JP2009274782A - Conveyor device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyer device capable of saving a space by decreasing a distance between endless chains. <P>SOLUTION: The conveyer device includes a body frame 7 arranged along a main conveyance route, a pair of right/left endless chains 10 moving along the body frame 7, and an article support body 5 provided between the endless chains 10 to make its longitudinal direction orthogonal to the main conveyance route for supporting conveyed articles. The endless chains 10 are formed by linking a plurality of aligned link members 12 with connection pins. Among a plurality of the link members 12, at least some link members 12 are composed of long link members 12 having extending parts 12a extending to an outer peripheral side of rotation of the endless chains 10. Right/left end parts of the article support body 5 are connected to the extending part 12a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyor device that conveys an article by an article support connected to an endless chain disposed along a main conveyance path.

  Conventionally, there is a slide shoe type conveyor facility (conveyor device), and in such a conveyor facility, a plurality of endless chains arranged along the main transport path have a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the main transport path. The article supports are connected via side brackets, and articles are conveyed on the article support (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-273438 (page 7, FIG. 1)

  However, in the conveyor facility described in Patent Document 1, since the article support is connected to the endless chain via the side bracket, the separation width of the left and right endless chains with respect to the left and right width of the article support is small. There is a problem that a large installation space for the conveyor device must be secured.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device that can reduce the space between the endless chains to save space.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the conveyor device according to claim 1 of the present invention provides:
Provided between the main body frame disposed along the main transport path, a pair of left and right endless chains that move along the main body frame, and the endless chain such that the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the main transport path An article support for supporting an article to be conveyed,
The endless chain is formed by linking a plurality of link members arranged side by side with a connecting pin, and at least a part of the link members on the outer peripheral side of the rotation of the endless chain. It is comprised by the elongate link member which has the extended extension part, The left-right end part of the said article | item support body is connected with the said extension part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
According to this feature, since the separation width of the left and right endless chains and the left and right width of the article support can be made substantially the same, the end width is endless with respect to the left and right width of the article support as compared with the conventional conveyor device. The separation width of the chain can be reduced, and the space of the conveyor device can be saved.

The conveyor device according to claim 2 of the present invention is the conveyor device according to claim 1,
Protruding portions are formed on the opposing surfaces of the pair of left and right extending portions, and the protruding portions are removably fitted into cylindrical connecting portions formed on the left and right end portions of the article support. It is characterized by that.
According to this feature, it is not necessary to completely remove or lift the endless chain from the main body frame, and if the long link member is inclined, the protruding portion can be inserted into and removed from the article support. In addition, since no threaded member or the like is used for the connection between the article support and the extended portion of the long link member, assembly and removal of the endless chain and the article support can be performed quickly. Efficiency can be improved.

The conveyor device according to claim 3 of the present invention is the conveyor device according to claim 2,
The projecting portion is configured by a caulking pin inserted in an insertion hole formed in an extending portion of the long link member.
According to this feature, even if the protrusion is worn by repeated insertion and removal of the protrusion with respect to the cylindrical connecting part of the article support, the protrusion is supported again by simply replacing the caulking pin as the protrusion. It can be inserted into and removed from the cylindrical connecting part of the body.

A conveyor device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the conveyor device according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The endless chain is integrally provided with a first guided member provided so as to be freely rotatable via a vertical axis and a second guided member provided so as to be freely rotatable via a horizontal axis. The first and second guide members are rolled along the main body frame.
According to this feature, the first guided member can prevent the endless chain from bending in the lateral direction, and the second guided member can prevent the endless chain from bending in the vertical direction, and the first and second guide members can Since it is provided integrally with the endless chain, the accuracy of the arrangement position of the endless chain can be improved.

  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out a conveyor device according to the present invention will be described below based on examples.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conveyor device in the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a base leg portion of the conveyor device. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the main part showing the conveyor device, FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the main part showing the conveyor device, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view of the main part showing the conveyor device. ) Is a plan view showing an endless chain, and FIG. 6B is a side view showing the endless chain. Hereinafter, the right side of FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6 will be described as the front side (front side) of the conveyor device, and the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 5 will be described as the front side (front side) of the conveyor device.

  Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes a slide shoe type conveyor device to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the conveyor device 1 constitutes a main conveyance path, and a roller conveyor device 2 constituting a branch conveyance path is installed on the side of the conveyor device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor device 1 has a base leg portion 3 as a main body frame in the present embodiment installed on the floor surface. A slat 5 is provided as an article support in the present embodiment on which the article 4 is placed. Further, a slide shoe 6 is provided as an article laterally pressing body in the present embodiment that can be slid along the slat 5 in the lateral direction (left and right direction). The slide shoe 6 causes the article 4 on the slat 5 to move laterally. It can be moved laterally on the roller conveyor device 2 in the horizontal direction.

  In the conveyor device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the lower left side of the paper surface is the front side (front side) of the conveyor device 1 and the downstream side of the transport direction, and the upper right side of the paper surface is the back side (rear side) of the conveyor device 1 and the transport direction. The article 4 is conveyed from the back side to the front side of the conveyor device 1. Hereinafter, the right side of the paper in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 6 will be described as the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the article 4, and the near side of the paper in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the base leg 3 is provided with a pair of left and right frame members 7 (main body frames). Inside the frame members 7, guide rails as guide paths in the present embodiment are provided. 8 is disposed. A plurality of slats 5 are juxtaposed in the transport direction above the guide rail 8. The slat 5 is formed of a substantially plate-like member whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the main transport path.

  The plurality of slats 5 are bent downward at the front and rear end portions of the base leg portion 3 to form endless rotating bodies connected to each other. The slat 5 is connected to and pulled by a pair of left and right endless chains 10 that move along the frame member 7. Similarly to the slat 5, the endless chain 10 is bent downward at the front and rear end portions of the base leg portion 3 and is an endless rotating body connected to each other. The endless chain 10 is rotationally driven by a gear (not shown) provided at the front and rear ends of the base leg 3 and connected to a drive motor (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the endless chain 10 is formed by linking a plurality of link members 11, 12 arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction with connecting pins 13. Among the plurality of link members 11, 12 constituting the endless chain 10, at least a part of the link members 12 is configured as the long link member 12, and other than the long link member 12 is configured as the standard link member 11. The standard link members 11 and the long link members 12 are alternately linked.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the long link member 12 is formed with an extending portion 12 a that extends to the outer peripheral side of the rotation of the endless chain 10. This extension part 12a comprises a rectangular plate shape, and is extended from the outer side rather than the center part of the left-right direction of the elongate link member 12 (refer FIG. 5). Note that two extending holes 14 arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction are formed in one extending portion 12a. In each insertion hole 14, a caulking pin 15 as a protruding portion in this embodiment is inserted.

  Since the endless chain 10 forms a pair of left and right sides (see FIG. 2), the extending portions 12a of the long link member 12 are also arranged to form a pair of left and right sides. The caulking pin 15 is protruded in the horizontal direction from the surface facing inward in the extending portion 12a, that is, the opposing surfaces of the pair of left and right extending portions 12a (see FIG. 5).

  As shown in FIG. 5, a lid 16 is fixed to the left and right ends of the slat 5, and the lid 16 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a side view (see FIG. 6B). The lid body 16 is formed with two cylindrical connecting portions 17 arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. The above-described caulking pin 15 is inserted into the cylindrical connecting portion 17 so as to be detachable.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6A, the link members 11 and 12 of the endless chain 10 are provided as a first guided member in the present embodiment in which the link members 11 and 12 are provided so as to be freely rotatable via the vertical axis. A guide roller 18 and a second guide roller 19 as a second guided member in the present embodiment provided so as to be freely rotatable via a horizontal axis are integrally provided. These first and second guide rollers 18 and 19 are adapted to roll along the frame member 7.

  The first guide roller 18 is in contact with the inner surface of the frame member 7 to prevent the endless chain 10 from being bent in the lateral direction, and the second guide roller 19 is a guide groove portion 20 provided on the upper surface side of the frame member 7. The endless chain 10 can be prevented from bending in the vertical direction. In addition, since the first and second guide rollers 18 and 19 are provided integrally with the endless chain 10, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the arrangement position of the endless chain 10 with respect to the frame member 7.

  When installing the slat 5 on the base leg 3, the endless chain 10 is first attached to the left and right frame members 7. Then, the endless chain 10 is tilted so that the upper end side of the extended portion 12a of the long link member 12 faces outward, and the separation width between the pair of left and right extended portions 12a is expanded, so that the slats 5 are Installed between endless chains 10. Thereafter, the caulking pin 15 inserted in the insertion hole 14 of the extending portion 12 a is hit with a hammer or the like from the outside so as to be fitted into the cylindrical connecting portion 17 of the lid body 16 of the slat 5.

  Thus, even if the caulking pin 15 is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the cylindrical connecting portion 17 of the lid 16 of the slat 5 and the caulking pin 15 is worn, the caulking pin 15 is again attached to the slat 5 simply by replacing the caulking pin 15. The lid 16 can be inserted into and removed from the cylindrical connecting portion 17.

  Next, the slide shoe 6 attached to the slat 5 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the left and right sides of the slide shoe 6 are provided with contact surfaces 6a that contact the product 4 in order to laterally push the product 4, and the slide shoe 6 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view. I am doing.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a mounting bracket 21 is provided on the lower (rear) side of the slide shoe 6, and the slide shoe 6 is attached to the slat 5 via the mounting bracket 21. The mounting bracket 21 is shaped to cover the slat 5 from the front-rear direction. A convex portion 21 a is formed on the lower side of the mounting bracket 21, and this convex portion 21 a is engaged with an engaging groove 5 a formed on the lower surface (back surface) side of the slat 5. Therefore, the slide shoe 6 can freely slide along the longitudinal direction of the slat 5.

  A guide pin 22 as a guided portion in the present embodiment and a guide roller 23 (guided portion) pivotally supported by the guide pin 22 are provided below the mounting bracket 21 of the slide shoe 6. The guide roller 23 is guided by being loosely fitted to a guide rail 8 fixed to the base leg 3 (see FIG. 2). The guide roller 23 of the slide shoe 6 is guided by the guide rail 8 so that the relative position (left and right position) of the slide shoe 6 with respect to the slat 5 is determined.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a branch guide rail 9 is provided in addition to the guide rail 8 at the branch portion of the conveyor device 1 in which the roller conveyor device 2 is installed on the side of the conveyor device 1 (see FIG. 1). 2). The guide rail 8 is disposed along the frame member 7 at the left and right edges of the base leg 3, and the branch guide rail 9 is branched from one guide rail 8 and connected to the other guide rail 8. It is arranged.

  When the article 4 is transported along the conveyor device 1, the guide roller 23 of the slide shoe 6 is guided by the guide rails 8 at the left and right edges, so that the slide shoe 6 is located at the left or right end side of the slat 5. It is in the state where it is arranged. When the article 4 is conveyed from the conveyor device 1 to the roller conveyor device 2 branched to the side thereof, the guide roller 23 of the slide shoe 6 is guided to the branch guide rail 9 at a position close to the roller conveyor device 2. Therefore, the slide shoe 6 is slid in the left-right direction, the article 4 is laterally pushed by the slide shoe 6, and the article 4 is moved onto the roller conveyor device 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the traveling direction of the guide roller 23 of the slide shoe 6 is switched by a switching device 24 provided at a branch portion between the guide rail 8 and the branch guide rail 9.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the switching device 24 includes a distribution guide body 25 that distributes the traveling direction of the slide shoe 6 to either the guide rail 8 side or the branch guide rail 9 side. The distribution guide body 25 is provided with a synthetic resin distribution member 27 in which a distribution groove portion 26 is formed at a substantially central portion in the left-right direction. The inner surface side of the distribution groove portion 26 in the distribution member 27 is formed as a pair of left and right distribution guide surfaces 26 a that guide the guide pins 22 of the slide shoe 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the distribution guide body 25 is provided with a swing shaft 28 as a vertical axis on the upstream side of the distribution guide body 25 in the transport direction. The swing shaft 28 is fixed to the base leg portion 3 via a bearing, and the distribution guide body 25 is swingable in the left-right direction around the swing shaft 28.

  In the vicinity of the distribution guide body 25, an air cylinder 29 as a swinging means in the present embodiment is provided. The air cylinder 29 has a piston rod 30 as a moving member in the present embodiment that moves in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the transport direction. In order to drive the piston rod 30, an electromagnetic valve 31 that supplies compressed air to the air cylinder 29 is connected. The electromagnetic valve 31 is controlled by a control device (not shown).

  In addition, the distribution guide body 25 is provided with a connecting shaft 32 as a vertical axis on the downstream side in the transport direction of the distribution guide body 25. The distal end portion of the piston rod 30 of the air cylinder 29 is connected to the distribution guide body 25 via a connection shaft 32 disposed on the distribution guide body 25. The distribution guide body 25 is swung in the left-right direction around the rocking shaft 28 when the piston rod 30 is linearly moved in the left-right direction.

  Further, the distribution member 27 on which the distribution guide surface 26 a is formed, the swing shaft 28, and the connection shaft 32 are integrally disposed on a metal substrate 33 included in the distribution guide body 25. Therefore, the strength of the distribution guide body 25 having the distribution guide surface 26a, the swing shaft 28, and the connecting shaft 32 can be improved, and there is no possibility of the distribution guide body 25 being damaged or deformed.

  The switching device 24 is provided with a guide auxiliary plate 34 that guides the guide roller 23 of the slide shoe 6 in the direction along the guide rail 8 and the direction along the branch guide rail 9 in the vicinity of the distribution guide body 25. Yes. The guide roller 23 of the slide shoe 6 moves along the auxiliary guide plate 34 above the distribution guide body 25. Only the guide pin 22 passes through the distribution groove portion 26 of the distribution guide body 25.

  The distribution guide body 25 includes a first swing position where the distribution groove portion 26 is disposed along the guide rail 8 and a second swing position where the distribution groove portion 26 is disposed along the branch guide rail 9. And at least two swing positions. When the slide shoe 6 advances along the guide rail 8, the control device (not shown) performs control to switch the sorting guide body 25 to the first swing position, and moves the slide shoe 6 to the branch guide rail 9. When moving along the direction, control is performed to switch the sorting guide 25 to the second swing position.

  The left and right width of the upstream opening in the conveying direction between the distribution guide surfaces 26a in the distribution guide body 25 is such that the distribution guide body 25 is oscillated and the first oscillating position or the second oscillating position. In any of the swing positions, the guide pin 22 of the slide shoe 6 is always formed to be wider than the left and right width. For this reason, the slide shoe 6 can be used regardless of the swing position (direction) such as the first swing position (straight direction) or the second swing position (branch direction). This guide pin 22 can advance into the distribution groove 26 of the distribution guide 25 from the opening.

  Furthermore, a detection sensor 35 is provided on the upstream side of the distribution guide body 25 in the conveying direction as detection means in the present embodiment for detecting the guide pin 22 of the slide shoe 6. The detection sensor 35 has two optical fibers, and is configured to detect a detection target (guide pin 22) that passes between the two optical fibers. In the control device (not shown), the detection sensor 35 detects the guide pin 22, and the air cylinder 29 is operated while the guide pin 22 passes through the distribution guide body 25.

  More specifically, for example, after the group of slats 5 on which the articles 4 to be conveyed along the conveyor device 1 are placed, there is a group of slats 5 on which the articles 4 to be branched and conveyed to the roller conveyor device 2 are placed. In this case, first, the control device (not shown) switches the distribution guide body 25 to the first swing position, and slide shoes 6 of the slat 5 group on which the articles 4 to be conveyed along the conveyor device 1 are placed. The guide pins 22 are advanced along the guide rails 8.

  When the detection sensor 35 detects the passage of the guide pin 22 of the slide shoe 6 of the leading slat 5 in the group of slats 5 on which the articles 4 to be branched to the roller conveyor device 2 are placed, a control device (illustrated). The abbreviation) switches the distribution guide body 25 to the second swing position so that the slide shoes 6 of the group of slats 5 on which the articles 4 to be branched to the roller conveyor device 2 are placed are advanced along the branch guide rails 9. To.

  As described above, the distribution guide 25 is placed between the slat 5 group on which the articles 4 to be conveyed along the conveyor device 1 are placed and the slat 5 group on which the articles 4 to be branched to the roller conveyor device 2 are placed. There is no need to dispose a group of slats 5 for providing a margin for switching the swing position.

  Further, the guide member 22 of the slide shoe 6 swings the distribution guide member 25 while passing through the distribution guide member 25, so that the distribution guide member 25 is brought close to the distribution guide member 25. The article 4 can be moved in a predetermined direction by swinging, and the interval between the article 4 and the article 4 being conveyed on the conveyor device (main conveyance path) is narrowed, and the conveyor device 1 can be improved. Further, it is possible to reduce a collision sound when the guide pin 22 collides with the distribution guide surface 26a of the distribution guide body 25.

  As described above, according to the conveyor apparatus 1 as an embodiment of the present invention, the endless chain 10 is formed by linking a plurality of link members 11, 12 arranged side by side with the connecting pins 13. Among the link members 11, 12, at least a part of the link members 12 is composed of a long link member 12 having an extended portion 12 a that extends to the outer peripheral side of the rotation of the endless chain 10. Since the end portion is connected to the extension portion 12a, the separation width of the left and right endless chains 10 and the left and right widths of the slats 5 can be made substantially the same. The separation width of the endless chain 10 can be made smaller than the left and right widths of 5, and the space of the conveyor device 1 can be saved.

  Further, caulking pins 15 are provided on opposing surfaces of the pair of left and right extending portions 12a, and the caulking pins 15 are removably inserted into the cylindrical connecting portions 17 provided at the left and right end portions of the slat 5. Thus, it is not necessary to completely remove or lift the endless chain 10 from the frame member 7, and the caulking pin 15 can be inserted into and removed from the slat 5 if the long link member 12 is inclined. In addition, since no threaded member or the like is used to connect the slat 5 and the extended portion 12a of the long link member 12, the assembling work and the detaching work of the endless chain 10 and the slat 5 can be performed quickly. Work efficiency can be improved.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is.

It is a perspective view which shows the conveyor apparatus in an Example. It is a top view which shows the base leg part of a conveyor apparatus. It is a principal part enlarged plan view which shows a conveyor apparatus. It is a principal part expanded side view which shows a conveyor apparatus. It is a principal part enlarged front view which shows a conveyor apparatus. (A) is a top view which shows an endless chain, (b) is a side view which shows an endless chain.

Explanation of symbols

1 Conveyor device (main transport route)
2 Roller conveyor device (branch transport route)
3 Base legs (body frame)
4 Article 5 Slat (article support)
6 Slide shoe (article side pusher)
7 Frame member (main frame)
8 Guide rail
9 Branch guide rail (guideway)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endless chain 11 Standard link member 12 Long link member 12a Extension part 13 Connection pin 14 Insertion hole 15 Caulking pin (protrusion part)
17 Cylindrical connecting portion 18 First guide roller (first guided member)
19 Second guide roller (second guided member)
22 Guide pin (guided part)
23 Guide roller (guided part)
24 switching device 25 distribution guide body 26 distribution groove portion 26a distribution guide surface 28 swing shaft 29 air cylinder (swing means)
30 Piston rod (moving member)
32 Connecting shaft 33 Substrate 35 Detection sensor (detection means)

Claims (4)

Provided between the main body frame disposed along the main transport path, a pair of left and right endless chains that move along the main body frame, and the endless chain such that the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the main transport path An article support for supporting an article to be conveyed,
The endless chain is formed by linking a plurality of link members arranged side by side with a connecting pin, and at least a part of the link members on the outer peripheral side of the rotation of the endless chain. A conveyor device comprising a long link member having an extended portion, wherein left and right end portions of the article support are connected to the extended portion.   Protruding portions are formed on the opposing surfaces of the pair of left and right extending portions, and the protruding portions are removably fitted into cylindrical connecting portions formed on the left and right end portions of the article support. The conveyor apparatus of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The said protrusion part is comprised with the crimping pin inserted in the insertion hole formed in the extension part of the said elongate link member, The conveyor apparatus of Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The endless chain is integrally provided with a first guided member provided so as to be freely rotatable via a vertical axis and a second guided member provided so as to be freely rotatable via a horizontal axis. The conveyor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second guide members are rolled along the main body frame.

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