JP4167878B2 - Gearbox for food factories - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a transmission used in a food factory that performs operations such as food processing / manufacturing, stirring, transporting, filling, packing, and inspection.
[0002]
In the present invention, the term “food” is intended to be used by humans, and includes so-called food products, water, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, tobacco and other good foods, pharmaceuticals, and the like. “Food factory” refers to a factory that manufactures or handles these foods. Therefore, it generally includes water purification plants that are not called food factories, chemical factories, and the like.
[0003]
In the present invention, the “transmission” is used as a concept including both the reduction gear and the speed increaser, and it is not always required that the reduction ratio or the speed increase ratio is “variable”. The present invention is used for the purpose of being applicable even in the case of a speed increaser.
[0004]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the growing awareness of users regarding food safety, a food machine drive system for a food machine that performs operations such as food processing / manufacturing, stirring, transporting, filling, packing, and inspection in a food factory. There is a need to pay attention to the lubricant in the reduction gears.
[0005]
Of course, due to the considerations or ideas of the machine manufacturers that produce food machines and the food manufacturers that use them, the lubricants used in these food machines may come into contact with or be mixed with food in normal operation. It is supposed not to get.
[0006]
For example, in a power system of a food machine, especially for a drive part that may leak a lubricant, separate it from the food contact part, and place it below or next to the food contact part and away from the floor. The position is set and set to the specified position.
[0007]
As a specific example, in an inspection machine that detects the weight of a product such as a bag of food or the like, a device as shown in FIG. 5 is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0008]
The inspection machine is configured such that a run-up conveyor 10 that can run and convey the product C, an inspection conveyor 11 that can carry the run-up product C in the inspection area A, and the inspected product C is selected and sorted based on the inspection result. And a sorting conveyor 12 to be conveyed. The product C that has been run up and conveyed on the run-up conveyor 10 is bridged on the inspection conveyor 11 and passes along the belt B (on the inspection area A) of the inspection conveyor 11 along the movement of the belt B.
[0009]
As apparent from FIG. 5, the geared motors (reduction gears with motors) GM <b> 1 to GM <b> 3 of the run-up conveyor 10, the inspection conveyor 11, and the sorting conveyor 12 are separated from the food contact portion and below the food contact portion. Position and set at a position away from the floor.
[0010]
FIG. 6 shows a typical example (GM1) of geared motors GM1 to GM3 generally used for driving these conveyors 10, 11, and 12 in a developed cross section.
[0011]
The geared motor GM1 is an integrated motor M1 and gear reducer G1. In the illustrated example, a structure in which the power from the pinion 8 is reduced by a three-stage parallel shaft gear reduction mechanism using a helical gear is adopted as the type of the gear reduction gear G1. The geared motor GM1 has not only the gap between the output shaft 5 of the gear reducer G1 and the reducer casing 6 but also the motor shaft 7 of the motor M1 so that the lubricant (grease) held in the geared motor GM1 does not leak. Oil seals Se1 and Se2 are also arranged between the motor covers 9, and consideration is given to a perfect seal structure.
[0012]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-210753
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this way, in the food factory, even if various adverse conditions overlap and the transmission lubricant leaks, the transmission lubricant may come into contact with food. Therefore, there is a problem that it is necessary to devise the arrangement position of the transmission, and the degree of freedom of installation is small, and sometimes it is necessary to change the arrangement of many mechanical equipment in the entire factory. It was.
[0014]
In view of such a situation, an object of the present invention is to obtain a transmission that can increase the degree of freedom of installation while maintaining high safety in a transmission used in a food factory.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has a transmission mechanism in a casing, and in a transmission for a food factory used in a food factory, an oil seal means is disposed between the shaft exposed from the casing and the casing. The transmission mechanism is sealed in the casing, and the seal portion lubricant sealed in the space sandwiched between the lips of the oil seal means for lubricating the oil seal means has lead, ammonia By using a lubricant that does not contain any component of, cadmium, and nickel , the above problems are solved.
[0016]
The inventors considered the actual management situation at the food factory in the field. That is, geared motors and the like used in food factories are originally strictly controlled and frequently inspected than those used in ordinary factories. On the other hand, if the transmission mechanism (including its bearings, etc.) is designed to be housed in a sealed state using the “oil seal means”, the lubricant leakage (grease leakage) of the transmission will cause the oil seal means. By checking whether a part of it is oozing out, it can be discovered in its initial state. That is, since the lubricant (grease) used in the transmission has an appropriate “consistency”, when the transmission mechanism is sealed through the oil seal means, the oil seal means may be dropped or dropped. Until then, there is considerable time. Accordingly, care can be taken such as replacing the oil seal means during this period.
[0017]
The present invention pays attention to this point, and seals the speed change mechanism in the casing using the oil seal means, and then encloses the oil seal means in a space sandwiched between lips of the oil seal means. A lubricant that does not harm the human body, more specifically, a lubricant that does not contain at least any component of lead, ammonia, cadmium, and nickel is used as the seal portion lubricant. As a result, even if the lubricant leaks out, the lubricant that oozes out first does not cause any problems because it does not harm the human body.
[0018]
In the present invention, when the oil seal means is further provided with a shielding means for isolating from the space where the speed change mechanism exists, the pressure load of the lubricating oil applied to the oil seal means can be reduced. The deterioration of the oil seal means can be reduced accordingly.
[0019]
In addition, when the seal portion lubricant that lubricates the oil seal means is also filled between the shielding means and the oil seal means, the seal portion lubricant that is not harmful to the human body is more proximate to the oil seal means. Since it can be held in large quantities, safety can be further enhanced.
[0020]
It should be noted that even if “no harm to the human body” is said, naturally the degree cannot be simply classified into two stages, “present” and “absent”. The purpose of the present invention is to use a lubricant that is not harmful to the human body as the seal portion lubricant, but for setting the specific degree of safety of the seal portion lubricant, the place where the transmission is used. Alternatively, it can be selected and changed as appropriate according to the environment.
[0021]
According to the investigations by the inventors, in Japan, no official regulations regarding such safety management have yet been shown regarding the lubricant for transmissions. However, in FDA (Food and Drug Administration), for example, according to Federal Regulation 21CFR1788.3570, a lubricant that may accidentally come into contact with food as an “indirect food additive” may be contained safely And its concentration. USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) also states that “Lubricants and foods are accidental” for lubricants for food machinery consisting of safe base oils (base oils), additives, and thickeners that meet the conditions stipulated by the FDA. As a “lubricant that can be used in a place where there is a possibility of contact with other technically or technically,” a certificate called an H1 standard is issued. In addition to the H1 standard, the USDA also certifies the H2 standard as “a lubricant that is not likely to come into contact with food but is preferably used in food factories”. Further, in NSF (NSF International), the same setting as described above is performed.
[0022]
For example, according to the H2 standard, in the lubricant, generally it may be used as an additive of lead (Lead), ammonia (Ammonia), Kad Mi um (Cadmium), and nickel of any (Nickel) Ingredients should not be included.
[0023]
Furthermore, neither mineral oil nor perfluoroalkyl ester is used as the base oil, and chlorine (Chlorine), molybdenum (Molybdenum), graphite, which are generally known as additives. (Graphite) is excluded, and it is composed only of components that do not contain any component of lithium (Lithium), sodium (Sodium), polyurea (Polyurea), and barium (Barium), which are generally known as thickeners. In such a case, the lubricant is certified according to the H1 standard.
[0024]
Therefore, for example, if a “safe” lubricant conforming to the H1 standard or the H2 standard is used as the seal portion lubricant, a transmission that does not matter even if leaked can be obtained.
[0025]
In the present invention, the type of the transmission section lubricant that lubricates the transmission mechanism is not particularly limited. For example, (A) a combination of the above-mentioned USDA H2 standard seal part lubricant and a standard transmission part lubricant (a lubricant other than the USDA, H1, and H2 standards used in normal transmissions), (B) More severe H1 standard seal part lubricants and standard transmission part lubricants may be combined, and (C) a combination of H1 standard seal part lubricants and the same H1 standard transmission part lubricants, (D) Combination of H1 standard seal section lubricant and H2 standard transmission section lubricant, (E) Combination of H2 standard seal section lubricant and the same H2 standard transmission section lubricant, etc. are also conceivable.
[0026]
The combination (C) is suitable as a combination for a reduction gear used in a place where extremely high safety is required. Moreover, (A) and (B) are suitable as a combination that does not impair the performance of the reduction gear while ensuring safety.
[0027]
In addition, there are lubricants having various “consistency”. However, in the present invention, when different types of lubricants are used as the seal lubricant and the transmission portion lubricant, it is more preferable that the speed change. As the part lubricant, a lubricant having a consistency lower than that of the seal part lubricant may be used. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably prevent the transmission portion lubricant from being mixed into the seal portion lubricant at the first stage of bleeding.
[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0029]
FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a reduction gear portion of an orthogonal geared motor. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the output shaft of the reduction gear of the geared motor of FIG.
[0030]
The geared motor GM4 is obtained by integrating a motor M4 and an orthogonal gear reducer G4.
[0031]
The motor M4 includes a motor shaft 32. The motor shaft 32 is rotatably supported by a pair of bearings 34A and 34B on the load side and the anti-load side. The load side of the motor shaft 32 extends further to the load side than the bearing 34A. The extended portion also serves as the input shaft of the orthogonal gear reducer G4, and the hypoid pinion 38 is directly cut at the tip. ing.
[0032]
The orthogonal gear reducer G4 has an orthogonal reduction mechanism (transmission mechanism) OR and converts the rotation of the hypoid pinion 38 (rotation of the motor shaft 2) into a direction orthogonal to reduce the speed. In other words, the hypoid pinion 38 that is chopped at the tip of the motor shaft 32 (also used as an input shaft) meshes with the hypoid gear 40. The hypoid gear 40 is assembled to the intermediate shaft 42, and a pinion 44 is assembled to the intermediate shaft 42. The pinion 44 meshes with the output gear 46, and the output gear 46 is assembled to the output shaft 48.
[0033]
The output shaft 48 is a so-called hollow shaft, and is rotatably supported by the casing 50 by bearings 52 and 52. In this orthogonal gear reducer G4, both end portions 48A and 48B of the output shaft 48 are exposed from the casing 50, and the shaft (not shown) of a driven machine such as a conveyor can be viewed from the right side or the left side. The orthogonal gear reducer G4 can be attached.
[0034]
Also. Oil seals (oil seal means) 54 and 54 are respectively disposed between the end portions 48A and 48B of the output shaft 48 and the casing 50, and the orthogonal gear reducer G4 in the casing 50 is sealed including the bearing 52 and the like. Contained in a state.
[0035]
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, the oil seal 54 has a space 54S sandwiched between the first lip 54A and the second lip 54B, and seal grease (for lubricating the oil seal 54 in the space 54S ( Seal part lubricant) SG is enclosed.
[0036]
The sealing grease SG is a lubricant which is not harmful to the human body called the so-called food grease (Food Grade Lubrication), generally may be used as an additive of lead (Lead), ammonia (Ammonia), Kad Mi um (Cadmium) and nickel (Nickel) are included only in the component which does not contain, and the said USDA H2 specification is satisfied.
[0037]
By the way, if these safe lubricants are used for the entire lubricant of the transmission, the original lubrication performance for the transmission is significantly reduced.
[0038]
In other words, these food greases are primarily focused on safety performance and do not prioritize lubrication performance, so naturally the original lubrication performance as a lubricant is inferior, Can be accommodated by using a larger reduction gear with more margin.
[0039]
Further, as in this embodiment, as a gear grease (transmission part lubricant) GG for lubricating the orthogonal reduction mechanism OR, the space 50S in the casing 50 has a general lubrication performance and low cost. grease normal ingredients used in the orthogonal reducer if encapsulation (lead, ammonia, lubricant containing any of the components of the flaps Mi um, and nickel), since the normal size reduction gear can be used preferably.
[0040]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, as the gear grease GG, a grease having a lower consistency than the seal grease SG, that is, a softness (high apparent viscosity: difficult to leak) is used.
[0041]
Next, the operation of the speed reducer G4 according to this embodiment will be described.
[0042]
When the motor shaft 32, which also serves as the input shaft of the speed reducer G4, rotates, the direction of rotation is converted to a right angle direction via the hypoid pinion 38 and the hypoid gear 40, and a predetermined first-stage deceleration is performed. The rotation of the hypoid gear 40 is transmitted to the output shaft 48 via the intermediate shaft 42, the pinion 44, and the output gear 46, during which a predetermined second-stage deceleration is performed.
[0043]
Since these “original functions” as the speed reducer G4 are realized through normal gear grease GG having high lubrication performance, the heat generation is small, the noise is low, the durability is high, and the cost is low.
[0044]
Here, oil seals 54 are respectively disposed between the end portions 48 </ b> A and 48 </ b> B of the output shaft 48 and the casing 50, and the oil seals 54 pass through the accommodating space 50 </ b> S of the orthogonal reduction mechanism OR in the casing 50 to the casing 50. Sealed / blocked to the outside. Therefore, in a normal operation state, the seal grease SG as well as the gear grease GG does not leak from the oil seal 54.
[0045]
Assuming that the oil seal 54 has deteriorated due to other causes over time, as an initial phenomenon, the seal grease SG sealed in the space 54S sandwiched between the first lip 54A and the second lip 54B of the oil seal 54 is used. The phenomenon of bleeding occurs.
[0046]
However, in general, the oil seal 54 does not suddenly deteriorate severely, and it takes a certain amount of time after the “bleeding” occurs until the bleeding grows and drops. Further, the seal grease SG that oozes out is composed of a component that satisfies the USDA H2 standard, so that it does not particularly affect the human body.
[0047]
Accordingly, the oil grease 54 can be replaced at the stage where the seal grease SG “bleeds” to prevent the gear grease GG from leaking out of the casing 50.
[0048]
Further, in this embodiment, the gear grease GG uses a grease having a lower consistency (less softness) than the seal grease SG, so that the seal grease SG having a higher consistency is more likely to leak. In addition, the gear grease GG having a low consistency is more difficult to leak. Therefore, the deterioration of the oil seal 54 can be reliably detected, and the probability that the gear grease GG is mixed in the seal grease SG that oozes out can be further reduced, and higher safety is ensured.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, grease composed of components satisfying the USDA H2 standard is used as the seal grease (seal lubricant) SG. However, in the present invention, the seal grease SG is used. As a matter of course, for example, a grease having a higher safety level may be adopted for a human body that also satisfies the USDA H1 standard.
[0050]
Further, in this case, if the gear grease (transmission part lubricant) GG is not a normal grease (lubricant), but a grease composed of a component that satisfies the safer USDA H2 standard is adopted. (In other words, if a combination of the H1 standard seal part lubricant and the H2 standard transmission part lubricant is used), the speed reducer can be made safer.
[0051]
Moreover, it may be a combination of H1 standards or H2 standards.
[0052]
However, the differentiation between the seal part lubricant and the transmission part lubricant does not necessarily conform to the differentiation between the USDA H1 standard and the H2 standard. In short, the transmission mechanism part is sealed using an oil seal means. The intended purpose of the present invention can be achieved if a lubricant that is safe for the human body is used as the seal portion lubricant for lubricating the oil seal means. Therefore, in consideration of the place and environment where the speed reducer is actually installed, safety performance and lubrication performance (or cost performance) may be appropriately balanced.
[0053]
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention.
[0054]
In the present invention, the specific seal mechanism or seal structure of the oil seal means is not particularly limited. In the previous embodiment, only one so-called oil seal 54 having a general structure is disposed at each end as the oil seal means. However, in the example of FIG. 3, the oil seal 56 is disposed at each end. Each is added and arranged to further improve sealing performance. In this example, the oil seal 56 is of the same type as the oil seal 54.
[0055]
When the oil seal means having such a configuration is adopted, not only the general effect of improving the sealing function is obtained, but also the space (the shaded area in the figure) in which the seal grease SG can be enclosed is greatly expanded. it can. Further, the oil seal 56 (which is a part of the oil seal means) can also function as a “shielding means” for more completely isolating the oil seal 54 from the space where the orthogonal reduction mechanism OG exists. Therefore, the “separation” between the gear grease GG and the seal grease SG can be realized more reliably. As a result, the effect that “the gear grease GG is not mixed into the seal grease SG that leaks first” can be obtained more reliably (compared to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).
[0056]
FIG. 4 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.
[0057]
In the example of FIG. 4, a so-called triple lip oil seal 60 is arranged as the oil seal means. The triple lip oil seal 60 is provided with a third lip 60C in addition to the first and second lips 60A and 60B corresponding to the first and second lips 54A and 54B provided in the normal oil seal 54 described above. Therefore, the sealing performance can be increased accordingly. In addition, although it is a part of the third lip 60C oil seal means, it also serves as a “shielding means” at the same time, so that it is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as in the embodiment of FIG. Compared to the embodiment described above, there is also an effect that “separation” between the gear grease GG and the seal grease SG can be more reliably realized.
[0058]
The configuration of the oil seal means or the shielding means is not limited to these exemplary configurations. For example, as a literal shielding means, a ring-shaped plate may be separately disposed. A bearing (not shown) having a sealing function called a so-called sealed bearing may be adopted as the bearing 52. In this case, the seal bearing also serves as a shielding means.
[0059]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the orthogonal gear reduction gear G4 which has a hypoid pinion and a hypoid gear was shown as a structural example of a transmission, the specific structure of a transmission is not specifically limited by this invention.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the reduction gear used in a food factory, the outstanding effect that it becomes possible to ensure a higher degree of freedom of installation while maintaining high safety can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing an example of a geared motor in which an orthogonal gear reducer for a food factory to which the present invention is applied is combined with a motor. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around an output shaft of the geared motor shown in FIG. 3 is an enlarged view equivalent to FIG. 2 showing an example of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view equivalent to FIG. 2 showing an example of still another embodiment of the present invention. Schematic cross section showing a configuration example of an inspection machine in a food factory to be measured. FIG. 6 is a developed cross sectional view showing a configuration of a motor with a gear reducer for driving an inspection conveyor of the inspection machine.
GM4 ... Geared motor (motor speed reducer)
G4 ... reducer M4 ... motor OR ... orthogonal reduction mechanism (transmission mechanism)
32 ... motor shaft 38 ... hypoid pinion 40 ... hypoid gear 48 ... output shaft 48A, 48B ... end 50 ... casing 52 ... bearing 54 ... oil seal (oil seal means)
54A ... first lip 54B ... second lip 54S ... space 54 ... oil seal (also used as oil seal means and shielding means)
60. Triple lip oil seal (oil seal means)
60A ... 1st lip 60B ... 2nd lip 60C ... 3rd lip (also used as shielding means)
SG: Seal grease (seal lubricant)
GG ... Gear grease (transmission part lubricant)

Claims (7)

In a transmission for a food factory that has a transmission mechanism in the casing and is used in a food factory,
An oil seal means is disposed between the casing exposed from the casing and the casing, so that the transmission mechanism is housed in the casing in a sealed state; and
A lubricant that does not contain any component of lead, ammonia, cadmium, and nickel is used for the seal portion lubricant sealed in the space sandwiched between the lips of the oil seal means for lubricating the oil seal means . A transmission for food factories. The transmission for a food factory according to claim 1, further comprising shielding means for isolating the oil seal means from a space in which the speed change mechanism exists. In claim 2,
A transmission for a food factory, wherein the same lubricant as a seal portion lubricant for lubricating the oil seal means is filled between the shield means and the oil seal means. In any one of Claims 1-3,
For the transmission part lubricant that lubricates the transmission mechanism, a different type of lubricant from the seal part lubricant that lubricates the oil seal means is used,
A transmission for a food factory, wherein a lubricant containing any one component of lead, ammonia, cadmium, and nickel is used as the transmission part lubricant. In any one of Claims 1-4,
As a seal part lubricant for lubricating the oil seal means, it does not contain any component of lead, ammonia, cadmium and nickel, and further, mineral oil, perfluoroalkyl ester, chlorine, molybdenum, graphite, lithium, sodium, polyurea A transmission for a food factory, characterized by using a lubricant that does not contain any of the following components: In any one of Claims 1-3,
For the transmission part lubricant that lubricates the transmission mechanism, a different type of lubricant from the seal part lubricant that lubricates the oil seal means is used,
As a seal part lubricant for lubricating the oil seal means, it does not contain any component of lead, ammonia, cadmium and nickel, and further, mineral oil, perfluoroalkyl ester, chlorine, molybdenum, graphite, lithium, sodium, polyurea , Using a lubricant that does not contain any component of barium, and does not contain any component of lead, ammonia, cadmium, and nickel as a transmission portion lubricant that lubricates the transmission mechanism ,
A transmission for a food factory characterized by using a lubricant containing any component of mineral oil, perfluoroalkyl ester, chlorine, molybdenum, graphite, lithium, sodium, polyurea, and barium. In claim 1,
The transmission unit lubricant for lubricating the speed change mechanism, using a different type of lubricant and the seal portion lubricant for lubricating the oil seal means, as the shifting portion lubricant to lubricate the oil seal means seals A transmission for a food factory, characterized by using a lubricant with a consistency lower than that of a local lubricant.

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