SG194637A1

SG194637A1 - Belt junction conveyor and rollers

Info

Publication number: SG194637A1
Application number: SG2013079462A
Authority: SG
Inventors: Yukimitsu Imaizumi
Original assignee: Toyokanetsu Solutions K K
Priority date: 2011-04-26
Filing date: 2011-04-26
Publication date: 2013-12-30
Also published as: KR101711248B1; WO2012147169A1; JP5681794B2; CN103717514A; CN103717514B; KR20140036189A; JPWO2012147169A1

Abstract

Provided is a belt junction conveyor without anti-meandering means. The belt junction conveyor includes: a pair of end pulleys having rotary axes extended in different directions each other; an 5 endless belt stretched between the end pulleys; and a pair of intermediate free rollers arranged between the end pulleys and turning the belt so that a traveling direction of the belt is perpendicular to a rotation axis of each of the end pulleys, wherein the intermediate free rollers are rollers provided with means for reducing friction configured 10 to reduce friction generated between the intermediate free rollers and the belt approaching, and to allow the belt to move in directions parallel to rotation axes of the intermediate free rollers.

Description

FP10-0732-00

DESCRIPTION Title of Invention

BELT JUNCTION CONVEYOR AND ROLLER

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt junction conveyor configured to allow an article to diagonally enter a main transfer line or to diagonally depart from the main transfer line. Also, the present invention relates to a roller for use in the belt junction conveyor.

Background Art

[0002] One of the example of a conventionally known belt junction conveyor is described in Patent Literature 1 shown later. As illustrated in Fig. 7, such belt junction conveyor includes an endless belt 3 stretched between a pair of end pulleys 1, 2 having rotary axes extended in different directions each other, and a pair of intermediate free rollers 4, 5 configured to turn the belt 3 at the halfway thereof.

[0003] Now, the upper intermediate free roller 4 is observed. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the belt 3 diagonally approaches the intermediate free roller 4 and is diagonally sent out from the opposite are of the roller.

In this case, the intermediate free roller 4 rotates as the belt 3 travels, and the belt 3 winds around the intermediate free roller 4. Thus, a contact point P1, at which the belt 3 approaching and the intermediate free roller 4 contact with each other, starts to move in the direction of an arrow A. Similar to the PI, a departure point P2, at which the belt 3 sending out and the intermediate fice roller 4 separate each other, starts to move in the direction of the arrow A. The same phenomenon occurs

EP10-0732-00 on the lower intermediate free roller 5. This causes the meandering of the belt 3.

[0004] For this reason, a variety of anti-meandering means are conventionally prepared. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a 5 . mechanism to prevent the meandering of the belt 3. The mechanism includes a pair of guide rollers 7, 8 to hold ridges 6 formed on both sides of the belt 3. With this configuration, the belt 3 is forcibly guided.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Literatire 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open

Publication No. 2005-263386

Summary of Invention Technical Problem

[0006] However, the anti-meandering mechanism disclosed in Patent

Literature 1 and other conventional anti-meandering means are configured to forcibly keep the position of the belt 3 in the width direction. Thus, there are problems that excessive force affects the belt 3, intermediate free rollers 4, 5, and end pulleys 1, 2.

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a belt junction conveyor without anti-meandering means or a belt junction conveyor that allows anti-meandering means to be simple,

[0008] The present invention also aims to provide rollers suitable to such belt junction conveyor.

Solution to Problem

[0009] To achieve the aforementioned purposes, a belt junction

FP10-0732-00 conveyor in one aspect of the present invention includes: a pair of end pulleys having rotary axes extended in different directions each other; an endless belt stretched between the end pulleys; and a pair of : intermediate free rollers arranged between the end pulleys and turning the belt so that a traveling direction of the belt is perpendicular to a rotation axis of each of the end pulleys. The intermediate free rollers are free rollers provided with means for reducing friction configured to reduce friction generated between the intermediate free rollers and the belt approaching, and to allow the belt to move in directions parallel to rotation axes of the intermediate free rollers.

[0010] Each of the intermediate free rollers includes preferably a plurality of omnidirectional wheels, what are called omni-wheels, arranged coaxially. Each of the omnidirectional wheels is provided with a couple of wheel structures. Each of the wheel structures includes a disciform roller frame and a plurality of barrel-shaped rollers arranged on the outer circumference of the roller frame, In this configuration, the means for reducing friction is the barrel-shaped rollers. The plurality of omnidirectional wheels are preferably assembled on a shaft in a rotational manner.

[0011] With this configuration, although the belt on the intermediate free roller starts to move in the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the free roller, the means for reducing friction causes the belt to slip on the intermediate roller. As a result, the traveling direction of the belt is maintained and the motion of the belt in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction is regulated.

[0012] The roller including the aforementioned means for reducing

FP10-0732-00 friction can be applied to an intermediate free roller included in a belt junction conveyor in which the traveling direction swings horizontally.

In other words, a belt junction in another aspect of the present invention includes: a pair of end pulleys configured to move in contrary directions about a certain pivot; an endless belt stretched between the end pulleys; and a pair of intermediate free rollers arranged between the end pulleys and tuming the belt so that a traveling direction of the belt is perpendicular to a rotation axis of each of the end pulleys. The intermediate free rollers may be rollers provided with means for reducing friction.

[0013] Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a roller that feeds or guides a belt form or sheet form and is used in a case where the belt form oi the sheet form diagonally approaches the axis or in a case where the belt form or the sheet form is capable of diagonally approaching the axis, the roller including: means for reducing friction configured to reduce friction generated between the roller and the belt form or the sheet form to allow the belt form or the sheet form to move in directions perpendicular to rotation axis of the roller.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0014] With the roller, although a belt form or a sheet form, in patticular, a belt diagonally approaches the roller and starts to move thereon in the directions parallel to the rotation axis of the roller, the belt form or the sheet form slides on the roller. Thus, the traveling direction thereof is kept constant, Consequently, the belt junction conveyor using the roller prevents or regulates the meandering of the belt, so that excessive force does not affect the belt, end pulleys, and

FP10-0732-00 intermediate free rollers, and thereby exhibiting the effect of extending the life of the device.

[0015] In a case where the roller is used in a copy machine, cutting machine, or textile machine, a piece of paper or cloth is prevented from wrinkling.

Brief Descripiion of Drawings

[0016] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a belt junction conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 2] Fig 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating rollers included in the belt junction conveyor illustrated in Fig. 1 in detail. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating a belt junction conveyor according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a side view schematically illustrating the belt junction conveyor illustrated in Fig, 3. [FFig. 5] Fig. 5 is a perspective view conceptually illustrating a roller according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a perspective view conceptually illustrating a roller according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Fig. 71 Fig. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a conventional belt junction conveyor. [Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an explanatory drawing illustrating behavior of a belt on an intermediate free roller in a belt junction conveyor.

Description of Embodiments

[0017] The following dezcribes preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

FP10-0732-00

[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a belt junction conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention,

An illustrated belt junction conveyor 10 includes basically the same structure as a conventional one, in which a pair of end pulleys 12, 14 arranged on portions separated each other; an endless belt 16 stretched between both end pulleys 12, 14; and a pair of upper and lower intermediate free rollers 18, 20 arranged between the end pulleys 12, 14 to turn the belt 16 are included. The end pulleys 12, 14 are arranged so that the rotation axes of the end pulleys make 90 degrees in the top view.

The intermediate free rollers 18, 20 are arranged so that the rotation axes of each of the intermediate free rollers and the rotation axes of the end pulleys 12, 14 make 45 degrees, respectively.

[0019] The end pulley 14 is a driving pulley and connected to a driving unit 22, The end pulley 12 is a driven pulley. Driving the end pulley i5 14 after activating the driving unit 22 causes the belt 16 fo be fed out from the upper area of the end pulley 12, approach the upper intermediate free roller 18 at which the traveling direction thereof is turned in 90 degrees, and move to the end pulley 14 from the lower area of the intermediate free roller 18. Next, the belt 16 reverses the traveling direction at the end pulley 14 to approach the lower intermediate free roller 20. Finally, the belt 16 returns to the end pulley 12 via the intermediate free roller 20 at which the traveling direction is turned in 90 degrees. This configuration allows the article on the belt 16 to enter the main transfer line 24. The belt junction conveyor 10 can also be used as a branching conveyor by reversing the driving direction of the end pulley 14.

FP14-0732-00

[0020] Reference numeral 26 indicates guide frames configured to abut on and press the belt 16 when the belt 16 displacing in the width directions,

[0021] Reference munerals 13, 15, and 17 indicate additional pulleys configured to adjust the tension on the belt 16 for example.

[0022] The intermediate free rollers 18, 20 in the belt junction conveyor according to the illustrated embodiment, which are different from the conventional and generic rollers, have a configuration illustrated in Fig, 2. The intermediate free rollers 18, 20 in the present embodiment 10 include a plurality of omnidirectional wheels, what are called omni-wheels 28, coaxially arranged side by side.

[0023] The omni-wheel 28 is conventionally known because it has been disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2-249769 and Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-39164. The omni wheel 28 includes a couple of wheel structures 34. Each wheel structure 34 includes a roller frame 30 provided with three barrel-shaped rollers 32. The rollers 32 are arranged along the circumferential direction of the roller frame 30 in a rotational manner.

The wheel structures 34 each having the different phase of the rollers 32 are fixed each other. More specifically, the roller frame 30 is nearly a disc provided with a center hole at the center thereof. Each of the bairel-shaped rollers 32 is attached to the roller frame 30 so that the rotation axis of the roller 32 is arranged on the outer circumference of the roller frame 30 and is arranged on a plane perpendicular to the center axis of the center hole in the roller frame 30. The three rollers 32 are arranged along the circumferential direction with an even interval.

FP10-0732-00

Two wheel structures 34 each have the phases that are shifted by 60 degrees about the center axis of the center hole of the roller frame 30,

The wheel structures are arranged as described above and fixed each other to configure one omni-wheel 28. When the omni-wheel 28 is observed from the direction of the center axis of the center hole, the general outer circumference of the omni-wheel 28 defined by the contours of the barrel-shaped rollers 32 is circular. Note that each of the roller frames 32 may be provided with four rollers or more.

[0024] A plurality of such omni-wheels 28 are arranged coaxially.

The omni-wheels 28 are integrated with a shaft 36 inserted info the center holes of the roller frames 30, thereby forming the infermediate free rollers 18, 20. The roller frames 30 can rotate about the shaft 36, therefore, similar to typical free rollers, the intermediate free rollers 18, 20 rotate about the shaft 36. In addition to that, each of the rollers 32 on the roller frame 30 can rotate about an axis extending to the directions of a tangent to a circle defined by the roller frame 30. Thus, the objects on the surfaces of the intermediate free rollers 18, 20 can move in the directions parallel to the center axes of the intermediate free rollers 18, 20.

[0025] Driving the belt junction conveyor 10 provided with the intermediate free rollers 18, 20 having the above-described structures causes the belt 16 to diagonally approach the upper intermediate free roller 18 and be sent from the intermediate free roller 18 to the end pulley 14. The upper intermediate free roller 18 rotates as the belt 16 moves, In this case, the belt 16 diagonally approaches the intermediate free roller 18 and starts to move on the intermediate free roller 18 in the

FP10-0732-00 direction of the arrow A,

[0026] However, the belt 16 wraps the end pulleys 12, 14 at right angles.

Thus, the force preventing the motion in the width directions acts on the belt 16 at the sides of the end pulleys 12, 14. In addition to that, although the belt 16 moves in the direction of the arrow A, the belt 16 abuts on the guide frames 26, thus further displacement is prevented.

In the case where force to keep the belt 16 going straight acts on the belt 16, although the belt 16 starts to move on the intermediate free roller 18 in the direction of the arrow A, the multiple barrel-shaped rollers 32 on the surface of the intermediate free roller 18 rotate, and thus the belt 16 exhibits a behavior as if it slipped on the intermediate free roller 18.

Consequently, the traveling direction of the belt 16 is kept constant. In other words, the belt 16 does not change the position in the width direction. The lower free roller 20 acts exactly the same,

[0027] As a result, the conventional anti-meandering means for adjusting the position of the belt 16 becomes unnecessary and the structure of the belt junction conveyor 10 becomes simple. In addition to that, excessive force does not affect the belt 16, intermediate free rollers 18, 20, and end pulleys 12, 14, which lead to the effect of 290 extending the life of the device.

[0028] The belt junction conveyor according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail. The present invention can also be applied to a further-advanced belt junction conveyor that mainly performs sorting. In other words, the roller illustrated in Fig. 2 can be applied as an intermediate free roller to a belt junction conveyor that is configured to change a transfer direction by

¥P10-0732-00 moving the position of an end pulley.

[0029] Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 illustrate an associated belt junction conveyor 100. The belt junction conveyor 100 can move an endless belt 116 between the position depicted with solid line and the position depicted with two-dotted line in Fig. 3. With this configuration, the belt junction conveyor 100 can sort an article to any one of two conveyors located downstream, or, can receive an article from two conveyors located upstream and send it to a conveyor located downstream.

[0030] The illustrated belt junction conveyor 100 includes a base 160, a main frame 162, and a sub frame 164.

[0031] The main frame 162 is connected to the base 160 through a connecting rod 166 so as to be able to rotate in horizontal directions with respect to the base 160. The tip end of the main frame 162 is attached with an end pulley 112. At a portion lower than the end pulley 112, a driving pulley 113 and an additional pulley 115 are rotationally supported with the main frame 162 so that the axes of the pulleys are arranged to be parallel to each other. The end pulley 112 substantially corresponds to the end pulley 12 in the belt junction conveyor 10 according to the embodiment illustrated in Fig, 1. The driving pulley 113 and the additional pulley 115 substantially correspond to the additional pulleys 13, 15 illustrated in Fig. 1, respectively.

[0032] A side surface of the main frame 162 on which the pulleys 112, 113, and 115 are mounted is provided with a driving motor 122 to rotationally drive the driving pulley 113.

[0033] Note that the bottom face of the main frame 162 is provided

FP10-0732-00 with a traveling trolley 168. With this configuration, the main frame 162 can stably rotate about the connecting rod 166 in horizontal directions.

[0034] The sub frame 164, similar to the main frame 162, is connected to the base 160 through the connecting rod 170 so as to be able to rotate in horizontal directions with respect to the base 160. The connecting rod 170 and the connecting rod 166 of the main frame 162 are aligned on the same vertical axis. Thus, the sub frame 164 and the main frame 162 can rotate about the same axis,

[0035] The tip end of the sub frame 164 is attached with an end pulley 114 substantially corresponding to the end pulley 14 illustrated in Fig. 1.

The end pulley 114 is different from the end pulley 14 in that the end pulley 114 does not function as a driving pulley.

[0036] Note that also the bottom face of the sub frame 164 is provided with a traveling trolley 172 in order to stabilize the rotation in horizontal directions. The traveling trolley 172 is formed in a shape that does not interfere with the belt 116 stretched between the pulley 112, 113, and 115 in the main frame 162, such as a U shape.

[0037] The base 160 provided with two intermediate free rollers 118, 120 that are parallel to each other and vertically arranged with a certain gap therebetween. The intermediate free rollers 118, 120 correspond to the intermediate free rollers 18, 20 illustrated in Fig. 1, respectively, and inchide the omni-wheel 28 illustrated in Fig. 28. The intermediate free rollers 118, 120 are located in the positions where the areas in the surfaces thereof opposite to the end rollers 112, 114 come into contact with the center axis of the connecting rods 166, 170 of the main frame

FP10-0732-00 162 and the sub frame 164.

[0038] The endless belt 116 stretched between the pulleys 112, 113, 115, 114 and the intermediate free rollers 118, 120 extends from the upper area of the end pulley 112 of the main frame 162 to the upper intermediate free roller 118 at which the traveling direction thereof is turned. The endless belt 116 further extends from the lower area of the intermediate free roller 118 to the end pulley 114 of the sub frame 164.

Then, the belt 116 reverses the traveling direction at the end pulley 114 and returns to the end pulley 112 via the lower intermediate free roller 120, the driving pulley 113, and the additional pulley 115. In such arrangement, the sub frame 164 is located in a space between the belt 116 passing on the topmost part of the main frame 162 and the belt 116 passing on the bottommost part of the main frame 162 and can move in the space in horizontal directions. This will be understood from Fig. 4.

[0039] Furthermore, a center axis Cl of the belt 116 between the end pulley 112 of the main frame 162 and the upper intermediate free roller 118 and a vertical plane V including the center axis of the connecting rods 166, 170 and perpendicular to the rotation axis of the intermediate free roller 118 form angle o and a center axis CZ of the belt 116 between the end pulley 114 of the sub frame 164 and the lower intermediate free roller 120 and the vertical plane V form angle . The angle o and the angle Pp are always configured to have counter directions and have the same angle (in the state depicted with two-dotted line in Fig. 3, the center axes Cl and C2 are aligned. In other words, angle o and angle B are zero degrees). The belt 116 is always tensioned regardless of angle a, §, as long as the positional

FP10-0732-00 relation is maintained.

[0040] The belt junction conveyor 100 is provided with a rotary mechanism in. order to maintain the above-described positional relation and to rotate the main frame 162 and the sub frame 164. The rotary mechanism is not illustrated in the drawings because there are a variety of kinds of types therefor, but, for example, can be a mechanism pulls and pushes the main frame 162 and the sub frame 164 in the counter directions by the same amount using a direct-driving actuator, a mechanism moves the main frame 162 and the sub frame 164 in the counter directions by the same amount using a pinion and a rack, or other mechanism.

[0041] In the conventional belt junction conveyor, for example, described in Japanese Patent Application Publication 2009-29620, an intermediate free roller is a cylinder. Thus, in a positional state as depicted with solid line in Fig. 3 where angle a and B are not zero degrees, a belt starts to move along the intermediate free roller similar to an example illustrated in Fig. 7. However, in the case where the intermediate free rollers 118, 120 including the omni-wheels 28 illustrated in Fig. 2 similar to the embodiments of the present invention are used, the belt 116 does not cause the displacement and runs stably entirely similar to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0042] The belt 116 can apply large force to the intermediate free rollers 118 and 120 when the main frame 162 and the sub frame 164 move. In such case, using the intermediate free rollers 118, 120 as including the omni-wheels 28 can absorb unnecessary force.

Consequently, loads applied to the belt 116, intermediate free rollers 118,

FP10-0732-00 120, and other pulleys become small and the life time of the entire belt junction conveyor 100 can be extended.

[0043] Note that the rollers 18, 20, 118, and 120 included in the belt junction conveyors 10, 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention are applicable to a feeding mechanism in a textile machine that produces fabric, a paper discharging mechanism and a paper feeding mechanism in a copy machine, a paper feeding mechanism in a cutting machine that cuts rolled paper into sheets, and a roller that is used in a case where the belt form or the sheet form is capable of diagonally approaching the roller. Producihg/working machines of rolled paper, film-like sheet (wrap, vinyl, or other form), or metallic . film (aluminum or other metal) applied with a roller similar to the rollers 18, 20, 118, 120 can change an output direction freely in an output apparatus after cutting and is effective. A packaging machine that wraps pre-cut material around an article using a roller similar to the rollers 18, 20, 118, 120 can control a transfer direction freely and is effective. Furthermore, a machine tool for heavy material or relatively hard material, such as rolled steel, can be applied with a roller similar to the rollers 18, 20, 118, 120.

[0044] The aforementioned rollers are not limited to the one including omni-wheels as illustrated in Fig. 2. Any form is acceptable as long as friction caused by a belt form or a sheet form on the surface of a roller against the roller is reduced and the belt form for example can move on the roller in the same directions as the rotation axis of the roller.

[0045] For example, a cylinder 50 in which a plurality of barrel-shaped rollers 52 are rotationally and partially buried as conceptually illustrated

FP10-0732-00 in Fig, 5 and a cylinder 50 in which a plurality of balls 54 are rotationally and partially buried as conceptually illusirated in Fig. 6 are within the scope of the present invention. In addition to that, although it is not illustrated in the drawings, a free roller including a cylinder having a surface subjected to fluorocarbon resin processing or diamond-like carbon processing to reduce friction can exhibit similar effects.

Reference Signs List

[0046] 10, 100... belt junction conveyor, 12, 14, 112, 114... end pulley, 16, 116... belt, 18, 20, 118, 120... roller (intermediate free roller), 22... driving unit, 24... main transfer line, 26... guide frame, 28... omni-wheel, 30... roller frame, 32... barrel-shaped roller (means for reducing friction), 34... wheel structure, 36... shaft, 50... cylinder, 52... barrel-shaped roller (means for reducing friction), 54.., ball (means for reducing friction), 160... base, 162... main frame, 164... sub frame, 166, 170... connecting rod :

Claims

FP10-0732-00 CLAIMS

1. A belt junction conveyor (10) comprising: a pair of end pulleys (12, 14) having rotary axes extended m different directions each other; an endless belt (16) stretched between the end pulleys (12, 14); and a pair of intermediate free rollers (18, 20) arranged between the end pulleys (12, 14) and turning the belt (16) so that a fraveling direction of the belt (16) is perpendicular to a rotation axis of each of the end pulleys (12, 14), wherein the intermediate free rollers (18, 20) are provided with means for reducing friction configured to reduce friction generated between the intermediate free rollers (18, 20) and the belt (16), and to allow the belt (16) to move in directions parallel to rotation axes of the intermediate free rollers (18, 20).

2. A belt junction conveyor (100) comprising: a pair of end pulleys (112, 114) configured to move in contrary directions about a certain pivot; an endless belt (116) stretched between the end pulleys (112, 114), and a pair of intermediate free rollers (118, 120) arranged between the end pulleys (112, 114) and turning the belt (116) so that a traveling direction of the belt (116) is perpendicular to a rotation axis of each of the end pulleys (112, 114); wherein the intermediate free rollers (118, 120) are provided with means

FP10-0732-00 for reducing friction configured to reduce friction generated between the intermediate free rollers (118, 120) and the belt (116), and to allow the belt (116) to move in directions parallel to rotation axes of the intermediate fee rollers (118, 120).

3. The belt junction conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the intermediate free rollers (18, 20; 118, 120) includes a plurality of omnidirectional wheels (28) arranged coaxially, each of the omnidirectional wheels (28) is provided with a couple of wheel structures (34), each of the wheel structures (34) includes a disciform roller frame (30) and a plurality of barrel-shaped rollers (32) arranged on the roller frame (30), and the means for reducing friction is the barrel-shaped rollers (30).

4. The belt junction conveyor according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of omnidirectional wheels (28) are assembled on a shaft (36) in a rotational manner,

5. A roller (18, 20) that feeds or guides a belt form or sheet form and is used in a case where the belt form or the sheet form diagonally approaches the axis or in a case where the belt form or the sheet form is capable of diagonally approaching the axis, the roller (18, 20) comprising: means for reducing friction configured to reduce friction generated between the roller (18, 20) and the belt form or the sheet form to allow the belt form or the sheet form to move in directions

FP10-0732-00 perpendicular to rotation axis of the roller (18, 20).

6. The roller according to claim 5, wherein the roller (18, 20) includes a plurality of omnidirectional wheels 3 (28) arranged coaxially, each of the omnidirectional wheels (28) is provided with a couple of wheel structures (34), each of the wheel structures (34) includes a disciform roller frame (30) and a plurality of barrel-shaped rollers (32) arranged on the roller frame (30), and the means for reducing friction is the barrel-shaped rollers (30),

7. The roller according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of omnidirectional wheels (28) are assembled on a shaft (36) in a rotational manner,