JPH04317911A - Conveyor apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a conveyor apparatus which can save the space, cost, energy, weight and construction cost in a simple structure. CONSTITUTION:A conveyor apparatus comprises an outer pipe 20, an inner pipe 10 disposed inside the outer pipe, and flexible conveyor belts 51, 52 which travel between the inner pipe 10 and the outer pipe 20 in such a manner as to be curved along the lower inner walls of the inner pipe 10 and the outer pipes 20.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is capable of transporting relatively light materials such as bulk powder, granules, and even empty cans, paper boxes, and Styrofoam over long distances, in large quantities, and at high speed without causing spillage. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a conveyor device that is capable of not only straight-line transportation but also curved transportation vertically and horizontally.

0002

[Prior Art] A conveyor device in which the conveyor belt itself is formed into a cylindrical shape is used as a conveyor device that can transport a large amount of goods at high speed without causing spillage, and can not only transport in a straight line but also curve vertically and horizontally. is publicly known. However, this device requires support members to be placed at regular intervals to maintain the conveyor belt in a cylindrical shape, making the device expensive. Further, when the conveyor belt is cylindrical, the joint part of the belt during conveyance is at the top, but when returning, the joint part is downward, and there is a drawback that the remainder of the conveyed material spills out. Also, a cover is required to prevent the belt itself from being exposed to wind and rain.

[0003] JP-A No. 58-139904 discloses a device in which tubes are arranged separately for the outbound and return trips, a conveyor belt is bent into a cylindrical shape and passed through the tubes, and the conveyor belt is supported by air. ing. However, since this device bends the belt into a cylindrical shape, the friction between the belt and the inner surface of the pipe is spread over the entire surface, resulting in large frictional resistance. As a result, it is necessary to increase the amount of air to float the belt, and the pressure thereof is also relatively high. Moreover, piping for supplying/exhausting air, devices for adjusting their pressures, etc. become complicated. Furthermore, since it is difficult to completely levitate the belt with air, there are problems such as the need to increase the conveying power. In addition, a large length of so-called trough conversion distance is required to roll the belt into a cylindrical shape and spread it flat with the head pulley and tail pulley, so the actual cylindrical part, that is, the effective length, is different from the actual device. It has the disadvantage of being shorter. Because the belt is rolled into a cylindrical shape, the frictional resistance at curved sections is even greater than at straight sections. For this reason, the radius of curvature becomes large, making it difficult to turn around in the layout, resulting in many space constraints. Furthermore, the structure of the air blowing groove in the tube that guides the belt is complicated and requires a lot of manufacturing cost, while the tube has to be divided into two parts for manufacturing and maintenance reasons. Not only does it require production costs, but
The weight of the pipe increases, and construction costs for construction, installation, etc. are high.

JP-A-51-55577 discloses a double pipe in which a flat belt is curved to have a circular or semicircular cross section, and an outer pipe is attached concentrically to the outside of the inner pipe. moving along the inner circumferential surface of the inner pipe, and after the curved flat belt passes through the inner pipe, returning the curved flat belt to the original flat belt;
After folding it back, it is again curved into a circular cross-section and moved between the inner pipe and the outer pipe along the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe, thereby removing the conveyed object placed on the upper surface of the flat belt. A transportation method using a conveyor belt is disclosed. However, in this method, on the return journey of the belt, the belt is moved between the inner pipe and the outer pipe along the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe. For this reason,
It is necessary to arrange a large number of outer rails on the outer circumferential surface of the inner pipe to provide a mechanism for guiding and supporting the belt on the return trip, resulting in a complicated structure. Moreover, with this structure, it is completely impossible to use the belt on the return trip for conveying material.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and its purpose is to achieve space saving, cost saving, energy saving, weight saving, construction cost saving, etc. with a simple structure. An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device that can achieve the following objectives. A further object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device that is capable of curved transportation, has a rainproof and windproof cover, and does not cause cargo spillage or dust generation at the intermediate portion. A further object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device that can convey materials even on the return trip.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A conveyor device of the present invention includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed inside the outer tube,
A conveyor belt runs between the inner tube and the outer tube in a curved shape along the lower inner walls of the inner tube and the outer tube, respectively.

[0007] The present invention further provides an air blowing means which is attached to at least the lower part of the outer tube and causes the conveyor belt disposed on the inner surface of the outer tube to float with air; and an air inlet for introducing air into the inner tube to levitate the conveyor belt disposed on the inner surface of the inner tube. Further, in the present invention, a gap is formed between the lower part of the inner tube and the lower part of the outer tube, which is sufficient to allow the conveyor belt running on the inner wall of the lower part of the outer tube to convey the object.

[0008]

[Operation] In the conveyor device of the present invention, the outbound belt and the return belt are guided by the inner tube and the outer tube, respectively, and run in a curved shape along the inner wall of the lower part thereof. As the conveyor belt, it is preferable to use a resin belt or the like that has low frictional resistance with the inner and outer tubes. If a belt made of this material is used, there is no need for the conveyor belt to be air-floated, especially if the conveyance distance is relatively short. Further, by appropriately setting the arrangement of the inner tube with respect to the outer tube, it becomes possible to transport objects also on the return trip belt running on the outer tube.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A conveyor apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to an illustrative embodiment. FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of essential parts, FIG. 3 is a plan view, FIG. 4 is a side view, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view at a predetermined position. This conveyor device has an inner tube 10 and an outer tube 20 arranged in a coaxial double tube shape, and head pulleys 3 on both sides of these inner and outer tubes 10 and 20.
0 and a tail pulley 40 (FIG. 5(b)).
reference). A conveyor belt is stretched between these pulleys 30 and 40, and an outbound belt 51 of the conveyor belt runs in a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the inner tube 10, and a return belt 52 runs in a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the outer tube 10. It looks like this. Seal members 60 are attached to both ends of the inner and outer tubes 10 and 20 in the gap between the inner tube 10 and the outer tube 20, except for the portion where the return belt 52 passes.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, outward guide plates 7 are provided at both ends of the inner and outer tubes 10 and 20, respectively.
1. A return guide plate 72 is provided in a protruding manner. At the upper end of the tail pulley 40 of the outer tube 20,
As shown in FIG. 5(a), an article inlet 21 is provided which penetrates the outer tube 20 to the inner tube 10.

Further, in the lower part of the outer tube 20, as shown in FIG.
As shown in , air blow holes 22 are bored at regular intervals,
Air blow holes 23 are also opened on the side, and air blow holes 11 are formed at regular intervals in the lower part of the inner tube 10. Air blowing devices are attached to air blowing holes 22 and 23 of these outer tubes 20. This device has air filter 8
Air pipes 83 and 84 are connected in parallel to a blower 82 equipped with a damper 85 and an air nozzle 86.
are connected. And the air nozzle 86 is connected to the air duct 8
7 to the lower air blowing hole 22 (
(See (d) in FIG. 5). The other air pipe 84 is a damper 88
, is connected to the side air blowing hole 23 via a duct 89. In addition, the symbol M in the figure is the conveyed object, and the symbols 91 and 92 in FIG. 5(a) are the inner pipe inspection port and the outer pipe inspection port, respectively.
Inside, reference numeral 93 is a snap pulley. In addition, inner tube 1
0 is supported at the upper part of the outer tube 20 by an inner tube inspection port 91. Alternatively, the material to be transported may be directly introduced to the inlet side of the outgoing belt of the inner tube without providing a material inlet to the inner tube 10. Next, the operation of the conveyor device configured as described above will be explained.

Head pulley 30 and tail pulley 4
0 is rotated as shown by the arrow to move the conveyor belt as shown by the arrow. The outbound belt 51 is shown in FIG.
, as shown in FIG. 5, has a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the inner tube 10 and runs inside the inner tube 10. On the traveling outgoing belt 51, there is a conveyance article inlet 21 or the outgoing belt 51.
The conveyed object M is inputted from the entrance side. A conveyed object M is placed on the outgoing belt 51 and travels inside the inner tube 10. When the conveyed object M leaves the inner tube 10 and comes to the exit on the head pulley 30 side, it falls there and is stored in a predetermined container (not shown). After conveying the conveyed object M, the conveyor belt, that is, the return belt 52 passes through the head pulley 30 and passes through the outer pipe 2.
Enters 0. There, the return belt 52 has a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the outer tube 20 and runs inside the outer tube 20 in the direction of the arrow (in the direction of the tail pulley).

[0013] Here, the air blowing device is not particularly necessary when the conveyor belt is made of a material with low frictional resistance. However, if the conveyor belt is long or if friction noise must be avoided as much as possible, an air blower can be activated. That is, the blower 82
When air is blown into the air pipes 83 and 34, the amount of air blown is adjusted by the dampers 85 and 88, respectively, and then passed through the ducts 87 and 89 from the air blowing holes 22 and 23 to the outer pipe 2.
Air is blown into the 0. The air blown into the outer tube 20 from the lower air blowing hole 22 pushes up the return belt 52 running along the lower part of the inner wall of the outer tube 20. As a result, the return belt 52 travels in a suspended state. Since both ends of the outer tube 20 are sealed, the air after pushing up the return belt 52 and the air blown into the outer tube 20 from the air blow holes 23 on the side are absorbed by the inner tube 10.
The air is blown into the inner tube 10 through an air blowing hole 11 provided at the bottom of the tube. The air blown into the inner tube 10 from the air blowing hole 11 pushes up the outward belt 51 running along the lower part of the inner wall of the inner tube 10 . As a result, the outbound belt 51 travels in an air-floated state.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment in which both the forward belt 51 and the backward belt 52 are used to convey objects. Note that the same parts are given the same reference numerals. This conveyor device has an inner tube 10 and an outer tube 20 arranged in a coaxial double tube shape, and a head pulley 30, a tail pulley 40, and guide pulleys 41, 41 are provided on both sides of these inner and outer tubes 10, 20. A conveyor belt is stretched between these pulleys 30, 40, 41, and an outgoing belt 51 of the conveyor belt
has a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the inner pipe 10, and the return belt 52
runs in a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the outer tube 10. An inner tube 10 is provided at both ends of the outer and outer tubes 10 and 20.
A seal member 60 is installed in the gap between the outer tube 20 and the outer tube 20, except for the area where the return belt 52 passes.

Further, at the upper end of the outer tube 20 on the side of the tail pulley 40, as shown in FIG. On both sides of the upper side of the head pulley 30, as shown in FIG. 7(b), second conveyed material inlets 24 are provided which penetrate to the lower part of the outer tube 10. Furthermore, the inner and outer tubes 10, 20
Below the end of the tail pulley 40 side, there is a
), a second conveyance article outlet 100 is provided.

Note that the material to be transported may be directly introduced into the outer tube at the inlet side of the return belt without providing the material inlet in the outer tube 20. Although not shown, the structures of the guide plate, air blowing device, air blowing port, etc. are the same as in the above-described embodiment. Next, the operation of the conveyor device configured as described above will be explained.

Head pulley 30 and tail pulley 4
0 is rotated as shown by the arrow to move the conveyor belt as shown by the arrow. The outgoing belt 51 is shown in FIG.
, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, it has a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the inner tube 10 and runs inside the inner tube 10. A first conveyance article entrance 21 is placed on the traveling outgoing belt 51.
Alternatively, the first conveyed object M is introduced from the entrance side of the outgoing belt 51. A first conveyed object M is placed on the outgoing belt 51 and travels inside the inner tube 10 . When the conveyed object M leaves the inner tube 10 and reaches the exit on the head pulley 30 side, it falls there and is stored in a predetermined container (not shown). After conveying the conveyed object M, the conveyor belt, that is, the return belt 52 passes through the head pulley 30 and enters the outer pipe 20. There, the return belt 52 has a curved shape along the lower part of the inner wall of the outer tube 20 and runs inside the outer tube 20 in the direction of the arrow (in the direction of the tail pulley). A second conveyed article N is thrown onto the traveling return belt 52 from the second conveyed article inlet 24. The second conveyed object N is placed on the return belt 52 and travels inside the outer tube 20. Exiting the outer tube 20, the guide pulleys 41, 41
Upon reaching the side exit, the transported object N falls into the return path exit 100 and is stored in a predetermined container (not shown). After conveying the conveyed object N, the returning belt is moved to the tail pulley 4.
Returns to 0 again.

Next, various embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on FIG. 8. (a) is an example in which the inner tube 10 is eccentrically arranged above the outer tube 20. Due to this,
A space sufficient for conveying objects can be formed between the lower part of the inner wall of the outer tube and the inner tube, and the return belt can also be easily used for conveyance. (b) shows the conveyor device of (a) with an air blowing device attached. Since its structure is the same as that of the previous embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the explanation will be omitted. In (c), both the inner tube 10 and the outer tube 20 have an elliptical shape. With this shape, there is no need to greatly curve the conveyor belt, so the frictional resistance between the conveyor belt and the inner and outer tubes can be further reduced, making it easier to convey without using an air blowing device. (d)
This is the conveyor device shown in (c) with an air blowing device attached. In (e), the upper wall portion of the outer tube 20 also serves as the inner tube 10, and this structure also exhibits the same effect as the above-mentioned embodiment. (f) is the conveyor device of (e) with an air blowing device attached.

[0019]

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, the conveyor belt is formed not in a cylindrical shape but in a curved shape to convey the material, so the force of the belt pushing the inner and outer tubes is relatively weak, and the force between the belt and the inner and outer tubes is relatively weak. Frictional resistance is reduced. As a result, especially when a resin belt or the like with low frictional resistance is used for conveyance, there is no need to float the belt in the air. Furthermore, the amount of air used for air levitation can be reduced. Furthermore, when transporting in a curve, it is guided by the inner and outer tubes, making it possible to transport it in curves up and down, left and right. In particular, compared to the case where the belt is formed into a cylindrical shape, the degree of bending (radius of curvature) can be small, which is convenient in terms of arrangement.

Furthermore, since the belt only needs to be formed into a curved shape, the trough conversion distance between the head pulley and tail pulley and the intermediate portion can be reduced, and the effective length of the conveyor can be increased. Furthermore, since the amount of deformation is small, there is no need to use a special belt that has a large amount of deformation.

Furthermore, in the present invention, since the forward belt and the backward belt are visually housed in one pipe, it is possible to prevent infiltration of wind and rain, spillage of transported objects, and dust generation. In addition, there are no accidents such as people getting caught in the belt when approaching, and it is simple and aesthetically pleasing.

Furthermore, since the conveyor belt moves along the inner peripheral surfaces of the inner and outer tubes, there is no need for maintenance of the intermediate portion to support and maintain the shape of the conveyor. In particular, there is no need to provide a structure that allows the pipe to be disassembled, a walkway for maintenance, a carrier roller, a return roller, etc. Further, there is no need for a guide rail to support the conveyor belt on the return trip. For this reason, production costs and construction costs are low, and since the conveyance power is small, running costs are also low, and maintenance thereof is unnecessary.

[0023] Since the open surface of the conveyor belt faces upward on both the outward and return trips, the conveyor belt can carry objects not only on the outward trip but also on the return trip. For example, multiple conveyance is necessary, such as carrying raw materials on the outward trip and products on the return trip. This can be achieved depending on the situation.

Due to the double tube structure, when an air blowing device is used, the air blown into the outer tube for raising the belt on the return trip is blown into the inner tube and used as the air for floating the belt on the outbound trip. It becomes possible to do so. Therefore, the air blowing device is not complicated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1.

[Fig. 5] Cross-sectional views of main parts in Fig. 1, (a) is the inlet of the conveyed object, (b) is the arrangement of the inner and outer pipes and the reciprocating belt, (c) is the air blowing hole, and (d) is the outer part. Air blowing hole part of the pipe, (e)
indicates the air blowing hole part of the inner pipe.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic diagram showing different embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a predetermined location of the air blowing part in FIG.
(a) shows the outbound entrance, (b) shows the return entrance, and (c) shows the return exit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing still another embodiment of the present invention, (a
) is an example in which the inner tube is placed eccentrically above the outer tube.
(b) is an example in which an air blowing device is attached to the conveyor device in (a), (c) is an example in which both the inner and outer tubes are elliptical, and (d)
) is an example in which an air blowing device is attached to the conveyor device in (c), (e) is an example in which the upper wall of the outer pipe also serves as the inner pipe, (f)
This is an example in which an air blowing device is attached to the conveyor device shown in (e).

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Inner pipe, 20... Outer pipe, 21... Inlet of conveyed object, 22... Lower air inlet, 23... Side air inlet, 24... Second inlet of conveyed object, 30... Head pulley, 40... Tail Pulley, 51... Outward belt, 52... Return belt, 60...
Seal member, 71... Outward guide plate, 72... Return guide plate, 81... Air filter, 82... Blower, 8
3, 84... Air pipe, 85, 88... Damper, 86... Air nozzle, 87, 89... Duct, 91... Inner pipe inspection port, 92
...Outer tube inspection port, 93...Snap pulley, 100...Second conveyed object outlet.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An outer tube, an inner tube disposed inside the outer tube, and a flexible tube that runs in a curved shape along the lower inner walls of the inner tube and the outer tube, respectively, between the inner tube and the outer tube. A conveyor device equipped with a conveyor belt. Claim 2: Air blowing means installed at least at the lower part of the outer tube to blow air into the conveyor belt running along the inner wall of the lower part of the outer tube to float it; 2. The conveyor device according to claim 1, further comprising: an air inlet that is introduced into the tube to levitate the conveyor belt running on the lower inner wall of the inner tube. 3. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the lower part of the inner tube and the lower part of the outer tube, which is sufficient for conveying the object by a conveyor belt running on the inner wall of the lower part of the outer tube.