JP4368496B2 - Cylindrical object separation and supply device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cylindrical batteries such as manganese batteries and alkaline batteries may be marketed in units of one unit, but recently, batteries such as 2, 4, 6, and 12 are packaged and sold together. The case has become commonplace. The present invention is an apparatus for separating and supplying a cylindrical object into a group consisting of the number of cylindrical objects such as two, four, six, and twelve as described above. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 4 shows a main part of an example of a separation and supply device that has been widely used in a conventional shrink wrapping device for cylindrical batteries. In FIG. 4, the AA alkaline battery 1-a as a cylindrical object that has been continuously conveyed from the upper left surface by the chute 2 while pressing each other with the outer diameters in contact with each other is a star wheel provided on the left side. 5 shows a state in which the gap is enlarged for every two batteries and separated into groups for every two batteries, and then supplied to the rotating disk 6 of the shrink wrapping apparatus provided on the right side.
[0003]
For reference, the shrink wrapping apparatus will be briefly described. The outer periphery of the rotating disk 6 is assigned with the outer periphery of the battery, and each cylindrical battery supported by the outer periphery is rotated by an appropriate angle. After aligning the direction of the label c in a predetermined direction, cover the periphery of the two batteries together with a heat-shrinkable film, blow the hot air and heat the film to shrink it, and shrink wrap Device.
[0004]
The battery 1-a outer diameters in the chute 2 are in a state of being pressed against each other due to the action of frictional force acting between a large number of batteries that have been conveyed by a conveyor not shown and the conveyor, and strong. Contact pressure is working. Therefore, in the inside of the chute 2 provided at the upper left, the cylindrical battery is strongly pressed against the outer periphery of the star wheel 5 by the subsequent battery, and the position of the battery in the chute 2 as the star wheel 5 rotates counterclockwise. When the concave portion 7 of the star wheel coincides with the concave portion 7, the battery quickly fits into the concave portion 7 and is conveyed toward the rotating disk 6 of the shrink wrapping apparatus.
[0005]
In addition, the shrink wrapping apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is for shrink wrapping the two cylindrical batteries 1-c as a group, and the batteries can be supplied separately in groups of two in advance. is necessary. Therefore, the narrow convex portions 8 and the wide convex portions 9 are alternately provided between the concave portions 7 into which the battery provided on the outer periphery of the star wheel 5 is fitted and conveyed.
[0006]
Then, the batteries supplied to these recesses 7 are made up of a group of two batteries that are close to each other so that their outer diameters are in contact with each other using the difference in width of the protrusions. A portion having a wide gap W between the outer diameters of the batteries is regarded as a boundary with other groups of batteries, and is divided into groups and supplied to the shrink wrapping apparatus.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the conventional separation and supply apparatus as described above is used to separate and supply the AA batteries to the shrink wrapping apparatus having a high-speed processing capacity in groups of two, the batteries are continuously shot. Therefore, it is necessary to supply the star wheel at high speed synchronously.
[0008]
In addition, batteries that have been connected to the inside of the chute for a long time and have their outer diameters in contact with each other are subjected to the weight of the battery inside the chute and the frictional force between the many batteries on the upstream conveyor and the conveyor. A strong pressing force is acting on the outer periphery of the star wheel 5. Furthermore, since the direction of the chute is substantially perpendicular to the pitch circle of the star wheel, the battery that has been fitted into the concave portion 7 of the star wheel and has reached the bottom of the concave portion rapidly decreases its traveling speed. After a momentary stop, the vehicle starts to run in the right-angle direction again, so a large impact force is applied, and the aluminum foil printed on the surface wrapped around the battery or heat shrinkage In many cases, it becomes a cause of scratches and deformations in the label made of a conductive resin film.
[0009]
In addition, a large number of batteries connected in the conveyor or chute are repeatedly driven intermittently toward the star wheel 5 at a constant cycle, so that shock and vibration are generated in the entire shrink wrapping device, and noise is also generated. It becomes large and unfavorable in terms of quality, operating rate, and workplace environment.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, the influence of the pressing pressure between the outer diameters of the cylindrical objects working by being conveyed in a state where the conveyed cylindrical objects are continuously connected is exerted. constantly securing a predetermined gap so as not, after the outer diameter of the cylindrical object as its predetermined gap is conveyed in the state of securing a gap that is not in contact with each other, to temporarily stopped conveyance of cylindrical object and characterized in that separated by intervals set wide and one flock and other herds constituting a predetermined plurality number, by continuously transporting the cylindrical object remains in that state is supplied to the next step Thus, a star wheel is disposed at two locations on the upstream side and the downstream side of the conveyance path of a cylindrical object such as a conveyor or a chute, and a downstream chute is provided between the star wheels. A large number of cylindrical objects that are conveyed in a continuous state with their outer diameters being brought into contact with each other by a conveyor or chute are fitted into the recesses provided on the outer periphery of the upstream first star wheel. In order to prevent the influence of the pressing force between the outer diameters of the cylindrical object within the downstream chute connecting the upstream and downstream star wheels, the cylindrical object is not affected by rotation. A predetermined gap is provided as a portion where the outer diameters do not contact each other. In addition, the first star wheel on the upstream side has a concave portion at equal intervals with a narrow convex portion on the outer periphery, is continuously rotated at a constant speed, and a cylindrical object is fitted into the concave portion. It is continuously conveyed downstream. Accordingly, the subsequent cylindrical object on the conveyor or in the chute also continuously travels downstream. Further, the downstream chute connected to the upstream first star wheel conveys the group of cylindrical objects to the downstream second star wheel while maintaining a predetermined gap.
[0011]
Predetermined second star wheel on the downstream side, provided with a narrow protrusion and recess width in its outer periphery, the number of recesses, constituting one flock close to substantially the outer diameter of the contact with each other Each time it reaches a plurality , a wide convex portion is provided, and concave portions are provided at unequal intervals. Therefore, by inserting a cylindrical object into each of the recesses provided on the outer periphery and rotating the star wheel at a constant speed, the cylindrical object upstream of the star wheel is rotated with the rotation of the star wheel. It travels intermittently toward the downstream. And between the cylindrical objects of one group fitted in the recess and the other group fitted in the recess sandwiching the wide convex part, approach so that the outer diameters are in contact with each other. The gap is wider than the gap between the cylindrical objects in the group, and this part is separated into groups as a boundary between one group and another group and supplied to the next process.
[0012]
That is, the traveling speed of the cylindrical object is controlled so that it matches the processing capacity of the equipment that is responsible for the next process with the upstream star wheel, and the vibration and noise are reduced as a continuous flow, and then transported downstream. and, in the downstream of the star wheel, by utilizing the recess formed at irregular intervals on the outer circumference, a difference is provided to the spacing of the cylindrical body in relation to another to be conveyed, it separated a predetermined herd multiple pieces each. In order to reduce the change in traveling direction and speed when a cylindrical object transfers from one star wheel or chute to another star wheel, etc., and to reduce the impact, the chute direction should be within the possible range of the star wheel pitch. It should be oriented in the same direction as the tangent to the circle.
[0013]
Furthermore, when the number of cylindrical objects running between the downstream chutes connecting the two star wheels greatly fluctuates, the operations of both star wheels interfere with each other via the cylindrical objects in the downstream chutes, The cylinders of both starwheels can no longer fully perform the above functions of the starwheel, the gap S is always kept within a certain range, and the number of cylindrical objects in the downstream chute is kept within a substantially constant range. It is necessary to set the carrying capacity of the shaped object to be equal on average.
[0014]
Furthermore, in order to set the processing capacity of the apparatus responsible for the next step equally, it is preferable that the rotational driving power between these apparatuses is mechanically or electrically connected to perform synchronous operation.
[0015]
When the cylindrical object is made of a ferromagnetic material, at least one star wheel on the upstream side or the downstream side is a disk in which a small permanent magnet is embedded in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the disk, and the cylindrical object is disposed on the outer periphery thereof. It is also possible to carry it by suction holding.
[0016]
When using a magnet in this way, machining is greatly simplified and noise is reduced. If an abnormally large force is applied to a cylindrical object, the cylindrical object slips around the outer circumference of the disk beyond the attractive force of the magnet, making it impossible to transport and preventing damage to the device. It is also possible to omit the prevention device.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front view of the main part of an example of a cylindrical object separating and supplying apparatus that separates cylindrical batteries into groups of two and supplies them to the next process.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a power transmission method for synchronously operating two star wheels and the rotating disk 6 of the shrink wrapping apparatus in the next process in the separation and supply apparatus of the present invention.
[0019]
Fig. 3 shows that when the cylindrical object to be supplied separately is a ferromagnetic material such as steel or nickel, the cylindrical battery is installed in a magnet-embedded disk in which a small permanent magnet is embedded in the outer periphery of the disk instead of a star wheel. The state attracted and held on the outer periphery is shown. In order to simplify the illustration, the number of magnets embedded is reduced, and the embedding pitch is also set at equal intervals.
[0020]
In the upper part of FIG. 1, AA batteries 1-a as an example of a cylindrical object have a large number of subsequent batteries 1 on a conveyer (not shown) with their outer diameters in contact with each other. It is pushed by -a and conveyed from the upper left surface toward the upstream star wheel 4 in the chute 2.
[0021]
The upstream star wheel 4 has a shape in which concave portions 7 are provided at equal intervals around the outer periphery of the star wheel 4. The battery 1-a is fitted in the concave portion 7 so that the star wheel 4 rotates at a constant speed. As a result, the batteries are continuously sent out to the chute 13 which is a downstream chute on the downstream side in a state where the outer diameters are in contact with each other, and the battery 1-a released from the star wheel 4 is in the chute 13 at a free fall speed. And proceed toward the star wheel 5 on the downstream side.
[0022]
In order to prevent the battery 1-a on the upstream side of the star wheel 4 and the battery on the upstream side of the star wheel 5 downstream of the star wheel 4 from interfering with each other, Inside, a gap S having a substantially constant dimension is always provided, and a constant number of batteries 1-a are always conveyed toward the downstream side. Therefore, the two star wheels provided on the upstream side and the downstream side, and the rotating disk of the shrink wrapping apparatus in the next process are also set to rotate synchronously.
[0023]
Thus, inside the chute 13, the battery released from the upstream star wheel falls in an unregulated state with respect to the posture. Therefore, in order to prevent the battery from falling, The clearance S is set while the dimension is set to about 1/3, and the influence of the pressing force by the battery continuously running on the conveyor on the upstream side is eliminated.
[0024]
Further, the intersection angle α at the intersection of the chute 13 and the pitch circle of the downstream star wheel 5 is drawn to about 45 ° in FIG. 1, but the battery traveling speed is set to a high speed. In order to reduce the impact force acting on the battery due to the sudden change of direction immediately after the battery 1-a is fitted into the recess 7 of the star wheel 5 from the shout 13, it is made as small as possible. Is desirable.
[0025]
On the outer periphery of the star wheel 5, two concave portions 7 are provided on both sides of the narrow convex portion 8, followed by one wide convex portion 9, and the narrow convex portion 8 again. Two recesses 7 are provided on both sides of the substrate, and recesses and projections are alternately provided on the entire circumference.
[0026]
Then, the batteries 1-b fitted into the two concave portions 7 on both sides sandwiching the narrow convex portion 8 are brought close together so that the outer diameters are in contact with each other to form one group, and the wide convex portion. Since a gap W is formed between the outer diameters of the batteries in the portion 9, this portion becomes a boundary between one group and another group and is separated. It should be noted that the battery that is in contact with the wide convex portion 9 of the star wheel 5 inside the chute 13 is temporarily stopped until the next concave portion 7 is rotated. Although the batteries run intermittently, the number of batteries is small and the contact pressure between the batteries is small, so that there is no bad influence that causes problems such as scratches, vibrations, and noise on the label.
[0027]
The power transmission method for each part of the separation and supply device of the present invention is based on the subsequent battery running on the upstream belt conveyor or the like at the chute 13 provided between the star wheel 4 and the star wheel 5. In order to prevent the influence of the pressing pressure from affecting the rotation of the star wheel 5, a gap S is always provided inside the shout 13 as a portion where the outer diameters of the batteries do not contact each other. Further, since it is difficult to regulate the posture of the battery in the gap S portion of the shout 13, the interval of S is preferably ½ or less of the length of the battery in order to prevent the posture from being disturbed such as the battery falling.
[0028]
As described above, in order to stably ensure the clearance S constantly in the chute 13, it is necessary to set the battery transport speeds of the star wheel 4 and the star wheel 5 to be equal. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the drive source is attached to the shaft 17 of the rotating disk 6 for the shrink wrapping apparatus, and the rotation is sequentially transmitted to the intermediate shaft 15 via the gears 22, 21, 20. Further, it is transmitted to the star wheel 4 via the sprocket 19, the chain 23, the sprocket 18 and the shaft 14.
[0029]
Further, since the rotation shaft 16 of the star wheel is fixed to the gear 21, the rotation is transmitted to the star wheel 5. The number of teeth of the gear and sprocket is set in consideration of the processing capacity of the shrink wrapping device, the number of concave portions of both star wheels, and the like, so that the rotating wheel of the star wheel 4, the star wheel 5, and the shrink wrapping device 6 has a configuration capable of synchronous operation.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
A star wheel is provided at two locations on the upstream and downstream sides of a conveyor or chute that conveys a cylindrical object, and the outer diameter is mutually adjusted on the chute or conveyor by the upstream star wheel having recesses on the outer periphery at equal intervals. A battery that reduces the impact, vibration, noise, etc., and supplies it to downstream processes by making a large number of cylindrical batteries that are running in contact with each other while being in contact with each other, and making them flow continuously downstream. Control the transport speed.
[0031]
Subsequently, a star wheel having recesses in the outer periphery provided at the downstream side is provided with a gap between the outer diameters of the batteries so that the gap between one group and the battery constituting the other group is set wide. As a result, the batteries are separated for each group and supplied to the downstream process, so the batteries being transported between the two star wheels travel intermittently, but the batteries traveling between the two star wheels are In addition to being limited to a small number of 5 to 10 at all times, the contact pressure between the batteries has been reduced to a very small amount, so there are almost no scratches that occur on the label, Not only a significant improvement in quality, but also vibration and noise are reduced, and the workplace environment is also improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing main parts of an embodiment of a separation and supply apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an embodiment of a power transmission method for synchronously operating the main parts of the separation and supply apparatus of the present invention. Side view shown [FIG. 3] (a) Front view of a magnet-embedded disk in which a large number of small magnets are embedded near the outer periphery of the disk to attract and convey a cylindrical object (b) Cross-sectional view of the same [FIG. 4] Front view showing a conventional separating and feeding apparatus [Explanation of symbols]
1-a Cylindrical object (before dividing into groups)
1-b Cylindrical object (divided into two groups of two by a star wheel)
1-c Cylindrical object (the state supplied to the shrink wrapping apparatus which is a post process)
2 Chute 3-a Cylindrical object fixing guide 3-b Overload preventing open / close guide 4 First star wheel 5 Second star wheel 6 Rotating disk 7 of shrink wrapping device Recess 8 Narrow protrusion 9 Width Wide convex portion 10 Opening and closing guide fulcrum 11 Lever 12 Spiral spring 13 Shout 14 First star wheel shaft 15 Intermediate shaft 16 Second star wheel shaft 17 Shaft 18 of rotating disk for shrink wrapping device First Sprocket 19 Second sprocket 20 Third gear 21 Second gear 22 First gear 23 Chain 24 Bearing 25 Bearing 26 Bearing 27 Bearing 27 Permanent magnet 30 Air vent hole 31 Magnet embedded disk α Chute and star wheel pitch circle An angle S formed with a tangent line with a predetermined number of batteries inside the shout Gap between subsequent batteries W Gap between one group and the other group at the second star wheel

Claims (4)

A large number of cylindrical objects conveyed in a continuously connected state with their outer diameters in contact with each other on a conveyer or a shunt are separated into groups of a predetermined number of groups, and then supplied to the next process. A cylindrical object supply apparatus, comprising the conveyor or chute for conveying the cylindrical objects in a continuous state, and continuously supplying the cylindrical objects in a state where their outer diameters are in contact with each other. An upstream star wheel to be fed to the side chute, and the downstream chute connecting the upstream star wheel and the downstream star wheel conveying the cylindrical object released from the upstream star wheel , the downstream side of the star wheel to separate a predetermined plurality of constituting a group is provided, each of the star wheel, if fitted the cylindrical object in a recess provided in the outer periphery The rotation thereby, toward the downstream conveying the cylindrical object, the entire length of the cylindrical object which outer diameter does not contact with each other of said cylindrical body within said chute downstream connecting both star wheel 1 / A predetermined clearance of 2 or less is always secured, and the downstream side star wheel is a star wheel provided with a wide convex portion at a single ratio every time the number of concave portions reaches the predetermined number. , the conveying speed of the average cylindrical object of both the star wheel is rotatably connected so synchronized the same, between the flock and the other herds of a predetermined plurality, the wide protrusion of the width An apparatus for separating and supplying a cylindrical object, wherein a gap is generated, and a group of predetermined plural pieces is separated and supplied to the next process. After the cylindrical object in the chute on the downstream side comes into contact with the wide convex part of the star wheel on the downstream side and stops instantaneously, the traveling speed is smoothly increased again and introduced into the concave part, and further introduced into the concave part In order to avoid a sudden change in travel speed and an impact later, the angle formed by the tangent to the pitch circle at the intersection of the center line of the chute and the pitch circle of the star wheel is 45 ° or less, and the star separating feeder of cylindrical object according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the top portion of the wide protruding portion width of the wheel and gentle curve. The rotational drive of both star wheels is mechanically driven to the star wheel from the drive source of the device provided downstream of the star wheel supplied with a cylindrical object separated into groups of a plurality of predetermined by the star wheel. The apparatus for separating and supplying cylindrical objects according to claim 1, wherein: When the substantially cylindrical object is made of a ferromagnetic material, at least one of the two star wheels provided on the upstream side and the downstream side is a cylinder as a disk with a small outer diameter embedded in the outer periphery. separating feeder of cylindrical object as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape object is characterized by comprising a magnet embedded disc is conveyed toward the downstream sucked and held on the outer circumference of the disk.

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