JPH10324418A - Device and method for carrying article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a clearance with high accuracy between each article to be carried without inserting a jig for maintaining the constant clearance between each article to be carried on a conveyor. SOLUTION: An article to be carried detecting sensor 13 is provided in a joint part of a first conveyor 11 and a second conveyor 12, and article to be carried detecting sensors 14, 15 are provided in the downstream of the carrying direction. A control device 30 for operating the first and the second carrying conveyors 11, 12 at the same carrying speed in ordinary and for changing the carrying speed of the first conveyor 11 to a carrying speed lower than the ordinary speed when the article to be carried detecting sensor 14 detects the article 3 to be carried and thereafter for returning the carrying speed of the first conveyor 11 to the ordinary speed with the predetermined timing is provided so as to form a clearance between a rear end of the article 3 to be carried, which goes ahead by a distance corresponding to a difference of the carrying speed between the first and the second carrying conveyors 11, 12, and a front end of a following article 3 to be carried without a contact with the articles to be carried.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus for conveying a plurality of articles placed on a conveyor while forming a predetermined gap between the respective articles in the conveying direction, and on the conveyor. The present invention relates to a method of transporting a conveyed article that is conveyed while forming a predetermined gap between the conveyed articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of products, such as products, which are carried on a conveyor and conveyed, are formed with a predetermined gap between them in the conveying direction, thereby conveying the products on the conveyor. There is a transport device that facilitates handling and facilitates visual check of the appearance of the product. As described above, in the transfer apparatus that forms a predetermined gap between the conveyed articles and conveys the conveyed articles, the first conveyer 1A is a belt conveyor, for example, as shown in FIG. , 1B are arranged in parallel, and the second conveyors 2A, 2B, 2C are arranged in parallel so that a part of the second conveyor 2A, 2B, 2C is overlapped.

[0003] Such a transport device is composed of a first conveyor 1
The transport speeds of the conveyors A and 1B and the second conveyors 2A to 2C are changed from the beginning, and a gap is provided between the transported articles by using the difference in the transport speeds. That is, the situation will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9E. As shown in FIG. 9A, the second conveyors 2A to 2A
1st rotating in the direction of arrow A at a lower transport speed than 2C
On the conveyors 1A and 1B, for example, conveyed articles 3A, 3B and 3C, which are, for example, three products, are placed in contact with each other in the conveying direction.

Then, when the leading conveyed article 3A is conveyed to a position where it is delivered to the second conveyors 2A to 2C, the conveying speed of the second conveyers 2A to 2C becomes equal to that of the first conveyors 1A and 1B. Since the transport speed is higher than the transport speed, as shown in FIG. 9B, the transported object 3A is still separated from the transported object 3B located on the first conveyors 1A and 1B, so that a gap S1 is formed therebetween. You.

[0005] As shown in FIG.
When the front end of the second conveyed product 3B reaches the second conveyors 2A to 2C, it has spread to the gap S2. And
The transported object 3B is delivered to the second conveyors 2A to 2C, and is transported in a state where the transported object 3B is completely mounted on the second conveyors 2A to 2C as shown in FIG. 9D. Then, the conveyed objects 3A and 3B are conveyed to the left in the figure with a final gap S3 between them.

[0006] Then, as shown in Fig. 9 (e), the leading end of the subsequent conveyed article 3C is also the second conveyer 2A-2A.
When it reaches a certain position of C, the transfer is inherited by it,
When all of the transported objects 3C are on the second conveyors 2A to 2C, the final gap S between the transported objects 3B and 3C is reached.
In this state, each of the transported objects 3A to 3C is transported leftward in FIG.

[0007]

However, as described above, this type of transport device facilitates the handling of products on a conveyor, and has a drawback in appearance of products placed and transported on a conveyor. Since the purpose is to provide a gap between each product in order to visually check the product, the gap between each product may be rough.

That is, when a gap is formed between the conveyed articles only by the difference in the conveying speeds of the conveyors having different conveying speeds as described above, for example, the state shown in FIG. In the state of (b), the transport of the transported object 3A is performed from the first conveyors 1A and 1B to the second conveyor 2A.
Even if the gap between the conveyed products is caused by the slip of the conveyed product 3A with respect to the second conveyors 2A to 2C when the conveyed products are taken over by A to 2C, there is no particular problem. .

However, when such a transporting device is used as a transporting device for transporting wood into a drying oven, for example, if there is variation in the gaps between the woods, if the degree of drying is uniform among the woods. Will be gone. Therefore, when the conveyed material is made of wood and the gap between each piece of wood is to be made uniform with an accuracy of several millimeters, for example, a gap for forming the same width between the pieces of wood as the target gap is used. It has been necessary to insert the jig (spacer) described above so that the gap becomes a predetermined interval.

However, in the case where a predetermined gap is provided between the pieces of wood by such a method, when it is desired to change the gap according to the size and type of the wood to be conveyed, each time another gap corresponding to the gap is required. This is troublesome because it must be changed to a jig for forming a gap. Further, in the case of a conveyed object whose surface is easily damaged, there is a possibility that the surface may be damaged by a jig for forming a gap hitting the conveyed object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and does not require a jig or the like for maintaining a constant gap between the conveyed articles on the conveyor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transport device capable of transporting while forming a gap with high precision, and a transport method of a transported article that forms a predetermined gap between each of a plurality of transported articles on a conveyor.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first conveyer and a downstream side of the first conveyer in the conveying direction. A second conveyor that takes over the transport of the plurality of transported objects placed and transported in a state where they are in contact with each other;
A conveyed object detection sensor disposed at a position on the downstream side in the conveying direction from the position of the seam portion between the conveyer and the second conveyer and capable of detecting a conveyed object conveyed by the second conveyer;
Usually, the first conveyor and the second conveyor are operated at the same transport speed, respectively, and the transport speed of the first conveyor is determined when the transported object detection sensor detects the transported object or a predetermined time after the transported object is detected. Is changed to a transport speed lower than the normal transport speed, and then the first
And a conveyor conveying speed control means for returning the conveyor to the normal conveying speed again.

With this configuration, the plurality of conveyed articles placed in contact with each other in the conveying direction on the first conveyor are conveyed toward the second conveyor by the operation of the first conveyor. You. Then, when the preceding conveyed object is detected by the conveyed object detection sensor, at that time or after a predetermined time after detecting the conveyed object, the first conveyor that has been operated at the same conveying speed as the second conveyor until then is performed. The conveying speed of the conveyor is changed to a lower conveying speed than the usual conveying speed.

Therefore, a gap is formed between the rear end of the preceding conveyed article and the front end of the next conveyed article by an amount corresponding to the difference in the conveying speed between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. It spreads. Then, at a predetermined timing, the first conveyor is returned to the normal conveying speed again and has the same conveying speed as the second conveyor, so that the rear end of the preceding conveyed object and the front end of the next conveyed object The conveyance is continued with the gap maintained at the gap at that time.

In the above-mentioned conveying apparatus, a conveying distance measuring means for measuring a conveying distance of the second conveyor is provided, and the conveyor conveying speed controlling means detects when the conveyed object detecting sensor detects the conveyed object or when the conveyed object is conveyed. After a predetermined time after detecting an object, the conveying speed of the first conveyor is changed to a conveying speed lower than the normal conveying speed, and the conveying distance measuring means detects the conveying object when the conveying object detecting sensor detects the object. The measurement of the transport distance of the conveyor is started, and the measured transport distance becomes the transport distance where the gap between the transported object detected by the transport object detection sensor and the next transported object becomes a preset gap. Control for calculating a predetermined timing from the transport speeds of the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and returning the first conveyor to the normal transport speed again at the predetermined timing Better to be a means for performing.

According to this configuration, even if the gap between the respective transporting objects in the transport direction is arbitrarily changed according to the type of the transported object or the purpose of the transport, the first conveyer and the first conveyor are changed according to the gap. The first conveyor is returned to the normal conveying speed again at a predetermined timing at which the conveying distance of the second conveyor is equal to the conveying distance calculated based on the conveying speed of the second conveyor. The sheet can be conveyed on the second conveyor with the gap between them set as the set gap.

Further, the above-mentioned conveyed object detection sensor is constituted by a plurality of sensors arranged at intervals from the position of the joint portion between the first conveyor and the second conveyor on the downstream side in the conveying direction. The control means selects one of the plurality of transport object detection sensors corresponding to the length of the transport object in the transport direction which is input in advance, and when the selected transport object detection sensor detects the transport object, or A predetermined time after the detection of the conveyed object, the conveyance speed of the first conveyor is changed to a conveyance speed lower than the normal conveyance speed, and thereafter, the first conveyor is returned to the normal conveyance speed again at a predetermined timing. It is good to do so.

In this way, even when the transported object is replaced with one having a different length in the transport direction, if the transported object having a shorter length is transported, the joint between the first conveyor and the second conveyor is changed. Use the transported object detection sensor located on the side closer to the part, and when transporting a transported object with a long length in the transport direction, select the transported object detection sensor farther from the joint. In this case, the preceding one of the conveyed objects having a shorter length in the conveying direction is located on the second conveyor and detected by the conveyed object detection sensor, and the conveying speed of the first conveyor is lower than the normal conveying speed. When turned on, the next conveyed product can be prevented from reaching the second conveyor at that time. Therefore, the gap between the preceding transported article and the next transported article can be made a predetermined gap,
The gaps between the conveyed articles thereafter can also be set to predetermined gaps.

Also, when the first one of the conveyed objects having a long length in the conveying direction is located on the second conveyor and detected by a conveyed object detection sensor provided on the downstream side, the first conveyed object is detected. Even if the conveying speed is slower than the normal conveying speed, the rear end of the conveyed object comes out of the first conveyor and is moved to the second conveyor.
Can reach the conveyor of
As in the case described above, the gap between the conveyed objects can be set to a predetermined gap.

Further, the transported object detection sensor is composed of two sensors, the first of which is located at a position downstream of the joint between the first conveyor and the second conveyor in the transport direction. A second sensor is provided at a position spaced apart from the position of the first sensor on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the conveyor conveyance speed control means detects the conveyed object by the first sensor. Or after a predetermined time after detecting the conveyed object, the conveying speed of the first conveyor is changed to a conveying speed lower than the normal conveying speed, and thereafter, at a predetermined timing when the second sensor detects the conveyed object. It is preferable to return the first conveyor to the normal transport speed again.

According to this configuration, the first conveyor is simply moved to the normal position at a predetermined timing when the second sensor detects the transfer object without providing a means for measuring the transfer distance of the second conveyor. Since it is sufficient to return to the transport speed, means for measuring the transport distance of the second conveyor is not required, and the transport speed control of the first conveyor is simplified.

Also, at least the second sensor is
It is preferable to provide the movable member so that it can be moved and adjusted in the transport direction of the transport object. With this configuration, the gap between the plurality of conveyed objects is adjusted by moving the position of the second sensor in the conveying direction of the conveyed objects without providing a means for measuring the conveying distance of the second conveyor. It can be easily changed.

Further, a plurality of articles placed on the first conveyor are transported on the second conveyor with a predetermined gap formed between the transported articles in the transport direction. In order to achieve this, it is preferable to carry out the following method of transporting the transported object. That is, the transport of a plurality of transported objects placed in a state of being in contact with each other in the transport direction on the first conveyor is performed in the second conveyor.
A method of transporting a conveyed article that takes over the second conveyer and conveys the plurality of conveyed articles on a second conveyor with a predetermined gap therebetween.
The first conveyor is operated at the same transport speed as the first conveyor by operating the first conveyor at a normal transport speed for a plurality of articles placed in contact with each other in the transport direction on the first conveyor. After being conveyed to the second conveyor, and the preceding conveyed article is taken over by the second conveyor, the preceding conveyed article is arranged at a position where the conveyed article on the second conveyor can be detected. By changing the conveyance speed of the first conveyor to a conveyance speed lower than the normal conveyance speed when the provided conveyance object detection sensor detects,
A gap is formed between the preceding conveyed object and the next conveyed object still located on the first conveyor, and the first conveyor is again moved at the predetermined timing at which the gap becomes a predetermined gap. It is preferable to carry out a method of transporting the article to be returned to the transport speed.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a transfer device according to the present invention together with a control system, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the transfer device, and FIGS.
(G) is a schematic diagram showing the transfer device step by step for each transfer stage.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer device 10
A pair of first conveyors 11A, 11B (hereinafter, simply referred to as a first conveyor 11 when collectively referred to), which are, for example, belt conveyors, which are arranged in parallel at an interval, and a first conveyor 11 Downstream in the transport direction (left side in the figure)
And a plurality of conveyed articles 3 (only three pieces 3A to 3C are shown in FIG. 2) which are placed and conveyed on the first conveyor 11 in a state of being brought into contact with each other in the direction of arrow B. 4) 2nd conveyors 12A-1 taking over the transfer
2D (hereinafter collectively referred to simply as the second conveyor 1
2).

The second conveyors 12A to 12A
D are all arranged in parallel, and the second conveyors 12A and 12A
The end (left end) of the first conveyor 11A on the conveyed material discharge side is located close to the end (right end) on the conveyed material receiving side between 2B as shown in the drawing, and the second conveyor 12C
The end (left end) of the first conveyor 11B on the discharge side (left end) of the first conveyor 11B is arranged close to the end (right end) on the side of receiving the conveyed object between the conveyors 12 and 12D, whereby each conveyed object is 3A
3C is the first conveyor 11 as shown in FIG.
From the first conveyor 12 to the second conveyor 12.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the transfer device 10 detects a transferred object at a position between the second conveyors 12B and 12C, which is a joint between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12. A sensor 13 (see also FIG. 1) is provided, and conveyed object detection sensors 14 and 15 are arranged at intervals on the downstream side of the conveyance. This transported object detection sensor 13, 1
Reference numerals 4 and 15 denote, for example, reflection type photosensors, which are disposed at positions capable of detecting the respective conveyed articles 3A to 3C conveyed across the second conveyors 12B and 12C. I have.

The first conveyors 11A and 11B have a conveyor belt 18 stretched between rollers 16 and 17, respectively. The rollers 16 of the first conveyor 11A and the rollers 16 of the first conveyor 11B are separated from each other. They are connected by a drive shaft 19. The rotation shaft 20 a of the first drive device 20 is connected to the drive shaft 19. Therefore,
When the first driving device 20 is driven, the rollers 16 of the first conveyors 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B are rotated by the rotation of the drive shaft 19, and are mounted on the respective conveyor belts 18 by the rotation of the respective conveyor belts 18. The transported objects 3A to 3C are the second conveyor 1
It is conveyed in the direction of arrow B toward 2A to 12D.

The first driving device 20 is composed of a motor and various gears. The second conveyors 12A to 12D each have a conveyor belt 23 stretched between rollers 21 and 22, and the rollers 21 of the second conveyors 12A to 12D are connected by a drive shaft 24. I have. The drive shaft 24 is connected to the rotation shaft 25a of the second drive device 25.

Therefore, when the second driving device 25 is driven, the driving shaft 24 rotates, so that the respective rollers 21 of the second conveyors 12A to 12D rotate, and the respective conveyor belts 23 move the objects 3A to 3C. Rotate so as to convey to the left in 2.

Further, the second conveyor 12 is provided with an encoder 26 (which may be another transfer distance measuring means) functioning as a transfer distance measuring means for measuring the transfer distance of the second conveyor 12. Provided and its rotating shaft 26a
A pulley belt 29 is stretched between a pulley 27 fixed to the drive shaft 24 and a drive pulley 28 fixed to the drive shaft 24. Therefore, when the drive shaft 24 is rotated by the second drive device 25 and the second conveyor 12 is driven, the drive pulley 2
8, the rotation shaft 26a of the encoder 26 rotates via the pulley belt 29 and the pulley 27, whereby the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 can be measured. The first conveyors 11A and 11B and the second conveyors 12A to 12D are not limited to the parts on which the articles are placed, but may be those using chains.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer apparatus 10 normally includes a first conveyor 11 and a second conveyor 1.
2 are operated at the same transport speed V1, and when the transported object detection sensor 14 or 15 detects the transported object, the first
The conveyor speed of the second conveyor 12 is measured by the encoder 26 while the conveyor speed of the conveyor 11 is changed to a conveyor speed V2 lower than the normal conveyor speed V1. The preceding transported object 3A detected by 14 and the next transported object 3B
(Or the same in the case of 3B and 3C), a predetermined timing at which a predetermined transport distance corresponding to the gap S shown in FIG. 3C is set to the transport speed V2 of the first conveyor 11
And a control device 30 shown in FIG. 1 for performing control to return the first conveyor 11 to the normal transfer speed V1 again at a predetermined timing.
Is provided.

That is, in this embodiment, the control device 30 functions as a conveyor speed control means.
The control device 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) having various determination and processing functions, a ROM storing each processing program and fixed data, a RAM serving as a data memory for storing processing data, and an input / output circuit (I / O). / O).

Then, the control device 30 controls the conveyance object detection sensors 14 and 15 (transportation sensors) which are arranged at a distance downstream from the seam of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 in the conveyance direction. (The position may be adjusted to move in the direction), one of them is selected according to the length L of the transported object 3 in the transport direction, which is input in advance, and the selected transported object detection sensor 14 or When 15 detects the leading end of the transported object 3, the transport speed of the first conveyor 11 is changed to a transport speed V2 lower than the normal transport speed V1.

Thereafter, the control device 30 determines whether the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 measured using the encoder 26 is detected by the transport object detection sensor 14 or 15 and the transport object 3 to be transported next. The first conveyor 11 is controlled to return to the normal transport speed V1 again at a predetermined timing at which the transport distance between the first conveyor 11 and the third conveyor 11 becomes a predetermined clearance S (see FIG. 3C). .

Selection of a conveyed object detection sensor performed by the control device 30 is performed in advance in accordance with the length L of the conveyed object 3 in the conveying direction, which is input by a worker using keys on the operation panel 31 in advance. The length L of the article 3 is equal to the article detection sensor 13
When the distance is smaller than the distance between
Is selected, and when the length is longer than the distance between the conveyed object detection sensors 13 and 14 and equal to or less than the distance between the conveyed object detection sensors 13 and 15, the conveyed object detection sensor 15 is selected. .

It should be noted that the number of the article detection sensors is not limited to the above-mentioned number, and when the length L of the article 3 in the conveyance direction exceeds the distance between the article detection sensors 13 and 15, A transport object detection sensor similar to the transport object detection sensors 13 to 15 may be further provided downstream of the transport object detection sensor 15 and used.

Next, using the transfer device 10, FIG.
1A to 3C (the number of which can be increased / decreased), such as a vertically long conveyed object having the same shape as shown in FIG.
1A and 11B so as to straddle them, and set them in a state where they are in contact with each other in the direction of arrow B as shown in the figure, and place them on the second conveyors 12A to 12D with a predetermined distance between them. A case where the paper is conveyed so as to form a gap and is conveyed to a drying oven or the like so that the degree of drying becomes uniform will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the transported objects 3A to 3C are set on the first conveyor 11 in a state where they are brought into contact with each other in the transport direction shown by arrow B. In this state,
The operation of both the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 is stopped. Before starting the operation of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12, use the keys on the operation panel 31 to measure the length of the transported objects 3A to 3C (all of the same size) to be transported in the transport direction. Enter L.

In this state, by driving the first driving device 20 and the second driving device 25, the roller 1 on each driving side is driven.
6 are rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 to start the operation of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12. At this time, the transport speeds of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are both set to the normal transport speed V1.

When the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 start operating, the articles 3A, 3B and 3C are conveyed in a state where they are in contact with each other in the direction of arrow B.
The front end (left end surface) of the leading transported object 3A is shown in FIG.
When the transported object detection sensor 14 reaches the position shown in (1), the transported object detection sensor 14 detects (ON) the transported object 3A. Therefore, at the timing when the transported object 3A is detected, the transport speed of the first conveyor 11 is changed to a transport speed V2 (for example, a transport speed 1/2 of V1) lower than the above-mentioned normal transport speed V1 by rapid deceleration. At the same time, when the transported object detection sensor 14 detects the transported object 3A, the measurement of the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 using the encoder 26 is started.

Thus, according to the speed difference between the transport speed V2 of the first conveyor 11 and the transport speed V1 of the second conveyor 12, as shown in FIG. A gap Sa is formed between them. Then, the conveyance distance of the second conveyor 12 whose measurement is started at the timing when the conveyed object detection sensor 14 is turned on is the conveyed object 3A detected by the conveyed object detection sensor 14 and the conveyed object 3B to be conveyed next. A predetermined timing at which the transfer distance between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 becomes a predetermined distance S shown in FIG.
The first conveyor 11 is returned to the normal conveying speed V1 again at a predetermined timing.

When both the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 reach the transport speed V1, the transported object 3A
When the front end (left end face) of the transported object 3B reaches the position shown in FIG. 3D, the transported object detection sensor 14 next starts Detects (turns on) the transported object 3B. Therefore, the transport speed of the first conveyor 11 is lower than the above-described normal transport speed V1 at the timing when the transported object detection sensor 14 detects the transported object 3B, similarly to the case of the above-described transported object 3A. At the same time as changing the transfer speed to V2, measurement of the transfer distance of the second conveyor 12 using the encoder 26 is also started.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3E, a gap Sa is formed between the article 3B and the article 3C. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (f), at a predetermined timing at which the distance between the conveyed object 3B and the conveyed object 3C to be conveyed becomes a predetermined gap S as shown in FIG.
Is returned to the normal transport speed V1 again. By doing in this way, as shown in FIG. 3 (g), the transported objects 3A to 3C are transported in a state where uniform gaps S are formed between each other in the transport direction.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The rear end of the conveyed object 3C on the conveyor 12 is a predetermined distance La (conveyed object 3A) from the position detected by the conveyed object detection sensor 13.
(The same as the gap S between the rear end and the front end of the transported object 3B), the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are temporarily stopped. In this state, when there is no succeeding conveyed article, or when there is a succeeding conveyed article, it is not necessary to continuously convey the succeeding conveyed article at a predetermined interval S after the conveyed article 3C. The first conveyor 11 is stopped, and only the second conveyor 12 is operated (rotated) to convey the articles 3A to 3C to the downstream side.

Therefore, the transported objects 3A to 3C are separated from each other in a state where uniform gaps S are formed between the respective objects.
Is transferred to a drying oven or the like by the conveyor 12 of
Their degree of drying becomes uniform. As described above, in the transfer apparatus 10, the second conveyor 12 always operates at the transfer speed V1 as shown in FIG. 5, but the first conveyor 11 operates at the transfer timing V1 at a timing as described above. Since the speed is repeatedly changed to the slow transport speed V2, a uniform gap S can be formed between each of the plurality of transported objects 3.

On the other hand, from the state of FIG. 4 (a), when the next conveyed object 3D and the subsequent conveyed objects are to be conveyed with a predetermined gap S after the conveyed object 3C, the second conveyor 1
2 is temporarily stopped at a position where the rear end of the conveyed object 3C placed thereon is at a predetermined distance L1 from the conveyed object detection sensor 13, and waits until the next sequence starts.

The control for stopping the transported object 3C at such a position is performed by the transported object detection sensor 13 based on the transport speed V1 of the second conveyor 12 and the length L of the transported object 3C in the transport direction. From the time when the front end is detected, the second conveyor 1
2 can be easily performed by calculating the time for stopping the operation.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, the conveyed articles 3D to 3F are placed on the first conveyor 11 in a stopped state.
(The number of which can be increased or decreased) is set in a state of being in contact with each other in the transport direction as shown in the figure. In this state, only the first conveyor 11 is driven at a predetermined low speed (for example, the above-described transport speed V2), and the front end of the leading transported object 3D is moved to the position shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), when the conveyed object detection sensor 13 detects, the first conveyor 11 is stopped at that timing.

In this state, the gap Sb between the front end of the article 3D and the rear end of the article 3C is the same as the gap S between the rear end of the article 3A and the front end of the article 3B. Therefore,
If the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are simultaneously started from the stop state at the same transport speed, the transported objects 3C and 3D are transported while maintaining the predetermined gap S therebetween. Go. Then, the same operation as that described with reference to FIG. 3D and subsequent figures is repeatedly performed on the conveyed object 3E and thereafter, whereby the data shown in FIG.
As shown in (g), it is possible to convey a predetermined gap S between the conveyed objects from the conveyed objects 3A to 3F.

As described above, the length L in the transport direction of each transported object 3 is
The case where the distance L is equal to or less than the distance between the conveyance object detection sensors 13 and 14 has been described as an example, but the length L of the conveyance object 3 is longer than the distance between the conveyance object detection sensors 13 and 14, and the conveyance object detection sensor When the distance is smaller than the distance between 13 and 15, the transported object detection sensor 15 is automatically selected as described above,
The above-described control is performed by the signal from the conveyed object detection sensor 15 instead of the signal from the conveyed object detection sensor 14.

Then, the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are driven and stopped at the transport speed V 1,
Of the conveyor 11 from the transport speed V1 to V2 or to return it to the transport speed V1 again, and furthermore, the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 is such that the distance between each of the transported objects becomes a preset gap S. The predetermined timing becomes the transport speed V2 of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12.
And V1 are all controlled by the control device 30 shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 3A to 3G, the first conveyor 11 is rapidly reduced to the transport speed V2 when the transported object detection sensor 14 detects (turns on) the front end of each transported object 3. At the same time, the description has been given of an example in which the measurement of the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 using the encoder 26 is started, but the measurement is performed using the detection signal of the transport object detection sensor 13. You may.

That is, for example, when the conveyed object 3A is conveyed in the direction of arrow B from the state of FIG. 1 and the conveyed object detection sensor 13 detects the front end thereof, the conveyed object 3A is moved from the state shown in FIG. After a predetermined time to reach the position, the first conveyor 1
1 to the transport speed V2, and the encoder 26
Even when the measurement of the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 is started by using the method, the gap S can be formed between the transported objects 3 as in the case where the transported object detection sensor 14 is used. Then, the predetermined time is the second conveyor 1
2 can be easily obtained from the transfer speed V1, the position where the object detection sensor 13 is provided, and the position where the object detection sensor 14 is to be provided.

As described above, after a predetermined time from the detection of the front end of the article 3 by the article detection sensor 13, the first conveyor 1
1 is started, and the measurement of the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 is started.
Even if only one is provided, it is only necessary to change the predetermined time in accordance with the length L of the transported object 3 in the transport direction, so that the cost is reduced as the number of sensors is reduced. In addition,
When the gap S between the transported objects 3 is set large, the first
The gap S may be formed by temporarily stopping the conveyor 11 without suddenly decelerating it.

FIGS. 6 (a) to 6 (g) are schematic views showing another embodiment of the transfer apparatus according to the present invention step by step at each transfer step, and FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the transfer apparatus. The same reference numerals are given to portions corresponding to FIGS. 3A to 3G and FIG. The transport device 40 according to this embodiment includes a first conveyor 1 as shown in FIG.
The first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 overlap so that the axis of each roller 17 of 1A and 11B and the axis of each roller 22 of the second conveyors 12A to 12D are on the same axis. The only difference is that the transfer apparatus 10 described with reference to FIGS.

That is, in the case of the transfer device 10 described with reference to FIG. 1, since the seams of the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are not wrapped with each other,
When the length L in the transport direction is sufficiently long,
Does not cause the front end side to tilt at the joint when passing through the joint, but when the length L of the article 3 in the transport direction is short, the article 3 is There is a risk that the sheet may not be able to be transported due to being inclined or dropping into a joint portion between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12.

However, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6G, if the joint between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 is made to overlap, the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 are overlapped. Since the transport surfaces of the second conveyor 12 are continuously connected in a straight line, even when the transported object 3 having a short length in the transport direction as described above is transported,
It can be conveyed without being tilted at the seam or making it impossible to convey.

Also, in this transport device 40, FIG.
6A, as in the case of the transfer device 10 described in FIG.
As shown in (g), the transported objects 3A to 3A set on the first conveyor 11 in a state of being in contact with each other in the transport direction.
C is placed on the second conveyor 12 with a predetermined gap S
Can be transported reliably.

In the transfer device according to the present invention, the transferred object detection sensor is composed of two sensors, and the first sensor is a joint between the first conveyor 11 and the second conveyor 12 or the transfer direction thereof. On the downstream side, a second sensor is disposed at a position spaced apart from the position of the first sensor on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the control device controls the first sensor to control the transported object 3. After a predetermined time, or when the object 3 is detected, the conveying speed of the first conveyor 11 is changed to a conveying speed V2 lower than the normal conveying speed V1, and then the second sensor detects the object 3 At the detected predetermined timing, the first conveyor 11 may be returned to the normal transport speed V1 again.

In this manner, the first sensor is simply provided at the predetermined timing when the second sensor detects the transported object 3 without providing the encoder 26 for measuring the transport distance of the second conveyor 12 or the like. The conveyor 11 is moved at a normal conveying speed V1.
, The cost can be reduced by the necessity of the encoder 26 serving as a means for measuring the transport distance of the second conveyor 12, and the transport speed control of the first conveyor 11 is simplified.

Further, at least the second sensor is
It is preferable that the movement of the transported object 3 can be adjusted in the transport direction. In this way, the gap S between the plurality of conveyed objects 3 can be changed to the position of the second sensor to convey the conveyed object 3 without providing a means for measuring the conveying distance of the second conveyor 12. It can be changed simply by adjusting the movement in the direction.

As described above using the conveyors 10 and 40, the plurality of articles 3 placed on the first conveyor 11 in contact with each other in the conveying direction are transferred to the first conveyor 11 by the first conveyor 11. By operating at the normal conveying speed V1, the first conveyor 11 is conveyed to the second conveyor 12 which is operating at the same conveying speed V1, and the preceding conveyed article 3 is moved to the second conveyor 12 After the transfer is transferred to the second conveyor 1
The conveyor speed of the first conveyor is changed to the conveying speed V2 lower than the normal conveying speed V1 when the object detecting sensors 14 and 15 disposed at the positions capable of detecting the conveying object 3 on the second conveyor 2 detect. By doing so, a gap is formed between the preceding conveyed article 3 and the next conveyed article 3 still positioned on the first conveyor 11, and the conveyed article becomes a preset gap S. It is good to carry out.

[0064]

As described above, according to the transport apparatus and the transport method of the transported object according to the present invention, the gap is provided between the plurality of transported objects placed on the conveyor in a state of being brought into contact with each other in the transport direction. It is possible to form a predetermined gap with high precision between each of the conveyed objects without contacting without inserting a jig or the like for keeping the constant, and convey them. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a transport device according to the present invention together with a control system.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the transfer device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the transfer device step by step for each transfer stage.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing stepwise a case in which the conveyance device continuously conveys after a conveyance object 3C after a conveyance object 3D with a gap S therebetween.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a change in the transport speed of first and second conveyors of the transport device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the transfer device according to the present invention step by step at each transfer stage.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the transfer device.

FIG. 8 is a simplified plan view showing an example of a transfer device using a conventional conveyor.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a stepwise manner in which the conventional transport device forms a gap S between each transported article and transports the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 40: Conveying device 11A, 11B: First conveyor 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D: Second conveyor 13, 14, 15: Conveyed object detection sensor 26: Encoder 30: Control device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first conveyor, and a plurality of conveyors disposed downstream of the first conveyor in the transport direction and placed and transported in contact with each other in the transport direction with respect to the first conveyor. A second conveyor that takes over the conveyance of the conveyed article,
A conveyed object detection sensor disposed at a position downstream of the seam between the conveyer and the second conveyer in the conveying direction and capable of detecting a conveyed object conveyed by the second conveyer; The second conveyor and the second conveyor are operated at the same transport speed, respectively, and when the transported object detection sensor detects the transported object, or after a predetermined time after detecting the transported object, the transport speed of the first conveyor is increased. A conveyor device comprising: conveyor speed control means for changing the speed to a lower speed than a normal speed, and thereafter returning the first conveyor to the normal speed again at a predetermined timing. 2. The transport device according to claim 1, further comprising a transport distance measuring unit that measures a transport distance of the second conveyor, wherein the conveyor transport speed control unit detects the transported object by the transported object detection sensor. When, or after changing the transport speed of the first conveyor to a transport speed lower than the normal transport speed after a predetermined time after detecting the transported object,
When the conveyed object detection sensor detects a conveyed object, the conveyed distance measurement means starts measuring the conveyed distance of the second conveyor, and the measured conveyed distance is detected by the conveyed object detection sensor. Is calculated from the transport speeds of the first and second conveyors, and the predetermined timing at which the transport distance between the next transported object and the transported object becomes a preset gap is calculated. A transport device, which is means for performing control for returning the first conveyor to the normal transport speed again. 3. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyed object detection sensor is disposed at a distance from a position of a joint between the first conveyor and the second conveyor on a downstream side in a conveying direction. A plurality of sensors, wherein the conveyor conveyance speed control means selects one of the plurality of conveyed object detection sensors corresponding to a length of the conveyed object in the conveyance direction which is input in advance, and selects the selected conveyance. When the object detection sensor detects a conveyed object, or after a predetermined time after detecting the conveyed object, the conveying speed of the first conveyor is changed to a conveying speed lower than the normal conveying speed, and thereafter, at a predetermined timing, A transport device for returning the first conveyor to the normal transport speed again. 4. The transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the transported object detection sensor is composed of two sensors, and a first sensor is located at a joint between the first conveyor and the second conveyor. And a second sensor is disposed at a position downstream of the first sensor at a distance from the first sensor in the transport direction, and the conveyor transport speed control means is provided at a position downstream of the first sensor. The first sensor detects a conveyed object or a predetermined time after the conveyed object is detected.
The conveyor speed of the conveyor is changed to a lower conveying speed than the normal conveying speed, and then the first conveyor is returned to the normal conveying speed again at a predetermined timing when the second sensor detects a conveyed object. A transport device characterized by returning. 5. The transport device according to claim 4, wherein at least the second sensor is provided so as to be movable in a transport direction of the transported object. 6. The transport of a plurality of articles placed in contact with each other in a transport direction on a first conveyor is taken over by a second conveyor, and the plurality of articles are transferred on the second conveyor. It is a method of transporting a conveyed article to be conveyed by setting a gap between each of them to a preset gap, and a plurality of conveyed articles placed in a state of being brought into contact with each other in the conveying direction on the first conveyor. By operating the first conveyor at a normal conveying speed, the first conveyor is conveyed toward the second conveyor which is operating at the same conveying speed as the first conveyor, and the preceding conveyed object is the second conveyor. After the conveyance is taken over by the conveyor of the first conveyor, when the conveyance object detection sensor disposed at a position capable of detecting the conveyance object on the second conveyor detects the preceding conveyance object, Set the transfer speed to the normal transfer By changing the conveying speed to a speed lower than the degree, a gap is formed between the preceding conveyed object and the next conveyed object still located on the first conveyor, and the gap is set to a predetermined gap. A method of transporting a conveyed object, wherein the first conveyor is returned to the normal conveying speed again at a predetermined timing.