JPH10305907A - Chute - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To adjust and fix the slant angle of a chute at an arbitrary angle suitable for the transfer state of goods. SOLUTION: The slant angle of each chute 20 is adjusted and fixed at an arbitrary angle suitable for the transfer state of goods W by the ratchet mechanism 24 of a slant angle adjusting part. The ratchet mechanism 24 comprises a hollow member 27 having an engaging groove and a guide groove and an inserted member 28 movably inserted into the hollow member 27. When the slant angle of the hollow member 27 is adjusted, the inserted member 28 is moved relatively in the hollow member 27 with its guide projection guided by the guide groove of the hollow member 27 and its engaging claw is engaged with the engaging groove of the hollow member 27 at the predetermined position in the hollow member 27 to fix the slant angle of the chute 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chute which is connected to a conveyor in an inclined state and transfers articles to be sorted from the conveyor to a predetermined destination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Referring to FIG.
No. 37213 discloses a sorting device 4 capable of sequentially supplying articles in a plurality of sorting categories to a palletizing device 41.
As 0, a chute 42 having a large number of vertically tiltable chutes 42 corresponding to the sorting of articles is described.

Each of the chutes 42 is tilted in accordance with the operation of a cylinder (not shown), so that a storage position (a position shown by a solid line in FIG. 4) tilted downward from the sorting conveyor 43 and an upper position from the sorting conveyor 43. It can be displaced to an inclined feeding position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4). That is, each of the chutes 42 is temporarily stored without being transferred to the storage chamber 44 by locking the article with the end stopper (not shown) in the state where the chute 42 is positioned at the storage position. Each of the chutes 42 is displaced to the delivery position as needed, and delivers the articles of the corresponding sorting section to the palletizing device 41. Thus, the sorting device 40 can sequentially supply the articles in the plurality of sorting sections to the palletizing device 41.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional sorting apparatus 40, the chute 42 can be displaced between the storage position and the delivery position by tilting the chute 42 with a cylinder. However, it is necessary to previously set the inclination angles of the chute 42 at the storage position and the delivery position, respectively. Therefore, the inclination angle of the chute 42 is
It cannot be adjusted and fixed at an arbitrary angle that matches the transfer state of the article on the chute 42.

[0005] Therefore, if articles to be sorted are mixed with various kinds having different weights and outer shapes, etc., depending on the kind of the articles, the articles being transported do not move on the chute 42 or the transport speed of the articles becomes too high and the articles are transported too fast. There is a problem that this may cause breakage or the like. That is, if the inclination angles of the chute 42 at the storage position and the delivery position are set to small angles in accordance with, for example, heavy articles, light and thin objects or packaged objects do not move during transfer. On the other hand, if the inclination angles of the chute 42 at the storage position and the feed-out position are set to be large angles, for example, for light-weight articles, the transfer speed of heavy articles will increase too much, causing damage to the articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a chute in which the inclination angle can be adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary angle according to the transfer state of an article, whereby the article can be transferred smoothly and reliably. And

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a chute which is connected to a conveyor in an inclined state and transfers articles to be sorted from the conveyor to a predetermined sorting destination. This is achieved by a chute characterized in that the chute is provided with a tilt angle adjusting means that is rotatably provided in the section and that can adjust and fix the tilt angle to an arbitrary angle that matches the transfer state of the article.

[0008]

In the chute according to the present invention, the inclination angle is adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary angle according to the transfer state of the article by the inclination angle adjusting means. As a result, the article is smoothly and reliably transferred.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a chute according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a support structure of the chute of FIG. 1 on a conveyor. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a ratchet mechanism of a tilt angle adjusting unit of the chute in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, a steel chute 20 is shown.
Is connected to a slat conveyor 10 as a sorting device in a truck terminal or the like, and is used for branching the article W. That is, a plurality of chutes 20 are provided at predetermined intervals in the direction of transport of the articles W on the slat conveyor 10 (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1), and each of the chutes 20 is inclined obliquely downward and rightward in FIG. It is connected in a state where it was done. Each chute 20 is moved from the slat 11 of the slat conveyor 10 to the moving shoe 12.
The articles W to be sorted are transferred to a predetermined sorting destination 15 by sliding of the articles W due to the inclination.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each chute 20 has a fitting portion 21 provided on the lower surface near the left end in FIG. 2 fitted to the chute support shaft 13 of the slat conveyor 10 so as to be relatively rotatable. Are combined. As a result, each chute 20 is supported on the conveyor frame 14 of the slat conveyor 10 so as to be swingable clockwise or counterclockwise in FIG.
A pair of chute support shafts 13 are provided on both sides of the conveyor frame 14 of the slat conveyor 10 in the transport direction of the article W (on both right and left sides in FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG.
1 is connected to the upper end of the chute leg 23 via the inclination angle adjusting unit 22. The chute leg 23 is erected on the floor. Each of the chutes 20 can be adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary inclination angle suitable for the transfer state of the article W by the inclination angle adjusting unit 22. That is, each of the chutes 20 is controlled by the inclination angle adjusting unit 22 to control the weight, outer shape, outer dimensions,
The inclination angle is adjusted and fixed at an arbitrary angle in accordance with the transfer state of the article W which changes depending on the packaging form or the like.

The tilt angle adjusting section 22 includes a ratchet mechanism 2.
4 or the like. The ratchet mechanism 24 includes a hollow sheath member 27 having a locking groove 25 and a guide groove 26.
And an insertion member 28 which is inserted into the sheath member 27 so as to be relatively movable.

The sheath member 27 is supported at the lower left end in FIG. 1 at the upper end of the chute leg 23 so as to be swingable about a pin 29. The locking groove 25 is provided on the side portion 30 of the sheath member 27.
In addition, a plurality of the sheath members 27 are provided at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The guide groove 26 is provided with a sheath member 27.
At a predetermined position on the side portion 30, a guide projection 31 formed in a rectangular shape in a plan view at a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the sheath member 27 and projecting from the fitting member 28 is loosely inserted. I will guide you.

When the guide projection 31 is loosely inserted into the guide groove 26 of the sheath member 27, the fitting member 28 is
7 and a support plate 32 provided on the lower surface of the chute 20 at the upper right end in FIG.
The pins 33 are connected so as to be relatively displaceable about the pin 33.
When the angle of inclination of the chute 20 is adjusted, the insertion member 28 is guided by the guide groove 26 while the guide protrusion 31 is locked to the upper end of the guide groove 26 in FIG. , Upper limit position) and a position where the guide projection 31 is locked to the lower end of the guide groove 26 in FIG.
(Referred to as a lower limit position) relative to the inside of the sheath member 27. The insertion member 28 that has moved inside the sheath member 27 locks the locking claw 34 in the locking groove 25 of the sheath member 27 at a predetermined position in the sheath member 27, and fixes the inclination angle of the chute 20.

A pair of locking claws 34 are supported at the lower end of the insertion member 28 in FIG. Each of the locking claws 34 has a lower end in FIG. 3 connected to each other by a spring 36, and a position projecting obliquely left and right in FIG. 3 from the side of the insertion member 28 by the biasing force of the spring 36. (Hereinafter, referred to as a protruding position), each locking groove 2 of the sheath member 27 is held.
5 is fitted. As a result, each locking claw 34
The insertion member 28 is positioned and fixed at an arbitrary position with respect to the sheath member 27. Further, each locking claw 34 abuts on the side portion 30 of the sheath member 27 and is pressed in the direction of compressing the spring 36, so that it does not protrude obliquely left and right in FIG. 3 from the side portion of the insertion member 28. Retracted position (hereinafter,
(Referred to as a retreat position). Thereby, each locking claw 3
4 does not hinder the movement of the insertion member 28 obliquely downward and to the left in FIG.

That is, each of the locking claws 34 is fitted in the locking groove 25 of the sheath member 27 while being in the protruding position during the movement of the insertion member 28 obliquely upward to the right in FIG. The side portion 30 of the member 27 is pressed in a direction to compress the spring 36 to be in the retracted position. Thereafter, each locking claw 34 is alternately displaced between the protruding position and the retracted position each time the locking claw 34 passes through the locking groove 25 of the sheath 27 and the side portion 30. Further, each of the locking claws 34 is fitted to the insertion member 2.
At the upper limit position 8, the spring 36 is pressed in a direction to compress the spring 36 by a required mechanism (not shown) and locked at the retracted position. With the locking claws 34 locked in the retracted position, the insertion member 28 can move obliquely downward and leftward in FIG. 3 from the upper limit position to the lower limit position.

The operation of the embodiment will be described. Each chute 20 is individually connected to the slat 11 of the slat conveyor 10.
The articles W sorted by the moving shoe 12 from above are
The article W is transferred to a predetermined sorting destination 15 by sliding of the article W due to the inclination. The tilt angle of each chute 20 is adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary angle according to the transfer state of the article W by the ratchet mechanism 24 of the tilt angle adjusting unit 22. Thereby, the article W is smoothly and reliably transferred.

That is, for example, when the inclination angle of the chute 20 is reduced, the operator operates the chute 20 so as to lift the vicinity of the right end in FIG.
By swinging in the counterclockwise direction, it is displaced from, for example, a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 to a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. At this time, in the ratchet mechanism 24 of the inclination angle adjusting section 22, each time the insertion member 28 passes each locking claw 34 through the locking groove 25 of the sheath member 27 and the side portion 30, the protruding position and the retreat position are set. While being alternately displaced to the position, it is moved to the upper right in FIG. Then, when the movement of the insertion member 28 stops, the respective locking claws 34 of the insertion member 28 are respectively locked in the predetermined locking grooves 25 of the sheath member 27 to be in the protruding position, and the chute 20 is set at the predetermined inclination angle. Fix with.

For example, when increasing the inclination angle of the chute 20, the operator operates the chute 20 to lift the vicinity of the right end in FIG. 1, and swings the chute 20 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 to the upper limit. Let it. Thereafter, the operator swings the chute 20 in the reverse direction (clockwise in FIG. 1) to the lower limit, and from this state, performs the same operation as the above-described operation of reducing the inclination angle of the chute 20 to tilt the chute 20. Adjust and fix the angle to a predetermined angle.

At this time, in the ratchet mechanism 24 of the inclination angle adjusting section 22, the insertion member 28 is moved obliquely upward and rightward in FIG. 1 to the upper limit position and then moved in the opposite direction (obliquely downward left in FIG. 1). Is returned to the lower limit position and the shot 20
Is once maximized. From this state, the tilt angle is adjusted to a predetermined value and fixed by an operation similar to the operation for reducing the tilt angle of the chute 20. That is, first, the insertion member 28 is moved obliquely to the upper right in FIG. 1 to the upper limit position, so that each locking claw 34 is displaced to the retracted position by a required mechanism. Next, the insertion member 28 is moved obliquely downward to the left in FIG. 1 to the lower limit position, and returned into the sheath member 27. In the process in which the insertion member 28 is returned into the sheath member 27, each of the locking claws 34 is held at the retracted position by a required mechanism, and at the lower limit position of the insertion member 28, the urging force of the spring 36 Return to the projecting position. From this state, the tilt angle of the chute 20 is adjusted to a predetermined value by an operation similar to the above-described operation of reducing the tilt angle of the chute 20.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the tilt angle of each chute 20 is adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary angle suitable for the transfer state of the article W by the ratchet mechanism 24 of the tilt angle adjusting unit 22. . Therefore, each shoot 20
Can be adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary angle that matches the transfer state of the article W. That is, the transfer state of the article W depends on the weight, outer shape, outer dimensions,
Although changed depending on the packaging form and the like, each chute 20 of the present embodiment can quickly and easily respond to such a change in the transfer state of the article W. This allows
The article W can be transported smoothly and reliably. More specifically, by setting the inclination angle of the chute 20 to be large, it is possible to reliably prevent a problem that a light and thin object or a packaged object or the like does not move during transfer. Further, for example, by setting the inclination angle of the chute 20 to be small, it is possible to reliably prevent the transfer speed of the heavy article W from excessively increasing, and to prevent the article W from being damaged. Furthermore, since the ratchet mechanism 24 is provided in the tilt angle adjusting section 22 of the chute 20, the operator can quickly and easily change the tilt angle of the chute 20 with one touch by lifting the free end of the chute, or Work with one hand is also possible.

In the above embodiment, the inclination angle adjusting unit 2
Although the tilt angle of the chute 20 can be adjusted and fixed by the second ratchet mechanism 24, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, the inclination angle may be changed by pressing a predetermined portion of the chute 20 with a required movable member (not shown). Also, for example,
The inclination angle is changed by changing the height of the chute leg 23 or by changing the position of the chute 20 supported by the chute leg 23, that is, the position of the pin 29 which is the swing fulcrum of the sheath member 27. May be configured. Further, for example, a gear mechanism (not shown) and a handle (not shown) are provided instead of the ratchet mechanism 24, and the tilt angle of the chute 20 is changed via the gear mechanism by manually rotating the handle. Is also good.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the chute is rotatably provided on the side of the conveyor, and the tilt angle can be adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary angle according to the transfer state of the articles. An inclination angle adjusting means is provided. Therefore, the tilt angle of the chute can be adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary angle that matches the transfer state of the article. Thereby, the article can be smoothly and reliably transferred.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a chute according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a support structure of the chute of FIG. 1 on a conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a ratchet mechanism of a tilt angle adjusting section of the chute of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional sorting device and a chute.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Conveyor (slat conveyor) 11 Slat 12 Moving shoe 20 Chute 22 Inclination angle adjustment part 23 Shoot leg part 24 Ratchet mechanism 25 Locking groove 26 Guide groove 27 Sheath member 28 Fitting insertion member 31 Guide projection 34 Locking nail W Article

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A chute (20), which is connected to a conveyor (10) in an inclined state and transfers articles (W) sorted from the conveyor (10) to a predetermined sorting destination, wherein the chute (20) is A tilt angle adjusting means (24) rotatably provided on a side portion of the conveyor (10) and capable of adjusting and fixing the tilt angle to an arbitrary angle according to the transfer state of the article (W); A shoot (20) characterized by the following.