JP3273653B2 - Centering device for soft band members - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a centering device for a soft belt-shaped member, and more particularly to a softening device for moving a soft belt-shaped member such as tread rubber for a tire conveyed on a conveyor to a central portion in the width direction of the conveyor. The present invention relates to a centering device for a belt-shaped member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a centering device for a soft belt-like member, a soft belt-like member is detected by detecting a total width or a side end of the soft belt-like member and moving a transport roll obliquely with respect to a transport direction. Is known.

However, in this device, the total width or the side end of the soft belt-like member is detected, and the position of the transport roll is electrically controlled based on the result, so that a delay occurs in the positioning of the transport roll. . In addition, variations in the total width of the soft belt-shaped members or unevenness of the side end portions cause variations in the positioning of the transport roll. For this reason, the centering accuracy was not so good.

[0004] An example of a centering device for a soft band-like member which improves this problem is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-3070. This apparatus is provided with a trans-wheel conveyor which is arranged on a conveyance path of a soft belt-shaped member and is capable of conveying the soft belt-shaped member in the front-rear and left-right directions, and a soft belt-shaped conveyor provided on the upper side of the trans-wheel conveyor and conveyed on the trans-wheel conveyor. A centering means for contacting both sides of the member and moving the soft belt-shaped member to the center in the width direction of the transformer wheel conveyor.

However, in this apparatus, since there is no driving means for advancing the soft belt-shaped member on the transformer wheel conveyor, when the soft belt-shaped member such as tread rubber for a tire is conveyed, the leading end thereof is sufficiently conveyed. Therefore, the front end is likely to undulate. Therefore, each time the centering is started, the operator has to guide the front end of the soft belt-like member along the transport path each time, so that automation cannot be performed, and this has been a hindrance to improvement in productivity.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a centering device for a soft belt-like member which can improve centering accuracy, can be automated, and can improve productivity. It is.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a centering device for a soft belt-shaped member, wherein the centering device is disposed on a conveying path of the soft belt-shaped member and is capable of conveying the soft belt-shaped member back and forth and right and left. A centering means provided above the transformer wheel conveyor for abutting on both sides of the soft belt member conveyed on the transwheel conveyor and moving the soft belt member to a widthwise central portion of the transwheel conveyor. A soft band-shaped member centering device, comprising: a soft band-shaped member detecting means for detecting entry of the soft band-shaped member into the transport path; and a vertically movable member provided below the transformer wheel conveyor. When it is in the upper position, it contacts the lower part of the transformer wheel conveyor and transports the transformer wheel conveyor. A center wheel moving member for vertically moving the center ring device based on a signal from the soft band member detecting device, and a height of a lower position of the center ring device. A centering means height adjusting member for changing the height, and a transwheel conveyor driving means moving member for vertically moving the transwheel conveyor driving means based on a signal from the soft belt-shaped member detecting means. Features.

[0008]

In the centering device for a soft belt-shaped member according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the soft belt-shaped member enters the conveyance path and the soft band-shaped member detecting means detects the front end of the soft band-shaped member, the trans-wheel conveyor drive is performed. The means starts driving. At this time, the trans wheel conveyor driving means is moved to the upper position by the trans wheel conveyor driving means moving member, and when the trans wheel conveyor driving means is in contact with the lower portion of the trans wheel conveyor, the trans wheel conveyor driving means moves the trans wheel conveyor in the transport direction. Drive.
Therefore, the front end of the soft belt-shaped member can be reliably transported, and no waving occurs at the front end. For this reason, since the front-end | tip part of a soft belt-shaped member can be automatically guide | induced in a conveyance direction, automation is possible and productivity can be improved.

Further, the contact position of the centering means with the soft band member can be changed in the vertical direction by the centering means height adjusting member according to the thickness of the soft band member. Accordingly, when the centering means is moved downward by the centering means moving member, the centering means abuts on both sides of the soft band member at an appropriate position, and moves the soft band member to the center in the width direction of the transformer wheel conveyor. . For this reason, the centering accuracy is improved.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a centering device for a soft belt-shaped member of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transport wheel conveyor 14 capable of transporting a tread rubber 12 as a soft belt-shaped member to be conveyed to the front, back, left and right is provided in a conveyance section of a centering device 10 for a soft band-shaped member of the present embodiment. It is arranged.

The transwheel conveyor 14 is provided with a plurality of shafts 16 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), and rotatably mounted on each of these shafts 16 at predetermined intervals. And a plurality of transformer wheels 18. Both ends of the shaft 16 are supported by the side wall 14A.

As shown in FIG. 3, a side wall portion 14A of the transformer wheel conveyor 14 is supported by a support 10B which is erected on a base 10A of a centering device 10 of a soft band member.

As shown in FIG. 5, the transformer wheel 1
Reference numeral 8 denotes a plurality of auxiliary rolls rotatable on the outer peripheral surface of the main roll 18A rotatably supported by the shaft 16 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the main roll 18A (the direction of arrow B in FIG. 5). 18B is attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, a light projector 20 as a soft belt-like member detecting means is provided above the transport path in the carry-in portion of the transwheel conveyor 14. In addition, a portion on the lower side of the transport path facing the light projector 20 includes:
A light receiver 21 as a soft belt-like member detecting means is provided, and the presence or absence of the tread rubber 12 is detected depending on whether or not the light receiver 21 detects the light of the light projector 20. A centering means 24 is provided above the transformer wheel conveyor 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the centering means 24 includes a pair of right and left sides capable of adjusting the width of the trans-wheel conveyor 14 in the width direction with respect to the axis thereof.
A pair of diagonal free rollers 26 as guide members, a pair of rods 28 respectively connecting these three left and right free rollers 26, and a pair of left and right to which these pair of rods 28 are attached, two pairs in the transport direction It has a holder 32 and two shafts 34 to which these holders 32 are slidably attached.

A center link 36 is provided at the center of the pair of right and left rods 28. The center link 36 is rotatably supported at the center by the center of the upper plate 38 of the centering device 10. ing. Both ends of the center link 36 are rotatably supported by left and right links 40 rotatably supported by shafts 28A erected at central portions in the longitudinal direction of the pair of rods 28, respectively. That is, the pair of right and left rods 28 is operated by a so-called pantograph type link mechanism, and the center link 36 and the left and right link 40 move from the position of the solid line in FIG. , That is, the left and right free rollers 26 move simultaneously and in opposite directions.

A spring 42 is provided between the pair of left and right rods 28 to draw the left and right free rollers 26 inward. This spring 4
Numeral 2 is a mainspring type in which a leaf spring is wound long, so that the tensile force does not change much depending on the distance between the pair of right and left rods 28. When the tensile force is changed, the attachment position of the spring 42 to the pair of right and left rods 28 is moved in a direction in which the spring 42 comes and comes apart from each other, or the spring is replaced with a spring having a different tensile force.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of the upper plate 38 of the centering device 10, a centering device 10 is provided.
The cylinder 44 is disposed along the width direction of FIG. One end of a pair of right and left rods 28 is fixed to the tip of the rod 46 of the cylinder 44,
The cylinder 44 is pressurized and the rod 46 is
When each of the left and right free rollers 26 is in the extended state against the urging force of the above, each of the left and right free rollers 26 is at the position indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. next,
When the cylinder 44 is opened to the atmosphere, the free rollers 26 are each drawn inward by the force of the spring 42 and come into contact with the side wall of the tread rubber 12 as shown in FIG.

Both ends in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2) of the upper plate 38 provided with the centering means 24 are mounted on a pair of left and right brackets 50, respectively. These brackets 50 have an L-shape when viewed from the transport direction (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2), and extend from the widthwise outer end of the upper piece 50A to which both ends of the upper plate 38 are joined. Both ends of the shaft 34 pass through the side piece 50B extending downward. A stopper 54 is fixed to a lower portion of the side piece 50B.

As shown in FIG. 4, below the stopper 54, cylinders 56 as centering means height adjusting members are disposed with the rods 58 facing upward, respectively. The height of the centering means 24 is determined at a position where the centering means 24 contacts the stopper 54. Further, by increasing or decreasing the pressure of the cylinder 56, the position of the upper end of the rod 58 can be changed to two or more positions, whereby the height of the centering means 24 can be easily changed to two or more positions. It can be changed to.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end of a link 57 as a trans-wheel conveyor driving means moving member is rotatable at both ends of the shaft 34 penetrating the side pieces 50B of the pair of left and right brackets 50. It is pivoted. Further, the link 57 is bent at a position below the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and this bent portion is rotatably supported by a shaft 51 erected on the side wall portion 14A of the transformer wheel conveyor 14. The lower end of the link 57 is rotatably supported by a shaft 62 erected on a side wall 60 of a free cushion belt conveyor 59 as a transwheel conveyor driving means disposed below the transwheel conveyor 14. ing.

A distal end of a rod 66 of a cylinder 64 as a centering means moving member is rotatably supported on a shaft 34 on the downstream side (right side in FIG. 3) of the side piece 50B of the bracket 50 in the transport direction. I have. The lower end of the cylinder 64 is rotatably supported by the upper end of a support seat 66 fixed to the support 10B of the centering device 10 of a soft band member.

Accordingly, when the rod 66 is in the contracted state, the link 57 is at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3, and the friction belt conveyor 59 is at the lower position, that is, at the position separated from the transwheel conveyor 14. ing. Further, the centering means 24 is located at the lower position, that is, the tread rubber 1 on the transwheel conveyor 14.
It is a position where it can abut on the side wall of the second. On the other hand, when the rod 66 is in the extended state, the link 57 is at the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 3, and the friction belt conveyor 59 is at the upper position, that is, the transformer wheel conveyor 1
4. Further, the centering means 24 is located at an upper position, that is, a position separated upward from the tread rubber 12 on the transformer wheel conveyor 14.

Under the side wall 60 of the friction belt conveyor 59, the air motor 7
0 is fixed. The output shaft 70 of this air motor 70
A and the drive shaft 72 of the friction belt conveyor 59 are connected by a timing belt 74, and the rotation of the air motor 70 causes the friction belt conveyor 59 to rotate in the transport direction.

Therefore, when the tip of the tread rubber 12 passes on the transwheel conveyor 14, the rod 66 extends and the friction belt conveyor 59 is brought into contact with the transwheel conveyor 14, and the air motor 70 Rotates, and the rotation of the friction belt conveyor 59 causes the transfer wheel conveyor 1 to rotate.
4 rotates in the transport direction. On the other hand, after the tip of the tread rubber 12 passes over the transwheel conveyor 14, the rod 66 contracts, the friction belt conveyor 59 separates from the transwheel conveyor 14, and the air motor 70 stops. 1
The tread rubber 12 is continuously conveyed because the leading end of the belt 2 reaches the belt conveyor 23 on the downstream side in the conveying direction.

Whether or not the tip of the tread rubber 12 has passed over the transformer wheel conveyor 14 is determined by the time from when the tip of the tread rubber 12 is detected by the photodetector 21 by a control device (not shown). It counts with a timer, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, it is assumed that the tip of the tread rubber 12 has passed over the transformer wheel conveyor 14. Whether or not the rear end of the tread rubber 12 has passed over the transformer wheel conveyor 14 is determined in advance by counting the time from when the light receiver 21 detects the rear end of the tread rubber 12 with a timer, and When the elapsed time has elapsed, it is assumed that the rear end of the tread rubber 12 has passed over the transformer wheel conveyor 14.

The conveyance speed of the belt conveyor 22 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction and the conveyance speed of the belt conveyor 23 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction at the time of guidance when the leading end of the tread rubber 12 passes on the transwheel conveyor 14 are normal. Although the speed is lower than the transport speed and is constant, it is not synchronized with the transport speed of the transwheel conveyor 14. Therefore, a large force does not act on the tread rubber 12 due to the slip of the air motor 70.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Before the tip of the tread rubber 12 enters, the state of the centering device 10 of the soft band-shaped member of the present embodiment is
0 is stopped, the rod 66 of the cylinder 64 is in the extended state, and the link 57 is at the position of the imaginary line in FIG. For this reason, the friction belt conveyor 59 is at an upper position, that is, a position where the friction belt conveyor 59 comes into contact with the transwheel conveyor 14. Further, the centering means 24 is located at an upper position, that is, a position separated from the side wall of the tread rubber 12 on the transformer wheel conveyor 14. Further, the rod 46 of the cylinder 44 of the centering means 24 is in an extended state, and the left and right free rollers 26 are located at the positions indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. The position of the upper end of the rod 58 of the cylinder 56 for height adjustment has been moved to a predetermined position according to the thickness of the tread rubber 12 to be centered.

The tip of the tread rubber 12 enters the transformer wheel conveyor 14 of the centering device 10,
The tip of the tread rubber 12 is moved from the light emitter 20 to the light receiver 2.
When the light to 1 is blocked, the air motor 70 rotates, the friction belt conveyor 59 rotates, and the transwheel conveyor 14 rotates in the transport direction. At the same time, the timer starts.

When the timer elapses a set time, that is, when the tip of the tread rubber 12 passes over the transformer wheel conveyor 14, the rod 66 of the cylinder 64 contracts and the friction belt conveyor 59 separates from the transformer wheel conveyor 14. . At the same time, the cylinder 44 is opened to the atmosphere, and the respective free rollers 26 are drawn inward by the force of the spring 42, and as shown in FIG. It moves to the center in the width direction on the conveyor 14.

At the same time, the air motor 70 stops,
Since the leading end of the tread rubber 12 reaches the belt conveyor 23 on the downstream side in the transport direction, the tread rubber 12 is continuously transported. At this time, the transport speed of the belt conveyor 22 on the upstream side in the transport direction and the transport speed of the belt conveyor 23 on the downstream side in the transport direction are accelerated from a low speed at the time of guidance to a normal transport speed.

Next, when the rear end of the tread rubber 12 enters the transformer wheel conveyor 14 of the centering device 10 and the light from the light projector 20 reaches the light receiver 21,
The timer runs. Thereafter, when the timer elapses a set time, that is, when the rear end of the tread rubber 12 passes over the transwheel conveyor 14, the rod 46 of the cylinder 44 of the centering means 24 is extended, and the left and right free rollers 26 Is the position of the imaginary line in FIG. Further, when the rod 46 of the cylinder 44 is in the extended state, this is detected, the rod 66 of the cylinder 64 is in the extended state, and the link 57 is at the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
Therefore, the friction belt conveyor 59 is located at an upper position, that is, a position where the friction belt conveyor 59 comes into contact with the transwheel conveyor 14. Also, the centering means 24 is located at the upper position,
That is, it becomes a position separated from the side wall of the tread rubber 12 on the transformer wheel conveyor 14 and returns to the initial state,
Prepare for the next task.

As described above, in the centering apparatus 10 for a soft belt-shaped member according to the present embodiment, the front end of the tread rubber 12 is automatically moved by driving the trans-wheel conveyor 14 in the conveying direction by the friction belt conveyor 59. Since it can be guided in the transport direction, automation is possible and productivity can be improved.

The vertical position of the free roller 26 of the centering means 24 can be changed by a height adjusting cylinder 56 in accordance with the thickness of the tread rubber 12 to be conveyed. Therefore, with the stopper 54 in contact with the upper end of the rod 58 of the cylinder 56 for height adjustment, the free rollers 26 are in contact with appropriate positions on both sides of the tread rubber 12 to transfer the tread rubber 12 to the transwheel. It moves to the center in the width direction of the conveyor 14. For this reason, the centering accuracy is improved.

[0036]

As described above, the centering device for a soft belt-shaped member according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the centering accuracy can be improved and automation can be performed to improve productivity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a centering device for a soft band member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a centering device for a soft band-shaped member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a centering device for a soft band-shaped member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing a part of a centering device for a soft band-shaped member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a transformer wheel.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the centering device for a soft band-shaped member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Centering apparatus of soft belt-like member 12 Tread rubber (soft belt-like member) 14 Transwheel conveyor 18 Transwheel 20 Projector (soft belt-like member detecting means) 21 Light receiver (soft belt-like member detecting means) 24 Centering means 26 Free roller ( Guide member) 42 Spring 44 Cylinder 54 Stopper 56 Cylinder (Center ring means height adjusting member) 57 Link (Trans wheel conveyor driving means moving member) 59 Free cushion belt conveyor (Trans wheel conveyor driving means) 64 Cylinder (Center ring means moving) Member) 70 air motor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 47/22-47/32 B29D 30/58

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A trans-wheel conveyor disposed on a conveyance path of a soft belt-shaped member and capable of conveying the soft belt-shaped member back and forth, right and left, and a soft belt-shaped member provided above the trans-wheel conveyor and conveyed on the trans-wheel conveyor. A centering means for abutting on both sides of the member to move the soft belt-shaped member to the center in the width direction of the transformer wheel conveyor. A soft band-shaped member detecting means for detecting the entry of the band-shaped member, and a lower portion of the trans-wheel conveyor which is provided movably in a vertical direction below the trans-wheel conveyor and abuts on a lower portion of the trans-wheel conveyor when the upper position is reached. Trans-wheel conveyor driving means for driving a conveyor in a conveying direction, and the soft belt-shaped member detecting means A centering means moving member for moving the centering means in the vertical direction based on the signal, a centering means height adjusting member for changing the height of a position below the centering means, and the soft band member detection. And a trans-wheel conveyor driving means moving member for vertically moving the trans-wheel conveyor driving means based on a signal from the means.