JPS63306116A - Chain elongation detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to continuously detect elongation of a chain for engaging a pusher with a carrier vehicle or the like, by measuring the distance between a measuring surface of a rear pusher and a measuring reference surface upon detection of a forward pusher, and by marking the chain when a degree of elongation exceeding a predetermined value is detected. CONSTITUTION:When a forehead pusher 22 on a chain 23 during operation reaches a detecting device 41, a limit switch 55 is turned on so as to set a data processing device 45 in a detecting condition. Further, when the processing device 45 receives a detection signal from a light projecting and receiving section 47 in a detecting section 33 for the pusher 22, a measuring device 43 measures the distance L between a measuring surface 32 of a posterior pusher 22 and a measuring reference surface 42 and thus measured value is transmitted to the processing device 45 so as to be used as a set value. Similarly, the distance to each pusher is measured. Further, the measured values subsequent to the second cycle are compared with the set values so as to determine the degree of elongation. When a certain degree of elongation is detected, a marking device 44 marks the chain.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a chain that moves a movable body along a fixed path by engaging a pusher with a movable body (such as a truck, carrier, or pallet). This relates to an elongation detection 81 that detects the elongation of this chain.

Conventional Technology As seen in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-2865, for example, a chain having a plurality of pushers is constructed by providing a hook piece on a cart that is movable over a certain distance, and then attaching a hook piece to a chain that is linked to a drive device. There is a method in which the provided pusher protrusion is engaged with a hook piece to move the cart integrally, and a method in which the pusher finger is engaged with the article (pallet) as seen in Japanese Patent Publication No. 44-31255, for example. It is used in applications such as those where it is moved by hand. In addition, a take-up device is installed to prevent chain elongation.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In such a conventional system, if the chain only moves a cart or the like at a substantially constant pitch, there is no problem in absorbing the elongation by the take-up device. However, when an automated device performs automated work on an object placed on a trolley or the like, when the elongation described above exceeds a limit value, the automated work may not be able to be performed accurately or smoothly.

An object of the present invention is to continuously detect elongation between pushers in a chain while the chain is in operation, and to display a mark on the corresponding chain portion when the elongation of the chain reaches a limit value. The object of the present invention is to provide an elongation detection device.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the chain elongation detection device according to the present invention detects when a front pusher reaches a side of a moving path of a chain having a plurality of pushers. ] [When this detection device detects the movement, a measuring device that measures the distance between the measuring surface of the rear pusher and the measurement reference surface, and a marking device that faces the chain between these detecting devices and the measuring device. In addition, a data processing device to which the detection device, measurement device, and marking device are connected is also installed.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the front (1
At the timing when the detection device detects that the second pusher has arrived, the measuring device measures the distance between the measurement surface of the rear (separate) pusher and the fixed measurement reference surface, and compares this measurement value with the previously determined measurement surface. By comparing the set value with the data processing device, the elongation of the chain portion between these pushers is measured. When the chain is subsequently moved, the rear pusher is detected by the detection device as the front pusher, and the next pusher becomes the rear pusher to be measured, so that the elongation of the chain portion between the pushers can be sequentially measured. When the elongation value obtained from the above comparison exceeds the limit value, the marking device is activated in response to an instruction from the data processing device, and a mark is placed on the chain portion between the pushers.

Example An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a movable body that is supported and guided by a guide rail 2 and can move freely on a fixed path 3, and includes a front trolley 5 having a passive protrusion 4 at its lower part, and a front trolley 5 connected to the front trolley 5 via a load support frame 6. 7, both trolleys 5
, 7 are respectively provided with a guiding wheel 8 and a side contact prevention wheel 9. The load support frame 6 includes a lower frame 12 connected to both trolleys 5.7 via trunnion pins 10.11, a support 13 erected from the center of the upper surface of the lower frame 12, and a support It consists of a horizontal member 14 attached to the upper end of the body 13 in the left-right direction, and a plurality of load supporting parts 15 erected from this horizontal member 14, and these load supporting parts 1
5 supports the conveyed object 16. The lower frame body 1
From 2, one leg member 17 is provided on both sides, and these leg members 1
A steady rest roller 19 that can be moved freely on a pair of left and right rail members 18 is attached to the lower end of the roller 7 . A pair of left and right guide rails 21 are disposed along the lower side of the guide rail 2, and the guide rails 21 support and guide a chain 23 having a pusher 22 that can be freely engaged with and detached from the driven protrusion 4. That is, a plurality of guide rollers 25 attached to the chain 23 via brackets 24 are supported and guided by the guide rail 21, and the pusher P-22 is attached to the guide roller 25ISil at a predetermined pitch device. These pushers 22 have a main body 26 fixed to the upper part of the outer link of the chain 23, and a plurality of guide wheels 2 supported and guided by the guide rails 21 on both sides thereof.
7 is attached, and a wheel 28 for preventing lateral vibration located between both guide rails 21 is attached. The guide wheel 27 is attached to the transmission protrusion 29 using one of the shafts.
is attached so as to be able to swing up and down, and this transmission protrusion 29 is biased by a weight portion 29a to engage the engaging portion 29b with the driven protrusion 4. A hold protrusion 30 that faces the engaging portion 29b from the front side and prevents the passive protrusion 4 from running out of control.
is attached via a horizontal shaft 31 so as to be vertically swingable, and the holding surface, which is the rear surface of this holding protrusion 30, serves as a measurement surface 32. In normal times, the engaging portion 29b has a portion located above the hold protrusion 30, and this portion is the detected portion 33. Movement path 34 of the chain 23
An elongation detection device 40 is provided on the side of the movable body 1 and at a portion that does not act on the movable body 1.

This elongation detection device 40 includes a detection device 41 that detects that the front pusher 22 has arrived;
When the detection movement occurs, the measurement surface 32 of the rear pusher 22
A measuring device 43 that measures the distance between the detection device 41 and the measurement reference plane 42, and a chain 23 between the detection device 41 and the measurement device 43.
The marking device @ 44 facing each device 41, 43.
f-9 location 3 that connects to 44! ! ! It consists of a device 45,
The devices 41, 43, 44 except the data processing device 45 are arranged in a common frame 46. The detection device 41 detects the melodic detection portion 33 on the front pusher 22, and a reflective fiber sensor 48 is used as the light receiving portion 47 of the detection device 41, which can freely face the detection portion 33.

The measurement reference plane 42 is formed by the rear surface of a block 49 erected on one side of the movement path 34, and the measurement side 13 is formed by a light source 50 such as a fluorescent lamp provided on the - side and a light source 50 such as a fluorescent lamp provided on the other side. The image sensor 51, such as a camera, is provided on one side. The marking device 44
The paint sprayer 53 is disposed on one side of the paint sprayer 4 and has an injection port 52 facing the chain 23 side, and a solenoid 54 that operates the nozzle of the paint sprayer 53. A limit switch 55 for detecting the leading pusher is provided at the location where the detection device 41 is provided, and this is also used for data processing'! A (connected to 245. Here, the tip pusher is set by hanging the master pin 56 from the chain part where this pusher is attached, and the detection rod 55A of the limit switch 55 is connected to the master pin 56.
It has entered the movement route of The data processing device 45
consists of a personal computer, plotter, recorder, etc. for data processing, output, and storage, and is detachable and connected to each device 41, 43, 44 as necessary to collect data.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained. The movement of the movable body 1 is
By engaging the engaging portion 29b of the transmission protrusion 29 with the passive protrusion 4, the moving force of the chain 23 is applied and movement is performed on the fixed path 3. At this time, the chain 23 is driven by a driving machine (not shown), and various finishing operations are performed on the conveyed object 16 while the movable body 1 is traveling. The elongation of the chain between the pushers 22 is detected by the elongation detection device 40 in the path portion that does not act on the movable body 1. That is, when the leading pusher t-22 of the moving chain 23 reaches the detection device 41 with the data processing device 45 set, the master pin 56 first comes into contact with the detection rod 55A and operates the limit switch 55. let me,
Based on the detection signal, the data processing device 45 is switched to the detection state. Immediately after that, the front (first) Pushi t-2
The detected part 33 in 2 faces the light receiving part 47 and blocks light, so that a detection (timing) signal is input from the detection device 41 to the data processing device 45.

On the other hand, in the measurement device e43, the relative distance between the measurement surface 32 of the moving rear pusher and the fixed measurement reference surface 42 is captured every moment by the image sensor 51, and a distance signal is input to the data processing device 45. are doing. Then, the distance signal inputted at the timing when the aforementioned detection signal was inputted is stored as a set value, and "O" is set as sampling. Subsequently, as the chain 23 moves, the rear (second) pusher 22 is detected as a front pusher by the detection device 41, and the rear (third) pusher 22 is further measured as a rear pusher by the measurement device 43. , is similarly set to ``0''.In this way, the length between each pusher 22 in the endless chain 23 is measured separately as a distance, and each chain is set to ``0'' although it is slightly different. Then, the chain 23 completes one revolution and the master bin 56 operates the limit switch 55 again, thereby proceeding to the second measurement.

As shown in Table 1 (table below), if the distance corresponding to the first pusher has increased, the measured value is compared with the first set value, and the '0'' setting is set. It is displayed in the data format that the length has been increased by an amount of, for example, °゛4''1111. This extended value varies, and in some cases, for example, the value corresponding to the 6th pusher does not extend at all and is displayed as "0". In this way, measurements are repeated many times.

(Left space below) Table 1 For example, if the limit value is 36"I, the one corresponding to the third pusher at the Nth time is "36" as shown by the * mark in Table 1.
``I@- When measuring, the data processing unit 3!!! device 45 issues an activation signal to the solenoid 54, which opens the nozzle of the paint spray 53.This causes the paint sprayer 53 to be directed toward the chain portion corresponding to the third pusher. Paint is injected from the injection port 52 to perform marking.At the same time, marking is performed on the data side.

In the above embodiment, the data is displayed in a data format, but this may be output as a graph such as a point plot if necessary, and the data is stored on a cassette tape.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention configured as described above, the front (1
At the timing when the detection device detects that the pusher (one) has arrived, the distance between the measurement surface of the rear (another) pusher and the fixed measurement reference surface is measured by the measurement device,
By comparing this measured value with a preset value using a data processing device, it is possible to measure the elongation of the chain portion between these pushers. When the chain is subsequently moved, the rear pusher can be detected by the detection device as the front pusher, and the next pusher can be measured as the rear pusher. Elongation can be measured. Thereby, the elongation between the pushers in the chain can be continuously detected during operation of the chain. When the elongation value obtained from the above comparison exceeds the limit value, the marking device is activated by an instruction from the data processor [8], and a mark can be placed on the chain portion between the pushers. As a result, repairs for elongation can be easily and accurately performed as it is only necessary to repair the parts between the pushers where the marked chain parts are present.
Furthermore, the correction eliminates elongation exceeding the limit value, allowing automated work on the transported object to be carried out accurately and smoothly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a plan view and FIG.
The figure is a partially cutaway side view, Fig. 3 is a view taken from the direction of arrow T1 in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a view taken from arrow TV-IV of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a view taken from the direction of arrow V-■ of Fig. 2.
It is an arrow view. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Movable body, 4... Passive protrusion, 21... Guide rail, 22... Pusher 123... Chain, 26
...Main body, 29...Transmission protrusion, 29b...Engagement part, 30...Hold protrusion, 32...Measurement surface, 33.
...Detected part, 34...8*@road, 40... Elongation detection device, 41... Detection device, 42... Measurement reference plane,
43...31 in total! ! Device, 44... Marking device, 45... Data processing device, 48... Fiber sensor, 49... Block body, 50... Light source, 51
...Image sensor-153...Paint spray, 54...Solenoid, 55...Limit switch, 56...Master bin, and...Distance. Agent Yoshihiro Morimoto Figure 3 Figure S

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A detection device that detects when the front pusher reaches the side of the movement path of a chain that has multiple pushers, and when this detection device makes a detection movement, a measurement surface and a measurement reference surface of the rear pusher are detected. a measuring device for measuring the distance between the detecting device and the measuring device, a marking device facing the chain between the detecting device and the measuring device, and a data processing device to which the detecting device, the measuring device, and the marking device are connected. Characteristic chain elongation detection device.