JP6458990B2 - Transported material sorting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyed product sorting apparatus capable of discharging a conveyed product from a conveyance path of a conveyor device in a direction different from the conveyance direction.

A recent conveyor apparatus is provided with a plurality of conveyance destinations, and can convey each conveyed product to a corresponding conveyance destination. More specifically, a conveyed product sorting device is provided in the conveyor device, and the conveyance direction is appropriately switched by the conveyed product sorting device, and the conveyed product is conveyed to a conveyance destination associated with the article.
As one type of the conveyed product sorting apparatus, there is a type in which a linear guide member is swung to obliquely cross a conveyance path, and the conveyed product travels along the guide member (for example, Patent Document 1).

  The transport material sorting apparatus of this type is installed at the main conveyor line and the part intersecting with the main conveyor line, and the posture is changed by swinging the linear guide member, and the main conveyor line and the sub conveyor line are In the meantime, the conveyance direction of the conveyed product is selectively changed.

A linear guide member is employed in the transporting material sorting apparatus of the prior art. The linear guide member can swing around the end portion. The end of the linear guide member swings in the frame portion on the side of the main conveyor line.
In the conveyed product sorting apparatus according to the prior art, when the conveyed product is moved to the sub-conveyor line side, the linear guide member is swung to change the posture to an inclined posture that crosses the conveying path of the main conveyor line in an oblique direction.
The conveyed product conveyed along the main conveyor line collides with the linear guide member in the inclined posture, proceeds in the oblique direction along the guide member, and moves to the sub conveyor line side.
When the conveyed product is conveyed straight, all of the guide members are made to stand by in a posture arranged along the side wall of the main conveyor line. As a result, the linear guide member is out of the conveyance path of the main conveyor line. Therefore, the conveyed product conveyed on the main conveyor line advances straight without contacting the guide member.

JP2011-20793A

  As described above, in the conveyed product sorting apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, a linear guide member is employed, and the conveyed item collides with the linear guide member and moves along the guide member. To do. Therefore, the impact that acts on the guide member and the conveyed product at the time of collision is large. Moreover, in the conveyed product sorting apparatus currently disclosed by patent document 1, the linear guide member is employ | adopted, a conveyed product collides with a linear guide member, and a conveyance direction changes suddenly. For this reason, the operation when the transported object changes its direction lacks smoothness.

  Accordingly, the present invention focuses on the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and provides a conveyed product sorting device that can reduce the impact when the conveyed product collides and can smoothly change the conveyance direction of the conveyed product. It is aimed.

  The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problem is a transported material sorting apparatus that discharges a transported material from a transport path, and has a projecting member, and the projecting member corresponds to a predetermined width corresponding to the width of the transport path. The outer elastic member and the inner elastic member have the lengths of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member, and the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are in a posture to face each other in parallel or at an angle. Connected directly or with other members interposed between them in a state allowing play at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction, and pulling force in the longitudinal direction against at least one of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member Or it is a conveyed product sorting apparatus characterized by having a bending deformation | transformation provision means which gives a compressive force and carries out the bending deformation of the outer side elastic member and an inner side elastic member.

Here, the “predetermined length corresponding to the width of the conveyance path” means that the overhanging member is a part of the conveyance path when the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are curved and deformed and the overhanging member is overhanging. Or it is the length of the grade which can discharge a conveyed product from a conveyance path across the whole.
The “predetermined length corresponding to the width of the conveyance path” is long when the width of the conveyance path is wide, and short when the width of the conveyance path is narrow.
The “predetermined length corresponding to the width of the conveyance path” also changes depending on the angle at which the overhanging member is extended and the degree of bending.
The “predetermined length corresponding to the width of the transport path” is desirably a length that can be shielded across the transport path, but it is not essential to shield across the transport path.
The “state allowing play” is a state in which the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member can be relatively moved in the longitudinal direction.
In the first aspect of the invention, since the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member having a predetermined length corresponding to the width of the conveyance path are provided, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member project on the conveyance path and are conveyed. A part or all of the can be shielded.
Since invention of Claim 1 has a bending deformation | transformation provision means, it can provide a tensile force or a compressive force to the longitudinal direction with respect to at least any one of an outer side elastic member or an inner side elastic member.
Therefore, the member on the opposite side to the side to which the tensile force is applied is curved and warped.
For example, when the inner elastic member is pulled, the other outer elastic member is bent and warped.
On the other hand, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected directly or with another member interposed therebetween. Therefore, when the outer elastic member is bent, the inner elastic member is pulled toward the outer elastic member at the connection point. The inner elastic member is also bent and warped.
When both the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are curved, the position of each part in the longitudinal direction of the outer elastic member and the position of each part of the inner elastic member are shifted. In the present invention, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are Since it is connected in a state allowing play at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction, the position of each part in the longitudinal direction of the outer elastic member and the position shift of each part of the inner elastic member are absorbed by the aforementioned play.
For this reason, in the present invention, the overhanging member projects to the conveyance path side in a curved state. In the present invention, since the portion that collides with the conveyed product is curved, there is little impact. Moreover, since the conveyed product advances while gradually changing the conveying direction, the conveyed product is smoothly discharged.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected by connecting members that can be elastically deformed. It is.

In the conveyed product sorting apparatus of the present invention, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected with “other members” interposed therebetween.
That is, in the conveyed product sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected by “an elastically deformable connecting member” that is “another member”.
In the present invention, since the “connecting member” that is the “other member” can be elastically deformed, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected in a state that allows play.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the elastically deformable connecting member can be deformed while maintaining the state in which the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected. That is, when the outer elastic member is curved and deformed, the distance between the connection portion of the outer elastic member with the connection member and the connection portion of the inner elastic member with the connection member changes.
However, the connecting member can be deformed following the change in the distance. Further, the connecting member can transmit a force between the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member. That is, when the outer elastic member is bent and deformed, the connecting member can be pulled by transmitting force from the outer elastic member to the inner elastic member, and the inner elastic member can be bent and deformed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member have a base end portion and a tip end portion, and the base end portion is installed on the side of the transport path, and is bent by the bending deformation applying means. 3. The conveyed product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when deformed, the distal end side projects on the conveyance path, and the base end side has a higher spring constant than the distal end side. It is.

The transported material flowing on the transport path collides with the proximal end side of the curved inner deformable elastic member and is guided to the distal end side along the curve of the inner elastic member.
In the invention according to claim 3, since the base end side of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member has a higher spring constant than the tip end side, the base end side of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member is located with respect to the conveyance path. Slope gently. Therefore, even if the conveyed product collides with the base end side of the inner elastic member, the impact is small. In addition, since the spring constant on the distal end side is lower than that on the proximal end side, the distal end side of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member is more smoothly curved than the proximal end side. Therefore, the conveyed product can be guided along the curve.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member each have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and the proximal end portion is disposed on the side of the conveyance path, and is bent by the bending deformation applying means. When the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member project on the conveyance path, the inner elastic member is upstream of the outer elastic member in the conveyance direction of the conveyed object when the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are projected on the conveyance path. The inner elastic member is movable upstream in the conveying direction of the conveying path, the proximal end side of the outer elastic member is rotatable around the vertical axis, and the inner elastic member is in the conveying direction. The transported article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an interlocking mechanism that rotates the base end side of the outer elastic member around the vertical axis in conjunction with the movement to the upstream side. Sorting device.

In the invention according to claim 4, the outer elastic member rotates around the vertical axis on the base end side in conjunction with the movement of the inner elastic member to the upstream side in the transport direction. Therefore, the projecting member swings and projects to the conveyance path side.
That is, in the conveyed product sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the overhanging member performs a swinging motion in addition to being in a curved state, and largely protrudes toward the conveyance path.
In addition to the above-described configuration, when the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are curved and deformed and project on the conveyance path, a rotation prevention mechanism that prevents rotation in the direction opposite to the rotation direction around the vertical axis. It is desirable to have
According to this configuration, when the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are curved and deformed and project on the conveyance path, the rotation prevention mechanism that prevents the rotation in the direction opposite to the rotation direction around the vertical axis is provided. The outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are unlikely to move in the direction of retreating from the conveyance path. That is, when the conveyed product conveyed along the conveyance path contacts the inner elastic member, the base end portion of the outer elastic member does not rotate around the vertical axis. Therefore, the inner elastic member is supported by the outer elastic member, and the conveyed product can be discharged from the conveying path while the inner elastic member is curved and deformed.

  In the conveyed product sorting apparatus according to the present invention, the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are curved and deformed, and the protruding member has a curved shape and protrudes onto the conveying path. Therefore, the conveyed item collides with the curved inner elastic member. . Therefore, the impact when the conveyed product collides is small.

It is a perspective view of the conveyor apparatus which has arrange | positioned the conveyed product sorting apparatus which concerns on this embodiment in the branch part, and shows the state which the conveyed product sorting apparatus has protruded to the main conveyance path. It is a perspective view of the conveyor apparatus which has arrange | positioned the conveyed product sorting apparatus which concerns on this embodiment in the branch part, and shows the state which the conveyed product sorting apparatus has evacuated from the main conveyance path. It is a skeleton figure of the conveyed product sorting apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, (a) is the state which the conveyed product sorting apparatus has evacuated from the main conveyance path, (b) is a conveyed product sorting apparatus to (a). The state in the middle of projecting from the state shown to the main conveyance path is shown, (c) shows the state in which the conveyed product sorting device has completely projected to the main conveyance path. It is a perspective view of the rocking | fluctuation mechanism part of the conveyed product sorting apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, and shows a retracted state. It is a perspective view of the rocking | fluctuation mechanism part of the conveyed product sorting apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, and shows the projecting state which carried out the curved deformation. It is a disassembled perspective view of the rocking | fluctuation mechanism part of FIG. It is a top view of a conveyor apparatus. It is a model figure of the overhang | projection member of the conveyed product sorting apparatus which concerns on this embodiment, (a) shows a retracted state, (b) shows the state which started the curve deformation, (c) shows the curve deformation Indicates a state in which. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of an overhang | projection member.

Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor apparatus 1 includes a main transport path 2 and a sub transport path 3. The main transport path 2 and the sub transport path 3 intersect. The main conveyance path 2 is a linear conveyance path, and a conveyed product sorting device 4 is provided at a position in the middle of the main conveyance path 2. The sub conveyance path 3 is connected to a part of the conveyed product sorting device 4 with respect to the main conveyance path 2.
In the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyed product 50 is on the upstream side of the main conveying path 2. As will be described later, the conveyed product 50 is conveyed straight along the main conveying path 2 to the downstream side or is discharged to the sub conveying path 3 by the conveying object sorting device 4 and is conveyed along the sub conveying path 3. .

  The main conveyance path 2 is composed of a roller conveyor. The roller conveyor of the main conveyance path 2 has side walls 11 and 12 and a plurality of rollers 7. Each roller 7 has a length over almost the entire region between the side walls 11, 12 arranged in parallel. The roller 7 includes a driving roller and a driven roller. The drive roller is a roller driven by a motor, for example, a motor built-in roller. The driven roller does not include a motor, and is a roller to which power is transmitted from the driving roller via a belt.

  The conveyed product sorting apparatus 4 includes a conveyor unit 5 and a swing mechanism unit 6.

  The conveyor unit 5 includes a plurality of rollers 8 a to 8 f and a number of short rollers 9. The short rollers 9 can transport the transported object 50 along the transport direction of the main transport path 2 or transport the transported object 50 in a direction intersecting the transport direction of the main transport path 2. The short roller 9 has a large number of small-diameter rollers arranged on the circumference of a main large-diameter roller and having a rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation axis of the large-diameter roller. The rollers 8a to 8f and the short rollers 9 are rotatably supported by the side walls 11 and 12, respectively. The conveyed product 50 moves in the conveying direction of the main conveying path 2 while rotating the large-diameter roller of each short roller 9, or moves in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the main conveying path 2 while rotating the small-diameter roller. Can do.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the rollers 8 a to 8 f are arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. The length of the rollers 8a to 8f is shorter as it is disposed on the upstream side, and is longer as it is disposed on the downstream side.
One end of each of the rollers 8a to 8f coincides with the side wall 11 on the side opposite to the side on which the sub transport path 3 is disposed. For this reason, the distance from the side wall 12 on the side of the sub-transport path 3 to each of the rollers 8a to 8f increases as the length of the roller itself becomes shorter. Specifically, the distance from the roller 8a arranged on the most upstream side to the side wall 12 is the longest, and the distance from the roller 8f arranged on the most downstream side to the side wall 12 is the shortest. Therefore, the space between the roller 8a and the side wall 12 is wide, and the space between the roller 8f and the side wall 12 is narrow. The space between each roller 8a-8f and the side wall 12 is larger on the upstream side and smaller on the downstream side. One of the rollers 8a to 8f is a drive roller, and the other is a driven roller. A belt is suspended from the rollers 8a to 8f to transmit power.

  A plurality of short rollers 9 are arranged between each of the rollers 8 a to 8 e and the side wall 12. The number of short rollers 9 arranged between the roller 8a and the side wall 12 is the largest, and the number of short rollers 9 arranged between the roller 8e and the side wall 12 is the smallest. Incidentally, there is no space in which the short roller 9 can be disposed between the roller 8f and the side wall 12. That is, the length of the roller 8f is the same as the length of the roller 7 in the main transport path 2.

In the illustrated example, six short rollers 9 are arranged between the roller 8 a and the side wall 12. Similarly, five, five, three, and two short rollers 9 are arranged between the rollers 8b to 8e and the side wall 12, respectively. As the short roller 9, a known commercially available one is used. The roller 8a and the six short rollers 9 have a common shaft 10a and are rotatably supported on the side walls 11 and 12 via the shaft 10a. Similarly, the rollers 8b to 8e and the respective short rollers 9 are rotatably supported on the side walls 11 and 12 via shafts 10b to 10e. The distance between the short rollers 9 fixed to the shafts 10a to 10e is substantially constant.
Further, the short rollers 9 attached to the respective shafts 10a to 10e are arranged in a staggered manner as shown in FIG.

  The transport surface (mounting surface) of the transported object 50 formed by the rollers 8a to 8e and the transport surface (mounting surface) of the transported object 50 formed by the short rollers 9 coincide with each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the swing mechanism unit 6 includes a drive unit 14 (bending deformation applying unit), an overhang member 24, a housing 21 (FIG. 6), and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the drive unit 14 includes a drive motor 15, a rotation member 18, a cam member 19, and the like.

  The drive motor 15 is a servo motor that can freely rotate forward and backward and has an output shaft 15a. A toothed pulley 13 is attached to the output shaft 15a.

  The rotating member 18 is a plate-like member having a substantially fan shape, and a rotating shaft 31 is provided at a main portion of the fan. The rotating shaft 31 is fixed integrally with a fixed structure such as the side wall 11. A long hole 32 is formed in the rotating member 18. The long hole 32 is an arc-shaped long hole centered on the rotation shaft 31. A rack portion 33 is provided at an edge portion on the side far from the rotation shaft 31 in the arc-shaped long hole 32. Furthermore, an engaging portion 34 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the arc of the long hole 32. That is, a part of the outer peripheral portion of the fan-shaped rotating member 18 protrudes, and the engaging portion 34 is provided at the protruding portion. The engaging portion 34 is a round hole through which the shaft 51 can be inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cam member 19 includes a shaft portion 25, a gear portion 26, and a cam portion 27.

One end of the shaft portion 25 is fixed at a position deviated from the center of the disc-shaped cam portion 27. On the other end side of the shaft portion 25, an engaging portion 28 having a toothed pulley concentric with the shaft portion 25 is provided. The shaft part 25 is rotatably supported in a vertical posture. On the opposite side of the cam portion 27 from the shaft portion 25, a gear portion 26 (external teeth) is fixed. The center of the shaft portion 25 is coincident with the center of the gear portion 26. The shaft portion 25 of the cam member 19 is rotatably supported by a fixed structure such as the side wall 11.
As shown in FIG. 4, the engagement portion 28 and the output shaft 15 a (toothed pulley 13) of the drive motor 15 are connected by a belt 35. The gear portion 26 is accommodated in the long hole 32 of the rotating member 18 and is engaged with the rack portion 33.

The overhang member 24 includes an inner elastic member 16 and an outer elastic member 17 having lengths corresponding to the width dimension of the main transport path 2 (distance between the side walls 11 and 12), and buffer members 20a to 20d (elastically deformable). Connecting member).
In the present embodiment, the lengths of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 are set so that the conveyed product 50 moving in the conveying direction of the main conveying path 2 hits the protruding member 24 when the protruding member 24 is curved and deformed. The length is such that it is prevented from reaching the side. Further, the lengths of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 are lengths that can be projected on the main conveyance path 2 (on the conveyor unit 5) to such an extent that the conveyed product 50 can be discharged from the main conveyance path 2. It is.
In the present embodiment, the overall length of the overhang member 24 is longer than the width dimension of the main transport path 2. More specifically, the total length of the overhang member 24 is 1.4 times (route 2 times) longer than the width dimension of the main transport path 2, more preferably about twice as long. . That is, when the short sides of the isosceles triangles whose three interior angles are 45 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees correspond to the width of the conveyance path and the length of the overhang member 24 corresponds to the long side, the width of the conveyance path The length of the overhanging member 24 is 1.4 times (root twice) of the dimensions. In addition, when the shortest side of the triangle having three interior angles of 30 degrees, 60 degrees, and 90 degrees is associated with the width of the conveyance path and the length of the overhang member 24 is associated with the longest side, the width of the conveyance path The length of the overhang member 24 with respect to the dimension is doubled.

  However, the lengths of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 protrude on the conveyor unit 5 to such an extent that the conveyed product 50 cannot move in the conveying direction of the main conveying path 2 when the protruding member 24 is curved and deformed. Therefore, the projecting member 24 deformed in a curved shape does not necessarily reach the side wall 12. That is, the lengths of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 may be slightly shorter than the width dimension of the main transport path 2.

The inner elastic member 16 is a long plate member made of metal. The inner elastic member 16 has a structure in which two plate members 22 and 23 having different lengths are stacked. The plate members 22 and 23 are made of spring steel having the same width and thickness and differing only in length. That is, the plate member 23 has a length that is at least one-half of the length of the plate member 22 and at most four-fifths. More preferably, the length of the plate member 23 is not less than two-thirds and not more than three-quarters of the length of the plate member 22. Here, the thickness dimension and the width dimension of the plate members 22 and 23 do not necessarily coincide with each other. Further, the inner elastic member 16 may be configured by stacking two or more plate members having different thicknesses.
The two plate members 22 and 23 are integrally coupled by a hook not shown.

The inner elastic member 16 has a proximal end portion 16a and a distal end portion 16b.
At the base end portion 16a, one end of each of the plate members 22 and 23 is coincident. That is, the thickness dimension of the inner elastic member 16 at the base end portion 16a is large. Moreover, the front-end | tip part 16b is comprised only with the plate member 22 with long length. That is, the thickness dimension of the inner elastic member 16 at the distal end portion 16b is small. Therefore, the spring constant from the base end portion 16a of the inner elastic member 16 to the portion where the plate member 23 exists is high, and the spring constant of the portion where the plate member 23 including the distal end portion 16b does not exist is low. In other words, the spring constant of the portion where the plate member 23 exists is high and is not easily deformed by bending, and the spring constant on the tip portion 16b side where the plate member 23 is not present is low and is easily deformed by bending.
That is, as will be described later, the inner elastic member 16 is supported in a cantilever manner by the shaft 51, the side close to the shaft 51 is the base end portion 16a side, and the spring constant of the inner elastic member 16 is the base end portion. The middle part from 16a to the tip part 16b (the part where the plate member 23 exists) is high.

Similar to the inner elastic member 16, the outer elastic member 17 is a long metal plate member. The outer elastic member 17 has a structure in which two plate members 29 and 30 having different lengths are stacked. The plate members 22 and 23 have the same width and thickness, and differ only in length. The plate members 29 and 30 are made of spring steel. That is, the plate member 30 has a length that is at least one-half of the length of the plate member 29 and at most four-fifths. More preferably, the length of the plate member 30 is not less than two-thirds and not more than three-quarters of the length of the plate member 29. Here, the thickness dimension and the width dimension of the plate members 29 and 30 do not necessarily coincide with each other. Further, the outer elastic member 17 may be configured by stacking two or more plate members having different thicknesses.
The two plate members 29 and 30 are integrally coupled by a not-shown hook.

The outer elastic member 17 has a proximal end portion 17a and a distal end portion 17b.
At the base end portion 17a, one end of each of the plate members 29 and 30 is coincident. That is, the thickness dimension of the outer elastic member 17 at the base end portion 17a is large. Moreover, the front-end | tip part 17b is comprised only with the plate member 29 with long length. That is, the thickness dimension of the outer elastic member 17 at the distal end portion 17b is small. Therefore, the spring constant from the base end portion 17a of the outer elastic member 17 to the portion where the plate member 30 exists is high, and the spring constant of the portion where the plate member 30 including the distal end portion 17b does not exist is low. In other words, the spring constant of the portion where the plate member 30 is present is high and difficult to bend and deformed, and the spring constant on the tip portion 17b side where the plate member 30 is not present is low and easily deformed and bent.
That is, as will be described later, the outer elastic member 17 is supported in a cantilever manner by the shaft 41, the side close to the shaft 41 is the base end portion 17a side, and the spring constant of the outer elastic member 17 is the base end portion. The part from the point 17a to the end part 17b (the part where the plate member 30 exists) is high.
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer elastic member 17 is slightly longer than the inner elastic member 16.

  The distal end portion 16 b of the inner elastic member 16 and the distal end portion 17 b of the outer elastic member 17 are firmly fixed via a block-shaped fixing member 53. That is, the tip portions 16b and 17b are not detached or displaced. The fixing member 53 connects the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 so that the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 face each other at a predetermined angle in a natural state. Here, the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 may be parallel.

  The buffer members 20a to 20d (elastically deformable connection members) are members in which elongated metal plate-like members are formed in an annular shape. The buffer members 20a to 20d have a circular shape when no external force is applied, but when the external force is applied, the buffer members 20a to 20d are deformed into an irregular shape such as an elliptical shape, and return to the original circular shape when the external force is not applied. can do. Among the buffer members 20a to 20d, the buffer member 20a has the largest diameter, and the buffer members 20b, 20c, and 20d have the largest diameter in this order. That is, the diameter of the buffer member 20d is the smallest. Although not shown, the cushion members 20a to 20d are filled with a cushion material inside the rings. The cushion material can be elastically deformed integrally with the buffer members 20a to 20d. Moreover, the deformation amount of the buffer members 20a to 20d can be regulated by disposing the cushion material inside the buffer members 20a to 20d.

  As the elastically deformable connecting member, connecting members having various shapes having a restoring force stored in shape can be employed instead of the annular buffer members 20a to 20d. In other words, the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 may be connected using a connection member such as an arc shape or a bellows shape whose shape is memorized.

  Each of the buffer members 20a to 20d is disposed between the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 which are opened at a predetermined angle, and screws, scissors, rivets and the like are provided for the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17, respectively. It is fixed with the fixing means. That is, the buffer members 20d, 20c, 20b, and 20a are arranged in order from the side close to the tip portions 16b and 17b. The buffer members 20a to 20d connect a plurality of longitudinal locations of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 in a state allowing play. Therefore, the connection site | part of the buffer members 20a-20d in the inner side elastic member 16 and the connection site | part of the buffer members 20a-20d in the outer side elastic member 17 can mutually move to a longitudinal direction.

  The overhang member 24 is connected to the drive unit 14 via support members 38 and 40.

A support member 38 is attached to the proximal end portion 16 a of the inner elastic member 16.
As shown in FIG. 6, the support member 38 includes a shaft 51, a swing member 52, and a mounting plate 39.
The swing member 52 is an elongated plate-like member, and a shaft 51 is provided at one end. The shaft 51 stands with respect to the swing member 52. The shaft 51 is inserted through the engaging portion 34 (hole) of the rotating member 18 described above. Therefore, when the rotation member 18 rotates about the rotation shaft 31, the shaft 51 moves while drawing an arc around the rotation shaft 31.
A mounting plate 39 is fixed to the swing member 52. A base end portion 16 a of the inner elastic member 16 is fixed to the swing member 52 via a mounting plate 39. That is, the inner elastic member 16 can rotate around the shaft 51. Further, the base end portion 16 a of the inner elastic member 16 can be rotated around the rotation shaft 31 of the rotation member 18.

A support member 40 is attached to the base end portion 17 a of the outer elastic member 17.
As shown in FIG. 6, the support member 40 includes a shaft 41, a swing member 42, a roller 43, and a mounting plate 44.

  The swing member 42 is a pendulum-like member that is rotatably supported by the shaft 41. The swinging member 42 has long and thin same-shaped plate members 45 and 46 arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and is inserted through a central portion of these plate members by a shaft 41. The shaft 41 is fixed integrally with a fixed structure such as the side wall 11. A roller 43 is disposed at one end of the plate members 45 and 46. The roller 43 is rotatably supported by a shaft fixed to the end portions of the plate members 45 and 46. A mounting plate 44 is fixed to the other side of the plate members 45 and 46. A base end portion 17 a of the outer elastic member 17 is fixed to the mounting plate 44. That is, the base end portion 17 a of the outer elastic member 17 can swing integrally with the swinging member 42.

  The roller 43 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the cam portion 27 of the cam member 19. When the cam portion 27 rotates, the roller 43 rotates while contacting the peripheral surface of the cam portion 27. When the top portion (the most protruding portion) of the cam portion 27 comes into contact with the roller 43, the roller 43 is pressed by the cam portion 27, and the swing member 42 (support member 40) is centered around the shaft 41. Rotate in the direction. That is, the cam portion 27 rotates the swing member 42 so that the support member 40 rotates about the shaft 41 counterclockwise when viewed from above. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the base end portion 17a of the outer elastic member 17 integral with the support member 40 is rotated about the shaft 41, and the main conveyance path 2 (conveyor) Inclined toward the upper part 5).

As shown in FIG. 7, the casing 21 is attached to the side wall 11 of the conveyed product sorting device 4 of the conveyor device 1.
The housing 21 has an overhanging portion side accommodation portion 36 and a drive portion side accommodation portion 37.
The overhanging portion side accommodating portion 36 accommodates the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17.
The drive part side accommodation part 37 accommodates the rotation member 18 and the cam member 19 of the drive part 14.
An opening is provided on the side of the side wall 11 in the overhanging portion side accommodating portion 36 and the driving portion side accommodating portion 37. That is, the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 can be withdrawn / retracted from the overhanging portion side accommodating portion 36 through the opening of the overhanging portion side accommodating portion 36, and the opening of the driving portion side accommodating portion 37. The engaging portion 34 of the rotating member 18 and the base end portion 16a of the inner elastic member 16 can be withdrawn / retracted with respect to the driving portion side accommodating portion 37.

A foreign matter intrusion prevention member 60 is installed on the upper portion of the overhanging portion side accommodation portion 36.
The foreign matter intrusion prevention member 60 is composed of a plurality of thin plate members 61a to 61e.
One end of each of the thin plate members 61a to 61e is rotatably supported on the upper wall of the overhanging portion side accommodating portion 36. Moreover, the thin plate members 61a to 61e are connected to each other, and can be opened in a fan shape or overlapped with each other to be stored. The thin plate member 61 a is connected to the upper wall of the overhanging portion side accommodating portion 36 so as to be able to be withdrawn and retracted, and the thin plate member 61 e is connected to the inner elastic member 16. That is, the inner elastic member 16 of the overhanging member 24 and the overhanging portion side accommodating portion 36 of the housing 21 are connected by the foreign matter intrusion preventing member 60.

  When the inner elastic member 16 projects from the overhanging portion side accommodation portion 36 onto the main transport path 2, the foreign matter intrusion prevention member 60 projects from the overhanging portion side accommodation portion 36 together with the inner elastic member 16. . As a result, the foreign matter intrusion prevention member 60 shields the region between the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 in the overhang member 24 and prevents foreign matter from entering the region.

Next, the operation of the conveyed product sorting device 4 will be described.
The conveyed product sorting apparatus 4 can exhibit the retracted state shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and the extended state shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

  In the retracted state, as shown in FIG. 4, the gear portion 26 that engages with the rack portion 33 of the rotating member 18 is located at one end of the long hole 32. At this time, the engaging part 34 of the rotating member 18 and the base end part 16 a of the inner elastic member 16 are accommodated inside the drive part side accommodating part 37 and do not protrude from the conveyor part 5. Moreover, the inner side elastic member 16 and the outer side elastic member 17 are extended linearly, and are accommodated in the overhang | projection part side accommodating part 36 in a natural state.

At this time, the inner elastic member 16 is substantially parallel to the side walls 11 and 12, but the outer elastic member 17 is inclined with respect to the side walls 11 and 12.
At this time, the projected length A in the conveying direction in which the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 face each other is the longest. Here, the projection length A in the opposite conveyance direction is a length obtained by projecting the outer elastic member 17 in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the main conveyance path 2. Specifically, it is the projection length of the outer elastic member 17 projected onto the side wall 12. The length of the outer elastic member 17 includes the length from the shaft 41 to the proximal end portion 17a of the outer elastic member 17, and may be the length from the shaft 41 to the fixed member 53.

  When the drive motor 15 is driven and the overhang member 24 changes from the retracted state to the overhang state, power is transmitted from the drive motor 15 to the engaging portion 28, the shaft portion 25, the cam portion 27, and the gear portion 26 via the belt 35. Communicated. When the gear portion 26 rotates, the rotating member 18 engaged with the gear portion 26 by the rack portion 33 rotates about the rotation shaft 31. Therefore, the engaging portion 34 of the rotating member 18 moves from the driving portion side accommodating portion 37 onto the main transport path 2. That is, the shaft 51 moves while drawing an arc around the rotation shaft 31, and the base end portion 16 a of the inner elastic member 16 connected via the engagement portion 34 and the support member 38 (shaft 51) is the main conveyance path. 2. Move while drawing a circular arc at a position close to the side wall 11 above.

  At this time, since the base end portion 16a moves while drawing an arc, it moves to the upstream side in the transport direction of the main transport path 2 and also moves in the inner direction of the main transport path 2. Since the distal end portion 16b is connected to the outer elastic member 17 by the fixing member 53, and the proximal end portion 16a side of the inner elastic member 16 is pulled by the drive unit 14, a tensile force acts on the inner elastic member 16 in the longitudinal direction. To do.

  The operation at this time will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c).

In the state shown in FIG. 8A, the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 are in a natural state and are linear, and the length A1 between the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 is the maximum. .
Further, the end of the outer elastic member 17 on the base end side is set as a reference point O1, the position on the inner elastic member 16 side facing the reference point O1 of the outer elastic member 17 is set as a corresponding point O2, and the outer elastic member 17 and the inner elastic member are arranged. When the coupling portion at the tip of 16 is defined as a coupling point O3, the ratio between the curve length O1-O3 between the reference point O1 and the coupling point O3 and the curve length O2-O3 between the corresponding point O2 and the coupling point O3. Is the maximum.
Here, the reference point O1 is the position of the base end portion 17a (shaft 41) of the outer elastic member 17 in the transport direction of the main transport path 2 (conveyor unit 5).
The corresponding point O2 is a point on the inner elastic member 16, and corresponds to the position in the transport direction of the main transport path 2 (conveyor unit 5) at the reference point O1.
That is, the reference point O1 and the corresponding point O2 are on the same line orthogonal to the transport direction of the main transport path 2 (conveyor unit 5).

In the state shown in FIG. 8B, the base end portion 16 a side of the inner elastic member 16 is pulled by the drive unit 14, and the inner elastic member 16 starts to move upstream in the conveyance direction of the main conveyance path 2. As a result, the opposing length of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 is A2 shorter than A1.
Further, the curve length O1-O3 between the reference point O1 and the coupling point O3 is not changed, but the position on the inner elastic member 16 side when the proximal end portion 16a side of the inner elastic member 16 moves upstream in the transport direction. The corresponding point O2 moves to the coupling point O3 side. Therefore, the ratio of the curve length O1-O3 between the reference point O1 and the coupling point O3 and the curve length O2-O3 between the corresponding point O2 and the coupling point O3 is smaller than the previous case.

In the state shown in FIG. 8C, the inner elastic member 16 is further moved to the upstream side in the conveying direction, and the opposing length of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 is the shortest A3. Yes.
In addition, the curve length O1-O3 between the reference point O1 and the coupling point O3 is not changed, but the proximal end portion 16a side of the inner elastic member 16 moves to the upstream side in the transport direction, so that the inner elastic member 16 side. The corresponding point O2 moves further to the coupling point O3 side. Therefore, the ratio of the curve length O1-O3 between the reference point O1 and the coupling point O3 and the curve length O2-O3 between the corresponding point O2 and the coupling point O3 is further smaller than the previous case.

That is, the opposing length of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 becomes shorter as the inner elastic member 16 moves upstream in the conveyance direction of the main conveyance path 2.
In other words, when the inner elastic member 16 moves upstream in the conveyance direction of the main conveyance path 2, the fixing member 53 that fixes the distal end portion 16 b of the inner elastic member 16 and the distal end portion 17 b of the outer elastic member 17 becomes the main conveyance path. 2 moves upstream in the conveying direction. On the other hand, the position of the base end portion 17a of the outer elastic member 17 hardly changes.
Further, the ratio of the curve length O1-O3 between the reference point O1 and the coupling point O3 and the curve length O2-O3 between the corresponding point O2 and the coupling point O3 gradually decreases.

  That is, in the outer elastic member 17, the distal end portion 17 b is pulled upstream in the conveyance direction of the main conveyance path 2 in a state where the base end portion 17 a is fixed, so that a compressive force acts on the outer elastic member 17. Therefore, the outer elastic member 17 is curved and deformed, and the opposing length of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 is shortened.

  The curved outer elastic member 17 and inner elastic member 16 are connected in a state that allows play by the buffer members 20a to 20d. That is, the outer elastic member 17 and the inner elastic member 16 are connected to each other by the buffer members 20a to 20d so as to be able to approach and separate from each other. Therefore, the inner elastic member 16 is pulled and deformed by the outer elastic member 17 via the buffer members 20a to 20d. In the state shown in FIG. 8C, the curved projecting member 24 projects from the side wall 11 side to the side wall 12 side on the conveyance path.

  The bending deformation of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c).

In the retracted state shown in FIG. 3A, the inner elastic member 16 is in a linear natural state, and the distance M1 from the rotation center (shaft 51) of the base end portion 16a to the fixing member 53 (tip portion 16b) is Longest.
3B, the distance M2 from the rotation center (the shaft 51) of the base end portion 16a to the fixed member 53 is shorter than the distance M1. Therefore, the inner elastic member 16 is curved and deformed.
3C, the distance M3 from the rotation center (axis 51) of the base end portion 16a to the fixing member 53 is shorter than the distance M2. Therefore, the inner elastic member 16 is further curved and deformed than in the state shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3C, in order to bend and deform the inner elastic member 16, the rotation center (axis 51) of the proximal end portion 16 a of the inner elastic member 16 and the proximal end of the outer elastic member 17. The distance of the rotation center (axis 41) of the portion 17a is also changed.
That is, in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the distance L1 between the rotation center (axis 51) of the base end portion 16a and the rotation center (axis 41) of the base end portion 17a is relatively short. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), in the middle of the projecting state, the distance L2 between the rotation center (axis 51) of the base end portion 16a and the rotation center (axis 41) of the base end portion 17a is a distance. Longer than L1. And as shown in FIG.3 (c), distance L3 of the rotation center (axis | shaft 51) of the base end part 16a and the rotation center (axis | shaft 41) of the base end part 17a when it will be in a fully overhanging state. Is the longest.
In this way, the manner of bending deformation can be finely adjusted by changing the distance between the base end portions 16a and 17a. That is, when the distance between the base end portions 16a and 17a is changed, the pressing force from the outer elastic member 17 side to the inner elastic member 16 side via the buffer members 20a to 20d changes. As a result, the inner elastic member 16 can be appropriately curved and deformed.

  When the overhang member 24 is curved and deformed as shown in FIG. 3C, the cam member 19 (cam portion 27) contacts the swing member 42 (roller 43) to swing the swing member 42. . As a result, the distal end portion of the overhang member 24 further moves toward the side wall 12 of the conveyor unit 5 (main conveyance path 2), and the overhang member 24 is overlaid on the conveyance path as shown in FIG. Since the cam portion 27 (the most protruding portion) of the cam member 19 is in contact with the swing member 42 (roller 43), the swing member 42 can swing in the opposite direction against the cam portion 27. Can not.

  Therefore, even if the conveyed product 50 that has been conveyed comes into contact with the overhanging member 24 (inner elastic member 16), the force applied at that time is supported by the cam member 19, and the overhanging member 24 (outer elastic member 17) The direction is not easily changed, and the conveyed product 50 is discharged from the conveyor unit 5 (main conveyance path 2) in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction only by bending the inner elastic member 16.

Here, the overhanging member 24 (the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17) has a length corresponding to the width of the conveyor unit 5 (main conveyance path 2). That is, when the projecting member 24 is projected on the conveyor unit 5, the distal end side (the fixing member 53 side) moves to the vicinity of the upper side of the side wall 12.
That is, the length of the overhang member 24 (the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17) is a length that can shield the conveyor unit 5 when it is curved and deformed. Specifically, the length is such that the conveyor unit 5 can be shielded so that the conveyed product 50 cannot pass straight through the conveyor unit 5 along the conveyance direction of the main conveyance path 2.

  Since it is only necessary to be able to project the conveyed product 50 onto the conveyor unit 5 to the extent that the conveyed product 50 cannot pass straight through the curved portion, the tip portion of the projecting member 24 cannot necessarily move to the side wall 12. May be. That is, the length of the overhanging member 24 (the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17) is a length that can change the conveyance direction of the conveyed product 50 when it is curved and deformed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sub-transport path 3 is connected to a portion of the main transport path 2 where the conveyed product sorting device 4 is disposed. That is, the sub transport path 3 is connected to the side wall 12 in the transported material sorting apparatus 4.
The sub-transport path 3 is composed of a roller conveyor. The roller conveyor constituting the sub-conveying path 3 has a driving roller and a driven roller, which are connected by a belt to transmit power. The sub-transport path 3 can transport the transported object 50 in a direction different from the transport direction of the main transport path 2.

As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the distal end portion 16b of the curved inner elastic member 16 and the distal end portion 17b of the outer elastic member 17 are connected to the side wall 47 (main conveyance path 2) of the auxiliary conveyance path 3 as shown in FIG. Near the downstream side wall). As a result, the inner elastic member 16 is smoothly curved and arranged on the conveyor unit 5.
The conveyed product 50 transported along the main transport path 2 is guided to the sub transport path 3 side along the curved inner elastic member 16 and is transported by the sub transport path 3.

The spring constant on the base end portion 16a side of the inner elastic member 16 is high. Therefore, when the projecting member 24 is projected on the conveyor portion 5, the base end portion 16a side of the inner elastic member 16 is gently inclined with respect to the transport direction. And since the spring constant on the tip portion 16b side is low, it is easy to bend and deform, and the tip portion 16b side that has been bent and deformed is disposed on the conveyor portion 5.
And the conveyed product 50 conveyed along the main conveyance path 2 collides with the base end portion 16a side of the inner elastic member 16, but the base end portion 16a side is gently inclined with respect to the transport direction. The impact of collision is small. Furthermore, the conveyed product 50 is guided to the sub-conveying path 3 side along the curved tip portion 16b side.

  Instead of the inner elastic member 16, it is preferable to employ an overhang member 54 provided with an inner elastic member 56 shown in FIG. The inner elastic member 56 has substantially the same structure as the inner elastic member 16, but a resin plate 55 is provided on the outer surface side of the plate member 22. That is, since the resin plate 55 has a lower surface hardness and is softer than the plate member 22 made of spring steel, the conveyed product 50 is easily protected when the conveyed product 50 collides.

Moreover, since the conveyed product sorting apparatus 4 makes the overhang | projection member 24 move in and out on the main conveyance path 2 from the side wall 11 side of the main conveyance path 2 by the drive part 14 (drive motor 15), operation | movement is quick.
Furthermore, it can be configured with a smaller number of parts than a conventional sorting apparatus, and the manufacturing cost is low, and maintenance can be easily performed.

  Instead of the drive unit 14 described above, a mechanism that winds the base end portion 16a side of the inner elastic member 16 may be employed. By winding up the base end portion 16 a side of the inner elastic member 16, the distal end portion 16 b of the inner elastic member 16 is pulled in the longitudinal direction of the inner elastic member 16, and is curved and deformed to protrude onto the main conveyance path 2.

  The conveyed product sorting device 4 according to the present embodiment adjusts the degree of bending deformation of the inner elastic member 16 and the outer elastic member 17 so that the conveyed product 50 flowing on the main conveyance path 2 is brought closer to the side wall 12 side. You can also. That is, the transported object 50 placed on the side of the side wall 11 of the main transport path 2 and the transported object 50 placed on the center portion of the main transport path 2 are moved to the side wall 12 side of the main transport path 2. Alignment along the side wall 12 is also possible.

  In the embodiment described above, the inner elastic member 16 is pulled in the longitudinal direction to bend the outer elastic member 17 connected to the tip, and the inner elastic member 16 is bent and deformed along the outer elastic member 17. The member 17 may be warped by applying a compressive force in the longitudinal direction.

  Also in this case, the inner elastic member 16 is similarly bent along the outer elastic member 17.

2 Main transport path (transport path)
4 Transported material sorting device 14 Drive section (curving deformation imparting means)
16 Inner elastic member 17 Outer elastic member 19 Cam member (interlocking mechanism)
20a to 20d Buffer member (other members)

Claims (4)

In the transport material sorting device that discharges transport material from the transport path,
Having an overhang member,
The overhang member has an outer elastic member and an inner elastic member having a predetermined length corresponding to the width of the conveyance path,
The outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are in a posture facing each other in a state of being parallel or having an angle,
The outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected directly or with other members interposed between them in a state allowing play at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction,
It has a bending deformation applying means for applying a tensile force or a compressive force in the longitudinal direction to at least one of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member to bend and deform the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member. Transported material sorting device.   2. The conveyed product sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member are connected by a connecting member having elasticity. The outer elastic member and the inner elastic member have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and the proximal end portion is disposed on the side of the conveyance path, and the distal end portion side conveys when being bent and deformed by the bending deformation applying means. That overhang on the street,
The conveyed product sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base end side has a higher spring constant than the tip end side. The outer elastic member and the inner elastic member have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and the proximal end portion is disposed on the side of the conveyance path, and the distal end portion side conveys when being bent and deformed by the bending deformation applying means. That overhang on the street,
When the outer elastic member and the inner elastic member overhang on the conveying path, the inner elastic member is arranged upstream of the outer elastic member in the conveying direction of the conveyed object,
The inner elastic member is movable upstream in the conveying direction of the conveying path;
The base end side of the outer elastic member is rotatable around the vertical axis,
4. An interlocking mechanism for rotating the base end side of the outer elastic member around the vertical axis in conjunction with the movement of the inner elastic member to the upstream side in the conveying direction. The conveyed product sorting apparatus in any one.

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