JP2000344330A - Flexible chain conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a flexible chain conveyor capable of curving freely in a plane and changing appropriately the loading or unloading position of objects transported. SOLUTION: A number of guide bodies 1 having constant dimensions are coupled together in such a condition as rotatable in plane at least for a constant angle so that a guide rail A is formed having a long size and capable of curving freely. The guide rail A is equipped with a duct so that an endless chain 2 moves along the duct 3. The endless chain 2 is fitted with a supporting/receiving means for the transported object, for example a flat plate 9. Surfaces of the body B of conveyor whereto the guide rail A is attached, for example the left and right side faces, are formed by a link mechanism capable of expanding and contracting so that curving can be made freely in compliance with the curvature of the guide A. The endless chain 2 is fitted with a guide roller protruding aside so as to move along the duct 3, and the chain is prevented from falling out by an inner flange formed at the top of the duct 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to
Alternatively, the present invention relates to a conveyor capable of changing a transport path by freely bending the transport path in response to a change in a transport position or a change in a situation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been no conveyor capable of freely changing a conveying path by curving in a plane. With a very short roller conveyor, the left and right sides of the main body are formed with telescopic links, the entire length is made telescopic, and the fulcrum axis located on the upper surface among the fulcrum axes of the links on the left and right side parts of the main body is defined as a roller. Is known. Also, there is known an endless belt conveyor that can change the entire length by forming a detour portion of the belt, for example.

[0003]

There is no conventional conveyor, particularly an endless conveyor, whose transport path can be freely changed. However, it often happens that it is desired to change the loading position or the discharging position according to the situation at the time of transportation. For example, if the conveyor for baggage transport at an airport or the loading and unloading conveyor at a truck distribution center can change the transport route, change the stop position, loading, or loading of an airplane or truck. It is possible to respond quickly to a change in the wholesale position. In addition, there are cases where it is desired to change the transfer position when loading or unloading raw materials or products in a factory. An object of the present invention is to provide a novel conveyor capable of freely changing the transport path so that the transfer path can be freely changed so that the loading and unloading positions may be changed. Is what you do.

[0004]

The basic idea of the present invention is to provide a guide rail which can be freely curved in a plane, and to wind an endless chain along this guide rail. Is provided with a means for receiving a conveyed article. In order to allow the guide rail A to bend freely, in the present invention, a plurality of guide bodies 1 and 1 are connected in a state where they can be rotated at least at a certain angle in a plane, and a long guide rail is used. Construct A. The guide main body 1 constituting the guide rail A is provided with a guide function for the chain 2, and is endlessly moved along the guide rail A on sprockets provided at the start end and the end of the guide rail A formed in a long dimension. The chain 2 is wound, and the means for supporting the conveyed article is mounted on the chain 2 to be wound. Specifically, a link with an attachment 2c is placed on a part of the chain, and this attachment
A flat plate 9 for receiving a conveyed article is mounted on 2c.

The guide means for guiding the chain 2 may be any mechanism as long as the chain can move along the guide rail A without fail. However,
As a simple structure in which the chain 2 moves reliably along the guide rail A, specifically, a duct through which the chain is guided is formed in the guide main body 1. The duct formed in the guide main body 1 may have the guide main body itself in a duct shape, or may be configured by attaching separately formed ducts 3 of a predetermined size to the guide main body 1 respectively.
The duct 3 is provided with at least both left and right side walls 3b and an inner flange 3a directed inward at an upper end portion, such as a cross section having a substantially C-shaped cross section opened upward. On the other hand, in the endless chain moving along the duct 3, guide rollers 2a protruding to the left and right sides are arranged for every arbitrary number of links, and the guide rollers 2a are arranged along the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the duct 3. . Thus, the inner flange 3a at the upper end of each of the left and right side walls of the duct 3 prevents the guide roller 2a from moving upward, and functions as a stopper for the chain 2 from coming off the duct 3.

[0006] On the inner bottom surface of the duct 3, a bottom rail sheet 4 that is bendable in a plane by continuously providing cuts 4 a from both left and right side edges toward the center is continuously arranged. Side rail seat 5 on the side
And the roller 2b of each link of the chain is brought into contact with the bottom rail sheet 4 and the guide roller 2a of the chain is brought into contact with the side rail sheet 5, whereby the intermittent state in which the chain 2 rattles for each guide main body 1 is eliminated. The side rail sheet 5 is made continuous as much as possible over the entire length of the conveyor, but at least as long as it extends over a plurality of guide bodies to eliminate rattling of the guide roller 2a. Only one end of the long side rail sheet 5 is fixed, and the dimensional change between the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side caused by the curvature of the conveyor is absorbed by sliding.

The main body B of the flexible chain conveyor
Allows the body B itself to be freely curved. In order to be able to freely curve the main body, for example, the right and left link main bodies 6 and 7 constituting the main body B are configured by extending and retracting link main bodies 6 and 7 on both left and right sides, respectively. 7 fulcrum shafts 8, 8
Are arranged to penetrate the left and right sides, and at least a part of the fulcrum shaft 8 is fixed to the guide body 1 at predetermined intervals. Thereby, the main body B can be freely bent by expanding and contracting the link main bodies 6 and 7 on the left and right sides without changing the overall length of the main body B.

The means for receiving the conveyed articles may be, for example, a bucket, but can be utilized in the same manner as a belt conveyor by arranging a flat plate. That is, a narrow flat plate 9 is attached to the attachment 2c of the chain 2 as a means for receiving the conveyed articles. At this time, if a certain gap is left between the adjacent flat plates 9, it is possible to prevent the flat plates 9 from colliding with each other at the curved portion of the conveyor.

When the flat plate 9 is used as the means for supporting the conveyed articles, it is necessary to stabilize the flat plate 9 against the load of the load. In order to stabilize the flat plate 9, the left and right sides of the guide rail A are positioned along the flow direction of the endless chain.
The support plate 10 is erected and arranged between a plurality of fulcrum shafts of the link type main body. The support plate 10 supports the back surface of the flat plate 9 at the upper end surface in the longitudinal direction, and is fixed to one of the plurality of fulcrum shafts 8 penetrating therethrough, and the other fulcrum shaft is penetrated. The holes 13 are made to pass through freely. This makes it possible to adapt to the curve of the conveyor. The return-side guide rail 11 is disposed below the guide rail A, and a groove 12 in the flow direction is provided on the surface of the flat plate 9.
, The endless chain can be returned without difficulty.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the flexible chain conveyor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the entire conveyor, assuming a portable conveyor or the like to be moved and used as needed, and freely curved in a plane as indicated by a two-dot chain line.
That is, it shows a device that can be used by changing the transport route. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of only a part of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state where FIG. 2 is curved.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the endless chain 2 is wound along a guide rail A which is connected at least at a predetermined angle so as to be rotatable in a plane and can be bent as a whole. A suitable conveyor means is attached to the chain 2 to form a conveyor. The endless chain 2 can be driven by a sprocket, for example, as is conventionally known. The guide rail A in the present invention is:
The short planar guide bodies 1 and 1 having a fixed size are continuously connected to each other in such a manner that they can be rotated at least by a fixed angle. The rotatable angle does not need to be a large angle at the connection of the guide body 1 at one place, but can be freely curved as a whole by rotating the connection one after another by a small angle. do it.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 5, the guide body 1 which can be continuously connected in a rotatable state has a projection 14 at a front end in a longitudinal direction and a projection 14 at a rear end. The upper plate 1b is fixed to the upper surface of the main plate 1a formed with the cutout portion 15 having a size to fit therein, and the lower plate 1c is fixed to the lower surface by means of welding or the like, respectively. The main plate 1a is covered with a lower surface plate 1c, and a connection hole 16 is formed in the protrusion 11 of the main plate 1a.
It can be made by piercing a connection hole 16 'that can communicate with 1b and the lower plate 1c.

A duct 3 made of a steel having a substantially C-shaped cross section with an open upper surface is fixed to the upper surface plate 1b of the guide body 1. The duct 3 may have a shape other than the substantially C-shaped cross section as long as it has at least the side wall 3b and the inner flange 3a at the upper end. A rail plate 17 is fixed to the inner bottom surface of the duct 3, and a continuous long-diameter bottom rail sheet 4 is disposed thereon. The duct 3 and the rail plate 17 have the same dimensions as the guide main body 1 so as not to interfere with the curvature of the guide rail A, and the long bottom rail sheet 4 alternately extends from both left and right side edges toward the center. By providing the cuts 4a at regular intervals, it is possible to cope with the planar curvature of the conveyor. On the inner side surface of the duct 3, a long side rail sheet 5 extending at least over a plurality of guides is arranged. Note that the bottom rail sheet 4 and the side rail sheet 5 are made of a sheet material having a certain degree of flexibility, and have a cushioning effect and a silencing effect when the chain moves.

In the guide body 1 having the above structure, the protrusion 14 of the main plate 1a is inserted into the notch 15 of the guide body 1 at the front,
By passing a pin through the connection hole 16 ′ that can communicate with the upper surface plate 1 b and the lower surface plate 1 c and the connection hole 16 formed in the protruding portion 14, it can be pivotally supported. At this time,
The height of the upper surface plate 1b allows the guide body 1 at the front position and the upper surface plate 1b of the guide body 1 at the rear position to be located on the same plane. Therefore, the upper surface plate of each guide main body 1
When the duct 3 having the same length as the guide main body is fixed on 1b, when the guide main bodies 1 are connected to each other, a large number of ducts are arranged in a line on the same plane. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the protruding portion 14 protruding from the front end of the guide main body 1 is formed smaller than that of the guide main body 1. Thereby, when the guide main body 1 is connected, a gap is formed above and below the turning portion, so that it is possible to smoothly turn the plane and to cope with a change in the vertical direction, that is, a change in the height of the conveyor.

The endless chain 2 is passed through the duct 3. The chain 2 passing through the duct 3 is shown in FIG.
The guide rollers 2a protruding to the left and right sides are arranged every other link as shown in FIG. 2, and the links having the attachment 2c for mounting the flat plate 9 as the means for receiving the conveyed object are arranged every other link. are doing. This allows
The left and right guide rollers 2a abut against the inner surface of the side wall 3b of the duct, specifically the side rail sheet 5, and the roller of the chain
2b is in contact with the bottom surface of the duct, specifically, the bottom rail sheet 4, and the chain 2 moves smoothly. The inner flange 3a formed at the upper end of the side wall of the duct prevents the guide roller 2a from moving upward, and functions as a chain stopper.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a flat plate 9 is attached to each link of the chain 2 as a means for receiving a conveyed article. Further, a gap X is provided between the adjacent flat plates 9 so as not to hinder the transfer of the articles.
The gap X functions effectively when the conveyor is curved as shown in FIG. That is, when the conveyor is curved, the directionality of the adjacent flat plate changes little by little, and if there is no gap X, a collision phenomenon occurs on the inner peripheral side of the conveyor. When the gap is slightly narrowed, it is possible to cope with a change in directionality and to wind the chain in a curved state without any trouble. The shape of the flat plates 9, 9 mounted on the chain is such that an upper flange is formed on one of the upstream side surface and the downstream side surface in the flow direction of the conveyor, and a lower flange is formed on the other side so that they overlap each other. , The gap can be prevented from communicating vertically.
However, it is also possible to mount something other than the flat plate as the means for supporting the article.

According to the present invention, basically, if the guide rail A can be freely curved and an endless chain can be wound along the guide rail A, the guide rail A can be used. The structure of the main body B of the supporting conveyor is optional. Although the structure of the main body B of the conveyor is optional, it is an essential condition that the main body B can be freely curved in accordance with the curvature of the guide rail. An example of the structure of the main body B satisfying this condition can be understood from FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG.

The main body B in the illustrated example is provided with link main bodies 6 and 7 each having left and right side surfaces formed by an extendable link mechanism, and columns 19 with casters 18 arranged at regular intervals. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, link members 20, 20 of a certain size are sequentially arranged so as to intersect with each other, and are pivotally supported with the upper end, the lower end, and the intermediate position as fulcrums. This is a known structure as a link mechanism. The main feature of the conveyor in the illustrated embodiment is that the link bodies 6 and 7 constituted by the link mechanism are arranged on both the left and right sides, and the fulcrum shafts 8 and 8 of the link mechanism are penetrated by the mechanisms on both the left and right sides to be common. This is a point that the right link body 6 and the left link body 7 are supported at a fixed interval (width), and the upper fulcrum shafts 8 are fixed to the guide body 1. All the guide bodies 1 may be fixed to the fulcrum shafts 8 and 8 sequentially, or the guide bodies at fixed intervals may be fixed to the fulcrum shafts. With the above configuration, the strength of the structure of the conveyor body can be obtained, and the length of the entire body does not expand or contract, and the links on both sides are equal to the dimensional difference between the inner circumference and the outer circumference when curved. The main body can be configured to expand and contract.

The pillars 19 with the casters 18 arranged at regular intervals of the link bodies 6 and 7 of the conveyor constituted by the link mechanism fix the fulcrum shaft 8 at two upper and lower positions, and are respectively provided at the upstream and downstream in the flow direction. Link member
One end of the link mechanism 20 is attached to form a part of the link mechanism. When the link member 20 is mounted on the column 19, the fulcrum shaft at the upper end position is freely movable in the horizontal direction and the fulcrum shaft at the lower end position is freely movably mounted in the vertical direction. With this configuration, when the left and right link bodies 6 and 7 expand and contract, the upper end position, that is, the transport level can be kept constant.

If the flat plates 9 and 9 are merely attached to the endless chain 2 as the means for receiving the conveyed articles, the posture is not stable due to the slanting inclination. In order to solve this problem, in the present invention, support plates 10 and 10 are erected on both right and left sides of the guide rail, and the attitude control is performed by supporting the flat plates 9 and 9 from below at the upper end surface of the support plate 10. I have to. The support plates 10, 10
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 9, the chain is arranged in the flow (movement) direction of the chain, and a certain length spanning the plurality of fulcrum shafts 8, 8 is secured. Then, as shown in FIG.
And the other fulcrum shafts 8 and 8 are loosely fitted in the elongated holes 13. Thus, even when the conveyor is curved as shown in FIG. 3, the position of the fulcrum shaft moving in the elongated hole 13 does not hinder the curve (curve).

The support plate 10 of the flat plate 9 is arranged so as to overlap in the direction of flow of the conveyor so that the support is not interrupted. However, if the support plates 10 and 10 are arranged close to each other in the width direction of the flat plate 9, a collision phenomenon occurs between the adjacent support plates 10 when the conveyor is curved. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the support plates 10, 10 adjacent to each other in the flow direction of the conveyor are arranged in a zigzag manner while changing the position in the width direction, so that the curvature of the conveyor is not obstructed as shown in FIG. Like that.

As described above, the endless chain moves along the guide rails on the transport side (outbound path), but also on the return side (return path), it is necessary to reverse the same path as the transport surface. You cannot drive smoothly. It is conceivable to provide guide means similar to the transport surface on the return side, but in the illustrated embodiment, the flat plate 9 is used.
The problem is solved by forming a concave groove 12 on the surface of the conveyor in the flow direction of the conveyor, and engaging the concave groove 12 with the return-side guide rail 11. Return side guide rail 11
For example, the guide roller 21 allows the fulcrum shaft 8 to pass through the center position of which the length does not change due to the curvature of the conveyor. The guide roller 21 is disposed at the center position of the adjacent fulcrum shafts 8, 8 or every other fulcrum shaft. The return side guide rail 11 is preferably adapted to gradually engage with the concave groove 12 of the flat plate 9 from the folded portion of the conveyor.

It is necessary to control the attitude of the flat plate 9, which is the means for receiving the conveyed articles, also on the return side. As a method of this attitude control, as shown in FIG. 8, the lower surface of the flat plate 9 is placed on another support plate 22,
To support. The specific structure is the support plate 10 on the transfer surface side.
The supporting plate 22 is located between the fulcrum shafts 8 at the lower position.
To support. However, on the return side, the flat plate 9
Since the transfer surface faces downward, the transfer surface is supported from below.

[0024]

According to the flexible chain conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention, the chain provided with the means for receiving the conveyed articles is driven along the guide rail which can be freely bent, so that the chain can be freely conveyed. The transport path can be changed by bending. For example, it is possible to provide a flexible chain conveyor that can be used by moving the loading position to an arbitrary position when the loading position is frequently changed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in implementing the flexible chain conveyor according to the first aspect, it is possible to completely prevent the chain from falling off from the guide rail, and to realize a stable operation. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, continuous bottom sheets and side sheets are arranged on the bottom and inside surfaces of the duct where the rollers constituting the guide rollers and the links of the chain are in contact, so that the chain can be moved smoothly. Can be realized.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the main body of the flexible chain conveyor capable of freely changing the transport path is freely curved with a simple and durable structure by making the left and right side surfaces expandable and contractible. be able to. Further, it is possible to realize a main body in which the entire length does not change while the left and right side surfaces are made expandable and contractible.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the support means of the conveyed article is constituted by a flat plate, and when the curved means is constituted by the flat plate, the inner peripheral portion thereof collides. And can be driven smoothly.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the flat plate, which is the means for receiving the conveyed article according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, is firmly supported, and its posture can be stabilized.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the smooth operation can be achieved by engaging the flat plate, which is the means for receiving the conveyed articles, with the guide rail on the return side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the entire flexible chain conveyor of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view showing a part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing a state where a part of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of only a part of the flexible chain conveyor of the present invention,

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a guide rail,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a guide rail,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a guide rail and a chain moving along the guide rail;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flexible chain conveyor of the present invention in the width direction.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a relationship between a flat plate of the flexible chain conveyor of the present invention and a support plate of the flat plate.

[Description of Signs] 1: Guide main body, 1a ... Main plate, 1b ... Upper plate, 1c ... Lower plate, 2 ... Chain, 2a ... Guide roller, 2b ... Roller, 2c ... Attachment, 3 ... Duct, 3a ... Inner flange, 3b ... side wall, 4 ... bottom rail sheet, 4a ... cut, 5 ... side rail sheet, 6, 7 ... link body, 8 ... fulcrum shaft, 9 ... flat plate, 10 ... support plate, 11
… Return side guide rail, 12… Concave groove, 13… Elongated hole,
14 ... Projection, 15 ... Notch, 16 ... Connection hole, 17 ... Rail plate, 18 ... Caster, 19 ... Support, 20 ... Link member, 21 ... Guide roller, 22 ... Support plate, A ... Guide rail, B ... Body.

Claims (7)

[Claims] A large number of guide bodies each having a predetermined length provided with a guide means through which a chain passes can be freely curved as a whole by connecting a large number of guide bodies in a state where they can be rotated at least at a certain angle in a plane. A guide rail is formed, and an endless chain is wound along the guide means of the guide rail, and a support means for a conveyed article is attached to the endless chain while maintaining a constant interval. Flexible chain conveyor. The endless chain has guide rollers projecting to the left and right sides for each arbitrary link, and the guide means for guiding the chain has at least a side wall and an inner flange at the upper end, each of which has an inner flange. A duct of a fixed size fixed to the guide main body, the guide rollers protruding to the left and right sides are arranged along the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls of the duct, and the inner flange at the upper end of the duct functions as a stopper for the guide rollers of the chain to come off. The flexible chain conveyor according to claim 1, wherein 3. A guide rail having a flexible belt-like shape and having a plurality of guide bodies connected to a bottom rail sheet having a plurality of guide main bodies, the bottom rail sheet being provided with cuts alternately from left and right side edges toward the center so as to be freely bent in a plane. 3. The flexible according to claim 2, wherein a long side rail sheet having a flexible band shape and extending over at least a plurality of guides is arranged on the inner side surface of the duct of the guide rail, while being continuously arranged on the inner bottom surface of the duct. Chain conveyor. 4. The main body of the conveyor supporting the guide rails has left and right side surfaces formed of telescopic link bodies, respectively, and the fulcrum axes of the links of the link bodies on both side surfaces forming the main body of the conveyor are provided on the left and right sides. The flexible chain conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flexible chain conveyor is arranged so as to penetrate the main body, and at least at a predetermined interval, at least a part of the fulcrum shaft is fixed to the guide body. 5. The support means for a conveyed article is a narrow flat plate attached to an arbitrary number of links of an endless chain, and a constant gap is maintained between adjacent flat plates. 5. The flexible chain conveyor according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. The main body of the conveyor supporting the guide rails has left and right side surfaces respectively formed of telescopic link bodies, and the fulcrum axes of the links of the link main body on both side surfaces constituting the main body of the conveyor are provided on both left and right sides. The support plate is erected along the flow direction of the endless chain at the right and left sides of the guide rail, and the flat plate is supported from below by the upper end surface of the support plate, 6. The flexible chain conveyor according to claim 5, wherein the support plate is fixed to one of a plurality of fulcrum shafts penetrating the support plate, and the other fulcrum shaft is freely penetrated as an elongated hole. 7. A return-side guide rail, which is planar and freely bendable, is disposed directly below the guide rail, and a groove in the direction of flow of the conveyor is provided on the surface of a flat plate mounted on an endless chain. 7. The flexible chain conveyor according to claim 5, wherein the groove is engaged with the return side guide rail.