JP3386359B2 - Conveyor equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveyor device for accommodating an object to be conveyed such as boiled noodles and a container for noodles in an accommodating portion provided on a slat and conveying the object to be conveyed such as noodles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the production of noodle foods, desired foods are produced by carrying out cooking and processing while conveying conveyed products such as raw materials and semi-processed products with a conveyor device.

In the above conveyor device, for example, two roller chains are arranged in parallel and in an endless ring shape, and a plurality of slats are arranged between the roller chains in the conveying direction.

Both ends of the slats in the width direction of the conveyor are bridged between the roller chains by being supported by pins protruding from the roller chains. On the surface of the slat, a plurality of accommodating portions, each of which is a concave portion for accommodating the transported object, are provided.

The slat is not necessarily composed of one plate member, but is composed of, for example, a slat body provided with the accommodating portion fixed to a frame member bridged between roller chains. There are also cases.

[0006]

When manufacturing noodle foods, the size and shape of the final noodle foods differ depending on the type of food. Therefore, assuming a step of storing the boiled noodles in the storage portion and performing a drying process in a state in which the food shape is regulated in the storage portion, the storage portion of the slat for storing the noodles is
It is necessary that the concave portion has the same shape as the shape of the intended noodle food. Therefore, it is necessary to change the shape of the accommodating section every time the type of food to be manufactured changes.

On the other hand, in the prior art, for example,
Every time the type of food to be manufactured changes, the slats are replaced with slats having the same shape as the corresponding food. However, since the slats are usually connected to the roller chain by bolts or the like, it is difficult to replace the slats.

In some cases, the shape of the food product to be manufactured may be adapted by inserting a separate noodle container into each accommodation portion of the slat from above. In this case, since it is necessary to attach a separate noodle container to each accommodation unit, it becomes a complicated task, and by simply placing the noodle container from the upper side,
There is a possibility that the noodle container may come off from the storage portion due to vibration during transportation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor device capable of easily exchanging slats and rapidly responding to changes in food products to be manufactured. This is an issue.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present onset Ming conveyor device comprises a slat having a plurality of accommodating portions are provided for accommodating the transferred object, the conveyor width direction end portion of the slat In a conveyor device in which a bracket is connected to an endless annular chain, the bracket has a first bracket fixed to the slat and a second bracket fixed to the chain, and the first bracket The second bracket is characterized in that it is detachably connected by being relatively displaced in the vertical direction by the attaching / detaching means.

According to the present invention, since the first bracket and the second bracket are detachably connected in the vertical direction, the first bracket, that is, the slat can be easily attached and detached by moving the slat vertically between the chains. can do.

[0012] Then, the invention described in claim 1, with respect to the above configuration <br/>, wherein the first bracket has a protrusion protruding toward the second bracket side, the second bracket Has a support portion that receives the protruding portion of the first bracket from below, and a hook that is vertically rotatable is provided on one of the first bracket and the second bracket,
Further, a hooked portion on which the hooking portion is hooked is provided on the other of the first bracket and the second bracket, and further,
The attaching / detaching means is configured by providing guide means for guiding the hooking portion of the hook to the hooked portion and urging means for urging the hook to rotate in the hooking direction. It is characterized by that.

According to the present invention, by mounting the protruding portion of the first bracket on the supporting portion of the second bracket from above, the slat is supported by the chain via the bracket, and the hooking portion is hooked. By engaging with the stopper, the swinging of the first bracket with respect to the second bracket is regulated and the slippage is prevented at the same time as the positioning.

When the first bracket is lowered toward the second bracket, the hooking portion of the hook is automatically guided to the hooked portion by the guide means, and subsequently the both are automatically hooked by the biasing means. It will be in a stopped state.

Further, the invention described in claim 2, with respect to configuration of the SL <br/> mounting, the first bracket has a protrusion protruding toward the second bracket side, the second The bracket has a supporting portion that receives the protruding portion of the first bracket from below, a pin with its axis oriented vertically is provided on one of the protruding portion or the supporting portion, and the other of the protruding portion or the supporting portion is provided. The attaching / detaching means can be configured by providing a pin hole into which the pin is inserted, and further providing a swing restricting member protruding from the second bracket and biased toward the first bracket on the second bracket. It is a feature.

According to the present invention, by mounting the protruding portion of the first bracket on the supporting portion of the second bracket from above, the slat is supported by the chain via the bracket and the pin is inserted into the pin hole. As a result, the first bracket is positioned with respect to the second bracket.

Also in this case, the first bracket is automatically connected to the second bracket only by lowering the first bracket from the upper side toward the second bracket. In addition, the rocking restricting member is biased by the first bracket to press the first bracket, so that the rocking of the first bracket with respect to the second bracket is restricted, and the first bracket is prevented from coming off.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a conveyor device used in a noodle manufacturing process as an example.

The present manufacturing process is a process for drying boiled noodles, and as shown in the conceptual diagram of FIG. 1, a boiled noodle supply unit 3 and a drying unit 4 are provided along the conveying direction of the conveyor device 1. Has been.

A conveyor device 1 for conveying noodles comprises two roller chains 2 extending in an endless ring shape along the conveying direction,
The slats 5 are provided between the two roller chains 2.

[0021] Then, each slat 5 from the boiled noodle supply unit 3
Boiled noodles are supplied from the upper side to the accommodation section of the container, and the slats 5 to which the noodles are supplied sequentially pass through the drying section 4, and the noodles are dried during the passage. As a result, the noodle food product has the same shape as the housing portion, and then the dried noodle food product is sent to the next step (not shown).

The slats 5 are members having a substantially rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction is oriented in the width direction of the conveyor device 1, and a plurality of slats 5 are arranged along the conveying direction of the conveyor.
As shown in FIG. 2, the slat 5 is provided with a plurality of recesses 6 that form a housing portion at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. Each of the recesses 6 has a recessed shape corresponding to the outer shape of the corresponding noodle food, and has a hole 6a for draining water at the bottom. Note that FIG. 2B shows A-A of FIG.
FIG.

The longitudinal ends of the slats 5 are connected to the corresponding roller chains 2 via brackets. The connection structure between the slat 5 and the roller chain 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the first bracket 7 fixed to the slat 5 is supported and connected to the roller chain 2 through the second bracket 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first bracket 7 receives a longitudinal end portion of the slat 5 and a slat mounting portion 9 for fixing the longitudinal end portion of the slat 5 to the roller chain 2 side. And a protruding portion 10 that protrudes. The protrusion 10 is a plate member whose thickness direction is up and down, and the protrusion 10 has a pair of hook holes 11 formed therein. An outer edge of the upper end surface of the hooking hole 11 forms a hooked portion, and an inner diameter surface of the locking portion forms a part of the guide means.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second bracket 8 has a cylindrical portion 12 protruding from the roller chain 2 side.
A pin 13 protruding from the roller chain 2 can be inserted into the tubular portion 12 (see FIG. 3). Also, the first
Projection 1 of the first bracket 7 toward the bracket 7
A support portion 14 on which 0 can be placed is provided in a protruding manner. A pair of cylindrical bearing portions 15 for supporting the hooks 16 are provided below the support portion 14. The bearing portion 15 is
The axis is set in the width direction of the conveyor, and the hooks 16 are rotatably supported at the positions on the second bracket 8 side.

As shown in FIG. 6, each hook 16 is composed of a hook body 17 and two shaft members 18 protruding from the side surface of the hook body 17. Hook body 17
Has a hook portion 17a formed on the upper portion thereof, and its upper end surface 1
7b is processed into an arc shape and constitutes a part of the guide means. Here, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pair of hooks 16 are arranged such that the hook portions 17a thereof face in directions opposite to each other.

The two shaft members 18 are arranged vertically offset from each other, and the upper shaft member 18 is called a first shaft member 18a and the lower shaft member 18 is called a second shaft member 18b. The first shaft member 18a is rotatably attached to the bearing portion 15.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a spring 20 (biasing means) is bridged between the second shaft members 18b of the pair of hooks 16. The spring 20 urges in a direction to reduce the distance between the pair of second shaft members 18b, and constitutes a urging unit.

Here, the structure of the roller chain 2 is the same as that of the conventional one, and as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of pin link plates 22 are arranged so as to sandwich the rollers 21 between the rollers 21 arranged in the conveying direction. The rollers 21 and the pin link plate 22 are connected by the pins 13 to form an endless ring. In the roller chain 2, the tip end of the pin 13 projects toward the slat 5 side, and the tip end of the pin 13 is attached to the tubular portion 12 of the second bracket 8 as described above. Note that reference numeral 23 indicates packing.

Further, an auxiliary roller 24 is provided on a part of the pin link plate 22 located on the outside so as to project to the outside to regulate the meandering of the conveyor. Reference numeral 25 is a support member that constitutes a part of the machine frame that supports and guides the roller chain 2.

In the above structure, when the slat 5 is lowered from the upper side toward the roller chain 2 at the position where the upper end of the hook 16 and the hooking hole 11 are vertically aligned, the upper end of the hook 16 is lowered. Relatively enters into the retaining hole 11 from below (see FIGS. 7 and 8). At this time, the arc of the upper end surface 17b of the hook 16 is guided to the inner diameter surface of the hook hole 11, so that the spring 20 temporarily extends while passing through the inner diameter surface of the hook hole 11 so that the hook 16 moves in the hooking direction. When the hooking portion 17a comes out above the hooking hole 11, the hook 16 is rotated and displaced again in the hooking direction to be hooked by the urging force of the spring 20. As a result, the first bracket 7
The hook 17 of the hook 16
The a comes into contact with the upper end surface of the outer edge of the hook hole 11 and cannot be removed. In addition, lateral displacement is also restricted.

When the slat 5 is removed, the spring 20 is displaced in the axial direction toward the one side by a predetermined amount to rotate the one hook 16 in the direction opposite to the hooking direction so as to stand up. The hook 16 can be easily removed by removing the hook 16 and further moving the spring 20 in the opposite axial direction to pull out the other hook 16 from the hole. For example, in FIG. 7, when the spring 20 is displaced to the right (direction B in FIG. 7), the hook 16 on the right stands up and the hook hole 11 is formed.
When the spring 20 is displaced to the left, the left hook 16 stands up and the hook hole 11 is released.
It will be in a state of coming off.

The way to remove the hook 16 is not limited to this.
Both ends of the spring 20 are symmetrically pulled and pulled in opposite directions so that both hooks 16 stand up at the same time.
Both hooks 16 of the bracket 7 may be removed from the hook holes 11 of the second bracket 8.

As a result, it becomes possible to easily replace the slat 5 with the corresponding noodle shape. At this time, the exchange of the slats 5 may be automated.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, at a predetermined position in the convey direction of the conveyor, the stacked slats 5 are sequentially lowered from the upper side to the roller chain 2 and the first brackets are operated in the same manner as described above. The slat 5 is attached by connecting 7 to the second bracket 8. At this time, at the supply position 26, the slat 5 is movable in the transport direction so that it can be mounted while the conveyor is being driven.

To remove the slat 5, as shown in FIG. 10, the slat 5 is inverted with the pin 13 as an axis, and subsequently the spring 20 is operated to remove the hook 16 and then the slat 5 is removed. The slat 5 which has fallen is then conveyed to a predetermined position by the belt conveyor 27 arranged below.

Here, in the above embodiment, the hook is set to the second position.
Although the hooks are supported by the bracket and the hook holes are provided in the first bracket, the hooks may be supported by the first bracket and the hook holes may be provided in the second bracket.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The same parts as those in the above embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals. The basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. However, the structure of the connecting portion between the first bracket 7 and the second bracket 8 is different.

That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the first bracket 7 projects toward the slat mounting portion 9 for receiving the slat 5 and the second bracket 8 as in the first bracket 7 of the first embodiment. And a plate-shaped protruding portion 10.

However, instead of the hooking hole 11, a pair of connecting pins 30 project downward in the projecting portion 10. The second bracket 8 also has a pin 13 protruding from the roller chain 2, as shown in FIGS. 11, 13, and 14, similar to the second bracket 8 of the first embodiment.
And a supporting portion 14 for receiving the protruding portion 10 of the first bracket 7. In addition, the support portion 14 has pin holes 31 into which the connecting pins 30 can be inserted.
Is provided and the connecting pin 30 is inserted into the pin hole 31 from above to connect the first bracket 7 to the second bracket 8.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 15, the second bracket 8 is provided with a ball plunger 32. The ball plunger 32 has its axis arranged in the conveyor width direction, and the ball 32a is biased toward the first bracket 7 side by the spring 40. Also, the first
The portion of the bracket 7 facing the ball is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Are formed. Here, the ball 32a constitutes a swing restriction member.

The ball 32a is biased toward the small-diameter hole 9a, and the ball 32a engages with the hole 9a for positioning, thereby preventing the slat 5 from coming off and at the same time, the slat 5 The rocking of is regulated.

In this structure, the second bracket 8
When the protruding portion 10 of the first bracket 7 is brought into contact with the support portion 14 from above, the connecting pin 30 is inserted into the pin hole 31 and its lateral movement is restricted, and the ball of the ball plunger 32 is moved. 32a is urged by the hole 9a
The bracket 7 is prevented from coming off.

When the slat 5 is to be removed, the slat 5 can be removed simply by pulling the slat 5 upward with a force greater than the restraining force of the ball plunger 32.
Also in this case, if the slat 5 is inverted and then the slat 5 is pushed downward from the upper side, the work for removing the slat 5 becomes simple.

In the above embodiment, the connecting pin 30 is provided on the first bracket 7 side and the pin hole 31 is provided on the second bracket 8 side, but the connecting pin 30 is provided on the second bracket 8 side. The hole 31 may be provided on the second bracket 8 side.

Although the ball plunger 32 is provided on the second bracket 8 side, it may be provided on the first bracket 7 side. However, since the first bracket 7 changes every time the slat 5 is replaced, it is more cost effective to provide the first bracket 7 on the second bracket 8 side.

Although the accommodating portion (recess 6) is described integrally with the slat 5, the accommodating portion may be detachable from the slat 5. Even in this case, the accommodating part can be attached / detached with the slat 5 detached from the roller chain 2, and it is not necessary to attach / detach the accommodating part during conveyance by the conveyor, and Sharing is achieved.

[0048]

As described above, when the present invention is adopted, there is an effect that the slats can be easily replaced according to the goods to be conveyed.

Moreover, the positioning and the retaining are automatically realized only by lowering the first bracket toward the second bracket.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a noodle manufacturing process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are diagrams showing a slat according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIG. 2B is a partial sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a connecting structure between a first bracket and a second bracket according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B are views showing a first bracket according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a view seen from the roller chain side, and FIG. The figures are each viewed from the direction.

5A and 5B are views showing a second bracket according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a view seen from the slat side, and FIG. Each figure is seen from the perspective.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the hook according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a view seen from the roller chain side;
(B) shows the figure seen from the conveyor conveyance direction, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the arrangement of springs and the action of hooks according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of the hook according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of automatic attachment of slats according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of automatic removal of slats according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a connecting structure between a first bracket and a second bracket according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

12A and 12B are views showing a first bracket according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 12A is a plan view, FIG. 12B is a view seen from the roller chain side, and FIG. The figures are each viewed from the direction.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a second bracket according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a second bracket according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the roller chain side.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a ball plunger according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Conveyor device 2 roller chain 5 slats 6 recess (accommodation part) 7 First bracket 8 Second bracket 9 Slat mounting part 10 Projection 11 hook holes 12 Tube 13 pin 14 Support 15 Bearing 16 hooks 17 Hook body 17a Hook part 17b Top surface 20 springs 30 connecting pins 31 pin hole 32 ball plunger 32a ball 40 spring

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Bibliography Hei 6-65321 (JP, U) Bibliography 53-74885 (JP, U) Bibliography 61-118275 (JP, U) Bibliography 46- 10069 (JP, Y1) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 17/06-17/08 B65G 17/42 B65G 17/36

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating a transported object are provided.
Slat, and the conveyor widthwise end of the slat
Connect the part to the endless annular chain via the bracket.
In the above conveyor device, the bracket includes a first bra fixed to the slat.
The bracket and the second bracket fixed to the chain.
The first bracket and the second bracket are attached and detached.
By means of relative displacement in the vertical direction by means of
Coupled with ability state, to the first bracket, the protrusion protruding disposed toward the second bracket side to the second bracket, Ru provided a support portion for receiving the projecting portion of the first bracket from the lower side At the same time, a hook that is vertically rotatable is provided on one of the first bracket and the second bracket, and a hooked portion that hooks the hook on the other of the first bracket and the second bracket. And a guide means for guiding the hooking portion of the hook to the hooked portion, and an urging means for urging the hook to rotate in the hooking direction. Turkey Nbeya device to <br/> characterized in that it constitutes a removable unit. 2. A plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating a conveyed article are provided.
Slat, and the conveyor widthwise end of the slat
Connect the part to the endless annular chain via the bracket.
In the above conveyor device, the bracket includes a first bra fixed to the slat.
The bracket and the second bracket fixed to the chain.
The first bracket and the second bracket are attached and detached.
By means of relative displacement in the vertical direction by means of
Coupled with ability state, to the first bracket, the protrusion protruding disposed toward the second bracket side to the second bracket, providing a support portion for receiving the projecting portion of the first bracket from the lower side Together, a pin having an axis directed vertically is provided on one of the protrusion or the support, and a pin hole for inserting the pin is provided on the other of the protrusion or the support. 2 the swing regulating member that is biased toward the bracket projecting first bracket by providing to the second bracket, wherein the to Turkey Nbeya apparatus that constitutes the detachable unit.