JP5115086B2 - Conveyor device driven by a plurality of driving devices - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyor device that is driven by a plurality of driving devices that share the tension of a power chain by an upstream driving device and a downstream driving device.

  For example, in a very long conveyor, the tension of the power chain stretched between the sprockets may be insufficient in operation with a single drive unit, so the power chain tension is shared by operation with multiple drive units. There is a conveyor device driven by a plurality of driving devices.

As a conveyor device driven by such a plurality of conventional drive devices, a synchro transmitter and a sync receiver are used to control the amount of oil discharged to each hydraulic motor that drives the drive sprocket and the plurality of caterpillar chain drive mechanisms. Then, there is one that performs synchronous operation of each hydraulic motor and divides the load of the conveyor device applied to each drive device on average (see Patent Document 1).
Further, the upstream drive device is set in a non-driven state, the brake is turned off, the downstream drive device is driven to absorb the slack of the power chain (endless stretch member) between the drive devices, and the power chain by the downstream drive device Rotate the upstream drive device by driving the output pulse, and the change amount of the output pulse of the absolute position detector of the upstream drive device will be a predetermined change of the output pulse that makes the power chain tension between the drive devices exceed the appropriate range The amount of change in the output pulse of the absolute position detector of the upstream drive device is changed by stopping the downstream drive device when the amount reaches the amount, turning on the brake of the downstream drive device, and driving the upstream drive device. By stopping the upstream drive unit when the output pulse reaches a predetermined change range where the tension of the power chain is within the proper range, the power chain tension between the drive units is set within the proper range. In the state, there is performed a relative origin matching between adjacent drive (see Patent Document 2.).

JP-A-48-81270 (drawing) JP 2004-352444 A (FIG. 1)

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, since an output voltage proportional to the phase difference between the synchro transmitter and the sync receiver is used, the synchro transmitter and the synchro are used when correcting the slack of the chain and when installing the conveyor device. It takes time for the phase angle adjustment work (the origin adjustment work, specifically, the mechanical adjustment work such as changing the meshing of the gears) to make the rotation angles of the receivers the same.

On the other hand, the configuration of Patent Document 2 absorbs the slack of the power chain on the side where there is no take-up device between the drive devices in a short time during the preparatory operation or at the start of operation, and the tension of the power chain falls within the proper range. In this state, since the relative origin adjustment between the drive devices can be performed in a short time, productivity can be improved.
However, for example, in an overhead conveyor used in an automobile assembly line in an outfitting factory, the vehicle body is set to a height suitable for component assembly work between the trim process for assembling interior parts etc. to the vehicle body and the chassis process for assembling the engine etc. If the configuration of Patent Document 2 is applied to a conveyor line including such a rising path portion, the upstream drive device needs to be in a non-driving state and the brake must be turned off (non-operating state). Therefore, if there is a slack in the power chain between the drive devices, the carrier and the vehicle body in the ascending path portion located on the upstream side of the upstream drive device descends to the upstream side, and an error occurs in the detector, Inconveniences such as out-of-synchronization of equipment operating synchronously with the carrier may occur.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described situation, the present invention intends to solve the problem by absorbing the slack due to the extension of the power chain on the side where there is no take-up device between the drive devices at the time of the preparation operation or at the start of the operation. A plurality of driving devices that can be applied to a conveyor line including a rising path portion while performing the operation in a state where the relative origin is adjusted in a short time and the power chain tension is within an appropriate range. It is in the point which provides the conveyor apparatus driven by.

  In order to solve the above problems, a conveyor device driven by a plurality of driving devices according to the present invention includes an upstream driving device and a downstream driving device driven by a rotation driving device, and power in the vicinity of these driving devices. Equipped with upstream and downstream synchronizers with absolute position detectors that detect the position of the chain, synchronously control the upstream drive unit and the downstream drive unit, and share the tension of the power chain by these drive units A conveyor device driven by a plurality of driving devices, wherein the fixed frame, a movable frame supported so as to be movable forward and backward with respect to the fixed frame, and a moving distance to the downstream side of the movable frame is predetermined. A position detector for detecting that the moving distance has been reached, and to the downstream side of the movable frame so as to suppress the downstream movement of the movable frame A downstream movement restraining spring mechanism that urges in the direction opposite to the moving direction during movement, a drive sprocket provided on the movable frame that engages with the power chain, or arranged before and after the movable frame in the conveying direction. An upstream drive device having a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket provided, and a caterpillar chain that is stretched between the sprockets and attached with a dog that engages with the power chain; and rotational drive of the upstream drive device The device is set in a non-driven state, the brake is activated, the drive sprocket is made unrotatable, the rotational drive device of the downstream drive device is driven, and the moving distance to the downstream side of the movable frame becomes a predetermined moving distance. When the position detector detects that the rotational drive device of the upstream drive device is The absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer is assumed to be delayed by a moving distance of the power chain corresponding to a predetermined set distance obtained by adding a predetermined distance to the constant moving distance, and being delayed by a predetermined pulse corresponding to this delay. A control device that performs origin adjustment, drives the rotational drive device of the upstream drive device with the brake inoperative, and performs synchronous control of the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device.

  Here, the pulse value PA of the absolute position detector of the downstream synchronizer and the upstream synchronization when the position detector detects that the moving distance to the downstream side of the movable frame has become a predetermined moving distance. From the difference (PA-PB) from the pulse value PB of the absolute position detector of the device, the absolute position detector of the upstream side synchronization device corresponding to a delay corresponding to the moving distance of the power chain corresponding to the predetermined set distance. A value obtained by subtracting the pulse value is set as a target value, and the target value is set such that a difference between the pulse value of the absolute position detector of the downstream side synchronization device and the pulse value of the absolute position detector of the upstream side synchronization device is obtained. It is preferable to perform synchronous control of the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device.

According to the conveyor device driven by the plurality of drive devices according to the present invention, the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device driven by the rotational drive device, and the position detection of the power chain in the vicinity of these drive devices. A plurality of drives having an upstream and a downstream synchronization device having absolute position detectors, synchronously controlling the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device, and sharing the tension of the power chain by these drive devices A conveyor device driven by the apparatus, a fixed frame, a movable frame supported so as to be movable forward and backward with respect to the fixed frame, and a moving distance to the downstream side of the movable frame becomes a predetermined moving distance A position detector for detecting the movement of the movable frame when the movable frame moves downstream so as to suppress the movement of the movable frame downstream. A downstream movement restraining spring mechanism that urges in the opposite direction, a drive sprocket provided on the movable frame that engages with the power chain, or a drive disposed before and after the movable frame in the conveying direction. An upstream drive device having a caterpillar chain attached to a sprocket and a driven sprocket, and a dog that is stretched between the sprockets and is engaged with the power chain, and the rotational drive device of the upstream drive device is not driven The drive sprocket is made non-rotatable with the brake in an activated state, the rotational drive device of the downstream drive device is driven, and the movement distance to the downstream side of the movable frame becomes a predetermined movement distance When the position detector detects, the rotational drive device of the upstream drive device is located at the predetermined movement distance from the synchronization position. Assuming that it is delayed by the moving distance of the power chain corresponding to the predetermined set distance plus the distance, performing the origin adjustment of the absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer as being delayed by a predetermined pulse corresponding to this delay, And a control device that drives the rotary drive device of the upstream drive device with the brake inoperative and performs synchronous control of the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device. Pulse value PA of the absolute position detector of the downstream synchronizer and the pulse of the absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer when the position detector detects that the moving distance to the side becomes a predetermined moving distance From the difference from the value PB (PA-PB), the pulse value of the absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer corresponding to a delay corresponding to the moving distance of the power chain corresponding to the predetermined set distance The target value is a value obtained by subtracting the difference between the pulse value of the absolute position detector of the downstream synchronizer and the pulse value of the absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer. Since synchronous control of the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device is performed, the power chain wears between the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device in a state where the rotational drive device of the upstream drive device has reached the target synchronization position. The slack based on the elongation or the like is absorbed, and the predetermined set distance is added to the predetermined movement distance, so that the downstream drive device that is the main drive and the upstream drive device that is the sub drive While sharing the power chain between these drive units due to the difference in speed, the downstream drive unit avoids overloading due to pulling of the power chain (tension fluctuation). During can clearly separate the can perform synchronous operation of the upstream drive device and the downstream drive tension power chain state a proper range.
In addition, since it is not necessary to set the upstream drive device to the non-driven state and the brake to the non-operated state, the rising path portion located on the upstream side of the upstream drive device even if the power chain between the drive devices is slack The carrier and the object to be conveyed are not lowered to the upstream side, and therefore there is no inconvenience such as the occurrence of an error of the detector accompanying the lowering. be able to.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and includes all the embodiments that satisfy the requirements described in the claims. . In the present specification, the carrier 7 transport direction (moving direction of the power chain 6) (see arrow F in the figure) is the front, and the left and right are forwards.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic layout showing an example of an automobile assembly line using a conveyor device driven by a plurality of driving devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is a plan view, and FIG. ) Is a diagram seen from the right, FIG. 2 is a diagram seen from the rear showing the carrier 7 of the article W to be conveyed, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the downstream drive device 1 which is a main drive, and FIGS. FIG. 7A is an explanatory view of the upstream movement restraining spring mechanism 24, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of the upstream drive device 2 that is a sub drive, a view seen from the right and a view seen from the rear. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the synchronization device 3. FIG.

  The conveyor apparatus, which is an overhead conveyor shown in FIG. 1, has a tension of an endless power chain (driving chain) 6 by two driving apparatuses: a downstream driving apparatus 1 that is a main drive and an upstream driving apparatus 2 that is a sub drive. Synchronizing devices 3 and 3 for detecting the position of the power chain 6 in the vicinity of the driving devices 1 and 2 are arranged on the upstream side of the driving devices 1 and 2, respectively. The take-up device 4 to be applied is installed on the downstream side of the downstream drive device 1, and the drive devices 1 and 2 are controlled by a control device 10 which will be described later and installed at appropriate positions.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the carrier 7 moves along the power rail 5 by the driving devices 1 and 2 while rolling the vertical traveling roller 9 </ b> A and the horizontal guide roller 9 </ b> B along the traveling rail 8. The tow pin 7A is driven to be pushed up by the pulling dog 6A of the chain 6 and moves from the upstream side to the downstream side along the conveyance path as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, an ascending path portion UP for setting the article to be conveyed W to a height suitable for work is provided at a midpoint of the conveyance path (upstream side of the upstream drive device 2). ing.

Next, the configuration and operation of the downstream drive device 1 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the downstream drive device 1 includes a fixed frame 11A, a movable frame 11B supported so as to be movable in the front and rear directions in the conveyance direction F with respect to the fixed frame 11A, and an upstream side of the movable frame 11B (in the conveyance direction F and An upstream movement restraining spring mechanism 14 that urges in the direction opposite to the moving direction (conveying direction F) when moving in the reverse direction), the drive sprocket 13A and the driven sprocket disposed before and after the conveying direction F of the movable frame 11B. 13B, a caterpillar chain 12 stretched between these sprockets 13A, 13B and fitted with a dog 12A,... Engaged with the power chain 6, and a geared motor having a brake, for example, connected to the drive sprocket 13A. It consists of a certain rotation drive device 13 grade.
Here, the tension of the caterpillar chain 12 can be adjusted by moving the driven sprocket 13 </ b> B back and forth in the conveying direction F with respect to the drive sprocket 13 </ b> A by the tension adjusting screw 17.
The downstream drive device 1 is not a so-called caterpillar drive (caterpillar chain drive mechanism) as shown in FIG. 3, but a drive sprocket provided on the movable frame 11B and engaged with the power chain 6 by a rotary drive device. A so-called sprocket drive may be used.

When the rotation drive device 13 is driven by the control device 10 (see FIG. 1) to rotate the drive sprocket 13A (see arrow A in FIG. 3), the dogs 12A of the caterpillar chain 12 are engaged with the power chain 6. The power chain 6 is driven in the transport direction F.
Then, due to the reaction force of the drive, the movable frame 11B supported so as to be movable in the front and back in the transport direction F moves to the upstream side against the elastic biasing force of the upstream side movement restraining spring mechanism 14. The reaction force is received by the upstream movement restraining spring mechanism 14.
Further, when the load becomes excessive due to an abnormal state in which the power chain 6 is caught in the power rail 5 or the like on the upstream side of the downstream drive device 1 or the carrier 7 collides with something, the upstream side The amount of movement of the movable frame 11B that moves upstream against the elastic biasing force of the movement suppressing spring mechanism 14 increases, and the striker 15 attached to the movable frame 11B is attached to the fixed frame 11A. Since the switch 16 is turned on and the control device 10 stops the conveyor device, the conveyor main body can be prevented from being damaged.

Next, the configuration and operation of the upstream drive device 2 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the upstream drive device 2 includes a fixed frame 21 </ b> A, a movable frame 21 </ b> B supported so as to be movable before and after the conveyance direction F with respect to the fixed frame 21 </ b> A, and an upstream side of the movable frame 21 </ b> B When moving to the downstream side (conveying direction F) of the movable frame 21B, the upstream side movement restraining spring mechanism 24 that urges in the opposite direction (conveying direction F) to the moving direction (in the direction opposite to the direction F) A downstream movement restraining spring mechanism 29 that urges in the direction opposite to the moving direction (the direction opposite to the conveying direction F), the drive sprocket 23A and the driven sprocket 23B disposed before and after the moving direction F of the movable frame 21B, and these sprockets Caterpillar chain 22 to which dogs 22A,... That are stretched between 23A and 23B and engaged with power chain 6 are attached, and drive sprocket 23 Is coupled to, for example, a rotary drive device 23 or the like is Giyadomota provided with a brake.
Here, the tension of the caterpillar chain 22 can be adjusted by moving the driven sprocket 23 </ b> B back and forth in the conveying direction F with respect to the drive sprocket 23 </ b> A by the tension adjusting screw 30.
The upstream drive device 2 rotates not a so-called caterpillar drive (caterpillar chain drive mechanism) as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 but a drive sprocket that engages with the power chain 6 provided on the movable frame 21B. A so-called sprocket drive driven by a driving device may be used.

When the rotation drive device 23 is driven by the control device 10 (see FIG. 1) to rotate the drive sprocket 23A (see arrow B in FIG. 4), the dogs 22A of the caterpillar chain 22 are engaged with the power chain 6. The power chain 6 is driven in the transport direction F.
Then, due to the reaction force of the drive, the movable frame 21B supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction F is moved upstream against the elastic biasing force of the upstream movement restraining spring mechanism 24. The reaction force is received by the upstream movement restraining spring mechanism 24.
Further, when the load becomes excessive due to an abnormal state in which the power chain 6 is caught in the power rail 5 or the like on the upstream side of the upstream drive unit 2 or the carrier 7 collides with something, the upstream side The amount of movement of the movable frame 21B that moves upstream against the elastic biasing force of the movement restraining spring mechanism 24 increases, and an overload detection limit in which the striker 25 attached to the movable frame 21B is attached to the fixed frame 21A. Since the switch 26 is turned on and the control device 10 stops the conveyor device, the conveyor main body can be prevented from being damaged.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7A, the upstream side movement restraining spring mechanism 24 has one end (upstream end) fastened to the fixed bracket 24A of the fixed frame 21A and the other end (downstream end) movable. The movable bracket 24B of the frame 21B, the adjustment bolt 24C supported so as to be movable forward and backward in the conveyance direction F, and the movable bracket 24B are upstream of the fixed bracket 24A loosely fitted to the adjustment bolt 24C (opposite to the conveyance direction F). Direction), the coil spring 24D is biased in the direction opposite to the moving direction (conveying direction F).
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7B, the downstream movement restraining spring mechanism 29 has one end (downstream end) fastened to the fixing bracket 29A of the fixed frame 21A and the other end (upstream end). The movable bracket 29B of the movable frame 21B, the adjustment bolt 29C supported so as to be movable back and forth in the conveyance direction F, and the fixed bracket 29A loosely fitted to the adjustment bolt 29C are disposed downstream (conveyance direction F). ), The compression coil spring 29D is biased in the direction opposite to the moving direction (the direction opposite to the conveying direction F).

As shown in FIG. 4, the fixed frame 21A is a position detector that detects that the moving distance to the downstream side of the movable frame 21B has become a predetermined moving distance, and details of the operation will be described later. A detection limit switch 27 is attached, and an abnormality detection limit switch 28 is attached downstream of the movement detection limit switch 27.
The abnormality detection limit switch 28 is for detecting an abnormality of the upstream drive device 2, and after the striker 25 moves and the movement detection limit switch 27 is turned on, the control device 10 of the upstream drive device 2 will be described later. Even if a command to drive the rotary drive device is issued, the upstream drive device 2 as a sub drive does not operate normally for some reason, for example, the rotary drive device 23 of the upstream drive device 2 does not drive due to disconnection. When the conveyor device is operated as it is, the movable frame 21B is pulled by the downstream drive device 1 that is the main drive, and the compression coil spring 29D of the downstream movement restraining spring mechanism 29 is compressed to the limit. Since the upstream drive device 2 is damaged, when the striker 25 moves and the abnormality detection limit switch 28 is turned on, The control device 10 is a conveyor device is stopped, thereby preventing damage to the upstream drive device 2.

Next, the configuration of the synchronization devices 3 and 3 that detect the position of the power chain 6 in the vicinity of the downstream drive device 1 and the upstream drive device 2 will be described.
As described above, the synchronizers 3 and 3 are arranged on the upstream side of the downstream drive device 1 and the upstream drive device 2, respectively, and since their configurations are the same, they are arranged on the upstream side of the upstream drive device 2. The provided synchronization device 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
The synchronizer 3 stretches the caterpillar chain 32 to which the dogs 32A,... Engaged with the power chain 6 are attached to the driven sprockets 33A, 33B, and pivotally supports the driven sprockets 33A, 33B by the frame 31. At the same time, the rotation of the driven sprocket 33A is transmitted to the absolute position detector 37 such as an optical absolute encoder or a magnetic absolute encoder through the rotation transmission mechanism 34 for detection.

Therefore, the rotation of the driven sprocket 33A (see the arrow C in the figure) is the rotation transmission mechanism for detection 34, the engaging bevel gears 35A and 35B, the engaging spur gears 36A, 36B and 36C, and the engagement. Since it is transmitted to the input shaft of the absolute position detector 37, which is the rotation center axis of the spur gear 36E, through the mating spur gears 36D and 36E, it engages with the power chain 6 driven by the upstream drive device 2. When the driven sprocket 33A is rotated by the dogs 32A,..., The rotation is transmitted to the absolute position detector 37.
Therefore, the position of the power chain 6 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the upstream drive device 2 can be detected by the synchronization device 3 disposed on the upstream side of the upstream drive device 2, and similarly, the downstream drive device 1, the position of the power chain 6 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the upstream drive device 2 can be detected by the synchronization device 3 disposed on the upstream side.

Here, a tension coil spring 40 is hooked on a pin 39A at one end of an arm 39 swinging around a vertical support shaft 38 fixed to the frame 31, and the driven sprocket 33B is rotated by a pin 39B at the other end of the arm 39. Since it is supported as possible, tension is applied to the caterpillar chain 32 by the elastic biasing force of the tension coil spring 40.
The synchronizers 3 and 3 rotate the driven sprocket by rotating the driven sprocket 33A by engaging the dogs 32A of the caterpillar chain 32 with the power chain 6 and moving the caterpillar chain 32 in this way. Is not limited to the configuration that transmits the position to the absolute position detector 37 via the rotation transmission mechanism 34 for detection, and any configuration that can detect the position of the power chain 6 is acceptable.

Next, operation | movement of the conveyor apparatus comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.
At the time of preparation operation or at the start of operation, the control device 10 causes the rotary drive device 23 of the upstream drive device 2 shown in FIGS. 23A is made unrotatable, and the rotary drive device 13 of the downstream drive device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is driven.
Then, the power chain 6 is moved in the transport direction F by the downstream drive device 1, and the movable frame 21 </ b> B of the upstream drive device 2 shown in FIG. 4 is moved in the transport direction F together with the power chain 6 at the position of the upstream drive device 2. The movement detection limit switch 27 detects that the movement distance to the downstream side of the movable frame 21B has reached the predetermined movement distance D1.

The control device 10 is equivalent to the moving distance of the power chain 6 corresponding to a predetermined set distance DS (DS = D1 + D2, for example 40 mm) obtained by adding a predetermined distance D2 (for example 10 mm) to a predetermined moving distance D1 (for example 30 mm). The rotary drive device 23 of the upstream drive device 2 recognizes that it is delayed from the synchronization position, and the origin adjustment of the absolute position detector 37 of the upstream synchronization device 3 is assumed to be delayed by a predetermined pulse corresponding to this delay. In a state in which (relative origin adjustment between adjacent drive devices) is performed, the brake of the rotary drive device 23 of the upstream drive device 2 is turned off (non-actuated state) to drive the rotary drive device 23, and the upstream side Synchronous control of the drive device 2 and the downstream drive device 1 is performed.
When the rotation drive device 23 of the upstream drive device 2 is driven by this synchronization control, the movable frame 21B moves upstream by the drive reaction force, and the upstream drive device 2 is moved to a predetermined set distance DS (for example, 40 mm). .)) Is controlled so as to recover the delay of minutes, so that the operation is performed at a speed higher than that of the rotary drive device 13 of the downstream drive device 1 until the delay is recovered.

The operation of the above conveyor device will be described with reference to pulses of the absolute position detector 37 of the synchronization device 3.
The predetermined moving distance D1 = 30 mm, the predetermined distance D2 = 10 mm, and therefore the predetermined set distance DS = 40 mm. One pulse of the absolute position detector 37 corresponds to 1 mm of the moving distance of the power chain 6, and the conveying direction F of the power chain 6 Assume that the absolute position detector 37 pulse is added as the movement proceeds to.
The pulse value of the absolute position detector 37 of the downstream synchronizer 3 when the movement detection limit switch 27 detects that the movement distance to the downstream side of the movable frame 21B has reached the predetermined movement distance D1 = 30 mm is PA, Assuming that the pulse value of the absolute position detector 37 of the upstream synchronizer 3 is PB, the controller 10 first calculates the difference PC (PC = PA−PB) between PA and PB, and then calculates DS = PC from PC. A value obtained by subtracting 40 pulses for 40 mm is stored as PD (= PC-40).
During operation of the upstream drive device 2, the control device 10 determines that the difference in pulse value between the absolute position detector 37 of the downstream synchronization device 3 and the absolute position detector 37 of the upstream synchronization device 3 is the target value PD. Thus, the speed of the rotary drive device 23 of the upstream drive device 2 is controlled to be increased or decreased.

  When the upstream drive device 2 (rotary drive device 23) reaches the target synchronization position as controlled by the control device 10 in this way, the wear of the power chain 6 between the upstream drive device 2 and the downstream drive device 1 is worn. And the predetermined set distance DS is set to the predetermined moving distance D1 plus the predetermined distance D2, so that the upstream side drive device with the tension of the power chain 6 within the proper range is absorbed. 2 and the downstream drive device 1 can be synchronized.

In a state where the upstream drive device 2 and the downstream drive device 1 are synchronously operated by the control device 10, the upstream drive device 2 and the downstream side at the target synchronization position due to the presence of the predetermined distance D2 (for example, 10 mm). The power chain 6 between the driving devices 1 is slack for approximately the predetermined distance D2 (for example, about 10 mm).
The reason for this slackness is that it is difficult to completely synchronize the downstream drive device 1 that is the main drive and the upstream drive device 2 that is the sub drive. Further, the pulling of the power chain 6 between these driving devices 1 and 2 (a variation in tension) is prevented, and the downstream driving device 1 is prevented from being excessively shared. This is to clearly divide the shared section.

The power chain 6 between the downstream drive device 1 and the upstream drive device 2 at the time of the preparation operation or at the start of the operation by the relative origin adjustment and the synchronization control between the adjacent drive devices by the control device 10 as described above. It is possible to absorb slack based on elongation due to wear in a short time, and to prevent the power chain 6 between the downstream drive device 1 and the upstream drive device 2 from loosening greatly due to the influence of elongation due to wear, etc. The tension of the power chain 6 is shared by the downstream drive device 1 and the upstream drive device 2, and the chain chain can be operated synchronously within a specified range.
In addition, since it is not necessary to set the upstream drive device 2 to the non-driven state and the brake to the non-operated state, even if the power chain 6 between the downstream drive device 1 and the upstream drive device 2 is slack, The carrier 7 and the transported object W in the ascending path portion UP located on the upstream side of the driving device 2 do not descend to the upstream side, and thus inconveniences such as the occurrence of an error in the detector accompanying the descending may occur. Therefore, the present invention can be applied to a conveyor line including the rising path portion UP as shown in FIG.

  In the above description, the case where there are two drive devices, the downstream drive device 1 and the upstream drive device 2, has been described, but there may be three or more drive devices. When three or more drive devices are used, the relative origin adjustment between these two drive devices is performed at the time of the preparation operation or the start of operation as described above for the adjacent downstream drive device and upstream drive device. You can go to

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a schematic layout which shows the example of the motor vehicle assembly line using the conveyor apparatus driven with the several drive device which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is the figure seen from the right side It is. It is the figure seen from the back which shows the carrier of a to-be-conveyed object. It is a top view of the downstream drive device which is a main drive. It is a top view of the upstream drive device which is a subdrive. It is the figure seen from the right side. Similarly it is the figure seen from back. (A) is explanatory drawing of the spring mechanism for upstream side movement suppression, (b) is explanatory drawing of the spring mechanism for downstream side movement suppression. It is a top view of a synchronizer.

Explanation of symbols

1 Downstream drive unit (main drive)
2 Upstream drive unit (sub drive)
3 Synchronizer 4 Take-up Device 5 Power Rail 6 Power Chain 6A Tow Dog 7 Carrier 7A Tow Pin 8 Travel Rail 9A Traveling Roller 9B Guide Roller 10 Control Device 11A Fixed Frame 11B Movable Frame 12 Caterpillar Chain 12A Dog 13 Rotation Drive Device 13A Drive Sprocket 13B Drive sprocket 14 Upstream movement restraint spring mechanism 15 Striker 16 Overload detection limit switch 17 Tension adjusting screw 21A Fixed frame 21B Movable frame 22 Caterpillar chain 22A Dog 23 Rotation drive unit 23A Drive sprocket 23B Driven sprocket 24 Upstream movement restraint Spring mechanism 24A Fixed bracket 24B Movable bracket 24C Adjustment bolt 24D Compression coil spring 25 Striker 26 Overload detection Mitt switch 27 Movement detection limit switch 28 Abnormality detection limit switch 29 Spring mechanism 29A for suppressing downstream movement Fixed bracket 29B Movable bracket 29C Adjustment bolt 29D Compression coil spring 30 Tension adjusting screw 31 Frame 32 Caterpillar chain 32A Dog 33A Driven sprocket 33B Drive sprocket 34 Rotation transmission mechanism 35A, 35B Bevel gears 36A, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E Spur gear 37 Absolute position detector (absolute encoder)
38 Support shaft 39 Arm 39A, 39B Pin 40 Tension coil spring A, B, C Rotating direction F Conveying direction (power chain moving direction)
UP Ascending path part W

Claims (2)

An upstream drive device and a downstream drive device driven by a rotary drive device, and an upstream and downstream synchronization device having an absolute position detector for detecting the position of the power chain in the vicinity of these drive devices A conveyor device that is driven by a plurality of drive devices that synchronously control the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device and share the tension of the power chain by these drive devices,
A fixed frame, a movable frame supported so as to be movable forward and backward with respect to the fixed frame, a position detector for detecting that the moving distance of the movable frame to the downstream side is a predetermined moving distance, and the movable frame A spring mechanism for suppressing movement on the downstream side, which is biased in the direction opposite to the moving direction when the movable frame is moved to the downstream side so as to suppress movement of the movable frame to the downstream side, provided on the movable frame, A drive sprocket that engages with the power chain, or a drive sprocket and a driven sprocket that are arranged before and after the movable frame in the conveying direction, and a dog that is stretched between these sprockets and engages with the power chain are attached. An upstream drive having a caterpillar chain formed;
The rotational drive device of the upstream drive device is set in a non-driven state, the brake is activated, the drive sprocket is disabled, the rotary drive device of the downstream drive device is driven, and the downstream side of the movable frame is driven. When the position detector detects that the moving distance has reached the predetermined moving distance, the rotational driving device of the upstream drive device corresponds to a predetermined set distance obtained by adding the predetermined distance to the predetermined moving distance from the synchronization position. The absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer is adjusted so that it is delayed by the moving distance of the power chain, and by a predetermined pulse corresponding to this delay. A control device for driving the rotational drive device of the side drive device and performing synchronous control of the upstream drive device and the downstream drive device;
A conveyor device driven by a plurality of driving devices. The pulse value PA of the absolute position detector of the downstream synchronizer and the absolute value of the upstream synchronizer when the position detector detects that the moving distance of the movable frame to the downstream side has become a predetermined moving distance. From the difference (PA-PB) from the pulse value PB of the position detector, the pulse value of the absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer corresponding to a delay corresponding to the moving distance of the power chain corresponding to the predetermined set distance is further obtained. The subtracted value is set as a target value, and the upstream value is set so that the difference between the pulse value of the absolute position detector of the downstream synchronizer and the absolute position detector of the upstream synchronizer becomes the target value. The conveyor apparatus of Claim 1 which performs synchronous control of a side drive device and a downstream drive device.

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