JP6022931B2 - Junction device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a merging device that merges and conveys conveyed items conveyed in a plurality of rows.

  For example, a merging device having a sensor and a control device based on a signal for merging a conveyed product conveyed by each of a plurality of conveying paths into one conveying path and conveying the same is generally known. This merging device transports a plurality of conveying paths toward the merging part (hereinafter referred to as a merging part) by changing the conveying speed of the conveyed object for each coupled conveyor in which the length direction is divided for each path and / or each length direction. A detection signal by a sensor that adjusts the conveyance timing of a conveyed product (see, for example, Patent Document 1) and a sensor that detects the inflow and stagnation provided upstream of each gate by providing a gate in each of a plurality of conveyance paths. Accordingly, there is one that adjusts the transport timing of a transported object that is transported toward a merging portion by performing control to open or close gates provided in each transport path (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In addition, when the two transport paths are arranged so as to merge at an acute angle and the transported objects transported to the respective transport paths are merged into one transport path and transported, the acute gap between the two transport paths before the merge In addition, two rotation axes (extending in the vertical direction) of the gate that protrude on the conveyance surface of each conveyance path and rotate in parallel with the conveyance surface are arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other, and are coaxial with each gate rotation axis. A flat plate cam is fixed to each other, and when the gate rotates, a contour portion that pushes away from the axis of rotation of each flat plate cam and a cam contour that has a hollow portion that receives a roller follower face each other, and a swing roller therebetween. There is also a merging device with a mechanical gate opening and closing mechanism that places the follower.

  This merging device has a structure that can mechanically control the gates provided in each transport path. For example, when a transported material transported on one of the two transport paths pushes back a gate protruding on the transport path by a driving force of a belt or a roller that applies a transport force, a flat plate coaxial with the gate rotation axis The cam rotates, and the swing roller follower is pushed away by the contour portion that pushes away from the rotating shaft, and the swing roller follower is fitted into the recessed portion of the gate provided for the other transport path. By this operation, the gate protruding on the other transport system path is made unrotatable for that time, and the transported object transported on the transport path is slid against the transport force caused by the friction of the lower surface of the transported object. Accumulate. Thereafter, when the transported object passes through one transport path, the gate cannot be pushed back, and the gate returns to the standby position by a return mechanism such as a spring. At this time, the swing roller follower is retracted from the flat cam recess of the gate provided in the other transport path by the return mechanism of the swinging part of the swing roller follower, and the gate provided in the other transport path again. Can turn freely.

JP 09-315559 A JP 2009-227443 A

  However, the merging of transported goods is diverse, not only when transporting two separate conveyors in parallel as a plurality of transport paths, but also according to the production process that produces products that are relatively light and small transported products. In some cases, the conveyed product is arranged in multiple rows and conveyed on the conveyance surface of a single belt conveyor or roller conveyor, and there is also a merge on the same conveyance surface where the multiple rows are arranged in a row for convenience of the subsequent process. And the process of conveying the product which is a conveyed product is also frequently carried out by changing the conveyance path due to the production amount or production change.

  For example, the merging device described in Patent Document 1 detects a conveyance state of a conveyed object by a sensor, and each of a cutout conveyor unit and a plurality of conveyor units upstream thereof that configure each conveyance path so that the conveyed item does not overlap at a merging unit. The conveyance speed is variably controlled. Therefore, it is necessary to divide each conveyance path and divide and concatenate into a number of belt conveyors, making the equipment complicated and expensive, complicating the control of the conveyance speed of each part of each conveyance path, and changing the conveyance speed Since it is necessary to provide a large number of drive units such as servo motors that can be used, the cost of the merge device becomes very high. Moreover, the conveyed product conveyed in multiple rows on the same conveyance surface cannot be merged. The large-scale merging apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot flexibly cope with the rearrangement of the conveyance path.

  In addition, the merging device described in Patent Document 2 is provided with a sensor for each conveyance path to detect the conveyance state of the conveyance object in the conveyance path and the retention state of the conveyance object retained in the conveyance path to be blocked. In response to the detection state signal, the transported object on each transport path is transported toward the junction. Therefore, there is a problem that the control for opening or closing the gates provided in the respective transport paths becomes complicated as in the merge device described in Patent Document 1. This also makes it impossible to join transported objects that are transported in multiple rows on the same transport surface. And the large junction apparatus of patent document 2 cannot respond flexibly to the rearrangement of a conveyance path | route.

  The merging device having the mechanical gate opening / closing mechanism has a simple configuration because there is no automatic control. However, an important part of the merging device is located at an acute angle gap between the two transport paths before merging. Must be arranged, and transported objects transported in multiple rows on the same transport surface cannot be joined. Due to this arrangement problem, it is not possible to flexibly cope with the rearrangement of the conveyance path. In addition, for the merging device having the mechanical gate opening and closing mechanism, a spring or the like is used to return the gate to the standby position when the transported material that has been transported through one transport path cannot pass through the corresponding gate. Without the return mechanism, the other gate cannot be released. Therefore, since a return mechanism such as a spring requires a force to push away a heavy transported object, and it takes time to return, for example, a merging device in a transport path for transporting a relatively light and small transported object at high speed. Is unsuitable. In addition, when the two roller gates start to rotate when the swing roller follower returns, an accident that locks both gates in a non-rotatable state will enter the recesses in the flat cams of both gates. There is a problem that if it is fast, it will occur frequently.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and transported objects transported through a plurality of transport paths with a simple configuration are transported at an increased transport speed in order to increase the transport capability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a merging device that can smoothly merge even in cases. It is another object of the present invention to provide a merging device that can merge conveyed objects conveyed in multiple rows on the same conveying surface with a simple configuration. Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a merging device having a simple configuration that can be retrofitted to the frame of the conveyor that forms the conveyance path so that the transfer path can be flexibly changed. It is another object of the present invention to provide a merging device having a mechanical gate opening / closing mechanism capable of avoiding the simultaneous lock phenomenon that tends to occur in a mechanical cam link based on the conveyance force of a conveyed product.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the merging device of the present invention is provided for each of the two transport paths that run in parallel, and receives a pressure from a transported object that is transported through each of the two transport paths. First and second gates that individually rotate with the width direction of the transport path as a rotation axis, and a first cam member that is a flat plate cam that rotates while being fixed to the rotation axis of the first gate. A second cam member that is a flat plate cam that is fixed to the rotation shaft of the second gate and rotates, and is pressed when the first cam member is rotated, according to the cam profile of the first cam member. A first pressed portion that moves, a second pressed portion that is pressed when the second cam member rotates, and moves according to a cam profile of the second cam member, and the first pressed portion At one end, and the first pressed portion is pressed A first arm member that rotates in a predetermined direction and a second pressed portion at one end thereof, and a second portion that rotates in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when the second pressed portion is pressed. 2 arm member, the first arm member at the other end edge portion without the first pressed portion, and the second arm member at the other end edge portion without the second pressed portion. Thus, the two transport paths are formed so as to be fixed to both ends and so that the longitudinal central axis of the first arm member and the longitudinal central axis of the second arm form a predetermined angle. A countershaft supported by a frame extended from the conveyor apparatus side , wherein the countershaft is configured such that either the first cam member or the second cam member is the conveyed product. When the gate is rotated according to the rotation of the gate Depending on the cam profile of the rotated cam member, the two arm members are rotated by moving one pressed portion of the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion, Temporarily fixing the other pressed portion of the first pressed portion and the second pressed portion to a predetermined position of the cam profile of the other cam member, thereby making the other cam member non-rotatable It is characterized by holding .

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the countershaft meaning to perform the reverse operation may be pivotally supported at the center or may be pivotally supported at both ends, for example, with a simple structure. Transported goods flowing from the two transport paths can be merged while rearranging traffic without overlapping in the transport direction.

  Further, at least one of the first gate and the second gate is provided with an elastically deformable tongue that protrudes in the width direction of the transport path, and the transport surface is transported when transporting the transported object. A conductor provided with a pressing member that uses a part of the force to rotate about the width direction of the transport path as a rotation axis and presses the tongue piece in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the transport object; Features.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to reliably eliminate the lock-in lock phenomenon that tends to occur in the mechanical cam link based on the conveyance force of the conveyed object by changing the frequency of the unlocking operation according to the conveyance speed. Can do. Further, no power from other sources is required for driving the lock release mechanism.

  The first and second gates have surfaces pressed by the conveyed object, and the lower ends of the first and second gates have a certain distance from the conveyance surface of the conveyance path. It is characterized by being arranged in the space.

  The first and second gates are respectively held in a state where the surface pressed by the transported object is orthogonal to the transport direction of the transported object in an initial state where the transported object is not transported. It is characterized by that.

  In addition, the first and second cam members have a disk shape having a recess formed by cutting out a part of the edge portion, and the first and second cam members have the recess. Between the side surface to form and an outer peripheral surface, the contact surface which contact | abuts the pressed part of the arm member corresponding to each cam member is provided, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  Moreover, the said to-be-pressed part provided in the said 1st arm member and the 2nd arm member becomes a column shape, and the contact surface of the said 1st cam member and a 2nd cam member is a circular-arc-shaped surface It is characterized by comprising.

  In the first cam member, when the first gate is in an initial state, the recess is on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transported object, and the recess is in the first pressed portion. It is provided so that it may be located on a movement locus | trajectory.

  Further, the contact surface of the first cam member moves on the movement locus of the first pressed portion when the first gate rotates upon receiving the pressure of the conveyed object. The first contacted portion is in contact with the first pressed portion.

  In the second cam member, when the second gate is in an initial state, the recess is on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transported object, and the recess is in the second pressed portion. It is provided so that it may be located on a movement locus | trajectory.

  In addition, the contact surface of the second cam member is in contact with the second pressed portion when the second gate is rotated upon receiving the pressure of the conveyed product. And

  Further, the two conveying paths on the inlet side and the one conveying path brought close to the center on the outlet side are formed by a conveying surface of the conveyor device and a guide provided above the conveying surface. To do.

  In this case, it is preferable that the conveyor device comprises a belt conveyor device using an endless belt. In this case, the belt conveyor device that forms the two transport routes and the one transport route that is brought to the center of the outlet side is a separate belt conveyor device or an integrated belt conveyor device with three transport routes as one endless belt. It preferably comprises a belt conveyor device. In addition, when it comprises with one endless belt, you may delete the guide between two conveyance paths.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said conveyor apparatus consists of a roller conveyor apparatus which has arrange | positioned several conveyance rollers along the conveyance direction. In this case, the roller conveyor device that forms the two transport paths and the one transport path that is brought to the center of the outlet side is a separate roller conveyor device or a transport system in which the three transport paths are the same system. It is preferable to consist of an integral roller conveyor device comprising rollers. In addition, when the conveyance path is constituted by a series of roller conveyor devices including a series of conveyance rollers of the same system, the guide between the two conveyance paths may be deleted.

  According to the present invention, with a simple configuration, it is possible to smoothly merge conveyed objects conveyed through a plurality of conveying paths even if the conveying speed is increased in order to increase the conveying ability. Furthermore, the conveyance objects conveyed in multiple rows on the same conveyance surface can be merged with a simple configuration. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a simple configuration that can be retrofitted to the conveyor frame that forms the transport path so that the transport path can be flexibly changed. Furthermore, it is possible to have a mechanical gate opening / closing mechanism capable of avoiding the simultaneous lock phenomenon that tends to occur in the mechanical cam link based on the conveyance force of the conveyed product.

It is a perspective view of the merge apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the principal part of a merging apparatus. (A) is a front view which shows the shape of the cam 41A, (b) is a front view which shows the shape of the cam 41B. (A) is a figure which shows the state which has gate 40A in an initial position, (b) is a figure which shows the state in which gate 40B exists in an initial position. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the gate 40A is pressed and rotated by a conveyed product, (b) is a figure which shows the state which has the gate 40B in an initial position. (A) is a figure which shows the state which gate 40A got on the upper surface of a conveyed product, (b) is a figure which shows the state where the gate 40B by which the gate 40B was pressed by the conveyed product was locked. (A) is a figure which shows the state which the conveyed product passed the gate 40A, (b) is a figure which shows the state which the gate 40B is pressed by the conveyed product, and rotates. (A) is a figure which shows the state which has gate 40A in an initial position, (b) is a figure which shows the state in which gate 40B got on the upper surface of a conveyed product. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the gate 40A pressed by the conveyed product was locked, (b) is a figure which shows the state in which the gate 40B got on the upper surface of the conveyed product. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the gate 40A is pressed and rotated by the conveyed product, (b) is a figure which shows the state which the conveyed product passed the gate 40B. (A) is a figure which shows the state which has gate 40A in an initial position, (b) is a figure which shows the state in which gate 40B exists in an initial position. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which gate 40A was locked, (b) is a figure which shows the state in which gate 40B was locked. (A) is the figure which shows the state which the gate 40A rotated to the initial position when the protrusion provided in the conductor presses the flap 50, (b) is the gate 40B being pressed by the conveyed product and rotated. FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the state in which the gate 40A pressed by the conveyed product was locked, (b) is a figure which shows the state in which the gate 40B got on the upper surface of the conveyed product. It is a perspective view at the time of arrange | positioning a confluence | merging apparatus to the roller conveyor apparatus which has a some conveyance roller.

  Hereinafter, the junction device of the present invention will be described. The merging device 10 of the present invention is arranged upright with support from the machine side frame portion of the conveyor device 20. As shown in FIG. 1, as the conveyor device 20, a belt conveyor device that conveys a conveyed product 15 in a certain direction using an endless belt 21 is shown as an example. As an example of this, a small-sized and light-weight transported object having a certain degree of hardness that can retain its form as a small-object transport is an endless belt 21 that is common to transport paths 25A and 25B described later and a transport path 25C on the downstream side. Of course, it is transported at the same speed, but it is natural that the endless belt forming the transport surfaces of the transport paths 25A, 25B, and 25C, which is different from this example, may be a separate body. It is only necessary that a conveying force can be applied firmly on the conveying surface of the merging device portion, and a gate described later can be pressed and rotated via the conveyed object by the frictional force of the conveying surface.

  In the conveyor device 20, two rows of conveyance paths that run in parallel are formed by guides 22, 23, and 24 that extend along the conveyance direction X on the upstream side in the conveyance direction (X direction in FIG. 1) of the conveyed product 15. Here, the conveyance path formed by the guide 22 and the guide 23 is referred to as a conveyance path 25A, and the conveyance path formed by the guide 23 and the guide 24 is referred to as a conveyance path 25B. As described above, the guides 23 are shown in order to express the transport paths 25A and 25B in an easy-to-understand manner. However, the guides 23 may not actually be provided at the center on the transport surface. It suffices if a line of transported objects (which may be considered to form a transport path for convenience) is formed.

  In addition, a conveyance path 25 </ b> C is formed in the conveyor device 20 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction X of the conveyed product 15. The conveyance path 25 </ b> C is formed having a guide 26 and a guide 27 at least on the downstream side of the joining device 10. The distance between the guide 26 and the guide 27 is such that the end near the merging device 10 is close to the distance between the guide 22 and the guide 24. And the space | interval of these guides 26 and 27 becomes narrow as it leaves | separates from the confluence | merging apparatus 10, and in the position most distant from the confluence | merging apparatus 10, the conveyed product 15 advances in one row, being conveyed by the conveyance force of a conveyance surface. It is regulated from the side, and it is an interval that cannot be clogged. When the transported objects 15 are sent one by one so that the front and rear are not overlapped in the transport direction X, the side surfaces of the transported objects 15 become narrower. And is transported obliquely with respect to the transport direction X to the position farthest from the merging device 10 while being slid along the transport surface, and is regulated from the side in the one row, and again the central axis is made substantially parallel to the transport direction X again. Are transported.

  As described above, the merging device 10 is a device that merges the conveyed items 15 conveyed through the two rows of conveying paths 25A and 25B into one row on the downstream side. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the junction device 10 includes gate units 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B, an arm unit 32, a conductor unit 33, and a frame 34. Here, the difference between the configuration of the gate unit 31A and the configuration of the gate unit 31B is whether or not the flap 50 is provided. Therefore, the reference numerals of members common to the gate unit 31A and the gate unit 31B will be referred to as “˜A” or “˜B”.

  The gate unit 31A includes a gate 40A, a cam 41A, and a damper shaft 42A. Since the gate unit 31A is installed in the transport direction so as to be aligned with the gate unit 31B, both end portions of the damper shaft 42A are conveyed from the frame 34a to the frame 34a fixed to the machine side frame of the conveyor. The other end is pivotally supported via bearings 45 and 46 on a frame 34b that is supported by a horizontal beam spanning the frame 34c horizontally above the surface and is floated on the conveying surface. The damper shaft 42 </ b> A is held so that the axial direction of the endless belt 21 is the width direction (y direction). A gate 40A is fixed to the damper shaft 42A at a central portion in the longitudinal direction via fixing metal fittings 47A and 48A. Therefore, the gate 40A is rotated in the θ1 direction in FIG. 2 around the damper shaft 42A, or after being swung to the θ1 side once pressed by the conveyed object as described later, and then rotated in the θ2 direction. The rotation in the θ2 direction is caused by gravity generated by the mass of the gate unit 31A when a conductor described later does not touch.

  Further, a cam 41A, which is a flat plate cam having a cam profile on the side surface, is fixed to the damper shaft 42A at an end portion on the side plate 34a side via a fixing bracket (not shown). Thereby, when the gate 40A rotates, the cam 41A also rotates about the damper shaft 42A. The rotation direction of the cam 41A is the same as the rotation direction of the gate 40A.

  The gate 40A is formed from a substantially rectangular thin plate. The gate 40 </ b> A is held in a state where the surface pressed by the conveyed product 15 is orthogonal to the conveying direction X when the conveyed product 15 is not conveyed by the conveyor device 20. Hereinafter, the position of the gate 40A at this time is referred to as an initial position. The length of the gate 40A in the longitudinal direction is such that the conveyed product 15 conveyed on the conveyor device 20 can press the gate 40A and does not contact the endless belt 21 of the conveyor device 20 when the gate 40A is in the initial position. Set to Therefore, the gate 40A is pressed by the conveyed object 15 to be conveyed and rotates in the θ1 direction. Then, when the gate 40A rotates to a position where the movement trajectory of the upper surface of the conveyed product 15 intersects the movement trajectory of the distal end portion of the free end side of the gate 40A, the distal end portion of the free end side of the gate 40A becomes the upper surface of the conveyed item 15. Get on. Then, when the upper surface of the conveyed product 15 deviates from the movement locus of the distal end portion on the free end side of the gate 40A, the gate 40A rotates in the θ2 direction. Reference numeral 49A denotes a stopper that restricts the rotation of the gate 40A in the θ2 direction.

  In addition, although the gate 40A is comprised from the substantially rectangular-shaped thin board, it is not necessary to be limited to this, What is necessary is just a gate provided with the surface pressed by a conveyed product, such as a gate which consists of a rod-shaped arm.

  The gate 40A includes a thin plate-shaped flap 50 made of an elastic body or synthetic resin at one end in the short direction. The flap 50 collides with a projecting piece 66 provided on a side surface 65a of a conductor 65 described later. Due to this collision, the gate 40A rotating under the pressure of the conveyed object 15 to be conveyed is rotated in the direction (θ2 direction) opposite to the rotation direction (θ1 direction) of the gate 40A.

  When the gate 40A is in the initial position or when the gate 40A is pressed to the initial position by being pressed by the protruding piece 66, the gate 40A is restricted from rotating in the θ2 direction by the stopper 49A. Therefore, when the protruding piece 66 presses the flap 50 when the gate 40A is in the initial position, the flap 50 is elastically deformed by the pressing force of the protruding piece 66. In accordance with the elastic deformation of the flap 50, the projecting piece 66 passes through the position of the flap 50 while slidingly contacting the elastically deforming flap 50. After the projecting piece 66 passes, the flap 50 returns to its original state by its restoring force.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the cam 41A is a flat plate cam having a profile that is a cam profile on the side surface of the plate, and has a shape with a recess 51A. On the side of the cam 41A viewed from the rotational axis direction, the peripheral surface in the vicinity of the recess 51A has a shape in which a plurality of arcs are connected by straight lines. Of the arcs that form the recess 51A, the portion that contacts the arc P1 is a surface that comes into contact with a roller 61A of a sensing arm 56A described later. The radius R1 of the arc P1 is set to be substantially the same as the radius of the roller 61A.

  In the cam 41A, when the gate 40A is in the initial position, the concave portion 51A is positioned on the downstream side in the transport direction X from the center of the damper shaft 42A that also serves as the cam rotation shaft, and the portion corresponding to the arc P1 is on the downstream side in the transport direction X. The protrusion 51 is fixed to the damper shaft 42A so that the recess 51A is positioned on the movement path of the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A. Therefore, when the sensing arm 56A rotates in the θ4 direction, the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A enters the recess 51A of the cam 41A if the gate 40A is in the initial position.

  When the gate 40A is pressed by the conveyed product 15 and rotated in the θ1 direction, the cam 41A also rotates. By this rotation, a peripheral surface corresponding to the arc P1 (hereinafter referred to as a contact surface P1) among the peripheral surfaces of the cam 41A enters the movement locus of the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A. Therefore, when the sensing arm 56A rotates in the θ4 direction, the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A comes into contact with the contact surface P1 of the cam 41A. Similarly, when the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A is positioned on the movement locus of the contact surface P1, if the cam 41A rotates in the θ1 direction, the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A will contact the contact surface P1 of the cam 41A. Abut.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the gate unit 31B includes a gate 40B, a cam 41B, a damper shaft 42B, and the like in the same manner as the gate unit 31A. In the gate unit 31B, both end portions of the damper shaft 42B are pivotally supported by bearings 52 and 53 provided on the side plates 34b and 34c of the frame 34. The damper shaft 42B is pivotally supported by the bearings 52 and 53, so that the axial direction of the damper shaft 42B is held so as to be the width direction (y direction) of the endless belt 21. The damper shaft 42B is attached to the frame 34 so as to be coaxial with the damper shaft 42A.

  A gate 40B is fixed to the damper shaft 42B at the center in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the gate 40B rotates around the damper shaft 42B. In addition, the cam 41B is fixed to the damper shaft 42B at the end on the side plate 34c side of the frame 34 among the both ends in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the cam 41B rotates in accordance with the rotation of the gate 40B. Further, reference numeral 49B shown in FIG. 2 is a stopper for holding the gate 40B in the initial position.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the cam 41B provided in the gate unit 31B has the same shape as the cam 41A provided in the gate unit 31A. A circumferential surface corresponding to an arc P4 connected to the recess 51B formed in the cam 41B is a surface that comes into contact with a roller 61B of a sensing arm 56B described later. The radius R4 of the arc P4 is set to be substantially the same as the radius of the roller 61B.

  Here, in the cam 41B, when the gate 40B is in the initial position, the concave portion 51B is positioned on the upstream side in the transport direction X from the center of the damper shaft 42B that also serves as the cam rotation shaft, and the portion corresponding to the arc P4 protrudes upward. And is fixed to the damper shaft 42B so that the recess 51B is positioned on the movement locus of the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B. Therefore, when the sensing arm 56B rotates in the θ3 direction, the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B enters the recess 51B of the cam 41B if the gate 40B is in the initial position.

  When the gate 40B is pressed by the conveyed product 15 and rotated in the θ1 direction, the cam 41B also rotates. By this rotation, the contact surface P4 of the cam 41B contacts the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B. Further, when the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B is positioned on the movement locus of the contact surface P4, if the cam 41B rotates in the θ1 direction, the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B contacts the contact surface P4 of the cam 41B. Touched.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the arm unit 32 is disposed above the gate units 31A and 31B. The arm unit 32 includes a counter shaft 55 and sensing arms 56A and 56B. The counter shaft 55 is pivotally supported by bearings 58 and 59 provided on the side plate 34 a and the side plate 34 c of the frame 34. In other words, a through-hole that is not supported and is not slidable is supported by the frame 34b that is supported by a horizontal beam that is bridged horizontally on the frame 34a from the frame 34c to the upper side of the conveyor conveyance surface and floats on the conveyance surface. It penetrates through. Therefore, the axial direction of the countershaft 55 is the width direction (y direction) of the endless belt 21. The counter shaft 55 has one end edge of the sensing arms 56A and 56B fixed to both ends thereof. Here, in the sensing arm 56A and the sensing arm 56B, the central axes in the longitudinal direction of the arms are not parallel to each other, and the angles formed by the central axes are such that the gates 40A and 40B are at the initial positions of the cam 41A and the cam 41B. It is fixed to the countershaft 55 so as to have a predetermined angle determined by the positional relationship between the recess 51A and the arc P4, and the recess 51B and the arc P1. The angle formed by these arms is also set in accordance with the relationship between the length of the arm, the diameter of the cam, the distance that the lower end of the gate is applied in the up-down direction of the conveyed product, and the like.

  For example, as an example of the dimensional ratio, the distance that the lower end of the gate is applied in the vertical direction of the conveyed object = 10, the gate length = 90, the cam diameter = 40, the sensing arm length = 69, the arc P1 = 7, the arc P4 = 7, When the ratio of the sensing arm tip roller diameter is 14, the angle formed by the central axes in the longitudinal direction of the sensing arm is optimal if it is 30 degrees.

  The sensing arm 56A includes a roller 61A at the end opposite to the one end fixed to the counter shaft 55. When the arm unit 32 is attached to the frame 34, the roller 61A is disposed at the same position as the cam 41A described above in the width direction (y direction) of the endless belt 21 of the conveyor device 20. Therefore, the roller 61A enters the recess 51A of the cam 41A or contacts the contact surface P1 when the sensing arm 56A rotates in the θ4 direction. Similarly, the sensing arm 56B includes a roller 61B at the end opposite to the one end fixed to the counter shaft 55. When the arm unit 32 is attached to the frame 34, the roller 61B is disposed at the same position as the cam 41B in the width direction (y direction) of the endless belt 21 of the conveyor device 20. Accordingly, the roller 61B enters the recess 51B of the cam 41B or contacts the contact surface P4 when the sensing arm 56B rotates in the θ3 direction.

  The conductor unit 33 includes a conductor 65 that is pivotally attached to the side plate 34 a of the frame 34, and a protruding piece 66 that is provided on a side surface 65 a of the conductor 65. As the conductor 65 is pivotally attached to the side plate 34a of the frame 34, the axial direction of the conductor 65 becomes the y direction. The conductor 65 is in contact with the endless belt 21 and rotates in the θ5 direction by the contact force with the endless belt 21 when the endless belt 21 travels.

  The projecting piece 66 rotates in the θ5 direction in accordance with the rotation of the conductor 65. At the time of this rotation, the flap 50 provided on the gate 40A is brought into contact with and presses the flap 50. When the projecting piece 66 comes into contact with the flap 50 while the gate 40A is rotating, the projecting piece 66 presses the flap 50, so that the gate 40A resists the pressing force on the conveyed product 15 in the θ2 direction. Rotate to the initial position. When the gate 40A rotates to the initial position, the gate 40A comes into contact with the stopper 49A, and the rotation in the θ2 direction is restricted. Therefore, the protruding piece 66 elastically deforms the flap 50. Then, it passes through the position of the flap 50 while making sliding contact with the elastically deformed flap 50. When the gate 40A is in the initial position, the gate 40A is not rotated in the θ2 direction, and the projecting piece 66 elastically deforms the flap 50 and then slidably contacts the elastically deformed flap 50. Pass 50 positions.

  The conductor 65 shown in the drawing is a wheel-shaped main body provided with a protruding piece on the side, but is not limited to this. For example, the gates 40A and 40B are not a substantially rectangular thin plate but a rod-shaped body. In the case of a gate composed of an arm, the flap 50 is fixed to an arm-like gate above the surface pressed by the conveyed product, and a toothed pulley is coaxially fixed to the shaft portion of a wheel-like rotating portion that rotates on the conveying surface, It is also possible to transmit a rotation with a timing belt above and to have a rotation mechanism pivotally supported above the frame 34a, and to have a projecting piece there. As a result, the function as the conductor 65 can be realized even with a long bar-shaped gate.

  Next, operation | movement of the confluence | merging apparatus 10 in case the conveyed product 15 is conveyed by the conveyor apparatus 20 is demonstrated using FIGS. First, a case will be described in which a large number of transported objects 15 transported by the conveyor device 20 alternately reach the junction device 10 in the order of the transport path 25A, the transport path 25B, and the transport path 25A. Hereinafter, a description will be given by adding a reference numeral 15A to the transported object 15 transported along the transport path 25A and a reference numeral 15B to the transported object 15 transported along the transport path 25B.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), immediately after the transport of the transported object 15 is started in the conveyor device 20, there is no transported object 15 transported along the transport path 25A and the transport path 25B. Therefore, the gate 40A and the gate 40B are located at the initial positions. When conveyance of the conveyed product 15 is started in the conveyor device 20, the endless belt 21 travels in the X direction. In response to this, the conductor 65 in contact with the endless belt 21 rotates in the θ5 direction.

  When the conductor 65 rotates, the projecting piece 66 provided on the side surface 65a of the conductor 65 rotates. By this rotation, the projecting piece 66 collides with the flap 50 of the gate 40A. When the gate 40A is in the initial position, the stopper 49A restricts the rotation of the gate 40A in the θ2 direction. Therefore, the projecting piece 66 rotating in the θ5 direction elastically deforms the flap 50 after colliding with the flap 50. The projecting piece 66 rotates while slidingly contacting the elastically deformed flap 50. When the sliding contact between the protruding piece 66 and the flap 50 is released, the flap 50 returns to the initial state. Since the speed at which the endless belt 21 travels is constant, the rotational speed of the conductor 65 is also constant. Therefore, when the gate 40A is held at the initial position, the projecting piece 66 collides with the flap 50 at a constant period. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, the gate 40B is held at the initial position until the conveyed product 15B arrives.

  Here, since the gate 40A is held at the initial position, the recess 51A of the cam 41A is positioned on the movement locus of the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A. Similarly, since the gate 40B is held at the initial position, the recess 51B of the cam 41B is also located on the movement locus of the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, when the conveyed product 15A reaches the gate 40A, the conveyed product 15A comes into contact with the gate 40A. Since the conveyed product 15A is conveyed in the X direction, the gate 40A is pressed by the conveyed item 15A being conveyed. As a result, the gate 40A rotates in the θ1 direction. The cam 41A rotates in the θ1 direction in accordance with the rotation of the gate 40A. At this time, the contact surface P1 of the cam 41A is in contact with the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A, and the sensing arm 56A is rotated in the θ3 direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the conveyed product 15B does not reach the gate 40B in the conveyance path 25B. That is, the gate 40B is held at the initial position. Therefore, when the sensing arm 56A rotates in the θ3 direction, the sensing arm 56B also rotates in the θ3 direction. Then, the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B enters the recess 51B of the cam 41B.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the gate 40A rotates in the θ1 direction to a position where the movement locus of the tip and the movement locus of the upper surface of the object 15A intersect, the tip of the gate 40A is conveyed. Get on the top of 15A. Thereby, the rotation of the gate 40A in the θ1 direction is stopped. In accordance with this, the rotation of the cam 41A in the θ1 direction is also stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when the transported object 15B reaches the gate 40B when the tip of the gate 40A rides on the upper surface of the transported object 15A, the transported object 15B presses the gate 40B. Therefore, the gate 40B rotates in the θ1 direction. The cam 41B rotates in the θ1 direction in accordance with the rotation of the gate 40B in the θ1 direction. When the cam 41B rotates in the θ1 direction, the contact surface P4 of the cam 41B contacts the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B and presses the roller 61B. Therefore, the sensing arm 56B tends to rotate in the θ4 direction. At the same time, the sensing arm 56A also tries to rotate in the θ4 direction. In response to this, the roller 61A presses the cam 41A.

  As described above, the gate 40A is held in a state where it rides on the upper surface of the conveyed product. In this state, even if the gate 40A that has been pressed by the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A attempts to rotate in the θ2 direction, the rotation of the gate 40A in the θ2 direction is restricted by the conveyed product 15A. Therefore, the cam 41A cannot rotate. As a result, the sensing arm 56B does not rotate and the state is maintained. Similarly, the sensing arm 56B does not rotate. Therefore, although the gate 40B is pressed by the conveyed product 15B, the gate 40B is in a state where the rotation in the θ1 direction is restricted (locked state).

  Even in this state, since the endless belt 21 travels in the X direction, the conveyed product 15A is transported along the transport direction X direction. When the transported object 15A is transported to a position where the upper surface of the transported object 15A deviates from the movement trajectory of the front end of the gate 40A, the ride on the upper surface of the transported object 15A at the front end of the gate 40A is released (see FIG. 7 (a)). That is, the gate 40A can be rotated in the θ2 direction, and the gate 40A returns to the initial position when the weight falls.

  The gate 40B is pressed by the conveyed product 15B being conveyed. When the gate 40A can be rotated in the θ2 direction, the gate 40B is pressed by the conveyed product 15B and is rotated in the θ1 direction (see FIG. 7B). Then, when the gate 40B rotates to a position where the movement trajectory of the tip of the gate 40B intersects the movement trajectory of the upper surface of the conveyed product 15B, the distal end of the gate 40B rides on the upper surface of the conveyed item 15B (FIG. 8 ( b)). The rotation of the gate 40B is stopped when the tip of the gate 40B rides on the upper surface of the conveyed product 15B.

  Here, the cam 41B rotates in accordance with the rotation of the gate 40B. When the cam 41B rotates, the contact surface P4 of the cam 41B presses the roller 61B. Therefore, the sensing arm 56B rotates in the θ4 direction. At the same time, the sensing arm 56A also rotates in the θ4 direction. At that time, the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A enters the recess 51A of the cam 41A rotated in accordance with the gate 40A rotated to the initial position due to its own weight drop (see FIG. 8A).

  As described above, when the tip of the gate 41B rides on the upper surface of the conveyed product 15B, the rotation of the gate 40B is stopped. Therefore, the rotation of the cam 41B is also stopped. Accordingly, the pressure on the roller 61B by the cam 41B is released, and the rotation of the sensing arm 56B is stopped. Accordingly, the rotation of the sensing arm 56B and the sensing arm 56A is also stopped.

  When the transported object 15A transported via the transport path 25A reaches the gate 40A in a state where the front end of the gate 40B rides on the upper surface of the transported object 15B, the gate 40A is pressed by the transported object 15A that has reached. (See FIG. 9A). Also in this case, the gate 40A rotates in the θ1 direction. As the gate 40A rotates in the θ1 direction, the cam 41A also rotates in the θ1 direction. During this rotation, the contact surface P1 of the cam 41A contacts the roller 61A. Therefore, the sensing arm 56A tries to rotate in the θ3 direction. Therefore, the sensing arm 56B also tries to rotate in the θ3 direction. Therefore, the cam 41B tries to rotate in the θ2 direction.

  However, the gate 40B is in a state where its tip end is on the upper surface of the conveyed product 15B, so that the gate 40B is restricted from rotating in the θ2 direction. Therefore, the rotation of the cam 40B and the rotation of the sensing arm 56B are also restricted. Therefore, the sensing arm 56A is prohibited from rotating. As a result, the gate 40A is in a state where its rotation is restricted (locked state).

  Even in this state, since the endless belt 21 is traveling in the X direction, the conveyed product 15B is conveyed along the conveying direction X (see FIG. 9B). When the transported object 15B is transported and the upper surface of the transported object 15B is removed from the movement locus of the tip of the gate 40B, the state in which the gate 40B rides on the upper surface of the transported object 15B is released. As a result, the gate 40B can be rotated in the θ2 direction, and the gate 40B returns to the initial position when the weight falls.

  Even in this state, the gate 40A is pressed on the conveyed product 15A. Therefore, the gate 40A is pressed by the conveyed product 15A and rotates in the θ1 direction. When the movement trajectory of the tip of the gate 40A and the movement trajectory of the upper surface of the transported object 15A rotate, the tip of the gate 40A rides on the upper surface of the transported object 15A (see FIG. 6A). ). When the tip of the gate 40A rides on the upper surface of the conveyed product 15A, the rotation of the gate 40A is stopped.

  Here, the cam 41A is also rotated by the rotation of the gate 40A. When the cam 41A rotates, the contact surface P1 of the cam 41A presses the roller 61A. Accordingly, the sensing arm 56A rotates in the θ3 direction. At the same time, the sensing arm 56B also rotates in the θ3 direction.

  On the other hand, the gate 40B rotates in the θ2 direction due to its own weight fall and returns to the initial position. When the gate 40B rotates, the cam 41B also rotates in the θ2 direction. When the cam 41B rotates, the recess 51B of the cam 41B moves on the movement locus of the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B. As a result, the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B enters the recess 51B (see FIGS. 9B and 10B).

  By repeatedly executing such an operation, the transported objects 15A and 15B transported along the transport path 25A and the transport path 25B pass through the junction device 10 alternately. During this passage, the transport timing of the transported objects 15A and 15B is automatically measured and passes through the merging apparatus 10. In addition, the conveyed product 15 that has passed through the merging apparatus 10 is conveyed downstream by the guide 26 or the guide 27 in a state of being arranged in one row along the conveying direction X.

  Here, depending on the travel speed of the endless belt 21 (in other words, the transport speed of the transported object 15), if the transport is interrupted at either the gate 40A or the gate 40B, the back of the transported object 15 whose transport is restricted by the gate. There are cases in which new transported objects are transported and these transported objects are connected. In this case, when the target gate is opened, the conveyed items pass through the gate in a continuous manner. In this case, since the conveyance of the conveyed product is restricted at the other gate, the conveyed item is not clogged. Therefore, it is not necessary to define the length of the conveyed product 15 in the conveyance direction X.

  Thus, when the conveyed product conveyed in two conveyance paths | routes arrives at a confluence | merging apparatus alternately, when one gate is riding on the upper surface of a conveyed product, rotation of the gate is stopped. In this state, when the conveyed product presses another gate, the other gate is locked, so that the conveyed item is not conveyed toward the downstream side. Moreover, when the conveyed product passes through one gate, the locked state of the other gate is released, and the rotation is allowed. Therefore, on the downstream side of the merging device, the conveyed products that have passed through the gates can be merged without colliding. Moreover, the state which locks one gate can be created only by the configuration of the cams provided in each gate unit and the two sensing arms that rotate in opposite directions when the respective cams rotate. Therefore, it is possible to provide a merging device with only a simple mechanical configuration without using a motor for rotating the gate or a configuration of a control unit for driving and controlling the motor.

  Here, in the conveyance of the conveyed product 15 in the conveyor device 20, the conveyed product 15A conveyed on the conveyance path 25A and the conveyed product 15B conveyed on the conveyance path 25B do not necessarily reach each gate alternately. Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the timing at which the conveyed product 15A conveyed on the conveyance path 25A reaches the gate 40A is the same as the timing at which the conveyed product 15B conveyed on the conveyance path 25B reaches the gate 40B.

  As shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, in the conveyor device 20, the conveyed product 15A conveyed by the conveying path 25A is conveyed by the conveying path 25B at the timing when it contacts the gate 40A. The conveyed product 15B is brought into contact with the gate 40B. Therefore, the pressing of the gate 40A by the conveyed product 15A and the pressing of the gate 40B by the conveyed product 15B are simultaneously performed.

  As described above, since the conveyed product 15A is conveyed and the conveyed product 15A presses the gate 40A, the gate 40A rotates in the θ1 direction. In response, the cam 41A rotates in the θ1 direction. Due to the rotation of the cam 41A, the contact surface P1 of the cam 41A contacts the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A (see FIG. 12A). Therefore, stress in the θ3 direction is applied to the sensing arm 56A.

  Moreover, since the conveyed product 15B presses the gate 40B, the gate 40B also rotates in the θ1 direction. The rotation of the cam 41B causes the contact surface P4 of the cam 41B to contact the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B (see FIG. 12B). Therefore, stress in the θ4 direction is applied to the sensing arm 56B. Since sensing arm 56A and sensing arm 56B are each fixed to counter shaft 55, the stress applied to these sensing arms is canceled out. Therefore, the gate 40A and the gate 40B are locked. In this state, the conveyance of the conveyed items 15A and 15B that press the respective gates is restricted.

  Here, the endless belt 21 travels in the transport direction X. That is, the conductor 65 in contact with the traveling endless belt 21 rotates in the θ5 direction. Therefore, the protruding piece 66 provided on the side surface 65a of the conductor 65 is also rotated. As shown in FIG. 13A, the protrusions 66 collide with the flaps 50 of the locked gate 40A by the rotation of the conductor 55.

  As shown in FIG. 13A, after the projecting piece 66 collides with the flap 50, the projecting piece 66 presses the flap 50 and rotates the gate 40A in the θ2 direction. When the gate 40A rotates to the initial position, the gate 40A comes into contact with the stopper 49A, so that the rotation of the gate 40A in the θ2 direction is restricted. Even in this state, the protruding piece 66 presses the flap 50. Therefore, the flap 50 is elastically deformed by receiving a pressing force by the protruding piece 66. Upon receiving the elastic deformation of the flap 50, the projecting piece 66 rotates while being in sliding contact with the elastically deformed flap 50. When the sliding contact between the protruding piece 66 and the flap 50 is released, the flap 50 returns to the initial state. The gate 40A is rotated to the initial position by the pressing of the flap 50 by the projecting piece 66, so that the locked state of the gate 40A is released.

  On the other hand, when the gate 40A rotates to the initial position, the cam 41A also rotates in the θ2 direction, so that the state where the peripheral surface P1 of the cam 41A and the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A are in contact with each other is released. In response, the stress applied to the sensing arm 56A is eliminated by the rotation of the cam 41A. Therefore, the sensing arm 56A rotates in the θ4 direction due to the stress applied to the sensing arm 56B.

  On the other hand, in the gate 40B, pressing by the conveyed product 15B is continued. Therefore, when the sensing arm 56B rotates in the θ4 direction, the gate 40B pressed by the conveyed product 15B can rotate in the θ1 direction. Thus, the locked state of the gate 40B is released. As a result, the gate 40B is rotated in the θ1 direction in response to the pressure of the conveyed product 15B being conveyed (see FIG. 13B). The cam 41B also rotates in the θ1 direction.

  As shown in FIG. 14B, when the conveyed product 15B presses the gate 40B, the angle at which the gate 40B rotates in the θ1 direction increases. Then, when the gate 40B reaches the position where the movement locus of the tip portion thereof intersects the movement locus of the upper surface of the conveyed product 15B, the distal end portion of the gate 40B rides on the upper surface of the conveyed item 15B. Thereby, the rotation of the gate 40B is stopped, and the gate 40B is held in a state of being rotated by a predetermined angle.

  In this state, the portion corresponding to the arc P4 in the peripheral surface of the cam 41B is in contact with the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B.

  On the other hand, the gate 40A rotated to the initial position is pressed again by the conveyed product 15A. Therefore, the gate 40A rotates in the θ1 direction. At the same time, the cam 41A also rotates. As shown in FIG. 14A, the circumferential surface P1 of the cam 41A collides with the roller 61A of the sensing arm 56A due to the rotation of the cam 41A in the θ1 direction.

  Due to the rotation of the cam 41A in the θ1 direction, stress for rotating in the θ3 direction acts on the sensing arm 56A. However, the gate 40B is held in a state in which its tip end rides on the upper surface of the conveyed product 15B, in other words, is rotated by a predetermined angle. Thereby, since rotation of the sensing arm 56A is stopped, rotation of the cam 41A in the θ1 direction is also stopped. As a result, the rotation of the gate 40A is stopped. That is, the gate 40A is locked.

  Even in this state, the endless belt 21 runs in the X direction. Therefore, the conveyed product 15B is conveyed in the X direction. Then, when the transported object 15B is transported to a position where the upper surface of the transported object 15B deviates from the movement trajectory of the distal end portion of the gate 40B, the ride on the upper surface of the transported object 15B at the distal end portion of the gate 40B is released. Therefore, the gate 40B rotates in the θ2 direction by its own weight. The gate 40B rotating in the θ2 direction is held at the initial position after colliding with the stopper 49B. In accordance with the rotation of the gate 40B, the cam 41B also rotates in the θ2 direction. Accordingly, the contact between the circumferential surface P4 of the cam 41B and the roller 61B of the sensing arm 56B is released, and the concave portion 51B of the cam 41B is positioned on the movement locus (see FIG. 10B).

  When the ride on the upper surface of the conveyed product 15B of the gate 40B is released, the stress on the sensing arm 56B disappears. Therefore, the sensing arm 56A pressed against the peripheral surface P1 of the cam 41A can be rotated in the θ3 direction. Therefore, the rotation of the gate 40A pressed by the conveyed product 15A is resumed. In this way, the conveyed product 15A conveyed along the conveying path 25A and the conveyed item 15B conveyed along the conveying path 25B are alternately conveyed.

  As described above, even when the timing when the transported object 15A transported along the transport path 25A presses the gate 40A and the timing when the transported object 15B transported along the transport path 25B presses the gate 40B are the same, The protruding piece 66 provided on the peripheral surface 65a of the conductor 65 collides with the flap of the gate 40A, so that the locked state of the gate 40A is forcibly released. By releasing the locked state of the gate 40A, the locked state of the other gate 40B is also released. Therefore, the transported object 15B transported along the transport path 25B and the transported object 15A transported along the transport path 25A pass through the joining device in this order, and can be transported in a state of being arranged in a row on the downstream side.

  In addition, this conductor 65 makes the peripheral surface of the conductor 65 contact the endless belt 21 of the conveyor apparatus 20, and rotates according to the driving | running | working of the endless belt 21, The drive mechanism for rotating the conductor 65, Conductor of The configuration of the control device that adjusts the rotational speed in accordance with the traveling speed of the endless belt 21 is not required. Therefore, the gate in the locked state can be easily released with a simple configuration.

  In this embodiment, the cam 41A of the gate unit 31A is in the vicinity of the side plate 34a of the frame 34, the conveyance path 25a on which the conveyed product 15A is conveyed, and the cam 41B of the gate unit 31B is in the vicinity of the side plate 34c of the frame 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cam 41A of the gate unit 31A and the cam 41B of the gate unit 31B are connected to the side plate 34b of the frame 34. It is also possible to arrange for each conveyance path in the vicinity. In this case, the sensing arms 56 </ b> A and 56 </ b> B of the arm unit 32 may be arranged in accordance with the positions where the respective cams are arranged in the width direction of the endless belt 21.

  In the present embodiment, the merging device in which the arm unit 32 is disposed above the gate unit 31A and the gate unit 31B is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the arm unit is disposed below the endless belt 21. It is also possible to arrange.

  In this embodiment, the damper shaft 42A constituting the gate unit 31A is pivotally supported by bearings 45 and 46 provided on the side plates 34a and 34b of the frame 34 respectively, but the present invention is not limited to this. 31A may be supported by a bearing provided on the side plate 34a of the frame 34. The same applies to the gate unit 31B.

  In the present embodiment, a case is described in which the flap 50 is provided on the gate 40A and the protruding piece 66 is provided on the conductor unit 33 that is pivotally attached to the side plate 34a of the frame 34. However, at least either the gate 40A or the gate 40B is described. Any form may be used as long as a flap is provided on one side and a conductor unit including a projecting piece for pressing the flap is disposed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a flap only in the gate 40B. In this case, a conductor unit having a projecting piece may be pivotally attached to the side plate 34c of the frame 34. In addition, it is also possible to provide a flap on both the gate 40A and the gate 40B, and to pivotally attach a conductor unit provided with a projecting piece to each of the side plate 34a and the side plate 34c of the frame 34.

  In the present embodiment, the conductor unit 33 is provided on the side corresponding to the gate 40 </ b> A provided with the flap 50. In this case, the endless belt 21 may meander depending on the contact state between the conductor 65 and the endless belt 21. Therefore, the conductor unit 33 may be provided not only on the side plate 34a of the frame 34 but also on the side plate 34c of the frame. In this case, in the conductor unit corresponding to the gate not provided with the flap, it is not always necessary to provide the projecting piece. Thus, meandering of the endless belt 21 can be prevented by providing the conductor unit on both the side plate 34a and the side plate 34c of the frame 34, not on one of the side plate 34a or the side plate 34c of the frame 34.

  In the present embodiment, a case is described in which one protrusion 66 is provided on the side surface 65a of the conductor 65. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of protrusions are formed on the side surface 65a of the conductor 65 at a constant pitch angle. It is also possible to arrange pieces.

  In the present embodiment, the conductor 65 is rotated by utilizing the frictional force between the traveling endless belt and the conductor by bringing the conductor 65 into contact with the endless belt 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the conductor to the rotation of the main driving roller that travels the endless belt may be provided, and the conductor may be rotated via the mechanism.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the joining device of the present invention is provided in the conveyor device 20 using the endless belt 21 is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. It is also possible to provide in the conveyor apparatus 80 which has arrange | positioned the roller 81. FIG. In this case, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for synchronizing either the drive motor (not shown) or the main driving roller rotated by the drive motor with the conductor of the merging device 10. In the case of such a roller conveyor device 80, the merging device 10 may be disposed in the vicinity of the drive motor and the main driving roller described above.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Junction apparatus, 15 ... Conveyed goods, 20, 80 ... Conveyor apparatus, 21 ... Endless belt, 31A, 31B ... Gate unit, 32 ... Arm unit, 33 ... Conductor unit, 34 ... Frame, 40A, 40B ... Gate, 41A , 41B ... cam, 42A, 42B ... damper shaft, 50 ... flap, 56A, 56B ... sensing arm, 61A, 61B ... roller, 65 ... conductor, 66 ... projecting piece

Claims (15)

It is provided for each of the two transport paths that run in parallel, receives pressure from a transported object that is transported through each of the two transport paths, and rotates individually with the width direction of the corresponding transport path as the rotation axis. First and second gates;
A first cam member that is a flat plate cam that rotates while being fixed to the rotation shaft of the first gate;
A second cam member which is a flat plate cam fixed to the rotation shaft of the second gate and rotating;
A first pressed portion that is pressed during rotation of the first cam member and moves according to a cam profile of the first cam member ;
A second pressed portion which moves in accordance with the cam profile of the previous SL second pressed during rotation of the cam member and the second cam member,
A first arm member that includes the first pressed portion at one end and rotates in a predetermined direction when the first pressed portion is pressed;
A second arm member that includes the second pressed portion at one end and rotates in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction when the second pressed portion is pressed;
The first arm member at the other end edge portion without the first pressed portion, and the second arm member at the other end edge portion without the second pressed portion, The longitudinal center axis of the first arm member and the longitudinal center axis of the second arm are fixed to form a predetermined angle, and extend from the side of the conveyor device that forms the two transport paths that run side by side. A countershaft supported by a frame that is
Equipped with a,
The countershaft rotates when either the first cam member or the second cam member rotates in response to the rotation of the gate that is pressed by the conveyed object. Two arm members are rotated by moving one of the first pressed parts and the second pressed part according to the cam profile of the member, thereby rotating the first arm part. The other cam member is held non-rotatable by temporarily fixing the other pressed portion of the pressed portion and the second pressed portion to a predetermined position of the cam profile of the other cam member.
Confluence device comprising a call. The merging device according to claim 1,
At least one of the first gate and the second gate is provided with an elastically deformable tongue projecting in the width direction of the transport path, and the transport force of the transport surface when transporting the transported object A conductor provided with a pressing member that rotates partly using the width direction of the transport path as a rotation axis and presses the tongue piece in a direction opposite to the transport direction of the transported object is provided. To join. In the merging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The first and second gates have surfaces pressed by the conveyed object,
The lower end part of the said 1st and 2nd gate is respectively arrange | positioned at a fixed distance with respect to the conveyance surface of the said conveyance path | route, The joining apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In the merging apparatus according to claim 3 ,
In the initial state where the first and second gates are not transported,
The junction device characterized in that each surface pressed by the conveyed product is held in a state orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveyed product . In the merging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The first and second cam members have a disk shape having a recess formed by cutting out a part of the edge portion,
The first and second cam members are provided with contact surfaces that contact the pressed portions of the arm members corresponding to the respective cam members between the side surface forming the recess and the outer peripheral surface. A confluence device. The merging device according to claim 5 ,
The pressed portions provided on the first arm member and the second arm member have a cylindrical shape,
The joining device according to claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces of the first cam member and the second cam member are arcuate surfaces . In the merging device according to claim 5 or 6 ,
In the first cam member, when the first gate is in an initial state, the recess is on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transported object, and the recess is a movement locus in the first pressed portion. A merging device, wherein the merging device is provided so as to be located on the upper side . The merging device according to claim 7 ,
The contact surface of the first cam member moves on the movement locus of the first pressed portion when the first gate is rotated by receiving the pressure of the conveyed object, A merging device, wherein the merging device is brought into contact with the first pressed portion . In the merging device according to claim 7 or claim 8 ,
In the second cam member, when the second gate is in an initial state, the concave portion is on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyed product, and the concave portion is moved in the second pressed portion. A merging device, wherein the merging device is provided so as to be located on the upper side . The merging device according to claim 9 ,
The contact surface of the second cam member is in contact with the second pressed portion when the second gate rotates upon receiving the pressure of the conveyed product. Junction device. In the merging device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 ,
The two conveying paths on the inlet side and the one conveying path brought close to the center on the outlet side are formed by a conveying surface of the conveyor device and a guide provided above the conveying surface. apparatus. The merging device according to claim 11 ,
The said conveyor apparatus consists of a belt conveyor apparatus using an endless belt, The junction apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The junction device according to claim 12 ,
The belt conveyor apparatus that forms the two transport paths and the one transport path that is brought to the center on the outlet side is a separate belt conveyor apparatus, or an integrated belt conveyor apparatus in which the three transport paths are one endless belt. merging apparatus characterized by comprising a. The merging device according to claim 13 ,
The said conveyor apparatus consists of a roller conveyor apparatus which has arrange | positioned the some conveyance roller along the conveyance direction, The junction apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The merging device according to claim 14 , wherein
The roller conveyor device that forms the two transport paths and the one transport path that is brought to the center of the outlet side is composed of a separate roller conveyor device or a series of transport rollers having the same system of three transport paths. A merging device comprising an integral roller conveyor device.

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