JPS5920565B2 - Switching device in capsule tube transportation system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a system in which a capsule containing an object to be transported or a capsule train in which a plurality of capsules are connected are transported by a flow of fluid (generally air) in a sealed conduit. In the capsule tube transportation system,
The present invention relates to a continuous loading device for loading or unloading cargo onto or from a capsule or capsule train within a loading/unloading station, or a switching device used at an intermediate branch of a transport route.

The transport capacity of the capsule tube transport system is proportional to the product of the loading capacity W per capsule, the capsule train passing density N per unit time, and the number of capsules connected per capsule train.

Therefore, the larger N is for a certain required transport capacity, the W
- the capsule tube transport system is smaller and has lower equipment costs.

Furthermore, if the scale of the transportation system is the same, the larger N is, the larger the transportation capacity becomes, and therefore the transportation cost becomes lower.

In order to have an economical transportation system, it is essential to increase N, and in order to increase N, it is necessary to increase the time interval between arrivals of capsules at the loading point or intermediate branch, or the distance from the loading point. It is necessary to shorten the start time interval.

Conventionally, as the most basic loading device in a capsule tube transportation system, a loading system having an outbound pipe line 1, a return pipe line 2, and an open pipe section 15, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has been used. traverser conduits 17 and 18 for switching connection are provided between the open conduit 16 and the open conduit 16, and are arranged at the same level and at intervals in the left-right direction.
A type is known in which a load dumping device 19 is provided above the capsule 5 for loading cargo into the capsule.

However, the time interval between capsules in a capsule tube transport system with this type of loading device is (
1) Time required for the capsule to enter and stop at the bottom of the dumping device, (2) Time required for the capsule to enter the bottom of the dumping device, and (3) Time required for the capsule to launch from the bottom of the dumping device and return to the go-around pipe. (4) the time required to travel the traverser channel, so the time interval between capsules becomes considerably longer.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the loading pipe 16
is circulated in the following order: a first position facing the outbound pipeline 1, a second position facing the return pipeline 2, a third position below the first position, a fourth position below the first position, and the first position. There is also a type of loading device that is configured to move the loader, but in the case of this type of loading device, the mechanism for moving the loading conduit is complicated and it is difficult to place the loading capsule on the loading conduit. Since it is necessary to move the capsule while it is placed, a large-capacity driving device is required, and the time interval between capsules is also long.

In addition, as an improved loading device, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an outbound pipe line 1 and a return pipe line 2
and the two loading pipes 16 and 20 facing these, four switching connection traverser pipes 21 to 24 arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the same level are provided, and Types are known in which each loading line 16, 20 is provided with a loading device 19.26 above the open tube section 15.25.

In the case of this type of loading device, since it is equipped with two loading devices, the time interval between capsules is shorter than that of the loading device of the type shown in Figures 1 to 5. This has the advantage that the required time can be shortened.

Furthermore, among the loading devices currently proposed, as a cargo handling device with the shortest time interval between capsules, as shown in Figure 8, three loading pipes arranged in parallel are used. 27 to 9 are connected to a pair of rotating bodies 3 arranged at intervals.
A planetary gear type attitude holding device (not shown in the figure) is constructed rotatably around the 0 at equal angular intervals, and the loading pipes 27 to 29 always maintain the same attitude even when the rotating body 30 rotates. A loading device having a revolver 31 configured with a revolver (omitted) is known.

The time interval between capsules in this loading device is reduced to the sum of the time required for a capsule to enter and stop the revolver 31 and the time required for the revolver 31 to rotate once and three times. .

Conventionally, the unloading device in the capsule tube transportation system is as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
A switching connection traverser pipe 17 is arranged at the same level and at intervals in the left-right direction between the outbound pipe 1 and the return pipe 2 and the unloading pipe 41 having the open pipe portion 15. 18 and a consignee receiving device 42 below the open pipe portion 15 is known, and as shown in FIGS. Four switching connection traverser pipes 21 to 24 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction on the same level between the service pipe 2 and the two unloading pipes 43 and 44 facing them. and each unloading conduit 43.
There is also known a type in which consignee receiving devices 42 are provided below the open pipe portions 15 and 25 of the 44, and two consignee receiving devices 42 are provided in parallel, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15. unloading pipes 43 and 44 are rotatably constructed on the same straight line at equal distances from the centers of a pair of rotating bodies 30 arranged at intervals, and
The revolver 31 is constructed by providing a planetary gear type attitude holding device (not shown) that allows each unloading pipe 43, 44 to always maintain the same attitude even when the revolver 3 rotates.
Each of the unloading pipes 43 and 44 in 1 to 1 is connected to the outgoing pipe 1.
and a consignee receiving device 42 arranged so as to be able to face in series with the return route conduit 2, and at the lower center of the revolver 31.
There are also known types that are equipped with .

In the case of the revolver set unloading device shown in Figs. 13 to 15, when the revolver 31 is in the state shown in Fig. 14, the loading capsule 45 enters the unloading pipe 43 from the outbound pipe 1 and stops. Then, when the revolver 31 rotates 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow from the state shown in FIG. 14 to the state shown in FIG. -31 is further rotated 90 degrees in the same direction to return to the state shown in FIG. 14, and then the empty capsule 45 is delivered to the return conduit 2.

However, the unloading device shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has the same drawbacks as the loading device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the unloading device shown in FIGS. The unloading device has the same drawbacks as the loading device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

On the other hand, as a branching device provided in the middle of the transportation route in the capsule tube transportation system, as shown in FIG. A switching line 53, 54 is provided which is supported and rotated by a turntable 52, and after the capsule is temporarily stopped in the switching line, the switching line 53, 54 is rotated by the turntable 52 and the switching connection is made. A turntable-type switching device is known in which the capsule is then moved again, and as shown in FIG. 17, one straight line 46.47 and the other straight line 48.4
9 and the branching pipe 50° 51, the straight switching pipe 5 is supported by the traversing frame 55 and is moved laterally.
A planar arrangement pipe transverse type switching device in which switching pipes 6.57 and branch switching pipes 58, 59 are installed side by side in a plane is also known.

However, in the case of the turntable type switching device, as the number of connected capsules increases, the diameter of the turntable becomes larger and a large-capacity turntable drive device is required, and furthermore, the weight of the switching device is excessive. It is uneconomical when the pipeline is elevated.

In addition, in the case of the above-mentioned flat-arranged conduit transverse type switching device, since the transverse frame 55 with a wide area is moved laterally, a considerably large installation area is required, and furthermore, when the conduit is elevated, the switching device becomes large, so it is not suitable. It is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a switching device for a capsule tube transportation system that requires a small installation area, can perform switching in a short time, has a simple structure, and can be manufactured at low cost. It is.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail using illustrated examples.

18 to 22 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the end of the outbound pipe line 1 and the end part of the return pipe line 2 are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and are spaced from side to side. The loading pipes 3 and 4 having open pipe portions 11 and 12 are also spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction and are also arranged offset in the left and right direction. A movable frame is provided between the conduits 1 and 2 and the conduits 3 and 4, and guide rollers 32 attached to both front and rear sides of the lower part of the movable frame 6 are guide rollers extending in the left and right direction. It is placed on the groove bottom of the rail 33, and the movable frame 6 and the fixed support stand (
(not shown) means a water cylinder 97 connected via a fluid pressure cylinder 5 such as a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder arranged to extend in the left and right direction, and the fluid pressure cylinder 5
The movable frame 6 is configured to be moved horizontally by a predetermined stroke.

The movable frame 6 has a first switching conduit 7 curved to connect one loading conduit 3 to the outgoing conduit 1 when it is at one end of its traverse stroke, and a first switching conduit 7 for connecting the other loading conduit 3 to the outgoing conduit 1. A first switching pipe 8 is curved to connect the pipe 4 to the return pipe 2, and when the movable frame 6 is at the other end of the movement stroke, the one loading pipe 3 is connected to the return pipe 2. Road 2
A second switching pipe 9 curved to connect the other loading pipe 4 to the outbound pipe 1 is fixed, and the second switching pipe 10 is fixed and A pipe switching device 34 is constituted by the flares 1 and 6 and the switching pipes 7 to 10 fixed thereto.

Open pipe sections 11.12 in each of the loading pipes 3, 4
Loading devices 13, 14 each having a supply chute 35 are provided above, and a capsule stopping/starting damper 36 consisting of an air cylinder is provided at the end of each loading pipe 3, 4. , and further the fluid pressure cylinder 5
conduits 7, 8 and 9 for controlling the operation of and for switching connections.
, 10 are installed on the support base, and a control device 38 including a sensor 37 for stopping the loading pipes 1- in a position aligned with the pipes 1, 2 and 3, 4 is installed on the support base. A capsule locking device 39 and a lid opening/closing device 40 are attached to .degree.4.

Next, the operation of the loading device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 18 to 22 will be explained.

In the illustrated state, the pipe switching device 34 is pulled and moved in the direction of arrow A by the fluid pressure cylinder 5, and both end surfaces of the switching pipe 7 are concentrically aligned with the end surfaces of the outbound pipe 1 and the loading pipe 3. They are opposed to each other, and both end faces of the switching pipe line 8 are stopped in a state concentrically facing the end faces of the return pipe line 2 and the loading pipe line 4.

Therefore, the empty capsules that have passed through the outgoing conduit 1 enter the open pipe section 11 of the loading conduit 3 through the switching conduit 7, are stopped in position by the damper 36, and are locked in the capsule. It is fixed in position by device 39.

At the same time, the loaded capsule enters the return pipe 2 from the cargo pipe 4 through the switching pipe 8.

The lid of the capsule fixed at a predetermined position in the loading conduit 3 is opened by the lid opening/closing device 40, and then the cargo is loaded into the capsule by the loading device 13, and then,
The lid opening/closing device 40 closes the lid of the capsule, and then the capsule locking device 39 is released.

On the other hand, while loading the empty capsule, the fluid pressure cylinder 5 presses and moves the pipe switching device 34 in the direction of arrow B, so that both end faces of the switching pipe 9 are connected to the return pipe 2 and the loading pipe. Concentrically facing the end face of the pipe line 3, the switching pipe line 10
When both end faces of the outgoing pipe line 1 and the loading pipe line 4 concentrically oppose each other, the pressing movement of the pipe line switching device 34 is stopped.

Next, a new empty capsule that has traveled through the outgoing conduit 1 passes through the switching conduit 10 and enters the loading conduit 4.

At this time, the already loaded capsule that has entered the other loading conduit 3 is pressed by the damper 36 and starts moving, and enters the return conduit 2 through the switching conduit 9.

Furthermore, the empty capsules that have entered the loading conduit 4 are stopped at a fixed position by the damper 36 and fixed by the capsule locking device 39, and then the lid of the capsule is released by the lid opening/closing device 40, and then the capsule is loaded. The loading device 14 supplies the load to the capsule, and then the lid opening/closing device 40 closes the lid of the capsule.

The above cycle is then repeated. Figures 23 to 27
The figure shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows guides 3 on both left and right sides of the front and rear parts of the movable frame 6.
An o-roller 32 is attached, and the guide roller 32 is connected to a vertical guide rail 33 fixed to a fixed support base 60.
The movable frame 6 and the fixed support base 60 are connected via a fluid pressure cylinder device 5 arranged to extend in the vertical direction, and the movable frame 6 is moved to a predetermined position by the fluid pressure cylinder device 5. ) is constructed such that only the rollers are moved up and down, and the movable frame 6 is curved so as to connect one loading line 3 to the outgoing line 1 when it is at one end of its lifting stroke. When the first switching pipe 7 and the first switching pipe 8 curved to connect the other loading pipe 4 to the return pipe 2 and the movable frame 6 are at the other end of the vertical movement stroke. A second pipe curved to connect the one loading pipe 3 to the return pipe 2
The switching pipe line 9 and the second switching pipe line 10, which is curved to connect the other loading pipe line 4 to the outgoing pipe line 1, are fixed, but the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. The same is true for .

Among the conventional loading devices, in the revolver-type loading device that requires the shortest processing time, the distance traveled by the loading pipe when the revolver 31 rotates 1/3 is equal to the pipe diameter. In contrast, in the case of the present invention, the moving distance of the switching pipe can be approximately the same as the pipe diameter, so the switching moving time can be shortened.

28 to 31 show a third embodiment of the present invention, and show the loading pipes 3 and 4 in the first embodiment.
Instead, a horizontal cylindrical container 6 is installed with unloading pipes 43 and 44 at that position and has an opening at the top.
A container lid 62 is pivotally attached to the opening in 1 by a pivot 63 to constitute a capsule body 64. A support shaft 65 is fixed to the center of both front and rear ends of the capsule body 64, and a large number of wheels 66 are mounted around the capsule body 64. The attached wheel holding member 67 is fitted onto each support shaft 65 of the capsule body 64 via bearings 68 to constitute the capsule 45, and the capsule body 64
can rotate freely while being supported by the wheel holding member 6T.

An annular driven gear 69 is provided on the outer periphery of both ends of the capsule body 64.
A drive shaft 72 to which a drive gear 70 and a driven chain wheel 71 are fixed, which are to be meshed with a driven gear 69, is rotatably attached to the distal end of a support arm 73. The intermediate portion of the support arm 73 and the frame 74 are connected via a support arm swinging fluid pressure cylinder 75 and a connecting pin, and a drive device 7 consisting of an electric motor with a speed reducer
6 is fixed to the frame 74, and the 1 drive chain wheel 77 and the driven chain wheel 71 are fixed to the output shaft of the drive device 76.
A transmission chain 80 is wound around the intermediate chain wheels 78 and 79, and a capsule body rotation device 81 is constituted by the seven drive devices 76 and the drive gear 70 rotated by the seven drive devices 76 via the chain transmission mechanism.

A loading opening 82 is provided at the bottom of the unloading conduit 43, 44, a hopper 83 is provided below the opening 82, and the unloading conduit 43, 44 is provided with a loading opening 82. A load dropping lid 84 that opens and closes 82 is pivotally attached by a pivot 85, and further, the load dropping lid 84 and the frame 74 are connected via a lid opening/closing fluid pressure cylinder 86.

A pin holder 87 is fixed to the tip of the load-dropping lid 84, and a lock pin to be inserted into the pin holder 87 is attached to the piston rod of a lock pin operating fluid pressure cylinder 88 fixed to the frame 74. 89 is fixed.

When the capsule 45 stops at the unloading position in the unloading conduit, the tip end portion of the capsule body rotating device 81 is pulled down by the swinging fluid pressure cylinder 75, and the 1 drive gear 70 is fixed to the capsule body 64. Driven gear 6
9, the capsule body 64 is rotated approximately 180 degrees by the drive gear 70 in the capsule body rotation device 81 via the driven gear 69, and the container lid 62 is rotated to the load dropping lid 84 located below the unloading position. When rotated to the opposing position, the rotation of the capsule body 64 is stopped.

Next, the lock pin 89 that locks the load-dropping lid 84
is moved to the release position by the lock pin operating fluid pressure cylinder 88, and then the load-dropping lid 84 is rotated to the open position by the lid opening/closing fluid pressure cylinder 86.

At the same time as the load dropping lid 84 is opened, the container lid 62 is also rotated downward to open the opening of the container 61.
The load in the container 61 falls into the hopper 83.

After the load falls from the container 61, the capsule body 64 begins to rotate by the capsule body rotation device 81, and at the same time, the load drop lid 84 is closed by the lid opening/closing fluid pressure cylinder 86, and the load drop lid 84 is closed. The action pushes the container lid 62 closed.

At the same time as the load-dropping lid 84 is closed, the lock pin 89 is moved to the lock position by the lock-pin operating fluid pressure cylinder 88, and the load-dropping lid 84 is locked.

When the container lid 62 reaches the top, the rotation of the capsule body 64 by the capsule body rotation device 81 is stopped, and then the tip side of the container body rotation device 81 is pushed up via the support arm 73 by the support arm swinging fluid pressure cylinder 75. and the driving gear 70 is removed from the driven gear 69,
Complete a series of actions.

32 to 34 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a first outward conduit 1A is located at a position opposite to one of the front and back directions of a movable frame 6 that is reciprocated in the left and right direction. The end portions of the first inbound conduit 2A are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction, and at a position facing the other side of the movable frame 6 in the front-rear direction, there is a second outbound conduit 1B and a branch outbound conduit 2A. The ends of the service conduit 1C are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction, and the ends of the second return conduit 2B and the branched return conduit 2C are spaced apart in the left-right direction above the conduits IB and IC. When the movable frame 6 is at one end of the left-right movement stroke, the movable frame 6 connects the first outward conduit 1A and the second outward conduit 1B, and connects the first outward conduit 1A and the second outward conduit 1B. Route 2A and second return route 2B
When the first switching pipes 7 and 8 connecting the
A and the second switching pipes 9 and 10 that connect the branch outbound pipe 1C and the first return pipe 2A and the branch return pipe 2C are fixed, and the movable frame 6 moves in the left-right direction. By doing so, the first outgoing pipe line 1A and the first
The return pipeline 2A connects the second outbound pipeline 1B and the second
It is configured to be switched and connected to the inbound conduit 2B, the branch outbound conduit 1C, and the branched return conduit 2C.

Note that as the guide device for moving the movable frame 6 laterally and the drive device for moving the movable frame 6 laterally, the same ones as those in the first embodiment can be used, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 35 shows another example of a drive device for reciprocating the movable frame, in which a rotation drive device 90 such as a motor with a reduction gear is fixed to the movable frame 6, and the rotation drive device 90 rotates the movable frame. A pinion 91 is engaged with a rack 92 provided at the bottom of the groove in the guide rail 33.

Further, as a drive device for moving the movable frame 6 in each of the above embodiments, instead of the fluid pressure cylinder 5 or the rack and pinion type drive device, any other drive device such as a feed screw rotated by a rotation drive device may be used. A feed screw type drive device in which a female screw member fixed to a movable frame is screwed into the punch may be employed.

According to the present invention, among the conventional switching devices, the revolver complete switching device, which can switch the capsule in the shortest time, can switch the capsule in a shorter time than the time required to make a 1/3 or 1/2 turn. Since the path switching device 34 can be switched and moved, the switching movement time can be shortened accordingly, and the time interval between capsules can be shortened. Furthermore, the revolver has a considerably large weight and is not loaded with a load. Since the capsule in the open state is mounted and rotated, the capacity of the drive device becomes large and the mount is also large-scale, which is uneconomical.However, in the case of this invention, the moving part is the movable frame 6
Since there are only hollow switching pipes 7 to 10, it is lightweight and economical, and power costs can be reduced.

In addition, the complicated structure of the planetary gear attitude holding device, the revolver rotation gear drive mechanism, and the rotatable support mechanism for the loading pipe used in the revolver set switching device is unnecessary, and the drive device is simply used. Since it is only necessary to fix the curved switching pipes 7 to 10 to the movable frame 6 which is reciprocated by the However, in the case of this invention, even if the number of capsules connected increases, the switching pipe and movable frame can be made longer. Since there is no need to do this, the problem of weight increase mentioned above can be solved and the foundation can be made smaller. Furthermore, the area and height of the switching device can be made relatively small, so the area occupied by the switching device can be reduced. Also, the building that houses it can be made smaller.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a basic conventional loading device, Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing another example of the conventional loading device, Fig. 4 is a side view thereof, Fig. 5 is a front view showing the circulation movement order of the loading pipe, Fig. 6 is a plan view showing another example of a conventional loading device, Fig. 7 is a side view thereof, and Fig. 8 is a conventional It is a perspective view which shows another example of a loading device. Figure 9 is a plan view showing an example of a conventional unloading device;
11 is a plan view showing another example of the conventional unloading device, FIG. 12 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing still another example of the conventional unloading device. , FIG. 14, and FIG. 15 are front views for explaining the unloading operation. FIGS. 16 and 17 are plan views showing conventional branching switching devices. 18 to 22 show an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of a loading device having a switching device of the present invention, and FIG. 19 is a side view showing a part thereof. 20 is a front view showing the loading section, FIG. 21 is a plan view showing the relative relationship between the diameters and intervals of each pipe, and FIG.
The figure is a side view thereof. 23 to 27 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a part of a loading device having a switching device of this invention, and FIG. 24 is a part of the loading device. Fig. 25 is a side view showing a part of the part; Fig. 26 is a side view showing a part of it;
The figure is a plan view showing the relative relationship between the diameters and intervals of the respective pipes, and FIG. 27 is a side view thereof. 28 to 31 show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a part of the unloading device having the switching device of the present invention, and FIG. 30 and 31 are longitudinal sectional front views for explaining the unloading operation. 32 to 34 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 32 is a perspective view of a branching device having a switching device of the present invention, and FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the diameter and spacing of each conduit. FIG. 34 is a plan view showing the relative relationship between the two, and FIG. 34 is a side view thereof. FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing an example of a reciprocating device for a movable frame. In the figure, 1 is an outbound pipe, 2 is a return pipe, 3 and 4 are loading pipes, 5 is a hydraulic cylinder, 6 is a movable frame, 7 to 10 are switching connection pipes, 11 and 12 13 and 14 are loading type devices, 32 is a guide roller, 33 is a guide rail, 34 is a pipe switching device,
36 is a damper for stopping and starting the capsule, 39 is a capsule locking device, 43 and 44 are conduits for unloading, 45 is a capsule, 90 is a rotation drive device, 91 is a pinion, and 92 is a rack.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When the movable frame 6 is reciprocated by a drive device in a direction intersecting a plane including the central extension line of the outbound pipe line 1 and the return pipe line 2, when the movable frame 6 is at one end of the movement stroke, The first switching pipes 7 and 8 are connected to the outward pipe line 1 and the return pipe line 2, and when the movable frame 6 is at the other end of the movement stroke, the outgoing pipe line 1 and the return pipe line 2 are connected to the first switching pipe line 1 and the return pipe line 2. A switching device in a capsule tube transportation system, characterized in that second switching pipes 9 and 10 connected to the capsule tube transport system are attached.