JPH0233029A - Conveyer by pneumatic pressure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To convey an object so as to softly reach a receiving device while conveying the object at a high speed by providing a reverse pressure control means which controls a flow of air from a reverse pressure nozzle in a direction of decreasing the flow of air. CONSTITUTION:A reverse pressure control means 30 opens a control valve to a maximum, injecting reverse pressure air from a reverse pressure nozzle 22 to be discharged from an exhaust hole 2. Then a solenoid valve 51 is opened, and a conveying nozzle 12 injects conveying air starting a conveyed object 5 to be moved to a side of the downstream. Subsequently, the conveyed object 5 is confirmed passing by a passing confirming sensor 3, and the reverse pressure control means 30 starts control action, while the conveyed object 5 passes through the exhaust hole 2, approaching the reverse pressure nozzle 22 by inertia, receiving a reverse pressure of air and starting deceleration. A flow of air from the reverse pressure nozzle 22 is controlled by the reverse pressure control means 30, and the reverse pressure of injected air is gradually decreased with the lapse of time while so as to correspond to the deceleration of the conveyed object 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a pneumatic conveyance device for conveying an object to a receiving device at the end of the conveyance in a soft manner.

<Conventional technology> Conventionally, a workpiece made of a relatively heavy metal material processed by a machine tool, etc. is transferred to the next process.
Chute or roller conveyor devices that utilize rolling or sliding due to the workpiece's own weight, and actuators that operate cylinders, motors, etc. to chuck and transport the workpiece have been widely used.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the former case, such conventional conveyance devices cannot control the conveyance speed of the workpiece, which is the conveyed object, and therefore However, there was a risk that the receiver would collide with the tool and cause scratches on the transported object.

In addition, the latter method requires a large space for the actuator for transportation and the trajectory of the slide, and the equipment for chucking the transported object becomes large and expensive, and it is difficult to transport at high speed. However, there was a problem in that it became even more expensive.

This invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a pneumatic conveyance device that conveys the conveyed object at high speed and conveys it to a receiving device in a soft manner. This is what we are trying to provide.

Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and provides a pneumatic conveying device in which a conveying device and a receiving device for a conveyed object are connected by an air conveying pipe. The air conveying pipe is provided with an exhaust hole for discharging the air inside the pipe in the middle of the pipe, and a passage confirmation sensor for confirming passage of the conveyed object, and the receiving device is configured to detect the passage of the conveyed object. A reverse pressure nozzle that injects air in a direction opposite to the above direction, and a notification pressure control means that operates based on a signal from the passage confirmation sensor and controls the air flow rate of the reverse pressure nozzle in a direction to decrease. This is a conveying device using pneumatic pressure.

Function> The present invention is configured as described above, and the conveyed object inserted into the air conveying pipe from the delivery device is conveyed downstream by the conveying air, and the conveyed object is moved upstream from the exhaust hole. At times, the counter-pressurized air from the counter-pressurizing nozzle is exhausted through the exhaust hole.

When the conveyed object passes the passage confirmation sensor position, the notification pressure control means starts operating based on a signal from the passage confirmation sensor.

When the transported object passes through the exhaust hole, the transport air is discharged from the exhaust hole, and the transported object continues to move in the transport direction due to inertia, and is decelerated by the reverse pressurized air from the reverse pressure nozzle. Then, the reverse pressure nozzle is controlled by the notification pressure control means to reduce the flow rate of reverse pressurized air in response to the deceleration of the transported object, and the transported object is moved onto the receiving device by gradually decreasing the moving speed. It becomes soft to the touch.

<Embodiment> An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory diagrams showing the pneumatic conveyance device of the present invention, and an overall structural diagram of an embodiment. 1, an exit device 10 provided at the starting end of the air conveying pipe 1,
A pneumatic conveying device is constituted by a receiving device 20 that is provided at the terminal end of the air conveying pipe 1, has a reverse pressure nozzle 22, and has a notification pressure control means 30.

In the embodiment, the air conveyance tube 1 is made of a synthetic resin pipe material, and is formed in a shape that matches the conveyance route.

An exhaust hole 2 is provided in the middle of the air conveying pipe l, passing through the inside and outside of the pipe, and a passage confirmation sensor 3 is installed near the upstream side of the exhaust hole 2. ,
In the embodiment, it is composed of an electromagnetic sensor, is provided outside the air conveying pipe 1, and is electrically connected to a control device 40, which will be described later.

Each time the transported object 5 passes through the opposed air transport pipes 1, an electrical signal is output.

The sending device 10 has a sending part 11 that can move up and down to close the starting end of the air conveying pipe 1, and the sending part 11 is provided with a conveying nozzle 12 that is open in the sending direction of the transported object 5. There is. Further, the sending unit 11 is provided with a presence/absence confirmation sensor 13 consisting of an electromagnetic sensor.
3 is electrically connected to the control device 40 to detect whether the object 5 to be transported is placed on the delivery section ll.

Furthermore, a supply line 50 from a high-pressure air source (not shown) is connected to the conveyance nozzle 12 via a solenoid valve 51.
The solenoid valve 51 is controlled by the control device 40 and is configured to open and close the flow path.

The receiving device 20 has a receiving part 21 that can move up and down to close the terminal end of the air conveying pipe l. A pressure nozzle 22 is provided.

A notification pressure control means 30 is connected to the reverse pressurization nozzle 22 and is formed to control the flow rate of the reverse pressurization air.

In the embodiment, the notification pressure control means 30 is constituted by an electromagnetic valve consisting of a proportional solenoid 31 in which the magnitude of the current is proportional to the attraction force, and a control valve 35 that is integrally fixed thereto, and the proportional solenoid 31 is connected to a control device. 40 to adjust the flow rate of air supplied to the reverse pressure nozzle 22.

This passage pressure control means 30 is configured such that the spool 36 connected to the iron core 33 is opened at the outlet 39 of the sleeve 37 by the balance between the suction force F1 of the iron core 33 of the proportional solenoid 31 and the reaction force F2 of the return spring 34. Configured to control area. The inlet 38 is then connected to a supply line 50, the spool 36 moves in response to the magnitude of the current applied to the coil 32, and the outlet 38 is connected to the reverse pressure nozzle 22.
The relationship between the current applied to the coil 32 of the passage pressure control means 30 and the opening area of the outlet 39 is as shown in FIG. 4, for example. The current value of the coil 32 is set by the control device 40 to decrease over time as shown in FIG. 5, so as to gradually decrease the air flow rate. Further, the receiving section 2.1 is provided with a presence/absence confirmation sensor 23 consisting of an electromagnetic sensor, and the presence/absence confirmation sensor 23 is electrically connected to the control device 40 to detect the transferred object 5.
is formed to detect whether or not it is on the receiving section 21.

In the embodiment, the control device 40 reads out a CPU that executes arithmetic processing according to a predetermined program, a ROM that stores a control program that defines the arithmetic means, and various data related to the arithmetic processing.

The main body is a microcomputer equipped with a writable RAM.

And passage confirmation sensor 3, presence confirmation sensor 13.23
Processes the confirmation signal from the sender 11 and the receiver 21 up and down '81! ], and the passage pressure control means 30
On the other hand, the sending device 10 and the receiving device 20 of this transfer device are configured to output a signal to drive the electromagnetic valve 51 and a signal to open and close the electromagnetic valve 51, respectively.
It is connected to the previous process and the primary process via. This transfer device 15.25 is provided with clamping parts 16.28 that are movable in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the clamping parts 16.26 clamp the transported object 5 and transfer it onto the sending part 11, or It is configured to be taken out from above the receiving section 21.

Next, the operation of the pneumatic conveyance device configured as described above will be explained based on the flowchart in FIG. 7. When the conveyance device is started, the control device 40 becomes in operation state, and the control program of the microcomputer is initialized. The transfer device 15 starts after the set operation, and transfers the transferred object 5 from the previous process.
is transferred onto the sending unit 11. At this time, the solenoid valve 51. The reverse pressure means 30 is in a closed state.

Then, in step 100, the control device 40 receives a confirmation signal from the presence confirmation sensor 13, and when it is determined that there is an object 5 to be transported, the process proceeds to step 110, and when there is no object, step 100 is repeated. At step 110, a confirmation signal from the presence/absence confirmation sensor 23 is taken in, and when it is determined that there is no conveyed object 5 on the receiving section 21, the process proceeds to step 120, and when there is, step 110 is repeated.

Subsequently, in step 120, the delivery section 11 is raised to insert the object to be transported 5 into the air transport pipe 1 and close the starting end thereof. In step 130, the receiving part 21 rises to close the terminal end of the air conveying pipe 1.

Next, in step 140, the passage pressure control means 30 opens the control valve 35 to the maximum, the reverse pressure nozzle 22 injects reverse pressurized air, and the reverse pressurized air is discharged from the exhaust hole 2. In step 150, the solenoid valve 51 is opened, and the conveyance nozzle 12 injects conveyance air. As a result, the conveyed object 5 receives the conveying air and starts moving downstream. Next, step 1
At 60, the passage of the conveyed object 5 is confirmed by the passage confirmation sensor 3, and if there is a passage confirmation signal, the process proceeds to step 170, and if there is no passage confirmation signal, step 160 is repeated.

In step 170, the passage pressure control means 30 starts the control operation, and the transported object 5 passes through the exhaust hole 2 position, approaches the reverse pressure nozzle 22 due to inertia, and receives reverse pressurized air. and start decelerating.

The air flow rate of the reverse pressurizing nozzle 22 is controlled by the passage pressure control means 30, and the reverse pressurizing air to be injected is gradually controlled over time and in response to the deceleration of the transported object 5. Decrease. Therefore, the conveyed object 5 gradually decreases its moving speed and softly adheres to the receiving section 21 . At this time,
The conveying air from the conveying nozzle 12 is discharged from the exhaust hole 2.

Next, in step 180, a confirmation signal from the presence/absence confirmation sensor 23 is taken in, and when it is determined that there is an object 5 to be transported, the process proceeds to step 190, and when there is no object, the process returns to step 170.

In step 190, the passage pressure control means 30 is closed, and the passage pressure air injection from the reverse pressure nozzle 22 is stopped.
Next, in step 200, the solenoid valve 51 is closed,
The conveyance air injection from the conveyance nozzle 12 is stopped.

Medium A, 1°C Next, in step 210, the receiving part 21 is lowered and the receiving part 2
The conveyed object 5 on the top is taken out to the next process by the transfer device 25. Then, in step 220, the delivery unit 11 is lowered, and in step 230, it is determined whether or not there is a stop signal to stop the operation of the conveying device.If the determination is YES, the conveying device stops operating; Return to step 100 and repeat the above steps.

Note that this invention is not limited to the above description or country, and the embodiments thereof may be modified without departing from the technical idea of this invention. For example,
The air conveyance tube may be made of metal, and in that case, the air conveyance tube may be provided with a glass window and equipped with a passage confirmation sensor consisting of an optical sensor to confirm the passage of the conveyed object. .

Further, the passage pressure control means may be an electric flow rate control valve that can be driven and controlled by a motor.

Furthermore, the presence/absence confirmation sensor may be a limit switch that is turned on and off by contact with a protruding contact lever.

Further, even if the object to be conveyed is a capsule-shaped carrier capable of accommodating a workpiece or the like, similar functions and effects can be obtained.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, the pneumatic conveying device of the present invention is a pneumatic conveying device in which the sending device and the receiving device for the transported object are connected by an air conveying pipe. The pipe is equipped with an exhaust hole in the middle of the pipe for discharging the air inside the pipe, and a passage confirmation sensor for checking the passage of the transported object, and the receiving device injects air in the opposite direction to the transport direction of the transported object. The structure is equipped with a reverse pressure nozzle that operates based on a signal from a passage confirmation sensor and a passage pressure control means that controls the air flow rate of the reverse pressure nozzle in a direction to decrease, so the conveyance speed of the transported object can be controlled. can be gradually reduced and softened onto the receiver. Therefore, collision between the conveyed object and the receiver is avoided at the conveyance end position, and even relatively heavy conveyed objects can be conveyed without any defects.

Further, since the conveyance is performed using pneumatic pressure, high-speed conveyance is possible due to an increase in the amount of air fed per unit, and there is no possibility that the conveyed object will be damaged by chucking during conveyance.

Furthermore, since the conveyance path is formed of a tube material, the degree of freedom in setting the conveyance path is large, and the space occupied by the conveyance path can be reduced.

In addition, since the conveyance route is only the pipe material, the apparatus can be configured simply and the equipment cost can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a pneumatic conveyance device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the inventive device, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the passage pressure control means, and Fig. 4 is the same. A curve diagram showing an example of how the opening area changes depending on the drive current of the passage pressure control means, FIG. 5 is a curve diagram showing how the drive current changes with time of the passage pressure control means, and FIG. An explanatory diagram of the control system of the apparatus of the invention FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operational steps of the apparatus of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Air conveyance pipe, 2... Exhaust hole, 3... Passage confirmation sensor, 10... Sending device, 12... Conveying nozzle, 20... Receiving device, 22... Ship passage pressure nozzle, 30... notification pressure control means; Patent applicant: Aisan Industries Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A pneumatic conveying device in which a sending device and a receiving device for conveyed objects are connected by an air conveying tube, the air conveying tube discharging air inside the tube in the middle of the conduit. and a passage confirmation sensor that confirms the passage of the conveyed object, the receiving device includes a reverse pressure nozzle that injects air in a direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the conveyed object, and a passage confirmation sensor that confirms the passage of the conveyed object. A conveyance device using pneumatic pressure, comprising: reverse pressurization control means that operates based on a signal from a sensor and controls the air flow rate of the reverse pressurization nozzle in a direction to decrease.