JPH0213378Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field This invention relates to an accumulation conveyor, and particularly to an accumulation conveyor that accumulates articles at a certain pitch and conveys them in that state.

Conventional Technology Many accumulation conveyors with various accumulation functions have been developed in the past, but all of them have advantages and disadvantages, such as complicated accumulation devices and high-speed The noise when driving is loud and there is a limit to high speed driving,
Alternatively, it is expensive to manufacture, has a narrow range of adaptation to the weight of the transported article, is particularly unsuitable for lightweight articles, and has disadvantages such as a narrow range of adaptation to irregularities on the bottom surface of the transported article. In particular, it is difficult to discharge the accumulated conveyed articles at a constant pitch on an accumulation conveyor equipped with a conventional accumulation device, and the sensing roller of the accumulation device in a certain category may become defective. In this case, there are drawbacks such as the difficulty of dispensing goods in all categories at once.

Purpose of the invention Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to eliminate such drawbacks of the conventional method by making it possible to reliably bring the propulsion chain into and out of contact with the conveyed articles to ensure accumulation and discharging and supply, and to keep the conveyed articles constant. To provide an accumulation conveyor capable of accumulating and conveying at a pitch of 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, and 7 be easily constructed and manufactured at low cost, and capable of reliably accumulating and discharging without failure.

Structure of the invention According to this invention, an accumulation conveyor includes a swingable bracket that supports a sensing roller, and a pivotable bracket at one end, in order to accumulate articles in each of a plurality of sections. An actuator consisting of a supporting link, a push-button valve mounted near one end of the link and actuated by the bracket, and a spring tensioning the other end of the bracket against the link. In an accumulation conveyor equipped with an accumulation device, two rows of endless propulsion chains are provided near both sides of the frame, and each section is provided with two rows of endless propulsion chains to move the propulsion chains up and down to bring them into contact with and away from articles. an actuator, a stopper erected by a piston-cylinder device actuated upon detection of passage of an article, and another actuator provided at the other end of the link for pushing the sensing roller above the position above the propulsion chain. It is characterized by being composed of.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, an accumulation conveyor of the invention includes a pair or two rows of endless pads disposed along near opposite sides of a frame 2. It is mainly composed of a propulsion chain 3 attached to each other, and an accumulation device 10 provided in each section between the rows of these propulsion chains 3, and each accumulation device 10 has a piston cylinder device 12. a stopper 11 that is erected, a sensing roller 14, and a swingable bracket 15 that supports the sensing roller 14.
and a link 1 that pivots the bracket 15 at one end.
6, an actuator 17 that presses the other end of the link 16, a push button-shaped valve 18 that is actuated by the bracket 15, and a spring 19 that tensions the bracket 15 against the link 16.

A pair of endless propulsion chains 3 provided along the sides of the frame 2 for transporting articles are of the well-known type with pads, and are inserted into the slit portions of the slit-shaped side rails 4 provided on both sides of the frame 2. It is moved up and down by an actuator 5 provided for each section so that it can approach and separate from the bottom of the articles to be conveyed. That is, the propulsion chain 3 is appropriately driven by a sprocket 6, and the conveyance side slides on an upper guide 7 that matches the length of each section and is supported by the actuator 5, and the return side slides on an appropriate return wheel 8. , the upper guide 7 is moved by the actuator 5 of each section.
The propulsion chain 3 can be moved up and down at the same time. Therefore, when the propulsion chain 3 was lifted by the actuator 5 via the upper guide 7, the article was conveyed by the propulsion chains 3 on both sides, the actuator 5 was deflated, and the propulsion chain 3 was lowered. Sometimes the articles are accumulated as the bottom of the articles rests on the side rails 4 and the propulsion chain 3 moves away from the articles.

Between the rows of such propulsion chains 3, an accumulation device 10 is provided for each section. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, each accumulation device 10 includes a stopper 11, a pneumatic or hydraulic piston cylinder device 12 for operating the stopper 11, a sensing roller 14, and a rotating sensing roller 14. A swingable bracket 15 that supports the bracket 15, a link 16 that pivots the bracket 15 at one end, an actuator 17 that presses the other end of the link 16, and a push button type valve 18 that is actuated by the bracket 15. , and a spring 19 for tensioning the bracket 15 against the link 16, these members are mounted and incorporated in the storage frame member 21. Stopper 11
consists of a stopper plate 22 with a hook-shaped cross section and a groove-shaped support member 24, and the ear portion 26 of the frame member 21 is attached to the upper part of the support member 24 by a pin 25.
The end of the piston rod 28 of the piston cylinder device 12 is connected to the lower part of the support member 24. Further, the piston cylinder device 12 is supported on the frame member 21 by a bracket 29 at one end of the cylinder 27. Therefore, the stopper 11 is raised up and overturned around the pin 25 by the operation of the piston cylinder device 12.

The sensing roller 14, which is now being stepped on by the article, is rotatably supported at one end of the bracket 15 by a pin 31. Further, the bracket 15 is pivoted to one end of the link 16 by a pin 32, and one end of a spring 19 is locked to the other end of the bracket 15; (Figures 4 and 5). Furthermore,
This link 16 is connected to the frame member 2 by means of a pin 34.
1, a push-button-shaped valve 18 is provided near one end of the link 16 and is actuated by a bracket 15;
An actuator 17 is provided at the other end of the link 16 to swing the link 16 relative to the frame member 21.

Accumulation device 1 configured in this way
One set of zeros is provided for each section of the conveyor.

Effect of the invention According to the storage conveyor of this invention constructed in this way, for example, in Fig. 1,
Until the conveyed article reaches zone No. 1, the piston cylinder devices 12, 12' are extended and the actuators 17, 17' are contracted, and the stoppers 11, 11' and the sensing roller 14,
14' is below the frame line. First, when the first article reaches zone No. 1, the piston cylinder device 12 of zone No. 1 is actuated by a signal from a phototube (not shown) provided at the entrance of the zone, and the stopper 11 is pinned. At the same time, the actuator 17 is activated and the link 16 is rotated clockwise around the pin 34, and the sensing roller 14 is pushed up above the position above the propulsion chain 3. It will be done. Therefore, in this state, the first article is placed on the sensing roller 14 in zone No. 1.
When stepped on, the bracket 15 is rotated counterclockwise around the pin 32, the valve 18 is operated, and the air is removed from the actuator 5, so that the upper guide 7 of the propulsion chain 3 is lowered and the propulsion chain 3 is moved toward the article. Since the article is moved downward away from the side rail 4
is placed on top of it and stopped. At this time, it is preferable that the stopper 11 be erected in order to improve the accuracy with which the article is stopped. At the same time, the piston cylinder device 12' and actuator 17' in zone No. 2 are operated by the operation of the valve 18 at this time, so the stopper 11' is erected and the sensing roller 14' is moved above the propulsion chain 3. It is pushed up above its position.

After the first article has been accumulated in this way, when the next article steps on the sensing roller 14' of zone No. 2, the valve 18' is actuated, and the actuator 5' of zone No. 2 is evacuated to remove the air from the upper guide 7. ' is lowered and the propulsion chain 3 is moved downwardly away from the articles so that the articles can be placed on the side rails 4 and stopped and stored. In this manner, the above-described steps are repeated for each successive section, or zone, so that the articles are successively accumulated on the conveyor at a constant pitch to achieve the desired accumulation.

In this way, the articles are accumulated on the accumulation conveyor at a certain pitch, so that, for example, the articles accumulated on the accumulation conveyor can be delivered all at once to the next sorting conveyor. For example, the next sorting operation of the articles can be carried out smoothly. In other words, for simultaneous delivery of articles, a separate circuit of pressurized air is used to stop the stoppers 11, 11' of all zones.
..., the sensing rollers 14, 14'... are lowered from the frame line, and the actuators 5, 5'... of the propulsion chain 3 are all actuated to lift the upper guide, thereby raising the propulsion chain to a position above the chain. Since all the lines can be activated at the same time, it is possible to transport and dispense all accumulated articles at once, ie, a certain pitch.

Additionally, if the sensing mechanism in a certain zone becomes defective for some reason while articles are being accumulated on the conveyor, there is a risk that the sensing mechanisms and stoppers of the entire line will fall below the frame line. Preferably, a self-holding circuit is provided to prevent the sensing mechanism from lowering below the frame line once an article steps on the sensing roller and the sensing roller of the next zone is raised until the all-out action is performed.

Effects of the invention As described above, in the accumulation conveyor of this invention, articles conveyed in irregular pitches are conveyed all at once with a constant pitch required for the next process. Accumulate at a certain pitch on the conveyor so that it can be taken out.
Then, the accumulation device can be activated to take out all the accumulated items at once, so that subsequent operations can be carried out smoothly and efficiently, and it has a simple structure, is durable, and can be manufactured inexpensively. In addition, these accumulation and dispensing operations can be performed reliably, without failure, and noise can be further reduced, and it is possible to achieve effects such as being well suited for lightweight articles.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing the accumulation conveyor of this invention with some parts omitted, Fig. 2 is an end view, Fig. 3 is a partial plan view, and Fig. 4 is a partial view of the accumulation conveyor. 5 is a plan view and FIG. 6 is an end sectional view. In the figure, 2: frame, 3: propulsion chain, 4: side rail, 5: actuator, 6: sprocket, 7: upper guide, 10: accumulation device, 11: stopper, 12: piston cylinder device, 14: Sensing roller, 15: bracket, 16: link, 17: actuator, 18: valve, 1
9: Spring, 20: Actuator.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] In order to store articles in each of a plurality of sections, a swingable bracket that supports a sensing roller, a link that pivotally supports the bracket at one end, and a link near one end of the link are provided. An accumulation device comprising a push-button valve mounted on the bracket and actuated by the bracket, and a spring tensioning the other end of the bracket against the link. In the ration conveyor, two rows of endless propulsion chains are installed near both sides of the frame, actuators are installed in each section to move the propulsion chains up and down to bring them into contact with and away from the articles, and a system is used to detect the passage of articles. It is characterized by being composed of a stopper erected by the actuated piston cylinder device, and another actuator provided at the other end of the link for pushing the sensing roller above the position above the propulsion chain. Acquisition conveyor.