JPH07285655A - Carrier system of article and inspection system of carried article - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inspect an article even from its lower surface side in simple structure and to convey the article in such a way to inspect the article without stopping it. CONSTITUTION:A first carrier means A to convey an article 8 in a specified direction by way of placing the article 8 on a carrier conveyor 1 and a second carrier means B positioned at an outlet end part of the first carrier means A and to convey the article 8 in a specified direction by way of sandwiching the article 8 by carrier conveyors 2, 3 on both sides relatively facing against each other are furnished.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article conveying system used to convey articles in a factory line and the like, and a conveyed article inspection system used to inspect articles while conveying articles. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional conveyor device of this type is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-11141. This is configured by arranging a plurality of transport conveyors in a straight line, and articles placed on the transport conveyor and transported are aligned at regular intervals.

[0003]

By the way, when an article is inspected while being conveyed by a conveyor, there is a problem that the lower side of the conveyor cannot be inspected because there is no opening on the lower side. is there. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to convey an article with a simple structure so that it can be inspected from the lower surface side, and without stopping the article. An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyance system for articles that can be inspected and an inspection system for conveyed articles.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an article carrying system of the present invention comprises a first carrying means for carrying an article in a predetermined direction by placing the article on a carrying conveyor.
The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with a second carrying means for carrying the article in a predetermined direction by sandwiching the article between the opposite conveyors on both sides at the exit end of the first carrying means.

The inspection system for conveyed articles according to the present invention comprises a first conveying means for placing the article on a conveying conveyor and conveying the article in a predetermined direction, and an article at the exit end of the first conveying means. Second conveying means for conveying the article in a predetermined direction by sandwiching the two conveyors on opposite sides of the conveying conveyor, and an image provided above for inspecting the article placed on the conveying conveyor of the first conveying means. It is characterized by comprising means and an image pickup means provided at least below for inspecting the article gripped by the second conveying means.

[0006]

According to the above construction, the article is sent from the first carrying means to the second carrying means, and when the article is carried by the second carrying means, the article is carried by being sandwiched between the carrying conveyors facing each other on both sides. The article can be conveyed in a state where the lower surface side of the article is opened, and the inspection from below the article can be easily performed while being conveyed.

Further, when the image is conveyed by the first conveying means, the upper part of the article can be inspected by the imaging means provided above, and when the second conveying means conveys the article from the lower side by the image forming means provided below. Can be inspected, without stopping the transportation of goods,
Articles can be inspected from each direction.

[0008]

EXAMPLE First, the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. The first conveying means A including the conveying conveyor 1, the second conveying means B including the pair of conveying conveyors 2 and 3, and the third conveying means C including the conveying conveyor 4 are sequentially arranged on a straight line. Belt conveyors, chain conveyors, roller conveyors, etc. are used as the conveyors 1, 2, 3, 4. In the case of the present embodiment, the conveyor 1 of the first conveyor A is a belt conveyor 1a, and a belt is wound around the front and rear rollers 5 and 6, and is rotated by a motor 7. The belt conveyor 1a has a horizontal upper surface on which an article 8 can be placed and conveyed horizontally. Clamping means 9 called escape is arranged on both sides of the entrance side of the belt conveyor 1a as the conveying conveyor 1, and the article 8 to be conveyed is clamped by the clamping means 9 with the center of the conveying conveyor 1 as a reference. It is designed to keep the intervals constant. Also this belt conveyor 1
Cameras 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d and 10e as image pickup means 10 are arranged above, side, front and rear of a, and the cameras 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d,
At 10e, the article 8 can be inspected by imaging the article 8 from the upper side, the left and right sides, diagonally forward, and diagonally rearward.
The transfer conveyors 2 and 3 as the second transfer means B are provided so as to be continuous with the end of the transfer conveyor 1 on the outlet side.
The transport conveyors 2 and 3 are arranged so as to face each other on both sides with a predetermined interval. This conveyor 2,3
The article 8 is conveyed while sandwiching the side surface of the article 8 from both sides, and the article 8 is conveyed with the lower surface side open. In the case of the present embodiment, the one conveyor 2 is the belt conveyor 2a, and the front and rear rollers 1
A belt is wound around 1 and 12 and is rotationally driven by a motor 13. The other conveyor 3
Is a roller conveyor 3a, which is formed by arranging a plurality of rollers 14 such as rubber rollers. A camera 1 is provided as an imaging means 10 below the transport conveyors 2 and 3.
0f is arranged so that the article 8 can be imaged and inspected from below. The transport conveyor 4 as the third transport means C is arranged so as to be continuous with the end portions on the outlet side of the transport conveyors 2 and 3 of the second transport means B, and the article 8 is placed thereon and transported horizontally. It is supposed to do. In the case of this embodiment, the conveyor 4 is a belt conveyor 4a,
A belt is wound around the front and rear rollers 15 and 16 and can be rotated by a motor 17. A defective discharge pusher 18 for discharging defective products to the side is provided on the side of the conveyor 4. Then, when the articles 8 are supplied onto the conveyor 1, the articles 8 are conveyed by positioning the articles 8 by the clamp means 9 so that the intervals between the articles 8 are constant. At this time, the cameras 10a, 10b, 10c,
At 10d and 10e, the article 8 is inspected by imaging from above, laterally on both sides, diagonally forward, and diagonally backward. Transport conveyor 1
When the article is sent from the transport conveyors 2 and 3 to the transport conveyors 2 and 3, the article 8 is sandwiched and transported by the camera 10f.
The image is taken from below to be inspected. Transport conveyors 2, 3
When the inspected article 8 is conveyed to the conveyor 4 from the defective article, it is laterally ejected by the defective ejection pusher 18, and when the article 8 is a non-defective article, the article 8 is conveyed as it is.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the conveyors 2 and 3 serving as the second conveyor B.
The article 8 is sandwiched and conveyed between the conveyor 2 made of a and the conveyor 3 made of the roller conveyor 3a. In the case of this embodiment, the rollers 14 of the roller conveyor 3a are formed by mounting a plurality of rubber rings 14b on the outer circumference of the roller body 14a made of metal, and the rollers 14 are rotatably supported by the shaft 19. is there. The roller 14 may be a rubber roller having a flat surface.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the second conveying means B. The transport conveyor 2 is formed of a belt conveyor 2a as in the above embodiment, and the transport conveyor 3 is also formed of a belt conveyor 3b. This belt conveyer 3b is freely rotatable, and includes front and rear rollers 20,
It is formed by winding a belt around 21. When the article 8 is sandwiched and conveyed between the belt conveyor 2a and the belt conveyor 3b, the article 8 can be conveyed by rotating the belt conveyor 3b in cooperation with the belt conveyor 2a driven by the motor 13. It is like this. When the article 8 is conveyed in this manner, the article 8 can be supported and conveyed from both sides by the surface of the belt, and the article 8 can be reliably supported regardless of the length (width in the moving direction of the article). Belt conveyor 2a
Also, backup plates 22 and 23 for preventing the belt from bending are arranged on the belt conveyor 3b.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the second conveying means B. The backup plate 22 of the belt conveyor 2a as the transfer conveyor 2 is fixed, and the transfer conveyor 3
Plate 2 of belt conveyor 3b as
3 is movable, and is biased in a direction in which the backup plate 23 holds the article 8 by a compression spring 24 as an elastic biasing means. In this way, the article 8
The thickness (width in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the article) of the can be absorbed and supported.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the second conveying means B. In the case of this embodiment, the belt conveyor 3b as the conveyor 3 is also driven. The belt conveyor 3b is formed so that a belt is wound around the front and rear rollers 20 and 21 and is driven by a motor 26. The belt conveyor 3b as the conveyor 3 is rotationally driven in the opposite direction at the same speed as the belt conveyor 2a as the conveyor 2, and the article 8 is sandwiched and conveyed between the belt conveyor 2a and the belt conveyor 3b. With this configuration, the force for supporting the article 8 becomes strong, and the heavy article 8 can be reliably transported, and the article 8 can be reliably introduced between the transport conveyors 2 and 3.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the second conveying means B. In the case of this embodiment, the transport conveyor 3 is a roller conveyor 3a as in the embodiment of FIGS.
4 are lined up. Of the plurality of rollers 14, the roller 14 closest to the entrance can be driven to rotate by a motor 27. That is, the rotation of the motor 27 is transmitted to the roller 14 via the drive pulley 28 and driven at the same speed as the belt conveyor 2a. By forcibly driving the rollers 14 on the entrance side in this way, transfer of the article 8 between the transport conveyors 2 and 3 can be ensured,
The article 8 can be surely introduced. In addition, since each of the articles 8 can be supported by the roller 14, the article 8 is reliably supported.

8 and 9 show another embodiment of the second conveying means B. The transfer conveyors 2 and 3 are connected to arms 28 and 29, respectively.
Two screw shafts 31 parallel to the body 30 are rotatably installed, and the lower parts of the arms 28 and 29 are screwed into the right screw 31a and the left screw 31b of the screw shaft 31. is there. The two parallel screw shafts 31 are rotationally driven via the connecting belt 33 by rotating the handle 32. When the screw shaft 31 rotates, the arms 28 and 29 are moved toward and away from each other to convey the conveyor. The distance between the second and third parts is changed, and even if the thickness of the article 8 is as small as W1, it can be supported even if the thickness of the article 8 is as large as W2.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the second conveying means B. Inner frame 33 of the conveyors 2 and 3
Is rotatably attached to the arms 28 and 29 by a shaft 35. In the case of a taper-shaped article 8 such as a molded article, the contact surfaces of the conveyors 2 and 3 are inclined to grip the article 8. That is, when the side surface of the article 8 is a vertical surface, the contact surface is held to be a vertical surface to hold the article 8 as shown in FIG. 10A, and when the side surface of the article 8 is a tapered surface, FIG.
As shown in (b), the contact surface is inclined to hold the article 8. At this time, based on the shape of the article 8, even if the rotation state of the conveyors 2 and 3 is fixed to a predetermined state, or the conveyors 2 and 3 are supported freely, the shape of the article 8 is changed. You may make it follow. In the case where the conveyors 2 and 3 are fixed in a predetermined state based on the shape of the article 8, the structure is as shown in FIG. Two screw shafts 31 are rotatably installed between the arms 28 and 29, and the left and right screws of the screw shaft 31 are screwed into the inner frames 33 of the conveyors 2 and 3. Then, by rotating the handle 32,
The connection belt 33 is rotated to rotationally drive the screw shaft 31, and the conveyors 2.3 are rotated around the shaft 35 so that the inclinations of the conveyors 2 and 3 can be changed.
After adjusting the angles of the transport conveyors 2 and 3 in this manner, the fixing bolts 37 are tightened to fix them.

12 and 13 show another embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, the interval and inclination of the conveyors 2, 3 of the second conveyor B can be automatically switched by the motor. A camera 38 for recognizing the shape of the article 8 is arranged above the transfer conveyor 1 of the first transfer means A. The shape recognized by this camera 38 is input to the quality information control device 39, and the quality information control device is input. 39
From the conveyor 2,
3 is controlled. In this way, the camera 38 can recognize the shape of the article 8 and automatically set the thickness or the interval between the conveyors 2 and 3 having the taper shape and the inclination.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a first conveying means for placing an article on a conveyor and conveying the article in a predetermined direction, and an article at the exit end of the first conveying means. And a second conveying unit that conveys the article in a predetermined direction by sandwiching it between the conveying conveyors facing each other. Therefore, after the article is placed on the conveying conveyor of the first conveying unit and then conveyed,
The article can be conveyed by sandwiching it between the conveyors on both sides of the conveying means, and the article can be conveyed by the second conveying means with the lower surface side open, so that the inspection of the article from below can be facilitated. In addition, the transport structure can be simplified with the lower part open (no transfer mechanism or reversing mechanism to the open lower surface is required), and the lower part of the product without stopping the product. Can be easily inspected.

In the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention, since the first conveying means has the clamping means for arranging the article at a predetermined position on the conveying conveyor, the conveying conveyor of the first conveying means. When conveyed by, the articles can be clamped by the clamping means so that the articles can be arranged at predetermined intervals. Further, in the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention, one of the conveyors of the second conveying means has a driving means for driving to convey the article in a predetermined direction. Since the other transfer conveyor is driven by the drive of the one transfer conveyor, the one transfer conveyor and the other transfer conveyor can be easily rotated in perfect synchronization to stably convey the article. Is.

Further, in the invention according to claim 4 of the present invention, since the conveyor of the first conveyor is a belt conveyor, articles can be stably placed and conveyed, and the second conveyor can be used. One of the conveying conveyors of the means is a belt conveyor and the other conveying conveyor of the second conveying means is a roller conveyor, so that the individual articles are reliably supported between the one conveying conveyor and the other conveying conveyor. It can be transported by.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, at least the roller on the inlet side end of the roller conveyor, which is the other conveyor of the second conveyor, is conveyed by one of the second drive means. Since the conveyor and the driving means are synchronized and rotated in the opposite rotation directions, the articles can be surely introduced between the two conveyors. Further, in the invention according to claim 6 of the present invention, since both conveyors of the second conveyor are belt conveyors, the article can be reliably supported regardless of the length in the moving direction of the article. .

Further, in the invention according to claim 7 of the present invention, since the elastic urging means for pressing the two conveyors of the second conveyor means against each other is provided, the thickness in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the article is It can be absorbed and supported. Further, in the invention according to claim 8 of the present invention, since both the conveyors of the second conveyor have drive means for rotating the conveyors at the same speed in opposite directions, the introduction of the article between the conveyors can be prevented. It is certain.

In the invention according to claim 9 of the present invention, since the distances at which the articles are gripped by the two conveyors of the second conveying means can be set close to and away from each other, a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the articles. Even if the thickness of the article changes, the article can be reliably sandwiched and conveyed. Further, in the invention according to claim 10 of the present invention, the first carrying means for carrying the article in a predetermined direction by placing the article on the carrying conveyor, and the exit end portion of the first carrying means There is a second conveying means for conveying the article in a predetermined direction by sandwiching the article on opposite conveying conveyors on both sides, and an upper portion for inspecting the article placed on the conveying conveyor of the first conveying means. Since the imaging means provided and the imaging means provided at least below for inspecting the article gripped by the second carrying means are provided, when the first carrying means carries out the imaging means provided above. The upper part of the article can be inspected by the second conveying means, and the image can be inspected from the lower side by the image pickup means provided at the lower side, and the article can be inspected from each direction without stopping the conveyance of the article. Is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an entire embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the second carrying means of the above.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the second transfer means of the above.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the above-mentioned second conveying means.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the above second conveying means.

FIG. 7A is a plan view of another embodiment of the above-described second transporting means, and FIG. 7B is a sectional view of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the above-described second transporting means.

9 is a plan view of FIG. 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view for explaining another embodiment of the above-mentioned second transporting means, in which (a) and (b) show different states.

11A is a plan view of FIG. 10, and FIG. 11B is a side view of a fixed portion.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view illustrating another embodiment of the above.

FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A 1st conveyance means B 2nd conveyance means 1 conveyance conveyor 2 conveyance conveyor 3 conveyance conveyor 10 imaging means

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 1, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the second conveying means B. Inner frame 34 of the conveyors 2 and 3
Is rotatably attached to the arms 28 and 29 by a shaft 35. In the case of a taper-shaped article 8 such as a molded article, the contact surfaces of the conveyors 2 and 3 are inclined to grip the article 8. That is, when the side surface of the article 8 is a vertical surface, the contact surface is held to be a vertical surface to hold the article 8 as shown in FIG. 10A, and when the side surface of the article 8 is a tapered surface, FIG.
As shown in (b), the contact surface is inclined to hold the article 8. At this time, based on the shape of the article 8, even if the rotation state of the conveyors 2 and 3 is fixed to a predetermined state, or the conveyors 2 and 3 are supported freely, the shape of the article 8 is changed. You may make it follow. In the case where the conveyors 2 and 3 are fixed in a predetermined state based on the shape of the article 8, the structure is as shown in FIG. Two screw shafts 31 are rotatably installed between the arms 28 and 29, and the left and right screws of the screw shaft 31 are screwed into the inner frames 34 of the conveyors 2 and 3. Then, by rotating the handle 32,
The connection belt 33 is rotated to rotationally drive the screw shaft 31, and the conveyors 2.3 are rotated around the shaft 35 so that the inclinations of the conveyors 2 and 3 can be changed.
After adjusting the angles of the transport conveyors 2 and 3 in this manner, the fixing bolts 37 are tightened to fix them.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

12 and 13 show another embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, the interval and inclination of the conveyors 2, 3 of the second conveyor B can be automatically switched by the motor. A camera 38 for recognizing the shape of the article 8 is arranged above the transfer conveyor 1 of the first transfer means A. The camera 38 recognizes the shape of the article 8.
Type varieties information control unit 39, breed information control unit 39
From the conveyor 2,
3 is controlled. In this way, the camera 38 can recognize the shape of the article 8 and automatically set the thickness or the interval between the conveyors 2 and 3 having the taper shape and the inclination.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 10

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 10]

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 11

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG. 11

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 12

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Fig. 12]

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first transport means for placing an article on a transport conveyor and transporting the article in a predetermined direction, and an article for transporting the article on both sides of each other at an exit end of the first transport means. An article conveying system comprising: a second conveying unit that is sandwiched by a conveyor and conveys the article in a predetermined direction. 2. The article carrying system according to claim 1, wherein the first carrying means has a clamping means for arranging the article at a predetermined position on the carrying conveyor. 3. A conveying means of one of the second conveying means has a driving means for driving to convey an article in a predetermined direction, and the other conveying conveyor of the second conveying means is the one conveying conveyor. The article conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the article conveying system is caused to move together by driving. 4. The conveyor of the first conveyor is a belt conveyor, one conveyor of the second conveyor is a belt conveyor, and the other conveyor of the second conveyor is a roller conveyor. The article transport system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: 5. A roller conveyor, which is the other conveyor conveyor of the second conveyor means, has at least the roller at the end on the inlet side synchronized with one conveyor conveyor of the second drive means by the drive means and in the opposite rotation direction. The article transport system according to claim 4, wherein the article transport system is rotated. 6. The article conveying system according to claim 1, wherein both conveying conveyors of the second conveying means are belt conveyors. 7. The article conveying system according to claim 6, further comprising elastic urging means for pressing the both conveying conveyors of the second conveying means against each other. 8. The article conveying system according to claim 6, wherein both conveying conveyors of the second conveying means have driving means for rotating the conveyors at the same speed in opposite directions. 9. The article transport system according to claim 4, wherein the distances at which the articles are gripped by the two transport conveyors of the second transport means are set to be close to and away from each other. 10. A first transporting means for placing an article on a transporting conveyor to transport the article in a predetermined direction, and a transporting article on both sides of the first transporting means, which is located at an exit end of the first transporting means. Second conveying means for sandwiching the conveyor and conveying the article in a predetermined direction, imaging means provided above for inspecting the article placed on the conveying conveyor of the first conveying means, and the second conveying means. An inspection system for a conveyed article, comprising: an image pickup means provided at least below for inspecting an article gripped by the conveying means.