Weight checker

Abstract

To provide a weight checker that suppresses the flapping of a conveyor belt and reduces running resistance.SOLUTION: A weight checker (1) includes an endless conveyor belt (13) wound around a pair of rollers (11, 12), and a pedestal (14) arranged between the pair of rollers (11, 12). A top surface (153) of the pedestal (14) is substantially flat, and a protrusion (200) extending in a transport direction (A) is formed on a bottom surface (154) of the pedestal (14). Since the conveyor belt (13) comes into contact with the protrusion (200) under the pedestal (14), the flapping of the conveyor belt (13) during conveyor operation can be suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a checkweigher that weighs an object while transporting it. [Background technology]

[0002] A weight checker is equipped with a transport unit such as a belt conveyor and a weighing unit such as a load cell connected to the transport unit, and is configured so that the weighing unit weighs the objects while the transport unit transports them. The belt conveyor is equipped with an endless transport belt wound around a pair of drive and driven rollers, and a receiving platform disposed between the pair of rollers. If the transport belt wobbles while the conveyor is running, the vibrations are transmitted to the weighing unit and the weighing accuracy is affected. For example, in Patent Document 1, the roller bearings are designed to maintain the tension of the belt and suppress the fluttering of the transport belt. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-112150 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Due to the structure of the belt conveyor, the tension of the conveyor belt is likely to loosen under the receiving platform after passing the drive roller, and the belt is likely to flap under the receiving platform. In addition, if moisture adheres to the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt will stick to the receiving platform, increasing the running resistance and leading to damage to the motor.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a weight checker that suppresses flapping of the conveyor belt and reduces running resistance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a weight checker of a first aspect of the present invention is a weight checker that weighs an object to be weighed while transporting it on a belt conveyor, and is characterized in that it comprises an endless transport belt wound around a pair of rollers, and a receiving table positioned between the pair of rollers, and the upper surface of the receiving table is approximately flat and a convex portion extending in the transport direction is formed on the lower surface of the receiving table.

[0007] In the second aspect of the weight checker, in the first aspect, the receiving platform is formed by connecting a plurality of push-out members in a conveyor width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and each of the push-out members has a downwardly protruding flange at both ends in the conveyor width direction, and it is also preferable that the flanges serve as connecting parts to form the protrusions.

[0008] In the weight checker of the third aspect, it is also preferable that in the second aspect, one and the other of the flanges of the push-out member have concave and convex shapes that are point symmetrical with each other, and the connecting portion is connected by a concave-convex engagement.

[0009] In the weight checker of the fourth aspect, in the third aspect, it is also preferable that an end member having the uneven shape is attached to an end portion of the push-out member that does not become the connecting portion.

[0010] In the weight checker of the fifth aspect, in any one of the second to fourth aspects, it is also preferable that the push-out members constituting the receiving base are connectable with each other in different widths.

[0011] In the weight checker of the sixth aspect, in any one of the second to fifth aspects, it is also preferable that the upper surface of the receiving platform has a recess extending in the conveying direction, and the recess in the lower surface of the receiving platform formed by the flange is larger than the recess in the upper surface.

[0012] In the weight checker of the seventh aspect, in the sixth aspect, it is also preferable that the recesses in the upper surface are a plurality of drainage grooves. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a weight checker that suppresses flapping of a conveyor belt and reduces running resistance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a weight checker 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the weighing conveyor 3. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the weighing conveyor 3. [Figure 4] 1A is a top perspective view of the push member 15, and FIG. 1B is an end view of the push member 15. FIG. [Diagram 5] 1A is a top perspective view of an end member 17, and FIG. 1B is an end view of the end member 17. FIG. [Figure 6] (A) is the left side of the receiving base 14, and (B) is the left side of the receiving base 14 with the assembly screws 50 tightened. [Figure 7] 1A is an end view of a receiving base 14' of a comparative example, and FIG. 1B is an end view of a receiving base 14'' of another comparative example. [Figure 8] 1A is an end view of a receiving base 14A according to a first modified example, FIG. 1B is an end view of a receiving base 14B according to a second modified example, and FIG. 1C is an end view of a receiving base 14C according to a third modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the directions of front, back, left, right, top and bottom are as shown in the drawings.

[0016] (Overall configuration of the weight checker) 1 is a front perspective view of a weight checker 1 according to an embodiment. The weight checker 1 is disposed in a part of a conveying path (line) of an entire manufacturing or inspection system (not shown). For example, an object to be weighed is conveyed from the upstream of the line, weighed in the weight checker 1, and conveyed downstream of the line.

[0017] The weight checker 1 includes a belt conveyor 2, which is a transport unit, a weighing unit 5, and a stand 6. The belt conveyor 2 includes a weighing conveyor 3 and an introduction conveyor 4, and the objects to be weighed are transported from the upstream of the line to the weighing conveyor 3 by the introduction conveyor 4 (hereinafter, the symbol A will be referred to as the transport direction). The weighing unit 5 is connected to the bottom of the weighing conveyor 3 and measures the weight of the weighing conveyor 3. The configuration of the weighing unit 5 is not particularly limited, but for example, a load cell is used, the fixed part of the strain body is fixed to the casing of the weighing unit 5, the movable part of the strain body is connected to the weighing conveyor 3, and a gauge is attached to the deformed part of the strain body. The belt conveyor 2 (the weighing conveyor 3 and the introduction conveyor 4) and the weighing unit 5 are attached to the top of the stand 6, and a control unit 7 is attached to the bottom of the stand 6. The control unit 7 includes an electrical equipment box 8 and an operation display unit 9, and displays information related to weighing and controls a drive motor (not shown) of the belt conveyor 2.

[0018] The weighing conveyor 3 and the introduction conveyor 4 have the same configuration, except that the weighing conveyor 3 has a weighing unit 5 at its bottom, so the configuration of the weighing conveyor 3 will be described in detail below. Note that, although the weight checker 1 having the introduction conveyor 4 will be described as an example in this embodiment, the introduction conveyor 4 may have any configuration.

[0019] (Weighing conveyor configuration) 2 is a plan view of the weighing conveyor 3. The weighing conveyor 3 includes a pair of rollers 11 and 12, an endless conveyor belt 13 wound around the rollers 11 and 12, and a receiving table 14 disposed between the rollers 11 and 12. The driving roller 11 is disposed downstream in the conveying direction A, and is connected to a driving motor (not shown) via a gear or the like, and is driven and controlled by a control unit 7. The driven roller 12 is disposed upstream in the conveying direction A, and is driven following the driving roller 11. The conveyor belt 13 is wound around the upper and lower parts of the receiving table 14 via the driving roller 11 and the driven roller 12, and is stretched long in the conveying direction A. The support shafts of the driving roller 11 and the driven roller 12 are each provided with a take-up 10 that can finely adjust the tension of the conveyor belt 13.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the weighing conveyor 3 (cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2). The receiving base 14 of the weighing conveyor 3 includes a plurality of extrusion members 15, 16 and end members 17, 18 at both ends of the conveyor width direction B perpendicular to the conveying direction A. For convenience of explanation, the extrusion member arranged at the front is called the first extrusion member 15, the extrusion member arranged at the rear is called the second extrusion member 16, the end member arranged at the front is called the first end member 17, and the end member arranged at the rear is called the second end member 18. The receiving base 14 is configured by connecting the first extrusion member 15 and the second extrusion member 16 in the conveyor width direction B, attaching the first end member 17 to the end 151 of the first extrusion member 15 that is not on the connecting side, and attaching the second end member 18 to the end 161 of the second extrusion member 16 that is not on the connecting side. The first extrusion member 15 and the second extrusion member 16 have the same shape, and the first end member 17 and the second end member 18 have the same shape. For this reason, the configurations of the first extrusion member 15 and the first end member 17 will be described in detail.

[0021] (Configuration of extruded member) Fig. 4(A) is an upper perspective view of first extrusion member 15, and Fig. 4(B) is an end view of first extrusion member 15. First extrusion member 15 has an upper surface 153, a lower surface 154, an end portion 152 on the connection side with second extrusion member 16, and an end portion 151 on the non-connection side. First extrusion member 15 is formed by extrusion molding of aluminum material, has a hollow interior, and is formed as a long flat plate in the conveying direction A.

[0022] The first extrusion member 15 has flanges 51, 52 formed on both ends 151, 152, respectively, which protrude downward. For ease of explanation, the flange at the end 151 is referred to as the first flange 51, and the flange at the end 152 is referred to as the second flange 52. The first flange 51 and the second flange 52 each have a semicircular portion 501 recessed inwardly of the member at the center in the up-down direction. The first flange 51 has a convex shape 503 below the semicircular portion 501 that extends outwardly of the member in the flange width direction B and extends small claws 502 toward the semicircular portion 501, and has a concave shape 504 above the semicircular portion 501 that is recessed inwardly of the member and toward the semicircular portion 501. The second flange 52 has a convex shape 503 above the semicircular portion 501, which extends outward from the member in the flange width direction B and extends the small claws 502 toward the semicircular portion 501, and a concave shape 504 below the semicircular portion 501, which is recessed toward the inside of the member and toward the semicircular portion 501. The convex shape 503 and the concave shape 504 of the first flange 51 and the second flange 52 are the same shape, that is, the first flange 51 and the second flange 52 have concave and convex shapes (convex shape 503 and concave shape 504) that are point symmetrical with each other about the semicircular portion 501. More specifically, a step portion 5021 is formed at the corner of the small claw 502 of the convex shape 503 on the outer side of the member, and an opening of the concave shape 504 is formed as an engagement recess 5041 having a shape that generally matches the step portion 5021 of the small claw 502. The concave shape 504 further has a deep recess 5042 that is deeply recessed from the engagement recess 5041 toward the semicircular portion 501. In addition, the "inner side of the member" and the "outer side of the member" in the description of the shapes of the first flange 51 and the second flange 52 refer to the direction toward the member center O of the first extrusion member 15 as the inner side of the member and the direction away from the member center O as the outer side of the member, as shown in FIG.

[0023] The upper surface 153 of the first extrusion member 15 is generally flat. As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of drain grooves 53 extending in the conveying direction A are formed at predetermined intervals. The depth of the drain grooves 53 is approximately half the plate thickness of the upper surface 153, and the groove width is approximately several millimeters to several centimeters. The lower surface 154 of the first extrusion member 15 also has a drain groove 54 of the same shape as the upper surface 153.

[0024] It is also preferable to provide auxiliary screw holes 150 for throw screws integrally with the first extrusion member 15 in the cavity between the upper surface 153 and the lower surface 154 of the first extrusion member 15. The auxiliary screw holes 150 can be provided at multiple locations in the conveyor width direction B, for example at the four corners of the cavity and / or at equal intervals in the cavity, to increase the strength of the extrusion member. Also, when the form shown in Fig. 8(C) described later is selected, the auxiliary screw holes 150 can be used as screw holes for fixing the pressing plate 19.

[0025] (Structure of end members) FIG. 5(A) is a top perspective view of the first end member 17, and FIG. 5(B) is an end view of the first end member 17. The first end member 17 has a first horizontal surface 173, a second horizontal surface 174, an end surface 172 on the connection side with the first extrusion member 15, and an end surface 171 on the non-connection side. The first end member 17 is also formed by extrusion molding of aluminum die casting into a hollow rectangular rod shape that is long in the conveying direction A. The vertical length of the first end member 17 is the same as the vertical length of the first flange 51 of the first extrusion member 15. The end surface 171 on the non-connection side is formed to be flush with the entire surface. The end surface 172 on the connection side has a convex shape 703 and a concave shape 704 that are the same as the concave shapes (convex shape 503 and concave shape 504) of the first flange 51 and the second flange 52. In addition, in describing the shape of the first end member 17, the inside and outside of the member refer to the direction toward the member center O of the first extrusion member 15 and the direction away from the member center O, respectively, when viewed in a state attached to the first extrusion member 15, as shown in Figure 5 (B).

[0026] The first end member 17 has a semicircular portion 701 recessed toward the outside of the member at the center in the vertical direction. The first end member 17 has a convex shape 703 extending toward the inside of the member in the flange width direction B from the semicircular portion 701 to the first horizontal surface 173 and extending a small claw 702 toward the semicircular portion 701, and has a concave shape 704 recessed toward the outside of the member and toward the semicircular portion 701 from the semicircular portion 701 to the second horizontal surface 174. In more detail, like the first flange 51 and the second flange 52, a step portion 7021 is provided at the corner of the small claw 702 of the convex shape 703 on the inside of the member, and an opening of the concave shape 704 has an engagement recess 7041 having a shape that generally matches the step portion 7021 of the small claw 702, and a deep recess 7042 recessed deeply from the engagement recess 7041 toward the semicircular portion 701 side.

[0027] (Configuration of the cradle) The receiving stand 14 is formed by assembling the above-mentioned first extrusion member 15, second extrusion member 16, first end member 17, and second end member 18. Fig. 6(A) shows the left side surface of the receiving stand 14, and Fig. 6(B) shows the left side surface of the receiving stand 14 with the assembly screws 50 tightened.

[0028] 6(A), the concave and convex shapes (convex shape 503 and concave shape 504) of the second flange 52 of the first extrusion member 15 and the first flange 51 of the second extrusion member 16 are engaged while sliding in the conveyance direction A, forming a connecting portion 20 by the concave and convex engagement of the first flange 51 and the second flange 52. In the connecting portion 20, a circular central screw hole 201 is formed by the semicircular portions 501 of the first flange 51 and the second flange 52. Above and below the central screw hole 201, the shapes are point-symmetric with each other, so that the convex shape 503 of one engages with the concave shape 504 of the other.

[0029] Next, the uneven shape (convex shape 503 and concave shape 504) of the first flange 51 of the first extrusion member 15 and the uneven shape (convex shape 703 and concave shape 704) of the connecting side end face 172 of the first end member 17 are engaged while sliding in the conveyance direction A, forming a base end portion 31 due to the uneven engagement between the first extrusion member 15 and the first end member 17. Similarly, the uneven shape (convex shape 503 and concave shape 504) of the second flange 52 of the second extrusion member 16 and the uneven shape (convex shape 703 and concave shape 704) of the connecting side end face 172 of the second end member 18 are engaged while sliding in the conveyance direction A, forming a base end portion 32 due to the uneven engagement between the second extrusion member 16 and the second end member 18. At the base ends 31, 32, a circular end screw hole 202 is formed by the semicircular portions 501, 701, and above and below the end screw hole 202, the shapes are point-symmetric with each other, so that the convex shape 503 engages with the concave shape 704 and the convex shape 703 engages with the concave shape 504.

[0030] Finally, as shown in FIG. 6(B), in order to prevent the first extrusion member 15, the second extrusion member 16, the first end member 17, and the second end member 18 from sliding in the conveying direction A, the assembly screws 50 (preferably tapping screws) are fastened in the central screw hole 201 and the end screw holes 202, 202 via the presser plate 19 across the conveyor width direction B. Here, the diameter of the screw holes 201, 202 is formed slightly smaller than the screw diameter of the assembly screws 50, and by fastening the assembly screws 50, the aluminum material around the screw holes 201, 202 is pushed and spread, the concave deep recesses 5042, 7042 are deflected, and the convex step portions 5021, 7021 are pressed against the concave engagement recesses 5041, 7041, so that the concave and convex shapes are more closely interlocked. The presser plate 19 is also attached to the right side surface of the receiving stand 14. In addition, in this embodiment, the pressing plate 19 is exemplified as being substantially E-shaped, but the shape is not limited to this.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 6(B), the receiving table 14 assembled in this manner has an upper surface 153 that is flat and has fine drainage grooves (recesses) 53, and a lower surface 154 that has a flat portion and fine drainage grooves (recesses) 54, and a protruding portion 200 that protrudes downward from the flat portion. As shown in Fig. 6(A), the protruding portion 200 is a connecting portion 20 formed by the recessed and protruding engagement of the second flange 52 of the first extrusion member 15 and the first flange 51 of the second extrusion member 16. The protruding portion 200 extends in the conveying direction A at the center of the flange width direction B of the receiving table 14.

[0032] Further, the lower surface 154 of the receiving stand 14 has an end protrusion 250A and an end protrusion 250B at both ends in the flange width direction B. The end protrusion 250A is a base end portion 31 formed by the concave-convex engagement between the first flange 51 of the first extrusion member 15 and the end surface 172 of the first end member 17, and the end protrusion 250B is a base end portion 32 formed by the concave-convex engagement between the second flange 52 of the second extrusion member 16 and the end surface 172 of the second end member 18. That is, the lower surface 154 of the receiving stand 14 has large recesses 300 between the protrusion 200 and the end protrusion 250A and between the protrusion 200 and the end protrusion 250B, and the recesses 300 are formed to be larger than the water drainage groove (recess) 53 of the upper surface 153.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6B, the conveyor belt 13 is wound around the inside of the end protrusions 250A and 250B, contacting the upper surface 153 of the receiving table 14 and the central protrusion 200 of the lower surface 154.

[0034] (Action and effect) As described above, according to this embodiment of the weight checker 1, a convex portion 200 is formed on the underside 154 of the receiving platform 14 of the belt conveyor 2, and the conveying belt 13 is brought into contact with the convex portion 200 below the receiving platform 14, thereby suppressing flapping of the conveying belt 13 while the conveyor is running.

[0035] As a comparative example, FIG. 7(A) shows a configuration in which the entire lower surface 154' of the receiving table 14' is a recess 300'. In this case, since there is no contact point between the lower surface 154' of the receiving table 14' and the conveyor belt 13, the conveyor belt 13 is more likely to flutter as the conveyor width of the receiving table 14' increases. As another comparative example, FIG. 7(B) shows a configuration in which the entire lower surface 154" of the receiving table 14" is in contact with the conveyor belt 13. In this case, if moisture adheres to the conveyor belt 13, the conveyor belt 13 sticks to the receiving table 14" on both the upper and lower surfaces of the receiving table 14", and the running resistance increases. In contrast to these comparative examples, in this embodiment, the convex portion 200 formed on the lower surface 154 of the receiving table 14 comes in contact with the conveyor belt 13, and the tension of the conveyor belt 13 is maintained under the receiving table 14. In addition, since the lower surface 154 and the conveyor belt 13 are in partial contact at the convex portion 200, there is no significant effect on the running resistance.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the weight checker 1 of this embodiment, even if moisture adheres to the conveying belt 13, most of the moisture on the conveying belt 13 is dropped by the drainage groove 53 on the upper surface 153 of the receiving table 14 and directed toward the lower surface 154, thereby preventing the conveying belt 13 from sticking.

[0037] In addition, in the weight checker 1 of this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, the first extrusion member 15, the second extrusion member 16, the first end member 17, and the second end member 18 are called different members, but the first extrusion member 15 and the second extrusion member 16 are extrusion members of the same shape, and the first end member 17 and the second end member 18 are end members of the same shape. That is, as shown in Fig. 6(A), in this embodiment, the receiving platform 14 is configured with a small number of parts by using members of two types of shapes, that is, a conveyor part 41 formed by connecting extrusion members of the same shape, and an end part 42 of the same shape.

[0038] (Modification) Here, the conveyor part 41 of the receiving table 14 may be modified to connect extrusion members of different widths, or to connect two or more pieces, instead of connecting extrusion members of the same width. Alternatively, the conveyor part 41 may be composed of a single extrusion member.

[0039] FIG. 8(A) is an end view of the receiving stand 14A according to the first modification, in which an end part 42 is attached to a conveyor part 41 in which a push member 15 and a push member 16' of different widths are connected. In this form, the receiving stand 14A is composed of three types of shaped members, namely, two types of push members and one type of end member. FIG. 8(B) is an end view of the receiving stand 14B according to the second modification, in which an end part 42 is attached to a conveyor part 41 in which three push members 15, 16, 15 of the same width are connected. In this form, the receiving stand 14B is composed of two types of shaped members, namely, one type of push member and one type of end member. In FIG. 8(B), the conveyor part 41 is composed of three push members, but it is also possible to connect four, five, etc., and to combine push members 16' of different widths therein. Thus, according to this embodiment, the extrusion member has uneven shapes (convex shape 503, concave shape 504) that are point symmetrical to each other at both ends, and the end member has similar uneven shapes (convex shape 703, concave shape 704), so that it is possible to create receiving bases 14 of various widths by combining them. This makes it possible to reduce the number of molding dies for the extrusion member, and as a result, the manufacturing cost of the product can be reduced.

[0040] Fig. 8(C) is an end view of the receiving stand 14C according to the third modification, in which the end part 42 is attached to the conveyor part 41 consisting of one extrusion member 15. According to this embodiment, the extrusion member 15 has uneven shapes (convex shape 503, concave shape 504) that are point symmetrical to each other at both ends, and the end member has similar uneven shapes (convex shape 703, concave shape 704), so this embodiment can be used when a narrow conveyor width is required. The problem of running resistance in this case is addressed by the drainage groove 54 on the underside of the receiving stand 14C.

[0041] Although the preferred embodiment and several modified examples of the present invention have been described above, these can be modified and combined based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such forms are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1...Weight checker, 2...Belt conveyor, 11...Drive roller, 12...Driven roller, 13...Conveyor belt, 14...Receiving platform, 15, 16...Extrusion member, 17, 18...End member, 51, 52...Flange of extrusion member, 53...Drain groove (concave), 153...Upper surface, 154...Lower surface, 503...Convex shape of flange, 504...Concave shape of flange, 703...Convex shape of end member, 704...Concave shape of end member, 20...Connecting portion, 200...Convex portion of lower surface, 300...Concave portion of lower surface

Claims

1. In a weight checker that weighs objects while transporting them on a belt conveyor, The conveyor includes an endless conveyor belt wound around a pair of rollers, and a receiving platform disposed between the pair of rollers, The upper surface of the receiving table is substantially flat, and a convex portion extending in the conveying direction is formed on the lower surface of the receiving table. A weight checker characterized by the above.

2. 2. The weight checker according to claim 1, wherein the receiving platform is constructed by connecting a plurality of push-out members in a conveyor width direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and each of the push-out members has a downwardly protruding flange on both ends in the conveyor width direction, and the flanges serve as connecting parts to form the protrusions.

3. 3. The weight checker according to claim 2, wherein one and the other of the flanges of the push-out member have concave and convex shapes that are point symmetrical with each other, and the connecting portion is connected by a concave-convex engagement.

4. 4. The weight checker according to claim 3, wherein an end member having the uneven shape is attached to an end portion of the extrusion member that does not become the connecting portion.

5. 3. The weight checker according to claim 2, wherein the push-out members constituting the receiving base are connectable with each other in width.

6. 3. The weight checker according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the receiving table has a recess extending in the conveying direction, and the recess in the lower surface of the receiving table formed by the flange is larger than the recess in the upper surface.

7. 7. The weight checker according to claim 6, wherein the recessed portion on the upper surface is a plurality of drainage grooves.

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