JPH085151Y2 - Distributor - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a distribution device that distributes a powder or granular material conveyed by an air flow through a transportation path into a plurality of branch paths together with the air flow.

(Prior art) For example, when a powdery or granular material quantitative supply device is used to supply the powdery or granular material to a transportation path and the powdery or granular material is transported to a predetermined transportation location by an air flow, when there are a plurality of transportation locations, It is necessary to distribute the body with the airflow into multiple branches. In the conventional distribution device used for such a purpose, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of discharge ports 54 are formed in a ceiling wall 53 of a closed cylindrical casing 52 to which a transportation pipe 51 forming a transportation path is connected. However, a branch pipe 55 that constitutes a branch path is connected to each of these discharge ports 54. Reference numeral 56 is a cover pipe that covers the plurality of branch pipes 55.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-mentioned conventional configuration, since the transport pipe 51 and the plurality of branch pipes 55 are simultaneously communicated with each other, it is not possible to supply different desired amounts of powdery or granular material to the respective transport locations. . Moreover, branch pipe 55
If the lengths are different from each other, the amount of powder or granules conveyed per unit time is different for each branch pipe 55 due to the difference in flow path resistance, and it is not possible to evenly distribute the powder or granules to the respective conveying points. Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the transport capacity of the transport pipe 51 in accordance with the number of branch pipes 55, and the powdery-particles quantitative supply device is upsized. Further, the powdery particles may collide with the ceiling wall 53 of the casing 52 and be crushed. Further, since powder particles are accumulated on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the casing 52, and if left to stand, the amount of accumulation increases and solidifies due to moisture absorption and the like, and the discharge port 54 may become clogged, making distribution impossible. The inside of the casing 52 needs to be regularly cleaned, which is troublesome.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a distribution device of the present invention is a distribution device for distributing a powder or granular material conveyed by an airflow through a transportation path to a plurality of branch paths together with the airflow. A moving body that is driven by a driving device to reciprocate and a fixed body that is arranged along the moving direction of the moving body are provided, and the moving body has a piston whose tip can abut the fixed body. A pressing means for pressing the piston against the fixed body and a separating means for separating the piston from the fixed body are installed, and the piston is formed with a through hole communicating with the transportation path through a flexible pipe, In the fixed body, a plurality of through-holes that communicate with the branch passage and can form a straight line with the through-hole of the piston and a plurality of detected portions are arranged in parallel in the moving direction of the moving body at predetermined intervals. The detected object is detected on the moving body. A detector for detecting a portion is installed, the moving body stops at a predetermined position by the detector detecting the detected portion, and the piston is pressed against the fixed body by the pressing means, The transport path and the desired branch path are configured to communicate with each other through the flexible pipe, the through hole of the piston, and the through hole of the fixed body.

(Operation) The moving body is moved by the driving device, and the detector of the moving body detects the detected portion of the fixed body, thereby positioning the moving body. Then, the piston is pressed against the fixed body by the pressing means, and the transportation path and the desired branch path communicate with each other through the flexible pipe, the through hole of the piston, and the through hole of the fixed body.
Therefore, the granular material flows into the branch path from the transportation path together with the airflow, and is supplied to the desired transportation location.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a distributor according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a bracket fixed to the inner wall surface of the casing 1 is used.
The screw shaft 4, which is rotatably supported by bearings 2 and 3 via a bearing (not shown), is rotated about its axis by a stepping motor 5 as an example of a driving device. A moving body 6 is screwed onto the screw shaft 4, and the moving body 6 moves in the axial direction of the screw shaft 4 when the screw shaft 4 rotates. A working fluid supply pipe 8 is connected to the moving body 6 via a first flexible pipe 7 such as a rubber hose, and a working fluid such as air is supplied.
An electromagnetic valve 9 arranged on the inner wall surface of the casing 1 is interposed between the first flexible pipe 7 and the working fluid supply pipe 8. The connection state with the working fluid supply pipe 8 is switched. A transportation pipe 11 that constitutes a transportation path is connected to the moving body 6 via a second flexible pipe 10 such as a rubber hose, and the granular material is supplied together with the airflow. A fixed body 14 composed of a plurality of blocks 13 is arranged in parallel with the screw shaft 4 between the bracket 2 and the bracket 3, and each block 13 can face the movable body 6 with a predetermined gap. Each block 13 has a branch pipe that constitutes a branch path
15 are connected. A control device 16 is arranged on the inner wall surface of the casing 1, and the control device 16 controls the stepping motor 5, the solenoid valve 9, the powdery granular material supply device (not shown), and the like. The first flexible pipe 7 and the second flexible pipe 10 are
In order to accommodate the movement of the moving body 6, the piping is provided with a sufficient length.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional front view of an essential part of a distributor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Is composed of a substantially cylindrical main body 6a forming a cylinder chamber 19 having a small diameter portion 19a formed at one end, and a closing portion 6b closing the other end of the main body 6a. The closed portion 6b is composed of a substantially cylindrical tubular portion 6c and a substantially annular plate-shaped annular plate portion 6d protruding radially from the outer periphery of the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 6c. The portion 6d is fixed to the main body portion 6a by a plurality of bolts (not shown). Main body 6a of moving body 6
Holes 20 and 21 are formed above and below the cylinder chamber 19, and a nut 22 is fitted and fixed in the hole 20. Nut 22
Is engaged with the screw shaft 4, and a guide rod 23 for guiding the moving body 6 is fitted in the hole 21 so as to be slidable relative to each other. Both ends of the guide rod 23 are supported by brackets 2 and 3 (FIG. 3), and are arranged parallel to the screw shaft 4. Each block 13 of the fixed body 14 is composed of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped block body 13a and a cover body 13b that covers the block body 13a from above and below, and holes 24 and 25 are formed in the block body 13a. . Support rods 26 and 27 are fitted in the holes 24 and 25, respectively.
6 and 27 are parallel to the screw shaft 4 and brackets 2 and 3 (Fig. 3)
Both ends are supported by. A piston 29 is slidably fitted in the cylinder chamber 19, one end of the piston 29 is fitted in a small diameter part 19a of the cylinder chamber 19, and the other end of the piston 29 is a closed part of the moving body 6. One end of the tubular portion 6c of 6b is fitted. A large-diameter portion 29a is formed at the center of the piston 29 in the axial direction, and the large-diameter portion 29a divides the cylinder chamber 19 into a working fluid chamber 19b as a separating means and a spring chamber 19c.
A female screw is screwed on the peripheral wall of the other end of the spring chamber 19c,
A spring receiver 30 having a substantially annular plate shape is screwed into the female screw. A spring 31 as a pressing means, which is a coil spring, is interposed between the spring receiver 30 and the large diameter portion 29a of the piston 29, and the spring 31 biases the piston 29 toward the fixed body 14. A plurality of screw holes 32 are screwed into the spring receiver 30 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.One end of each screw hole 32 is in contact with the large diameter portion 29a of the piston 29 and the other end of the stopper 33 is screwed. I am fit. A communication hole 34 that communicates the working fluid chamber 19b with the first flexible pipe 7 is formed in the main body portion 6a of the moving body 6, and the working fluid such as air for operating the piston 29 is the working fluid. It is supplied to the working fluid chamber 19b through the supply pipe 8 (FIG. 3), the first flexible pipe 7 and the communication hole 34. An O-ring 35 is attached to the annular groove formed on the outer circumference of one end of the piston 29, and an O-ring 36 is attached to the annular groove formed on the outer circumference of the large diameter portion 29a of the piston 29 to close the moving body 6. Part 6b
An O-ring 37 is attached to an annular groove formed on the outer circumference of one end of the cylindrical portion 6c. The piston 29 has a first through hole 39
Is formed along the axial direction, and the closed portion of the moving body 6 is formed.
A second through hole 40, which connects the first through hole 39 and the second flexible pipe 10 to each other, is formed in 6b in a straight line with the first through hole 39. Block body 13a of each block 13 of the fixed body 14
Is formed with a third through hole 41 having the same diameter as the first through hole 39 and capable of forming a straight line with the first through hole 39. The third through hole 41 communicates with the branch pipe 15. are doing. A ring-shaped packing 42 made of elastic rubber that constitutes a seal portion is attached to an annular groove formed on one end surface of the piston 29 so as to surround the opening of the first through hole 39, and the fixed body 14 The block main body 13a of each block 13 is integrally provided with a ring-shaped projecting portion 13c capable of contacting the packing 42. Fixed body 1
A groove 43 forming a detected portion is formed on the upper surface of the cover body 13b of each block 13 of 4, and a concave portion formed on the upper surface of the main body portion 6a of the moving body 6 has, for example, a reflection type photo sensor. A detector 44 for detecting the groove 43 is installed. A reflection plate may be installed in the groove 43 to strongly reflect the light from the detector 44.

FIG. 4 is a control system diagram of the distributor in one embodiment of the present invention. The detector 44 is connected to the input end of the controller 16, and the stepper motor 5 and the solenoid valve 9 are connected to the output end of the controller 16. And are connected. Although not shown, the output end of the control device 16 is also connected to the powdery / quantitative material quantitative supply device.

Next, the operation will be described. Now, it is assumed that the working fluid having a predetermined pressure is supplied to the working fluid chamber 19b, and the piston 29 is in contact with the stopper 33 against the biasing force of the spring 31 as shown in the figure. When the stepping motor 5 is actuated by a command from the control device 16, the screw shaft 4 rotates, whereby the moving body 6 is guided by the guide rod 23 and moves. Mobile unit 6
Moves to the position of a predetermined block 13 of the fixed body 14, and when the detector 44 detects the groove 43, a signal from the detector 44 is input to the control device 16, and the control device 16 stops the stepping motor 5. Then, the controller 16 operates the solenoid valve 9. As a result, the working fluid pressure in the working fluid chamber 19b is released, the piston 29 is moved to the left in FIG. 1 by the urging force of the spring 31, and one end surface of the piston 29 is pressed against the block 13. In this state, the protrusion 13c of the block 13 contacts the packing 42, and the packing 42 is elastically deformed. Next, the control device 16 activates the powder and granular material supply device. This makes the transport pipe 11
The powder and granules are supplied together with the air flow through the second flexible pipe 10, the second through hole 40, and the first through hole.
It flows into the branch pipe 15 through the 39 and the third through hole 41, and is supplied to a predetermined conveyance position. When the transfer of a predetermined amount is completed,
The control device 16 stops the powder and granular material constant amount supply device and further operates the solenoid valve 9. As a result, the working fluid chamber 19b passes from the working fluid supply pipe 8 through the first flexible pipe 7 and the communication hole 34.
Is supplied with working fluid at a predetermined pressure, and the piston 29
It moves to the right in FIG. 1 against the biasing force of and contacts the stopper 33. The above operation completes the supply of the powder or granular material to one transfer point, and the same operation is performed thereafter to supply the powder or granular material to the transfer points. In addition, the supply order and the supply amount of the powdery or granular material to each of the transportation locations are preset in the control device 16, and the control device 16 controls the stepping motor 5 and the like on the basis thereof. Of course, it is also possible to set the supply start time of the powder or granular material in the control device 16 or to store a plurality of types of supply patterns.
By using, for example, a microcomputer as 16, it is possible to easily perform sophisticated and complicated control.

In this way, the configuration is such that the transporting location of the powdery or granular material is selected by the movement of the moving body 6, so that a desired amount of the powdery or granular material can be supplied to each transporting location. In addition, no matter how many blocks 13 are installed, a small-sized powder and granular material supply device is sufficient. Further, since the granular material is passed while the second through hole 40, the first through hole 39 and the third through hole 41 are aligned in a straight line, the granular material is crushed as in the conventional device. In addition, there is no such thing as powder and granular material that accumulates, and if left unattended, the amount of accumulation increases steadily due to moisture absorption, etc. There is no. Further, since the movable body 6 is positioned by detecting the groove 43 by the detector 44, the positional accuracy is good, and the powdery or granular material can be surely supplied to the desired conveyance location. Further, as in this embodiment, the piston 29 is replaced by the spring 31.
Press firmly against the block 13 of the fixed body 14 by the urging force of
The contact between the packing 42 and the protrusion 13c causes the first through hole 39
If the structure is such that the boundary between the third through hole 41 and the third through hole 41 is sealed, the sealing property is good and there is no leakage of the granular material. Further, if the fixed body 14 is composed of a plurality of blocks 13 as in this embodiment, it is possible to easily deal with the increase or decrease in the number of transport locations by increasing or decreasing the blocks 13. Further, as in the present embodiment, the spring bearing 30
When the stopper 33 is screwed to the moving body 6 and the stopper 33 is screwed to the spring receiver 30, the urging force of the spring 31 and the piston 29
The stroke of can be adjusted arbitrarily.

(Other Embodiments) In the above embodiment, the blocks 13 of the fixed body 14 are installed in one stage, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, the blocks 13 are arranged in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction. Alternatively, the screw shaft 4 and the guide rod 23 may be installed and supported by an elevating body which is driven by an elevating drive device to elevate. At this time, if the detected portion is constituted by the groove 43 of the block 13 so as not to project upward from the block 13 as in the above embodiment, it is convenient to stack the blocks 13 in a plurality of stages.

Further, in the above embodiment, the detector 44 is constituted by a reflection type photo sensor, but the present invention is not limited to such a constitution, and the detector may be constituted by, for example, a reed switch or a micro switch. Good. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, slits 13d are formed at predetermined intervals at the tip of the cover body 13b of the block 13, and the main body 6a of the moving body 6 has a light emitting portion 45a and a light receiving portion 45b. The photo sensor 45 may be attached and the photo sensor 45 as a detector may detect the slit 13d.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the second through hole 40 is formed in the closed portion 6b of the moving body 6, and the second flexible pipe 10 and the first through hole 39 are connected via the second through hole 40. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the second flexible pipe 10 can be directly connected to the piston 29 without providing the closing portion 6b.
May be connected.

Further, in the above embodiment, the spring 31 is used as the separating means, but the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and for example, a working fluid chamber for separation is formed in the main body portion 6a of the moving body 6. A working fluid such as compressed air may be used as the separating means.

Further, in the above embodiment, the screw shaft 4 is used as the driving device.
However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and for example, a linear actuator may be used as a driving device. As the linear actuator, for example, a shaft body that is driven to rotate about an axis by a stepping motor 5 and a plurality of support shafts fixed to a main body portion 6a of the moving body 6 are rotatably supported and the outer circumference of the shaft body. It is possible to employ a structure in which a plurality of rollers abutting against each other are provided, and the axis of the support shaft of the roller is inclined with respect to the axis of the shaft body.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the distribution apparatus of the present invention, the moving position of the granular material is selected by the movement of the moving body. Therefore, an arbitrary number of transferring positions can be set for each transfer. It is possible to supply the powder and granular material at the same time, and at the same time, it is possible to supply the powder and granular material by individually setting the supply amount for each selected transfer location. Even if the number of branches is large, a small-sized powder and granular material supply device is sufficient. In addition, since the through hole of the piston and the through hole of the fixed body are aligned in a straight line, the granular material is allowed to pass,
Unlike the conventional device, the granular material is not crushed, and the granular material is not accumulated and solidified so that it cannot be distributed. Therefore, it is not necessary to regularly clean the granular material. Further, since the movable body is positioned by detecting the detected portion of the fixed body by the detector, the positional accuracy is good, and the powdery or granular material can be surely supplied to the desired conveyance location.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional front view of an essential part of a distributor according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the essential part, FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the same, and FIG. 4 is a control system diagram of the same. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a detector in another embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a conventional distributor. 5 ... Stepping motor (driving device), 6 ... Moving body, 10 ... Second flexible pipe (flexible pipe), 11 ... Transport pipe (transport path), 14 ... Fixed body, 15 ... Branch pipe (branch path),
19b …… Working fluid chamber (separating means), 29 …… Piston, 31
...... Spring (pressing means), 39 ...... First through hole (through hole), 41 ...... Third through hole (through hole), 43 ...... Groove (detected portion), 44 ...... Detector, 45 …… Photo sensor (detector)

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A distribution device for distributing a powdery or granular material conveyed by an air flow through a transportation path into a plurality of branch paths together with the air flow, and a moving body driven by a drive device to reciprocate.
A fixed body arranged along the moving direction of the moving body is provided, and the moving body has a piston whose tip can abut against the fixed body, a pressing means for pressing the piston against the fixed body, and A separating means for separating the piston from the fixed body is installed, a through hole communicating with the transportation path via a flexible pipe is formed in the piston, the fixed body communicates with the branch path, and A plurality of through holes that can form a straight line with the through hole of the piston and a plurality of detected portions are arranged in parallel in the moving direction of the moving body at predetermined intervals, and the moving body is detected to detect the detected portion. Installed, the moving body stops at a predetermined position when the detector detects the detected part, and the piston is pressed against the fixed body by the pressing means, and the moving path and the desired path are formed. The branch path of the flexible pipe and the pipe Dispensing device characterized by being configured to communicate with each other through the through hole of the through-hole and the fixed body of tons.