JP2023072369A - work machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a work machine which can transport a workpiece while suctioning the workpiece with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A work machine 1 includes: multiple belt members 14a extending along a travel direction; driving parts (a driving pulley 15 and a driving motor 20) which cause the multiple belt members 14a to travel; and suction parts (a lower suction fan 28 and a side suction fan 30) which suction a workpiece W to the multiple belt members 14a side to place the workpiece W in contact with the multiple belt members 14a. The multiple belt members 14a are disposed at predetermined intervals along a direction orthogonal to the travel direction. The suction parts suction the workpiece W through gaps T2 each of which is formed between the adjacent belt members 14a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a work machine that conveys a flexible sheet-like work.

For example, flexible sheets (hereinafter referred to as "works") used for automotive interior panels are shipped to production plants in a state of being laminated on a case. Therefore, conventionally, there is known a work machine (work conveying device) for conveying the work while sucking it to a position where the work is stacked (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, a suction hood capable of simultaneously sucking over the entire length of a work conveyed in an overlapping conveying area of an upper conveying conveyor and a lower conveying conveyor disposed below the upper conveying conveyor is used for overlapping conveying. Disclosed is a configuration in which the workpieces are simultaneously sucked from the lower conveyor to the upper conveyor via the suction hood each time the workpieces are conveyed to the overlapping conveying area, and the workpieces are conveyed in this state. there is The works conveyed to a predetermined position drop from the upper conveyer when the suction by the suction hood is released, and are stacked on a stacking table provided below the upper conveyer.

JP 2010-070312 A

However, in the prior art including Patent Document 1, a plurality of holes are formed in a metal (such as SUS) belt member, and suction is performed through the holes, resulting in the following problems. was there. That is, for example, when a large-sized work is to be conveyed, it is necessary to prepare a wide and large belt member correspondingly. However, there is a problem that the device becomes complicated and expensive because it is necessary to provide a dedicated tensioning mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a work machine that can convey a work while sucking it with a simple structure.

A work machine according to the present invention includes a plurality of belt members extending along a running direction, a drive section for running the plurality of belt members, and a workpiece sucked toward the plurality of belt members. a suction unit that contacts the belt members, the plurality of belt members are arranged with a predetermined gap along a direction orthogonal to the running direction, and the suction unit passes through the gap between adjacent belt members. A working machine that sucks the workpiece.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a workpiece|work can be conveyed, suctioning with a simple structure.

1 is a schematic front view of a work machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a work machine that constitutes a work machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic bottom view of a work transfer section that constitutes a work machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a work transfer section that constitutes a work machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a work transfer section that constitutes a work machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region R shown in FIG. 2 of the work machine according to the embodiment of the present invention;

A working machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the direction in which the work is conveyed is referred to as the X-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction in plan view is referred to as the Y-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to the XY plane is referred to as the Z-axis direction. Further, in FIG. 1, the right side of the paper surface is called the upstream side, and the left side of the paper surface is called the downstream side.

In FIG. 1, a working machine 1 is a conveying device that conveys a work W, which is a flexible sheet-like member, in a predetermined direction. The working machine 1 mainly includes a work distributing section 3, a work conveying section 4, and a work accommodating section 5 on a frame 2 installed on a floor surface F. As shown in FIG. The work distribution unit 3 distributes the work W to either the upper side or the lower side of the multi-row belt 14, which will be described later. Conveyor 3A is included.

At a position adjacent to the distribution conveyor 3A on the upstream side, a transfer conveyor 9 is provided for transferring the work W cut to a predetermined size by a cutting device (not shown) to the distribution conveyor 3A. The delivery conveyor 9 is provided on the upper surface of a base 10 installed on the pedestal 2 .

The sorting conveyor 3A is provided with a driven pulley 7 on the downstream side movably vertically about the horizontal axis of the driving pulley 6 on the upstream side (arrow a in FIG. 1, FIGS. 1 and 8). ). A connecting portion 13 connected to the tip of the rod 12 of the cylinder 11 is provided at the lower portion of the sorting conveyor 3A. The cylinder 11 is provided rotatably about a horizontal axis with respect to the base 10 . By driving the cylinder 11 to move the rod 12 forward and backward, the driven pulley 7 on the downstream side moves vertically.

That is, when the rod 12 is retracted, the sorting conveyor 3A assumes a horizontal posture (FIG. 1), making it possible to supply the works W to the lower side of the multi-row belt 14. FIG. In addition, when the rod 12 is extended (FIG. 8), the distribution conveyor 3A is tilted obliquely upward due to the upward movement of the driven pulley 7 on the downstream side. It becomes possible to

The work conveying unit 4 conveys the works W supplied from the distribution conveyor 3A in a predetermined direction. It includes a belt conveyor provided with a row belt guide roller 16 , a plurality of multi-row belt support rollers 17 , a plurality of multi-row belt horizontal guide rollers 18 , and a reversing roller group (roller group) 19 . The drive pulley 15 is provided at a position on the side to which the works W are supplied from the distribution conveyor 3A, and is connected to a drive motor 20 (FIG. 2). The drive motor 20 is controlled by the controller 21 . Driving the drive motor 20 rotates the drive pulley 15, thereby causing the multi-row belt 14 to run in a predetermined direction. The drive motor 20 and the drive pulley 15 serve as a drive unit for running the multi-row belt 14 (belt member 14a).

A plurality of multi-row belt support rollers 17 are disposed on the downstream side of the drive pulley 15 such that the position thereof gradually increases from upstream to downstream. The multi-row belt guide roller 16 is arranged further downstream than the multi-row belt support roller 17 arranged at the most downstream side and at a position higher than the multi-row belt support roller 17 . Therefore, the multi-row belt 14 goes around the drive pulley 15 and is supported by (runs on) the multi-row belt support rollers 17 and the multi-row belt guide rollers 16 in the first section E1 (FIG. 12). , the multi-row belt 14 is guided obliquely upward.

Above the multi-row belt guide roller 16 and at a position where the work conveyed on the multi-row belt 14 begins to move obliquely downward, a work lifting prevention roller 22 is arranged. The gap between the multi-row belt guide roller 16 and the workpiece lifting prevention roller 22 is substantially the same as the length dimension of one workpiece W in the thickness direction. The work lifting prevention roller 22 prevents the work W from lifting from the multi-row belt 14 by contacting the second surface Wb, which is the upper surface of the work W conveyed on the multi-row belt 14 .

1, 4 and 9, the reversing roller group 19 comprises a plurality of (five in this embodiment) reversing rollers (rollers) 19a to 19e. In FIG. 4, a pair of mounting plates 23 are provided at positions sandwiching the reversing rollers 19a to 19e in the longitudinal direction. The reversing rollers 19a to 19e are rotatably supported by mounting plates on shafts protruding from both ends thereof (arrow b shown in FIG. 1). The plurality of reversing rollers 19a to 19e have different height positions, and a predetermined gap S (FIG. 9) is provided between adjacent reversing rollers 19a to 19e. FIG. 9 illustrates the gap S between the reversing rollers 19a and 19b.

In FIG. 9, the highest first reversing roller 19 a is provided downstream of the multi-row belt guide roller 16 and below the multi-row belt guide roller 16 . The second reversing roller 19b at the second highest position is provided downstream of the first reversing roller 19a and below the first reversing roller 19a. The third reversing roller 19c at the third highest position is provided downstream of the second reversing roller 19b and below the second reversing roller 19b.

The fourth reversing roller 19d at the fourth highest position is provided upstream of the third reversing roller 19c and below the third reversing roller 19c. The fifth reversing roller 19e is provided upstream of the fourth reversing roller 19d and below the fourth reversing roller 19d. In this manner, the plurality of reversing rollers 19a to 19e are arranged so as to draw a gentle arc (substantially "<") when viewed from the front.

The range of the multi-row belt 14 from the multi-row belt guide roller 16 to the third reversing roller 19c until the multi-row belt 14 reaches the third reversing roller 19c continues a gentle downward slope from upstream to downstream, and the third reversing The range of the multi-row belt 14 from the roller 19c to the fifth reversing roller 19e has a gentle downward slope from downstream to upstream. Therefore, in the second section E2 (FIG. 12) where the multi-row belt 14 is supported by the multi-row belt guide roller 16 and the reversing roller group 19 (running on these rollers), the multi-row belt 14 draws an arc. Guided by:

In FIG. 8, a plurality of multi-row belt horizontal guide rollers 18 are arranged on a straight line along the horizontal plane between the fifth reversing roller 19e and the drive pulley 15 at predetermined intervals. Therefore, the multi-row belt 14 is horizontally guided in the third section E3 where the multi-row belt 14 goes around the drive pulley 15 and is supported by the plurality of multi-row belt horizontal guide rollers 18 .

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of region R shown in FIG. 2 and 13, the multi-row belt 14 is composed of a plurality of strip-shaped belt members 14a extending along the running direction. In the present embodiment, the belt group 14a1 made up of three belt members 14a adjacent to each other with a gap T1 in the direction perpendicular to the running direction is separated by a predetermined gap T2 in the direction perpendicular to the running direction (Y-axis direction). Each roller is strung with an opening. The gap T1 between adjacent belt members 14a is, for example, 2 mm, and the gap T2 between adjacent belt groups 14a1 is, for example, 22 to 23 mm. The height position of the multi-row belt 14 corresponding to the third section E3 is set higher than the height position of the upper surface of the distribution conveyor 3A. The number of belt members 14a forming the belt group 14a1 is not limited to three. Also, the number of belt members 14a may differ for each belt group 14a1.

In FIG. 1 , the work conveying section 4 is entirely supported by a support frame 24 . The support frame 24 has a plurality of rotatable casters 25 , and rollers forming the casters 25 are in contact with the base 2 . By moving the support frame 24 on the base 2, the distance between the sorting conveyor 3A and the work transport section 4 can be adjusted. In addition, the structure which moves the workpiece|work conveyance part 4 is not limited to this.

The work storage unit 5 is for storing and collecting the work W transported by the work transport unit 4, and includes a plurality of (two in this embodiment) cases 27 placed on a carriage 26. It is The plurality of cases 27 are arranged adjacent to each other along the running direction of the multi-row belt 14 (in other words, the conveying direction of the work W) at a position below the multi-row belt 14 corresponding to the third section E3. The work W conveyed through the third section E3 by the work conveying unit 4 is separated from the multi-row belt 14 by separating means described later and dropped into the case 27 . When the accommodated works W become full, the operator withdraws the carriage 26 from below the multi-row belt 14 , replaces it with an empty case 27 , and returns it below the multi-row belt 14 . That is, the work containing portion 5 is provided below the belt member 14a, and the work W conveyed to the lower side of the belt member 14a is dropped so that the work W is contained in the work containing portion 5. FIG.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, above the multi-row belt 14 corresponding to the third section E3, there are a plurality of lower suction fans (first suction units) 28 facing downward in the suction direction. They are provided in a lattice arrangement when viewed. The plurality of lower suction fans 28 are individually controlled by the control unit 21 to suck the multi-row belt 14 in the range corresponding to the third section E3 upward (arrow c shown in FIG. 9). . A predetermined gap T1 is provided between the adjacent belt members 14a, and a predetermined gap T2 is provided between the adjacent belt groups 14a1. downwards are aspirated. As a result, when the work W is not affected by external forces, the entire range of the work W is sucked by the lower suction fan 28, and the work W is transported through the third section E3 while being in contact with the multi-row belt 14. be done.

1, 4, and 9, a plurality of side suction fans ( A second suction portion 30 is provided at a predetermined interval along the Y-axis direction. A plurality of side suction fans 30 are provided with rectifying hoods 31 that open toward the reversing roller group 19 . The plurality of side suction fans 30 are individually controlled by the control unit 21 to suck the side of the multi-row belt 14 running in the second section E2 (arrow d shown in FIG. 9). That is, by sucking the work W conveyed over the first section E1 to the upstream side, the work W is forcibly brought into contact with the multi-row belt 14 running in the second section E2, and along the multi-row belt 14 The second section E2 can be conveyed while bending the work W by the In other words, by running the multi-row belt 14 while sucking the work W by the side suction fan 30, the work W conveyed in the second section E2 is prevented from falling.

In FIG. 1, above the workpiece storage section 5 and between the belt group 14a1 running in the third section E3, a plurality of belts movable along the Z-axis direction by a link mechanism 32 consisting of a plurality of joints are provided. pad members (pressing members) 33 are provided in a lattice arrangement. By driving the link mechanism 32, the pad member 33 can move between a position higher (FIG. 5) and a lower position (FIG. 1) than the multi-row belt 14 running in the third section E3. That is, by lowering the pad member 33 with respect to the work W conveyed in the third section E3, the contact of the work W with the multi-row belt 14 due to the suction of the lower suction fan 28 is forcibly released and the work W is conveyed. can be dropped. The dropped work W is accommodated in the case 27 . The link mechanism 32 and the pad member 33 serve as separating means for separating the workpiece W conveyed under the belt member 14a from the belt member 14a. Moreover, the pad member 33 is a pressing member that presses the work W downward.

The working machine 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, referring to FIGS. 5 to 11, a method of transporting the work W will be described. In the working machine 1 of the present embodiment, the first transport mode in which the work W supplied from the sorting conveyor 3A is transported to the upper part of the work container 5 without being reversed, and the work W supplied from the sorting conveyor 3A are transported in the first transport mode. The work W can be transported by any of the second transport modes in which the work W is reversed and transported to above the work container 5 . For the sake of convenience, illustration of the support frame 24, the mounting plate 23, the link mechanism 32, etc. is omitted in FIG.

A method of transporting the work W in the first transport mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. When the work W is to be transferred in the first transfer mode, the rod 12 of the cylinder 11 is retracted in advance so that the sorting conveyor 3A is placed in a horizontal posture, and the work transfer section 4 is moved in the X-axis direction to move the work W. A part of the row belt 14 and a part of the sorting conveyor 3A are vertically overlapped (overlapping position 34 shown in FIG. 5). As a result, the sorting conveyor 3A and the third section E3 of the work transport section 4 are connected. Further, the controller 21 controls the drive motor 20 to run the multi-row belt 14 in the direction of arrow e (FIG. 5), which is the second direction, and drives the lower suction fan 28 .

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the transfer conveyor 9 conveys the work W cut to a predetermined size on the upstream side to the downstream side (arrow f), and transfers it to the distribution conveyor 3A (ST (step) 1: first 1 transportation step). Next, the sorting conveyor 3A conveys the workpiece W in the direction of the arrow f to the overlapping position 34 on the downstream side (ST2: second conveying step). Overlap position 34 includes one end of third section E3. In the first transport process and the second transport process, the work W is transported with the first surface Wa supported from below.

Next, the work W is transferred from the sorting conveyor 3A to the multi-row belt 14, and the work W is conveyed further downstream in the direction of the arrow e (ST3: third conveying step). That is, the work W transported to the overlap position 34 in the second transport step is bent (arrow c) by its front end being sucked upward by the lower suction fan 28, and the second surface at the front end is bent. Wb contacts the multi-row belt 14 .

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, as the multi-row belt 14 further travels, the workpieces W are separated from the sorting conveyor 3A, and the entire area of the workpieces W is sucked from above by the lower suction fan 28, so that the second surface Wb is in contact with the multi-row belt 14 and conveyed. In this way, in the course of transferring the works W from the sorting conveyor 3A to the work conveying unit 4, the surface of the work W that contacts the outside is switched from the first surface Wa to the second surface Wb.

That is, in this step (ST3), the work W is supplied from the lower side of the multi-row belt 14, and a suction force is applied to the work W by the lower side suction fan (first suction section) 28, whereby the work W is first sucked. The workpiece is conveyed in the second direction (direction of arrow e) while the second surface Wb is in contact with the belt member 14a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the work W is forced from the multi-row belt 14 by the pad member 33 descending (arrow g) at the timing when the work W is conveyed above the desired case 27 by the work conveying unit 4. They are separated from each other and dropped (ST4: Separation step). The dropped work W is accommodated in the case 27 (ST5: accommodation step). In this first transport mode, the works W are stored in the work storage unit 5 with the first surface Wa, which was the bottom surface when transported by the sorting conveyor 3A, facing downward.

The control unit 21 counts the number of times the pad member 33 moves up and down, and when the number of times the pad member 33 moves up and down reaches a predetermined value, it judges that the case 27 is full, and moves the work W to another place. to case 27 of . Note that the method of counting the works W is not limited to this. For example, the case 27 is placed on a lifter (not shown) that can move up and down, and each time a work W is accommodated in the case 27, the lifter is lowered by one work. In such a case, it is determined whether or not the case 27 is filled with works W based on the number of times the lifter is lowered.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11, a method of transporting the work W in the second transport mode will be described. When transporting the workpiece W in the second transport mode, as shown in FIG. 8, the rod 12 of the cylinder 11 is extended in advance to move the downstream side (driven pulley 7 side) of the sorting conveyor 3A upward. Tilt diagonally upwards. As a result, the sorting conveyor 3A and the first section E1 of the work transport section 4 are connected. Further, the control unit 21 controls the drive motor 20 to run the multi-row belt 14 in the arrow h1 direction, which is the first direction, and drives the lower suction fan 28 and the side suction fan 30 .

That is, in the second transport mode, the multi-row belt 14 is caused to run in the direction opposite to that in the first transport mode. The control unit 21 serves as switching means for switching the running direction of the multi-row belt 14 (belt member 14a) between the first direction and the second direction.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, the transfer conveyor 9 conveys the workpiece W cut to a predetermined size on the upstream side downstream (arrow f), and transfers it to the distribution conveyor 3A (ST (step) 11: fourth transport process). Next, the sorting conveyor 3A conveys the work W obliquely upward toward one end (starting end) of the first section E1 in the work conveying section 4 (arrow i. ST12: fifth conveying step). In the fourth transport process and the fifth transport process, the work W is transported with the first surface Wa supported from below.

Next, the work W is transferred from the distribution conveyor 3A to the multi-row belt 14, and the work W is conveyed in the direction of arrow h1 by the multi-row belt 14 (ST13: sixth conveying step). That is, the work W carried out from the sorting conveyor 3A is transferred to the multi-row belt 14 in a state where the first surface Wa is supported, and is conveyed in the first section E1 from upstream to downstream. Thus, in this step (ST13), the work W is supplied from above the multi-row belt 14 (belt member 14a) and conveyed in the first direction with the first surface Wa of the work W facing downward. do.

As the multi-row belt 14 runs, the work W passes over the first section E1 and is further conveyed through the second section E2. When the work W reaches the second section E2, the work W is sucked toward the reversing roller group 19 by the side suction fan 30 (arrow d shown in FIG. 9), thereby maintaining contact with the multi-row belt 14. state. As the multi-row belt 14 runs further in this state, the work W is conveyed through the second section E2 while bending along the multi-row belt 14 without falling (arrow h2 shown in FIG. 9). That is, the work W is conveyed through the second section E2 while being sucked by the multi-row belt 14 by the side suction fan 30. As shown in FIG. A predetermined range (second section E2) in which the multi-row belt 14 travels is an inversion area in which the workpiece W is inverted up and down.

When the front end portion of the work W passes over the second section E2 and reaches the third section E3, it is sucked upward by the lower suction fan 28 (arrow c shown in FIG. 9). Then, as the multi-row belt 14 further travels in the direction of the arrow h3, the suction by the side suction fan 30 is released for the work W that has reached the third section E3, while the entire area of the work W is sucked from the lower side. The air is sucked from above by the fan 28 . As a result, the work W is conveyed from downstream to upstream in the third section E3 while the first surface Wa is in contact with the multi-row belt 14 (arrow h3 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10).

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the work W is forced from the multi-row belt 14 by the pad member 33 descending (arrow g) at the timing when the work W is conveyed above the desired case 27 by the work conveying unit 4. They are separated from each other and dropped (ST14: separation step). The dropped work W is accommodated in the case 27 (ST15: accommodation step). In this second transport mode, the works W are accommodated in the work accommodation unit 5 with the first surface Wa, which was the lower surface during transportation by the sorting conveyor 3A, facing upward.

As described above, the work machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes the belt member 14a (multi-row belt 14) with which the flexible sheet-like work W abuts, ) driving pulley 15 for running the belt member 14a, reversing rollers 19a to 19e around which the belt member 14a is stretched (wound around), and a workpiece W by applying a suction force to the belt member 14a. A suction unit (lower suction fan 28, side suction fan 30) with which the workpiece W abuts is provided.

The work machine 1 supplies the work W from the upper side of the belt member 14a (the starting end of the first section E1) and conveys the work W in the first direction with the first surface Wa of the work W directed downward. , the work W is passed through the reversing rollers 19a to 19e in a state in which the first surface Wa of the work W is in contact with the belt member 14a by the suction section (side suction fan 30 as a second suction section), and the work W is Even when the belt member 14a is conveyed under the belt member 14a (the third section E3) with the first surface Wa facing upward, the belt member 14a is pulled by the suction unit (the lower suction fan 28 as the first suction unit). The contact of the workpiece W against the is maintained. As a result, the work W supplied from the upstream sorting conveyor 3A can be reversed and conveyed to the upper side of the work storage section 5 .

Further, the work machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of belt members 14a extending along the running direction, a drive section (the drive pulley 15 and the drive motor 20) for running the plurality of belt members 14a, and a plurality of belt members 14a. and a suction unit (lower suction fan 28, side suction fan 30) that brings the work W into contact with the plurality of belt members 14a by suctioning toward the member 14a side, and the plurality of belt members 14a are arranged in the running direction. and a predetermined gap T1 or gap T2 along the direction perpendicular to the belt members 14a, 14a. According to the work machine 1 having such a configuration, the workpiece W can be conveyed while being sucked with a simple configuration.

The working machine of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, one reversing roller 19a to 19e may be provided. Further, in the practice of the present invention, the work does not have to be flexible, and may be rigid and not bendable. Further, when the work W reaches above a predetermined case, the work W may be dropped toward the case 27 by stopping the suction of the lower suction fan 28 . In this case, the pad member 33 and the link mechanism 32 can be omitted.

With a simple structure, the workpiece can be conveyed while being sucked.

1 work machine (work conveying device)
14a belt member 15 drive pulley (drive unit)
20 drive motor (drive unit)
28 Lower suction fan (suction part)
30 side suction fan (suction part)
T1, T2 Gap W Work

Claims (1)

a plurality of belt members extending along the running direction;
a driving unit for running the plurality of belt members;
a suction unit for contacting the work with the plurality of belt members by sucking toward the side of the plurality of belt members;
The plurality of belt members are arranged with a predetermined gap along a direction orthogonal to the running direction,
The work machine, wherein the suction section sucks the workpiece through a gap between adjacent belt members.

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