JP2015042554A - Conveyance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyance device where an article is stably and surely supplied even when treating capacity is large.SOLUTION: A conveyance device 2b being disposed at the upper part of a conveyance surface 5 and conveying an article XA1 on the conveyance surface 5 comprises: a sprocket 7 being disposed at an upstream end and having a relatively small diameter; a sprocket 6 being disposed at a downstream end and having a relatively large diameter; an annular chain 9 being applied to the sprockets 6, 7 and running; a plurality of fingers 10 integrating and running with the chain 9 and pushing and sending the article XA1; and a plurality of link mechanisms 11 connecting a plurality of the fingers 10 to the chain 9 respectively.

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that transports articles continuously.

  In a line for pillow-wrapping articles such as foods and daily necessities, articles are supplied one after another to a pillow packaging machine, and individually pillow-wrapped by a packaging material such as a film to produce a pillow package. The supply of the article to the pillow packaging machine is performed by a conveying device such as an overhead conveyor (also referred to as an upper conveyor or a Koyagura) that pushes the article on the conveying surface by a pushing member (finger).

  The conveying device includes a conveying surface, a plurality of sprockets, an annular chain that is hooked on the plurality of sprockets, a plurality of pushing members attached to the chain at equal intervals, and a servo serving as a power source. And a motor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this conveying apparatus, since the plurality of pushing members push the article at a predetermined interval, the article can be sequentially supplied to the pillow packaging machine at a certain timing.

Japanese Patent No. 2918839

  However, as the traveling speed of the push member increases and the processing capacity increases, the push member may interfere with the article when the push member is inserted from above between the articles conveyed at predetermined intervals. In addition, it is conceivable to increase the distance between the articles so as not to cause interference between the pushing member and the article, but in this case, the speed of the pushing member may be higher than the film conveying speed, and the film and the article are rubbed. When the pushing member is reversed, it interferes with the article (package) supplied on the film, and the article (product) may be displaced or the posture of the article may be lost. This is particularly noticeable when the height of the article is high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus that can stably and reliably supply articles even when the processing capability is high.

  (1) The present invention is a transport device that is disposed above the transport surface and transports articles on the transport surface, and has an upstream sprocket with a relatively small diameter disposed at the upstream end and a downstream end. A downstream sprocket having a relatively large diameter, an annular chain that travels by being caught by the upstream sprocket and the downstream sprocket, and a plurality that travels integrally with the chain and pushes the article And a plurality of link mechanisms for connecting each of the plurality of pushing members to the chain.

  According to the present invention, since the upstream sprocket having a relatively small diameter is provided, it is possible to make the reservoir by delaying the rising timing of the pushing member at the upstream end, and then increase the speed at a stretch. This shortens or eliminates the time that the pushing member is slantingly and halfway against the article, and lengthens the time that the pushing member is straightly and accurately hitting the article.

  And since the downstream sprocket with a comparatively large diameter is provided, the springing-up angle of the pushing member in a downstream end can be made small. In addition, the speed of the pushing member at the downstream end can be slowed down so as to slowly jump up. This can prevent the article from being kicked off. As a result, even when the traveling speed of the pushing member is high and the processing capability is high, the article can be supplied stably and reliably.

  (2) In the present invention, each of the plurality of link mechanisms includes a pair of links, and each of the pair of links is connected to a different pin of the chain and is connected to each other. Are fixed to one of the pair of links, respectively, according to (1).

  According to the above invention, the link mechanism can be easily realized with a small number of parts.

  (3) The present invention is also a transport device that supplies the article transported on the transport surface to the transported packaging material, wherein the plurality of pushing members travel slower than the transport speed of the packaging material. The transfer device according to (1) or (2) above, characterized in that:

  According to the above invention, since the traveling speed of the push member is slower than the conveyance speed of the packaging material, the article escapes from the push member when the article is transferred to the packaging material. For this reason, when the pushing member jumps up at the downstream end, it does not interfere with the article.

  According to the conveying apparatus as described in said (1)-(3) of this invention, even if it is a case where processing capacity is high, compared with the conventional conveying apparatus by which the sprocket of the same diameter was arrange | positioned at the upstream end and the downstream end Since the turning of the pushing member can be reduced and the turning speed of the pushing member can be increased, the pushing member can be inserted without increasing the interval between the articles on the conveying device in the upstream process, Articles can be supplied stably and reliably.

It is the schematic of a pillow packaging machine provided with the conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of a conveying apparatus. It is a side view of the conveying apparatus for demonstrating a motion of a pushing member.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

  First, the structure of the pillow packaging machine 1 provided with the conveying apparatus 2b is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pillow packaging machine 1. In addition, in this figure and each subsequent figure, one part structure is abbreviate | omitted suitably and drawing is simplified.

  A pillow packaging machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used in a line for sequentially packaging articles XA1 such as food and daily necessities. The pillow wrapping machine 1 includes a plate conveyor 2a, a transport device 2b, a packaging material supply device 3, and a packaging machine body 4.

  Each part of the pillow wrapping machine 1 is comprehensively controlled by a control unit (not shown). The control unit includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and executes various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and various programs are executed to realize various functions. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU. The ROM stores a basic OS and programs executed by the CPU.

  The conveying device 2b conveys the article XA1 taken over from the plate conveyor 2a at equal intervals, and sequentially supplies the article XA1 to the downstream packaging machine body 4. This conveyance apparatus 2b is comprised from an overhead conveyor.

  Specifically, the transport device 2b includes a transport surface 5, a side guide (not shown) for guiding the article XA1 on the transport surface 5 from the side, a driving sprocket 6, and a driven sprocket 7. A sprocket 8 for applying tension, an annular chain 9 that travels by being hooked on the sprockets 6 to 8, a plurality of fingers (pushing members) 10 that travel together with the chain 9, and a plurality of fingers 10 Are provided with a plurality of link mechanisms 11 (see FIG. 2) for connecting each to a chain, and a servo motor (not shown) as a power source.

  The drive sprocket 6 is rotated by the drive of the servo motor. The driven sprocket 7 rotates in conjunction with the driving sprocket as the chain 9 travels. The tension applying sprocket 8 rotates in conjunction with the driving sprocket as the chain 9 travels. The tension-applying sprocket 8 applies an appropriate tension to the chain 9 to make the chain 9 run smoothly.

  The chain 9 travels so as to circulate by the rotation of the driving sprocket 6. The plurality of fingers 10 are provided at equal intervals. Each of the plurality of fingers 10 travels on the transport surface together with the link mechanism 11 as the chain 9 travels. Accordingly, the plurality of fingers 10 push the article XA1 on the transport surface 5 and send it out to the packaging machine body 4. The plurality of fingers 10 are set so as to travel slower than the conveyance speed of the packaging material YA1 supplied by the packaging material supply device 3. The plurality of link mechanisms 11 are the main part of the present invention, and details thereof will be described later.

  The packaging material supply device 3 is provided below the transport device 2b. The packaging material supply apparatus 3 includes a raw fabric shaft 12 that holds the raw fabric roll YB1. The original fabric shaft 12 is provided so as to be rotated by a motor (not shown) as a driving source, and holds the original fabric roll YB1. Then, the packaging material supply device 3 continuously supplies the packaging material YA1 such as a film drawn out in a band shape from the original fabric roll YB1 held on the original fabric shaft 12 to the packaging machine body 4 continuously. As a method of feeding the packaging material YA1 from the original fabric roll YB1, instead of adopting the above-mentioned original fabric driving method, a feed roller is separately provided and the feed roller is moved to draw out the packaging material YA1. A driving method may be adopted.

  The packaging machine body 4 is provided downstream from the transport device 2b. The packaging machine body 4 packages the article XA1 supplied from the transport device 2b with the packaging material YA1 supplied from the packaging material supply device 3. Specifically, the packaging machine main body 4 includes a bag making device 13, a first conveying means 14, a pinch roller 15, a center seal device 16, a first article support device 17, and a top seal device (end seal). Device) 18, a second transport means 19, a second article support device 20, and the like.

  The bag making device 13 is provided downstream from the transport device 2b. This bag making machine 13 forms a bag of the packaging material YA1 supplied from the packaging material supply device 3 in a cylindrical shape so that both ends in the left-right direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the article XA1 overlap each other. Further, the bag making device 13 supplies the article XA1 supplied from the transport device 2b to the packaging material YA1 that is bag-formed in a cylindrical shape. Thereby, the article XA1 is wrapped in the packaging material YA1 that is formed into a cylindrical shape.

  The first conveying means 14 is provided downstream from the bag making device 13. The first transport means 14 is a belt conveyor that transports the article XA1 wrapped in the packaging material YA1 by the bag making machine 13 toward the top seal device 18 on a transport surface (reference number omitted). Then, the first transport unit 14 expands and contracts the transport surface in the transport direction in accordance with the box motion of the top seal device 18.

  The first transport unit 14 includes a suction pump (not shown) that functions as a suction mechanism that sucks the article XA1 onto the transport surface. Furthermore, the 1st conveyance means 14 has many holes formed in the conveyance surface, and comprises a vacuum conveyor. As a result, the article XA1 wrapped in the packaging material YA1 is attracted to a large number of holes on the conveying surface by the operation of the suction pump, so that the conveying force is given more reliably and conveyed toward the top seal device 18. Is done.

  The pinch roller 15 is provided downstream of the bag making machine 13 and above the first conveying means 14. The pinch roller 15 sandwiches both end edges (hereinafter referred to as a center seal portion) of the packaging material YA1 that overlap each other, and applies a conveying force to the center seal portion.

  The center seal device 16 is provided downstream of the pinch roller 15 and above the first conveying means 14. Specifically, the center seal device 16 includes a pair of bar sealers 16a and a press roller 16b. The center seal device 16 heats the center seal portion sandwiched between a pair of bar sealers 16a. The center seal device 16 performs center sealing by pressing the heated center seal portion with the press roller 16b.

  The first article support device 17 is provided downstream of the center seal device 16 and above the first conveying means 14. Specifically, the first article support device 17 adsorbs the article XA1 to the upper conveyor 17a having a running surface (reference numeral omitted) that runs in the transport direction, that is, in the feeding direction of the packaging material YA1, and the running surface. A suction pump (not shown) that functions as an adsorption mechanism.

  And the 1st article support apparatus 17 has many holes formed in the running surface of upper conveyor 17a, and constitutes a vacuum conveyor. As a result, the article XA1 wrapped in the packaging material YA1 is attracted to a large number of holes on the running surface by the operation of the suction pump, so that a conveying force is more reliably given and conveyed toward the top seal device 18. Is done. Then, the first article support device 17 expands and contracts the traveling surface in the transport direction in accordance with the box motion of the top seal device 18.

  The top seal device 18 is provided downstream from the first conveying means 14. The top seal device 18 is provided with a top seal in the left-right direction of the packaging material YA1 at a pitch corresponding to the length of the article XA1 by a known box motion that revolves the pair of upper and lower top sealers 18a and 18b along a predetermined locus. (It is also called an end seal or a horizontal seal.) Thereby, pillow package ZA1 is manufactured. For details of the top seal device 18, refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-286413.

  The second conveying means 19 is provided downstream from the top seal device 18. The second conveying means 19 is a belt conveyor that conveys the pillow package ZA1 finished by the top seal device 18 on the conveying surface (reference numeral omitted) and conveys it to the next process. The second transport unit 19 expands and contracts the transport surface in the transport direction in accordance with the box motion of the top seal device 18.

  The second transport unit 19 includes a suction pump (not shown) that functions as a suction mechanism that sucks the article XA1 onto the transport surface. Further, the second conveying means 19 has a large number of holes on the conveying surface, and constitutes a vacuum conveyor. As a result, the pillow package ZA1 is sucked into a large number of holes on the conveying surface by the operation of the suction pump, so that the conveying force is more reliably applied and conveyed toward the next process.

  The second article support device 20 is provided downstream of the top seal device 18 and above the second conveying means 19. Specifically, the second article support device 20 includes an upper conveyor 20a having a running surface (not shown) that runs along the conveyance direction, and a suction pump (illustrated) that functions as an adsorption mechanism that sucks the article XA1 on the running surface. (Omitted).

  And the 2nd article | item support apparatus 20 has many holes formed in the running surface of the upper conveyor 20a, and comprises a vacuum conveyor. As a result, the pillow package ZA1 is attracted to a large number of holes on the traveling surface by the operation of the suction pump, so that the conveying force is given more reliably and is conveyed toward the next step. Then, the second article support device 20 expands and contracts the traveling surface in the transport direction in accordance with the box motion of the top seal device 18.

  Next, the configuration of the transport device 2b will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a side view of the transfer device 2b. FIG. 3 is a side view of the transport device 2b for explaining the movement of the finger 10. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the plurality of link mechanisms 11 are provided at equal intervals. Each of the plurality of link mechanisms 11 includes a pair of links 21 and 22. The pair of links 21 and 22 are rotatably connected to different pins of the chain 9 and are also rotatably connected to each other.

  Specifically, the preceding link 21 includes a pin coupling portion 21a that is rotatably coupled to the pin 9a of the chain 9, and a pin coupling portion 21b that is rotatably coupled to the pin coupling portion 22b of the subsequent link 22. It has. The following link 22 includes a pin coupling portion 22a that is rotatably connected to the pin 9b of the chain 9, and a pin coupling portion 22b that is rotatably coupled to the pin coupling portion 21b of the preceding link 21. ing.

  The interval L1 between the pin coupling portion 21a and the pin coupling portion 21b of the preceding link 21 is set shorter than the interval L2 between the pin coupling portion 22a and the pin coupling portion 22b of the subsequent link 22. That is, the lengths of the pair of links 21 and 22 are set so that the relationship L1 <L2 is established. As a result, the amount of rotation of the preceding link 21 is increased compared to the amount of rotation of the subsequent link 22. The finger 10 is fixed to the preceding link 21 that is one of the pair of links 21 and 22.

  Next, the movement of the finger 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the article XA1 (see FIG. 1) on the transport surface 5 (see FIG. 1) is transported between the sprocket 7 disposed at the upstream end and the sprocket 6 disposed at the downstream end. The finger 10 is orthogonal to the chain 9. Then, the fingers 10 that have finished transporting the article XA1 on the transport surface 5 are gradually rearward from the direction orthogonal to the chain 9 so as to maintain a vertical posture when folded by the sprocket 6 disposed at the downstream end. Fall into.

  Thereafter, the posture that has fallen backward is gradually reestablished so as to be orthogonal to the chain 9. The finger 10 between the sprocket 6 and the sprocket 8 is orthogonal to the chain 9. After that, when rising with the sprocket 7 arranged at the upstream end, the finger 10 falls greatly backward from the direction orthogonal to the chain 9, and then reverts to the direction orthogonal to the chain 9 at once.

  According to such a transport device 2b, the sprocket 7 having a relatively small diameter is provided at the upstream end, so that the rising timing of the finger 10 at the upstream end is delayed to create a reservoir, and then the speed is increased to rise at a stretch. Can be made. Thereby, the time when the finger 10 is obliquely hitting the article XA1 and halfway is shortened or eliminated, and the time when the finger 10 is hitting the article XA1 straightly and accurately can be lengthened.

  Since the sprocket 6 having a relatively large diameter is provided at the downstream end, the angle at which the finger 10 jumps at the downstream end can be reduced. Further, the speed of the finger 10 at the downstream end can be slowed down and slowly jumped up. This can prevent the article XA1 from being kicked off. As a result, even when the traveling speed of the finger 10 is high and the processing capacity is high, the rotation of the finger 10 can be reduced as compared with the conventional conveying device in which sprockets of the same diameter are arranged at the upstream end and the downstream end. In addition, since the turning speed of the finger 10 can be increased, the finger 10 can be inserted without increasing the interval between the articles XA1 on the upstream conveying device (plate conveyor 2a). Article XA1 can be supplied.

  The link mechanism 11 can be easily realized with a small number of parts.

  Further, since the traveling speed of the finger 10 is slower than the conveying speed of the packaging material YA1, when the article XA1 is transferred to the packaging material YA1, the article XA1 escapes from the finger 10. For this reason, when the finger 10 jumps up at the downstream end, it does not interfere with the article XA1.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea thereof.

  That is, in the above embodiment, the position, size, length, shape, material, orientation, and the like of each component can be changed as appropriate.

2b Transport device 5 Transport surface 6 Drive sprocket (downstream sprocket)
7 Driven sprocket (upstream sprocket)
9 Chain 9a, 9b Pin 10 Finger (pushing member)
11 Link mechanism 21, 22 Link XA1 Article YA1 Packaging material

Claims (3)

A conveying device that is disposed above the conveying surface and conveys an article on the conveying surface,
An upstream sprocket with a relatively small diameter disposed at the upstream end;
A downstream sprocket having a relatively large diameter disposed at the downstream end;
An annular chain that travels by being caught by the upstream sprocket and the downstream sprocket;
A plurality of pushing members that run integrally with the chain and push the article;
A plurality of link mechanisms for connecting each of the plurality of pushing members to the chain,
Conveying device. Each of the plurality of link mechanisms comprises a pair of links,
The pair of links are connected to each other and to different pins of the chain,
Each of the plurality of pushing members is fixed to one of the pair of links,
The transport apparatus according to claim 1. A conveying device for supplying the article conveyed on the conveying surface to a packaging material to be conveyed,
The plurality of pushing members travel slower than the conveying speed of the packaging material,
The transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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