JP4313922B2 - Article conveying device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an article conveying measure, and more particularly to a chain conveyor type article conveying apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a transport device that transports a packaging box (21) for packaging an article (91) to be packaged.
The rear nail chains (18a) and (18b) with the rear nails (17a) and (17b) to push the packaging box (21) and (21) from the back in the transport direction (lower left in the figure) are for the rear nails. It is hung on the procket (14a) (14b) (15a) (15b). On the other hand, the front claw chains (28a) and (28b) to which the front claws (27a) and (27b) coming into contact with the packaging box (21) and (21) from the front in the transport direction are attached are the front claw sprockets (24a). (24b) (25a) (25b).
[0003]
The rear claw sprockets (15a) (15b) on the drive side of the rear claw chains (18a) (18b) and the front claw sprocket (25a) on the drive side of the front claw chains (28a) (28b) ( 25b) is driven by a motor (10). The front claw sprockets (25a) and (25b) can also be rotated by the handle (11) .When the front claw sprockets (25a) and (25b) are rotated by the handle (11), The hooked front nail chain (28a) (28b) moves together with the front nail (27a) (27b), and the distance between this and the rear nail (17a) (17b) can be adjusted.
[0004]
In this case, when the front and rear claw sprockets (25a) (25b) (15a) and (15b) on the driving side are synchronously rotated by the motor (10), the front and rear claw sprockets (25a) (25b) (15a) ( 15b) the front and rear nail chains (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b) hung on the front and rear (27a) and (27a) It is transported in the state of being sandwiched in 17b). During this transfer, the pusher (93) located on the side of the travel area of the transfer conveyor (1) is activated, so that the packaged item (91) is moved from the open end of the packing box (21) to the inside thereof. Is pushed into. Thereafter, the packaging box (21) filled with the article to be packaged (91) is conveyed downstream by the conveying conveyor (1), and post-processing such as closing the lid is performed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this type of conveyor (1), when an obstacle hits the front and rear claws (27a) (27b) (17a) (17b), the front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) ( 18a) (18b) may be slightly idle or the mounting position of the front / rear claw (27a) (27b) (17a) (17b) with respect to the front / rear claw chain (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b) may be slightly shifted. There is a case where the distance between the front claws (27a) and (27b) and the rear claws (17a) and (17b) in the transport direction may change.
[0006]
Also, the front and rear claw chains (28a), (28b), (18a), and (18b) tend to gradually grow over time due to continuous use, so that the front claw (27a) (27b) and the back claw (17a) (17b ) In the transport direction may change.
Therefore, conventionally, an operator regularly inspects the interval in the conveyance direction of the front nails (17a) (17b) and the rear nails (27a) (27b) with a scale or the like, but it takes time to measure. .
[0007]
Also, under the condition that the front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b) are extended, the distance between the front claw (27a) (27b) and the rear claw (17a) (17b) can be When the motor (10) is stopped for measurement, the front and rear claw chains (28a), (28b), (18a), and (18b) may be loosened on the conveying surface side. Therefore, the conveyor surface where the front and rear claw chains (28a), (28b), (18a), and (18b) are pulled by the front and rear claw sprockets (25a), (25b), (15a), and (15b) and are not loose. There is a possibility that the distance between the front claw sprockets (24a) and (24b) and the rear claw sprockets (14a) and (14b) may not be equal when traveling (when actually conveying the article) and when the conveyor is stopped. Therefore, for this reason, when the operator stops the motor (10) and measures the distance between the front claws (27a) (27b) and the rear claws (17a) (17b) with a scale or the like, the distance is accurate. Therefore, the reliability of the measurement result cannot be ensured.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points.
In `` Article Conveying Equipment with Conveyors Conveying Claws (82) and (82) that sandwich Articles from the Front and Back in the Conveying Direction, which are Separately Mounted on Two Conveyor Chains '', It is an object of the present invention to enable automatic and accurate measurement even when the interval between the front and rear nails (27a), (27b), (17a), and (17b) changes due to the aging.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
[0012]
To solve the above problemsTechniquesThe technical means will be described based on the conceptual diagram shown in FIG.
`` In an article conveying apparatus having a conveying conveyor provided with a conveyor chain to which conveying claws (82) (82) arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction of conveying an article are attached,
  A specific conveyance claw (82) of the conveyance claw (82) (82) is a reference claw (820) having an identification mark (84),
  A reference claw for detecting the identification mark (84) of the reference claw (820) passing through the first monitoring point set in the traveling area of each transport claw (82) (82) and outputting a reference claw detection signal Monitoring means (85);
  Claw monitoring means (86) for detecting each conveyance claw (82) (82) passing through a second monitoring point set in the traveling area and different from the first monitoring point and outputting a claw detection signal; ,
  The travel distance Z traveled by the conveyor chain is measured from when the reference claw monitoring means (85) outputs the reference claw detection signal to when the claw monitoring means (86) outputs a predetermined number of claw detection signals. First mileage measuring means (87) for
  Reference distance storage means (M1) for storing the travel distance Z measured by the first travel distance measurement means (87) at the time of initial setting work as a reference distance L2,
  The comparison distance L3 and the reference distance storage means (M1) are stored with the travel distance Z measured by the first travel distance measuring means (87) at the time of the conveyor chain elongation inspection after the initial setting operation as the comparison distance L3. And a calculation means (88) for calculating the extension of the conveyor chain based on the reference distance L2.
[0013]
According to the above technical means, when the conveyor chain is run during the initial setting operation, the reference claw (820) having the identification mark (84) is detected by the reference claw monitoring means (85) and a reference claw detection signal is output. After that, the travel distance Z of the conveyor chain until the claw monitoring means (86) detects the set number of transport claws (82) and outputs the set number of claw detection signals is the first travel distance measuring means ( 87). This travel distance is stored in the reference distance storage means (M1) as the reference distance L2.
[0014]
Next, after performing the initial setting work, the conveyor chain travels at the time of conveyor chain elongation inspection after a predetermined period of time, and the travel distance Z at this time is set as the comparison distance L3, the comparison distance L3 and The calculating means (88) calculates the difference, ratio, etc. of the reference distance L2, thereby obtaining the elongation of the conveyor chain.
[0015]
in frontToLeave
“At the time of the initial setting work, the reference nail monitoring means (85) outputs the reference nail detection signal, and then the nail monitoring means (86) outputs a reference number of nail detection signals set to a value of 2 or more. A second travel distance measuring means (89) for measuring the basic distance L1 traveled by the conveyor chain until
  The computing means (88) is based on the basic distance L1 measured by the second travel distance measuring means (89), and the reference distance L2 and the comparison distance L3 when the set number is less than the reference number. The ratio or difference between (Basic distance L1−Reference distance L2) and (Basic distance L1−Comparison distance L3) is determined as a value indicating the elongation of the conveyor chain.
  thisThe values of (Basic distance L1−Reference distance L2) and (Basic distance L1−Comparison distance L3) are dimensions that are integral multiples of the distance between the conveying claws (82) and (82) in the conveying direction. The ratio or difference between the two dimensions indicates the elongation of the conveyor chain in an area that is an integral multiple of the distance between the conveying claws (82) and (82) in the conveying direction. Accordingly, in this case, for example, the set number is set to a small value such as 1, while the reference number is set to a relatively large value, so that the reference distance L2 and the comparison distance L3 are compared (basic distance L1- The value of (reference distance L2) and (basic distance L1−comparison distance L3) can be increased. Therefore, in this case, only a short comparison distance L3 is measured at the time of chain conveyor elongation inspection, and a long distance, that is, a range of (basic distance L1−reference distance L2) or (basic distance L1−comparison distance L3) is targeted. It is possible to measure the elongation of the chain conveyor. In other words, the chain conveyor elongation inspection is completed in a short time just to measure the short comparison distance L3, and the speed of the inspection can be ensured.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
Each of the above inventions has the following specific effects because of the above configuration.
It is possible to automatically measure changes in the distance between the conveying claws (82) and (82) due to the collision of obstacles and the aging of the conveyor chain.
[0017]
  The measurement operation is performed with the conveyor chain running. Therefore, the chain is less slackened on the conveyor surface than in the conventional case where the conveyor chain is stopped and the dimension between the conveying claws (82) and (82) is measured with a scale or the like. Improves measurement accuracy.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Next, embodiments of the above invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[Reference example]
<Configuration>
  1 to 3 areReference exampleFIG.
[0019]
The transport conveyor (1) that transports the packaging boxes (21) and (21) to the downstream side (upper right side of the figure) at regular intervals is configured in substantially the same manner as the conventional one, but the drive side The back claw sprockets (15a) and (15b) are fixed to the back claw drive shaft (13) in a non-rotating state, and the back claw drive shaft (13) is rotated by a rear claw servo motor (12). It has come to be. On the other hand, the front claw sprocket (25a) (25b) on the driving side is fixed to the front claw drive shaft (23) in a non-rotating state, and the front claw drive shaft (23) is a front claw servomotor. It can be rotated at (22).
[0020]
  Also, a light transmission that sends a claw monitoring beam (33) perpendicular to the traveling direction of the front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b) as a conveyor chain and in the width direction of the conveyor (1) A receiver (71) and a light receiver (72) for detecting the nail monitoring light beam (33) are disposed on the transport surface side of the transport conveyor. As a result, the front and rear claws (27a), (27b), (17a), and (17b) block the nail monitoring light beam (33) and output a nail detection signal from the light receiver (72). . And,UpSet of light transmitter (71) and light receiver (72)NailIt corresponds to the monitoring means (86). In addition, the formation area of the nail monitoring light beam (33) is,clawIt corresponds to the monitoring area.
[0021]
In addition, as in the conventional case, the rear claw chain (18a) (18b) to which the rear claw (17a) (17b) for pushing the packaging box (21) (21) from the rear in the transport direction is attached. Is hooked on the back claw sprockets (14a) (14b) (15a) (15b) and also comes in contact with the packaging box (21) (21) from the front in the transport direction (27a) (27b) The front claw chains (28a) and (28b) to which are attached are hung on the front claw sprockets (24a) (24b) (25a) and (25b).
[0022]
The front claw sprockets (24a) and (24b) and the rear claw sprockets (14a) and (14b) on the driven side are rotatably mounted on the common spindle (16) with bearings (19) and (19). It has been. Thus, the front claw chains (28a) and (28b) and the rear claw chains (18a) and (18b) can be independently driven in a parallel state.
[0023]
Further, a pusher (93) for pushing the article (91) to be packed into the packaging boxes (21) and (21) is located on the side of the traveling area of the transfer conveyor (1). This pusher (93) is moved at the same speed as the front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b) by a pusher conveyor (not shown) while placing the article (91) in the packaging box (21). Execute the push-in operation.
[0024]
The rear claw servo motor (12), front claw servo motor (22), light transmitter (71), and light receiver (72) are connected to the control device (35) as shown in FIG. In addition, an operation panel (36) operated by an operator is connected to the control device (35), and an operation unit (38) and a display unit operation unit (38) are formed on the operation panel (36). Has been
The operation section (38) is provided with an operation key (41), a stop key (42), a shift key (44), and a numeric keypad (45). In addition, the display unit (39) has a set value for the distance in the conveyance direction between the front nails (27a) (27b) and the rear nails (17a) (17b) (usually set to the width of the packaging box (21)). A set value display section (46) for displaying, a measured value display section (47) for displaying the set value, and a difference between the measured value and the set value displayed on the set value display section (46). Tolerance, that is, the tolerance display section (48) for displaying the tolerance, and the rear pawl (17a) (17a) attached to one rear pawl chain (18a) and the other rear pawl chain ( 18b) The size of the deviation in the article transport direction from the rear claws (17b) (17b) and the front claws (27a) (27a) and the other front claws attached to one front claw chain (28a) The displacement dimension display part (49) that displays the dimension of the displacement in the article transport direction with the front nails (27b) (27b) attached to the chain (28b), and the front nails (27a) (27b) and the rear The actual distance between the nails (17a) and (17b) (displayed on the measured value display (47)) Deviation between set value displayed on the value display unit (46) the determination result display unit for displaying different colors depending on whether an acceptable range (50) is formed.
[0025]
<Operation>
Next, the operation of the transport device will be described.
* Transfer operation *
First, by operating the shift key (44) and the numeric keypad (45) provided on the operation section (38) of the operation panel (36), the front claws (27a) (27b) and the rear claws (17a) (17b) Enter the interval setting value D (a value equal to the width dimension of the packaging box (21)). Then, the set value D is displayed on the set value display section (46), the amount of rotation from the origin position of the rear claw servo motor (12) and the front claw servo motor (22) and the light receiver (72). The control device (35) determines the output and the like, and thereby adjusts the actual interval between the front claws (27a) and (27b) and the rear claws (17a) and (17b) to the set value. As a specific method for adjusting to the set value, for example, the following method can be adopted. That is, when the rear claw servo motor (12) and front claw servo motor (22) are rotated to the home position, the front claw (27a) (27b) and back claw (17a) (17b) (33) direction (width direction of the conveyor (1)), and in this state, for example, only one front pawl servomotor (22) is rotated and the front pawls (27a) (27b) The distance between the rear nails (17a) and (17b) is increased until the set value D is reached. After that, rotate the rear nail servo motor (12) and front nail servo motor (22) in the same direction and at the same speed, and the front nail (27a) (27b) blocks the nail monitoring beam (33). Judge the amount of rotation of the front nail servo motor (22) until the rear nail (17a) (17b) blocks the nail monitoring beam (33), and determine the front nail (27a) (27b) and the rear nail (17a) The actual interval with (17b) is finely adjusted to be equal to the set value D, thereby adjusting the interval to the set value.
[0026]
Next, by operating the shift key (44) and the numeric keypad (45), it becomes an allowable value of the difference between the actual distances of the front claws (27a) (27b) and the rear claws (17a) (17b) with respect to the set value D. Set the tolerance K. Then, the allowable error K is displayed on the allowable error display section (48).
[0027]
Thereby, the initial setting work before operation is completed.
Next, when the operation key (41) is turned on, the rear claw servomotor (12) and the front claw servomotor (22) rotate at the same speed, and the rotation includes the transmission gears (55) (54). Front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) (18a) from front claw drive shaft (23) and back claw drive shaft (13) through front and rear claw sprockets (25a) (25b) (15a) (15b) 18b). As a result, the front claw (27a) (27b) attached to the front claw chain (28a) (28b) and the rear claw (17a) (17b) attached to the rear claw chain (18a) (18b) In a state where the packaging boxes (21) and (21) are sandwiched, they are conveyed from the lower left to the upper right (downstream) in FIG. During the conveyance, the article to be packaged (91) is pushed into the inside of the packaging box (21) from the open end of the packaging box (21) by the pusher (93). Thereafter, the packaging boxes (21) and (21) filled with the article to be packaged (91) are transported downstream, and post-processing such as closing the lid of the opening is performed.
Note that the packaging boxes (21) and (21) are sequentially supplied from the supply device (not shown) between the front and rear claws (27a), (27b), (17a), and (17b) located at the upstream end of the conveyor (1). It has become.
[0028]
* Inspection operation *
During the conveyance of the packaging boxes (21) and (21) as articles, the control device (35) executes the control of the contents shown in the flowchart of FIG.
The controller (35) constantly monitors the amount of rotation of the rear nail servo motor (12) and front nail servo motor (22), so that the front nail detection signal is output from the light receiver (72). It can be determined whether the claw (27a) (27b) or the back claw (17a) (17b) is located between the light transmitter (71) and the light receiver (72). Therefore, when the light receiver (72) is receiving the nail monitoring light beam (33), the position of the nail monitoring light beam (33) is set to the front nail (27a) (27b) and the rear nail (17a) (17b). Non-bucket part between adjacent bucket parts (95) and (95) whether the bucket part (95) (space for transporting the packaging box (21)) formed between is passing It is possible to judge whether (96) is passing.
[0029]
When the control operation of FIG. 3 starts, first, at step (ST1), the front nail servo motor (22) and the rear nail motor at the moment when the light receiver (72) starts receiving the nail monitoring light beam (33). The amount of rotation from the home position of the servo motor (12) is determined in step (ST1), so that it is the front nail (27a) (27b) that blocked the nail monitoring beam (33) before light reception. Or it is discriminated whether it is a back nail (17a) (17b). When it can be confirmed that the front claws (27a) and (27b) have passed through the claw monitoring beam (33), the encoder pulses provided in the rear claw servomotor (12) in step (ST2). The number (the number of pulses indicating the amount of rotation of the rear claw servomotor (12)) is stored as the first pulse number S. Next, when the nail monitoring beam (33) is blocked and the nail detection signal is output from the light receiver (72), this is confirmed in step (ST3), and in step (ST4), the rear nail servo motor ( The number of pulses of the encoder provided in 12) is stored as the second number of pulses E.
[0030]
  Next, in step (ST5), the difference between the second pulse number E and the first pulse number S is stored as the inter-nail pulse number X. Further, in step (ST6), the inter-nail pulse number X is stored as a unit of length. This is converted into mm and stored as the inter-nail measurement distance P. Further, the value of the nail measurement distance P is displayed on the measurement value display section (47) of the display section (39) provided on the operation panel (36). still,UpFunctional part of the control device (35) for obtaining the measuring distance P between the nailRunningIt corresponds to the line distance measuring means.
[0031]
Next, the set value D of the distance between the front claw (27a) and back claw (27b) (17a) (17b) set in the initial setting work before driving (dimension displayed on the set value display section (46)) In step (ST7), the absolute value of the difference between the nail measurement distance P is greater than the allowable error k set in the initial setting operation (the value displayed on the allowable error display section (48)). To be judged. If the allowable error K is larger, the light emission color of the determination result display section (50) is set to blue in step (ST8), thereby the front nails (27a) (27b) and the rear nails (17a) (17b ) Indicates that the dimensional difference between the current nail measurement distance P and the set value D is within the allowable error K. On the other hand, if it is determined in step (ST7) that the allowable error K is larger, the light emission color of the determination result display section (50) is changed to red in step (ST9), thereby the front nails (27a) (27b ) And the rear claw (17a) and (17b), it is displayed that the dimensional difference between the current nail measurement distance P and the set value D is out of the allowable error K range.
[0032]
Next, when the rear nail (17a) (17b) has passed between the transmitter (71) and the receiver (72) and the receiver (72) starts receiving the nail monitoring light beam (33) again. The number of pulses output by the encoder of the rear claw servomotor (12) at this time is stored again as the first number of pulses S (see step (ST11)). Then, in step (ST12), the difference Y between the first pulse number S and the second pulse number E (number of pulses stored in step (ST4)) is calculated, and in step (ST13), it is converted into a unit of length mm. And stored as nail width R. Further, the difference between the value of the nail width R and a predetermined nail width setting value G is stored as a nail displacement dimension B, and this is displayed on the displacement dimension display section (49) of the display section (39).
[0033]
  Thereafter, the control operation is returned to step (ST3) again.
[Embodiment]
  next, RealThe embodiment will be described.
[0034]
<Configuration>
  As shown in FIG. 4, the article conveying apparatus according to the present embodiment has a metal piece as the identification mark (84) described above on a specific front claw (27a) attached to one front claw chain (28a). Except for the point that (840) is attached and the proximity switch (850) as the above-mentioned reference claw monitoring means (85) for detecting the metal piece (840), there is provided FIG. It is configured in the same way. The proximity switch (850) is already installed.DescriptiveCorresponding to the first monitoring point as the invention specific matter, the position where the front nails (27a) and (27b) cross the nail monitoring beam (33) corresponds to the second monitoring point. Note that the disposition interval (interval in the article conveyance direction) between the claw monitoring means (86) comprising the light transmitter (71) and the light receiver (72) and the proximity switch (850) is the front claw (in the present embodiment). 27a) and 27a are set to be larger than the distance corresponding to 3 pitches and smaller than the distance corresponding to 4 pitches. Therefore, at the time of inspection of the length of the convex chain, the proximity switch (850) detects the metal piece (840), and then the nail monitoring light beam (33) between the light transmitter (71) and the light receiver (72). Is blocked by the front nail (27a) four times, the metal piece (840) reaches between the light transmitter (71) and the light receiver (72). The interval between the claw monitoring means (86) and the proximity switch (850) may be set to a dimension equal to or less than the three pitches of the front claw (27a) (27b).
[0035]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation section (38) and the display section (39) of the operation panel (36) of the transport apparatus according to the present embodiment have a periodic inspection key (43) and a chain replacement warning lamp (52 ) And a reference claw monitoring means (85) is connected to the control device (35), and is configured in the same manner as in FIG. 2 except for these points.
[0036]
<Operation>
Next, the actual operation of the transfer device will be described.
The operation in the case of packaging the article to be packaged (91) in the packaging boxes (21) and (21) conveyed by the conveying conveyor (1) is performed in the same manner as the packaging operation of the conveying device of the first embodiment.
[0037]
On the other hand, in this embodiment, it is possible to determine the replacement time of all the conveyor chains by inspecting the aging of one of the front claw chains (28a). This is because when the front claw chain (28a) has come to be replaced, it is common that the other front and rear claw chains (28b), (18a), and (18b) have also come to be replaced.
For this reason, the control of FIG. 6 is performed in the article conveying apparatus of the present embodiment.
[0038]
First, the rear claw servo motor (12) and the front claw servo motor (22) are appropriately rotated, so that the front and rear claws (27a) (27b) (17a) (17b) receive light from the light transmitter (71). The nail monitoring light beam (33) formed between the containers (72) is not blocked.
[0039]
When the control operation of FIG. 6 starts, it is monitored in step (ST51) (ST52) whether one of the initial setting work key (40) and the periodic inspection key (43) is input. When the initial setting work key (40) is turned on during the initial setting work immediately after replacement of the front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b), the control flav F is set to “ Memorize “initial setting”.
[0040]
Next, in step (ST54), the front claw servomotor (22) is driven while the rear claw servomotor (12) is maintained in a stopped state, and the front claw chain (28a) is caused to travel. In step (ST56), when the proximity switch (850) detects the metal piece (840) and outputs the reference claw detection signal, the number of pulses of the encoder provided in the front claw servomotor (22) is set to the first pulse number. While storing as S1, the value of the nail coefficient value n is set to zero.
[0041]
  Next, when the front nail (27a) passes between the light transmitter (71) and the light receiver (72) and the nail monitoring light beam (33) is blocked, this is confirmed in step (ST57). In step (ST58), the value of the nail count value n is increased by one. Next, in step (ST59), it is checked whether or not the nail count value n is 4. When the nail count value n is 4, as described above, the nail monitoring light beam (33) is moved to the front nail (33) after the proximity switch (850) is detected by the metal piece (840). 27a) It is understood that the front nail (27a) as the reference nail (820) with the metal piece (840) that has been blocked four times has reached the position crossing the nail monitoring beam (33). When the front claw servomotor (22) is provided in step (ST61), the encoder pulse number is stored as the second pulse number S2, and the difference between the second pulse number S2 and the first pulse number S1 is stored. Is stored as the third pulse number S3, and the third pulse number S3 is converted into a length of 1 mm and stored as the basic distance L1. In this embodiment, the functional unit of the control device (35) for obtaining the basic distance L1 from the first to third pulse numbers S1, S2, S3 and the like is already provided.DescriptiveThis corresponds to the second mileage measuring means (89) which is the invention specific matter. If the nail count value n is less than 4 in step (ST59), the front nail (27a) passes through the nail monitoring beam (33) in step (ST60) and the light receiver (72) is nail. Wait until the detection signal is output, and then return to step (ST57) again.
[0042]
  On the other hand, after the control of the above step (ST61) is executed, the front claw (27a) having the metal piece (840) returns to the arrangement part of the proximity switch (850), and the proximity switch (850) The detection of the detection signal (reference claw detection signal) of the piece (840) is monitored in step (ST62), and the number of pulses of the encoder of the front claw servomotor (22) at this time is again stored as the first pulse number S1. Try again. After that, when the first nail (27a) as the set number blocks the nail monitoring beam (33), the front nail servo motor (22) is prepared in step (ST65). Then, the encoder pulse number is stored as a second pulse number S2, and the difference between the second pulse number S2 and the first pulse number S1 is stored as a third pulse number S3. After that, if the content of the control flag F is “at the time of initial setting” in step (ST66), the third pulse number S3 is converted into a single length of mm in step (ST67). This is stored as the reference distance L2 (the function unit of the control device (35) for obtaining this reference distance L2 is alreadyDescriptiveThe storage unit of the control device (35) that stores the reference distance L2 corresponds to the quasi-distance storage unit (M1) described above, corresponding to the first travel distance measuring unit that is the invention specific matter). Thereby, the initial setting work immediately after the replacement of the front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b) is completed, and the control operation is returned to step (ST51).
[0043]
Next, a description will be given of a periodic inspection operation for confirming whether or not the replaced front and rear claw chains (28a), (28b), (18a), and (18b) have reached the replacement time again.
Step (ST52) to step (ST72) are executed if the periodic inspection key (43) is turned on after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after replacing the front and rear claw chains (28a) (28b) (18a) (18b) Then, the “inspection” character is stored in the control flag F, and only the front claw servomotor (22) is driven with the rear claw servomotor (12) stopped. Next, it is monitored in step (ST62) that the front claw (27a) having the metal piece (840) is detected by the proximity switch (850), and the encoder of the front claw servomotor (22) at this time is monitored. The number of pulses is stored again as the first number of pulses S1. Thereafter, the set number (one in this embodiment) of the front claw (27a) passes between the light transmitter (71) and the light receiver (72), and the claw monitoring light beam (33) is blocked. When the front claw servomotor (22) is provided in step (ST65), the encoder pulse number is stored as the second pulse number S2, and the difference between the second pulse number S2 and the first pulse number S1 is stored. Is stored as the third pulse number S3. Thereafter, the content of the control flag F is determined in step (ST66), and if it is “inspection”, that is, if it is not in “initial setting operation”, the above third in step (ST68). The number of pulses S3 is converted into a length of 1 mm and stored as a comparison distance L3.
[0044]
In step (ST69), whether or not the absolute value of ((basic distance L1−comparing distance L3) / (basic distance L1−reference distance L2)) exceeds the allowable value (1.04 in this embodiment). If it exceeds, the chain replacement warning lamp (52) on the operation panel (36) will light up in red, indicating that the conveyor chain is about to be replaced (see step (ST70)). ). On the other hand, if the calculation result does not exceed the allowable value, the chain replacement warning lamp (52) is lit blue in step (ST71) to indicate that the time for replacement of the conveyor chain has not come.
[0045]
In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the absolute value of ((basic distance L1−comparison distance L3) / (basic distance L1−reference distance L2)) exceeds an appropriate value. -It may be judged whether or not the value of the reference distance L2) exceeds the allowable dimension, and it is judged whether or not (comparison distance L3 / reference distance L2) exceeds an appropriate value. The conveyor chain replacement time may be determined based on the result.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[Figure 1]Reference exampleThe schematic perspective view of the conveying apparatus which concerns on.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection relationship between a control device (35) and an operation panel (36) of the transport device of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the transport apparatus of FIG.
[Fig. 4]EmbodimentThe schematic perspective view of the conveying apparatus which concerns on.
5 is a diagram showing a connection relationship between a control device (35) and an operation panel (36) of the transport device in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the transport device of FIG.
[Fig. 7]DepartureMing concept illustration
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example
[Explanation of symbols]
(1) Transport conveyor
(81) ・ ・ ・ Conveyor chain
(82) ・ ・ ・ Conveying claw
(84) ・ ・ ・ Identification mark
(86) ・ Nail monitoring means
(87) ... 1st mileage measuring means
(89) ... second mileage measuring means
(820) ・ ・ ・ Standard nail

Claims (2)

In an article conveying apparatus having a conveying conveyor provided with a conveyor chain to which conveying claws (82) and (82) are arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction of conveying an article,
A specific conveyance claw (82) of the conveyance claw (82) (82) is a reference claw (820) having an identification mark (84),
A reference claw for detecting the identification mark (84) of the reference claw (820) passing through the first monitoring point set in the traveling area of each transport claw (82) (82) and outputting a reference claw detection signal Monitoring means (85);
Claw monitoring means (86) for detecting each conveyance claw (82) (82) passing through a second monitoring point set in the traveling area and different from the first monitoring point and outputting a claw detection signal; ,
The travel distance Z traveled by the conveyor chain is measured from when the reference claw monitoring means (85) outputs the reference claw detection signal to when the claw monitoring means (86) outputs a predetermined number of claw detection signals. First mileage measuring means (87) for
Reference distance storage means (M1) for storing the travel distance Z measured by the first travel distance measurement means (87) at the time of initial setting work as a reference distance L2,
The comparison distance L3 and the reference distance storage means (M1) are stored with the travel distance Z measured by the first travel distance measuring means (87) at the time of the conveyor chain elongation inspection after the initial setting operation as the comparison distance L3. And an arithmetic means (88) for calculating the extension of the conveyor chain based on the reference distance L2. The article conveying device according to claim 1,
From the time when the reference claw monitoring means (85) outputs the reference claw detection signal during the initial setting operation to the time when the claw monitoring means (86) outputs a reference number of claw detection signals set to a value of 2 or more. A second travel distance measuring means (89) for measuring a basic distance L1 traveled by the conveyor chain during
The computing means (88) is based on the basic distance L1 measured by the second travel distance measuring means (89), and the reference distance L2 and the comparison distance L3 when the set number is less than the reference number. The article conveying apparatus which calculates | requires the ratio or difference of (basic distance L1-reference distance L2) and (basic distance L1-comparing distance L3) as a value which shows the elongation of the said conveyor chain.

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