JPH0736919Y2 - Pressure fluid and negative pressure supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention supplies a pressurized fluid such as pressurized air to a device such as a suction finger fixed to a conveyor and rotating together with the conveyor within a certain traveling area of the conveyor. It also relates to a device for supplying a negative pressure in another constant traveling area.

[Conventional technology]

Conveyors are used not only for carrying articles, but also for carrying out various processing or processing on articles at the same time as carrying them.

In the latter case, the conveyor stops running at the processing station and runs intermittently to the next processing station, and the continuous running type where the conveyor runs continuously without stopping and processing is performed during running. There is.

For processing during continuous running, the processing equipment moves with the article, so the processing equipment is installed on the conveyor that conveys the article, or the processing equipment is installed on the traveling device that runs parallel to the conveyor that conveys the article. Must be worn.

When the processing equipment is driven by a pressure fluid such as air pressure or requires vacuum adsorption, a device for supplying the pressure fluid or negative pressure to the traveling equipment is required.

FIG. 6 shows, as an example thereof, the movement of the device in the case of automatically removing the coated bag B that covers the fruit F such as pears.

In FIG. 6 (a), the covering bag B in which the fruit F is placed on the saucer 1 on the conveyor (not shown) and covers the fruit F.
Has a cutting opening at the lower end.

Further, directly above the fruit F, there is a suction finger 2 attached to another conveyor (not shown) that travels in the same direction and speed as the conveyor on which the fruit F is placed.

The suction finger 2 has two arms 4 and 5 that are opened and closed with the pin 3 as a fulcrum, and a suction pad 6 that sucks the coating bag B is provided at the tip of the arms 4 and 5.

Further, the suction finger 2 has an elevating shaft 7 in the center thereof.
2 shows a state in which the suction pad 8 provided at the lower end of the contacting portion contacts the upper surface of the covering bag B with a small contact pressure.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), after descending with the arms 4,5, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the arms 4,5 are closed and the suction pad 6 is placed on the covering bag B. Suction pad 6, after light contact
8 adsorbs the covering bag B, then the arms 4 and 5 are opened as shown in FIG. 6 (d), and the adsorbing fingers 2 are raised from the fruit F as shown in FIG. 6 (e). Uncover bag B.

Then, after the suction finger 2 is moved away from the fruit F by the rotation of the conveyor, the pipes that connect the suction pads 6 and 8 and the negative pressure source are blocked to remove the suction force of the suction pads 6 and 8, Air is discharged from a pneumatic pipe line (not shown) provided in 2 to blow the covering bag B to a dust suction duct (not shown).

As described above, the coated bag B can be automatically and continuously removed from the fruit F on the saucer 1 arranged side by side on the conveyor.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, a device such as a suction finger fixed on the conveyor needs a distribution valve to which the pressurized fluid and the negative pressure are supplied in synchronism with the traveling of the conveyor.

In addition, since the traveling path of the conveyor is elongated and oval, it is difficult to connect the device that travels with the conveyor and the distribution valve with a pipeline, and supply pressurized fluid and negative pressure to such equipment on the conveyor. There was no device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and provides a simple apparatus for accurately supplying a pressurized fluid and a negative pressure to a device on an elongated oval-shaped conveyor in synchronization with the conveyor.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the pressure fluid and negative pressure supply device of the present invention comprises a chain conveyor having two threads parallel to each other and wound around a sprocket so that both ends of a plurality of connecting rods are fixed to each other. And a pair of chain conveyors, each of which has a device operating on each of the connecting rods, and a sliding surface formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner casing, and the pressure fluid chamber and the negative pressure chamber opening on the sliding surface slide on the sliding surface. Arranged in the circumferential direction of the surface, connecting a conduit communicating with a pressure fluid source to the pressure fluid chamber, connecting a conduit communicating with a negative pressure source to the negative pressure chamber, formed into a tubular shape, and In the outer casing that rotates the sliding surface in synchronization with a pair of chain conveyors, a plurality of pipelines that come into contact with and separate from the pressure fluid chamber and the negative pressure chamber by a rotary motion, and a rotary joint that connects to each pipeline are provided. It is provided in the center of the pair of chain conveyors. A rotary valve that is location, the telescopic pipe one end to the device and the other end is connected is connected to the rotary joint, the constructed.

[Action]

With the above-described configuration, each device on the pair of chain conveyors and each rotary joint of the outer casing are connected by a telescopic tube.

Then, when the pair of chain conveyors rotates, the outer casing of the rotary valve rotates in synchronization with this, and the telescopic tube expands and contracts according to the position of the device.

The rotary valve pipe supplies negative pressure while it is connected to the negative pressure chamber, and supplies pressure fluid while it is connected to the pressure fluid chamber. Negative pressure is supplied and pressurized fluid is supplied within another constant travel zone.

〔Example〕

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a partially cutaway front view of the rotary valve R.

The rotary valve R has a fixed inner casing 9 and an outer casing 10 which rotates on the outer peripheral surface of the inner casing 9.
The inner casing 9 is provided with shafts 11 and 12 at both ends, and the shaft 11 is supported by a support 13 and the shaft 12 is supported by a support 14 (see FIG. 2).

The inner casing 9 has a sliding surface 15 into which the outer casing 10 is rotatably fitted, and a pressure fluid chamber 16 opened to the sliding surface 15
And the negative pressure chamber 17 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the sliding surface 15, a groove 18 is engraved around the pressure fluid chamber 16, and an O-ring 19 is formed in the groove 18.
Is inserted to seal the gap between the inner casing 9 and the outer casing 10.

Similarly, an O-ring (not shown) is inserted into the groove 20 provided around the negative pressure chamber 17 to seal the gap between the inner casing 9 and the outer casing 10.

Grooves 21 and 22 are provided around both ends of the sliding surface 15 in the inner casing 9, and O-rings 23 and 24 are inserted into the grooves 21 and 22, respectively, to further seal the gap.

A hole 25 is bored in the pressure fluid chamber 16, the hole 25 is connected to a conduit (not shown) communicating with the pressure fluid source, and a hole 26 bored in the negative pressure chamber 17 is communicated with the negative pressure source. It is connected to a pipeline (not shown).

The outer casing 10 is provided with a plurality of conduits 27 that come into contact with and separate from the pressure fluid chamber 16 and the negative pressure chamber 17 while rotating on the sliding surface 15.
A rotary joint 28 is connected to the pipe 27.

Sprockets 29 and 30 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer casing 10.

Further, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the rotational drive force of the motor 33 is transmitted to the drive shaft 32 supported by the bearing 31 via the speed reducer 34.

Sprockets 35 and 36 are fixed to the drive shaft 32, and a sprocket is fixed to a driven shaft 38 supported by a bearing 37.
The chain conveyor 40 is wound around the sprocket 35 and the sprocket 35.

Sprocket 36 and rotary valve R sprocket 29
Chain 41 is wound around.

Sprockets 44 and 45 are fixed to a driven shaft 43 supported by a bearing 42, a chain 46 is wound around the sprocket 44 and the sprocket 30 of the rotary valve R, and fixed to a driven shaft 48 supported by a bearing 47. Sprocket 49 and sprocket
The chain conveyor 50 is wound around 45.

Therefore, the rotation of the motor 20 causes the two chain conveyors 40 and 50 to rotate and the outer casing 10 of the rotary valve R to rotate, so that the respective rotation speeds are set to be the same.

The two-piece chain conveyors 40 and 50 are connected by a plurality of connecting rods 51 to form a pair of chain conveyors. At the center of the connecting rod 51, a pressure fluid or a negative pressure like the suction finger 2 shown in FIG. Is equipped with multiple devices 52 that require
The other end of the expansion tube 53, one end of which is connected to the rotary joint 28, is connected to the device 52 (see FIG. 1).

The telescopic tube 53 is a flexible tube that is wound in a spiral shape.
As shown in the figure, when the device 52 reaches the positions 52A and 52B farthest from the rotary valve R, the device 52 is stretched, and when the device 52 comes to the closest position in the middle, the device 52 is spirally wound and its dimension becomes short.

The telescopic tube 53 may be a telescopic tube 54 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the structure of the telescopic pipe 54 is such that the medium-diameter pipe 56 is slidably inserted into the large-diameter pipe 55 and is inserted into the groove 57 provided around the outer peripheral surface of the medium-diameter pipe 54. Sealed by ring 58.

Similarly, a small diameter pipe 59 is slidably and airtightly inserted into the medium diameter pipe 56.

Although FIG. 5 shows a two-stage telescopic type telescopic tube, it may be a telescopic type having three or more stages.

The operation of the pressure fluid and the negative pressure supply device configured as described above will be described.

The rotation of the motor 33 is transmitted to the drive shaft 32 via the speed reducer 34, and the sprocket 35 fixed to the drive shaft 32 causes the conveyor belt 40 to rotate.

Further, the rotation of the sprocket 36 fixed to the drive shaft 32 rotates the sprocket 29 via the chain 41, the outer casing 10 of the rotary valve R rotates, and the sprocket 30 on the outer casing 10 sprockets via the chain 46. The chain 44 is rotated, and the sprocket 45 fixed to the same driven shaft 43 as the sprocket 44 rotates the chain conveyor 50.

The rotation speeds of the chain conveyors 40, 50 are the same, and the device 52 mounted on the connecting rod 51 fixed to the chain conveyors 40, 50 rotates together with the chain conveyors 40, 50.

The conveyors 40 and 50 and the outer casing 10 of the rotary valve R rotate at the same number of revolutions per minute.

On the other hand, the pressure fluid chamber 16 of the inner casing 9 of the rotary valve R is supplied with pressure fluid from a pressure fluid source such as a compressor via the hole 25, and the conduit of the outer casing 10 is provided.
When 27 is in contact with the pressure fluid chamber 16
Pressure fluid is supplied to the device 52 via 53.

Therefore, the equipment 52 is supplied with the pressure fluid in the conveyor traveling area corresponding to the size and position of the opening area of the pressure fluid chamber 16.

Similarly, the negative pressure chamber 17 is provided with a hole from a negative pressure source such as a vacuum pump.
It is sucked via 26, and when the pipe line 27 is in contact with the negative pressure chamber 17, the suction pad and the like of the device 52 is sucked through the expansion tube 53.

Then, the device 52 is sucked in the conveyor traveling area corresponding to the size and position of the opening area of the negative pressure chamber 17.

Thus, the device 52 that rotates with the chain conveyors 40, 50.
Can be operated by receiving a fluid pressure or a negative pressure in a certain traveling area of the conveyor.

In the above embodiment, the rotary valve R is provided with one pressure fluid chamber and one negative pressure chamber, but it is possible to have a plurality of each.

Further, there may be a plurality of expansion and contraction tubes 53 connecting the rotary valve R and the plurality of devices 52.

〔effect〕

 The present invention has the following effects.

(1) Since the outer casing of the rotary valve rotates in synchronization with the chain conveyor, the pressure fluid and the negative pressure can be accurately supplied in a predetermined area of the chain conveyor without providing a solenoid valve or a complicated control device.

(2) Since the rotary valve has a simple structure, it has advantages that the manufacturing cost is low, there are few failures, and it can be compactly assembled in the chain conveyor.

(3) In addition, since there is only one sliding surface provided in the pipeline from the pressure fluid chamber or the negative pressure chamber to the equipment on the chain conveyor, an accident such as fluid leakage is unlikely to occur.

(4) Since each device on the chain conveyor and each rotary joint of the rotary valve are connected by the expansion tube, it is possible to supply pressurized fluid or negative pressure to each device moving on the elongated oval-shaped running path of the chain conveyor. .

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional front view of a main part of a pressure fluid and negative pressure supply device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same as above, and FIG. 3 is a rotary valve. FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a telescopic tube, and FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of a suction finger. is there. R ... Rotary valve, 9 ... Inner casing, 10 ...
… Outside casing, 15 …… Sliding surface, 16 …… Pressure fluid chamber,
17 …… Negative pressure chamber, 27 …… Pipe line, 28 …… Rotary joint, 40, 50 …… Chain conveyor, 51 …… Connecting rod, 52 ……
Equipment, 53 ... Telescopic tube.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A pair of chains in which both ends of a plurality of connecting rods are fixed to two chain conveyors that are respectively wound around sprockets and are parallel to each other, and a device operated by fluid pressure is attached to each connecting rod. A conveyor and a sliding surface are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner casing, and a pressure fluid chamber and a negative pressure chamber that open to the sliding surface are arranged in the circumferential direction of the sliding surface and communicate with a pressure fluid source. A pipe line is connected to the pressure fluid chamber, a pipe line communicating with a negative pressure source is connected to the negative pressure chamber, and is formed in a tubular shape, and the sliding surface is rotated in synchronization with the pair of chain conveyors. The outer casing is provided with a plurality of pipelines that are brought into contact with and separated from the pressure fluid chamber and the negative pressure chamber by a rotary motion, and a rotary joint that is connected to the pipelines, and the rotary is installed substantially at the center of the pair of chain conveyors. One end connected to the valve and the above equipment Re other end and telescopic pipe connected to the rotary joint, the formed pressure fluid and negative pressure supply device.