JP4001033B2 - Air transfer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conveyance device suitable for application when a small and lightweight work such as a bottle cap, various sheets, cards, tapes, and tickets is conveyed by air (compressed air).
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when transporting such small and light workpieces, a plurality of workpieces are continuously supplied into a workpiece transfer pipe made of synthetic resin, and these workpieces are pumped by a blower.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this case, each work is subjected to the wind pressure from the blower during the transfer and fluctuates. As a result, the workpiece collides with another workpiece and the inner wall of the workpiece transfer pipe, causing deformation and damage, and the workpiece erodes the inner wall of the workpiece transfer pipe. There was a risk that dust would be generated in the transport path of the car and it would become unsanitary.
[0004]
The present invention provides an air transfer device that can eliminate such process and hygiene problems at the same time, prevent deformation and damage during transfer of workpieces, and avoid the generation of dust to increase the level of hygiene. The purpose is to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
First, the present invention according to claim 1 is an air conveyance device (1) comprising a plurality of air conveyance units (11), and each air conveyance unit is disposed inside a workpiece conveyance unit pipe (15). A transfer path (4) is formed, an air plenum chamber (20) is formed around the work transfer unit pipe, and an air ejection hole (15a) is communicated with the work transfer unit pipe between the transfer path and the air plenum chamber. The air plenum chamber is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the moving direction of the workpiece and provided with an air supply device capable of supplying air to the air plenum chamber. A plurality of the air conveyance units are connected and connected so that the conveyance path (4) is opened to the atmosphere.
[0010]
By adopting these configurations, when the workpiece (9) is placed on the conveyance path in a state where air is ejected from the air ejection hole toward the conveyance path, the workpiece receives the dynamic pressure of the air along the conveyance path. In addition to being pushed to the downstream and moving straight in the center without contact according to Bernoulli's theorem, in addition to avoiding the situation where the workpiece collides with the workpiece transfer unit tube, the workpiece is sucked downstream by the aspirator effect of the jet Therefore, it works so that the movement of the workpiece becomes high speed.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an air conveyance device according to the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view thereof, (b) is an enlarged vertical sectional view thereof, and (c) is a workpiece conveyance plate (or It is an expanded sectional view of the air ejection hole vicinity of a guide rail.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the air transfer device 1 has an air supply pipe 2 having a rectangular cross section, and an air plenum chamber 18 is formed in the air supply pipe 2. In addition, a flat work conveyance plate 5 is horizontally placed on the upper open portion of the air supply pipe 2 via a rectangular frame-shaped substrate 3 so as to close the air supply pipe 2. The transport path 4 is formed in the direction of arrow A. A large number of air ejection holes 5a are formed in the work conveying plate 5 at equal intervals along the work moving direction (arrow A direction) in such a manner that the conveying path 4 and the air plenum chamber 18 communicate with each other. As shown in FIG. 1C, the ejection hole 5a is inclined by a predetermined inclination angle θ1 with respect to the workpiece movement direction. Further, an air supply device (not shown) such as a compressor is connected to the air supply pipe 2, and this air supply device can be driven to supply air to the air plenum chamber 18.
[0013]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a pair of guide rail fixtures 6 are mounted on the substrate 3 in parallel with each other, and an annular shape is formed inside each guide rail fixture 6. The guide rails 7 are fitted in parallel to each other so as to surround the conveyance path 4 from the left and right. An air plenum chamber 19 is formed in each guide rail 7. Each guide rail 7 is formed with a large number of air ejection holes 7a arranged at equal intervals along the workpiece moving direction so as to communicate the conveyance path 4 and the air plenum chamber 19 with each other. As shown in FIG. 1C, it is inclined by a predetermined inclination angle θ2 with respect to the workpiece moving direction. Further, an air supply device (not shown) such as a compressor is connected to the pair of guide rails 7, and the air supply device can be driven to supply air to each air plenum chamber 19.
[0014]
Since the air conveyance device 1 has the above-described configuration, when the small and lightweight work 9 such as a bottle cap is conveyed by the air conveyance device 1, air is first supplied to the air plenum chambers 18 and 19. Then, this air is ejected from the all air ejection holes 5a of the work transport plate 5 and the all air ejection holes 7a of the pair of guide rails 7 toward the transport path 4. In this state, a plurality of workpieces 9 are continuously placed on the conveyance path 4 on the workpiece conveyance plate 5. Then, these workpieces 9 sequentially move along the conveying path 4 so as to be pushed downstream (in the direction of arrow A) under the dynamic pressure of air.
[0015]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the workpiece 9 moves in the conveyance path 4 in a non-contact manner while floating at a certain height from the workpiece conveyance plate 5 in accordance with Bernoulli's theorem. Will not collide. That is, since air is being ejected from each air ejection hole 5a of the work conveying plate 5, the work 9 is usually subjected to the dynamic pressure of the air and the weight of the work 9 as shown in FIG. Maintain a balanced height. Here, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), when the workpiece 9 is raised, the workpiece 9 is sucked to the workpiece conveying plate 5, that is, the lower side by Bernoulli's theorem, and conversely, as shown in FIG. 2 (c). In addition, when the workpiece 9 is lowered, the workpiece 9 is pressed to the side away from the workpiece conveying plate 5, that is, the upper side by receiving the dynamic pressure of the air ejected from the air ejection hole 5a of the workpiece conveying plate 5. As a result, the workpiece 9 is conveyed on the workpiece conveyance plate 5 in a floating state without contacting the workpiece conveyance plate 5.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the workpiece 9 travels straight along the conveyance path 4 on the workpiece conveyance plate 5 in accordance with Bernoulli's theorem, so there is no possibility of colliding with the guide rail 7. That is, since air is ejected from each air ejection hole 5a of the work conveying plate 5, the work 9 normally proceeds in the direction of arrow A along this air flow as shown in FIG. To do. Here, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), when the work 9 deviates to the right side in the traveling direction, the flow velocity of the air flowing on the left side of the work 9 is increased. Therefore, according to Bernoulli's theorem, The space becomes low pressure, and the work 9 is pulled back to the left side. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 3C, when the workpiece 9 deviates to the left in the traveling direction, the flow velocity of the air flowing on the right side of the workpiece 9 is increased. Therefore, according to Bernoulli's theorem, The space becomes low pressure, and the work 9 is pulled back to the right side. Therefore, the trajectory of the work 9 is maintained at the center position without deviating left and right.
[0017]
Thus, since the workpiece 9 moves straight in the center of the conveyance path 4 on the workpiece conveyance plate 5 and does not collide with the workpiece conveyance plate 5 or the guide rail 7, the workpiece 9 is deformed or damaged during conveyance. There is no fear that it will become unsanitary due to generation of dust in the transport path 4. In addition, since the workpiece 9 is conveyed in a regular manner in the conveyance path 4 without contact, even if the workpieces 9 collide with each other, the collision force is slight, and the workpiece 9 is not deformed or damaged. . In addition, since the air conveying device 1 has a simple configuration and does not require a power source (movable part), it can be installed and used in a narrow space such as a dead space in a factory, and is excellent in usability.
[0018]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the work conveyance plate 5 is horizontally placed on the air supply pipe 2 and the conveyance path 4 is horizontal has been described. However, as illustrated in FIG. Even when tilting with respect to the horizontal plane, it is difficult to transport the workpiece 9 by appropriately changing the tilt angles θ1 and θ2 of the air ejection holes 5a and 7a of the workpiece transport plate 5 and the guide rails 7 according to the tilt. Can be performed smoothly. That is, on the uphill, the workpieces 9 are accelerated by decreasing the inclination angles θ1 and θ2, and on the downhill, the workpieces 9 are decelerated by increasing the inclination angles θ1 and θ2, so that the uphill is a downhill. The workpiece 9 can be smoothly transported at the same speed as the flat road. At this time, if the slope of the downhill is gentle, the air may be ejected in the forward direction by setting the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the air ejection holes 5a and 7a to acute angles, as in the case of the flat road and the uphill. On the other hand, when the slope of the downhill is tight, the air may be ejected in the opposite direction by setting the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 of the air ejection holes 5a and 7a to obtuse angles.
[0019]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the conveyance path 4 on the workpiece conveyance plate 5 is opened upward has been described. However, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a flat plate is disposed on a pair of guide rail fixtures 6 via a column 10. You may make it cover the conveyance path 4 on the workpiece conveyance board 5 by attaching the top plate 8 of a shape. In this case, since the situation where dust accumulates in the conveyance path 4 is avoided, the conveyance path 4 becomes more sanitary.
[0020]
Moreover, although the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated the case where the workpiece conveyance board 5 and a pair of guide rail 7 were mounted on the air supply pipe | tube 2 of rectangular cross-sectional shape, the air supply pipe | tube 2 and the workpiece conveyance board 5 are not necessarily separate. It is not necessary to form, and as shown in FIG. 6A, the air supply pipe 2 and the work conveying plate 5 may be integrally formed. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the air supply pipe 2 is not limited to a rectangle, and a semicircular cross-sectional air supply pipe 2 may be employed as shown in FIG. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the work conveying plate 5 and the pair of guide rails 7 can be simultaneously formed by forming a rectangular cross-sectional groove on the outer periphery of a cylindrical material made of synthetic resin or the like. it can. Alternatively, as described above, the workpiece 9 moves straight on the workpiece conveyance plate 5 in accordance with Bernoulli's theorem, so that the guide rail 7 is omitted or the guide rail 7 is blown out of air as shown in FIGS. It is also possible to simplify the air transfer device 1 by omitting the holes 7a.
[0021]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the workpiece 9 is transported in a substantially horizontal direction has been described. Particularly, when the workpiece 9 has a cylindrical shape or a columnar shape, as shown in FIG. In addition to Bernoulli's theorem, the air transport device 1 connected with the required number of air transport units 11 can also transport the workpiece 9 at high speed in the vertical direction by simultaneously using the aspirator effect by the jet and the dynamic pressure of the air. it can.
[0022]
That is, in this air conveyance device 1, as shown in FIG. 8A, a necessary number (two in FIG. 8) of air conveyance units 11 are connected to each other. A spacer 13 having a predetermined thickness is interposed so as to form an air vent 14. As shown in FIG. 8B, each air transfer unit 11 has a small diameter cylindrical work transfer unit tube 15, and a large diameter cylindrical air supply unit around each work transfer unit tube 15. Tubes 12 are arranged concentrically. A cylindrical transfer path 4 is formed in each work transfer unit pipe 15 in the direction of arrow A, and a cylindrical air plenum is provided between each work transfer unit pipe 15 and each air supply unit pipe 12. A chamber 20 is formed.
[0023]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), each workpiece transfer unit pipe 15 has a plurality of air ejection holes 15 a communicating the transfer path 4 and the air plenum chamber 20 in the workpiece movement direction (arrow A direction). The air ejection holes 15a are inclined at a predetermined inclination angle θ3 with respect to the workpiece moving direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the air ejection holes 15 a are formed in three or four rows depending on the installation state (inclination) of the conveyance path 4. That is, in the portion where the conveyance path 4 is a vertical uphill, as shown in FIG. 9B, the air ejection holes 15 a are equiangularly spaced (90 ° intervals) along the circumference of the workpiece conveyance unit tube 15. As shown in FIGS. 9 (c) and 9 (d), the air ejection holes 15a are formed on the lower side and the left and right sides of the work conveyance unit tube 15 at portions where the conveyance path 4 is horizontal or downhill. It is formed in three rows on both sides.
[0024]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, an air supply device (not shown) such as a compressor is connected to the air inlet 16 of each air transport unit 11, and the air supply device is driven to Air can be supplied to the air plenum chamber 20 of the air transfer unit 11. In addition, the conveyance path 4 of each air conveyance unit 11 is open | released to air | atmosphere via the both ends of the workpiece conveyance unit pipe | tube 15, and the air release 14. FIG.
[0025]
Therefore, when transporting a small and light workpiece 9 such as a bottle cap by the air transport device 1, air is first supplied to the air plenum chamber 20. Then, this air is ejected from all the air ejection holes 15a of the work conveyance unit tube 15 toward the conveyance path 4. In this state, a plurality of workpieces 9 are continuously placed on the conveyance path 4 in the workpiece conveyance unit tube 15. Then, these workpieces 9 are sequentially sucked downstream (in the direction of arrow A) by the aspirator effect by the jet flow, and at the same time, are moved in the transport path 4 at high speed so as to be pushed in the same direction under the dynamic pressure of air. .
[0026]
At this time, similarly to the air transfer device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the work 9 moves straight along the transfer path 4 without contacting the work transfer unit tube 15 in accordance with Bernoulli's theorem, so that the work 9 is deformed during transfer. There is no fear that it will be damaged or damaged, and there is no fear that dust will be generated in the transport path 4 and it will become unsanitary. In addition, since the workpiece 9 is conveyed in a regular manner in the conveyance path 4 without contact, even if the workpieces 9 collide with each other, the collision force is slight, and the workpiece 9 is not deformed or damaged. .
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a workpiece is placed on the conveyance path and air is ejected from the air ejection hole toward the conveyance path, the workpiece is moved along the conveyance path. In addition to being pushed to the downstream under the dynamic pressure of the cylinder and moving straight in the center without contact in accordance with Bernoulli's theorem, the situation where the workpiece collides with the workpiece transfer pipe is avoided, and in addition, the workpiece is aspirated by the jet flow Since the workpiece is moved downstream, the workpiece moves at a high speed , preventing deformation and damage during conveyance of the workpiece, avoiding the generation of dust, improving the level of hygiene , and conveying the workpiece quickly in a short time. it can be Rukoto to provide an air transport device as possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are views showing a first embodiment of an air conveyance device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 1B is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of an air ejection hole of a guide rail).
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the principle of non-contact suction of a workpiece by the air conveyance device shown in FIG.
3 is a plan view showing the principle of straight movement of the workpiece in the center by the air conveyance device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a workpiece conveyance state by the air conveyance device illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view illustrating a movement direction of the workpiece, and FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating an air ejection direction. .
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of an air conveyance device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of an air conveyance device according to the present invention.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of an air conveyance device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 7A is a front sectional view thereof, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. .
FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a fifth embodiment of an air conveyance device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 8A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of each air conveyance unit.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a workpiece conveyance state by the air conveyance device illustrated in FIG. 8, in which FIG. 9A is a front view thereof, FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. ) Is an enlarged sectional view taken along line CC of (a), and (d) is an enlarged sectional view taken along line DD of (a).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air conveyance apparatus 4 ... Conveyance path 5 ... Work conveyance board 5a ... Air ejection hole 7 ... Guide rail 7a ... Air ejection hole 9 ... Work 11 ... Air conveyance unit 15 ... Work conveyance unit Pipe 15a ...... Air ejection holes 18, 19, 20 ... Air plenum chamber

Claims (1)

An air conveyance device (1) comprising a plurality of air conveyance units (11),
  As each said air conveyance unit,
  A transfer path (4) is formed inside the work transfer unit pipe (15), an air plenum chamber (20) is formed around the work transfer unit pipe, and an air ejection hole (15a) is formed in the work transfer unit pipe. While forming a slanting with respect to the workpiece movement direction in a form in which the conveyance path and the air plenum chamber communicate with each other, adopting an air supply device that can supply air to the air plenum chamber,
  Air is supplied to the plenum chamber (20) of each of the air transfer units, and a plurality of the air transfer units are connected so that the transfer path (4) is open to the atmosphere. Air transfer device.

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