JPH08104411A - Chain support device for slat conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] In the spiral or curved conveying section of the slat conveyor, sliding resistance, etc., which occurs between the chain and the guide wheel and the guide member, etc., is significantly reduced. [Structure] Upper arm 43 and lower arm 45 of support arm 42
The guide wheels 47 and 48 respectively supported on the guide members 41 engage the surfaces of the guide member 41 on the curve chain 20 side from diagonally above and diagonally below, so that the curve chain 20 is positioned substantially at the center between the guide members 41. The guide member 4 via the support arm 42 in
Supported by 1. The guide wheels 47 and 48 engaged with the respective guide members 41 roll along the guide members 41, so that the curve chain 20 is guided along the conveyance path.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for supporting a chain in a slat conveyor which conveys articles on slats provided on the chain by moving the chain along a predetermined path.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a slat conveyor guides a chain by supporting a chain on a guide rail provided along a predetermined path through a guide wheel and rolling the guide wheel on the guide rail. There is one that is guided by a rail and moved along a predetermined route (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 64-45610 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-125229). Each of the guide wheels is rotatably supported in a state substantially vertical to the connecting pin of the chain. In addition, instead of the guide rails, there is also one in which a guide member made of resin or the like is provided and the chain is supported by this guide member. The guide member is formed so as to cover the outer surface of the chain excluding the upper surface, and supports and guides the chain while sliding on each part of the chain.

[0003]

By the way, in the spiral or curved conveying section of the slat conveyor, the driving force acts on the chain in the winding tightening direction, that is, the force toward the center of curvature (hereinafter, This is called centripetal force). However, in the above-mentioned conventional slat conveyor, when a centripetal force is generated in the chain, a large sliding resistance is generated between the guide rail or the guide member and the guide wheel, the guide rail or the guide member and the chain, and the like. That is, among the conventional slat conveyors described above,
In the former case, since the guide wheel is supported in a state of being substantially perpendicular to the connecting pin of the chain, a particularly large sliding resistance is generated between the guide wheel and the guide rail which is a horizontal plane. Further, in the latter, since the periphery of the chain except the upper surface is covered with the guide member, a large sliding resistance is generated between the guide wheel and each part of the chain and the guide member. Therefore, there is a problem that the running resistance of the guide wheel, the moving resistance of the chain, noise, vibration, and the like are large in any of the conventional chain support structures. Also,
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 64-45610 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-12.
In the spiral slat conveyor described in Japanese Patent No. 529, since the return chain passes through the inside of the supporting column of the turning portion, the inside of the supporting column cannot be used as a maintenance elevating passage. Therefore, when a maintenance passage is required, it is necessary to separately provide a spiral staircase or a lifting ladder as a maintenance passage outside the conveyor.

The present invention can greatly reduce sliding resistance and the like generated between the chain and the guide wheel and the guide member, particularly in the spiral or curved conveying section of the slat conveyor, and thereby guide the guide. An object of the present invention is to provide a chain support device for a slat conveyor that can significantly reduce wheel running resistance, chain movement resistance, noise, vibration, and the like.

[0005]

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitutions. By moving the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) along a predetermined path (10), the slat (3) provided on the chain (20, 52, 61, 72).
0, 76) is equipped with a slat conveyor that conveys the article (11) on the chain (20, 52, 61, 7).
2) A guide member (41) consisting of a pair of cylindrical round pipes provided along a predetermined path (10) at predetermined intervals on both sides in the moving direction, and the chain (20, 5).
2, 61, 72) outer link plates (25, 53,
62, 73) and the chain (20, 5)
2, 61, 72) and the supporting members (42, 51, 66, 72) provided so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the guide member (41), and the supporting members (4).
2, 51, 66, 72) the guide member (4
1) The guide member (41) is provided at a position opposite to the guide member (41).
And the chain (20, 52, 61, 7) by being rotatably supported at a predetermined angle with the guide members (41) in a predetermined direction.
2) A guide wheel (47, 48) for supporting the guide member (41) on the chain support device (40, 50, 6 in a slat conveyor.
0,70).

[0006] The chain support device (60, 72) described above, characterized in that the support members (66, 72) are separate from the outer link plates (62, 73) of the chain (61, 72). 70).

Chain (20, 52, 61, 72)
Is moved along a predetermined path (10) including a spiral section, so that the chain (20, 52, 61, 7) is moved.
2) The article (1) on the slats (30, 76) provided on the
A spiral slat conveyor for transporting 1), comprising the chain support device (40, 50, 60, 70) in the slat conveyor described above or described.

In the spiral slat conveyor described above, the inside of the spiral section is used as a maintenance hollow space, and the lifting means 80 and the work scaffold 8 are provided in the maintenance hollow space.
Spiral slat conveyor characterized by having 2.

Chain (20, 52, 61, 72)
By moving along a predetermined path (10),
A slat conveyor that conveys an article (11) on a slat (30, 76) provided on a chain (20, 52, 61, 72), the chain supporting device (40, 50, 60, in the slat conveyor described above.
A three-dimensional transfer characterized in that the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) which has been equipped with 70) and has completed the transfer of the article (11) is returned in the vertical rotation plane and returned to the initial position in the same path as the outward path. Slat conveyor.

[0010]

In the chain supporting device of the slat conveyor according to the present invention, the supporting member is provided on the outer link plate of the chain so as to project in the direction of the guide member so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the chain. A guide wheel is rotatably supported at a position opposed to the guide member with the guide member interposed therebetween, in a state of forming a predetermined angle with the guide member. Each guide wheel engages each guide member from a predetermined direction to support the chain on the guide member.

In the spiral slat conveyor according to the present invention, the chain is moved along a predetermined path including the spiral section to convey the articles on the slats provided on the chain. At this time, each guide wheel engages each guide member in a predetermined direction to support the chain on the guide member.

In the three-dimensional transport slat conveyor according to the present invention, the chain is moved along a predetermined path to transport the articles on the slats provided on the chain, and the chain after the articles have been transported. Is returned on the vertical rotation plane and returned to the initial position on the same path as the forward path. At this time, each guide wheel engages each guide member in a predetermined direction to support the chain on the guide member.

[0013]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
1 and 2 are views showing a spiral slat conveyor (hereinafter referred to as a slat conveyor) to which a chain supporting device (FIG. 3) in a slat conveyor according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In these figures, the curve chain 20 is provided with a large number of slats 30 (FIG. 3) along the moving direction A. By moving the curve chain 20 along the transport path 10, the articles on the slats 30 are moved. 11 is conveyed between the upper and lower layers (from the lower layer to the upper layer in this embodiment). The transport path 10 is configured by providing a pair of guide frames 13 inside the outer frame 12, and has a linear section 14 at the upper and lower ends and a spiral section 15 that connects the linear sections 14 vertically. A pillar 84 that supports the spiral section 15 is erected inside the spiral section 15.
The inside of 4 is a hollow space. Then, in order to utilize this hollow space as a passage for maintenance, the pillar 8
An elevating means 80 such as a ladder is provided at 4, and a work scaffold 82 is provided at an appropriate position.

The curved chain 20 is wound between gears 21 which are rotatably provided at the upper and lower ends of the conveying path 10, and is supported and guided by a chain supporting device described later while being driven by a motor 22. It is moved circularly. That is, the curve chain 20 is moved along the transport path 10 with the slat 30 positioned above, thereby transporting the article 11 on the slat 30 from the lower layer to the upper layer, and at the upper end portion of the transport path 10. It is returned by the gear 21, and along the predetermined return path 23, the return direction B
Is returned to the lower end of the transport path 10. The rotation shaft (not shown) of the motor 22 is connected to the gear 21 at the upper end of the conveyance path 10 via the drive chain 24.
Drives the curve chain 20 via the drive chain 24 and the gear 21.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, each slat 30 is
In, the base plate 31 and the top plate 3
2 is fixed to the support arm 42 of the chain support device by means of screws 33.

The top plate 32 is made of a belt-like deformable material, on which the article 11 (FIG. 1) can be placed, and the rear edge portion of the top plate 32 in the moving direction A (FIG. 4) is located immediately behind. The slat 30 is overlapped so as to cover the front edge of the top plate 32. The overlapping amount R (FIG. 4) is determined by the curve chain 20 in the linear section 14 of the transport path 10 (FIG. 1).
When moving in (FIG. 1), it is substantially uniform on both sides in the moving direction A, and when the curve chain 20 moves in the spiral section 15 (FIG. 1) of the conveyance path 10, the amount of overlap on the center of curvature side. R increases and the overlap amount R on the opposite side decreases.

At the front edge of the base plate 31 in the moving direction A, there are two position regulating members 34 made of an elastic material such as rubber, one on each side in the width direction, a total of two connecting members integral with the position regulating member 34. It is fixed through 35. When the centripetal force is generated in the curve chain 20 in the spiral section 15 of the transport path 10, each of the position regulating members 34 comes into contact with the trailing edge portion of the immediately preceding base plate 31 to cause excessive displacement of the base plate 31 due to the centripetal force and the top plate. The excessive increase of the overlapping amount R on the side of the center of curvature of 32 is prevented. As a result, problems such as the top plate 32 coming into contact with the guide frame 13 (FIG. 1) are prevented, and the movement resistance of the curve chain 20 and noise due to contact are prevented.

In the chain support device, the guide wheels 47 and 48 are rotatably supported by the support arm 42 provided on the curved chain 20, and the guide wheels 47 and 48 are connected to the guide member 41 (see FIG. 3). ) From each of the predetermined directions and rolling,
The curve chain 20 is guided by being supported by the guide member 41.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide member 41 is constituted by a substantially cylindrical round pipe, and the conveying path 1 is provided at predetermined intervals on both sides of the curve chain 20 in the moving direction A.
A pair is provided between the guide frames 13 along 0.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the support arms 42 are integrated with the pair of outer link plates 25 along the moving direction A of the curve chain 20, respectively, and are substantially symmetrical with the curve chain 20 interposed therebetween. The guide member 41 is provided so as to project into the shape. Each support arm 4
The base plate 31 and the top plate 32 of the slat 30 are fixed to the upper surface of the upper arm 43 of FIG. The tip of the upper arm portion 43 of each support arm 42 is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° obliquely downward from the horizontal plane.
4 is fixed so that the axial direction is the tangential direction of the guide member 41 (FIG. 3) and is substantially orthogonal to the upper arm portion 43. The tip of the lower arm portion 45 of each support arm 42 is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° obliquely upward from the horizontal plane, and the lower shaft 46 has an axial direction at the tip of the lower arm portion 45.
It is fixed so that it is in the tangential direction of 1 and is substantially orthogonal to the lower arm portion 45.

The guide wheels 47 and 48 are the upper shaft 4 fixed to the upper arm 43 and the lower arm 45 of the support arm 42.
4 and the lower shaft 46 are rotatably supported around the respective shafts via ball bearings 49 (FIG. 3), and the guide members 41 are provided at positions facing each other with the guide member 41 in each support arm 42 interposed therebetween. Is at a predetermined angle. The guide wheels 47 and 48 are engaged with the guide member 41 from respective predetermined directions, so that the curve chain 2
0 is supported by the guide member 41, and the guide member 41
By rolling along the curved chain 20, the curved chain 20 is guided along the transport path 10 (FIG. 1). In the case of this example, the axes of the upper shaft 44 and the lower shaft 46 are at orthogonal positions, and the angle formed by the engaging surfaces of the guide wheels 47 and 48 with the guide member 41 is also a right angle. That is, the guide wheels 47 supported by the upper arm portion 43 of each support arm 42 are engaged with the surface of the guide member 41 on the side of the curve chain 20 from a direction of approximately 45 ° obliquely above the guide member 41. The guide wheels 48 supported by the lower arm portions 45 of the respective support arms 42 are engaged with the surface of the guide member 41 on the side of the curve chain 20 from the direction obliquely below about 45 ° of the guide member 41. That is, the guide wheel 4
The curves 7 and 48 are engaged with the surface of the guide member 41 on the curve chain 20 side obliquely from above and from below, so that the curve chain 20 is positioned substantially at the center between the guide members 41 and the support arm. It is supported by the guide member 41 via 42. Further, the guide wheels 47 and 48 engaged with the respective guide members 41 are
By rolling along the curve chain 20
Are guided along the transport path 10.

The operation of this embodiment will be described. In the slat conveyor, the curved chain 20 is moved along the transport path 10 to transport the articles 11 on the slats 30 provided on the curved chain 20. At this time, in the chain support device, the guide wheels 47 and 48 supported by the upper arm portion 43 and the lower arm portion 45 of the support arm 42 are respectively provided on the curved chain 20 side surface of the guide member 41 from diagonally above and diagonally below. By engaging with each other, the curved chain 20 is supported by the guide member 41 via the support arm 42 in a state of being positioned substantially in the center between the guide members 41. In addition, each guide member 4
When the guide wheels 47, 48 engaged with the first rolling element roll along the guide member 41, the curve chain 20 is smoothly guided along the conveyance path 10.

6 and 7 are views showing a chain supporting device in a slat conveyor which is a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a side view, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. In these drawings, the support arms 51 are integrally provided on all the outer link plates 53 of the curve chain 52. Other configurations are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a chain support device in a slat conveyor which is a third embodiment of the present invention.
In this figure, the outer link plates 62 of the curved chain 61 are bent substantially horizontally with the upper end portions 63 facing the guide member 41 side, and the upper surfaces of the bent upper end portions 63 have bolts 64 and The support arm 66 is fixed via the nut 65. The tip end portion 67 of each support arm 66 is projected obliquely downward toward the guide member 41 side, and is bent at a predetermined angle in two locations in the vicinity of the guide member 41, and the guide wheels 47, 48 are It is rotatably supported in the vicinity of these bent portions.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a chain support device in a slat conveyor which is a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In this figure, the guide wheels 47 and 48 are respectively support blocks 71 made of resin or aluminum.
It is attached to the curve chain 72 via. That is, the guide wheels 47 and 48 are rotatably supported by the support block 71 in a pair of upper and lower sides for each of the engaged guide members 41, and the support block 71 is integrally formed with the outer link plate 73 of the curve chain 72. With the formed fixing piece 74 fitted, it is fixed by the mounting bolt 75. The slats 7 are provided on the upper surface of each support block 71.
The top plate 77 of No. 6 is fixed by the screw 78.

As described above, according to the above-mentioned embodiments, the guide wheels 47, 48 supported by the support arms 42, 51, 66 or the support block 71 respectively have the curve chains 20, 52, 61 of the guide member 41. By engaging the surface on the 72 side from diagonally above and diagonally below,
The curve chains 20, 52, 61, 72 are supported by the guide member 41 via the support arms 42, 51, 66 or the support block 71 in a state of being positioned substantially in the center between the guide members 41, and each guide The guide wheels 47, 48 engaged with the member 41 roll along the guide member 41, so that the curve chains 20, 5
The guide chains 2, 61, 72 are guided along the conveying path 10, so that the curved chains 20, 52, 61, 72, especially in the spiral section 15 (or curved section) of the conveying path 10.
Also, the sliding resistance generated between the guide wheels 47, 48 and the guide member 41 and the like can be significantly reduced.
As a result, the running resistance of the guide wheels 47, 48, the movement resistance of the curve chains 20, 52, 61, 72, noise and vibration, etc. can be significantly reduced.

Further, according to the second embodiment, since the guide wheels 47 and 48 are provided on all the outer link plates 53, the increase of running resistance and noise is extremely small even when a large centripetal force acts. In addition to being able to suppress, the curve chain 52 can be more reliably supported and guided by the guide member 41.

In the first and second embodiments, the support arm 4
2, 51 are provided integrally with the outer link plates 25, 53 of the curve chains 20, 52, but the third and fourth
In the embodiment, the support arm 66 or the support block 71 is
Separate from the outer link plate. That is, in the third embodiment, one support arm 66 fixed across the pair of outer link plates 62 supports the pair of guide wheels 47 and 48 arranged on both sides in the moving direction A of the curve chain 61. Therefore, the relative position between the guide member 41 and the curve chain 61 can be easily changed by replacing only the support arm 66 with one having a different shape and size. Further, in the fourth embodiment, instead of the support arm 66, the outer link plate 73
Since the support block 71 that can be fitted to the curve chain 72 is used, the guide wheels 47 and 48 can be easily attached to and detached from the curve chain 72.

According to each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the curved chains 20, 52, 61, 72 of the slat conveyor are vertically moved at the end of the conveyor in the same manner as the ordinary belt conveyor which returns the belt at the vertical rotating surface at the end of the conveyor. It can be configured to return on the rotation surface and return to the initial position on the same path as the forward path. Therefore,
It is possible to configure a one-way transport type three-dimensional transport slat conveyor that has ascending, descending, and curved sections in the transport path and can be continuously transported by a single drive source. According to such a three-dimensional transport slat conveyor, the curved chain 2
Movement resistance of 0, 52, 61, 72 and guide wheel 4
Since the radius of curvature of the curve chains 20, 52, 61, 72 can be reduced without increasing the sliding resistance of 7, 48, etc., rotation of the spiral section 15 (or curved section) of the transport path 10 can be prevented. The radius can be significantly smaller than that of a belt conveyor. Also, the curve chain 2
Since 0, 52, 61, 72 transmits the driving force for conveying articles, a larger driving force can be applied, which is extremely advantageous for conveying heavy objects.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, a cylindrical round pipe is used as the guide member 41, whereby a bending process for forming a spiral or curved shape in accordance with the shape of each section of the conveying path 10, particularly a spiral shape. The guide member 4 is configured so that it is possible to easily perform a complicated three-dimensional bending process.
Other shapes such as a square pipe having a square cross section and an angle plate having a V-shaped cross section may be used as 1.

Furthermore, the directions and angles in which the guide wheels 47 and 48 engage with the respective guide members 41 are as follows:
In the embodiment, the upper arm 43 of the support arms 42, 51
And the shape, length or inclination angle of the lower arm portion 45, in the third embodiment, the angle and length of the bent portion of the support arm 66,
In the fourth embodiment, the shape and size of the support block 71 may be changed so as to be appropriately set according to the radius of curvature of the transport path 10 and the like, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the supporting member is provided on the outer link plate of the chain so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the chain so as to project toward the guide member side. Since the guide wheels are rotatably supported at positions facing each other across the guide member in the member, the guide wheels are supported by the respective guide members in a predetermined direction. By engaging them, the chain can be supported by the guide member, and especially in the spiral or curved conveying section of the slat conveyor, sliding resistance, etc., which occurs between the chain and the guide wheel and the guide member, etc., can be greatly reduced. Can be reduced to As a result, the running resistance of the guide wheel, the moving resistance of the chain, noise and vibration, etc. can be significantly reduced. Further, according to the present invention, particularly in the spiral or curved conveying section of the slat conveyor, it is possible to significantly reduce sliding resistance and the like that occur between the chain and the guide wheel and the guide member. It is possible to obtain a spiral slat conveyor capable of significantly reducing wheel running resistance, chain movement resistance, noise and vibration. Further, according to the present invention, particularly in the spiral or curved conveying section of the slat conveyor, sliding resistance and the like generated between the chain and the guide wheel and the guide member, etc. can be significantly reduced. It is possible to obtain a three-dimensional transport slat conveyor capable of significantly reducing wheel running resistance, chain movement resistance, noise and vibration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view showing a spiral slat conveyor to which a chain supporting device in a slat conveyor according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the spiral slat conveyor of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a chain supporting device in the slat conveyor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a right side view of the chain support device of FIG.

5 is a plan view of the chain support device of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a chain support device in a slat conveyor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the chain support device of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a chain support device in a slat conveyor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a chain support device in a slat conveyor according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 predetermined path (conveyance path) 11 article 20, 52, 61, 72 chain (curve chain) 25, 53, 62, 73 outer link plate 30, 76 slat 41 guide member 42, 51, 66 support member (support arm) 71 Support Member (Support Block) 80 Elevating Means 82 Working Scaffold

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A slat (30, 76) provided on the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) by moving the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) along a predetermined path (10). ) Is provided on a slat conveyor that conveys the above article (11), and is provided along a predetermined path (10) at predetermined intervals on both sides in the moving direction of the chain (20, 52, 61, 72). A guide member (41) consisting of a pair of cylindrical round pipes and an outer link plate (25, 53, 62, 73) of the chain (20, 52, 61, 72),
Support members (42, 51, 66, 72) provided so as to protrude toward the guide member (41) side so as to be substantially symmetrical with the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) interposed therebetween, and the support members. Each of the guides (42, 51, 66, 72) is rotatably supported at a position opposed to the guide member (41) with the guide member (41) interposed therebetween at a predetermined angle. By engaging the member (41) from a predetermined direction, the chain (20, 5)
2, 61, 72) and a guide wheel (47, 48) for supporting the guide member (41) on the chain support device (4) in a slat conveyor.
0, 50, 60, 70). 2. The chain support according to claim 1, wherein the support members (66, 72) are separate from the outer link plates (62, 73) of the chains (61, 72). Device (60, 70). 3. The chain (20, 52, 61, 7) is moved by moving the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) along a predetermined path (10) including a spiral section.
2) The article (1) on the slats (30, 76) provided on the
A spiral slat conveyor for transporting 1), comprising a chain supporting device (40, 50, 60, 70) in the slat conveyor according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The spiral slat conveyor according to claim 3, wherein the inside of the spiral section is a maintenance hollow space, and the lifting means 80 and the work scaffold 8 are provided in the maintenance hollow space.
Spiral slat conveyor characterized by having 2. 5. A slat (30, 76) provided on the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) by moving the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) along a predetermined path (10). A slat conveyor for transporting the article (11) above, wherein the chain support device (40, 50, 60, 40) for a slat conveyor according to claim 1 or 2.
A three-dimensional transfer characterized in that the chain (20, 52, 61, 72) which has been equipped with 70) and has completed the transfer of the article (11) is returned in the vertical rotation plane and returned to the initial position in the same path as the outward path. Slat conveyor.