JP4559823B2 - Equipment supply / alignment transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an aligning and conveying apparatus that aligns small articles such as tablets sent in a complicated state in a predetermined posture and supplies them to a subsequent processing step.

  As a supply / alignment conveyance apparatus for small articles such as tablets, a slanted conveyance path is used for conveying a small article using vibration (see Patent Document 1) or a flat conveyance path is used using a side guide. A high-speed transfer device (see Patent Document 2) has already been proposed by the present applicant.

  For example, the conveyance device disclosed in Patent Document 2 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the tablet supply / alignment conveyance apparatus.

  As shown in the figure, the tablet supply / alignment conveying apparatus 100 generally includes two conveyance paths 110a and 110b that convey tablets T and align them in a row, and a reduction disposed between the two conveyance paths 110a and 110b. Instead of the transport path 120 and the transport path 120 for reduction, an intermediate belt 130 disposed between the two transport paths 110a and 110b downstream of the tablet T in the main transport direction (arrow X) is configured. .

  The conveyance paths 110a and 110b are installed substantially horizontally and are symmetrical with respect to the reduction conveyance path 120 disposed in the center. One transport path 110a includes a transport belt 111a that transports the tablets T in the main transport direction (arrow X), and a transport belt 111a that narrows to the width of one tablet transported in the main transport direction by the transport belt. The guide member 113a in which the side wall 112a which obstructs the tablet conveyance surface diagonally is formed, and the two top walls 114a and 115a which regulate height are included. The two top walls 114a, 115a are guide members 113a constituting the side wall 112a so as to be positioned at a predetermined interval (a length slightly larger than the thickness of the tablet T to be transported) from the tablet transport surface of the transport belt 111a. It is a substantially triangular plate member installed on the tablet, and the tablet is placed sideways (that is, a stable posture) while excluding standing tablets and overlapping tablets from the tablet transport surface of the transport belt 111a. To a height regulating member.

  The other conveyance path 110b is symmetrical with the conveyance path 110a and has substantially the same configuration as the conveyance path 110a.

  The reduction conveyance path 120 is disposed between the two conveyance paths 110a and 110b as described above, and returns the tablets leaked from the conveyance belts 111a and 111b to the upstream side of the conveyance apparatus 100. It is for transporting again on the two transport paths 110a and 110b, and therefore the tablet transport direction (sub-transport direction) is opposite to the main transport direction (arrow X). The reduction conveyance path 120 is inclined so as to become higher in the tablet sub-transport direction of the reduction conveyance path 120 (the direction opposite to the arrow X). That is, the upstream end in the tablet transport direction of the reduction transport path 120 is positioned below the intermediate belt 130, and the downstream end is positioned above the transport device (F) that connects the hopper (not shown) and the tablet alignment transport device 100. To do.

  The intermediate belt 130 is disposed between the conveyance belts 111a and 111b so that the conveyance surface thereof is flush with the conveyance surfaces of the conveyance belts 111a and 111b constituting the two conveyance paths 110a and 110b. The intermediate belt 130 forms minute gaps 131a and 131b between the conveyor belts 111a and 111b, respectively, and the tablets are conveyed in a row over the gaps 131a and 131b, and are sent to the subsequent tablet inspection processing apparatus C. Delivered. At this time, the tablets are sucked through the gaps 131a and 131b, and are transported in a stable state.

  The tablets T that are appropriately sorted and supplied from the transport device F are placed on the transport belts 111a or 111b constituting the two transport paths 110a and 110b, respectively, and transported in the arrow X direction. The tablet T hits the side walls 112a and 112b and is transported downstream while being moved toward the center, that is, the transport path 120 for reduction. Due to the top walls 114 a and 114 b that regulate the heights of the two transport paths 110 a and 110 b, the standing or overlapping tablets are laid down or removed to the transport path 120 for reduction. Thereafter, since the respective transport surfaces of the transport belts 111a and 111b are narrowed to the width of one tablet by the respective side walls 112a and 112b, only the tablets that have been transported along the side walls 112a and 112b are aligned. And is conveyed downstream along with the intermediate belt 130, and the remainder is discharged to the reduction conveyance path 120 and returned to the conveyance device F.

JP-A-8-258959 JP 2003-128233 A

  In the conventional example shown in FIG. 4, the gaps 131a and 131b between the conveyor belts 111a and 111b and the intermediate belt 130 are used to stabilize the posture of the tablets for delivery to the subsequent tablet inspection processing apparatus C. The tablets are conveyed in a row while being vacuumed. By providing such a configuration, the supply / alignment conveying apparatus can convey small articles such as tablets at high speed.

  However, for example, when the size of a tablet as a small article to be transported becomes small, if it is used as it is for transporting this small tablet without changing the gaps 131a, 131b between the transport belt 111a, 111b and the intermediate belt 130, The tablet T is likely to swing with respect to the gaps 131a and 131b, and in some cases, the tablet T may tilt or stand, and the posture may not be stabilized. As a result, there occurs a state where the delivery to the subsequent tablet inspection processing apparatus C is not smoothly performed. Alternatively, even if the tablet T is delivered, there is a possibility that the posture of the tablet T is bad and the inspection process cannot be performed.

  Further, if the gaps 131a and 131b between the conveyor belts 111a and 111b and the intermediate belt 130 are changed, the conveyor belts 111a and 111b and the intermediate belt 130 corresponding to the number corresponding to the type of the tablet T to be inspected are prepared. It takes time to replace and adjust.

  In addition, it is difficult to increase the speed of a supply / alignment conveying apparatus (not shown) that uses vibration, and vibration may remain in a small article being conveyed, which may hinder the inspection in the subsequent tablet inspection processing apparatus C.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention supplies small articles that can be transferred at a high speed and that can deliver small articles such as tablets to a subsequent tablet inspection apparatus in a stable posture with a simple structure. The object is to provide an aligning and conveying apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, a small article supply / alignment transport apparatus according to the present invention is an alignment transport path for aligning and transporting small articles, a transport belt for carrying and transporting the small articles, and the transport belt. The height is regulated between the guide member disposed on the guide member having a guide side surface for guiding the small article and the conveyance belt so that the small article conveyed on the conveyance belt can pass only in a stable posture. A width regulation having a side that regulates the width between the height regulation gate and the guide side of the guide member so that only one small article conveyed on the conveyance belt can pass in a stable posture. guide and an alignment conveyance path including, adjacent to the aligning transport path, and a reduction conveyance path for returning to said alignment conveyance path upstream of the small article is excluded from the alignment conveyor path, said width restriction The guide is A sorting pin is provided at the upstream end of the small article conveying direction, and the sorting pin is located at a position deviated from the alignment conveying path toward the returning conveying path, and is formed on the convex curved portion of the guide side surface of the guide member. It is arranged downstream from the apex .

Further, the guide side surface of the guide member crosses the alignment conveyance path obliquely toward the reduction conveyance path so as to narrow the alignment conveyance path, and then protrudes toward the reduction conveyance path side. It is preferable that the gate is curved and the height regulating gate is disposed downstream from the vicinity of the convex curved portion on the guide side surface of the guide member .

  The alignment conveying path is further provided in parallel to the accessory article conveying direction downstream of the width regulating guide, and has the same width as the width between the guide side surface of the guide member and the side surface of the width regulating guide. It is preferable that the small article that is defined by the two side guides and passes between the guide side surface of the guide member and the side surface of the width regulating guide is subsequently conveyed between the two side guides.

  Further, a height regulating gate that has an inclined surface extending to the reduction conveyance path and regulates the height between the conveyance belt and the conveyance belt may be further provided upstream of the alignment conveyance path.

  Since the supply / alignment conveyance apparatus for small articles according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, it does not require an intermediate belt, a suction device, or the like as in the conventional example, so that the structure is simple and the manufacturing cost is low. It becomes. Further, the small article supply / conveyance apparatus according to the present invention can deliver the small articles to the subsequent apparatus in a stable posture and can convey the small articles at high speed without clogging the conveyance path. In addition, it is possible to provide a reliable supply and alignment apparatus for small articles according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the accessory alignment supply apparatus in the present embodiment is described as an apparatus that conveys a generally flat tablet.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a small article supply / alignment conveyance apparatus as an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view of the supply alignment conveyance apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a second gate part for aligning small articles in a row, (a) is an enlarged schematic plan view of the second gate part, and (b) is a second gate shown in (a). It is a partially expanded schematic plan view of a gate part.

  The supply alignment transport device 10 for transporting the tablets T is roughly composed of a first alignment transport path 10a, a second transport path 10b, and a reduction transport path 30 disposed between the two transport paths 10a and 10b. Consists of

  Similar to the conventional example, the two transport paths 10a and 10b are installed substantially horizontally and have a symmetrical shape with an inclined return transport path 30 disposed in the center.

  A first alignment conveyance path (conveyance path located below the reduction conveyance path 30 in FIG. 1) 10a guides the conveyance belt 11a and tablets T that convey the tablets T in the main conveyance direction (arrow X). It includes a guide member 13a on which a guide side surface 12a is formed, a first gate portion 14a, and a second gate portion 20a.

  The conveyor belt 11a is an endless conveyor, and is passed between two pulleys and driven so that the conveyance surface of the tablet T extends from the conveyor device F to the subsequent tablet inspection processing device C (see FIG. 2). ).

  The guide member 13a is disposed immediately above the conveyor belt 11a and has the guide side surface 12a for guiding the tablet T as described above. The guide side surface 12a defines the first alignment transport path 10a substantially equal to the width of the transport belt 11a in the tablet receiving portion upstream of the tablet T in the main transport direction. It is formed so as to cross 11a diagonally. That is, as the guide side surface 12a of the guide member 13a goes downstream, the tablet T is brought closer to the reduction conveyance path 30 side, and as a result, the width of the first alignment conveyance path 10a of the tablets T is gradually reduced. The first alignment transport path 10a is defined. Further, as shown in detail in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the guide side surface 12a has the narrowest width of the first alignment transport path 10a in the vicinity of the entrance of the second gate portion 20a described later. The first alignment transport path 10a is defined so as to have a width substantially equal to the diameter of the tablets to be transported. Subsequently, in the guide side surface 12a, the width of the first alignment transport path 10a is the narrowest in FIGS. 3A and 3B so that the width of the first alignment transport path 10a is somewhat increased again. Curved in a mountain shape (convexly upward) with the position (point 121a) at the top as a vertex, and finally formed to be parallel to the main transport direction (arrow X), the width regulation of the second gate 20a described later Along with the guide 23a, the first alignment transport path 10a is defined so as to have a width corresponding to one transported tablet T, that is, a width substantially equal to the diameter of the transported tablet T. Further, as shown in the present embodiment, the guide member 13a is configured to be movable in the horizontal direction and in a direction orthogonal to the main transport direction (arrow X), and is guided by the position adjustment knob 16a. It is preferable that the member 13a, and therefore the guide side surface 12a, be moved so that the width at which the first alignment transport path 10a is narrowest can be adjusted in accordance with the size of the transported tablet T. Reference numerals 17a and 17a are clampers for fixing the guide member 13a to the base.

  The first gate portion 14a is provided substantially along the guide side surface 12a constituting the first alignment transport path 10a in the middle of the first alignment transport path 10a. The 1st gate part 14a is comprised from the 1st height control gate 15a which controls height corresponding to the tablet T conveyed. The first height regulating gate 15a has a bottom surface that is a predetermined distance away from the conveying surface of the first alignment conveying path 10a, for example, a distance slightly longer than the height of the tablet, and is parallel to the conveying surface. It is attached to the guide member 13a so that it may become. Further, the first height regulating gate 15a has a side surface 151a extending to the reducing conveyance path 30 so as to obliquely cross the first alignment conveying path 10a with respect to the bottom surface of the height regulating gate 15a. Are formed vertically. The first gate member 14a including the first height regulating gate 15a is provided substantially in the middle of the first alignment transport path 10a, so that the tablets T that are transported stand or overlap. The tablet to be laid down is laid sideways by the side surface 151a of the gate 15a, the overlap is released, in other words, the posture is made stable. Alternatively, it is excluded from the first alignment transport path 10a toward the return transport path 30 along the side surface 151a. The first height regulating gate 15a is preferably configured so that its height (distance from the conveying surface of the first alignment conveying path 10) can be adjusted by a height adjusting knob 19a. .

  The second gate portion 20a is located downstream of the first alignment transport path 10a, along the guide side surface 12a constituting the first alignment transport path 10a, and the guide side surface 12a is a mountain with the point 121a as a vertex. It is provided in the vicinity of a portion that curves into a shape. The 2nd gate part 20a is comprised from the 2nd height control gate 21a, the width control guide 23a, the 1st side guide 26a, and the 2nd side guide 27a, as Fig.3 (a) shows.

  The second height regulation gate 21a extends to the reduction conveyance path 30 so as to obliquely cross the first alignment conveyance path 10a, and is perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second height regulation gate 21a. The head portion 212a includes the formed side surface 211a, and the cover portion 213a is disposed so as to cover the first alignment transport path 10a formed by the width regulation guide 23a and the guide member 13a. Yes. The second height regulating gate 21a has the narrowest width of the first conveyance path 10a at the most upstream of the second gate portion 20a, specifically, as shown in detail in FIG. From the position (point 121a) that is slightly upstream to the position where the two side guides 26a and 27a are provided, along the guide side surface 12a of the guide member 13a, and the first height restriction As with the gate 15a, the guide is arranged such that its bottom surface is separated from the transport surface of the first alignment transport path 10a by a predetermined distance, for example, a distance slightly longer than the height of the tablet and parallel to the transport surface. It is attached to the member 13a. The second height regulating gate 21 a excludes the tablet T that is still in an unstable posture into the reduction conveyance path 30. It is preferable that the height of the second height regulating gate 21a can be adjusted by a height adjusting knob 22a (see FIG. 1).

  The width regulating guide 23a includes a sorting pin 24a around which a tube made of a material having a low surface resistance such as a fluororesin is wound at the upstream end. The width restricting guide 23a has an upstream distal end distribution pin 24a positioned downstream of the head portion 212a of the second height restricting gate 21a and downstream of the point 121a, and further includes a first alignment conveying path. 10a, that is, the outer side surface 231a of the guide member 13a with respect to the guide side surface 12a of the guide member 13a. Are arranged at a predetermined distance, for example, a distance slightly longer than the diameter of the tablet T and parallel to the guide surface 12a. As a result, the first alignment transport path 10a having a width corresponding to the diameter of the tablet T on the inner side surface 231a of the width regulating guide 23a and the guide side surface 12a of the guide member 13a, that is, the tablets T are transported in a line. A conveyance path is formed. The width regulating guide 23a is also preferably configured so that its width can be adjusted by a width adjusting knob 25a (see FIG. 1).

  The first side guide 26a and the second side guide 27a are used in the subsequent tablet inspection process for the tablets T sent from the conveyance path defined by the inner side surface 231a of the width regulating guide 23a and the guide side surface 12a of the guide member 13a. It is a component for delivery to the device C. Accordingly, the first side guide 26a and the second side guide 27a are arranged so as to be separated from each other by a distance slightly longer than the diameter of the tablet T and parallel to each other, thereby defining the first alignment transport path 10a. It attaches to the guide member 13a so that it may comprise. The conveyance path defined by the first side guide 26a and the second side guide 27a is formed in parallel to the main conveyance direction (arrow X) of the tablet T. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the conveyance path defined by the first side guide 26a and the second side guide 27a is a second high-pass to be transferred to the tablet inspection processing apparatus C at the subsequent stage. The restriction guide 21a is not covered. The first side guide 26a and the second side guide 27a are also preferably configured so that their widths can be adjusted.

  Here, in the second gate member 20a, an operation in which the tablets T are aligned in a row in a stable posture will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the guide side surface 12a of the guide member 13a has a mountain shape with the point 121a as the apex toward the conveyance path 30 for reduction as shown in FIG. Therefore, the guide side surface 12 is inclined outward (downward in the figure) downstream from the apex 121a. The apex 121a is disposed upstream of the sorting pin 24a of the width regulating guide 23a. Furthermore, the inner side surface 231a of the width regulating guide 23a is disposed substantially parallel to the guide side surface 12a that is inclined outward.

  The tablets T that have been transported on the first alignment transport path 10a, more specifically, the transport surface of the transport belt 11a, take a stable posture (in the present embodiment, in a lying state). Only the tablets enter between the transport surface of the transport belt 11a and the second height regulation guide 21a. Further, when the tablet T to be transported exceeds the apex 121a of the guide side surface 12a, the first alignment transport path 10a defined by the guide surface 12a and the inner side surface 231a of the regulation guide 23 due to the presence of the sorting pin 24a. And those that are excluded to the return conveyance path 30.

  Even if the tablet T conveyed along the guide side surface 12a has a slight inertial force and hits the sorting pin 24a, the center of the tablet T passes through the center of the sorting pin 24a at that moment, and the guide side surface 12 Is located on the side of the guide side surface 12a with respect to the line segment P that forms 45 degrees with respect to the inclined surface that faces the outside of the tablet, even if it is sandwiched by the tablets T that are conveyed later along the guide side surface 12a, The tablets T can escape to the guide side surface 12a side. Therefore, the tablets T are not clogged, and the first alignment transport path 10a is defined by the guide side surface 12a and the inner side surface 231a of the regulation guide 23. Is conveyed along the inner side surface 231a of the width regulating guide 23a.

  However, the tablet T that is transported away from the guide side surface 12a is narrowed to the diameter of the tablet T by the guide side surface 12a because the first alignment transport path 10a is narrowed along the guide side surface 12a. Due to the presence of the tablets T being conveyed, the tablets T are pushed out from the first alignment conveyance path 10a to the reduction conveyance path 30 or hit the sorting pins 24a to be removed to the reduction conveyance path 30 side.

  In this way, the tablets T that have passed through the sorting member 24a and have been transported to the first alignment transport path 10a defined by the guide side surface 12a and the inner side surface 231a of the regulation guide 23 are aligned in a row. The first side guide 26a and the second side guide 27a are sent to the first alignment transport path 10a.

  The second alignment transport path (the transport path positioned above the reduction transport path 30 in FIG. 1) 10b is paired with the first alignment transport path 10a and has substantially the same structure. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted (each component is given the same numeral as the component of the first alignment transport path by substituting b for the alphabet a).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reduction conveyance path 30 is disposed between the first alignment conveyance path 10 a and the second alignment conveyance path 10 b having a symmetrical shape, and the first and second alignment paths are arranged. The tablets T excluded from the transport paths 10a and 10b are returned to the transport apparatus F disposed upstream of the supply and alignment transport apparatus 10, and the first alignment transport path 10a or the second alignment transport path 10b is set again. For passing and aligning.

  The reduction conveyance path 30 includes a conveyance belt 31 and an anti-slip 31 disposed on the belt 31 at a predetermined interval. As shown in FIG. 2, the reduction conveyance path 30 is inclined so as to rise toward the upstream side with respect to the main conveyance direction (arrow X) of the tablet T, and the upstream side is the conveyance for alignment. It extends above the paths 10a and 10b and above the transfer device F, and the downstream side is below the transfer paths 10a and 10b for alignment and to a position past the second gate portions 20a and 20b. Arranged to extend. Therefore, in a portion where the reduction conveyance path 30 is located above the alignment conveyance paths 10a and 10b, the tablet T does not fall below the reduction conveyance path 30 from the alignment conveyance paths 10a and 10b. In the portion where the transport path 30 is located below the alignment transport paths 10a, 10b, the tablets T fall on the return transport path 30 from the alignment transport paths 10a, 10b, and the guide walls (33a in FIG. Needless to say, it is necessary to provide 33).

Next, the conveyance operation of the tablet T in the supply alignment conveyance apparatus of a present Example is demonstrated.
Tablets T quantitatively released from a hopper or the like are vibrated by the transport device F, and are appropriately sorted by the fins F1a and F1b provided downstream of the transport device F. It is sent to the transport paths 10a and 10b. At this time, the tablets T are guided by the fins F1a and F1b so as to be directed to the respective guide side surfaces 12a and 12b of the alignment transport paths 10a and 10b. The tablets T transported through the transport paths 10a and 10b are selected so that only tablets in a stable posture pass through the first gate portions 14a and 14b, and one tablet in a stable posture and one in the second gate portions 20a and 20b. Only the tablets are selected and consequently aligned in a row. The tablets T that have reached the transport paths 10a and 10b defined by the first side guides 26a and 26b and the second side guides 27a27b of the second gate portions 20a and 20b, respectively, are arranged in two rows as the entire supply and alignment apparatus 10. Aligned and delivered to the subsequent tablet inspection processing apparatus C.

  As described above, the tablet supply / alignment transport apparatus has been described as an example of the accessory supply / alignment transport apparatus according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the small article supply / alignment apparatus of the present embodiment includes two alignment transport paths and one return transport path, but includes one alignment transport path and one return transport path. It may be a thing, and other combinations may be sufficient.

1 is a schematic plan view of a small article supply / alignment conveying apparatus as an embodiment according to the present invention. It is a schematic elevation view of the supply alignment conveyance apparatus of FIG. The 2nd gate part which aligns accessory articles in a line is shown, (a) is an expansion outline top view of this 2nd gate part, (b) expanded further the 2nd gate part shown in (a). It is a partial schematic plan view. It is a schematic plan view of the conventional tablet supply alignment conveyance apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Supply alignment conveyance apparatus 10a 1st alignment conveyance path 10b 2nd alignment conveyance path 11a, 11b conveyance belt 13a, 13b Guide member 14a, 14b 1st gate part 15a, 15b 1st height control gate 20a, 20b 2nd gate part 21a, 21b 2nd height control gate 23a, 23b Width control guide C Tablet inspection processing apparatus F Upstream conveyance apparatus

Claims (4)

An alignment transport path for aligning and transporting small articles, a transport belt for placing and transporting the small articles, a guide member disposed on the transport belt and having a guide side surface for guiding the small articles, and the transport belt A height regulation gate that regulates the height between the conveyor belt and the small articles conveyed on the conveyor belt so that the small articles conveyed on the conveyor can pass only in a stable attitude. And a width regulating guide having a side surface that regulates the width between the guide side surface of the guide member so that only one can pass therethrough,
A return conveyance path that is adjacent to the alignment conveyance path and returns the small articles excluded from the alignment conveyance path to the upstream of the alignment conveyance path;
Equipped with a,
The width regulation guide includes a sorting pin at the upstream end in the accessory article conveying direction,
The distribution pin is located at a position deviated from the alignment conveyance path toward the reduction conveyance path, and is disposed downstream from the apex of the convex curved portion of the guide side surface of the guide member. Article supply alignment transport device. The guide side surface of the guide member obliquely crosses the alignment conveyance path toward the reduction conveyance path so as to narrow the alignment conveyance path, and then curves convexly toward the reduction conveyance path side. ,
The apparatus for supplying and conveying small articles according to claim 1, wherein the height regulating gate is arranged downstream from the vicinity of the convex curved portion of the guide side surface of the guide member. The alignment transport path is further provided in parallel to the accessory article transport direction downstream of the width regulation guide, and has the same width as the width between the guide side surface of the guide member and the side surface of the width regulation guide. The small article defined by two side guides and passing between the guide side surface of the guide member and the side surface of the width regulating guide is subsequently conveyed between the two side guides. Item 3. An apparatus for supplying and conveying small articles according to Item 1 or 2. A height regulation gate having an inclined surface extending to the reduction conveyance path and regulating a height with the conveyance belt is further provided upstream of the alignment conveyance path. The supply / alignment conveying apparatus for small articles according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images