JP2012188263A - Conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve ease of assembly and maintenance of a conveying device by facilitating a plurality of rollers, roller support stands, a rotational driving body, and a rotating drive mechanism to be attached/detached to/from a base of the conveying device.SOLUTION: In a sorting device having the plurality of conveying rollers disposed in the conveying direction of an article and the width direction of the conveying path, the roller support stand 140 for supporting the respective rollers 120 of a unit roller group G, a line shaft 170 for rotating and driving the respective rollers 120 of the unit roller group G, and the rotating drive mechanism 150 for rotating the roller 120 via the roller support stand 140 are assembled to a unit support body 190 which has a bearing part 194 for supporting the line shaft 170 in a rotatable manner, so as to configure one roller unit U together with the unit roller group G and the unit support body 190. The roller unit U is attachable/detachable to/from the base of the sorting device by allowing the unit support body 190 to be attached/detached to/from the base.

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that includes a transport roller that can rotate about a horizontal axis and that can rotate about a vertical axis, and transports articles by the roller. And this conveyance apparatus is a sorting apparatus which can change the conveyance direction of articles | goods, for example.

  A conveying device (for example, a sorting device) supports a plurality of rollers arranged in the conveying direction of the article and the width direction of the conveying path, and supports each roller so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis, and is rotatable around a vertical axis. A roller support base, one or more rotation drive mechanisms for rotating a plurality of rollers at the same time, a rotation drive body (for example, a line shaft) that rotationally drives each roller, and a machine base. However, what supports a roller support stand and a rotation drive body is known (for example, refer patent documents 1-3).

Japanese Patent No. 3349084 JP-A-6-219522 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-138215

By the way, when all of the plurality of roller support bases, the rotation drive mechanism, and the rotation drive body are individually attached to and detached from the machine base of the sorting apparatus as the conveying device, the members that are attached to and detached from the machine base Since the number of the will increase, it takes time. For this reason, at the time of assembling and maintaining the sorting apparatus, it takes time to assemble and remove these members from the machine base, and there is a problem in that the assembling and maintenance characteristics of the sorting apparatus are reduced.
In addition, when the rotation support shaft of the roller support base that is rotatably supported by the machine base is supported via the bearing cylinder that holds the bearing, a dedicated member for supporting the rotation support shaft And the support shaft for rotation may be long, leading to an increase in the weight of the roller support base and an increase in size in the vertical direction, and an increase in the weight and size of the sorting device. There is a problem that the number of parts increases and the cost increases.
Further, when a cover provided with a roller protrusion hole from which the roller protrudes upward is attached to the machine base, it is troublesome to assemble the cover to the machine base if the cover is attached to the machine base with bolts. Moreover, there is a problem that it is not easy to adjust the protrusion height of the roller from the roller protrusion hole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problems, and its object is to facilitate the attachment and detachment of a plurality of rollers, a roller support base, a rotation drive body, and a rotation drive mechanism with respect to a machine base of a transfer apparatus. It is to improve the assembly and maintenance of the apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to reduce the cost by reducing the weight of the transport device or reducing the size in the vertical direction.
Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to improve the ease of assembly of the cover provided with the roller protrusion hole to the machine base or to adjust the protrusion height of the roller from the roller protrusion hole and facilitate adjustment. Is to make it easier.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a first predetermined number of a plurality arranged in the conveyance direction (20) of the article (10) in the conveyance path (101) and the width direction (23) of the conveyance path (101). A conveying roller (120), and a roller support (140) for supporting the plurality of rollers (120) rotatably around a horizontal axis (Lh) and rotating around a vertical axis (Lv) A plurality of rotation drive mechanisms (150) for rotating the rollers (120) about the vertical axis (Lv) via the roller support (140), and a plurality of rotation mechanisms for rotating the rollers (120). A transport device (100) comprising: a rotary drive body (170); and a base (110) on which each of the roller support bases (140), the rotation drive mechanism (150), and the rotary drive body (170) are assembled. ) A plurality of roller support bases (140) for supporting a plurality of rollers (120) belonging to a unit roller group (G) composed of a second predetermined number of rollers (120) being a plurality less than one predetermined number; A unit support (190) that supports a unit roller support (140) is provided, and the rotational driving body (170) rotationally drives the plurality of rollers (120) belonging to the unit roller group (G). The rotation drive mechanism (150) includes a unit rotation drive body (170), and the rotation drive mechanism (150) rotates the roller (120) via the unit roller support (140). 150), and the unit roller support (140), the unit rotary drive (170) and the unit rotary drive mechanism (150) By being assembled to the support body (190), the unit roller group (G) and the unit support body (190) constitute one roller unit (U), and the roller unit (U) is configured to support the unit. When the body (190) is attached to and detached from the machine base (110), the body (190) can be attached to and detached from the machine base (110), thereby solving the problems described above.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1, the unit support (190) is a first support (191) arranged at an interval in the transport direction (20). And a second support (192), and a connecting portion (193) for connecting the first support (191) and the second support (192), wherein the unit roller group (G) A first unit roller group (G1) constituting the first roller row (R1) in the width direction (23) and a second unit roller group constituting the second roller row (R2) in the width direction (23). (G2), the first roller row (R1) and the second roller row (R2) are spaced apart in the conveying direction (20), and the unit roller support (140) The plurality of rollers (12) of the first roller row (R1) ) And a second roller support base (140B) for supporting the plurality of rollers (120) of the second roller row (R2), the first roller support base The base (140a) is supported by the first support (191), the second roller support (140b) is supported by the second support (192), and the unit rotation drive mechanism (150) is The above-described problems are solved by rotating the first roller support base (140a) and the second roller support base (140b) all at once in the same rotation direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, a part of each of the rollers (120) serves as a roller protruding portion (120a) and protrudes upward. In order to adjust the height (H) of the cover (130) provided with the hole (131) and the roller protrusion (120a), the cover (130) can be adjusted vertically with respect to the machine base (110). By providing the adjustment member (200) for adjusting the position, the above-described problem is solved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the adjusting member (200) has a cover holding portion (206) on which the cover (130) is placed from above. Part (200), and the cover holding part (200) solves the above-mentioned problem by being able to adjust the position in the vertical direction with respect to the machine base (110).

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the roller support base (140) includes the roller (120) and the vertical axis (Lv). A rotation support shaft (145) is supported by the unit support (190) so as to be able to rotate around, and the rotation support shaft (145) is substantially entirely configured by the unit support (190). ), The above-mentioned problems are solved.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, any one of the rollers (120) supported by the machine base (110) is provided. One predetermined number of the rollers (120) belong to any of the plurality of unit roller groups (G), and the second predetermined number, the number of unit roller support bases (140), the unit rotary drive body The number of (170) and the number of unit rotational drive mechanisms (150) are the same or different values in each roller unit (U), thereby solving the above-described problems.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second predetermined number of unit roller groups, the unit roller support base, the unit rotation drive body, the unit rotation drive mechanism, and the unit support body constitute one roller unit. The unit roller group, the unit roller support base, the unit rotation drive body, and the unit rotation drive mechanism can be attached to and detached from the machine base in units of roller units. As a result, since the assembly of the unit roller group, the roller support base, the rotation drive body, and the rotation drive mechanism to the machine base is facilitated, the assemblability of the transport device can be improved. Further, during maintenance, it is easy to remove the unit roller group, the roller support base, the rotation drive body, and the rotation drive mechanism from the machine base, so that the maintainability of the transport device can be improved.
Furthermore, diversification of roller arrangement forms is facilitated by exchanging roller unit units. In addition, when a problem occurs in a roller or a roller support stand, it is easy to replace the roller unit that contains the defective part with a normal roller unit, thereby improving the operating rate of the transport device. become.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, the following effect is produced.
In the roller unit group constituting the roller unit, all the rollers belonging to the first and second roller rows separated in the transport direction and supported by the first and second roller support bases rotate in the same rotation direction at the same time. Therefore, the structure of the roller unit including the first and second roller rows can be simplified, and the weight of the roller unit including the first and second roller rows can be reduced, and thus the weight of the conveying device can be reduced.
In addition, the first roller support that supports the rollers of the first roller row and the first and second supports that support the second roller support that supports the rollers of the second roller row are spaced apart in the transport direction. As a result, a gap is formed between the two support bodies, so that the weight of the roller unit is reduced compared with the case where the first and second roller support bases are supported by a common support body, and thus the weight of the transport device is reduced. Can be realized.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1 or claim 2, the following effect is produced.
By adjusting the protrusion height, the degree of contact of the article to be conveyed with the cover can be changed, so that the ratio of the weight supported by the roller and the weight supported by the cover can be changed. As a result, the frictional force between the roller and the article can be adjusted, and the conveyance force by the roller can be adjusted, so that it is possible to set an appropriate conveyance force according to the article and improve the conveyance efficiency. Can do.
In addition, since the position of the cover is adjusted to adjust the protruding height, the structure for adjusting the protruding height is simplified as compared with the case where the position of the roller is adjusted. Compared with the case of adjusting the position of the rollers, the height adjustment of the first predetermined number of rollers provided in the transport device is facilitated.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 3, the following effect is produced.
Since the cover only needs to be placed on the placement portion of the cover holding portion from above, the cover can be easily attached to and detached from the machine base. Moreover, the position of the cover in the vertical direction relative to the machine base is changed by adjusting the position of the cover holding part in the vertical direction with respect to the machine base by utilizing the fact that the cover is placed on the cover holding part. Therefore, it becomes easy to adjust the roller protrusion height.

According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention of any one of claims 1 to 4, the following effect is produced.
The rotation support shaft of the roller support base for enabling rotation of the roller uses the unit support body to which the unit rotation drive body and the unit rotation drive mechanism are assembled. Since it is supported, a dedicated member for supporting the rotation support shaft is not necessary, and almost the entire rotation support shaft is accommodated in the unit support body. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the weight of the roller unit and the size in the vertical direction, and further reduce the weight of the transport device and the size in the vertical direction.

According to the invention concerning Claim 6, in addition to the effect which the invention concerning any one of Claims 1-5 shows, the following effect is produced.
Since all the rollers included in the transport device belong to one of the roller units, the assembling property and the maintainability of the transport device can be improved. Further, in each roller unit, the second predetermined number, the number of unit roller support bases, the number of unit rotation driving bodies, and the number of unit rotation driving mechanisms are all the same, so that all rollers included in the conveying device are provided. The unit can be shared, and the cost of the transfer device can be reduced.

The principal part top view of an article conveyance system provided with the sorting apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure of the principal part in the II arrow of the sorting apparatus of FIG. The figure of the principal part by the III arrow of the sorting apparatus of FIG. The principal part enlarged view of FIG. The top view of the roller unit of the sorting apparatus of FIG. VI-VI sectional view taken on the line of FIG. VII-VII line sectional drawing of FIG. VIII-VIII sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The perspective view centering on the cover positioning part of the sorting apparatus of FIG. Sectional drawing of the cover positioning part of FIG.

  The transport apparatus of the present invention is capable of rotating a plurality of first predetermined number of transport rollers arranged in the transport direction of the article in the transport path and the width direction of the transport path, and the plurality of rollers about a horizontal axis. And a plurality of rotation drive mechanisms for rotating the rollers around the vertical axis via the roller support, and A plurality of rotation driving bodies to be rotated; and a machine base on which each of the roller support bases, the rotation driving mechanism, and the rotation driving body are assembled, and a second predetermined number that is a plurality less than the first predetermined number. A unit support for supporting a unit roller support, which is a plurality of the roller support for supporting the plurality of rollers belonging to the unit roller group composed of the rollers, and the rotary drive is the unit A rotation drive body for a unit that rotationally drives the plurality of rollers belonging to the troller group, and the rotation drive mechanism includes a rotation drive mechanism for the unit that rotates the roller via the unit roller support base. The unit roller support base, the unit rotation drive body, and the unit rotation drive mechanism are assembled to the unit support body, so that one roller unit is provided together with the unit roller group and the unit support body. The roller unit can be attached to and detached from the machine base by attaching and detaching the unit support to the machine base. Improved ease of assembly and maintainer of transport device by facilitating attachment / detachment of support base, rotary drive and rotary drive mechanism If those can be improved scan properties, specific embodiments thereof are may be any one.

For example, the conveying device may be a conveying device that can change the conveying direction on the conveying path in accordance with the type and shape of the article to be conveyed, in addition to the sorting device.
The first predetermined number of rollers included in the transport device may include a roller that does not constitute a unit roller group. In this case, the transport device includes at least one roller unit, and the roller that does not constitute the roller unit is provided with a rotation drive body and a rotation drive mechanism that do not constitute the roller unit U. Therefore, in the transport apparatus in this case, the rotation drive body includes a unit rotation drive body, and the rotation drive mechanism includes a unit rotation drive mechanism.
The rotation drive mechanism may be a rack and pinion mechanism including a rack attached to the unit support and a pinion provided on the roller support.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIG. 1 which is a plan view of a main part of an article transport system 1 including a sorting apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the article transport system 1 is bound to an article 10 (for example, a bundle of newspaper bundles). A sorting device 100 as a transporting device including a plurality of transporting rollers 120 for transporting an article or a packed product), and a loading transport device 2 (for example, a belt) for transporting the article 10 into the sorting device 100 A conveyor) and a carry-out conveyance device 3 (for example, a belt conveyor) for carrying out the articles 10 conveyed by the sorting device 100.

The unloading transfer device 3 is divided into a basic unloading transfer device 3 a for unloading the article 10 conveyed in the basic transfer direction 21 by the sorting device 100 and a branch transfer that is a transfer direction intersecting the basic transfer direction 21. It is comprised from the conveyance apparatus 3b for branch carrying out for carrying out the articles | goods 10 conveyed in the direction 22. FIG.
Then, the article 10 carried into the sorting apparatus 100 from the carrying-in transport apparatus 2 is transported in accordance with the rotation position P (see FIG. 5) of the roller 120 that can rotate about the vertical axis Lv (see FIG. 7). Are sorted by one of the changeable sorting devices 100, sorted into one of the carry-out carrying devices 3a and 3b, and carried out.

Here, in the basic transport direction 21, in the sorting apparatus 100, the roller 120 of the sorting apparatus 100 has a basic rotation position P0 (see FIG. 5) described later as a rotation position P around the vertical axis Lv (see FIG. 7). It is the conveyance direction 20 of the article 10 when occupied, and is the same direction as the conveyance direction 20 of the article 10 in the carry-in conveyance device 2 and the basic carry-out conveyance device 3a.
The branch conveyance direction 21 is a conveyance direction of the article 10 when the roller 120 occupies a first maximum rotation position P1 (see FIG. 5) described later as the rotation position P.

As another example, the branch carry-out transport device 3b is shown as a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 instead of being arranged on one side of the transport path 101 in the width direction 23 of the transport path 101 in the sorting apparatus 100. In this case, the roller 120 occupies the second maximum rotation position P2 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, as the rotation position P.
Further, the branch carry-out transfer device 3 b may be disposed on both sides of the transfer path 101 in the width direction 23.
In the following description, the basic transport direction 21 is simply referred to as the transport direction 21.

  1, FIG. 2 is a view of the main part of the sorting apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow II, FIG. 3 is a view of the main part of the sorting apparatus 100 in FIG. Referring to FIG. 4, which is an enlarged view of a main part and is partly broken and shown in a sectional view, the sorting apparatus 100 is transported with a machine base 110 installed on the floor 5 as an installation place and the article 10. A plurality of first predetermined number of rollers 120 arranged in the conveyance direction 20 of the article 10 and the width direction 23 of the conveyance path 101 and the conveyance path 101 together with each roller 120. In this embodiment, a plurality of one cover 130 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 2 and 3) and each roller 120 are supported rotatably around a horizontal axis Lh (see FIG. 7). Each roller 120 is rotated a vertical axis Lv (see FIG. 7) In this embodiment, a plurality of the first predetermined number of roller support bases 140 and a plurality of specific number of rollers 120 via the roller support bases 140 are simultaneously rotated around the vertical axis Lv. A plurality of rotation driving mechanisms 150 in the present embodiment for rotating, and a plurality of rotation drives in the present embodiment, a plurality of rollers 120 arranged in the width direction 23 or the conveyance direction 20, and five rotation drives in the present embodiment. A line shaft 170 as a body, a rotation drive mechanism 180 that rotates the line shaft 170, a unit support 190 that is detachably assembled to the machine base 110, and a cover holding unit that holds the cover 130 on the machine base 110. 200 and a cover positioning portion A (see also FIG. 9) for positioning the cover 130 with respect to each roller 120.

Here, the vertical axis Lv (see FIG. 7), which is the rotation center line of the roller 120, is defined by the roller support base 142 (see FIG. 7) or the rotation support shaft 145 (see FIG. 7) of the roller support base 140. Are substantially parallel to the vertical direction (that is, the vertical direction). When the vertical axis Lv is orthogonal to the horizontal axis Lh (see FIG. 7), which is the rotation center line of the roller 120, the vertical axis Lv passes through the center of the roller 120. In the present embodiment, the transport direction 21 and the width direction 23 are substantially orthogonal.
The expression “almost” includes the case where there is no modifier “almost” and does not exactly match the case where there is no modifier “almost”, but the modifier “almost”. It means a range in which there is no significant difference with respect to the effect as compared with the case where there is no.
The specific number is a second predetermined number described later in the present embodiment, but may be less than the second predetermined number as another example.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the machine base 110 includes a roller support base 140 that supports a first predetermined number of rollers 120 that are all the rollers 120 included in the sorting apparatus 100, a rotation drive mechanism 150, and a line shaft 170. The rotation drive mechanism 180 and the cover 130 are assembled.
The machine base 110 includes four leg portions 111 to 114 installed on the floor so as to be separated from each other in the transport direction 21 and the width direction 23, and a lower connecting member that connects the four leg portions 111 to 114 at the lower part thereof. 119 and a pair of machine base frames 115 and 116 spaced apart in the width direction 23. The pair of machine frame 115, 116 is an upper connecting member that connects a pair of legs 111, 113; 112, 114 separated from each other in the conveying direction 21 at the upper part, in this embodiment, at the upper end. The upper end of the machine base 110 is configured.
Each machine base frame 115; 116 is a long member extending substantially parallel to the transport direction 21 and having an L-shaped cross section, and is formed at the upper end of a pair of legs 111, 113; 112, 114. It has the bottom wall 115a; 116a couple | bonded, and the side wall 115b; 116b rising from this bottom wall 115a; 116a.

  2 and 3, all the rollers 120 included in the sorting apparatus 100 form a plurality of rows arranged at intervals in the transport direction 21, in this embodiment, 10 roller rows R. In this way, at least a part of each roller 120 is disposed above the machine base frames 115 and 116 in the vertical direction. Each roller row R that is a row in the width direction 23 is composed of a plurality of rollers 120 arranged at equal intervals in the width direction 23.

In addition, referring to FIG. 5 which is a plan view of the roller unit U of the sorting apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 which is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. Then, the first roller row R1 and the second roller row R2 which are two roller rows R as a plurality constitute a unit roller row Ru in one roller unit U.
The unit roller row Ru includes a unit roller group G (see FIG. 5) including all the rollers 120 belonging to the first roller row R1 and the second roller row R2, that is, the second predetermined number of rollers 120. Here, the second predetermined number is less than the first predetermined number and plural.

As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the first roller row R1 is composed of seven rollers 120 constituting the first unit roller group G1, and the second roller row R2 is composed of the second unit roller group G2. It is comprised from the eight rollers 120 which comprise. As another example, the number of the plurality of rollers 120 belonging to each of the roller rows R1 and R2 may be a number other than these numbers.
Accordingly, the unit roller group G includes the first unit roller group G1 and the second unit roller group G2.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the first and second roller rows R <b> 1 and R <b> 2 are arranged in this order in the conveyance direction 21, and are alternately arranged in the conveyance direction 21, so that all of the sorting apparatuses 100 are arranged. A roller 120 is disposed on the machine base 110.
In the unit roller row Ru, with respect to the roller row R adjacent in the transport direction 21, each roller 120 of one roller row R is between the adjacent rollers 120 in the width direction 23 and in the width direction 23 of the other roller row R. It arrange | positions so that it may be located in. As another example, the rollers 120 of the roller rows R of the unit roller row Ru may be arranged at the same position in the width direction 23.
All of the rollers 120 supported by the machine base 110 via the roller support base 140 (that is, the first predetermined number) of rollers 120 are any of a plurality of unit roller groups G, in this embodiment, five unit roller groups G. In other words, it belongs to one of the five roller units U1 to U5 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) which are the five roller units U provided in the sorting apparatus 100.

  Referring to FIG. 7 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. A portion forming the outer peripheral surface 121 which is a contact surface with 170 is formed of a rubber material, and the outer peripheral surface 121 has a structure having a high friction coefficient. The outer peripheral surface 121 includes a basic contact surface 122 formed of a cylindrical surface that contacts the line shaft 170 when the roller 120 occupies the basic rotation position P0 (see FIG. 5), and the roller 120 is perpendicular to the basic rotation position P0. 1 constituted by a part of a spherical surface or a tapered surface that comes into contact with the line shaft 170 when it occupies both maximum rotation positions P1, P2 (see FIG. 5) that are most rotated in both rotation directions around the axis Lv. A pair of turning contact surfaces 123, 124. As another example, the basic contact surface 122 and the turning contact surfaces 123 and 124 may be formed of a part of a spherical surface.

The cover 130 that covers each roller 120 from above is provided with a circular roller protrusion hole 131 (see also FIG. 1). A part of each roller 120 protrudes from the upper surface 132 of the cover 130 with a protrusion height H through the roller protrusion hole 131 as a roller protrusion 120 a that contacts the article 10 conveyed on the cover 130. Protrusions in quantity.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the sorting apparatus 100, the articles 10 are sequentially supported by a plurality of rotating rollers 120, and the conveyance direction 21 or the branch conveyance direction is caused by a frictional force acting between the rollers 120. 22 is conveyed.

  Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 to 7, each roller unit U includes a unit roller group G and a plurality of units in this embodiment for supporting a plurality of rollers 120 belonging to the unit roller group G. A roller support base 140 as a second predetermined number of unit roller support bases for supporting each roller 120 of the roller group G, a unit support 190 for rotatably supporting the roller support base 140, and unit rollers In order to rotate the line shaft 170 as one unit rotary drive for rotating each roller 120 of the group G, and each roller 120 of the unit roller group G about the vertical axis Lv via the roller support base 140. The rotation support mechanism 150 is configured as one unit rotation drive mechanism that rotates each roller support base 140.

For each roller unit U, the roller support base 140 that supports the roller 120, the line shaft 170, and the rotation drive mechanism 150 are assembled to the unit support 190.
Each roller unit U has the same structure. Therefore, the second predetermined number, the number of unit roller support bases 140, the number of unit rotation driving bodies, and the number of unit rotation driving mechanisms are: The same applies to each roller unit U. For this reason, arbitrary roller units U can be exchanged in the conveying direction 21 and assembled to the machine base frames 115 and 116.

Hereinafter, the roller unit U will be described in detail.
Referring mainly to FIGS. 5 to 8 and appropriately referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the unit support 190 detachably coupled to the pair of machine base frames 115 and 116 is spaced apart in the transport direction 21. A plurality of first and second support frames 191 and 192 as a pair of first and second supports in the present embodiment, and first and second extending substantially parallel to the width direction 23. It has the connection part 193 which connects the support frames 191 and 192 mutually, and a pair of bearing parts 194 which support the line shaft 170 rotatably.
The support frames 191 and 192 are arranged inside the side walls 115b and 116b of the pair of machine base frames 115 and 116 in the width direction 23.

The unit support 190 includes a pair of machine frame frames 115 and 116 at both ends 191a and 191b; 192a and 192b of the first and second support frames 191 and 192 in the width direction 23. Are detachably coupled to the two machine base frames 115 and 116 by being detachably coupled to each other by a bolt B1 as a coupling tool. Therefore, each of the support frames 191 and 192 also functions as a reinforcing frame for connecting the pair of machine base frames 115 and 116 in the width direction 23, so that the rigidity of the pair of machine base frames 115 and 116 is increased. It becomes possible to eliminate or reduce a dedicated reinforcing member for increasing the height. As a result, the weight of the machine base 110 can be reduced, and the rigidity of the pair of machine base frames 115 and 116, and the machine base 110 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), using the unit support 190 of the roller unit U. ) Can be increased in rigidity.
Each of the support frames 191 and 192 is a rod-like member, and the cross-sectional shape of the support frames 191 and 192 in a plane orthogonal to the width direction 23 is substantially constant at an arbitrary position in the width direction 23 and is rectangular ( FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 7).

  The connecting portion 193 is one or more connecting portions 193 that connect the two support frames 191 and 192 between the pair of bearing portions 194 in the width direction 23, and a plurality of connecting portions 193 in the present embodiment. The three connecting portions 193 are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction 23 and are coupled to the support frames 191 and 192 by bolts B2 as coupling means. As another example, at least some of the connecting portions 193 of all the connecting portions 193 may be integrally formed with at least one of the support frames 191 and 192.

Both bearing portions 194 are coupled by bolts B3 as coupling means in a state of straddling the end portions 191a, 192a; 191b, 192b as coupling portions with the machine base frames 115, 116, respectively.
Each bearing 194 includes a base 195 detachably coupled to each end 191a, 192a; 191b, 192b by a bolt B3, and a bearing holder 196 detachably coupled to the base 195 by a bolt B4 as a coupling tool. And a bearing 197 (see FIG. 4) that is supported by the bearing holder 196 and rotatably supports end portions 171 and 172 as journal portions of the line shaft 170.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the base 195 is disposed above the support frames 191 and 192, and has a lower flange 195a as a lower portion fixed to the ends 191a and 192a; 191b and 192b, and a vertical direction. The upper flange 195b as an upper portion facing the lower flange 195a and to which the bearing holder 196 is fixed, and a web 195c as an intermediate portion connecting the lower flange 195a and the upper flange 195b are formed. The lower flange 195 a is located below the upper ends of the machine base frames 115 and 116, and the upper flange 195 b is located above the machine base frames 115 and 116.
Since each base 195 connects both support frames 191 and 192, it functions as a connection member that connects both support frames 191 and 192, and enhances the rigidity of the roller unit U together with the connection portion 193.

7 and 8, in the roller unit U, the plurality of second predetermined number of roller support bases 140 have the same structure, and the second roller 120 of the first roller row R1 is rotated. 1 roller support base 140a and the 2nd roller support base 140b which rotates each roller 120 of 2nd roller row | line | column R2 are comprised. Therefore, in this embodiment, a roller support base 140 that is a rotation roller support base for enabling the roller 120 to rotate is provided for each roller 120.
The first roller support base 140a is rotatably supported by the first support frame 191, and the second roller support base 140b is rotatably supported by the second support frame 192.

  Each roller support base 140 for making each roller 120 rotatable and rotatable with respect to the machine base 110 (see FIG. 2) and the support frames 191 and 192 enables the roller 120 to rotate about the horizontal axis Lh. A roller support frame 141 to be supported, a roller support base 142 that supports the roller support frame 141 so as to be swingable about the horizontal axis Lh, and is rotatable about the vertical axis Lv, and an urging force that presses the roller 120 against the line shaft 170 And an urging spring 147 as an urging member for applying the urging force to the roller 120.

The roller support frame 141 includes a roller shaft 141a that rotatably supports the roller 120.
The roller support base 142 is rotatably supported by the support frames 191 and 192 to rotate the roller 120 and the roller support frame 141 about the vertical axis Lv. The roller support base 142 includes a rotation support 143 having a rotation arm 143a, a joint shaft 144 that is held by the rotation support 143 and supports the roller support frame 141 so as to be swingable about the horizontal axis Lh, A pivot support shaft 145 whose upper end is fixed to the pivot support 143 and pivots integrally with the pivot support 143, and a bush 146 as a bearing directly held by the support frames 191 and 192 are provided. .

The urging spring 147 is disposed between the roller support frame 141 and the rotation support body 143 while being wound around the joint shaft 144, and supports the roller so that the roller 120 is always in contact with the line shaft 170. The roller 120 is urged through the frame 141.
The biasing spring 147 is a central portion 147c in the width direction 23, and biases the rotation support body 143 in this embodiment, which is one of the roller support frame 141 and the rotation support body 143, and both end portions in the width direction 23. 147a and 147b urge the roller support frame 141 in this embodiment, which is the other of the roller support frame 141 and the rotation support body 143. As a result, the urging force acting on each of the roller support frame 141 and the roller support base 142 can be equalized in the direction parallel to the horizontal axis Lh (or the width direction 23). As a result, the roller support frame 141 can be prevented from inclining in the width direction 23, and thus the roller 120 can be prevented from inclining in the width direction 23.

  The rotation support shaft 145 is supported by the support frames 191 and 192 via the bush 147 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis Lv with respect to the support frames 191 and 192. As described above, the support shafts 145 for rotation are inserted into the bushes 147 inserted into the insertion holes 190c provided in the support frames 191 and 192, so that the support frames 191 and 192 themselves are inserted. Functions as a bearing holder.

Therefore, a dedicated member for supporting the rotation support shaft 145 (for example, a cylindrical support member provided so as to protrude upward from a member fixed to the machine base 110 (for example, a bearing cylinder of Patent Document 1)). Since the rotation support shaft 145 is almost entirely disposed in the support frames 191 and 192 and located at the same position in the vertical direction as the support frames 191 and 192 fixed to the machine base 110, The rotation support body 143, the roller support frame 141, and thus the roller 120 can be arranged in the vertical direction close to the support frames 191 and 192 that support the roller support base 140.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the entire roller 120 and the first and second support frames 191 and 192 in the vertical direction are within the range of twice the maximum outer diameter d of the roller 120 in the vertical direction. Since the roller 120 and the first and second support frames 191 and 192 can be compactly arranged in the vertical direction by arranging the whole in the vertical direction, the roller unit U in the vertical direction can be downsized and eventually The sorting apparatus 100 can be reduced in size.

  Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, the rotation driving mechanism 150 that rotates the roller support base 140 including the roller support frame 141 and the roller 120 about the vertical axis Lv is provided for all the unit roller rows Ru. An air cylinder 151 that is a cylinder mechanism that drives and rotates the rollers 120 at the same time, and a connecting mechanism 160 that connects the air cylinder 151 and the rotating arm 143a of each rotating support 143 are provided.

The air cylinder 151 is a tandem cylinder mechanism and is disposed below the first and second support frames 191 and 192. In the mounting portion 151a of the air cylinder 151 (see also FIGS. 3 and 4), The second support frames 191 and 192 are fixed.
The air cylinder 151 includes a cylinder 152 that slidably accommodates a pair of pistons (not shown), and a pair of first and first pairs that are respectively coupled to the pair of pistons and can be expanded and contracted with respect to the cylinder 152. 2 actuating rods 153 and 154.
The first actuating rod 153 is pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction 21 by swinging arms 162a and 162b swingably supported by the first and second support frames 191 and 192 at the distal ends thereof. It is pivotally attached. The second actuating rod 154 is pivotally attached to the attachment portion 151a at its tip so as to be pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the transport direction 21.
As is well known, for the pressure chamber provided in the cylinder 152, air as a working fluid having a predetermined working pressure is controlled by a control device (not shown) provided in the sorting device 100 (see FIG. 1). It is controlled by a control valve (not shown) to be supplied and discharged through a conduit (not shown).
The control device controls the operation of the air cylinder 151 by controlling the control valve according to an output signal from a sensor (not shown) that detects the article 10 (see FIG. 1).

  The connection mechanism 160 penetrates the first and second support frames 191 and 192 and is connected to the support frames 191 and 192 so as to be swingable. The connection mechanism 160 is integrally swingable with the connection shaft 161. A swing arm 162 that is coupled and is driven by a pair of actuating rods 153 and 154 to swing, a plate-like coupling body 163 in which each pivot arm 143a is pivotally attached via a coupling pin 165, and a swing The relay link 164 which connects the arm 162 and the connection body 163 is provided.

The swing arm 162 includes a first swing arm 162a disposed between the first and second support frames 191 and 192 in the transport direction 21 and a second roller array R2 as one roller array R in the transport direction 21. And a second swing arm 162b disposed on the opposite side of the first swing arm 162a. A first actuating rod 153 is pivotally attached to the first swing arm 162a.
The connecting shaft 161 that can swing the first and second swing arms 162a and 162b is swingably provided on the first and second support frames 191 and 192 themselves that support the roller support base 140. A dedicated support for supporting the connecting shaft 161 is not required, and the weight and size of the roller unit U and consequently the sorting apparatus 100 can be reduced.

The connecting body 163 includes a first connecting body 163a to which each turning arm 143a for turning each roller 120 of the first roller row R1 is pivotally attached, and each turning arm for turning each roller 120 of the second roller row R2. 143a is comprised from the 2nd connection body 163b pivotally attached. The relay link 164 includes a first relay link 164a that connects the first swing arm 162a and the first connection body 163a, and a second relay link that connects the second swing arm 162b and the second connection body 163b. 164b.
The first and second relay links 164a and 164b are connected to each other via the pivot 166 at approximately the center position in the width direction 23 in the first and second connecting bodies 163a and 163b, respectively.

The rotation driving mechanism 150 causes the roller 120 to move vertically through the swing arm 162, the relay link 164, the coupling body 163, the rotation support body 143, and the roller support frame 141 according to the expansion and contraction of the operation rods 153 and 154. It rotates around the axis Lv.
More specifically, when the first operating rod 153 extends and the second operating rod 154 contracts, the roller 120 occupies the basic rotation position P0 (shown by a solid line in FIG. 5), and the roller 120. The horizontal axis Lh is substantially parallel to the width direction 23.
Further, when the first operating rod 153 contracts and the second operating rod 154 contracts, all the rollers 120 of the first roller row R1 are indicated by the first maximum rotation position P1 (shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 5). When the roller 120 and the horizontal axis Lh are inclined with respect to the width direction 23, the first operating rod 153 is extended, and the second operating rod 154 is extended, the roller 120 is in the second maximum rotation position. Occupying P2 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5), the roller 120 and the horizontal axis line Lh are inclined to the opposite side from when the roller 120 occupies the first maximum rotation position P1.
In FIG. 5, the maximum rotation positions P <b> 1 and P <b> 2 are shown for one roller 120 in order to avoid complication of the drawing.

In each roller unit U, all the rollers 120 in the first and second roller rows R1 and R2 are rotatably supported by the first and second support frames 191 and 192 via a pair of bearing portions 194. The two line shafts 170 are frictionally driven and rotate all at once. In the present embodiment, the width direction 23 is also a direction parallel to the rotation center line of the line shaft 170.
Accordingly, the line shaft 170 rotationally drives the plurality of rollers 120 arranged in the width direction 23 and the conveyance direction 21 in the unit roller group G.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the rotational drive mechanism 180 that rotationally drives each line shaft 170 is attached to the machine base 110 at the connection member 119 and serves as one drive source that is controlled by the control device. An electric motor 181 and a power transmission mechanism 182 that transmits the power of the electric motor 181 to each line shaft 170 are provided.
The power transmission mechanism 182 is rotatable on a drive pulley 183 as a drive rotation component provided coupled to a rotation shaft of the electric motor 181, a driven pulley 184 as a driven rotation component, and a side wall 116 b of one machine base frame 116. The winding transmission mechanism includes a plurality of idle pulleys 185 supported by the belt 186 and a belt 186 as an endless winding transmission wound around the pulleys 183, 184 and 185.
The driven pulley 184 is provided with one end portion 172 (see FIG. 5) of the line shaft 170 coupled to an extending portion 172a extending through the bearing 197 of the bearing portion 196. The driven pulley 184 constitutes a part of the roller unit U.
Then, all the line shafts 170 of the sorting apparatus 100 are simultaneously driven to rotate in the same rotational direction by the electric motor 181.

  1 to 4, the cover holding unit 200 for holding the cover 130 above the support frames 191 and 192 and the machine base frames 115 and 116 is directly above the machine base frames 115 and 116. A plurality of four roller units U1, U2; U4, U5, and two roller units U1, U2; A pair of U2, U4, and U5 are provided at positions facing each other in the width direction 23.

Each cover holding part 200 having basically the same structure is detachably fixed to the upper flange 195b of the base part 195 of the roller unit U.
Since the cover holding portion 200 is provided on the upper flange 195b of the base portion 195 positioned above the machine base frames 115 and 116, the cover holding portion 200 is formed in the vertical direction as compared with the case where the cover holding portion 200 is provided on the machine base frames 115 and 116. The length of the cover holding part 200 can be shortened. As a result, it is possible to reduce the weight of the sorting apparatus 100 including the cover holding unit 200 while ensuring rigidity for supporting the weight of the cover 130.

  Each cover holding portion 200 constitutes an upper end portion of the cover holding portion 200 provided on the upper end of the shaft portion 201 and a shaft portion 201 as a support portion that is attached to the upper flange 195b so that the position adjustment in the vertical direction is possible. In addition, the cover 130 has a placement portion 206 on which the cover 130 is placed from above. The placement unit 206 is a cylindrical or columnar member formed of an elastic material (for example, rubber or synthetic resin).

As shown in FIG. 4, the shaft portion 201 has a threaded portion 203 inserted through through holes 198 and 199 (see also FIG. 5) provided in the upper flange 195b of the base portion 195, and the upper flange 195b. It has a position adjustment unit 202 configured by a pair of nuts 204 as a fixture for fixing the shaft portion 201 to the upper flange 195b by screwing with the screw portion 203.
Here, the shaft portion 201 is inserted into the through hole 198 in the roller unit U1 and the roller unit U4 (see FIG. 5), and is inserted into the through hole 199 in the roller unit U2 and the roller unit U5 (see FIG. 5). .

Through the position adjusting unit 202, the vertical position of the cover holding unit 200 with respect to the upper flange 195b, and hence the vertical position of the mounting unit 206, can be adjusted.
As described above, by adjusting the position of the mounting portion 206 in the vertical direction, the position of the cover 130 in the vertical direction can be adjusted with respect to the machine base frames 115 and 116 and the roller 120. Therefore, the cover holding part 200 can adjust the protrusion height H (see FIG. 7) of the roller protrusion part 120a by adjusting the position of the cover 130 in the vertical direction with respect to the machine base 110. It is also an adjustment member.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the cover positioning portion A for positioning the cover 130 with respect to the machine base 110 in the width direction 23 and the transport direction 21 is located immediately above the machine base frames 115 and 116. As described above, in this embodiment, two roller units U1, U2; U2; U4; U5; U2; U2; U2; U2; In at least one of the embodiments, one pair is provided at a position across the two roller units U1, U2; U4, U5 and facing each other in the width direction 23.
The cover positioning portion A is disposed between the pair of cover holding portions 200 in the transport direction 21 immediately above the machine base frames 115 and 116.
And the cover holding | maintenance part 200 and the cover positioning part A are arrange | positioned in the position which pinches | interposes each line shaft 170 with which the sorting apparatus 100 is provided one by one in the conveyance direction 21 (refer FIG. 3).

Referring to FIGS. 4, 9, and 10, each cover positioning portion A having basically the same structure includes a machine base side positioning portion 210 and a cover side positioning portion 220.
The machine-side positioning unit 210, which is a plate-like member, straddles the upper flange 195b of the base 195 of the roller units U1, U2; U4, U5 adjacent in the transport direction 21, and a bolt B5 serving as a coupler on the upper flange 195b. Are detachably coupled to each other.

Each machine-side positioning unit 210 includes a coupling portion 211 integrated with the upper flange 195b by a bolt B5 inserted into through holes 198 and 199 provided in the upper flange 195b, and positioning of the cover 130 in the width direction 23. A plate-shaped width direction positioning portion 212 for carrying out the movement, and a conveyance direction positioning portion for positioning the cover 130 in the conveyance direction 21 and the direction opposite to the conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as “conveyance parallel direction”). And a convex portion 215.
Here, the bolt B5 is inserted into the through hole 199 in the roller unit U1 and the roller unit U4 (see FIG. 5), and is inserted into the through hole 198 in the roller unit U2 and the roller unit U5 (see FIG. 5).

The width direction positioning part 212 has a guide part 213 that is inclined outward on the other side in the width direction 23 toward the upper side and guides the cover side positioning part 220 in the width direction 23 at the upper end thereof.
The convex portion 215 provided in the width direction positioning portion 212 protrudes from the width direction positioning portion 212 toward the inside which is one side in the width direction 23 and engages with the cover side positioning portion 220 in the transport parallel direction. It is a machine base side engaging part. The convex portion 215 is a screw component that is detachably coupled to the width direction positioning portion 212.

On the other hand, the cover-side positioning part 220 is detachably coupled to the lower surface 133 of the cover 130 by a bolt B6 as a coupling means.
The cover-side positioning unit 220 that is a plate-like member includes a coupling unit 221 integrated with the cover 130 by the bolt B6 and a machine-side positioning unit 210 in the width direction 23 in order to position the cover 130 in the width direction 23. A plate-shaped width direction positioning portion 222 that can come into contact with the width direction positioning portion 212 and a transport direction positioning that can be engaged with the convex portion 215 in the transport parallel direction in order to position the cover 130 in the transport parallel direction. And a recess 225 as a part.

The width direction positioning portion 222 has a bifurcated branching protrusion 222 a extending downward from the cover 130. And each branch protrusion part 222a inclines in the inner side which is the one side in the width direction 23 toward the lower end part at the lower end part, and the cover 130 faces inward in the width direction 23 with respect to the machine base 110. The guided portion 223 is guided.
The concave portion 225 provided in the width direction positioning portion 222 is a cover side engaging portion that engages with the convex portion 215 in the conveyance parallel direction. The concave portion 225 formed by the pair of branch projecting portions 222a has a linear portion 226 that is elongated in a straight line in the vertical direction, and expands in the parallel direction to carry out toward the lower portion near the lower end portion, and downward. And an open / open portion 227 that is open.
The formation range of the linear portion 226 in the vertical direction is set so that the cover 130 can always be engaged with the convex portion 215 when the position of the cover 130 is adjusted in the vertical direction by the cover holding portion 200.

  When the cover 130 is attached to the machine base 110, the guided part 223 of the cover side positioning part 220 comes into contact with the guide part 213 of the machine side positioning part 210 when contacting the guide part 213 from above. The cover 130 is guided inward in the width direction 23 with respect to the roller 120 or the machine base 110 assembled to 110 and positioned in the width direction 23. After the cover 130 is positioned in the width direction 23 with respect to the machine base 110, the concave portion 225 that is easily engaged with the convex portion 215 by the widening and opening portion 227 is engaged with the convex portion 215, and the conveyance parallelism is performed. The cover 130 is positioned with respect to the machine base 110 in the conveyance parallel direction by the engagement between the linear portion 226 and the convex portion 215 in the direction.

The cover positioning unit A positions the cover 130 with respect to the machine base 110 or each roller 120 so that the vertical axis Lv of each roller 120 is substantially located at the center of the roller protruding hole 131.
Further, in the base portion 195, the through holes 198 and 199 provided in the upper flange 195b for coupling the cover holding portion 200 and the machine base side positioning portion 210 to the upper flange 195b are formed in the cover holding portion 200 and the machine base side positioning. The shaft portion 201 and the bolt B5 that connect the portion 210 to the upper flange 195b can be inserted, and can be shared by the shaft portion 201 and the bolt B5. Therefore, since the cover holding part 200 and the machine base side positioning part 210 can be attached to any of the roller units U included in the sorting apparatus 100, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the cover holding part 200 and the cover positioning part A is greatly increased. can do.

Next, operations and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
In the sorting apparatus 100, one unit support 190 having a bearing portion 194 that rotatably supports the line shaft 170 is a unit that supports each roller 120 of the unit roller group G including a second predetermined number of rollers 120. One line shaft 170 that supports a roller support base 140 that is a unit roller support base and that is a unit rotational drive body rotationally drives each roller 120 of the unit roller group G, and is a unit rotational drive mechanism 1 One rotation drive mechanism 150 rotates the roller 120 via the unit roller support base, and the roller support base 140, the line shaft 170, and the rotation drive mechanism 150 are assembled to the unit support body 190. Together with the unit roller group G and the unit support 190, one roller unit U is constructed. And, the roller unit U, by the unit support 190 is attached to and detached from the machine frame 110, is detachable from the machine frame 110.
With this structure, the unit roller group G, the roller support base 140, the line shaft 170, the rotation drive mechanism 150, and the unit support body 190 constitute one roller unit U. Therefore, the unit roller group G, the roller support base 140, the line The shaft 170 and the rotation drive mechanism 150 can be attached to and detached from the machine base 110 in units of roller units U.
As a result, the assembly of the unit roller group G, the roller support base 140, the line shaft 170, and the rotation drive mechanism 150 to the machine base 110 is facilitated, so that the assembly of the apparatus can be improved. Moreover, since the unit roller group G, the roller support base 140, the line shaft 170, and the rotation drive mechanism 150 are easily removed from the machine base 110 during maintenance, the maintainability of the sorting apparatus 100 can be improved. .
Furthermore, diversification of the arrangement form of the rollers 120 is facilitated by exchanging the roller unit U unit. In addition, when a problem occurs in the roller 120, the roller support base 140, etc., it is easy to replace the roller unit U including the defective part with a normal roller unit U, and the sorting apparatus 100 is operated. The rate can be improved.

The unit support 190 includes a first support frame 191 and a second support frame 192 that are arranged at intervals in the transport direction 21, and a connecting portion 193 that connects the first and second support frames 191 and 192. The unit roller group G includes a first unit roller group G1 constituting the first roller row R1 and a second unit roller group G2 constituting the second roller row R2, and the first roller row R1 and the second roller The rows R2 are arranged at intervals in the transport direction 21, and the roller support base 140 supports the first roller support base 140a that supports the rollers 120 of the first roller row R1 and the rollers 120 of the second roller row R2. The first roller support base 140a is supported by the first support frame 191, and the second roller support base 140b is the second support frame 19. Is supported on a rotation driving mechanism 150 is simultaneously rotating the first roller support base 140a and the second roller support base 140b in the same rotational direction.
With this structure, in the unit roller group G constituting the roller unit U, all the rollers 120 belonging to the first and second roller rows R1 and R2 separated in the transport direction 21 rotate in the same rotation direction at the same time. The structure of the roller unit U including the first and second roller rows R1 and R2 is simplified, and the weight of the roller unit U including the first and second roller rows R1 and R2 is reduced. Is possible.
The first and second support frames 191 and 191 support the first roller support base 140a that supports the rollers 120 of the first roller array R1 and the second roller support base 140b that supports the rollers 120 of the second roller array R2, respectively. Since the 192 is separated in the transport direction 21, a gap is formed between the support frames 191 and 192. Therefore, the first and second roller support bases 140a and 140b are supported by a common support. Compared to the case where the roller unit U is made lighter, the weight of the sorting apparatus 100 can be reduced.

In order to adjust the protruding height H of the roller protruding portion 120a, the sorting device 100 is configured such that a part of each roller 120 serves as a roller protruding portion 120a and is provided with a cover 130 provided with a roller protruding hole 131 protruding upward. And a cover holding part 200 as an adjustment member for adjusting the position of the cover 130 in the vertical direction with respect to the machine base 110.
With this structure, by adjusting the protrusion height H, the degree to which the conveyed article 10 comes into contact with the cover 130 can be changed, so the ratio of the support weight by the roller 120 and the support weight by the cover 130 is changed. be able to. As a result, the frictional force between the roller 120 and the article 10 can be adjusted, and the conveying force by the roller 120 can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to set an appropriate conveying force according to the article 10 and the conveying efficiency. Can be improved.
Further, since the position of the cover 130 is adjusted in order to adjust the protrusion height H, the structure for adjusting the protrusion height H is simplified compared to the case where the position of the roller 120 is adjusted. Furthermore, the height adjustment of all the rollers 120 provided in the sorting apparatus 100 is facilitated as compared with the case where the positions of the individual rollers 120 are adjusted.

The adjustment member that adjusts the position of the cover 130 in the vertical direction is the cover holding unit 200 having the mounting unit 206 on which the cover 130 is mounted from above, and the cover holding unit 200 is in the vertical direction with respect to the machine base 110. The position of can be adjusted.
With this structure, the cover 130 may be mounted on the mounting unit 206 of the cover holding unit 200 from above, so that the cover 130 can be easily attached to and detached from the machine base 110. In addition, by using the fact that the cover 130 is placed on the cover holding unit 200, the position of the cover holding unit 200 with respect to the machine base 110 is adjusted in the vertical direction, so that the cover 130 in the vertical direction with respect to the machine base 110 is adjusted. Therefore, the adjustment of the roller protrusion height H becomes easy.

The roller support base 140 has a rotation support shaft 145 supported by the unit support 190 so that the roller 120 can rotate about the vertical axis Lv, and almost the entire rotation support shaft 145 is unit supported. It is housed in the body 190.
With this structure, the rotation support shaft 145 included in the roller support base 140 so that the roller 120 can be rotated uses the unit support 190 to which the line shaft 170 and the rotation drive mechanism 150 are assembled. Since it is supported by the unit support 190 itself, a dedicated member for supporting the rotation support shaft 145 becomes unnecessary, and almost the entire rotation support shaft 145 is accommodated in the unit support 190. Therefore, since the axial length of the support shaft 145 for rotation can be shortened, the roller unit U can be reduced in weight and size in the vertical direction, and the sorting device 100 can be reduced in weight and in the vertical direction. It becomes possible.

In the sorting apparatus 100, the first predetermined number of rollers 120, which are all the rollers 120 supported by the machine base 110, belong to one of the plurality of unit roller groups G or one of the plurality of roller units U. The second predetermined number, which is the number of all the rollers constituting the roller group G, the number of roller support bases 140, the number of line shafts 170, and the number of rotation drive mechanisms 150 are the same in each roller unit U.
With this structure, since all the rollers 120 included in the sorting apparatus 100 belong to any one of the roller units U, the assembling property and the maintainability of the sorting apparatus 100 can be improved. Further, in each roller unit U, the second predetermined number, the number of roller support bases 140, the number of line shafts 170, and the number of rotation drive mechanisms 150 are the same, so that all the roller units U included in the sorting apparatus 100 are provided. Can be shared, and the cost of the sorting apparatus 100 can be reduced.

Hereinafter, an example in which a part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment is changed will be described with respect to the changed configuration.
The rotary drive body may be a member other than the line shaft 170, a rotary shaft coupled to the roller 120, or a belt wound around the roller 120.
The line shaft 170 or the rotational driving body may be configured to rotationally drive the plurality of rollers 120 arranged in the transport direction 21.
A rotational driving body that rotationally drives the roller 120 may be provided for each roller 120.
The electric motor 181 may be capable of rotating in the reverse direction, and the conveyance direction 21 can be set in the direction opposite to that of the above-described embodiment by rotating the electric motor 181 in the reverse direction.

  In the roller support base 140, the rotation support shaft 145 is supported while being fixed to the unit support 190, and the rotation support body 143 is supported by the rotation support shaft 145 so as to be rotatable about the vertical axis Lv. In this case as well, the roller 120 is driven by the rotation mechanism via the roller support base 140 and rotates about the vertical axis Lv. With this structure, the weight of the member rotated by the rotation drive mechanism 150 can be reduced, and the rotation response of the roller 120 can be improved and the air cylinder 151 can be downsized.

At least a part of the roller support base 140, at least a part of the roller support base 142, or at least a part of the roller support frame 141 may be provided for each of the plurality of rollers 120. In this case, the number of roller support bases 140, roller support bases 142, or roller support frames 141 is smaller than the first predetermined number and the second predetermined number.
Each roller unit U may include a plurality of unit rotation driving bodies or a plurality of unit rotation driving mechanisms. Further, the second predetermined number, the number of unit rotary drive bodies, or the number of unit rotary drive mechanisms are the same for each roller unit U in the above embodiment, but may be different.

  The predetermined number of rows, which is the number of unit roller rows Ru that are the roller rows R constituting the roller unit U, may be 1 or 3 or more. In this case, in the roller unit U, the unit support 190 is configured by one or more support frames, and the unit roller group G includes the rollers 120 of one roller row R or the rollers 120 of three or more roller rows R. Consists of. In the case of three or more roller rows R, the unit roller group G includes one or more unit roller groups in addition to the first and second unit roller groups G1 and G2, and the unit support 190 includes the first and first unit roller groups R. In addition to the two support frames 191, 192, one or more support frames as support bodies are included.

The machine-side positioning unit 210 may have a recess, and the cover-side positioning unit 220 may have a projection that engages with the recess.
The base portion 195 of the bearing portion 194 may be provided so as to be coupled to one of the first and second support frames 191 and 192, and is integrally formed with one of the first and second support frames 191 and 192. May be.

The second predetermined number may include a roller 120 supported by a non-rotating roller support that does not rotate the roller 120 about the vertical axis Lv, in addition to the rotating roller support. In this case, the specific number is smaller than the second predetermined number.
In the cover holding part 200, the placement part 206 may be adjustable in the vertical direction with respect to the shaft part 201 by, for example, a screw structure in addition to or instead of the position adjustment in the shaft part 201. .
An abutting portion that abuts the mounting portion 206 of the cover holding portion 200 is provided in the cover 130, and the adjusting member may be configured by the abutting portion having a structure movable in the vertical direction by a screw mechanism or the like.
A cover holding part may be provided on the cover 130, and the cover 130 may be held on the machine base 110 by contacting the upper flange 195 b of the base part 195.
The rotation drive mechanism 150 may be a rack and pinion mechanism including racks attached to the support frames 191 and 192 and pinions provided on the roller support bases 142.

  In the sorting apparatus, the first predetermined number of rollers 120, which are all the rollers 120 supported by the machine base, belong to one of the plurality of unit roller groups G or one of the plurality of roller units U, and the second The predetermined number, the number of unit roller support bases, the number of unit rotation driving bodies, and the number of unit rotation driving mechanisms may be different values in each roller unit U. Also in this case, since all the rollers 120 included in the sorting apparatus 100 belong to one of the roller units U, the assembling property and the maintainability of the sorting apparatus 100 can be improved.

10 Article 20, 21, 22 Transport direction 23 Width direction 100 Sorting device 110 Machine base 115, 116 Machine frame,
120 roller 120a roller protrusion 130 cover 131 roller protrusion hole 140 roller support base 141 roller support frame 150 rotation drive mechanism 170 line shaft 180 rotation drive mechanism 190 unit support members 191 and 192 support frame 193 connection part 200 bar holding part 206 Placement part A Cover positioning part R, R1, R2 Roller row H Projection height G, G1, G2 Unit roller group U Roller unit Lv Vertical axis Lh Horizontal axis

Claims (6)

A plurality of first predetermined number of conveyance rollers arranged in the conveyance direction of the article on the conveyance path and the width direction of the conveyance path, and the plurality of rollers are rotatably supported around a horizontal axis, and around the vertical axis A plurality of rotation driving mechanisms for rotating the rollers around the vertical axis, and a plurality of rotation driving bodies for rotating the rollers. And a carrier device including the roller support bases, the rotation drive mechanism and the rotary drive body,
A unit that supports a unit roller support base that is a plurality of the roller support bases that support a plurality of the rollers belonging to a unit roller group composed of a second predetermined number of the rollers that are a plurality less than the first predetermined number. Comprising a support,
The rotational driving body includes a unit rotational driving body that rotationally drives the plurality of rollers belonging to the unit roller group,
The rotation drive mechanism includes a unit rotation drive mechanism that rotates the roller via the unit roller support.
The unit roller support base, the unit rotation drive body, and the unit rotation drive mechanism are assembled to the unit support body to form one roller unit together with the unit roller group and the unit support body. And
The roller unit can be attached to and detached from the machine base by attaching and detaching the unit support to the machine base. The unit support includes a first support and a second support that are arranged at intervals in the transport direction, and a connecting portion that connects the first support and the second support.
The unit roller group includes a first unit roller group constituting a first roller row in the width direction, and a second unit roller group constituting a second roller row in the width direction,
The first roller row and the second roller row are arranged at an interval in the transport direction,
The unit roller support includes a first roller support that supports the plurality of rollers of the first roller row, and a second roller support that supports the plurality of rollers of the second roller row,
The first roller support is supported by the first support;
The second roller support is supported by the second support;
2. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the unit rotation driving mechanism rotates the first roller support base and the second roller support base simultaneously in the same rotation direction. A cover in which a part of each roller is provided with a roller protrusion hole protruding upward as a roller protrusion;
3. The transport according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment member that adjusts a position of the cover in a vertical direction with respect to the machine base in order to adjust a protrusion height of the roller protrusion. apparatus. The adjustment member is a cover holding portion having a placement portion on which the cover is placed from above,
The transport device according to claim 3, wherein the position of the cover holding unit in the vertical direction with respect to the machine base is adjustable. The roller support has a support shaft for rotation supported by the unit support to enable the roller to rotate about the vertical axis,
5. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein substantially the entire support shaft for rotation is accommodated in the unit support body. 6. The first predetermined number of the rollers, which are all the rollers supported by the machine base, belong to any of the plurality of unit roller groups,
The second predetermined number, the number of unit roller support bases, the number of unit rotation driving bodies, and the number of unit rotation driving mechanisms are the same or different values in each roller unit. The transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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