JP5017635B2 - Manufacturing method of rotary valve - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a rotary valve, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a rotary valve that can be suitably used for a container transfer device that transfers a container adsorbed by a vacuum suction unit at a high speed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, a rotary valve includes a stationary member and a rotating member that rotate relative to each other while being in sliding contact with each other. For example, negative pressure from a vacuum source connected to the stationary member is supplied to the rotating member. It is used when doing so. A configuration example of this rotary valve will be described. A first communication hole is formed in the fixed member, and one end of the first communication hole is connected to an arc-shaped groove formed on the sliding contact surface of the fixed member. . A second communication hole is formed in the rotation side member, and one end of the second communication hole is opposed to the above-described arc-shaped groove and opens at the sliding surface of the rotation side member.
[0003]
Under such a configuration, when the rotation side member and the fixed side member rotate relative to each other while sliding, the second communication hole and the first communication hole are provided only while the opening of the second communication hole faces the arcuate groove. And the rotary valve is opened, and fluid can be exchanged between a vacuum source or a compressed air source connected to the stationary member and an operating portion such as an adsorption portion connected to the rotating member. . On the other hand, when the second communication hole deviates from the arc-shaped groove, the communication between the second communication hole and the first communication hole is blocked, the rotary valve is closed, and the fluid between the rotating side member and the fixed side member is closed. Transfers are blocked.
[0004]
The rotary valve configured as described above is widely used in a container transport device that transports a container at a high speed and inspects the container. A general container transport device includes a star wheel having an adsorption part, and is configured to convey the container by rotating the star wheel at high speed while adsorbing the container to the adsorption part by negative pressure from a vacuum pump. . Usually, since the vacuum pump is fixedly installed, the rotary valve described above is used to supply the negative pressure from the vacuum pump to the rotating star wheel side from the fixed side where the vacuum pump is arranged. .
[0005]
In such a rotary valve, since the stationary member and the rotating member are in sliding contact with each other while being attracted to each other by negative pressure, wear of the sliding contact surface easily proceeds. For this reason, conventionally, as a material for forming the stationary member and the rotating member,
(1) Combination of alumina ceramics
(2) A combination of a steel sheet coated with a fluororesin coated super steel sheet,
Etc. are used.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of a combination of the above-mentioned alumina ceramics, although the wear resistance is excellent, there is a problem that the machinability is poor and the member is easily chipped during processing. And in order to prevent such a member from being chipped, a high processing technique is required, which is inevitably very expensive. Also, as wear on the sliding surface progresses, edges such as arc-shaped grooves and communication holes are chipped, and the chipped pieces clog the piping and reduce the degree of vacuum, and further, the pieces enter the vacuum pump. There is a problem that the vacuum pump is damaged.
[0007]
In addition, in the case of a combination of the above-described ultra-steel sheet coated with a fluororesin and a steel sheet, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain the accuracy of the bonding surface between the ultra-steel sheet and the steel sheet in the manufacturing process, and it is difficult to ensure stable quality. is there. And from the difficulty of the process, it becomes very expensive for the same reason as the case of the combination of alumina ceramics. In addition, the fluororesin coating is susceptible to surface accuracy errors on the super steel plate side, and there is a problem that uneven wear or the like is likely to occur.
[0008]
Furthermore, even when a valve is formed using the above-described materials, it is worn out by about 200 to 300 μm in a service period of 4000 hours (about 2 years). For this reason, it is necessary to periodically replace the worn valve, and there is a problem that productivity is lowered because the operation must be stopped during the replacement work.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is a method of manufacturing a rotary valve that can be easily processed and can be used semipermanently while preventing wear of members constituting the valve beyond a certain level. The purpose is to provide.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention includes a stationary member and a rotating member disposed above the stationary member, and the stationary member and the rotating member are mutually connected. By relatively rotating while sliding, the first communication hole formed in the stationary member and the second communication hole formed in the rotating member intermittently communicate with each other, and the first communication of the stationary member is performed. In the method of manufacturing a rotary valve configured to supply a negative pressure from a vacuum source connected to a hole to the second communication hole of the rotary side member, a thrust is provided between the fixed side member and the rotary side member. Immediately after assembling the bearing, a clearance is provided on the upper surface of the thrust bearing, and the rotating side member is supported on the fixed side member only by a sliding surface where the fixed side member and the rotating side member are in sliding contact with each other. The rotation in the state Rotating the member, after abrading the sliding surface by the rotation, characterized in that so as to support the rotating member by the thrust bearing disposed on the inner side of the stationary member.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, at least one of the fixed side member and the rotation side member is formed of carbon ceramics .
[0011]
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the rotation side member is supported by the bearing, the sliding contact surface between the fixed side member and the rotation side member hardly receives a load. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sliding surface from being worn beyond a certain level, and as a result, it is possible to use the rotary valve semipermanently.
[0012]
Further, wear can be further prevented by using carbon ceramics having good lubricity and high strength for the material of either or both of the fixed side member and the rotary side member. Furthermore, since carbon ceramics are excellent in machinability, advanced machining techniques are not required, and as a result, production costs can be reduced. In addition, the characteristics of carbon ceramics include advantages such as thermal shock resistance and low water absorption, and the function of the rotary valve can be maintained well against sudden external factors.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a rotary valve according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container inspection apparatus provided with a rotary valve according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a container inspection apparatus including a rotary valve according to this embodiment includes a carry-in conveyor 2 for carrying a container 1 to be inspected into the container inspection apparatus, and a container inspection by receiving the container 1 from the carry-in conveyor 2. A loading star wheel 3 to be loaded into the unit 4, a container inspection unit 4 for inspecting the container 1 received from the loading star wheel 3, a unloading star wheel 5 for unloading the container 1 after the inspection, and the container 1 outside the apparatus A first carry-out conveyor 6a and a second carry-out conveyor 6b.
[0014]
The carry-in conveyor 2 is arranged adjacent to the carry-in star wheel 3, and the first carry-out conveyor 6 a and the second carry-out conveyor 6 b are arranged adjacent to the carry-out star wheel 5. An in-field screw 7 is provided adjacent to the carry-in star wheel 3 and parallel to the carry-in conveyor 2. The container 1 to be inspected is carried into the container inspection apparatus from the direction of the arrow A by the carry-in conveyor 2, and a fixed interval is formed by the in-field screw 7 and is sequentially delivered to the carry-in star wheel 3. Thereafter, the container 1 is conveyed to the container inspection unit 4 by the carry-in star wheel 3 while being guided by the guide rails 8, and the container 1 is sequentially inspected by the imaging device 9 having a CCD camera. Then, the container 1 that has been inspected is transferred to the carry-out star wheel 5, and the container 1 that has been judged to be defective by the container inspection unit 4 is conveyed by the first carry-out conveyor 6 a, and the container 1 that has been judged good is the second one. It is conveyed to the next process by the carry-out conveyor 6b.
[0015]
Next, the container inspection part provided with the rotary valve according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a container inspection unit including a rotary valve according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion B in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is an enlarged cross-sectional view immediately after the assembly of the rotary valve according to the present embodiment. Fig.4 (a) is a top view which shows the sliding contact surface side of the stationary side member of the rotary valve which concerns on this embodiment, FIG.4 (b) is CC sectional view taken on the line of Fig.4 (a). Fig.5 (a) is a top view which shows the sliding surface side of the rotation side member of the rotary valve which concerns on this embodiment, FIG.5 (b) is the DD sectional view taken on the line of Fig.5 (a).
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, the container inspection unit 4 includes a main rotor 21 that rotates while holding the container 1 to be inspected. The main rotor 21 is fixed to a main shaft 23, and the main shaft 23 is rotatably supported by a bearing 22. A motor (not shown) is connected to one end of the main shaft 23, and the main rotor 21 is rotated at high speed via the main shaft 23 by being driven to rotate by this motor.
[0017]
A plurality of support bases 24 for placing the containers 1 are disposed on the outer periphery of the main rotor 21, and each support base 24 is provided with an adsorption pad 25 for adsorbing and holding the containers 1. ing. A pulley 26 is provided at the lower part of each support base 24, and a spin belt (not shown) that runs while contacting the V-shaped groove of the pulley 26 is installed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the main rotor 21. The support base 24 and the pulley 26 are connected to each other by a shaft 27 and are configured to rotate integrally. When the spin belt comes into contact with the V-shaped groove of the pulley 26, the support base 24 and the support base 24 are in contact with each other. The held container 1 is rotated. The shaft 27 is fixed to the main rotor 21 and is rotatably supported by a bearing device 28 incorporating a bearing.
[0018]
In this embodiment, a vacuum pump (not shown) is used as a vacuum source for adsorbing the container 1. Since this vacuum pump is fixedly installed, the rotary valve 31 according to this embodiment is used to supply negative pressure from the fixed side (vacuum pump side) to the rotating side (main rotor side). As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the rotary valve 31 includes a disk-shaped fixed side member 33 fixed to the fixed base 32 and a disk-shaped rotation side member 36 fixed to the cylindrical body 35. I have. The cylindrical body 35 and the main shaft 23 are connected via a key 38 provided on the main shaft 23, and the cylindrical body 35, the rotation side member 36, and the main shaft 23 are configured to rotate integrally.
[0019]
The fixed side member 33 and the rotation side member 36 have a sliding contact surface 39 that rotates while being in sliding contact with each other. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an arcuate groove 40 is formed on the sliding contact surface 39 of the fixed side member 33, and the sliding contact surface 39 of the rotation side member 36 is positioned at a position facing the arcuate groove 40. A plurality of second communication holes 42 that are open are formed on the same circumference. A first communication hole 41 communicating with the arc-shaped groove 40 is formed in the fixed side member 33, and the first communication hole 41 is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) via a pipe 43a (see FIG. 2). On the other hand, each 2nd communicating hole 42 is connected to each adsorption pad 25 via piping 43b (refer to Drawing 2).
[0020]
In the present embodiment, the fixed side member 33 and the rotation side member 36 are formed of carbon ceramics. This carbon ceramic was produced by compounding extremely fine ceramics such as SiC and B ₄ C with semi-coke which is the base of the raw material, and has various excellent properties as follows. .
[0021]
For example, in carbon ceramics, ceramics such as fine SiC and B ₄ C are grown and uniformly dispersed in a graphite matrix, and these ceramics react with oxygen in the atmosphere to form on the surface of the carbon ceramics. A glass layer (SiO ₂ · B ₂ O ₃ ) of about 70 μm is formed. And with this glass layer, good lubricity can be obtained on the surface of the carbon ceramics. The reaction formula for forming the glass layer is represented by the following formula.
SiC + B ₄ C + O ₂ → SiO ₂ .B ₂ O ₃ + CO ₂
Moreover, since carbon ceramics is excellent in machinability, it can be easily processed into a desired shape at low cost. In addition, it has excellent properties such as high strength, thermal shock resistance, and low water absorption.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the rotary valve 31 according to this embodiment includes a thrust bearing 51 for supporting the rotation side member 36. The thrust bearing 51 is installed on the fixed base 32 to which the fixed side member 33 is fixed, and supports the cylindrical body 35 to which the rotation side member 36 is fixed. That is, the rotation side member 36 is supported by the above-described sliding contact surface 39 and also supported by the thrust bearing 51 via the cylindrical body 35.
[0023]
According to the rotary valve 31 configured as described above, when the rotation-side member 36 rotates while slidingly contacting the fixed-side member 33, the second communication hole 42 formed in the rotation-side member 36 is formed in the fixed-side member 33. The first communication hole 41 and the second communication hole 42 are in communication with each other while the arc-shaped groove 40 is formed at a position facing the formed circular groove 40. Accordingly, the negative pressure from the vacuum pump connected to the first communication hole 41 is supplied to the suction pad 25 connected to the second communication hole 42, and the container 1 is sucked and held by the suction pad 25. Further, when the second communication hole 42 is displaced from the arc-shaped groove 40, the communication between the first communication hole 41 and the second communication hole 42 is cut off, the negative pressure from the vacuum pump is cut off, and the container 1 by the suction pad 25 is cut off. The suction hold is released.
[0024]
Here, in the rotary valve, it is necessary to keep the stationary member 33 and the rotating member 36 in sliding contact with each other to ensure airtightness. For this reason, even when the rotation side member 36 is supported by the thrust bearing 51, it is necessary to prevent a gap from being generated between the fixed side member 33 and the rotation side member 36. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, as a configuration immediately after assembly, a clearance d of about 30 μm is provided between the thrust bearing 51 and the cylindrical body 35, and rotation is performed only on the sliding contact surface 39. The side member 36 is supported. When the rotation side member 36 rotates in this state, the fixed side member 33 and the rotation side member 36 slide, and the sliding contact surface 39 gradually wears. By this wear, first, the surface accuracy of the sliding contact surface 39 of the rotation side member 36 and the fixed side member 33 formed of carbon ceramics can be obtained.
[0025]
As the wear of the sliding contact surface 39 further proceeds, the cylindrical body 35 eventually comes into contact with the thrust bearing 51, and the load applied to the thrust bearing 51 gradually increases. Finally, the rotation side member 36 and the cylindrical body 35 are mostly supported by the thrust bearing 51, and the sliding contact surface 39 is merely in contact with the sliding contact surface 39. Wear does not progress.
[0026]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the rotation-side member 36 and the fixed-side member 33 can be prevented from wearing more than a certain amount, so that the rotation-side member 36 and the fixed-side member 33 need not be replaced, and semi-permanently. The rotary valve 31 can be used. As the thrust bearing to be used, a needle roller bearing is particularly suitable.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the container inspection unit configured as described above will be described.
When the main rotor 21 rotates and approaches the position where the container 1 is delivered from the carry-in star wheel 3, the second communication hole 42 of the rotation side member 36 that rotates integrally with the main rotor 21 is formed in an arc shape of the fixed side member 33. It approaches the groove 40. And the 2nd communicating hole 42 and the circular-arc-shaped groove | channel 40 oppose immediately before the delivery position of the container 1, and, thereby, the 2nd communicating hole 42 and the 1st communicating hole 41 communicate. That is, the negative pressure from the vacuum pump is supplied to the suction pad 25 so that the suction pad 25 can be sucked. In this state, the container 1 is transferred from the carry-in star wheel 3 to the main rotor 21, and at the same time, the bottom surface of the container 1 is sucked and held by the suction pad 25.
[0028]
The container 1 held by the suction pad 25 is transported by the main rotor 21, and the container 1 is inspected by the imaging device 9 during transport. When the container 1 that has been inspected reaches the delivery position of 5 to the carry-out star wheel, the second communication hole 42 is displaced from the arc-shaped groove 40 and the suction state of the suction pad 25 is released. Then, the container 1 that has left the main rotor 21 is delivered to the carry-out star wheel 5.
[0029]
Thus, the arc-shaped groove 40 is formed from the container receiving position from the carry-in star wheel 3 to the container delivery position to the carry-out star wheel 5. During this time, the suction pad 25 can be sucked and the container 1 is held by the main rotor 21.
[0030]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the rotary valve is installed horizontally and the negative pressure is supplied using the vacuum pump has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotary valve is installed vertically. The present invention can also be applied to the case where a positive pressure is supplied. Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated the case where the rotary valve which concerns on this invention was used for a container inspection apparatus, this invention is not restricted to this, It can be used also for the container conveyance apparatus etc. which have another objective.
[0031]
【Effect of the invention】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the rotation side member is supported by the bearing, it is possible to prevent the sliding contact surface between the rotation side member and the fixed side member from being worn more than a certain amount. As a result, the rotary valve can be used semipermanently. In addition, it is possible to easily process at least one of the fixed side member and the rotation side member by using carbon ceramics, and it is possible to obtain various excellent effects such as good lubricity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container inspection apparatus provided with a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a container inspection unit including a rotary valve according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 (a) is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view immediately after assembly of the rotary valve according to the embodiment of the present invention.
4 (a) is a plan view showing a sliding contact surface side of the fixed side member of the rotary valve according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 4 (a). FIG.
FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view showing the sliding surface side of the rotary side member of the rotary valve according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 5 (a). FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Carry-in conveyor 3 Carry-in star wheel 4 Container inspection part 5 Carry-out star wheel 6 Carry-out conveyor 7 Infield screw 8 Guide rail 9 Imaging device 21 Main rotor 22 Bearing 23 Main shaft 24 Support stand 25 Suction pad 26 Pulley 27 Shaft 28 Bearing device 31 Rotary valve 32 Fixed base 33 Fixed side member 35 Cylindrical body 36 Rotation side member 38 Key 39 Sliding contact surface 40 Arc-shaped groove 41 First communication hole 42 Second communication hole 43 Pipe 51 Thrust bearing

Claims (2)

A fixed side member and a rotation side member disposed above the fixed side member. The fixed side member and the rotation side member rotate relative to each other while being in sliding contact with each other, thereby forming the fixed side member. The first communication hole intermittently communicates with the second communication hole formed in the rotation side member, and negative pressure from a vacuum source connected to the first communication hole of the fixed side member is applied to the rotation side member. In the manufacturing method of the rotary valve configured to be supplied to the second communication hole,
Immediately after assembling the thrust bearing between the fixed side member and the rotating side member, a clearance is provided on the upper surface of the thrust bearing so that the fixed side member and the rotating side member are in sliding contact with each other. said rotary member is rotated the rotatable member in the state of being supported on the stationary member only, after abrading the sliding surface by the rotation, the thrust that is disposed on the inner side of the fixed-side member A method of manufacturing a rotary valve , wherein the rotary side member is supported by a bearing. The method for manufacturing a rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the fixed side member and the rotary side member is formed of carbon ceramics.

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