JPH05201525A - Article separating and supplying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stabilize the positioning of an article so as to make the spaces between the articles uniform by interposing a one-way clutch for transmitting the rotation in the article transport direction of a driving shaft to the outer peripheral area between the outer peripheral area of a feed roller and the driving shaft passing through the center thereof, and rotating the outer peripheral area at the driving speed of an upstream conveyer. CONSTITUTION:When the trailing portion of an article A is brought into contact with the outer peripheral areas 4a, 4a of feed rollers 4, 4 and at the same time, the leading portion of the article A is brought into contact with the intermediate conveyers 2, 2, the article A is accelerated and pulled downward due to the difference between the driving speed same as the speed of belt conveyers 1, 1 upstream from the outer peripheral areas 4a, 4a of the feed rollers 4, 4 and the driving speed of the intermediate belt conveyers 2, 2, which is higher than the above driving speed, so that the outer peripheral areas 4a, 4a of the feed rollers 4, 4 run idle to one-way clutches 4c, 4c. Accordingly, there is no slip between the trailing portion of the article A and the outer peripheral areas 4a, 4a of the feed rollers 4, 4 to leave a designated space between the article and the following article A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article separating and supplying apparatus for separating and successively supplying articles to be continuously transferred in accordance with the timing of a packaging machine, more specifically, a plurality of conveyors continuously driven in the same direction. The present invention relates to a device which is horizontally installed and has a driving speed of a conveyor arranged on the downstream side thereof is higher than a driving speed of a conveyor arranged on the upstream side, and articles supplied in contact with these conveyors are opened at equal intervals and delivered. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an article separating / supplying apparatus of this type, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 43-14345, a box-shaped article is kept in contact with each other as a low speed upstream conveyor is driven. In some cases, the articles are conveyed at high speed and transferred to a high-speed downstream side conveyor so that the articles are conveyed at high speed and a predetermined interval is sequentially established between the articles and the succeeding articles, and the articles are separated at equal intervals.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional article separating and supplying apparatus, when the article is transferred from the low-speed upstream conveyor to the high-speed downstream conveyor, the low-speed upstream conveyor and the article are not transferred. Due to the friction generated between the front part and the rear part of the article, the front part of the article cannot move while entering the high-speed downstream conveyor, and slip occurs between the front part of these articles and the high-speed downstream conveyor. The positioning of the articles becomes extremely unstable, and the intervals between the articles change due to abrupt speed changes such as sudden deceleration of both conveyors due to emergency stop, and slight condition changes such as dimensional error of the articles, resulting in non-uniformity. As the relative speed difference between both conveyors is increased and the interval between the articles is set longer, there is a problem that the non-uniform interval becomes more prominent.

To prevent this, the coefficient of friction of the belt surface of the high-speed downstream conveyor is made larger than the coefficient of friction of the belt surface of the low-speed upstream conveyor so that the articles can be smoothly transferred to the high-speed downstream conveyor. Even if it is configured as described above, the slip between the article and the high-speed downstream conveyor cannot be completely eliminated, and there is a problem that the intervals between the articles are likely to be uneven.

In view of such conventional circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to transfer articles to a high speed conveyor without slipping.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the technical means provided by the present invention is to rotate a feed roller, which comes into contact with a box-shaped article being conveyed, between an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor. A one-way clutch, which is freely rotatably supported and which transmits the rotation of the drive shaft in the article transport direction to the outer peripheral portion, is interposed between the outer peripheral portion of the feed roller and the drive shaft passing through the center thereof. In addition, the outer peripheral portion is rotated at the drive speed of the upstream conveyor along with the drive transmission from the drive shaft to the outer peripheral portion.

[0007]

According to the present invention, according to the above technical means, articles are conveyed from the low-speed upstream conveyor to the feed roller while being in contact with each other, and the articles are moved to the downstream side as the outer circumference of the feed roller rotates. When the front portion of the fed-out article comes into contact with the outer periphery of the feed roller while the rear portion of the article comes into contact with the high-speed downstream conveyor, the article is pulled downstream at high speed, and at the same time, the outer periphery of the feed roller Is idled with respect to the drive shaft and is conveyed at a high speed, and predetermined intervals are sequentially provided between the product and the succeeding article.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, three sets of parallel belt conveyors 1, 1, 2, along the left and right side edges of a horizontal transfer path B on which a box-shaped article A is placed. 2, 3, 3
Driving speeds of the belt conveyors 1 and 1 arranged in a straight line so as to face both side surfaces A1 and A1 of the article A, respectively, and the driving speeds of the belt conveyors 2 and 2 arranged in the middle are arranged on the most upstream side In addition to setting the speed higher, the driving speed of the belt conveyors 3, 3 arranged on the most downstream side is set higher than the driving speed of the belt conveyors 2, 2 arranged in the middle, and these three sets of belt conveyors 1, 1, 2, Between 2, 3 and 3,
A pair of feed rollers 4, 4, 5 and 5 are arranged so as to face both side surfaces A1 and A1 of the article A, respectively.

Each of the feed rollers 4 and 5 has an outer peripheral portion 4
a and 5a are arranged at positions where they abut on both side surfaces A1 and A1 of the article A being conveyed, and drive shafts 4b and 5b inserted through the centers of the outer peripheral portions 4a and 5a are connected to the drive source to keep the articles a and 5a. The outer peripheral portion 4 is rotated while being rotated in the transport direction A.
One-way clutches 4c and 5c are provided between a and 5a and the drive shafts 4b and 5b.

Each of the one-way clutches 4c and 5c has a cam, a roller and the like provided between the inner peripheral side and the outer peripheral side to transmit torque only to one rotation on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side. It rotates idly with respect to the other rotation, and the drive shaft 4b,
The rotation of 5b in the article conveying direction is transmitted to the outer peripheral portions 4a, 5a, and the rotation of the outer peripheral portions 4a, 5a in the article conveying direction is made to idle with respect to the drive shafts 4b, 5b.

The belt conveyors 1, 1, 2,
2, 3, 3 drive pulleys 1a, 1a, 2a, 2a, 3
a, 3a and drive shafts 4 of the feed rollers 4, 4, 5, 5
b, 4b, 5b, 5b are alternately wound around a transmission member 6 such as a belt and linked with a drive source 7 such as a motor, and drive shafts 4b, 4b of the one-way clutches 4c, 4c, 5c, 5c, When the rotation of 5b, 5b in the article conveying direction is transmitted to the outer peripheral portions 4a, 4a, 5a, 5a, the rotational speeds of the outer peripheral portions 4a, 4a, 5a, 5a are located on the respective upstream sides. The driving speed of the belt conveyors 1, 1, 2, 2 is made to be the same.

Further, on the downstream side of the belt conveyors 3, 3 arranged on the most downstream side, there is provided a discharge conveyor 6 in which push plates 8a which come into contact with the rear surface A2 of the article A are erected at regular intervals in the article conveying direction. The discharge conveyor 8 is provided along the through hole B1 opened in the transfer path B. The discharge conveyor 8 has a pulley located at the upstream end by inclining the upper surface of the belt 8b corresponding to the inlet thereof downwardly toward the upstream side. When the belt 8b is moved in the article conveying direction along with the rotation of the belt 8c, the push plates 8a stand up in a substantially vertical state and then project onto the transfer path B.

Next, the operation of such an article separating and supplying apparatus will be described.

Usually, the most upstream belt conveyors 1, 1
And the outer peripheral portions 4a, 4a of the feed rollers 4, 4 are driven at the same speed, and the intermediate belt conveyors 2, 2 are driven at a speed higher than this.
And the outer peripheral portions 5a and 5a of the feed rollers 5 and 5 are driven, and the belt conveyor 3 on the most downstream side is driven at a faster speed.
3 is driving.

In this state, the box-shaped article A is supplied from the article supply source.
Are supplied in contact with each other on the transfer path B, and the side surfaces A1, A1 of the articles A are the most upstream belt conveyors 1, 1
When it comes into contact with the belt conveyors 1, 1
The articles A are conveyed to the feed rollers 4 and 4 while being in contact with each other by the driving of, and the side surfaces A1 and A1 of the conveyed articles A are the outer peripheral portions 4a and 4a of the feed rollers 4 and 4.
When the outer peripheral portions 4a, 4a rotate, they are delivered toward the downstream side, that is, the intermediate belt conveyors 2, 2.

When the rear portion of the article A contacts the outer peripheral portions 4a, 4a of the feed rollers 4, 4, and the front portion of the article A contacts the intermediate belt conveyors 2, 2,
Due to the difference between the driving speed of the outer peripheral portions 4a, 4a of the feed rollers 4, 4 and the driving speed of the intermediate belt conveyors 2, 2, the article A is accelerated toward the downstream side and pulled, whereby the feed roller 4 The outer peripheral portions 4a, 4a of the shafts 4, 4 idle with respect to the drive shafts 4b, 4b by the operation of the one-way clutches 4c, 4c.

Therefore, the rear portion of the article A and the feed roller 4,
Slip does not occur between the outer peripheral portions 4a and 4a of the sheet 4, and thereafter, the article A and the subsequent articles A are conveyed to the feed rollers 5 and 5 at the driving speed of the intermediate belt conveyors 2 and 2. A predetermined space is provided between the article A and the article A.

Thereafter, by driving the intermediate belt conveyors 2 and 2, both side surfaces A1 and A1 of the conveyed article A come into contact with the outer peripheral portions 5a and 5a of the feed rollers 5 and 5, and the outer peripheral portions 5a and 5a. With the rotation of the belt conveyor 3, the belt conveyors 3 and 3 are delivered to the downstream side, that is, the most downstream side.

When the rear portion of the article A contacts the outer peripheral portions 5a, 5a of the feed rollers 5, 5, and at the same time the front portion of the article A contacts the most downstream belt conveyors 3, 3. Due to the relative speed difference between the outer peripheral portions 5a and 5a of the feed rollers 5 and 5 and the belt conveyors 3 and 3 on the most downstream side, the article A is accelerated toward the downstream side and pulled, whereby the article A of the feed rollers 5 and 5 is pulled. The outer peripheral portions 5a, 5a run idle with respect to the drive shafts 5b, 5b by the operation of the one-way clutches 5c, 5c.

Therefore, the rear portion of the article A and the feed roller 5,
No slip occurs between the outer peripheral portions 5a, 5a of the sheet 5, and thereafter, the article A and the succeeding article A are conveyed to the discharge conveyor 8 at the driving speed of the belt conveyors 3, 3 on the most downstream side. The distance from the article A can be further increased.

After that, the push plate 8 at the entrance of the discharge conveyor 8
While a stands up in a substantially vertical state, it projects on the transfer path B, enters into the space of each article A, contacts the rear surface A2 of each article A, and holds each article A at equal intervals. Be carried out.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the transfer path B with the push plate 8a at the entrance of the discharge conveyor 8 completely erected.
Since it rises upward, compared to the case where the pushing plate 8a at the inlet is gradually raised from the inclined state and projected onto the transfer path B,
The push plate 8a is less likely to hit the article A when entering the space of the article A, and even if the space of the article A is short, the push plate 8a can
Can be reliably entered.

In the embodiment shown above, three sets of parallel belt conveyors 1, 1, 2, 2, along the left and right side edges of the transfer path B are used.
3 and 3 are arranged in a straight line so as to face both side surfaces A1 and A1 of the article A, respectively, but the invention is not limited to this.
2 or 4 or more sets of parallel belt conveyors are arranged in a straight line so as to face both side surfaces A1 and A1 of the article A, or a plurality of parallel belt conveyors are arranged in a straight line so as to face both upper and lower surfaces of the article A. Alternatively, a pair of feed rollers may be provided between the conveyors so as to face the article A in each case.

[0025]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, it has the following advantages.

1. The articles are conveyed from the low-speed upstream conveyor to the feed roller while being in contact with each other, and the articles are sent to the downstream side as the outer circumference of the feed roller rotates.
While the rear part of the article comes into contact with the outer periphery of the feed roller and the front part enters and abuts the high-speed downstream conveyor, the article is pulled to the downstream side at high speed, and at the same time, the outer periphery of the feed roller is driven. Since the product is idly rotated with respect to the shaft and is conveyed at a high speed and predetermined intervals are sequentially formed between the product and the succeeding product, the product can be transferred to a high-speed conveyor without slipping.

Therefore, as compared with the conventional one in which slip occurs between an article and a high-speed conveyor, the positioning of the article is stable, and a rapid speed change such as sudden deceleration of both conveyors due to an emergency stop occurs. Even if conditions such as dimensional error of articles are changed, the intervals between the articles can be made uniform, and even if the relative speed difference between the conveyors is large and the intervals between the articles are set long, the non-uniform intervals do not appear.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view of an article separating and supplying apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged vertical front view taken along line (3)-(3) of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A articles 1, 2, 3, conveyors (belt conveyors) 4,5 feed rollers 4a, 5a outer peripheral portions 4b, 5b drive shafts 4c, 5c one-way clutches

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of conveyors, which are continuously driven in the same direction, are laid side by side in a straight line, and a driving speed of a conveyor arranged on the downstream side is made higher than a driving speed of a conveyor arranged on an upstream side, and these conveyors are connected to these conveyors. In an article separating and feeding apparatus for feeding articles fed in contact with each other at equal intervals, a feed roller that comes into contact with a box-like article being conveyed is rotatably provided between the upstream side conveyor and the downstream side conveyor. A one-way clutch that is axially supported and that transmits the rotation of the drive shaft in the article conveying direction to the outer peripheral portion is provided between the outer peripheral portion of the feed roller and the drive shaft that passes through the center of the feed roller. An article separation and supply device characterized in that the outer peripheral portion is rotated at a drive speed of an upstream conveyor along with the drive transmission from the drive shaft to the outer peripheral portion.