JP2009007150A - Chain conveyer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chain conveyor apparatus in which the pulsation caused at a linear traveling part is suppressed and which is reduced in size and noise. <P>SOLUTION: This chain conveyor apparatus comprises at least one row of roller chain 1b endlessly circulating along a predetermined conveying path. The roller chain 1b is applied to both ends of an endless circulating track. A spiral drive mechanism 4 is installed on the linear part of the endless circulating track at least at one position. A claw part engaged with the spiral part 4a of the spiral drive mechanism projects from each of the attachments of the roller chain 1b or each of slats 2 transversely installed on the roller chain. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain conveyor device used for an article conveying device and a sorting device, and more particularly to a chain conveyor device that suppresses pulsation in a straight traveling section.

  Conventionally, as a method of driving a chain conveyor device that circulates endlessly, (1) a conveyor chain is hung on a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket that are spaced apart, and the drive sprocket is rotated by a prime mover or the like. A sprocket drive system for driving and driving the conveyor chain; and (2) a plurality of the guide chains that are spaced apart from each other, and the conveyor chain is engaged with at least one of the linearly traveling portions of the conveyor chain. There is known a caterpillar drive system for driving a conveyor chain by installing a caterpillar drive mechanism including an endless drive chain having a plurality of propulsion teeth.

According to the latter caterpillar drive system, the arrangement position and the number of arrangements of the caterpillar drive mechanism can be arbitrarily selected in the linear travel part of the conveyor chain. It has the advantage that the driving force can be enhanced by installing it (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 59-48319 A

  However, in the above-described chain conveyor device using the sprocket drive system, pulsation occurs in the linear travel portion of the roller chain that travels endlessly due to the polygonal motion of the chain, and the transported object supported by the roller chain shakes. When the conveyed product is like a can of beer or a soft drink, there is a concern that the product may fall.

  Further, since all the load of the conveyed product is received by the roller chain, if the conveying distance becomes long, the chain size must be increased, which causes an increase in size and cost of the conveying device. Further, in order to reduce the polygonal movement of the chain, it is necessary to increase the number of teeth of the sprocket, and the size of the sprocket increases accordingly. As a result, there is a problem that extra man-hours and costs such as digging a side groove (pit) for storing the return side conveyor chain when installing the chain conveyor device, and the layout cannot be freely changed. It was.

  Furthermore, if the rollers of the roller chain are made of an elastic resin or a self-lubricating sintered alloy in order to reduce noise during conveyance, excessive drive torque is applied to the rollers when engaged with the sprocket. Therefore, the problem that the resin and the sintered alloy are damaged in a short period has occurred.

  On the other hand, in the chain conveyor apparatus by the caterpillar driving method, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes larger by newly arranging the caterpillar driving mechanism. Further, since the endless drive chain constituting the caterpillar drive mechanism itself causes a polygonal motion, the pulsation generated in the straight running portion of the conveyor chain cannot be completely removed. Furthermore, in the case of a chain conveyor apparatus using two or more strips of conveyor chains, a plurality of chains themselves are caused to travel by a caterpillar drive mechanism, which causes a problem in that a shift occurs between the chains. Moreover, it is necessary to use a dedicated chain having a structure in which the chain itself meshes with the caterpillar drive mechanism, and the apparatus is not versatile, resulting in an increase in cost.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a chain conveyor device that suppresses pulsation generated in a straight traveling portion and realizes downsizing and low noise of the device.

The invention according to claim 1 is a chain conveyor apparatus having at least one roller chain that travels endlessly along a predetermined conveying path, wherein the roller chain is hung on a turn member at both ends of an endless circulation track. A helical drive mechanism is installed in at least one of the linear portions of the endless circulation track, and a claw portion that engages with the helical portion of the helical drive mechanism is horizontally mounted on the attachment of the roller chain or the roller chain. The above-mentioned object is achieved by projecting on the slats.
In the present invention, the chain conveyor apparatus is a so-called slide chain conveyor apparatus in which two or more conveyor chains are arranged in parallel, and a transported article is placed directly on the traveling chain, and at least one conveyor chain plate is provided. This means a so-called slat conveyor device that places a conveyed product on a slat such as a steel plate, resin, or wood attached to the attachment in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction.
Further, in the present invention, the form of the turn member is not particularly limited as long as it can reliably and smoothly support the chain at both ends of the endless circulation chain. .

  In the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the pitch of the claw part, that is, the distance between the adjacent claw part and the claw part is the pitch of the spiral part of the spiral drive mechanism, that is, the spiral part. The object is further achieved by being longer than the distance in the axial direction that travels when the helix is rotated once.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, the roller chain roller is made of resin or sintered alloy, thereby further achieving the above object. To do.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the chain conveyor apparatus having at least one roller chain that travels endlessly along a predetermined conveying path, the roller chain is hung on the turn member at both ends of the endless circulation track. A helical drive mechanism is installed in at least one position of the linear part of the endless circulation track, and a claw part that engages with the helical part of the helical drive mechanism is lateral to the attachment of the roller chain or the roller chain. By projecting on the slats that are mounted, the rotational movement of the helical part of the helical drive mechanism is directly converted into linear movement that moves the roller chain of the chain conveyor device in the traveling direction. Pulsation due to square motion does not propagate.

  Moreover, since the pulsation caused by the polygonal motion of the chain does not propagate to the conveyed product, when a sprocket is used as the turn member of the chain, for example, the number of teeth of the sprocket may be extremely reduced to, for example, three teeth. Thus, the apparatus can be miniaturized. As a result, extra man-hours and costs such as digging a side groove (pit) are not required, and the installation layout of the apparatus can be easily changed.

  In addition, as a result of the roller chain or the slat horizontally mounted on the roller chain being directly driven by the helical drive mechanism, the load applied to the roller chain is reduced, and a small-sized general-purpose chain is used regardless of the length of the transport distance. This makes it possible to further reduce the size and cost of the apparatus.

  According to the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, the pitch n1 of the claw part is longer than the pitch n2 of the spiral part of the spiral drive mechanism. Since the required torque is reduced by the ratio of n2 / n1, the drive source of the helical drive mechanism can be reduced in size.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, an excessive load is not applied to the rollers of the roller chain. This makes it possible to reduce the noise caused by the contact between the roller and the turn member.

  The present invention provides a chain conveyor apparatus having at least one roller chain that travels endlessly along a predetermined conveying path, wherein the roller chain is hung on a turn member at both ends of an endless circulation track, and the endless circulation is performed. A spiral drive mechanism is installed in at least one of the linear portions of the track, and a claw portion that engages with the spiral portion of the spiral drive mechanism protrudes from an attachment of the roller chain or a slat horizontally mounted on the roller chain. What is the specific embodiment of the chain conveyor device that is provided and that suppresses the pulsation that occurs in the straight traveling section and realizes downsizing and low noise of the device? It doesn't matter.

  An embodiment of the chain conveyor device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slat conveyor device according to the present invention. The slat conveyor device shown in FIG. 1 is configured to explain the mechanism of this device, and shows a device in which the straight traveling portion of the transport path is shortened. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of the slat conveyor device by cutting along the line II-II in FIG. 1, that is, cutting the center of the slat to remove the slat on the near side and the roller chain associated therewith. It is. FIG. 3A is a side view of the cut slat conveyor device shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the side, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a portion IIIB in FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a part of the perspective view shown in FIG.

  The slat conveyor device of the present invention is attached in parallel to two roller chains 1a and 1b arranged in parallel to endlessly circulate along a predetermined conveying path, and in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction between the two roller chains 1a and 1b. The plurality of slats 2 are provided. Although the attachment method of the slat 2 and the roller chains 1a and 1b is not clearly shown in the drawing, the plate on the opposite side of the roller chains 1a and 1b is extended and bent inward into an L shape to form an attachment. The slat 2 is fixed to the attachment with a bolt or the like. The two roller chains 1a and 1b are respectively hung on sprockets 3a and 3b as turn members at both ends of the endless circulation track. In this embodiment, a six-tooth sprocket is used as shown in FIG. Thus, by reducing the number of teeth, the distance between the slat surface on the conveyance side and the slat surface on the return side can be shortened. Furthermore, for example, by using a three-tooth sprocket, the distance between the slat surface on the conveyance side and the slat surface on the return side can be further shortened.

  A spiral drive mechanism 4 is installed at one place on the inner straight portion of the endless circulation track formed by the roller chains 1a and 1b and the slat 2. The spiral drive mechanism 4 transmits power between a spiral portion 4a that forms a continuous spiral curved surface, a drive source 4b such as an electric motor that rotationally drives the spiral portion 4a, and the spiral portion 4a and the drive source 4c. For example, it has the power transmission part 4c which consists of a belt and a pulley.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3B, a claw portion 2b that engages with the spiral portion 4a of the spiral drive mechanism 4 is provided on the surface of the slat 2 opposite to the transported object placement surface 2a. When the spiral portion 4a rotates at a constant speed, the claw portion 2b is pushed out in the spiral direction in synchronization with the rotation of the spiral portion 4a. When this movement acts continuously, the slat 2 travels at a constant speed without pulsation. In addition, since the pseudo worm structure is formed by the engagement of the spiral portion 4a and the claw portion 2b, the slat 2 is also stopped on the spot when the spiral drive mechanism 4 is stopped, and is reversed or advanced. There is nothing to do. Furthermore, the sprockets 3a and 3b existing at both ends of the endless circulation track formed by the two roller chains 1a and 1b and the slats 2 are merely for guiding the rotating portions of the roller chains 1a and 1b. 1a, 1b and sprockets 3a, 3b do not apply a large meshing torque, so the roller chain 1a, 1b is made of a urethane-based or polyester-based resin having rubber elasticity, or self-lubricating. The apparatus can be made of a sintered alloy having low noise, and the noise reduction of the apparatus can be achieved without requiring refueling.

  4 is an enlarged view for clearly showing the engagement between the shape of the spiral portion 4a of the spiral drive mechanism 4 shown in FIG. As is apparent from this figure, the spiral portion 4a is a screw-shaped member that is formed of a continuous spiral curved surface and does not have a cylindrical member serving as a core. Further, in this embodiment, the pitch n1 of the claw portion 2b projecting from the surface of the slat 2 opposite to the conveyed product placement surface 2a is set to be four times the pitch n2 of the spiral portion 4a of the spiral drive mechanism. The torque required for the helical drive mechanism is reduced to the ratio of n2 / n1, that is, about 1/4, so that the drive source of the helical drive mechanism can be reduced in size.

  Next, Example 2 which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the shape of the spiral portion of the spiral drive mechanism. Therefore, description will be made with reference to FIG. 5 corresponding to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, members corresponding to those in FIG. As is apparent from this drawing, the spiral portion 14a of the spiral drive mechanism has a screw shape with a spiral curved surface provided along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 14d serving as a core. With such a shape, the tip of the claw portion 12b protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 14d serving as the core of the spiral portion 14a and the surface on the opposite side of the transported object placement surface 12a of the slat 12 is slid. Therefore, the traveling of the transported object placement surface 12a of the slat 12 is more stable.

Furthermore, Example 3 which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a roller chain 21 that circulates endlessly constituting the present invention, a sprocket 23 that hangs the roller chain 21 at both ends of the endless circulation track, and a helical drive mechanism 24 that is installed on the inner straight portion of the endless circulation track. It is the conceptual diagram which showed typically this relationship from the side.
As is apparent from FIG. 6, in the third embodiment, four spiral drive mechanisms 24 are installed along the straight conveyance path of the endless circulation track. By distributing the drive sources in this way, the straight portion of the transport path can be lengthened without requiring a large drive source. Moreover, since the length of the linear part of a conveyance path can be set freely by changing the number of the spiral drive mechanisms 24 according to the length of the linear part of a conveyance path, the layout of a chain conveyor apparatus can be set freely Can do. This embodiment is applicable not only to the slat conveyor device as shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment but also to a slide chain conveyor device.

Furthermore, Example 4 which is another embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on FIG. FIG. 7 shows a roller chain 31 that runs endlessly circulating, a sprocket 33 that hangs the roller chain 31 at both ends of the endless circulation track, and a spiral drive mechanism 34 that is installed on the inner straight portion of the endless circulation track. It is the conceptual diagram which showed typically the relationship with from the side.
As is apparent from FIG. 7, in the fourth embodiment, two spiral drive mechanisms 34 are installed on the back side of the input part IN of the conveyed product provided at least at one of the linear portions of the conveyance path of the endless circulation track. By arranging a large number of spiral drive mechanisms 34 where loads are concentrated in this way, the spiral drive mechanism 34 supports the transport surface of the slat conveyor device. However, stable endless circulation travel can be achieved without sinking the transport surface of the endless circulation track. Although this embodiment has been described as a slat conveyor device, it is equally applicable to a slide chain conveyor device.

Furthermore, Example 5 which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a roller chain 41 that circulates endlessly and that constitutes the present invention, a sprocket 43 that hangs the roller chain 41 at both ends of the endless circulatory track, and a helical drive mechanism 44 that is installed on the inner straight portion of the endless circulatory track. It is the conceptual diagram which showed typically the relationship with from the side.
As is apparent from FIG. 8, in the fifth embodiment, two helical drive mechanisms 44 are arranged on the transport side and one on the return side of the inner straight portion of the endless circulation track. Thus, by providing the spiral drive mechanism 44 also on the return side of the inner straight portion of the endless circulation track, the weight of the return side of the slat conveyor is prevented from concentrating on the sprocket 43 even when the straight conveyance path is long. Therefore, the torque generated when the roller chain 41 and the sprocket 43 are engaged can be reduced. Although this embodiment has been described as a slat conveyor device, it is equally applicable to a slide chain conveyor device.

Furthermore, Example 6 which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows two endless roller chains 51a and 51b that are endlessly circulating and constituting the present invention, sprockets 53a and 53b that hang roller chains 51a and 51b at both ends of the endless circulation track, and an endless circulation track. It is the conceptual diagram which showed typically the relationship with the spiral drive mechanism 54 installed in the inner side linear part from the upper surface, abbreviate | omitting slats.
As is apparent from FIG. 9, in the sixth embodiment, the helical drive mechanism 54 is arranged so as to mesh with the claw portions 55 protruding from the plates of the roller chains 51a and 51b. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the spiral drive mechanisms 54 are installed one by one at the symmetrical positions of the two roller chains 51 a and 51 b. There is no limit.

  The first to sixth embodiments described above are directed to a slat conveyor device in which a plurality of slats are attached between two roller chains. However, a slat conveyor in which slats are attached to one or three or more roller chains. It is also possible to apply to an apparatus.

Furthermore, Example 7 which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 shows three roller chains 61a, 61b, 61c that endlessly circulate constituting the present invention, sprockets 63a, 63b, 63c that hang the roller chains 61 at both ends of the endless circulation track, and the endless circulation travel. It is a perspective view of the slide chain conveyor apparatus 60 in which the spiral drive mechanism 64 was installed in the linear part of the roller chain 61b in the middle of the three-row roller chain 61.
In this slide chain conveyor device 60, a claw portion 65 that engages with a spiral portion 64 a of a spiral drive mechanism 64 protrudes from an attachment 66 extending on an inner plate of a roller chain 61 b in the middle of a three-row roller chain 61. Yes. Further, since the three sprockets 63 that hang the three-row roller chain 61 are connected by the connecting shaft 67, the other roller chains 61a and 61c rotate in synchronization with the middle roller chain 61b. Since the middle roller chain 61b is directly driven by the helical drive mechanism 64, it does not pulsate, and pulsation may occur in the other roller chains 61a and 61c that rotate in synchronization with the roller chain 61b. It is suppressed.
In this embodiment, a slide chain conveyor device including three roller chains 61 is described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a slide chain conveyor device having two or four or more roller chains.

  Furthermore, Example 8 which is another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The present embodiment is a slat conveyor device that has two roller chains and uses rail turns as turn members that support the roller chains at both ends of an endless circulation track. FIG. 11 is a side view of the slat conveyor device according to the present invention, cut at the center in the running direction of the slat to remove the front slat and the roller chain associated therewith so that the inside of the slat conveyor device can be seen. It is. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the XII portion of FIG. 11 so that the shape of the rail turn can be seen by removing the outer plate and the inner plate on the front side of the roller chain, and FIG. It is sectional drawing in a XIII line.

  The slat conveyor device of this embodiment includes two parallel roller chains 71 that endlessly circulate along a predetermined conveying path, and a plurality of roller chains 71 that are attached between the two roller chains 71 in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction. The slat 72 is provided. The two roller chains 71 are respectively suspended on rail turns 73 at both ends of the endless circulation track. In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a rail turn 73 having an arc shape is used. Further, the roller chain 71 used in this embodiment uses a flange roller having a flange 71f on one outer peripheral edge of the roller 71b as shown in the sectional view of FIG. By using the flange roller, it is possible to prevent the roller chain from being removed from the rail turn 73. In FIG. 13, 71a is an inner plate, 71b is a roller, 71c is a bush, 71d is a connecting pin, and 71e is an outer plate. Further, as described above, the description of the outer and inner links on the near side in FIG. 12, that is, the left side in FIG. 13, is omitted. The slat conveyor device of the present embodiment is the same as the slat conveyor structure described in the first embodiment except that a rail turn is used as a turn member, and therefore a detailed description is omitted.

  In the first to eighth embodiments described above, only the example in which the spiral drive mechanism is installed inside the straight portion of the endless circulation track has been described. However, the spiral drive mechanism is located outside the straight portion of the endless circulation track. It is also possible to install in.

  The present invention provides a chain conveyor device that suppresses pulsations that occur on the conveyance travel surface and realizes downsizing and low noise of the device, and its industrial applicability is extremely high.

1 is a perspective view of a slat conveyor device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. (A) is a side view of FIG. 2, (b) is an enlarged view of the IIIB part of (a). The enlarged view to which a part of cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 2 was expanded. The enlarged view to which a part of cross-sectional perspective view of Example 2 was expanded. The conceptual diagram of Example 3. FIG. The conceptual diagram of Example 4. FIG. The conceptual diagram of Example 5. FIG. The conceptual diagram of Example 6. FIG. The perspective view of the slide chain conveyor apparatus of Example 7. FIG. Sectional side view which deleted a part of slat conveyor apparatus of Example 8. FIG. The enlarged view which deleted a part of XII part of FIG. Sectional drawing in the XIII-XIII line | wire of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1a, 1b, 21, 31, 41, 51a, 51b, 61a, 61b, 61c... Roller chain 2, 12... Slat 2a, 12a. .. Claw parts 3a, 3b, 23, 33, 43, 53a, 53b, 63a, 63b, 63c (sprockets) 4, 24, 34, 44, 54, 64 ... Spiral drive mechanism 4a, 14a, 64a ... spiral part 4b (of spiral drive mechanism), 14b ... drive source 4c (of spiral drive mechanism) ... power transmission part 14d (of spiral drive mechanism) ... (of spiral part) Cylindrical members 55, 65 ... claw part 66 (of roller chain) ... attachment 67 ... connection shaft 71 ... roller chain 71a ... inner plate 71b (of roller chain) ... Roller 71c (of roller chain) ... Bush 71d (of roller chain) ... Pin 71e (of roller chain) ... Outer plate 71f (of roller chain) ... Flange IN (of roller chain) ...・ Input part

Claims (3)

In a chain conveyor apparatus having at least one roller chain that travels endlessly along a predetermined conveyance path,
The roller chain is hung on a turn member at both ends of an endless circulation track,
A spiral drive mechanism is installed in at least one of the linear portions of the endless circulation track,
A chain conveyor device, wherein a claw portion that engages with a spiral portion of the spiral drive mechanism protrudes from an attachment of the roller chain or a slat horizontally mounted on the roller chain.   The chain conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein a pitch of the claw portion is longer than a pitch of the spiral portion of the spiral drive mechanism.   The chain conveyor device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the roller of the roller chain is made of resin or sintered alloy.

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