JPH04200376A - Chain conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent protrusions and stepped parts from occurring due to downward curving or an error in connection to a chain while preventing a gap from forming by continuously providing a flat beltlike conveying surface on the top surface of the chair and forming the conveying surface so as to enable curving in the vertical and left and right directions intersecting the forward direction at right angles. CONSTITUTION:When beltlike plates 1... connecting in the forward direction are curved in the left and right directions and the outside of gaps 2... formed between the respective beltlike plates is extended in the forward direction to contract the inside, wavy forms in which the gaps 2... are slowly thickened are provided in a chain conveyor without causing gaps extending in the left and right directions. Furthermore, even if an dimensional error is produced in respectively connecting the respective beltlike plates 1... to the chain bodies (C1)... and the installation height of the specific beltlike plates 1... is somewhat different from that of the other beltlike plates 1..., the tip upper parts in the respective protruding parts (1a)... of the beltlike plates 1... at a great installation height enter under the upper edges of the respective recessed parts (1b)... engaging therewith without protruding in the form of stepped parts.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention arranges and places rod-shaped objects such as rolled cigarettes and filter plugs on a conveyor in the left and right direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the conveyor, and changes this alignment state. For example, a chain conveyor that transports a cigarette from a cigarette manufacturing machine to a cigarette packaging machine, more specifically, a flat belt-shaped transport surface is continuously provided on the upper surface of the chain, and this transport surface is curved vertically and horizontally perpendicular to the direction of travel. It relates to things that can be formed freely.

<Conventional technology> Conventionally, as this type of chain conveyor, for example, the
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-24480, the conveying surface has legs that are long and flexible in the left and right directions perpendicular to the direction of travel and are arranged parallel to each other at predetermined intervals in the direction of travel. By connecting alternately, a zigzag shape is formed, and the outer side in the left and right direction of the gap formed between each leg is expanded and the inner side is reduced, so that the gap is made into a planar substantially fan shape extending approximately the entire length of each leg. As a result, the conveyance surface is curved in the left-right direction, allowing rod-like objects to be conveyed in a left-right curve without changing the alignment state, and concave portions are formed in a row in the traveling direction on the upper surface of each leg, and the vicinity of the sprocket is placed in the concave portion. By inserting a guide rod arranged in There is something that prevents things from getting stuck.

<Problems to be solved by the invention> However, with such conventional chain conveyors,
As the conveying surface curves left and right, a roughly fan-shaped gap that expands and contracts is formed in a straight line over almost the entire length of the left and right sides, so a rod-shaped object placed on this fan-shaped gap fits in at an angle, causing its There is a problem that the lower end is easily bitten, and especially when the stick-shaped object is a rolled cigarette, the stick-like object is damaged and the product value is reduced.

Therefore, for example, the conveying surface A as shown in FIG. At the same time, the front and rear edges of each strip plate 1° are formed into a comb-like shape in which a rectangular convex portion 1a' and a concave portion 1b' continue in the left and right direction, and face each other in the direction of movement. Strip plate 1
By using plates in which the front and rear edges of the plates 1' and 1' are fitted together so that they can move toward and away from each other, the gap 2° that is formed between each strip plate 1' due to the left-right curvature of the conveying surface A is extended in the left-right direction. It is conceivable to prevent the lower end of the rod-shaped object from getting caught by preventing it from extending in a straight line.

However, in the case of the one shown in Fig. 10, when the band-shaped plate connected in the traveling direction is bent downward along the sprocket, the upper edge of the tip of each convex part protrudes sharply into a protrusion as shown in Fig. 11, so that the rod-shaped plate When conveying the material downward in an arc, the upper edge of the tip of each convex portion hits the rod-shaped object placed above it, causing damage, and also causes the upper surface of the downwardly curved strip plate and the rod-shaped object to move downward. There must be a gap S between the guide F and the upper end of the guide F, which is large enough for the upper line of the tip of each convex part to pass through, and the gap is minimum when the upper line of the tip of each convex part passes through, and gradually increases thereafter. Since the gap is greatest when the strip plate passes through the center in the direction of travel, there is a problem in that it is easy for rod-shaped objects to get caught in this gap.

In addition, in the case of the one in Figure 10, a dimensional error occurs when connecting the bottom surface of each strip plate to the chain body, and the height when installing a particular strip plate is different from the height when installing other strip plates. As shown in Fig. 12, installation is difficult compared to other strip-shaped plates because the upper edge of the tip of each protrusion protrudes in a step-like manner, which can cause damage if it gets caught on a rod-shaped object placed above it. There is a problem of giving.

Furthermore, the one in Figure 10 reduces the pitch of the chain to reduce the gap between each strip plate to prevent small diameter sticks such as cigarettes from falling or getting caught. As the front and rear width dimensions of the strip plate become shorter, the corners of the recesses formed on both the front and rear edges become closer to each other, and the space between these two corners becomes extremely thin, resulting in a significant decrease in the strength of this part, causing the strip plate to become shorter. Another problem is that it is easily damaged.

In view of such conventional circumstances, the present invention prevents the generation of gaps extending in a long straight line in the left and right direction due to left and right curvature of the conveying surface, and also prevents protrusions and steps due to downward curvature and connection errors with chains. The purpose is to prevent this from occurring, and another purpose is to prevent the strength from decreasing due to the shortening of the longitudinal width of the strip plate.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The technical means taken by the present invention to solve the above problems is to divide the conveying surface in the traveling direction and separate and form a large number of long strip-shaped plates in the left-right direction in parallel. The front and rear edges of each of these strip plates are respectively formed into a wave shape in which approximately arc-shaped convex portions and concave portions continue alternately in the left and right direction, and the front and rear edges of the strip plates facing in the direction of travel are fitted so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from them. At the same time, the upper surface of each strip plate is formed to protrude in the traveling direction into a curved arc shape, and the curvature of this arc surface is an arc whose radius is the length from the arc surface to the axis of the sprocket that engages with the chain. It is characterized by being formed to be the same as, or to be formed to be the same as a circular arc with a shorter radius.

<Function> According to the above-mentioned technical means, the present invention expands the outer side in the left-right direction of the gap formed between each band-shaped plate by curving the band-shaped plates that are continuous in the traveling direction from side to side, and reduces the inner side in the left-right direction. By forming a waveform in which the gap gradually widens outward, and by curving the band-shaped plate that continues in the direction of travel downward along the sprocket, the upper edge of the tip of each convex portion is aligned with the upper edge of each concave portion that fits into it. Either they are located on the same arc, or the upper edge of the tip of each convex part is below the upper edge of each recess into which it fits, and the height of the mounting of a particular strip plate is the same as the height of the mounting of another strip plate. Even if it is a little difficult to install, the upper edge of the tip of each convex part of the tall strip plate fits into the upper part of each concave part to be fitted thereto.

In addition, by forming both the front and rear edges of the band-shaped plate into a wave shape in which approximately arc-shaped convex portions and concave portions are alternately continuous, the entire band-shaped plate is bent into a substantially parallel wave shape, and the extremely thin portion is prevented. It's something that doesn't exist.

<Example> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, a large number of rod-like objects B... are arranged on a conveying surface A so that their axial lengths face in the left-right direction perpendicular to the direction of travel, and The conveying surface A is divided in the direction of travel, and a large number of strip-shaped plates 1 of the same shape, which are elongated in the left-right direction, are separated and formed in parallel. A gap 2 having the same front and rear width is formed between each of these strip plates 1, and each strip plate 1 is made of synthetic resin, and a chain body C1 of a metal universal chain C is fixed to the lower surface of the strip plate 1. , are connected in the direction of movement by pin C2.

Each strip plate 1 is formed into a strip shape with the left and right ends having the same width and a left and right direction line 11 connecting the front end in the direction of travel and a left and right direction line 12 connecting the rear end in parallel. Approximately arc-shaped convex portion l! and concave portions 1b are formed in a wave shape that continues alternately in the left and right direction, and convex portions 1a... and concave portions 1b are formed on the front and rear edges of the strip plate 1.1 facing in the traveling direction.
... are fitted together so as to be able to move toward and away from each other in the direction of travel, and the bottom position of the recess 1b is gradually moved toward the center of the front and back as it goes from the left and right center of the strip plate 1 toward the end, so that they face each other in the direction of travel. The gaps 2 between the strip plates 1, 1 are made to gradually become thicker from the left and right centers to the ends.

Further, the upper surface of each strip plate 1 is formed to protrude in an arc shape curving in the traveling direction, and the curvature of this arc surface IC is changed from the arc surface 1c to the sprocket D that engages with the chain body C1.
sprocket D by forming it the same as a circular arc whose radius is the length to the axis D1 of the sprocket The outer circumferential arc when curving along the same or smaller.

Furthermore, in the vicinity of these belt-like plates that are continuous in the traveling direction, there are side guides E and E that face the left and right end surfaces B, B, respectively, of the rod-shaped object B that is placed on the belt-like plates.
These side guides E, E are arranged so as to be adjustable and movable in the left-right direction in response to changes in the length of the rod-shaped object B.

Therefore, such a chain conveyor curves the belt-shaped plates that are continuous in the traveling direction in the left-right direction as shown in Fig. 4, and the gaps 2 formed between each of the belt-shaped plates are curved in the left-right direction. When the outer side is expanded in the traveling direction and the inner side is reduced, the gap 2... becomes a waveform that gradually becomes thicker toward the outside, and no gap that extends linearly in the left-right direction occurs.

In addition, if the band-shaped plates extending in the direction of travel are bent downward along the sprocket D as shown in Fig. 5,
If the curvature of the circular arc surface 1c of each band-shaped plate is the same as that of the circular arc whose radius is the length from the circular arc surface 1c to the fine center D1 of the sprocket D, each The upper edge of the tip of the convex portion 13... is located on the same arc as the upper edge of each recess 1b... into which it fits, and the curvature of each arcuate surface 1c... is changed from the arcuate surface IC to the sprocket D.
If the convex portions 1a are formed to have the same small diameter as the arc having a smaller diameter than the length up to the axis D1, the upper edge of the tip of each convex portion 1a will fit under the upper edge of each concave portion 1b that fits therein. , the upper edge of the tip of each convex portion 11... does not protrude sharply into a protrusion, and the arcuate surface 1c... of the belt-shaped plate B... curves downward and the rod-shaped object B... A gap S formed between the guide F and the upper end of the guiding guide F is approximately constant.

Furthermore, each band plate... and chain body C1...
Even if a dimensional error occurs when connecting each strip plate 1, and the height of a particular strip plate 1 is slightly different from that of another strip plate 1, the installation will be as shown in Figure 6. The upper edge of the tip of each convex part 1a of the tall strip plate 1 does not fit under the upper edge of each recessed part 1b to which it fits, and does not protrude in a stepped manner.

On the other hand, what is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is another embodiment of the present invention, in which a chain main body C1 is integrally molded on the lower surface of a belt-like plate 1 formed of synthetic resin, and metal pins are attached. This is what connects them.

In addition, a guide roller 3 that can be rotated freely in the direction of travel as necessary.
By consecutively arranging the strip plate 1, the tension generated by the force applied inward when bending in the left-right direction can be reduced, and by consecutively providing the locking pieces 4 that protrude in the left-right direction parallel to the strip plate 1, the strip plate 1 can be Prevents No. 1 from rising.

Note that the wavy shape consisting of substantially arc-shaped convex portions 1a and concave portions 1b formed on both front and rear edges of the band-shaped plate is not limited to what is shown in the figure, and for example, a convex shape as shown in FIG. Various modifications are possible, such as forming the portions 1a and the recesses 1b by a combination of circular arcs and straight lines, and increasing or decreasing the number of the convex portions 1 and the recesses 1b.

<Effect of the invention> Since the present invention has the above configuration, it has the following advantages.

■ The band-shaped plates that are continuous in the direction of travel curve left and right, and the gap formed between each band-shaped plate expands on the outside in the left-right direction and contracts on the inside, so that the gap becomes a wave shape that gradually becomes thicker outward, and By curving the band-shaped plate that continues in the direction downward along the sprocket, the upper edge of the tip of each convex portion is located on the same arc as the upper edge of each concave portion into which it fits, or the tip of each convex portion is The upper edge fits under the upper edge of each recess that fits into it, and even if the height of a particular strip plate is slightly higher than that of another strip plate, the installation will be similar to that of a tall strip plate. The upper edge of the tip of each convex part fits under the upper edge of each concave part that fits into it, so it prevents the generation of a gap extending in a long straight line in the left-right direction due to left-right curvature of the conveyance surface, and prevents downward curving. It is possible to prevent protrusions and steps from occurring due to connection errors with the chain.

Therefore, compared to the conventional method in which a substantially fan-shaped gap that expands and contracts as the conveying surface curves left and right is formed in a straight line over substantially the entire length on the left and right, it is possible to completely eliminate the jamming of the lower end of the annular object. Conventional type where the upper edge of the tip of each protrusion protrudes sharply as the band-shaped plate continues in the direction of travel and curves downward along the sprocket, creating a gap that expands and contracts between it and the guide that guides the rod-shaped object downward. Compared to the above, it is possible to completely eliminate bumps and catches on rod-like objects and the stick-like objects getting caught in the above-mentioned gap, and in addition, dimensional errors occur when connecting the bottom surface of each strip plate to the chain body. When the height of the plate is different, compared to the conventional type in which the upper edge of the tip of each convex part of the high-height strip plate protrudes in a step-like manner, it completely eliminates the possibility of getting caught on rod-shaped objects. As a result, it is possible to safely transport the rod-shaped object in a left-right curve and downward in an arc without damaging it.

■ By forming both the front and rear edges of the strip plate into a wave shape with alternating arc-shaped convex and concave portions, the entire strip plate is bent into a substantially parallel wave shape and there is no extremely narrow part. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in strength due to a reduction in the longitudinal width of the strip plate.

Therefore, as the front and rear width dimensions of the band plate are shortened, the corners of the recesses formed on the front and rear edges of the band plate become closer to each other, and the space between these two corners becomes extremely narrow. The chain pitch can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of a chain conveyor showing an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which each strip plate is connected in a straight line, FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the same, and FIG. m in figure 2
4 is a partial plan view showing a state in which each strip plate is curved in the left-right direction, and FIG. 5 is a state in which each strip plate is curved downward along the sprocket. FIG. 6 is a partial side view showing that the mounting of the strip plate is partially different in height, and FIGS. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a band-shaped plate, Fig. 8 is a front view of the same, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the band-shaped plate, and Fig. 10 shows an example of a conventional chain conveyor. A partial plan view shows a state in which each band-like plate is connected in a straight line, and FIG. 11 is a partial side view showing a state in which each band-like plate is curved downward along a sprocket.
FIG. 12 is a partial side view showing a state in which the heights of the strip plates are partially different.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a chain conveyor in which a flat belt-shaped conveyance surface is continuously provided on the upper surface of the chain, and this conveyance surface is formed so as to be freely curved in the vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the traveling direction, the conveying surface is divided in the traveling direction. A large number of long strip-shaped plates are separated and formed in parallel in the left-right direction, and the front and rear edges of each of these strip-shaped plates are formed into a wave shape in which approximately arc-shaped convex portions and concave portions continue alternately in the left-right direction. The front and rear edges of the band-shaped plates facing each other in the direction are fitted together so as to be able to move toward and away from each other, and the upper surface of each band-shaped plate is formed to protrude in an arc shape curving in the direction of travel, and the curvature of this arc surface is engaged with the chain from the arc surface. A chain conveyor characterized in that the chain conveyor is formed to have the same radius as a circular arc having a length up to the axis of a sprocket, or the same as a circular arc having a shorter radius.