JP2016216206A - Conveyance device and driving method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyance device and a driving method for the conveyance device which can completely divide a clean region and a drive region by separating a conveyance section and a drive section of the conveyance device.SOLUTION: A conveyance device 100 includes: a conveyance section 10 which is rotated to convey a container 9; and a drive section 20 for giving rotational driving force to the conveyance section 10. The conveyance section 10 includes a conveyance shaft 13 to be rotated and a magnet section M1 included in the conveyance shaft 13. The drive section 20 includes a motor 21 for generating the rotational driving force, a drive body 22 rotated by the rotational driving force, and a magnet section M2 included in the drive body 22. The conveyance shaft 13 and the drive body 22 are disposed in a separated state, and are connected so that the rotational driving force can be transmitted by magnetic force acting between the magnet section M1 and the magnet section M2. A cover 30 made of a nonmagnetic material is interposed between the conveyance shaft 13 and the drive body 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying a container or the like and a method for driving the apparatus.

A container cleaning and sterilizer, a filling machine that fills the container with beverages, foods, medicines, and the like are provided with a rotary conveying device that conveys the container (for example, Patent Document 1).
Such a conveying apparatus includes a conveying unit (such as a star wheel) that conveys the held container, and a drive unit that is connected to a shaft extending from the conveying unit and rotationally drives the conveying unit.
It is necessary to maintain the sanitation of the environment in which the product is transported, and to avoid damage such as corrosion on the drive unit due to intrusion of cleaning water or product liquid that travels along the shaft from the transport unit.

Therefore, the transport apparatus is provided with a water seal structure 3 as shown in FIG. 4, and the water seal structure 3 includes a clean region R1 in which the transport unit 1 including the star wheel 1A is located, and a motor 2A. The drive region R2 where the drive unit 2 is located is separated.
The water seal structure 3 includes a disc 3A provided around the shaft 1B of the star wheel 1A, and a water reservoir 3B provided in an annular shape on the outer periphery of the disc 3A. Water is always stored in the water reservoir 3B, and the outer peripheral edge of the disk 3A is immersed in the water in the water reservoir 3B. The portion of the disc 3A through which the shaft 1B passes is sealed.

When cleaning water or product liquid splashed by the transport unit 1 adheres to the shaft 1B, it drops along the shaft 1B to the disc 3A and flows from the disc 3A into the water reservoir 3B.
If water is stored in the water reservoir 3B, a path through which the cleaning water and the product liquid move to the drive unit 2 via the shaft 1B is sealed, and foreign matter such as dust generated in the drive unit 2 is attached to the shaft 1B. The path of movement to the transport unit 1 is sealed. Thus, the regions R1 and R2 are divided.
The drive unit 2 includes a protection mechanism 2B such as a torque limiter for limiting the torque of the motor 2A in order to prevent damage when an excessive force is applied to the transport unit 1 due to the biting of the container 9 or the like. .

JP 2011-137829 A

The clean area R1 and the drive area R2 are separated by the conventional water seal structure 3, but the transport section 1 and the drive section 2 are connected by the shaft 1B, and both are assembled together. The clean region R1 and the drive region R2 are not completely separated.
Therefore, there is a possibility that water or product liquid that has passed through the seal portion around the shaft 1B reaches the drive unit 2 through the shaft 1B, or foreign matter enters the transport unit 1 from the drive unit 2 through the shaft 1B. Cannot be excluded.

  Based on the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus and a transport apparatus drive method that can completely separate a clean area and a drive area by separating the transport section and the drive section. And

  A first transport device of the present invention includes a transport unit that transports an object by being rotated, and a drive unit that applies a rotational driving force to the transport unit, and the transport unit includes a transport shaft that is rotated, A first magnet unit provided on the conveying shaft, and the drive unit includes a motor that generates a rotational driving force, a driving body that is rotated by the rotational driving force, and a second magnet unit that is provided in the driving body. The conveying shaft and the driving body are arranged in a separated state, and are coupled so as to be able to transmit a rotational driving force by a magnetic force acting between the first magnet portion and the second magnet portion. A cover made of a non-magnetic material is interposed between the drive body and the drive body.

  Further, the second transport device of the present invention is disposed with a gap between the transport shaft provided in the transport unit that transports the object by being rotated, the rotor provided in the transport shaft, and the rotor. And a cover made of a non-magnetic material disposed in the gap, and the conveying shaft is rotated by a rotational driving force generated by a motor including the rotor and the stator.

  In the first and second transport apparatuses of the present invention, the cover is preferably a cup-shaped member opened upward.

  The 1st and 2nd conveying apparatus of this invention is suitable in order to convey the container in which either a drink, a foodstuff, and a chemical | medical agent are put.

In addition, the present invention can also be applied to a method for driving a transport device.
That is, the driving method of the first transport device of the present invention is a method for driving a transport device including a transport unit that transports an object by being rotated and a drive unit that applies a rotational driving force to the transport unit. A first step in which a rotational driving force is generated by a motor included in the driving unit, and a second step in which a conveying shaft included in the conveying unit and separated from the driving unit is rotated by the rotational driving force, In the second step, the first magnet unit provided on the transport shaft and the first provided on the drive body via a cover made of a non-magnetic material disposed between the drive body included in the drive unit and the transport shaft. The driving body and the conveying shaft are coupled so as to be able to transmit the rotational driving force by the magnetic force acting between the two magnet portions.

  Further, the second transport device driving method of the present invention is a method of driving a transport device that transports an object by being rotated, and includes a rotor provided on a transport shaft of the transport device, and a rotor. A first step in which an electromagnetic force is generated by a stator disposed with a gap therebetween, and a second step in which the conveyance shaft is rotated by a rotational driving force generated by the rotation of the rotor by the electromagnetic force, The first step is characterized in that electromagnetic force is generated by the action of magnetic fields generated from the rotor and the stator through a cover made of a non-magnetic material disposed in the gap.

In the present invention, the rotational driving force of the motor is transmitted to the transport shaft by coupling the transport shaft and the drive body by the magnetic force acting between the magnet portions respectively provided on the transport shaft and the drive body (the first transport described above). Device and transport device driving method). Alternatively, the conveyance shaft is rotated by configuring a motor including elements provided on the conveyance shaft (the second conveyance device and the method for driving the conveyance device).
According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a rotational driving force for rotating the transport shaft through a magnetic action, so that the transport shaft and the other elements are mechanically separated from each other. A cover can be interposed throughout. With the cover, the clean area and the drive area can be completely separated by cutting off the movement path of the liquid and dust, so that the environmental sanitation of the transport section and the reliability of the drive section can be ensured.

It is a top view which shows the conveying apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a side view which shows the conveying apparatus shown in FIG. (B) is the elements on larger scale of (a). It is a figure which shows the conveying apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional conveying apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[First Embodiment]
A rotary conveying device 100 shown in FIG. 1 constitutes a production line for obtaining a beverage product put in a container 9. This production line includes a cleaning and sterilizing machine that cleans and sterilizes the container 9 and a filling machine that fills the container 9 with a beverage. Predetermined processing such as filling is performed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transport apparatus 100 includes a transport unit 10 that transports the container 9, a drive unit 20 that rotationally drives the transport unit 10, and a cover that is interposed between the transport unit 10 and the drive unit 20. 30.
The container 9 is not only transported in an upright posture, but may be transported in an inverted posture.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 10 includes a plurality of star wheels 11 and 12, and rotating shafts 13 and 14 provided on the star wheels 11 and 12, respectively. FIG. 1 shows only some of the star wheels provided in the transport apparatus 100.
As shown in FIG. 2, a rotational driving force is applied from the drive unit 20 to the rotating shafts 13 provided on some of the star wheels 11 among the plurality of star wheels. Hereinafter, the rotating shaft 13 is referred to as a conveying shaft 13.
The rotational driving force transmitted to the conveying shaft 13 is also transmitted to the rotating shaft 14 through an appropriate transmission mechanism such as a gear train or a belt.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transport shaft 13 is provided at the center of the star wheel 11 and extends downward in the vertical direction.
The lower end portion 13A of the transport shaft 13 is provided with a permanent magnet M1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a magnet).
The magnet M1 is held on the outer periphery of the transport shaft 13 (FIG. 2). The magnet M1 may be embedded in the transport shaft 13.

  The magnet M1 is composed of an arbitrary number of divided segments. A magnetized cylindrical magnet can also be used as the magnet M1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 20 disposed below the transport unit 10 includes a motor 21 that generates a rotational drive force, a drive body 22 that is rotated by the rotational drive force generated by the motor 21, and a drive A permanent magnet M2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a magnet) provided in the body 22 is provided.

The motor 21 has a rotor and a stator (not shown), and outputs a rotational driving force (torque) obtained by rotating the rotor with respect to the stator. The motor 21 is connected to a power source (not shown).
As the motor 21, it is preferable to employ a motor (electric motor) that can be synchronized with a conveyance timing such as supply and discharge of the container 9.
In addition, if a device that synchronizes with the conveyance timing of the container 9 is separately provided, it is not always necessary to use a synchronizable motor.

The driving body 22 receives the rotational driving force from the motor 21 and rotates. Although the drive body 22 of this embodiment is provided on the output shaft 21A of the motor 21, it may be connected to the output shaft 21A via an appropriate transmission mechanism such as a gear train or a belt.
The drive body 22 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and surrounds the lower end portion 13 </ b> A of the transport shaft 13.
The axis of the driving body 22 is located on an extension line of the axis of the transport shaft 13. That is, the drive body 22 is disposed concentrically with the transport shaft 13.
The drive body 22 includes a cylindrical wall body 221 and a disc 222 that connects the wall body 221 to the motor shaft 21A.

The wall body 221 of the drive body 22 is provided with a permanent magnet M2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a magnet).
The magnet M <b> 2 is embedded in the wall body 221. The magnet M2 may be held on the inner periphery of the wall body 221. The magnet M2 is opposed to the magnet M1 of the transport shaft 13 with a magnetic gap G interposed therebetween.
The magnet M2 is composed of an arbitrary number of divided segments in the same manner as the magnet M1 described above. A magnetized cylindrical magnet can also be used as the magnet M2.

  An electromagnet can be used as one or both of the magnets M1 and M2.

  The magnet M1 and the magnet M2 are arranged so that different magnetic poles face each other, and attract each other. Due to the magnetic force acting between the magnet M1 and the magnet M2, the transport shaft 13 provided with the magnet M1 and the driving body 22 provided with the magnet M2 are coupled so as to transmit the rotational driving force.

  A repulsive force acting between the magnet M1 and the magnet M2 can be used to couple the transport shaft 13 and the drive body 22 so that the rotational driving force can be transmitted.

A lower end portion 13 </ b> A of the transport shaft 13 is accommodated inside a drive body 22 that is an upper end portion of the drive unit 20.
The transport shaft 13 and the drive body 22 are mechanically separated from each other although they are coupled by the magnetic force acting between the magnets M1 and M2 as described above.

  Now, due to the nature of the beverage product handled by the transport apparatus 100, the environmental hygiene of the transport unit 10 for transporting the container 9 must be maintained. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent foreign matters such as dust generated from the drive unit 20 from entering the transport unit 10.

Therefore, a cover 30 is disposed between the transport shaft 13 and the driving body 22.
The cover 30 is interposed between the transport shaft 13 and the drive body 22, thereby separating the clean region R <b> 1 where the transport unit 10 is located and the drive region R <b> 2 where the drive unit 20 is located. The boundary between the regions R1 and R2 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
This cover 30 is similar to the conventional water seal structure 3 (FIG. 4), but has a function of sealing a path through which liquid and foreign matter move between the transport unit 10 and the drive unit 20, but compared with the water seal structure 3. The structure is simple, and unlike the water-sealed structure 3, it is not necessary to store the liquid in the cover 30, so that it is not necessary to manage the liquid level.
In order to prevent the liquid flowing into the cover 30 from overflowing from the cover 30, the liquid in the cover 30 may be quickly discharged with a drain (not shown).

  Since the cover 30 is made of a nonmagnetic material formed using a nonmagnetic material and transmits magnetic flux, even if the cover 30 is interposed between the magnets M1 and M2, the transport shaft 13 and the driving body 22 are generated by magnetic force. And are combined.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the cover 30 is formed in a cup shape that opens upward, and is accommodated inside the wall body 221 of the drive body 22, and the lower end portion 13 </ b> A of the transport shaft 13. Is housed.
The cover 30 includes a cylindrical tube portion 31 disposed between the outer peripheral portion of the lower end portion 13 </ b> A of the transport shaft 13 and the wall body 221 of the drive body 22, and a bottom portion 32 that closes an opening below the tube portion 31. I have.
A gap S is left between the inner peripheral portion of the cover 30 and the outer peripheral portion of the lower end portion 13A in a state where the lower end portion 13A of the transport shaft 13 is accommodated in the cover 30.
Therefore, the liquid dropped along the conveying shaft 13 can be received in the cover 30 through the opening 30A. The liquid accumulated in the cover 30 may be discarded and collected through a drain (not shown).

  The cover 30 can be assembled to one of the drive body 22 and the conveyance shaft 13. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, the cover 30 may be assembled to the inner peripheral portion of the driving body 22, or may be assembled to the lower end of the transport shaft 13.

  The rotating shaft 14 of the star wheel 12 that is driven by the rotation of the conveying shaft 13 is not provided with a motor 21 below, so there is little problem even if the adhered liquid is transmitted downward through the rotating shaft 14. If the liquid collection container 35 (FIG. 2A) having the same form as that of the liquid crystal 30 is provided at the lower end portion of the rotary shaft 14, it is possible to prevent the liquid from dropping from the rotary shaft 14 to the floor. The liquid accumulated in the liquid collection container 35 may be discarded and collected through a drain (not shown).

The transport apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is driven through a step in which the drive body 22 rotates and a step in which the transport shaft 13 rotates following the rotation of the drive body 22.
When the motor 21 is energized and the rotor rotates relative to the stator, a rotational driving force is obtained. When the driving body 22 is rotated by the rotational driving force, the transport shaft 13 coupled to the driving body 22 is rotated following the driving body 22 by the magnetic force acting between the magnets M1 and M2 via the cover 30.
In the present embodiment, the conveyance shaft 13 is not directly driven by the rotational driving force generated by the motor 21, but is indirectly driven through the magnetic force between the magnets M1 and M2. 11, even if a large force exceeding the magnetic force is applied to the transport shaft 13 by being engaged between the transport shafts 13 and 12, the slip between the transport shaft 13 and the drive body 22 is transmitted from the transport shaft 13 to the drive body 22. Is reduced.
Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the drive unit 20 with a protection mechanism 2B (FIG. 4) such as a torque limiter.

As described above, in the present embodiment, magnetic force is used to transmit the rotational driving force, and the conveyance shaft 13 and the driving body 22 are mechanically separated. Therefore, the clean region R1 and the drive region R2 can be completely separated by disposing the cover 30 over the entire area between the transport shaft 13 and the drive body 22 without providing the water seal structure 3.
Since the transport shaft 13 does not penetrate the cover 30, it is not necessary to seal the penetrating portion, and of course, the sealing portion does not become a moving path for liquid or foreign matter.

According to the present embodiment described above, a magnetic force is used to rotationally drive the transport unit 10, and the cover 30 is interposed between the transport unit 10 and the drive unit 20 separated by using the magnetic force. The clean region R1 and the drive region R2 can be completely separated without providing the water sealing structure 3 having a complicated structure. Thereby, the environmental sanitation of the transport unit 10 and the reliability of the drive unit 20 can be ensured.
In addition, the protection mechanism 2B of the motor 21 becomes unnecessary due to the slip between the transport shaft 13 and the driving body 22 when a large load exceeding the magnetic force is applied.
Since the water sealing structure 3 and the protection mechanism 2B are not required, the structure of the transport device 100 can be simplified and downsized.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the conveying apparatus 200 and the driving method of the conveying apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to the structure of 1st Embodiment.
In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the motor 40 is configured using a magnet M <b> 1 provided on the transport shaft 13 and a magnet M <b> 2 provided on the drive body 22.
The magnet M1 of the first embodiment and the portion that holds the magnet M1 function as the rotor 41 of the motor 40, and the magnet M2 of the first embodiment and the drive body 22 that holds the magnet M2 function as the stator 42 of the motor 40.
And the cover 30 is arrange | positioned at the gap G between the rotor 41 and the stator 42 similarly to 1st Embodiment.

The conveyance device 200 is driven through a step in which an electromagnetic force is generated by the rotor 41 and the stator 42 and a step in which the conveyance shaft 13 is rotated by a rotational driving force generated by the rotation of the rotor 41 by the electromagnetic force.
When the coil of the motor 21 is energized, the magnetic fields generated from the rotor 41 and the stator 42 act through the cover 30 disposed in the gap G to generate an electromagnetic force. Due to the electromagnetic force, the transport shaft 13 provided with the rotor 41 rotates.

Also in the present embodiment, since the cover 30 is disposed over the entire portion between the rotor 41 and the stator 42 which are mechanically separated, the clean region R1 and the drive region R2 are not provided without providing the water seal structure 3. Can be completely separated. Thereby, the environmental sanitation of the transport unit 10 and the reliability of the drive unit 20 can be ensured.
And since the water sealing structure 3 is not required, the structure of the conveyance apparatus 200 can be simplified and downsized.

  In addition to the above, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, the configuration described in the above embodiment can be selected or changed to another configuration as appropriate.

The transport device of the present invention can be used as a transport device provided in a capper for covering the mouth of a container, a machine for packaging food, and the like in addition to a cleaning sterilizer and a filling machine.
In addition to transporting containers and packaging, the transport device of the present invention can also transport contents that are filled or packaged in containers.

9 Container (target)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Conveyance apparatus 10 Conveyance part 11,12 Star wheel 13 Conveyance shaft 14 Rotating shaft 13A Lower end part 20 Drive part 21,40 Motor 21A Motor shaft 22 Driver 30 Cover 30A Opening 31 Cylindrical part 32 Bottom part 35 Liquid collection container 41 Rotor 42 Stator 221 Wall 222 Disc G Gap M1 Magnet (first magnet part), Rotor M2 Magnet (second magnet part), Stator R1 Clean area R2 Drive area S Gap

Claims (6)

A transport unit that transports the object by being rotated;
A drive unit that applies a rotational driving force to the transport unit,
The transport unit is
A transport shaft to be rotated;
A first magnet portion provided on the transport shaft,
The drive unit is
A motor for generating the rotational driving force;
A driving body rotated by the rotational driving force;
A second magnet portion provided in the driving body,
The transport shaft and the driving body are:
Placed in a separate state,
The rotational driving force is coupled to be transmitted by a magnetic force acting between the first magnet part and the second magnet part,
Between the transport shaft and the driving body,
A non-magnetic cover is interposed,
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. A transport shaft provided in a transport unit that transports an object by being rotated;
A rotor provided on the conveying shaft;
A stator disposed with a gap between the rotor and the rotor;
A cover made of a non-magnetic material disposed in the gap,
The transport shaft is rotated by a rotational driving force generated by a motor including the rotor and the stator;
A conveying apparatus characterized by that. The cover is
A cup-shaped member opened upward,
The conveying apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The subject is
A container that can contain any of beverages, foods, and medicines.
The conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein A method of driving a transport device including a transport unit that transports an object by being rotated and a drive unit that applies a rotational driving force to the transport unit,
A first step in which a rotational driving force is generated by a motor included in the driving unit;
A second step in which a conveyance shaft included in the conveyance unit and separated from the driving unit is rotated by the rotational driving force, and
In the second step,
The first magnet unit provided on the transport shaft and the second provided on the drive body via a cover made of a non-magnetic material disposed between the drive body included in the drive unit and the transport shaft. The driving body and the transport shaft are coupled so as to be able to transmit the rotational driving force by a magnetic force acting between the magnet portion,
A method for driving a transporting device. A method of driving a conveying device that conveys an object by being rotated,
A first step in which electromagnetic force is generated by a rotor provided on a transport shaft of the transport device and a stator disposed with a gap between the rotor and the rotor;
A second step in which the transport shaft is rotated by the rotational driving force generated by the rotation of the rotor by the electromagnetic force;
In the first step,
The electromagnetic force is generated by the magnetic fields generated from the rotor and the stator acting through a cover made of a non-magnetic material disposed in the gap.
A method for driving a transporting device.

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