JPH07257736A - Conveyor equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a conveyor equipment capable of classifying articles to be carried while continuously carrying those without any temporarily stop and without any change in the direction of their front ends and capable of switching this process to classification in a lateral carrying state in which the front ends are changed by 90 deg. depending on the kinds of articles to be carried. CONSTITUTION:A branching conveyor device 40 is rocked downward around an axial center 42 by a rocking device 45, retreated from and advanced into a carrying route surface 36 and thereby an article 5 to be carried is allowed to pass on the upper part of the branching conveyor device 40. By rocking the branching conveyor device 40 upward and projecting this in an inclined posture with the lower side thereof in an upper position relative to the carrying route surface 36, a sending force is applied to the article 5 to be carried at the same time when the front end thereof rides on the conveyor and this is classified while being gradually turned. This turning is performed almost by 90 deg. and the article 5 to be carried is classified with its front end in the same direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveyor facility used for, for example, an operation of sorting articles by destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of equipment, for example, a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52-7237 has been provided. In this conventional structure, a sorting conveyor for delivering a conveyed product is provided to a sub line conveyor orthogonal to the main conveyor. The sorting conveyor is composed of a plurality of winding conveyors (belt conveyor) that are stretched over the roller gaps of the carrier rollers that form a part of the main conveyor.
And an embossing mechanism for elevating and lowering these wound conveyance bodies.

According to this conventional configuration, the winding conveyor group is lowered by the embossing mechanism so that the carrier roller is used to convey the main conveyor. Then, when the carried object is supported by the carrier roller group, the lifting mechanism raises the winding carrier group, so that the carried object is lifted by these winding carrier groups and either Delivered to sub-line conveyor.

[0004]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional structure, the transported articles to be sorted must be temporarily stopped at the position supported by the carrier roller group, and this stop cycle occurs. As a result, the sorting ability becomes low. On the other hand, as shown in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-32309, a branch shoe for moving articles laterally can be freely moved to a plurality of slats arranged between a pair of left and right endless chains. By adopting the conversion device attached to the above, the sorting can be performed without stopping, but in this case, the entire structure becomes complicated.

Further, in the above conventional structure, since the front end of the goods conveyed by the main conveyor is changed by 90 degrees, that is, the goods are sorted in a transverse feed state, when the goods are long, the width of the sub-line conveyor is large. Has to correspond to its length, and it will be upsized. Further, when the direction (posture) of conveyance is changed, an object to be detected such as a bar code is displaced, which is troublesome to deal with.

The object of the present invention is to sort the conveyed objects while continuously conveying them without temporarily stopping them, and to change the direction of the front end of the conveyed objects. The point is to provide conveyor equipment that can switch to sorting in the transverse feed state with the front end changed by 90 degrees.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the conveyor equipment of the first aspect of the present invention applies a lateral conveying force to the conveying path in the conveying path by the drive type main conveyor device. A drive-type branch conveyor device is provided, and the branch conveyor device is configured to be vertically swingable around an axis in the lateral direction with respect to the transport path, and a swing device is provided.
The branch conveyor device is configured to project upward in a tilted posture with the lower side as an upper position with respect to the transport path surface and to retreat by downward rocking.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned conveyor equipment of the first aspect, the main conveyor device is composed of a plurality of belt conveyor portions arranged side by side with a gap, and the branch conveyor device passes through the gap. It has a plurality of rollers that move up and down.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the conveyor equipment according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention, the upward swing of the branch conveyor device by the swing device is performed before the object to be conveyed reaches the branch conveyor device or is branched. A control device is provided to control whether or not the process is performed when it reaches above the conveyor device.

[0010]

According to the structure of the first aspect of the invention described above, the branch conveyor device is swung downward about the axis by the swinging device so that the branch conveyor device is moved back and forth from the transport path surface, so that it is transported from the good side. The transported object can be transported to the lower side by passing above the branch conveyor device. Then, the branch conveyor device is swung upward around the axis by the swinging device, and is projected in an inclined posture with the lower side as the upper side with respect to the transport path surface of the main conveyor device, so that the main conveyor device transports it. The transported object can be sorted while gradually turning by exerting a feed force at the same time when the front end of the transported object gets up. Such turning is performed by almost 90 degrees, and thus the transported object is
The front end can be sorted with the same direction.

Further, according to the structure of the second aspect of the present invention, the object to be conveyed can be supported and conveyed by each belt conveyor section in the main conveyor device. Then, by swinging the branch conveyor device upward around the axis by the swing device, the roller group can be raised through the gap and projected in an inclined posture with the lower side as the upper side with respect to the transport path surface. .

According to the structure of the third aspect of the present invention, before the conveyed object reaches the branch conveyor device, the branched conveyor device is swung upward about the axis to convey the conveyed object.
The front end can be sorted with the same direction. When the conveyed object reaches above the branch conveyor device in the retracted posture, the swinging device swings the branched conveyor device upward about the axis to keep the conveyed object in the conveying posture. It can be lifted and fed sideways, without changing its orientation,
That is, sorting can be performed with the front end changed to approximately 90 degrees.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 3 to 5, the drive type main conveyor device 10 is used.
The main body of is composed of a pair of left and right conveyor frames 12 arranged on the floor 1 via leg members 11, a plurality of lateral members 13 connecting the two conveyor frames 12, and the like. A plurality of belt conveyors 15 are arranged in parallel with a gap 14 therebetween.

Each belt conveyor section 15 has the same structure, and the long guide rails 16 serving as the main body are provided at both ends with
Fixed brackets 17 and 18 are attached, respectively.
A driven wheel body 20 is disposed on the outer ends of both the fixing brackets 17 and 18 via a lateral (horizontal) support shaft 19. In addition, one side (lower end side) fixed bracket
Movable bracket 21 facing 18 from the other end (upper end)
The brackets 18 and 21 are connected to each other via an adjusting mechanism (bolt nut, etc.) 22. A guide wheel 24 is disposed on each of the brackets 18 and 21 via a lateral (horizontal) support shaft 23.

The belt conveyor section 15 is constructed by winding the belt 25 between the wheels 20 and 24 (the drive section is common and the details will be described later). Conveyor unit 15 has both fixed brackets 17 and 18 as lateral members.
By fixing it to 13, it is installed side by side with a gap 14.

A support member 26 is provided between the pair of leg members 11 on one end side.
The support member 26 is provided with a lateral drive shaft 27 rotatably via a bearing device 28. A roll-shaped drive wheel 29 is fixed to the drive shaft 27, and each belt 25 is wound around the drive wheel 29 in common. The belt 25 has a ridge 25a at the center of the back surface.
Annular grooves 29a for guiding a are formed in the drive wheel body 29 at a predetermined pitch. The upper surface of the guide rail 16 supports and guides the back surface of the belt 25 by sliding contact, and the upper surface of the guide rail 16 has a slit 16a for guiding the ridge 25a.

A rotation drive device (motor or the like) 30 is provided on the support member 26, and an output shaft 31 of the rotation drive device 30 and one end of the drive shaft 27 are interlockingly connected via a winding transmission device 32. A detection plate 33 is provided at the other end of the drive shaft 27.

A drive-type branch conveyor device 40 is provided in the transfer path 35 of the main conveyor device 10 having the above-described structure so as to apply a transfer force lateral to the direction of the transfer path 35. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a support member 41 is provided between the other leg members 11 located in the middle portion, and a horizontal shaft 42 is rotatably mounted on the support member 41 via a bearing device 43. It is arranged. The horizontal axis 42 has one end side (lower end side)
The swing frame 44 extending to the
The reference numeral 44 is configured to be vertically swingable around a horizontal axis 42A that is the axis of the horizontal axis 42. In order to swing the swing frame 44 up and down, a cylinder device 45, which is an example of a swing device, is provided between the support member 41 and the swing frame 44.

On the swing frame 44, the transfer path 35 is provided.
A plurality of roller shafts 46 are arranged side by side in the gap 14 so as to face each other from below.
47 is loosely fitted on the outside. A passive wheel 48 is integrally provided at the other end of the roller 47.

Further, the swing frame 44 includes a roller shaft.
The upper guide wheel 49 located between the lower part and the belt conveyor section 15 and the pair of lower guide wheel 50 in the lateral direction support the spindle 5.
It is attached so that it can rotate freely via 1, 52. A rotation drive device (motor or the like) 53 is provided on the swing frame 44, and a drive wheel 55 is attached to an output shaft 54 thereof. Then, the transmission belt extends between each wheel 48, 49, 50, 55.
56 is wound. The tension of the transmission belt 56 can be adjusted by arranging at least one upper guide wheel 49 so as to be vertically displaceable via the adjusting mechanism 57.

The branch conveyor device 40 having the above structure is
By the operation of the cylinder device 45, the cylinder device 45 is swung up and down around the lateral axis 42A. Then, when swinging upward, the group of rollers 47 is raised through the gap 14 and projected in an inclined posture with the lower side as the upper side with respect to the transport path surface 36 of the main conveyor device 10 (virtual in FIG. 1). See line). Further, during the downward swing, the group of rollers 47 is lowered through the gap 14 and all of the rollers 47 retreat from the transport path surface 36 (see the solid line in FIG. 1).

Cylinder device of the branch conveyor device 40
A control device 60 for controlling the 45 and the rotation drive unit 53 is provided.
The control of the cylinder device 45 by the control device 60 causes the branch conveyor device 40 to swing upward before the conveyed object 5 reaches the branch conveyor device 40, or the branch conveyor device 40.
Whether it should be performed when it reaches above 40 is performed based on a command from others.

The branch conveyor device is provided outside the main conveyor device 10 at a position facing the branch conveyor device 40.
A receiving device 61 for receiving the transported object 5 branched by 40
Is provided. In the embodiment, as the receiving device 61, a drive roller conveyor device that forms a transport path orthogonal to the direction of the transport path 35 is shown, but this may be a belt conveyor device, an inclined chute device, or the like. .

At the connection between the receiving device 60 and the main conveyor device 10 and on the upper side, a turn roller 66 is provided via a vertical axis 65.
Is provided so that it can rotate freely. An arc-shaped guide body 67 is provided on the opposite side (lower side).

As shown in FIG. 8, for example, two conveyor equipments 70 having the above-mentioned structure are arranged between a drive roller type carry-in conveyor device 71 and a carry-out conveyor device 72. The arrangement may be one as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, or may be two or more. Further, a relay conveyor device may be arranged between the conveyor equipments 70. Although each receiving device 61 is located on the same side, it may be located on the other side, or may be arbitrarily distributed to both sides.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described below. The transported object 5 sent from the carry-in conveyor device 71 to the main conveyor device 10 is supported and transported by the group of belts 25 driven by each belt conveyor unit 15. At this time, the transported object 5 can be set by a setting device at the time of loading into the line, or by reading a bar code with a reader before and after being sent to the main conveyor device 10,
It is determined which of the conveyor devices 70 the receiving device 61 receives (sorts).

That is, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the cylinder frame 45 contracts to cause the swing frame 44 to move along the axis 42A.
When the receiving device 61 of the conveyor equipment 70 is not received in the state where the roller group 47 is retracted with respect to the transport path surface 36, there is no command from the control device 60. The moving frame 44 maintains the downward swinging posture, and thus the transported object 5 transported from the upper side passes above the branch conveyor device 40 and is transported to the lower side.

When the object 5 is received by the receiving device 61 without changing the direction of its front end, the control device 60
Is issued earlier, as shown by the solid line in Figure 1,
The cylinder device 45 is extended before the transported object 5 reaches the branch conveyor device 40. As a result, FIG. 1 and FIG.
As indicated by the phantom line, the swing frame 44 is swung upward about the axis 42A, the group of rollers 47 is raised through the gap 14, and the lower side with respect to the transport path surface 36 of the main conveyor device 10. Will be projected in an inclined posture with the upper part as the upper position. The rotation drive device 53 is operated in tandem, and the group of rollers 47 is forcibly rotated via each wheel 48, 49, 50, 55 and the transmission belt 56.

As a result, the object to be conveyed 5 supported and conveyed by the belt 25 group rides on its front end as it rides up on the roller group 47 as shown by the phantom line B in FIGS. 1 and 4. The feed force to the receiving device 61 side is applied to the rising portion by the rotation of the group of rollers 47. Therefore, the transported object 5 is sent to the receiving device 61 while gradually turning as it rides on the group of rollers 47, as shown by the virtual line B → C in FIG. At this time, the turning motion of the transported object 5 is
The side surface of the turn roller 66 is brought into contact with and guided by the turn roller 66, so that the operation is smoothly performed in a regular state.

Such a change in the direction is carried out by about 90 degrees, so that the transported object 5 is passed to the receiving device 61 with its front end in the same direction, as shown by an imaginary line 2 in FIG.
In addition, the object 5 to be conveyed next is similarly received by the receiving device 61.
When it is delivered to, the branch conveyor device 40 continues to swing upward, and when performing a different action, the branch conveyor device 40 is swung downward to a non-acting posture.

When the object 5 is received by the receiving device 61 with its front end turned, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6 and the phantom line e in FIG. When the transported object 5 reaches above 40, a command is issued from the control device 60, the cylinder device 45 is extended, and the rotary drive device 53 is operated. As a result, the transported object 5 supported and transported by the group of belts 25 is lifted by the group of rollers 47 in the transporting posture as shown by the phantom line in FIG.
By the rotation of the 47th group, the feeding force to the receiving device 61 side is applied.

Therefore, the transported object 5 is in the lateral feeding state, and as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 7, it is passed to the receiving device 61 without changing its direction, that is, with its front end changed to approximately 90 degrees. . In addition, when the conveyed object 5 that is conveyed next time is similarly passed to the receiving device 61, the branch conveyor device 40
Is once swayed downward to a non-acting posture. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the next conveyed object 5 is received by the receiving device 61 without changing the direction of its front end, the upward swinging posture of the branch conveyor device 40 is continued.

In the above embodiment, the branch conveyor device 40 sorts only one side, but in the present invention,
By arranging the receiving devices 61 on both sides of the branch conveyor device 40, and by arranging the rotary drive device 53 so as to be able to drive forward and backward,
An embodiment is also possible in which the branch conveyor device 40 can be used for sorting by sorting to the left and right sides.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure, the branch conveyor device is swung upward about the axis by the swinging device, and the lower side is inclined with respect to the transport path surface of the main conveyor device. By projecting in the posture, it is possible to sort the transported objects transported by the main conveyor device gradually, that is, while continuously transporting without temporarily stopping, it is possible to eliminate the stop cycle and improve the sorting capability. Also, by sorting by turning, the front end of the transported object can be in the same direction, so that the width of the sorting destination does not become long even if the transported object is long, and the transport direction (posture) does not change. Thus, the object to be detected such as a bar code does not displace, and it is easy to deal with it.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the main conveyor device is composed of a plurality of belt conveyor parts, and the branch conveyor device is composed of a plurality of rollers, so that the entire structure is simplified and provided at low cost. it can.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention having the above-described structure, depending on the object to be conveyed, the front end of the branch conveyor may be changed by 90 degrees by a simple control by simply changing the timing of upward swing of the branch conveyor device. Sorting can be done and different sorting forms can be possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a branch conveyor device installation portion of conveyor equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a branch conveyor device arrangement portion of the conveyor equipment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the conveyor equipment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the conveyor equipment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a drive device installation portion of the conveyor equipment.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view for explaining another operation of the conveyor equipment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating another operation of the conveyor facility.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a usage state of the conveyor equipment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Transported object 10 Main conveyor device 14 Gap 15 Belt conveyor part 16 Guide rail 20 Driven wheel 24 Guide wheel 25 Belt 29 Drive wheel 30 Rotational drive device 35 Transfer route 36 Transfer route surface 40 Branch conveyor device 42A Lateral direction Shaft center 44 Oscillating frame 45 Cylinder device (oscillating device) 47 Roller 53 Rotational drive device 60 Control device 61 Receiving device 66 Turn roller 67 Guide body 70 Conveyor equipment 71 Carry-in conveyor device 72 Carry-out conveyor device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A drive type branch conveyor device for imparting a lateral transfer force to the transfer route is provided in the transfer route of the drive type main conveyor device, and the branch conveyor device is provided with respect to the transfer route. And a swinging device is provided so as to be swingable up and down around a horizontal axis, and the branch conveyor device is projected in an inclined posture with the lower side as the upper side by swinging upward with respect to the transport path surface, Conveyor equipment characterized by being configured to retreat by swinging downward. 2. The main conveyor device is composed of a plurality of belt conveyor portions arranged in parallel with a gap provided therebetween, and the branch conveyor device has a plurality of rollers that move up and down through the gap. Conveyor equipment according to 1. 3. The upward swing of the branch conveyor device by the swing device is performed before the transported object reaches the branch conveyor device,
The conveyor equipment according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control device for controlling whether or not the operation is performed when the upper part of the branch conveyor device is reached.