JP6164988B2 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that transports articles continuously.

  In a line for packaging items such as food and daily necessities, the items are supplied one after another to the packaging machine and packaged. The supply of the article to the packaging machine is performed by a conveyance device that continuously conveys the article on the conveyance surface. Examples of the transport device include a finger conveyor and an overhead conveyor (also referred to as an upper conveyor or a Koyagura).

  The finger conveyor includes a conveying surface, a plurality of sprockets, an annular chain that is hooked on the plurality of sprockets, a plurality of pushing members (fingers) attached to the chain at equal intervals, and a power source. And a servo motor (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to this conveying apparatus, since the plurality of pushing members push the article at a predetermined interval, the article can be sequentially supplied to the packaging machine at a constant timing.

  And the conveying apparatus of patent document 1 is provided with the pushing member which can be removed or folded. Moreover, the conveyance apparatus described in Patent Document 2 includes a pushing member that can be switched between a conveyance posture protruding from the conveyance surface and a non-conveyance posture not protruding from the conveyance surface. According to these conveyance devices, the interval between the push members can be changed, and articles (products) having different lengths can be conveyed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-120108 JP 2000-128331 A

  However, the transfer device described in Patent Document 1 requires work such as attachment and detachment of the push member when switching the type of article, which is troublesome. And there is a possibility that a problem due to forgetting to attach and detach may occur. Further, the transport device described in Patent Document 2 requires a control and function for switching between the transport posture and the non-transport posture of the push member, and there is a problem that the device becomes complicated.

  These problems are not limited to finger conveyors, and may be common to other conveying apparatuses that push articles by pushing members, such as overhead conveyors and side finger conveyors.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport device that can transport articles of different lengths with a simple configuration without removing the pushing member. .

  (1) The present invention includes a conveyance path for conveying an article, and a plurality of pushing members that project into the conveyance path and push the article, and the plurality of pushing members project into the conveyance path. A conveying device comprising a plurality of pushing members having different lengths in directions, wherein a relative positional relationship between the plurality of pushing members and the carrying path in the projecting direction is changeable. .

  (2) The present invention is also the transfer device according to (1) above, wherein the positional relationship is changed by moving the plurality of pushing members in the protruding direction.

  (3) The present invention is also the transport apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein the plurality of pushing members are attached to an annular drive chain.

  According to the conveying apparatus as described in said (1)-(3) of this invention, articles | goods from which length differs can be conveyed by simple structure, without removing a pushing member.

It is the schematic of the finger conveyor which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the finger conveyor shown by FIG. 1, (A) shows the case where an article | item with a short length is conveyed, (B) shows the case where an article | item with a long length is conveyed. It is the schematic of the finger conveyor which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the finger conveyor shown by FIG. 3, (A) shows the case where an article | item with a short length is conveyed, (B) shows the case where an article | item with a long length is conveyed, (C) is long. The case where a longer article is conveyed is shown. It is the schematic of the finger conveyor which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the finger conveyor shown by FIG. 5, (A) shows the case where an article | item with a short length is conveyed, (B) shows the case where an article | item with a long length is conveyed.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

  [First Embodiment] First, the configuration of the finger conveyor 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic views of the finger conveyor 1. FIG. 2A shows a case where an article XA1 having a short length is conveyed. FIG. 2B shows a case where an article XA2 having a long length is conveyed. Note that in each drawing, a part of the configuration is omitted as appropriate to simplify the drawing.

  The finger conveyor 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used in a line that continuously conveys an article XA1 (see FIG. 2A) or XA2 (see FIG. 2B) such as food or daily necessities. The finger conveyor 1 includes a conveying surface 1a having a slit, a side guide (not shown) for guiding the article XA1 or XA2 on the conveying surface 1a from the side, a conveyor body 10, and an elevation for moving the conveyor body 10 up and down. A mechanism (advance / retreat mechanism) 11 and a control unit (not shown) are provided.

  Each part of these finger conveyors 1 is comprehensively controlled by the control unit. The control unit includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and executes various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and various programs are executed to realize various functions. The RAM is used as a work area for the CPU. The ROM stores a basic OS and programs executed by the CPU.

  The conveyor body 10 is alternately attached to the drive sprocket 12, the driven sprocket 13, the annular chain 14 that is hooked on the sprockets 12, 13, and the chain 14 at equal intervals. A plurality of fingers (pushing members) 15 and 16 and a servo motor (not shown) serving as a power source are provided.

  The drive sprocket 12 is rotated by the drive of the servo motor. The driven sprocket 13 rotates in conjunction with the driving sprocket 12 as the chain 14 travels. The chain 14 travels so as to circulate by the rotation of the driving sprocket 12. The plurality of fingers 15 and 16 protrude on the transport surface 1a through slits. The plurality of fingers 15 are relatively short in length. The plurality of fingers 16 have a relatively long length. That is, the plurality of fingers 15, 16 are composed of the plurality of fingers 15, 16 having different lengths in the direction protruding into the conveyance path. Since the fingers 15 and 16 are attached to the annular chain 14 (drive chain), the fingers 15 and 16 travel on the transport surface 1a as the chain 14 travels.

  As the lifting mechanism 11, a servo motor, a ROBO Cylinder or the like is appropriately employed. The lifting mechanism 11 positions the conveyor body 10 at an arbitrary height. That is, the elevating mechanism 11 positions all the fingers 15 and 16 so as to advance and retract all at once with respect to the transport path so as to increase or decrease the number of fingers 15 and 16 protruding into the transport path. As a result, the relative positional relationship between the fingers 15 and 16 and the conveyance path in the protruding direction of the plurality of fingers 15 and 16 can be changed. That is, the relative positional relationship between the fingers 15 and 16 and the transport path is changed by moving the plurality of fingers 15 and 16 in the protruding direction. Specifically, the elevating mechanism 11 raises and lowers the conveyor body 10 so that only the fingers 16 and the first position where all the fingers 15 and 16 protrude on the conveying surface 1a (see FIG. 2A) are conveyed. The finger 15 is positioned at a second position (see FIG. 2B) that protrudes on the surface 1a and does not protrude on the transport surface 1a. In addition, when positioning the conveyor main body 10 in two places, a 1st position and a 2nd position, you may employ | adopt an air cylinder as the raising / lowering mechanism 11. FIG.

  When positioned at the first position shown in FIG. 2A, the plurality of fingers 15 and 16 push and transport the short-length article XA1 on the transport surface 1a. When positioned at the second position shown in FIG. 2B, the plurality of fingers 16 push and transport the long article XA2 on the transport surface 1a.

  Thus, according to the finger conveyor 1, articles XA1 and XA2 having different lengths can be transported with a simple configuration without removing the fingers 15 and 16.

  [Second Embodiment] Next, the configuration of the finger conveyor 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic views of the finger conveyor 2. FIG. 4A shows a case where an article XA1 having a short length is conveyed. FIG. 4B shows a case where an article XA2 having a long length is conveyed. FIG. 4C shows a case where an article XA3 having a longer length is conveyed.

  In addition, only the characteristic part of the finger conveyor 2 is demonstrated here and description about the same structure, an effect | action, and an effect as the finger conveyor 1 is abbreviate | omitted suitably. In the third embodiment described below, only characteristic portions will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor body 10 includes a plurality of fingers and the like attached to the chain 14 at regular intervals and in the order of 15, 16, 15, and 17. The plurality of fingers 17 are longer than the fingers 16 and are the longest.

  The elevating mechanism 11 raises and lowers the conveyor body 10 so that all fingers 15, 16, and 17 protrude on the conveying surface 1 a (see FIG. 4A), and the fingers 16 and 17 are conveyed surfaces. A second position (see FIG. 4 (B)) where the finger 15 protrudes on the la, and the finger 15 does not protrude on the transport surface 1a, only the finger 17 projects on the transport surface 1a, and the fingers 15, 16 on the transport surface 1a. It positions to the 3rd position (refer FIG.4 (C)) which does not protrude.

  When positioned at the first position shown in FIG. 4A, the plurality of fingers 15, 16, and 17 push and convey the short article XA1 on the conveying surface 1a. When positioned at the second position shown in FIG. 4B, the plurality of fingers 16 and 17 push and convey the long article XA2 on the conveyance surface 1a. When positioned at the third position shown in FIG. 4C, the plurality of fingers 17 push and transport the article XA3 having a longer length on the transport surface 1a.

  [Third Embodiment] Next, the configuration of the finger conveyor 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of the finger conveyor 3. FIG. 6A shows a case where an article XA1 having a short length is conveyed. FIG. 6B shows a case where an article XA3 having a long length is conveyed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyor body 10 includes a plurality of fingers and the like attached to the chain 14 in the order of 15, 15 and 16 at equal intervals.

  The raising / lowering mechanism 11 raises / lowers the conveyor main body 10, and the first position (refer FIG. 6 (A)) from which all the fingers 15 and 16 protrude on the conveyance surface 1a, and only the finger 16 on the conveyance surface 1a. It protrudes and it positions to the 2nd position (refer FIG. 6 (B)) from which the finger 15 does not protrude on the conveyance surface 1a.

  When positioned at the first position shown in FIG. 6A, the plurality of fingers 15 and 16 push and convey the short article XA1 on the conveyance surface 1a. When positioned at the second position shown in FIG. 6B, the plurality of fingers 16 push and convey the article XA3 having a longer length on the conveyance surface 1a.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and technical idea thereof.

  That is, in each of the above embodiments, the position, size, length, shape, material, orientation, and the like of each component can be changed as appropriate. For example, the lengths of the fingers may be different not only in two stages and three stages but also in four or more stages.

  Or although each said embodiment demonstrated the finger conveyors 1-3 to the example, this invention is not limited to this. As in the above embodiments, the present invention can push the articles in the conveyance path with fingers, and advance and retract all the fingers at once with respect to the conveyance path so that the fingers protruding into the conveyance path An overhead conveyor, a side finger conveyor, or the like may be used as long as it can increase or decrease the number. That is, the direction in which a plurality of fingers (pushing members) having different lengths are advanced / retracted collectively is not limited to the downward direction, and can be advanced / retreated from any direction such as upward or downward.

  Alternatively, in each of the above embodiments, the finger conveyors 1 to 3 provided with the annular chain 14 have been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applied to a transport device including a pushing member that performs box motion. May be. For details of the transport device including the pushing member that performs the box motion, see, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-115727.

  Or although said each embodiment demonstrated to the case where a finger and a chain were provided as an example, this invention is not limited to this, You may provide an attached timing belt and a timing pulley.

1, 2, 3 Finger conveyor 11 Elevating mechanism (advancing / retracting mechanism)
14 Chain (drive chain)
15, 16, 17 Finger (pushing member)
XA1, XA2, XA3 article

Claims (3)

A transport path for transporting articles;
A plurality of pushing members that project into the conveyance path and push the article,
The plurality of pushing members are composed of a plurality of pushing members having different lengths in a direction protruding into the conveyance path,
The relative positional relationship between the plurality of pushing members and the conveyance path in the projecting direction can be changed.
Conveying device. The positional relationship is changed by moving the plurality of pushing members in the protruding direction,
The transport apparatus according to claim 1. The plurality of pushing members are attached to an annular drive chain,
The transport apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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