JPS62126013A - Chain conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the positional accuracy of a chain conveyer for conveying speakers or the like, and to aim at miniaturizing a motor, by disposing movable sprockets among two stationary sprockets and sprockets upstream and downstream of the former sprockets, so that the movable sprockets moves in the same direction. CONSTITUTION:In such a condition that a drive sprocket 3c is rotated, when movable sprockets 7, 7a are moved in the direction (a) by means of a cylinder which is not shown, at the same speed as the conveying speed of a chain 1 as indicated by a two-dot chain line, the distance between the drive sprocket 3c and the movable sprocket 7 is increased by the same size as that the feed length of the chain 1 fed to the section A so that the chain in the section A is not fed to the downstream side thereof. Meanwhile, in the B section, the chain B slacks by the same length as that fed to the section A, and is conveyed in the direction (b). With this arrangement, the chain does not stop as a whole, and therefore, it is possible to sustain a continuous conveyance and it is also possible to enhance the positional accuracy of the chain conveyer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a chain conveyor used for transporting various works such as speakers, and particularly to a chain conveyor that can suitably perform intermittent transport of the works.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as this type of chain conveyor, there is one described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-7101.

That is, in this conventional type, as shown in FIG. 4, an endless chain 1 is attached to a pallet 14 for placing a workpiece and is wound around a large number of driven sprockets 15, and is connected to an electric motor 4. The chain conveyor is circularly driven by the rotation of a drive sprocket 15a, and normally the chain conveyor has a device 17 for loading and unloading the work 13.
It is used in connection with.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, when the conventional chain conveyor is incorporated into a speaker assembly line and used, for example, to transfer workpieces in a speaker drying oven, the chain 1 The longer the overall length, the better the efficiency of the drying operation, but as the size of the chain 1 increases, the following problems become more pronounced.

That is, since the conventional chain conveyor is configured such that the operation of running and stopping the chain l is only controlled by the on/off operation of the electric motor 4 connected to the drive sprocket 15a, the chain l is -1
If the overall length of the chain 1 is long, the slack in the chain 1 causes a time lag between the driving sprocket 15a and the chain 1 when starting and stopping the drive, resulting in a large deviation in the stopping position of the chain 1. Furthermore, when the chain 1 is stopped, the chain 1 swings back and forth, causing an inappropriate positional shift of the workpiece. be.

Therefore, in the past, it has been difficult to accurately transport the chain conveyor intermittently at a predetermined pitch, and when the chain conveyor is stopped, to accurately supply and take out the workpieces 13 from the workpiece supply device 17 etc. onto a predetermined pallet 14. As a result, errors in supplying and unloading the workpiece 13 occur frequently.
As a result, there was a fatal problem in that not only the transfer of the workpiece but also the series of work processes related to the assembly work of the workpiece were adversely affected, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency.

Furthermore, in order to intermittently transfer the entire long chain 1 using - number of drive sprockets 15a, a very large load is placed on the electric motor 4 for operating the drive sprockets 15a, so the electric motor 4 is inevitably moved. 4 (equipped with a clutch and brake) had to be made large, which resulted in the problem that the conveyor device became expensive.

The present invention was invented in view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and its purpose is to provide a chain so that workpieces can be reliably supplied and taken out even when the chain is long. The purpose of this invention is to accurately perform intermittent transfer and to downsize the transfer drive source for the chain.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention aims to avoid positioning errors caused by loosening of the chain when intermittent transfer is performed over the entire length of the chain as in the past, and to reduce the need for a large drive motor. Taking note of the fact that it is extremely difficult to avoid this problem, this chain was constructed in an attempt to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional chain by intermittent transfer of only a portion of the chain.

That is, the gist of the configuration of the present invention is that at least two fixed driven sprockets around which a part of the chain 1 is wound
3a, 3b and the fixed driven sprockets 3a, 3, respectively.
Sprockets 3c and 3d provided at upstream and downstream positions in the chain feeding direction of b are engaged with the chain 1 at respective open positions between the sprockets 3a and 3a and between the sprockets 3b.
, a movable sprocket (7.7a) is provided which is movable in conjunction with each other so as to be able to increase or decrease the chain dimension between the respective chains so that when one of the chain dimensions between 3a is increased, the other chain dimension is shortened, The upstream sprocket 3a
- Due to the increase in chain size between sprockets 3a and 3a and the shortening of the chain size between sprockets 3b and 3a on the downstream side, the chain is fed from the upstream side to between fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b, and from between fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b. The mechanism is configured such that the chain is prevented from being fed downstream and the chain transfer between the fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b is stopped.

(Function) Therefore, in the chain conveyor having the above configuration, by operating one of the movable sprockets 7 while the chain l is being driven in circulation, the distance between the sprockets 3a and 3a on the upstream side in the chain feeding direction is The chain size is increased, and at the same time the other movable sprocket
-7a to shorten the chain dimension between the downstream sprockets 3b and 3a, it is possible to stop the chain transfer between the fixed driven sprockets 3as and 3b, and also to stop the chain transfer between the fixed driven sprockets 3as and 3b. , 7a, then of course the fixed driven sprockets 3a, 3 are stopped again.
Therefore, in the present invention, by repeating the moving operation of the movable sprocket 7.7a as described above, the chain transfer between the fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3.
Thus, intermittent transfer operation of the chain 1 can be obtained between the points B and B.

Therefore, the chain transfer between the fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b is stopped by the movable sprocket 7.7a.
This is done at the same time as the start of the predetermined operation of the chain 1, and there is no time lag caused by slack in the chain 1, and there is no shaking in the front and rear directions when the chain 1 stops, making the positioning of the chain 1 very accurate. Furthermore, the intermittent transfer of the chain 1 is carried out only in a small portion of the chain 1.
The driving electric motor etc. need only have a small output to simply drive the chain 1 continuously.

(Example) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described according to an example shown in the drawings.

That is, to explain an example in which this embodiment is used as a transfer conveyor in a speaker drying oven, in FIG. Fixed driven sprocket installed 3.3
It shows a long endless chain wound around a, 3b, etc., and the chain 1 is partially connected in multiple rows by fixed driven sprockets 3, 3, and so on arranged in parallel in different steps. It is meandering and can be freely circulated by rotation of a drive sprocket 3c connected to an electric motor 4. 3a, 3b
Two sprockets are arranged in parallel on the downstream side of the drive sprocket 3c in the chain feeding direction so that a part of the movement trajectory of the chain l protrudes beyond the meandering portion 5 toward a position near the opening/closing opening 6 of the drying oven 2. The installed fixed driven sprockets are shown,
One fixed driven sprocket 3a near the driving sprocket 3c has a reverse rotation prevention function.

7.7a, as shown in FIG. 2, connects each of the fixed driven sprockets 3a, 3b with the driving sprocket 3c and another driven sprocket 3d positioned downstream of the fixed driven sprockets 3a, 3b. The movable sprocket 7.7a is shown in FIG. The reciprocating motion of the cylinder 11 is fitted onto a slide rod 8 provided horizontally as shown in FIG. When driven, it is provided so as to be able to reciprocate left and right at the same time substantially parallel to the locus of movement of the 0th chain l between the fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the chain 1 is made up of a number of carts 14 for mounting the speakers 13 having rollers 12 on the top thereof attached at regular intervals. The guide plate 18 is provided so as to run on a guide plate 18 provided along the movement locus of the chain 1.

This embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration difference.Next, the power of use and operation thereof will be explained.Firstly, in this embodiment, the work of supplying and discharging the speaker 13 on the trolley 14 is performed at the 0 section of the chain 1. Although this is carried out at the orbital position, normally the chain 1 is continuously transferred in the C portion as well as in other portions by the rotational force of the drive sprocket 3c.

However, as shown in FIG. 2, while the drive sprocket 3c is being rotated, the movable sprocket 7.
The transfer speed V of the chain 1 is increased by the operation of the cylinder 11.
If they are simultaneously moved to the left (direction A) in the drawing as shown by the two-dot chain line in the same figure at the same speed, first, the mutual distance between the driving sprocket 3c and the movable sprocket 7 will be adjusted by the driving sprocket 3c supplying part A. The driving sprocket 3c is increased by the same dimension as the supplied length of the chain 1.
The chain 1 supplied to part A at the movable sprocket 7
In particular, since the fixed driven sprocket 3a has a reverse rotation prevention function, it is possible to reliably prevent the chain 1 at the 0th position from moving backward. In addition, at this time, a force is naturally applied to the upstream meandering portion 5 of the drive sprocket 3C of the chain 1 in the direction of the arrow due to the rotation of the drive sprocket 3C. Since the movable sprocket 7a present at A slack of the same size is generated, and this is caused by the drive sprocket) 3c in the direction of the arrow. It was subsequently transferred. Therefore, the chain movement is not stopped at all in substantially the entire chain 1 including the meandering portion 5 between the driving sprocket 3c and the movable sprocket 7a, and a continuous state of chain movement is maintained. but,
Between the two fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b, the chain transfer is immediately stopped when the movable sprocket 7.7a starts moving to the left, and the chain transfer between the fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b is also stopped. This state is maintained throughout the movement of the movable sprocket 7.7a to the left.

Furthermore, if the movable sprocket 7.7a moves to the left by a predetermined distance and then stops, the chain 1 in the A section and the 0 section will be transferred as usual. The movement will take place. Therefore, when the chain 1 at section 0 starts to move, the movable sprocket 7.7a is moved back in the convex direction at a speed that does not cause slack in the chain 1 at sections A and B, and then again. By operating the movable sprocket 7.7a to move the movable sprocket 7.7a to the left, the fixed driven sprocket 3a, The desired intermittent transfer state of the chain 1 can be obtained only in the 0 part between 3b and 3b. That is, for example, if the chain stop time is 3
If the chain feed time is 10 seconds, the movable sprocket 7.7a is moved to the left for 3 seconds without stopping the drive sprocket 3c, and then returned to the right direction within 10 seconds. All you have to do is repeat the motion of moving backwards.

Therefore, the work of supplying and discharging the speaker 13 onto the truck 14 attached to the chain 1 is performed by accurately positioning the truck 14 at the 0 position by starting the leftward movement of the movable sprocket 7.7a. This can be carried out in a stopped state, and the supply and discharge operations, such as positioning and placing the speaker 13 on the trolley 14, can be performed appropriately using mechanical devices such as a workpiece supply/discharge device 17 installed in the assembly line 16. It can be automated.

In the above embodiment, the fixed driven sprocket 3a
As a means for reliably preventing the chain 1 from retreating when the chain 1 is stopped between the sprockets 3a and 3b, the one fixed driven sprocket 3a is provided with a reversal prevention function. Furthermore, the fixed driven sprocket provided in the part of the chain 1 where intermittent transfer is performed is not required to have such a function as in the above embodiment.
The number of fixed driven sprockets is not limited to two, and for example, another fixed driven sprocket for guiding the chain 1 may be additionally provided between the two fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the movable sprocket 7.7
The movable sprockets 7.7 and 7.a are arranged facing each other and are connected by a connecting member 9 etc. so as to be moved by the operation of the cylinder 11.
The specific arrangement position and operation means of a are by no means limited to the above, but the point is that the fixed driven sprocket) 3
a, 3b and other sprockets 3c, 3d provided upstream and downstream thereof, so that when the chain size between one sprocket 3a, 3a increases, the chain size between the other sprocket 3b, 3a increases. (The length of the chain between each sprocket can be increased/decreased in conjunction with each other. It goes without saying that upstream and downstream in the present invention refer to the chain 1. This is based on the feeding direction.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sprocket 3c is constructed of a driving sprocket, but the present invention is by no means limited to this; the sprocket 3c is constructed of a mere driven sprocket, and the sprocket 3c is constructed of a driving sprocket. There is no problem even if it is installed in the position.

Further, in the above embodiment, a chain conveyor used for drying speakers is explained as an example, but the chain conveyor according to the present invention is by no means limited to this. It can also be used appropriately for work such as sequential spot welding when the workpiece is stopped.
It can be used for various other purposes. In addition, the present invention is applicable to any type of chain conveyor in which the chain is driven by an N ring, such as a packet conveyor, a crossbar conveyor, etc., in addition to the type of chain conveyor having a workpiece loading cart as described above. It is something.

In addition, the specific configuration of each part of the chain conveyor according to the present invention can be changed in design within the scope of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) Like soft soil, the present invention has at least two fixed driven sprockets formed by winding a part of a chain, and sprockets provided at upstream and downstream positions of the fixed driven sprockets, respectively. Two movable sprockets are provided between each sprocket to increase or decrease the chain dimension between the sprockets, and the movable sprockets are operated to increase the chain dimension between the upstream sprockets and to increase or decrease the chain dimension between the downstream sprockets. By shortening the chain dimensions, the chain transfer between the fixed driven sprockets can be stopped immediately, so unlike the conventional chain in which intermittent chain transfer is performed on the entire conveyor, there is a time lag due to slack in the chain. A very accurate positioning and stopping between the fixed driven sprockets can be achieved by repeatedly performing a predetermined operation of the movable sprocket without causing a large positional shift when the chain is stopped due to vibrations in the longitudinal direction, etc. As a result, it is possible to perform intermittent transfer of workpieces from other workpiece supply devices, etc., and the transfer operation can be performed very accurately, and mistakes in transfer of the workpieces can be suitably prevented, improving work efficiency. We have achieved an extraordinary effect in that it is possible to significantly improve the performance compared to the conventional method.

Moreover, since the present invention is constructed so that a part of the chain can be transferred intermittently by operating the movable sprocket, the chain of the present invention has a long size and a large weight load due to repeated driving and stopping of a single driving sprocket. A motor for driving a chain that eliminates the need to increase the size of the motor for driving a chain, as in the case where the entire chain is transferred intermittently.

It is only necessary to provide an output sufficient to drive the chain in circulation at all times, and this has the great practical benefit of reducing the size of the drive motor and reducing the cost of the device.

In addition, the present invention enables intermittent transfer of workpieces and accurate stop positioning as described above, so that, for example, the chain conveyor according to the present invention is used to transfer workpieces for spot welding to weld a large number of workpieces one after another. It also has the advantage of being usable in a wider range of fields than conventional chain conveyors, such as being able to be used as a device for conveying while carrying out this process, and has great practical value.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the chain conveyor according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the whole, FIG. 2 (A) is a schematic plan view of the main part of the part that performs intermittent transfer, FIG. 2(b) is a sectional view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the main part taken along the line X-X of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional example. 1...Chain 3a, 3b...Fixed driven sprocket 3c, 3d...
·sprocket

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a chain conveyor constructed by winding an endless chain 1 around a plurality of sprockets 3 so that the chain 1 can be driven in circulation, a part of the chain 1 is wound around at least two sprockets. 3 fixed driven sprockets
a, 3b and sprockets 3c, 3d, which are provided at upstream and downstream positions of the fixed driven sprockets 3a, 3b, respectively, in the chain feeding direction. and 3b, 3d
a movable sprocket 7 that is movable in conjunction with each other so as to be able to increase or decrease the chain dimensions between each chain so as to shorten the dimension of the other chain when increasing one of the dimensions of the chain;
7a to increase the chain size between the upstream sprockets 3a and 3c and the downstream sprocket 3b,
3d, chain feeding from the upstream side between the fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b and chain feeding from the fixed driven sprockets 3a and 3b to the downstream side are blocked, and the fixed driven sprockets 3a, 3
A chain conveyor characterized in that the chain conveyor is configured such that chain transfer between the two points is stopped.