JPH1159847A - Conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyer can conveys a plurality of kinds of parts having a different shape, by quickly switching operation, relating to the shape of the parts. SOLUTION: Respectively on a conveying belt 3a, 3b, 3c parallel to each other link wound between a drive pulley 1a, 1b, 1c and a driven pulley 2a, 2b, 2c, a positioning protrusion 4a, 4b, 4c is provided with an equal space. By changing a phase relation among each conveying belt 3a, 3b, 3c, a conveyer can correspond to positioning and conveying of a part having a different shape.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus for transferring a conveyed object such as a part in the course of production in an industrial production process or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an industrial production process or the like,
The entire production process is divided into multiple processes, the execution location of each process is determined, and the parts during production are sequentially transferred to the next process. Running has been done. In such an industrial production process or the like, a transport device that transports a conveyed object such as a component to a place where a next process is performed is used.

[0003] This transfer device is a so-called belt conveyor, which includes a driving pulley and a driven pulley,
An endless transport belt is wound around the driving pulley and the driven pulley. In this transport device, when the drive pulley is rotationally driven by a drive device such as a motor, the endless transport belt is fed between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. Then, the conveyed object is conveyed by being placed on the endless drive belt that is fed in this manner.

[0004] In some of such transport devices, positioning projections for positioning an object to be transported are provided on an endless transport belt. This positioning projection
This is to be fitted into a concave portion on the bottom side of the transferred object to prevent relative movement between the transferred object and the endless transfer belt. By being positioned by the positioning projections, the conveyed object is conveyed in synchronism with the feed of the endless conveyance belt without causing a position shift with respect to the endless conveyance belt.

[0005] Such positioning projections are particularly useful in the case of so-called index transfer in which a transferred object is intermittently moved and conveyed while being stopped at a predetermined position such as a place where each process is performed for a predetermined time, and is carried out. Useful. That is, in such index conveyance, since the endless conveyance belt repeatedly moves and stops, a positional shift between the endless conveyance belt and the article to be conveyed easily occurs.

[0006]

By the way, in the conveying apparatus having the positioning projections on the endless conveyor belt as described above, the positions of the positioning projections need to be provided in accordance with the shape and size of the object to be conveyed. is there. For example, in the case of transporting a frame-shaped component, in the case where positioning is performed by contacting a plurality of positioning projections with the inner edge portion of the frame, if the sizes of the frames are different, the position of each positioning projection, that is, The distance between the plurality of positioning projections for positioning one component is also different.

In particular, in the case of carrying an index, it is necessary to stop the part in a state where the center position of the part is located at a predetermined stop reference position which is a reference position for performing the process. For components having the same shape and size but different center positions, the positions where the positioning protrusions should be located are different.

Therefore, when a plurality of types of parts having different shapes and sizes used for different models are transported on the same production line, the position of the positioning projection on the endless transport belt is changed every time the parts are changed. Must be changed.
The position of the positioning projection is changed by removing the endless transport belt from the driving pulley and the driven pulley, and replacing the endless transport belt with an endless transport belt having positioning projections attached at different positions. Such a change in the position of the positioning projection is a complicated operation, and the production line must be stopped until the change is completed, resulting in a decrease in production efficiency.

Accordingly, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and has a plurality of types of transported objects having different shapes and sizes, which are quickly positioned and positioned. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer device that can transfer the sheet.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a transport device according to the present invention is wound around a driving pulley and a driven pulley, and is disposed in parallel with each other. A plurality of endless transport belts that are fed at the same speed by rotating the drive pulley, and a plurality of transported belts provided at a fixed pitch interval on each of the endless transport belts and placed on the endless transport belt. A positioning projection for positioning an object, and changing a phase relationship based on the positioning projection of each endless transport belt, thereby changing a distance between the positioning projections between different endless transport belts. Is what you do.

In this transport apparatus, by changing the distance between the positioning projections between different endless transport belts, it is possible to position and transport the transported objects having different shapes and sizes.

In addition, the transport device according to the present invention is arranged such that each of the transport pulleys is wound around between a driving pulley and a driven pulley, arranged in parallel with each other, and the corresponding driving pulleys are intermittently rotated. A plurality of endless transport belts that are intermittently fed at a constant period and speed equal to each other, and positioning of a transferred object provided at a constant pitch interval on each of these endless transport belts and placed on the endless transport belt The center position of the transferred object positioned by the positioning protrusions is changed by changing the phase relationship between the drive shafts that rotate the respective drive pulleys and the respective drive pulleys. Characterized by changing the position of the positioning projection of each endless transport belt with respect to a stop reference position to be located when the belt is temporarily stopped. That.

In this transport apparatus, by changing the position of each positioning projection with respect to the stop reference position at which the center position of the transferred object should stop, the center position of the transferred object having a different shape and size can be adjusted. Can be positioned and transported while maintaining the position where the stoppage occurs.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The transfer apparatus according to the present invention is used to transfer a conveyed object such as a part in the course of production from an execution place of one step to an execution place of the next step in an industrial production process or the like. Things. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport device includes a plurality of endless transport belts 3a each wound around drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c and driven pulleys 2a, 2b, 2c and arranged in parallel with each other. , 3b, 3
c. In this embodiment, the number of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c is three. The first to third drive pulleys 1a,
1b and 1c have the same support shaft 26 inserted into the support shaft hole 14 at the center, and are coaxially supported by the support shaft 26. The first to third driven pulleys 2a, 2b, 2c are also supported coaxially with each other. The first to third endless transport belts 3a, 3b,
Reference numeral 3c denotes a so-called timing belt, in which teeth formed on the inner surface are formed in a gear shape over the entire outer periphery of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c and the driven pulleys 2a, 2b, 2c. Teeth. The endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c are fed at the same speed by rotating the corresponding drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c by a drive device such as a motor (not shown). When the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c are operated in such a manner, the objects to be transported are placed on the upper surface of the delivery device formed by the outer surfaces of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c. Accordingly, depending on the rotation direction of each of the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c, the respective drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c side toward the respective driven pulleys 2a, 2b, 2c, or each of the driven pulleys 2a, 2a, 2c. Each drive pulley 1a, 1b, 1c from the 2b, 2c side
The transported object is transported toward the side.

The endless transport belts 3a, 3a
Each of b and 3c is provided with a plurality of positioning projections 4a, 4b and 4c at a constant pitch interval indicated by an arrow P in FIG. The pitch intervals of the positioning projections 4a, 4b, 4c provided on the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c are equal to each other. These positioning projections 4a, 4b, 4
The reference character "c" fits into the concave portion or the opening on the bottom side of the transferred object placed on each of the endless transfer belts 3a, 3b, 3c, and positions the transferred object. These positioning projections 4a, 4b, 4c are formed of hard rubber, metal, or the like, and are attached to the outer surface of each endless transport belt 3a, 3b, 3c.

This transfer device is used, for example, in an industrial production process as shown in FIG. In other words, this transport device is provided with an arrow A in FIG.
As shown by, components in production are placed on the upper surfaces of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c on the driven pulley 2a, 2b, 2c side. As shown by an arrow B in FIG. 2, the transfer device transfers the components placed on the upper surface to the drive pulley 1.
a, 1b, and 1c. Then, it is determined whether the components placed on each of the endless conveyor belts 3a, 3b, 3c are non-defective or defective, and the defective components are ejected as indicated by an arrow C in FIG. The endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c are removed from the apparatus 6 by the device 6. The components placed on each of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c and determined to be non-defective are further transported by the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c. Is performed, and the first step is performed. Then, the component is further transported to reach a place where the second process is performed by the second process performing device 8, and the second process is performed. The components that have been sequentially subjected to a plurality of processes in this way reach the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, and 1c side of the transport device, and are carried out by the unloading device 9 as shown by arrows D in FIG.
It is carried out of this transfer device and further carried to the place where the next step is performed.

In this conveyor, a total of three positioning projections 4a, 4b, 4c, one for each of the first to third endless conveyor belts 3a, 3b, 3c, form one set. Performs positioning of individual parts. In this transport device, the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, and 3c are changed in phase relationship with respect to the respective positioning projections 4a, 4b, and 4c so that different endless transport belts 3a, 3b, and 4c are used.
The distances between the positioning projections 4a, 4b, 4c of a, 3b, 3c can be changed. For example, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the first and third endless transport belts 3a, 3c
Are in the same phase, and the phase of the second endless transport belt 3b is advanced or delayed by L in terms of distance from the first and third endless transport belts 3a and 3c.

Each of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b,
The phase relationship of 3c is changed by rotating the inner pulley 12 and the outer pulley 10 forming the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c as shown in FIG.

That is, each drive pulley 1a, 1b, 1c
A disk-shaped inner pulley 12 fixedly supported by a support shaft 26 having a support hole 14 and being inserted into the support hole 14, and an inner pulley Annular outer pulley 1 supported rotatably with respect to 12
0. On the outer peripheral edge of the outer pulley 10, the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3 are located on both sides of the teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer pulley 10.
A flange 11 is provided for preventing c from coming off the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c.

A retaining plate 13 and a retaining rod 15 for preventing the outer pulley 10 from falling off the inner pulley 12 are attached to the main surface of the outer pulley 10. This holding plate 1
3 is formed to have a substantially fan-shaped shape, the arc-shaped edge is attached to the main surface of the outer pulley 10, and the main surface is opposed to the main surface of the inner pulley 12, so that the outer pulley 10 This prevents the inner pulley 12 from falling off. In addition, the holding bar 15 has both end portions attached to the main surface of the outer pulley 10, and has a central portion facing the main surface of the inner pulley 12, thereby preventing the outer pulley 10 from dropping off from the inner pulley 12. I have.

The inner pulley 12 has a fixing member 16 for operably fixing a phase relationship between one endless conveyor belt corresponding to one drive pulley and another endless conveyor belt corresponding to another drive pulley. Is provided. That is, the solid member 16 is slidable with respect to the inner pulley 12 in the direction of coming into contact with and separating from the shaft hole 14 and supported by the inner pulley 12. It is possible. And, this fixing member 16
Is urged toward the outer peripheral side of the inner pulley 12 by a compression coil spring 17 disposed between the fixing member 16 and the inner pulley 12. That is, one end of the fixing member 16 projects toward the outer peripheral side of the inner pulley 12 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 17. This fixing member 1
A gear-shaped tooth portion is formed at one end of 6. A gear-like meshing portion 18 meshing with a tooth formed at one end of the fixing member 16 is provided at a portion corresponding to one end of the fixing member 16 at the inner edge of the outer pulley.

That is, the fixing member 16 has one end protruding toward the outer peripheral side of the inner pulley 12 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 17, and the tooth portion at one end is engaged with the meshing portion 18 of the outer pulley 10.
To be engaged. The teeth of the fixing member 16 and the outer pulley 1
The inner pulley 12 and the outer pulley 10 are fixed in a state in which they do not rotate relative to each other by meshing with the zero meshing portion 18. In the state where the inner pulley 12 and the outer pulley 10 are fixed in this manner, the relative rotation between the support shaft 26 and the outer pulley 10 is also prevented. Therefore, at this time, the phase relationship between the outer pulleys 10 of the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c is not changed. That is, the fixing member 16 is in a state in which the phase relationship between one driving pulley and another driving pulley is fixed.

Then, the fixing member 16 is connected to the compression coil spring 1.
7 is disengaged from the engaging portion 18 of the outer pulley 10 by sliding to the support shaft 26 side against the urging force of the inner pulley 12 and the outer pulley 10.
Are rotatable relative to each other. At this time, relative rotation between the support shaft 26 and the outer pulley 10 is also possible. Therefore, at this time, it is possible to change the phase relationship between the outer pulleys 10 of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c. That is, the fixing member 16 is in a state in which the fixing of the phase relationship between one driving pulley and another driving pulley is released.

In the state where the fixing member 16 releases the fixing of the phase relationship between the one driving pulley and the other driving pulley, the outer pulley 10 of the one driving pulley and the outer pulley of the other driving pulley are released. 10 to change the phase relationship between the endless conveyor belts 3a, 3b, 3c, and after the change of the phase relationship is completed, the fixing member 16 is changed.
Thus, the operation of changing the phase relationship is completed by fixing the phase relationship between one drive pulley and another drive pulley.

As shown in FIG. 3, this transport device releases the fixing of the phase relationship between one driving pulley and another driving pulley by the fixing member 16, that is, the fixing member 16
The air cylinder 20 is provided for releasing the fixing of the outer pulley 10 to the inner pulley 12 due to the above. As shown in FIG. 4, the air cylinder 20 is provided corresponding to each of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c, and is provided on the fixing member 16 of each of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c as shown in FIG. It has a pressing rod 19 facing the pressed projection 16a. When the air cylinder 20 is operated, as shown in FIG. 6, the pressing rod 19 is made to protrude, and the corresponding driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1
c, presses the pressed protrusion 16a of the fixing member 16,
The fixing member 16 is slid against the urging force of the compression coil spring 17. At this time, a gap having a predetermined distance indicated by an arrow G in FIG. 6 is generated between the tooth portion of the fixing member 16 and the meshing portion 18 of the outer pulley 10.

In order for the air cylinder 20 to slide the fixing member 16 via the pressing rod 19 in this way, as shown in FIG. Must match. Each of the driving pulleys 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c is configured such that the sliding direction of the fixing member 16 on the inner pulley 12 is
Is set as an initial position. The driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1
The driving device for driving the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1
When an instruction to set c to the initial position is received, each drive pulley 1a, 1b, 1c is rotated to the initial position and stopped. In other words, when changing the phase relationship between the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c, it is necessary to control the driving device in advance to bring the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c to the initial position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, this transport device changes the phase relationship between the outer pulley 10 of one drive pulley and the outer pulley 10 of the other drive pulley to change the endless transport belts 3a, 3b. , 3c for changing the phase relationship between the air cylinders. As shown in FIG. 4, these air cylinders 22, 24 are arranged corresponding to the respective drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c. As shown in FIG. 5, the holding rods 15 of the respective drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c are provided. And pressing rods 21 and 23 facing each other corresponding to both end portions. By operating these air cylinders 22 and 24, as shown in FIG. 8, the pressing rod 21 is protruded, and the corresponding driving pulleys 1 a and 1 are pushed through the pressing rod 21.
One end or the other end of the pressing rod 15 is pressed at b and 1c, and the outer pulley 10 is rotated with respect to the inner pulley 12.

When one of the pair of air cylinders 22, 24 is operated, the outer pulley 10 is rotated in the phase advance direction as shown by the arrow E in FIG. When the other air cylinder 24 of the pair of air cylinders 22 and 24 is operated, the outer pulley 10 is rotated in the phase delay direction as shown by the arrow F in FIG. The endless transport belt 3 is moved by the pair of air cylinders 22 and 24.
When changing the phase relationship between a, 3b, and 3c, it is necessary to control the driving device in advance to set each of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, and 1c to the initial position.

The pair of air cylinders 22,
When the change of the phase relationship between the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c is completed by the operation of the air cylinder 24, the operation of the air cylinder 20 is released, the pressing rod 19 is returned, and the fixing member 16 is initialized by the urging force of the compression coil spring 17. The endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c are brought back into a state where the teeth of the fixing member 16 mesh with the meshing portion 18 of the outer pulley 10.
The operation of changing the phase relationship between the two is completed.

As the objects to be conveyed by this conveying device, for example, a first type component 101 shown in FIG. 9, a second type component 102 shown in FIG. 10, and a third type component 102 shown in FIG.
A type of component 103 can be considered. Each of these parts 10
Numerals 1, 102 and 103 are halves of the ink ribbon cassette, and have a rectangular frame shape as a whole. That is, the first type component 101 has a first opening 1 whose inner diameter in the transport direction has a length X indicated by an arrow X in FIG.
04. The second type of component 102 has a second opening 105 whose inner diameter in the transport direction has a length Y indicated by an arrow Y in FIG. Third-type component 103
Has a third opening 106 whose inner diameter in the transport direction is a length Z indicated by an arrow Z in FIG.

In order to position the first type of component 101 in the transfer device, as shown in FIG. 12, the distance between the outer surfaces of the pair of positioning protrusions 4a, 4b, 4c in the transfer direction is substantially equal to the distance. Must be X.
In order to position the second type of component 102 in the transfer device, as shown in FIG. 13, the distance between the pair of positioning protrusions 4a, 4b, and 4c in the transfer direction is substantially equal to the distance Y. It must be. In order to position the third type of component 103 in the transfer device, as shown in FIG. 14, the distance between the outer surfaces of the pair of positioning protrusions 4a, 4b, and 4c in the transfer direction is substantially equal to the distance Z. It must be. The distance between the outer surfaces of the pair of positioning projections 4a, 4b, and 4c in the transport direction is determined by each of the endless transport belts 3a and 3c.
It can be changed by changing the phase relationship between b and 3c.

As shown in FIG. 15, the first type of component 101 is placed on each of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c as shown in FIG.
The first and third positioning projections 4a and 4c are substantially in contact with the inner edge on the front side in the transport direction, and the second positioning projection 4b is substantially in contact with the inner edge on the rear side in the transport direction. The positioning is stable. Part 2 of the second kind
As shown in FIG. 16, the first and third positioning projections 4a and 4c are substantially in contact with the inner edge portions on the front side in the transport direction on the endless transport belts 3a, 3b and 3c. The second positioning projection 4b is substantially abutted on the inner edge portion on the rear side in the transport direction, whereby stable positioning is achieved. Also, as shown in FIG. 17, the third type of component 103 has first and third positioning projections 4a and 4c on the inner edges on the front side in the transport direction on the endless transport belts 3a, 3b and 3c. The second positioning protrusions 4b are substantially abutted on the inner edge portion on the rear side in the transport direction while being in contact with each other, whereby stable positioning is achieved.

This transport device can be used as a transport device that carries out a so-called index feed that transports an object intermittently at a constant cycle. In this index feed, the endless conveyance belts 3a, 3b, 3c are driven by the driving device performing intermittent driving.
After the feeding operation is performed at the same speed for a predetermined time T1 such as 1.5 seconds, the operation is stopped for a predetermined time T2 such as 3.5 seconds and the feeding operation is performed again for a predetermined time. A predetermined time T1 + T2
Is repeated as one cycle.

In the index feed, an object to be conveyed, such as a part, conveyed by the conveying device is accurately stopped at a predetermined position such as a position where a certain process is performed for a predetermined time T2, and the next predetermined time is reached. Since it is used to transport to the predetermined position such as the position where the next process is performed in T1, it is necessary to accurately determine the stop position when the transported object is intermittently stopped. An automatic machine such as an automatic assembling machine or an automatic inspection machine that performs each process performs processes such as assembly and inspection unless a target component exists at a predetermined position within at least a predetermined error range. Because they cannot do it. In the automatic machine used together with this transporting device, when performing the process, from below the endless transporting belts 3a, 3b, 3c,
By causing the positioning member to protrude upward through the gap between the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c, the transported object can be positioned more accurately.

In this transport device, each drive pulley 1
By changing the phase relationship between the support shaft 26, which is the drive shaft for rotating and driving the a, 1b, 1c, and the outer pulley 10 of each of the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c, the positioning protrusions 4a,
It is possible to accurately control the position of each of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c of the transported object positioned by 4b, 4c when it is intermittently stopped. The phase relationship between the support shaft 26 and the outer pulley 10 of each of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c can be changed by rotating the outer pulley 10 with respect to the inner pulley 12, as described above.

Here, each of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3
The position at which the center position of the transferred object should be located when c is intermittently stopped is referred to as a stop reference position, and when each of the endless transfer belts 3a, 3b, 3c is stopped, the first type component 101 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 18, the first and third positioning projections 4 located on the front side in the transport direction
It is assumed that the distance from the front surface of a, 4c to the stop reference position is M, and the distance from the rear surface of the second positioning projection 4b located on the rear side in the transport direction to the stop reference position is N. I do. At this time, the center position of the first type component 101 stops at the stop reference position.

As shown in FIG. 24, the distance between the front surface of the first and third positioning projections 4a and 4c located on the front side in the transport direction to the stop reference position is determined for the second type of component 102. R, and the distance from the rear surface of the second positioning protrusion 4b located on the rear side in the transport direction to the stop reference position is changed to S, so that the center position of the second type component 102 is also stopped. It can be stopped at the reference position. The same applies to the third type of component 103. In this case, not only the phase relationship between the support shaft 26 and the outer pulley 10 of each drive pulley 1a, 1b, 1c is changed, but also the phase relationship between the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c. has been edited.

Then, each of the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3
It is also possible to change only the phase relationship between the support shaft 26 and the outer pulley 10 of each of the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c without changing the phase relationship between c and c. That is, as shown in FIG. 25, the first and third positioning projections 4a and 4c located on the front side in the transport direction for the first type component 101.
By changing the distance from the front surface to the stop reference position to O, and changing the distance from the rear surface of the second positioning projection 4b located on the rear side in the transport direction to the stop reference position to Q. The parts 101 of the type are stopped in a state where the center position is separated from the stop reference position by a predetermined distance. In this case, the shape and size of the first type component 10
In the case where there is a component which is the same as 1 but only the center position is different, the center position of this component can be stopped at the stop reference position.

The transport device according to the present invention has the structure shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the first and second two endless transport belts 3
a and 3b may be provided. In this case, a plurality of first endless conveyor belts 3a
Are provided at a constant pitch interval, and a plurality of second positioning projections 4d are provided on the second endless transport belt 3b.
e are provided at a constant pitch interval. As shown in FIG. 20, the positioning projections 4d and 4e may be extended in an arm shape in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in order to reliably position the rectangular frame-shaped object to be conveyed.

Further, the transfer device according to the present invention is similar to the transfer device shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the first and fourth four endless transport belts 3
a, 3b, 3c, and 3d. In this case, the first endless transport belt 3a
, A plurality of first positioning projections 4a are provided at a constant pitch interval, a plurality of second positioning projections 4b are provided at a constant pitch interval on the second endless transport belt 3b, and the third endless transport belt 3c is provided. Are provided with a plurality of third positioning projections 4c at a constant pitch interval, and the fourth endless transport belt 3
A plurality of fourth positioning protrusions 4f are provided at a constant pitch interval in d. In this case, in order to reliably position the rectangular frame-shaped transferred object, as shown in FIG.
The first and fourth positioning projections 4a and 4f are positioned on the front side in the transport direction of the article to be transported, and the second and third positioning projections 4a are positioned.
b and 4c may be located on the rear side of the transported object in the transport direction, and as shown in FIG. 22, the second and fourth positioning projections 4b and 4f are located on the forward side of the transported object in the transport direction. The first and third positioning projections 4a and 4c may be positioned rearward in the transport direction of the transported object.

The fixing member 16 is not limited to the one having the gear-shaped teeth at the distal end as described above.
As shown in FIG. 23, a fixing member 16b having a protrusion 28 at the distal end may be used. In this case, the engaging portion 18a provided on the outer pulley 10 is formed as having a plurality of fitting recesses 27 into which the projections 28 at the distal end of the fixing member 16b fit. The fixing member 16b slides in the outer peripheral direction away from the support shaft 26 as shown by an arrow K in FIG.
And the outer pulley 10 is fixed to the inner pulley 12.

Further, in this transport device, the fixing members 16 and 16b are located at positions where the phase relationship between one driving pulley and another driving pulley is fixed, that is, the outer pulley 10 is An optical sensor for detecting that the position is fixed may be provided. As shown in FIG. 26, the light sensor includes a light emitting element 31 and a light receiving element 3.
2 The luminous flux emitted from the light emitting element 31 is such that the driving pulleys 1a, 1b,
When the outer pulley 10 and the inner pulley 12 are fixed to the inner pulley 12, the through holes 29 provided in the inner pulley 12 and the through holes 3 provided in the fixing members 16, 16b are provided.
After passing through 0, the light is received by the light receiving element 32. The light beam emitted from the light emitting element 31 is driven by the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1
Even if c is at the initial position, when the fixing members 16 and 16b are not at the positions for fixing the outer pulley 10 to the inner pulley 12, as shown in FIG.
Since the through holes 30 of the fixing member 9 and the fixing members 16 and 16b do not match each other, the holes 9 are blocked by the fixing members 16 and 16b and do not reach the light receiving element 32.

The operation of changing the phase relationship between the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c or the endless transport belts 3a, 3b, 3c
The operation of changing the phase relation of the support shaft 3c with respect to the support shaft 26 returns to the position where the fixing members 16, 16b fix the outer pulley 10 to the inner pulley 12 with the drive pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c at the initial position. Is completed. Therefore, if the light receiving element 32 detects the reception of the light beam from the light emitting element 31 after the operation of rotating the outer pulley 10 with respect to the inner pulley 12 is completed, it is possible to confirm the completion of the operation of changing the phase relationship. it can. Therefore, by using this optical sensor, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation of using the transport device in a state where the fixing members 16 and 16b do not return to the position where the outer pulley 10 is fixed to the inner pulley 12.

As shown in FIG. 28, this optical sensor simultaneously fixes a plurality of driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c to the fixing members 16, 1 of the respective driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c.
6b can be used to detect that the outer pulley 10 is at a position where the outer pulley 10 is fixed to the inner pulley 12. That is, the luminous flux emitted by the light emitting element 31 is such that each of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c is at the initial position, and that each of the fixing members 16, 16,
b is a position where the outer pulley 10 is fixed to the inner pulley 12,
The light passes through the through holes 30, 30, 30 provided in the fixing members 9, 29, 29 and the fixing members 16, 16 b, and is received by the light receiving element 32. The luminous flux emitted by the light emitting element 31 is transmitted to each fixing member 16 even if any of the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c is not at the initial position or all the driving pulleys 1a, 1b, 1c are at the initial position. , 16b is not at a position where the outer pulley 10 is fixed to the inner pulley 12 because the outer pulley 10 is blocked by the fixing members 16 and 16b and does not reach the light receiving element 32.

[0046]

As described above, in the transport device according to the present invention, the distance between the positioning projections between the endless transport belts can be changed by changing the phase relationship based on the positioning projections of the plurality of endless transport belts. By changing
It is possible to position and convey objects to be transferred having different shapes and sizes.

Further, in this transport apparatus, when a plurality of endless transport belts are intermittently fed, the position of the positioning protrusion of each endless transport belt with respect to the stop reference position at which the center position of the transported object should stop is determined. By changing, for transferred objects of different shapes and sizes,
Positioning and transport can be performed while maintaining the position where the center position stops.

That is, the present invention can provide a transport device capable of positioning and transporting a plurality of types of transported objects having different shapes and sizes in a prompt manner. Things.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a transport device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a use state of the transfer device.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration around a driving pulley of the transfer device.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration around a driving pulley of the transfer device.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of one drive pulley of the transfer device.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the fixing of the outer pulley to the inner pulley is released in the driving pulley of the transfer device.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state in which the fixing of the outer pulley to the inner pulley is released in the driving pulley of the transfer device.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state in which an outer pulley is rotated with respect to an inner pulley in the driving pulley of the transfer device.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a shape of a first transferred object transferred by the transfer device.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a shape of a second transferred object transferred by the transfer device.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a shape of a third transferred object transferred by the transfer device.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a shape of a first transferred object transferred by the transfer device.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing a shape of a second transferred object transferred by the transfer device.

FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating a shape of a third transferred object transferred by the transfer device.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a state where the first transported object is being transported by the transport device.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a state where the second transported object is being transported by the transport device.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a state where a third object is being conveyed by the conveyance device.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing how to position a transferred object on the transfer device.

FIG. 19 shows an endless transport belt constituting the transport device.
It is a top view which shows the structure of the principal part of a book.

FIG. 20 shows an endless transport belt constituting the transport device.
It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the principal part of the book.

FIG. 21 shows an endless transport belt constituting the transport device.
It is a top view which shows the structure of the principal part of a book.

FIG. 22 shows an endless transport belt constituting the transport device.
It is a top view which shows the other example of the method of positioning of the to-be-conveyed object in the case of a book.

FIG. 23 is a main part side view showing another example of the shape of the member for fixing the outer pulley to the inner pulley in the drive pulley of the transfer device.

FIG. 24 is a main part plan view showing a state after the phase relationship between the endless transport belts has been changed in the transport apparatus.

FIG. 25 is a plan view of a principal part showing a state after a phase relationship of each endless transport belt with respect to a drive shaft has been changed in the transport apparatus.

FIG. 26 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a configuration of an optical sensor for detecting that a member for fixing an outer pulley to an inner pulley is at a fixed position and that each pulley is at an initial position in the transport device. .

FIG. 27 is a main part longitudinal sectional view showing a relationship with an optical sensor when a member for fixing an outer pulley to an inner pulley is not at a fixed position in the transport device.

FIG. 28 is a view showing a configuration of an optical sensor for simultaneously detecting that a member that fixes an outer pulley to an inner pulley is at a fixed position and that each of the pulleys is at an initial position in the transport device. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b, 1c drive pulley, 2a, 2b, 2c driven pulley, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d endless transport belt,
4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f positioning projections,
16, 16b fixing member, 31 light emitting element, 32 light receiving element, 101 first type component, 102 second type component, 103 third type component

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of reels, each wound around a driving pulley and a driven pulley, disposed in parallel with each other, and each of the driving pulleys corresponding to each of the plurality of rollers being rotated to perform a feeding operation at an equal speed. An endless transport belt; and a positioning projection provided at a fixed pitch on each of the endless transport belts for positioning an object placed on the endless transport belt. A transport device, wherein a distance between positioning projections between different endless transport belts is changed by changing a phase relationship based on the projections. 2. A fixing member for fixing a phase relation between one driving pulley and another driving pulley so as to be capable of releasing operation, wherein the fixing member fixes the phase relation between one driving pulley and another driving pulley. By changing the phase relationship between one drive pulley and the other drive pulley in the released state, the phase relationship between the endless transport belts is changed, and after the change of the phase relationship is completed, the one fixed by the fixing member is used. 2. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein a phase relationship between the driving pulley and another driving pulley is fixed. 3. The transport apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an optical sensor for detecting that the fixing member is at a position for fixing a phase relationship between one driving pulley and another driving pulley. 4. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the endless transport belts is three, and the pitch intervals of the positioning projections provided on each of the endless transport belts are equal to each other. 5. Each is wound around between a driving pulley and a driven pulley and arranged in parallel with each other, and the respective driving pulleys are intermittently rotated to operate at a constant period and speed equal to each other. A plurality of endless transport belts that are intermittently fed, and positioning projections that are provided at a constant pitch interval on each of the endless transport belts and that position an object to be placed on the endless transport belt. By changing the phase relationship between the drive shaft for rotating and driving each drive pulley and each drive pulley, the center position of the transferred object positioned by the positioning protrusion is intermittently stopped by the endless transport belt. A transfer device, wherein the position of a positioning projection of each endless transfer belt with respect to a stop reference position to be located when the transfer is performed is changed.