vertical transport path 3. In the high direction changing transport path 5, the direction from the longitudinal transport path 3 to the high position transport path 2 is set, but the opposite direction may be set as one direction. However, in that case, air ejection holes 11a, 21a, 31a, 41a, 51a are provided in order to eject air obliquely in a direction opposite to the air ejection direction.

  However, in this case, by connecting the other end of the high position conveyance path 2 and the high direction changing conveyance path 5 in the same manner as the other position of the low position conveyance path and the low direction changing conveyance path 4. It is preferable that the work W can be continuously transported from the high position transport path 2 to the high direction changing transport path 5.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, for the low part guide member 42 and the high part guide member 52, two rectangular tubes having one side surface 7b facing the work W and having an air flow path 7a formed therein. The members 7 may be arranged on both sides in the conveyance direction of the workpiece W at intervals, and the third air ejection holes 7c may be formed on one side surface 7b of each square tube member 7.

  According to such a low part guide member 42 or a high part guide member 52, the two square tube members 7 are arranged on both sides in the conveyance direction of the workpiece W at intervals, so that the front and rear ends of the workpiece W in the conveyance direction The part is located between the square tube members 7. In addition, since the air is ejected from the third air ejection holes 7c formed in each square tube member 7 toward both sides in the conveyance direction of the workpiece W, the conveyance posture of the workpiece W can be stabilized. In addition, it is possible to prevent a collision with the low part guide member 42 or the high part guide member 52.

It is principal part sectional drawing of the air conveying apparatus shown as one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a vertical direction conveyance path, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is the side view seen from the workpiece | work side of (a). It is a figure which shows a low part direction conversion conveyance path or a high part direction conversion conveyance path, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is the side view seen from the workpiece | work side of (a). It is a figure which shows the modification of FIG. 3, Comprising: (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is the side view seen from the workpiece | work side of (a). It is a front view which shows the same air conveying apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the same air conveying apparatus. It is principal part sectional drawing of the air conveying apparatus shown as a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Low position conveyance path 2 High position conveyance path 3 Longitudinal direction conveyance path 4 Low part direction conversion conveyance path 5 High part direction conversion conveyance path 7 Square tube member 11, 21 Conveyance board 31 Substrate member 31a, 41a, 51a Air ejection hole 32 Guide member 32c Second air ejection hole 33 Side member 41 Lower substrate member 42 Lower part guide member 7a, 42a, 52a Air flow path 7b, 42b, 52b One side surface 7c, 42c, 52c Third air ejection hole 43 Low side member 51 High substrate member 52 High guide member 53 High side member 54 First high substrate member 55 Second high substrate member W Work W1 Tube portion W2 End surface portion

Claims (4)

The vertical direction is a conveyance direction, and includes a vertical conveyance path that drives to convey the workpiece in one direction of the conveyance direction,
The vertical conveyance path is opposed to the substrate member having a plurality of air ejection holes for ejecting air obliquely toward the one direction of the conveyance direction and driving the workpiece in the one direction. A guide member having a plurality of second ejection holes arranged at a position and for ejecting air toward the work, and left and right between the substrate member and the guide member to guide the work in the transport direction. An air conveyance device comprising: a side member disposed at a distance from the guide member. Between the lower end portion of the vertical conveyance path and the low position conveyance path, low direction conversion conveyance that enables continuous conveyance of the workpiece between the vertical direction conveyance path and the low position conveyance path. The road is located,
The low direction changing conveyance path includes a low substrate member, a low guide member, and a low side member,
The lower substrate member is continuously curved in the plate surface direction, and one end portion in the bending direction is disposed at a position along the lower end portion of the substrate member, and the other end portion is the low position conveyance path. Is arranged so as to gradually change from the direction along the longitudinal conveyance path to the direction along the low position conveyance path, and toward the one direction of the conveyance direction. It has a plurality of air ejection holes that eject air obliquely and drive the workpiece in the one direction,
The lower guide member is continuously curved so as to face the lower substrate member, and one end of the bending direction is disposed at a position along the lower end of the guide member, and the other end The portion is disposed at a position along the conveyance plate in the low position conveyance path, and has a plurality of third ejection holes for ejecting air toward the workpiece,
The low side member is disposed on the left and right between the low substrate member and the low guide member to guide the workpiece in the transport direction, and is spaced from the low guide member. The air conveyance device according to claim 1, wherein the air conveyance device is disposed at a distance.   The low part guide member is formed of a square tube member having one side facing the work and having the air flow path formed therein, and the third air ejection hole is formed in the central part of the one side. A plurality of convex portions made of a softer material than the workpiece are formed toward both sides of the one side surface sandwiching the third air ejection hole therebetween in the direction. The air conveyance device according to claim 2 characterized by things.   The low part guide member is composed of a square tube member having one side facing the work and having an air flow path formed therein, and the two square tube members are spaced apart from each other. The air conveyance device according to claim 2, wherein the third air ejection hole is formed on both sides of the conveyance direction, and the one side surface of each of the square tube members is formed.

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