JPH03200626A - Method and device for automatically separating object to be conveyed and feeding device employing them - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate automatic processing of an object to be conveyed at an after-process by mounting a ratchet having three claws, wherein the front side in the direction of rotation is formed in the shape of a curved protrusion, the rear side in the shape of a curved recessed part, and the tip in a pointed shape, around 8 rotary shaft having the same rotation direction as that of the rotary shaft of a carriage conveyor. CONSTITUTION:An object 3 to be conveyed is transferred to the rear end of a second conveyor 2 operated at a speed higher than that of a first conveyor 1, the tip of the object 3 to be conveyed is locked to a recessed curved part 6 of a claw 5 of a ratchet 4, and advanced over the second conveyor 2 through rotation of the ratchet 4. The speed of the second conveyor 2 is set to a speed higher than the rotation peripheral velocity of the ratchet 4. The claw 5 to which the object 3 to be conveyed is lowered to a position below the second conveyor 2 but the tip of the claw 5 holds the object 3 to be conveyed on the second conveyor 2. A protrusion curved part 7 is protruded from the second conveyor 2 as a claw 5' located in the rear of the claw 5 is rotated before the claw 5 is completely lowered to a position below the second conveyor to push up the under surface of the object 3 to be conveyed by the protrusion curved part. The object 3 to be conveyed is moved in a state that its tip is placed on the second conveyor 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is directed to conveying objects that are continuously conveyed in a state in which the front and back are in contact with each other, one by one, so that they can be easily processed in the next process. The present invention relates to a method and device for automatically separating midway, and an automatic separation and supply device for conveyed objects using the same.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In mass production lines of various industries, it is common practice to automatically transport products using a conveyor when connecting each process. However, depending on the subsequent process, it is often easier to process the transported and supplied products if they are separated from each other.

For example, in the case of manufacturing rice crackers, in the final process, 1 rice cracker is
In an automatic packaging machine that wraps rice crackers one by one, attachments are installed at regular intervals on the supply conveyor that supplies rice crackers to the packaging machine because it is necessary to leave a predetermined gap between each rice cracker. ing. Conventionally, the common method was to manually place the rice crackers, which have been baked and seasoned, directly between the attachments of the supply conveyor.

Conventionally, a parts feeder for stocking and supplying the above-mentioned rice crackers has been known, but in a simple combination of this parts feeder and a conveyor, the rice crackers discharged from the parts feeder and conveyed on the conveyor would come into contact with each other at the front and back in the direction of travel. The situation was as follows. For this reason, it was impossible to place rice crackers one by one between the attachments of the supply conveyor of the packaging machine.

[Means to solve the problem]

In view of this, as a result of various studies, the present invention has developed a method and an apparatus for automatically and easily separating objects on a conveyor into equal intervals during conveyance.

That is, in the automatic separation method of the present invention, a rotating shaft having the same rotational direction as the rotating shaft of the conveyor is divided into three equal parts, each of which has a curved convex shape on the front side in the rotational direction, a curved concave shape on the rear side, and has a distal end. A ratchet wheel equipped with sharp claws is rotated at a lower speed than the conveyor below the conveyance surface of the conveyor, and the conveyed objects are conveyed from the rear side of the conveyor in contact with each other.
The article is characterized in that the conveyed articles are separated from each other on the conveyor and sent out by moving the articles forward while making contact with the curved concave portion of the ratchet wheel.

Further, in the automatic separation device of the present invention, a second conveyor faster than the first conveyor is provided in front of the first conveyor, which transfers the conveyed items while being in contact with each other at the front and rear of the traveling direction.
At the rear end of the conveyor, the rotation axis having the same rotation direction as the rotation axis of the second conveyor is divided into three equal parts, each with a curved convex shape on the front side in the rotation direction, a curved concave shape on the rear side, and a pointed tip. A ratchet wheel having a pawl is placed below the conveying surface of the second conveyor, and when the ratchet wheel is rotated, before the tip of one pawl sinks below the conveying surface of the conveyor, the curved convex shape of the other pawl is removed. The conveyor is rotated at a lower speed than the conveyor at a position where the parts appear on the conveyor, and the conveyed objects sent from the first conveyor in contact with each other are brought into contact with the curved concave part of the water wheel while the second conveyor is rotated at a lower speed than the conveyor.
This is characterized in that the conveyed articles are separated from each other and sent out on the second conveyor by moving them forward on the conveyor.

The automatic separation and supply device for conveyed objects of the present invention includes two beam sensors in the discharge section of the disk-shaped parts feeder to detect the interval between the conveyed objects to be discharged and automatically adjust the operating speed of the parts feeder. A beam sensor is installed in parallel in the direction of travel, and installed upstream of the parts feeder to detect the amount of products and adjust the amount of material to be fed to the parts feeder. A first conveyor that is transferred in a contact state is connected to the discharge port of the parts feeder, and a second conveyor that is faster than the first conveyor is provided in front of the first conveyor, and a rear end of the second conveyor is provided. a water wheel having claws each having a curved convex shape on the front side in the rotation direction, a curved concave shape on the rear side, and a real tip at positions dividing the circumference of the rotation axis having the same rotation direction as the rotation axis of the second conveyor into three equal parts. is a position below the conveyance surface of the second conveyor, where when the water wheel is rotated, the curved convex portion of the other pawl appears on the conveyor before the tip of one pawl sinks below the conveyor conveyance surface. The first conveyor rotates at a lower speed than the conveyor, and a beam sensor is installed just before the water turbine to detect the presence or absence of conveyed objects and adjust the speed of the first conveyor, so that the front and rear of the conveyor come into contact with each other in the direction of movement from the parts feeder. The conveyed articles are moved forward on the second conveyor while being brought into contact with the curved recesses of the water wheel, so that the conveyed articles are separated from each other and sent out on the second conveyor.

[Effect]

As mentioned above, the conveyed objects being conveyed in contact with each other on the first conveyor are placed at positions that equally divide the circumference of the rotating shaft provided at the connection part with the second conveyor into three parts, each of which has a curved front side in the rotational direction. The principle of separation using a water wheel that has a convex shape, a curved concave shape on the rear side, and a pointed claw at the tip is shown in Figures 1 (a) to 1.
The explanation will be based on (c).

First, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the objects (3) being conveyed from the first conveyor (1) to the second conveyor (2) move while the front and back are in contact with each other. and the transported object (3
) is transferred to the rear end of the second conveyor (2), which is usually operated faster than the first conveyor (1), and then transported (3).
) is connected to the concave curved part (
6) and moves forward on the second conveyor (2) according to the rotation of the water wheel (4). Note that the second conveyor (2
) is set higher than the rotational circumferential speed of the water turbine (4).

Next, as shown in FIG. 1(b), the claw (5) that has locked the tip of the conveyed object (3) gradually sinks below the second conveyor (2) as it rotates, but the claw (5) still holds the conveyed article (3) on the second conveyor (2). Immediately before the claw (5) sinks completely, as the rear claw (5°) of the claw (5) rotates, its convex curved portion (7) first appears on the second conveyor (2), and this curve The portion (7) pushes up the lower surface of the conveyed object (3).

The positional relationship is adjusted so that the tip of the conveyed object (3) is released from the claw (5) after a slight delay, so that the conveyed object (3) is placed on the second conveyor (2). It moves at the speed of the second conveyor (2) with the parts loaded thereon.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. The gap (8) is between the rear end of the front conveyed object (3) and the rear conveyed object (3) as shown in the figure.
This may occur when the front ends of the front objects (3') are in contact with each other, but it can also occur when the rear end of the front object (3) is on top of the front end of the rear object (3')). Since the tip of the claw (5°) enters the conveyed object (3°), the concave curved part (5°) of the claw (5°)
The conveyed object (3) moves forward while being stopped by the claw (5), and then moves on the second conveyor (2).

By using the water turbine as described above, it becomes possible to arbitrarily set the distance between the objects to be conveyed along the conveyor, and subsequent processing becomes easy.

The size of the waterwheel should be such that the distance between the tips of its claws (indicated by R in Figure 1) is approximately 273 times the length of the conveyed object in the traveling direction (indicated by L in Figure 1). .

〔Example〕

Next, as an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, an automatic separating and feeding apparatus for supplying round rice crackers one by one to an automatic packaging machine for packaging round rice crackers one by one will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Figure 2 (a) and (b), presence or absence of rice crackers on the upstream side of the outer disk 00) from which the rice crackers are fed out, in the disc-shaped rotary parts feeder (9) that stores and continuously feeds the rice crackers. The first beam sensor detects 0υ
In addition, a first conveyor (fl) for conveying the rice crackers from the discharge port of the outer disk Ol to the supply conveyor α of the automatic packaging machine α3 is provided, and a ratchet wheel (4) having the above-mentioned shape is provided in front of the first conveyor fl) at its rear end. A second beam sensor Q41 and a second beam sensor Q41 are installed at the discharge port of the parts feeder (9) to detect the interval between rice crackers sent from the discharge port to the second conveyor (2). A 3-beam sensor 0!19 was installed, and a 4th beam sensor αO was installed just before the ratchet wheel (4) to detect the presence or absence of rice crackers in that area.

Further, above the ratchet wheel (4), a support lever (23) is rotatably held by a bearing at one end, which is equipped with a height adjustment mechanism (21) using a screw or the like and a downward pressing mechanism using a spring (22). cylindrical coil brush 0
established power. When the convex curved part (7) of the ratchet wheel (4) pushes up the lower surface of the rice cracker being conveyed as described above, this coil brush a''71 brushes against the upper surface of the rice cracker that is riding on the rotation of the ratchet wheel (4). By contacting and rotating the rice crackers, the rice crackers, which are light in weight and have an uneven shape, are prevented from flying off or shifting.

In addition, the above parts feeder, + f91 outer disk Q
Both the OI and the first conveyor (1) are equipped with a mechanism for automatically switching between high speed and low speed operation using a beam sensor, and both can finely adjust the speed by manual setting at high speed and low speed. Although the parts feeder (9) does not have a speed changeover function for the inner disk Ql it, it also has a speed fine adjustment mechanism by manual setting, and also has an automatic stop function for both the inner disk 0 seconds and the outer disk 00). In addition, the second conveyor (2) is always operated at high speed and has a speed fine adjustment mechanism that can be manually set.
is connected to the rotating shaft of the supply conveyor α2 of the packaging machine, and is synchronized with the speed of the force of this supply conveyor α.

Next, there are two types of operating methods for this automatic separation and supply device: automatic operation and manual operation, and there are also individual operation and linked operation that operate only during manual operation.

Switching between these operations can be performed using respective changeover switches on the operation switch panel of the control panel. Synchronous operation with the automatic packaging machine is performed in automatic operation mode, individual operation is used initially for adjusting each conveyor, etc., and interlocking operation is performed before the packaging machine starts operating at the start of packaging work, as explained below. It is used for.

That is, before the start of automatic operation, the revert feeder (9) and the first conveyor (1) are operated in an interlocked operation that can be operated separately from the operation of the packaging machine, and the ratchet wheel (4) is activated.
The fourth beam sensor αQ installed at the location detects the presence of rice crackers, and the second and third beam sensors α
4α9 is similarly detected, and after both the outer disk Qal and the first conveyor (1) are in a low speed state, the switch is switched to the automatic operation side. Then, by operating the supply conveyor Q2 of the packaging machine to arrange the rice crackers between the attachments and then turning on the packaging machine, the separation supply device and the automatic packaging machine will automatically operate synchronously.

By using such an interlocking operation mechanism, it is possible to prevent the packaging machine from operating idly until the rice crackers are transferred from the beginning, or to manually supply the rice crackers to eliminate the idling. The trouble of arranging rice crackers one by one on the device can also be omitted.

In the above-mentioned device, first, when rice crackers are put into the inner disk α sand, the rice crackers placed on the disk α rotating at high speed tend to move to the outside of the disk α sand due to centrifugal force. At this time, the levels of the inner disk 20 seconds and the outer disk 001 surrounding its outer periphery match only in a part, and in other parts there are steps due to the slope of these disks, so this level does not match. The rice cracker transfers to the outer disk 0ω only from that part. It should be noted that the rice crackers that cannot be transferred within one degree will rotate within the inner disk OI again and perform the transfer operation repeatedly.

As mentioned above, when there is no rice cracker in front during linked operation or automatic operation, if the rice cracker moves to the outer disk 0ω, the second and third beam sensors α will detect the rice cracker. The first conveyor (1) also operates at high speed until the fourth beam sensor αG detects the rice crackers.

Here's the second one. 3rd and 4th beam sensor α4acJ (
The effects of IQ will be explained in detail. The disadvantage of the parts feeder (9) of the type in which the inner disk moves outward due to the centrifugal force of 20 seconds and transfers onto the outer disk 1 is that the transfer is only random, and the rice crackers are in perfect contact with each other on the outer disk QOI. Sometimes they move while moving, and sometimes they move at intervals of more than two or three rice crackers. Therefore, in order to compensate for these defects, the above beam sensor α
4) Q! 9Qθ is installed.

That is, the second beam sensor α4 detects that the rice cracker is on the outer disk Ol.
Installed just before transferring from the first conveyor (1) to the third conveyor (1).
Beam sensor a9 detects that the rice cracker is the first from the outer disk α0.
Install it at a position immediately after transferring to the conveyor (1) (within a length of approximately one rice cracker).

When the second beam sensor α4 does not detect rice crackers, that is, when there is no rice cracker at the position of the second beam sensor α4, whether or not the third beam sensor α detects the presence of rice crackers, Regardless of whether there is a rice cracker at the 0 position of the 3-beam sensor, the outer disk (IG) rotates at high speed to quickly feed the rice cracker to this position.

On the other hand, when the second beam sensor α4 detects the presence of rice crackers and the third beam sensor α9 detects the presence of rice crackers, the disc (1 (+1 automatically switches to low speed rotation. Even if the beam sensor α4 detects the presence of rice crackers, the outer disk QOI is still rotating at a high speed when the third beam sensor α1 does not detect the presence of rice crackers.

Further, when the fourth beam sensor αG does not detect rice crackers, the first conveyor (11 operates at high speed, and when detecting rice crackers, the first conveyor +1) operates at low speed. By combining these operations, the rice crackers are automatically adjusted so that the distance between the rice crackers transported to the position of the ratchet wheel (4) is not too wide or the rice crackers are not too clogged.

With the mechanism described above, the rice crackers are conveyed on the first conveyor (1) with the front and back in proper contact with each other, and as described above, the rice crackers are conveyed by the action of the second conveyor (2) and the ratchet wheel (4). 1
It is separated into individual sheets and moved on the second conveyor (2) in a separated state. After that, rice crackers are placed on the second conveyor (2)
From conveyor a′! Whether or not the sheets are placed one by one between the attachment bars of the supply conveyor (2) when being transferred to J can be determined by manually adjusting the speed of the second conveyor (2) at the beginning of operation.

Also, the first beam sensor 0υ upstream of the outer disk aω
When it detects rice crackers, it stops the inner disc for 20 seconds as a full signal in the parts feeder (9), and at the same time, the conveyor device (not shown) that feeds the rice crackers into the parts feeder (9) also stops.

When this beam sensor αυ does not detect rice crackers, a new rice cracker is supplied into the parts feeder (9), and the inner disk track also rotates.

In the above embodiment, the ratchet wheel (4) is a thin plate-shaped one.
It is installed in the middle of the second conveyor (2) consisting of two conveyors installed in parallel, but depending on the size and shape of the conveyed object, a thick ratchet wheel may be used, or multiple ratchet wheels may be used in the width direction. In some cases, it may be more effective to install individual units.

Further, although this embodiment shows the case of a round rice cracker as the conveyed object, it is of course applicable to a square rice cracker as well.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily separate the conveyed objects that are moving in contact with each other on the conveyor, and the conveyed objects can be supplied to the subsequent process at equal intervals, so that various automatic processes can be performed on the conveyed objects in the subsequent process. This has remarkable effects such as making it easier to remove.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 (A) to (C) are side views for explaining the action of the ratchet wheel of the present invention, and Figures 2 (A) and (B) show an embodiment of the device of the present invention (I). ) is an external view, and (b) is a side view. l - First conveyor 2 - Second conveyor 3.3° - Conveyed object 4 - Ratchet wheel 5.5° pawl 6 - Concave curved part 7 - Convex curved part 8 - Steps and gaps 9 - Parts feeder outer disk No. 1 Beam sensor supply conveyor automatic packaging machine 2nd beam sensor 3rd beam sensor 4th beam sensor Brush Inner disk Rice cracker attachment Height adjustment mechanism Spring support lever

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) At positions dividing the circumference of the rotating shaft, which has the same rotational direction as that of the conveyor, into three equal parts, claws are provided, each having a curved convex shape on the front side in the rotational direction, a curved concave shape on the rear side, and a pointed tip. A ratchet wheel is rotated at a lower speed than the conveyor below the conveyance surface of the conveyor, and the conveyed objects that are sent from the rear side of the conveyor in contact with each other are moved forward while coming into contact with the curved recess of the ratchet wheel. A conveyed object automatic separation method characterized in that these conveyed objects are separated from each other and sent out on a conveyor. (2) A second conveyor that is faster than the first conveyor is provided in front of the first conveyor that transfers the conveyed items while being in contact with each other at the front and rear of the traveling direction, and a second conveyor that is faster than the first conveyor is provided at the rear end of the second conveyor.
A ratchet wheel having claws each having a curved convex shape on the front side in the rotation direction, a curved concave shape on the rear side, and a pointed tip is placed at a position dividing the circumference of the rotation shaft having the same rotation direction as the rotation axis of the conveyor into three equal parts. A position below the conveying surface of the second conveyor, where when the ratchet wheel is rotated, the curved convex portion of the other pawl appears on the conveyor before the tip of one pawl sinks below the conveyor conveying surface. The objects are rotated at a lower speed than the conveyor, and the objects sent from the first conveyor in contact with each other are moved forward on the second conveyor while making contact with the curved recess of the ratchet wheel, thereby conveying the objects on the second conveyor. An automatic object separation device that separates objects from each other before sending them out. (3) Two beam sensors are installed in the discharge section of the disc-shaped parts feeder in parallel in the traveling direction to detect the interval between the discharged objects and automatically adjust the operating speed of the parts feeder. A beam sensor is installed upstream of the parts feeder to detect the amount of products and adjust the amount of material to be fed to the parts feeder, and a first conveyor is installed that transfers the discharged products while being in contact with each other at the front and rear of the traveling direction. connected to the discharge port of the parts feeder, and the first
A second conveyor faster than the first conveyor is provided on the front side of the conveyor, and the rear end of the second conveyor is located at a position dividing the circumference into three equal parts around a rotation axis having the same rotation direction as the rotation axis of the second conveyor. , a ratchet wheel having a protruding curved shape on the front side in the rotation direction, a concave curved shape on the rear side, and a claw with a sharp tip is placed below the conveying surface of the second conveyor, and when the ratchet wheel is rotated, one of the ratchet wheels is provided. At a position where the curved convex part of the other claw appears above the conveyor before the tip of the claw sinks below the conveyor conveyance surface, it is rotated at a lower speed than the conveyor, and the presence or absence of the conveyed object is detected immediately before the ratchet wheel. A beam sensor is provided to adjust the speed of the first conveyor, and the conveyed objects moving from the parts feeder with their front and rear sides in contact with each other in the direction of movement are brought into contact with the curved recesses of the ratchet wheels, respectively. An automatic separation and supply device for conveyed objects, characterized in that the conveyed objects are separated from each other and sent out on the second conveyor by moving the objects forward on the second conveyor.