Roller device and material transport method

Abstract

To provide a roller device having a simple mounting structure and high stability.SOLUTION: A roller device (1) provided in a conveying mechanism for conveying materials related to sanitary articles in a conveying direction, comprises: a mounting post (10) attached to a vertical wall portion (PL); a support section (20) provided at a tip of the mounting post (10); a drive part (40) for rotationally driving a roller device (1), in which the output shafts (42, 32) side of the drive part (40) are supported by the support part (20); a cylindrical portion (100) rotatably attached to the output shaft (42, 32) and accommodating at least a portion of the drive part (40) in a space on the inner periphery side, wherein the support part (20) is located in the center of the cylindrical portion (100) in an axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a roller device and a material transport method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in manufacturing equipment for producing sanitary articles such as diapers, roller devices such as conveying rollers that are rotationally driven to convey sanitary article materials in a conveying direction are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology relating to a motor roller (roller device) that includes a pipe 110 that is rotatably held by mounting shafts 150 and 152 at both ends and that is rotated by being driven by a motor M. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-127556 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the roller device of Patent Document 1, the roller part (pipe 110) is supported at two or more points (mounting shafts 150, 152), which increases stability during rotational drive. However, in order to support both ends of the roller device, it is necessary to provide support members on both sides, which causes problems such as a complicated mounting structure and a large space being required. On the other hand, if the roller device is supported in a cantilevered manner to provide a simple mounting structure, the roller part is likely to bend due to the load acting on it, and there is a risk that the stability during rotational drive of the roller device will be insufficient.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a roller device that has a simple mounting structure and is highly stable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The main invention for achieving the above-mentioned object is a roller device provided in a conveying mechanism for conveying materials related to hygiene products in a conveying direction, the roller device having a mounting post attached to a vertical wall portion, a support portion provided at the tip of the mounting post, a drive portion for rotating the roller device, the output shaft side of the drive portion being supported by the support portion, and a cylindrical portion rotatably attached to the output shaft and accommodating at least a part of the drive portion in a space on the inner side, the support portion being located in the center of the axial direction of the cylindrical portion. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a roller device having a simple mounting structure and high stability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a roller device 1 according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cross-sectional configuration of the roller device 1 in the state shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] Fig. 4A is a diagram for explaining the conveying operation of a conventional roller device 5 in which the rollers are supported at both axial ends as a comparative example, and Fig. 4B is a diagram for explaining the conveying operation of the roller device 1 according to the present embodiment in which the rollers are supported at the center in the axial direction. [Diagram 5] 13 is a perspective view showing a modified example in which the axial length of the cylindrical portion 100 is shortened. FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is a perspective view showing a modified example in which the length of the cylindrical portion 100 in the axial direction is increased. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a roller device 2 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a cross-sectional structure of a roller device 2. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a nip roll type transport mechanism 3 in a third embodiment. [Figure 10] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the transport mechanism 3 as viewed from the upstream side in the transport direction. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a belt conveyor type transfer mechanism 4 in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the transport mechanism 4 as viewed from one side in the axial direction. [Figure 13] 13 is a diagram illustrating an example in which the output shaft of the reducer 30 in the roller device 1 is changed to a flange type. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] At least the following points will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] (Aspect 1) A roller device provided in a conveying mechanism for conveying materials related to hygiene products in a conveying direction, the roller device having: a mounting post attached to a vertical wall portion; a support portion provided at the tip of the mounting post; a drive portion for rotating the roller device, the drive portion having an output shaft side supported by the support portion; and a cylindrical portion rotatably attached to the output shaft and accommodating at least a part of the drive portion in a space on its inner side, the support portion being located at the center in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion.

[0011] According to the roller device of the first aspect, a load acts on the mounting pillar and the support part, and the drive part is unlikely to be loaded, and a large moment is unlikely to act, so that a stable rotation operation (conveying operation) can be easily performed. In addition, since the mounting pillar is attached to the vertical wall part on the other side in the axial direction and one side in the axial direction is open, the mounting structure can be simplified. In addition, since the cylindrical part is supported at the center in the axial direction, tilting of the cylindrical part is suppressed, and a more stable conveying operation can be performed.

[0012] (Aspect 2) 2. The roller device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical portion is supported only by a hub attached to the output shaft.

[0013] According to the roller device of aspect 2, the position at which the load is received by the hub is fixed to one location at the center of the cylindrical portion in the axial direction, thereby preventing the center of the cylindrical portion from being significantly deflected by the load acting on the cylindrical portion, making it easier to achieve more stable conveying operations.

[0014] (Aspect 3) A roller device as described in aspect 1 or 2, wherein the cylindrical portion has a tube portion and a protrusion portion protruding from the inner side of the tube portion, and the hub has a mating portion that engages with the protrusion portion and a ring portion having an outer diameter larger than that of the mating portion, and the outer diameter of the ring portion is smaller than the inner diameter of the tube portion.

[0015] According to the roller device of the third aspect, when the hub is inserted into the space on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion and the hub is fastened to the cylindrical portion, the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion and the outer periphery of the hub are unlikely to interfere with each other. Therefore, the operation of connecting the output shaft and the cylindrical portion via the hub can be performed accurately and smoothly.

[0016] (Aspect 4) A roller device according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the hub has an air hole for allowing air to pass from one side to the other side in the axial direction.

[0017] According to the roller device of the fourth aspect, the cylindrical portion as a whole is ensured to have good ventilation from one end to the other end in the axial direction, and the heat released from the drive portion is prevented from being trapped in the space on the inner periphery side of the cylindrical portion. This improves heat dissipation and facilitates more stable conveying operation.

[0018] (Aspect 5) A roller device according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the drive unit is supported by the support unit via a reducer.

[0019] According to the roller device of the fifth aspect, the drive unit is supported by the support unit via a highly rigid reducer, which makes it easier to stabilize the support state of the drive unit and perform a stable conveying operation, compared to when the drive unit is directly supported by the support unit. In addition, the provision of the reducer makes it easier to appropriately adjust the rotation speed and torque output by the drive unit.

[0020] (Aspect 6) A roller device according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, wherein the reducer is a planetary reducer, and a reduction ratio of the reducer is from 1 / 3 to 1 / 5.

[0021] According to the roller device of the sixth aspect, a suitable conveying speed can be easily achieved by rotating the cylindrical part at a rotation speed of about 1 / 3 to 1 / 5 of the rated output of the driving part. Therefore, the conveying operation can be efficiently performed while the driving part is operated at the rated output.

[0022] (Aspect 7) A roller device according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, having no portion that protrudes across the vertical wall portion from the side to which the mounting post is attached.

[0023] According to the roller device of the seventh aspect, the installation is easy because the installation work is completed only on one side of the vertical wall in the axial direction. Also, since there are no parts protruding from the opposite side of the vertical wall, it does not get in the way of installing other parts or devices on the opposite side, and the degree of freedom in the layout design of the entire device, including the conveying mechanism, can be increased.

[0024] (Aspect 8) A roller device as described in any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein the mounting support is provided along the axial direction and is not positioned in at least one of the following locations: above the drive unit, below the drive unit, upstream of the drive unit in the conveying direction, and downstream of the drive unit in the conveying direction.

[0025] According to the roller device of aspect 8, heat released from the drive unit is less likely to accumulate in areas where no mounting posts are provided, improving heat dissipation. Also, it becomes easier to secure space for installing various cables connected to the drive unit, and the cables can be arranged without being interfered with by the mounting posts.

[0026] (Aspect 9) A roller device according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the mounting posts are arranged in three locations among the above the drive unit, the below the drive unit, the upstream side of the drive unit in the conveying direction, and the downstream side of the drive unit in the conveying direction.

[0027] According to the roller device of the ninth aspect, by providing the mounting posts in three places, the support part is supported by the three mounting posts as if on a tripod. Therefore, it is possible to secure the installation space for the cable, improve the heat dissipation, and support the support part more stably and firmly.

[0028] (Aspect 10) The roller device according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, which constitutes a nip roll type conveying mechanism that conveys the material in the conveying direction while sandwiching and pressurizing the material between a nip roll having a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the roller device.

[0029] According to the roller device of the tenth aspect, the nip pressure applied by the nip roll is easily applied evenly to the entire axial direction of the cylindrical portion of the roller device. Therefore, gaps are less likely to occur in the portion where the nip roll and the cylindrical portion face each other, and the conveying operation can be easily stabilized. In addition, the application of even nip pressure makes it easier to suppress wrinkles on the conveyed medium (material) and fluttering due to speed unevenness.

[0030] (Aspect 11) The roller device according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, which constitutes a belt conveyor-type transport mechanism that transports the material placed on a circular belt in the transport direction by rotating the belt.

[0031] According to the roller device of the eleventh aspect, the conveyor belt can be driven by the roller device that can rotate without distortion or tilt, thereby enabling stable transportation. In addition, the highly stable cylindrical part of the roller device makes it easier to adjust the tension of the belt to a constant level, thereby enabling stable transportation with little loss.

[0032] (Aspect 12) A material transport method for transporting materials related to hygiene products in a transport direction using a transport mechanism equipped with a roller device, the roller device having a mounting post attached to a vertical wall portion, a support portion provided at the tip of the mounting post, a drive portion for rotating the roller device, the drive portion having an output shaft side supported by the support portion, and a cylindrical portion rotatably attached to the output shaft and accommodating at least a part of the drive portion in a space on its inner side, the support portion being located in the center of the axial direction of the cylindrical portion.

[0033] According to the material conveying method of the twelfth aspect, a load acts on the mounting pillar and support of the roller device, and a load is unlikely to be applied to the drive unit and the reducer, and a large moment is unlikely to act on the roller device. Therefore, the position of the output shaft is unlikely to deviate from the central axis of the roller device, and stable conveying operation is easily performed. In addition, since the cylindrical portion is supported at the center in the axial direction, the cylindrical portion is prevented from tilting, and the conveying operation is more stable.

[0034] ===First embodiment=== As a roller device according to a first embodiment, a roller device 1 constituting a conveying mechanism for conveying materials related to sanitary products such as disposable diapers and sanitary napkins will be described.

[0035] <Basic configuration of roller device 1> FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the roller device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the cross-sectional configuration of the roller device 1 in the state shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 1 to 3, a vertical direction, a conveying direction, and an axial direction, which are orthogonal to each other, are defined. The conveying direction is the direction in which materials are conveyed, and the axial direction is the direction along the rotation axis (the central axis of the roller device 1) CA when the roller device 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (or the opposite direction). In addition, for the sake of explanation, FIG. 1 illustrates the cylindrical portion 100 as being transparent, so that the space inside (the inner circumferential side) of the cylindrical portion 100 can be seen through the cylindrical portion 100 from the outside.

[0036] The roller device 1 has a mounting post 10, a support section 20, a reducer 30, a drive section 40, a hub 50, a shaft fastening section 60, and a cylindrical section 100. The roller device 1 is fixed to a vertical wall section PL (corresponding to a so-called end plate) that stands vertically (in the up-down direction in FIG. 1) from a horizontal plane such as the ground or a base frame.

[0037] The mounting support 10 is a plate-like member for mounting the roller device 1 to the vertical wall PL, and is formed of a metal plate having a predetermined length. In the first embodiment, a plurality of mounting supports 10 are provided along the axial direction. Specifically, three mounting supports 10 are provided: an upstream support 11 provided upstream of the driving unit 40 in the conveying direction, a downstream support 12 provided downstream of the driving unit 40 in the conveying direction, and a lower support 13 provided below the driving unit 40 in the up-down direction. Each of the supports 11 to 13 is joined and fixed to a plate-like fixed plate 15 on the other side in the axial direction, and is attached to the vertical wall PL via the fixed plate 15. However, the mounting supports 10 (supports 11 to 13) may be directly attached to the vertical wall PL without the fixed plate 15.

[0038] The support part 20 is provided at one end (tip) in the axial direction of the mounting pole 10 (pole 11-13), and is a part that supports the drive part 40 and the reducer 30. The support part 20 is a disk-shaped member that is placed in the space on the inner periphery side of the cylindrical part 100, and has a fixing hole 21 of a predetermined size in the radial center (see FIG. 3). The fixing hole 21 is a slot for fixing and supporting the reducer 30 or the drive part 40.

[0039] The reducer 30 is a device for adjusting the rotation speed of the output shaft 42 of the drive unit 40, and in the first embodiment, a known planetary reducer is used. The reducer 30 has a housing 31, an input shaft (not shown), and an output shaft 32 coaxial with the input shaft. Note that an internal gear, a plurality of planetary gears, a planetary carrier, etc. are provided inside the housing 31 (none of which are shown), but since the structure and function of the planetary reducer itself are known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0040] At least a portion of the housing 31 of the reducer 30 is fitted inside the fixing hole 21 of the support part 20, so that the side (one side in the axial direction) where the output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 is provided is supported by the support part 20 (see Figs. 2 and 3). At this time, the reducer 30 is supported so that the axial centers of the input shaft and output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 overlap with the central axis (rotation shaft) CA of the roller device 1. The input shaft of the reducer 30 is connected to the output shaft 42 of the drive part 40, which will be described later, and the rotation speed (number of rotations) input from the output shaft 42 to the input shaft of the reducer 30 is reduced and output from the output shaft 32.

[0041] The driving unit 40 is a motor that generates power for rotating the roller device 1, and has a housing 41 and an output shaft 42. The housing 41 of the driving unit 40 can be connected to the housing 31 of the reduction gear 30 (see Figs. 2 and 3), and when the two are connected, the output shaft 42 of the driving unit 40 and the input shaft of the reduction gear 30 are connected with their axes aligned, and the rotation output by the driving unit 40 is input to the reduction gear 30. That is, in the first embodiment, the driving unit 40 is supported by the support unit 20 via the reduction gear 30.

[0042] However, the reduction gear 30 does not necessarily have to be provided. For example, when there is no need to adjust the rotation speed or torque of the rotation output by the drive unit 40, the drive unit 40 may be directly supported by the support unit 20 without the reduction gear 30 (see the second embodiment). In the following, when the output shaft 32 of the reduction gear 30 is described, the description also applies to the output shaft 42 of the drive unit 40.

[0043] In a state where the output shaft side of the driving unit 40 is supported by the support unit 20 via the reducer 30, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, at least a part of the driving unit 40 is accommodated in the space on the inner periphery side of the cylindrical portion 100. This allows the roller device 1 to be configured compactly as a whole (mainly in terms of length in the axial direction) compared to a case where the entire driving unit 40 is disposed protruding outside the cylindrical portion 100. In addition, a connection port 45 is provided on the upper side in the vertical direction and the other side in the axial direction of the housing 41 to connect a control cable for controlling the driving unit 40 and a power cable for supplying power. In FIG. 3, the connection port 45 is provided exposed outside (the other side in the axial direction) of the space on the inner periphery side of the cylindrical portion 100, so that it is easy to prevent accidents such as a cable connected to the connection port 45 coming into contact with the cylindrical portion 100 and breaking during the rotational operation of the roller device 1 (cylindrical portion 100).

[0044] The hub 50 is attached to the output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 or the output shaft 42 of the drive unit 40, and is a generally flange-shaped member that supports the cylindrical portion 100. The hub 50 has a cylindrical insertion portion 51 for insertion into the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42) and attachment, and a flange portion 52 for connecting the cylindrical portion 100. The inner diameter of the insertion portion 51 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42), and a shaft fastening portion 60, which will be described later, is used when attaching and fixing the hub 50 to the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42).

[0045] The flange portion 52 has a mating portion 521 for mating with the protrusion 102 (see FIG. 3) protruding toward the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 100, and a ring portion 522 having an outer diameter larger than that of the mating portion 521. The ring portion 522 is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 54, 54... at equal intervals along the circumferential direction for inserting fastening bolts for fastening the ring portion 522 to the protrusion 102. In addition, a plurality of ventilation holes 55, 55... are provided at equal intervals along the circumferential direction by penetrating the ring portion 522 in the axial direction to ensure ventilation in the axial direction.

[0046] The shaft fastening portion 60 is inserted between the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42) of the reducer 30 and the flange portion 52 of the hub 50, and is a portion for fixing the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42) and the hub 50 by frictional force to integrate them. In this embodiment, the shaft fastening portion 60 elastically deforms outward and inward in the radial direction, so that the gap between the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42) and the shaft fastening portion 60 and the gap between the hub 50 and the shaft fastening portion 60 become zero, and a large frictional force is generated at the contact portion. By using such a shaft fastening portion 60, it is not necessary to perform key groove processing or the like, and the hub 50 can be easily and stably attached to the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42). In addition, by using the shaft fastening portion 60, it is easy to adjust the rotation axis of the hub 50 and the rotation axis of the output shaft 32 (output shaft 42) to be aligned with the center axis (rotation axis) CA of the roller device 1.

[0047] The cylindrical part 100 is a pipe-shaped member with a hollow inner circumference, and includes a tube part 101 and a protruding part 102 that is a part protruding from the inner circumference of the tube part 101. The tube part 101 can convey a medium to be conveyed (e.g., materials for sanitary goods) placed on the outer circumferential surface of the tube part 101 in a conveying direction intersecting with the central axis (rotation axis) CA by rotating about the central axis (rotation axis) CA (see FIG. 1). The protruding part 102 is a part for attaching the cylindrical part 100 to the hub 50. As shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the protruding part 102 is engaged with the engagement part 521 of the hub 50, and is fastened to the ring part 522 by a fastening bolt. As a result, the cylindrical part 100 is attached to the output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 (the output shaft 42 of the drive part 40) via the hub 50 in a state in which it cannot rotate relatively.

[0048] <Conveying Operation Using Roller Device 1> In the roller device 1, the medium to be transported can be transported in the transport direction by rotating the cylindrical portion 100, which is attached so as to be coaxial with the output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 (output shaft 42 of the drive unit 40), based on the rotational force output by the drive unit 40.

[0049] Conventionally, roller devices used to transport media (materials) have often been structured so that the rollers are supported at both ends in the axial direction in order to ensure stable rotation. In such cases, it becomes necessary to provide a support frame or base on both sides in the axial direction, which makes installation on the vertical wall (panel) complicated and requires a large installation space, reducing the freedom of layout of the entire device.

[0050] On the other hand, if the roller device is supported on only one side in the axial direction (i.e., if a cantilever support structure is used), the load acting on the roller section is likely to cause the entire roller device to bend, which could result in insufficient stability during conveying operations.

[0051] In contrast, the roller device 1 of this embodiment is supported from one side in the axial direction, thereby simplifying the mounting structure, and by appropriately adjusting the support method, a stable conveying operation can be achieved.

[0052] Specifically, in the roller device 1, the entire load is supported by the mounting post 10 attached to the vertical wall portion PL and the support portion 20 provided at the tip portion (one axial side) of the mounting post 10. That is, the load of the roller device 1 itself and the load of the transported medium (material) received by the cylindrical portion 100 are supported by the mounting post 10 and the support portion 20, which have high rigidity, so that the drive portion 40 and the reducer 30 are unlikely to be subjected to extremely large loads or moments.

[0053] If the mounting pillar 10 and the support 20 were not provided and the drive unit 40 and the reducer 30 were directly attached to the vertical wall PL at the other axial end, a large moment would be easily generated in the drive unit 40 and the reducer 30. In other words, if the drive unit 40 and the reducer 30 were in a cantilevered state and served as structural members bearing the load of the entire device and the load of the transported medium, the greater the load and the longer the axial distance from the vertical wall PL, the greater the moment acting on the drive unit 40 and the reducer 30, making them more likely to bend. In this case, it is difficult to perform a stable rotational operation (transport operation) of the roller device 1.

[0054] The roller device 1 of this embodiment is configured such that a load acts mainly on the mounting support 10 and the support portion 20, and is supported by the support portion 20. Furthermore, since the support portion 20 is located in the center of the cylindrical portion 100 in the axial direction, the drive portion 40 and the reducer 30 are unlikely to be subjected to a load or a large moment. Therefore, the positions of the output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 and the output shaft 42 of the drive portion 40 are unlikely to deviate from the central axis (rotation axis) CA of the roller device 1, and stable rotational operation (conveyance operation) is likely to be performed. The roller device 1 is attached to the vertical wall portion PL on the other side in the axial direction by the mounting support 10, while one side in the axial direction is open. In other words, there is no need to provide a support member or a mirror plate corresponding to the vertical wall portion PL on one side in the axial direction, and the mounting structure can be simplified.

[0055] Furthermore, in the roller device 1, since the support unit 20 is located in the central portion of the cylindrical portion 100 in the axial direction, the load balance during transport is excellent and a stable transport operation can be easily performed. Note that the "central portion in the axial direction" of the cylindrical portion 100 refers to the central portion when the cylindrical portion 100 is divided into thirds in the axial direction. For example, in FIG. 3, when the length of the cylindrical portion 100 in the axial direction is L100, the support unit 20 is located in the central region of the region obtained by dividing L100 into thirds.

[0056] When a transport medium (material) is transported using a transport roller such as the roller device 1, in order to prevent the cylindrical portion 100 from rotating in a tilted state due to the load balance of the cylindrical portion 100 being lost, or the transport medium from meandering, the transport is usually performed so that the central position of the transport medium (material) is aligned with the central position in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100. In other words, the vicinity of the central position in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100 is the center of gravity of the transport medium (material). In the roller device 1, since the support portion 20 is disposed in the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100, the support portion 20 is likely to support the vicinity of the center of gravity of the transport medium (material). Therefore, compared to a case in which the support position by the support portion 20 is significantly deviated from the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100, the cylindrical portion 100 is likely to be prevented from tilting, and a more stable transport operation is likely to be performed.

[0057] In addition, in the roller device 1, the cylindrical portion 100 is supported only by the hub 50. In other words, the cylindrical portion 100 is supported by the hub 50 at one point in the axial direction. This results in a load balance with the position where the hub 50 is present as the apex, and the load center of the transported medium (material) and the position of the hub 50 are aligned in the axial direction, making it easier to achieve a stable transport operation. FIG. 4A is a diagram for explaining the transport operation of a conventional roller device 5 in which the rollers are supported on both sides in the axial direction as a comparative example. FIG. 4B is a diagram for explaining the transport operation of the roller device 1 according to this embodiment in which the rollers are supported at the center in the axial direction.

[0058] In the roller device 5 of the comparative example, support parts are provided at both ends in the axial direction, and the load of the cylindrical part 100 is supported at both ends in the axial direction. When the load of the medium (material) to be conveyed acts on the cylindrical part 100 in this state, the farther the distance from the support parts, the more likely the cylindrical part 100 to bend, and as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4A, the greater the bending of the cylindrical part 100 may be at the center in the axial direction. When such bending occurs, the medium (material) to be conveyed may wrinkle or meander during conveyance. In particular, when bending occurs in a nip roll type conveyance mechanism (see FIG. 9) described later, uniform pressing is not applied between the nip roll and the cylindrical part 100, and problems such as the medium (material) to be conveyed being wrinkled or air being entrained are likely to occur.

[0059] In contrast, in the roller device 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the cylindrical portion 100 is supported only by the hub 50 arranged near the center in the axial direction, so bending is unlikely to occur, and even if bending occurs, it is a small bending with an upward convex shape as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4B, so there is less risk of wrinkles occurring in the transported medium (material) or meandering during transport compared to a large bending with a downward concave shape as shown in FIG. 4A. Therefore, it becomes easier to realize a more stable transport operation. In particular, in a nip roll type transport mechanism (see FIG. 9) described later, uniform pressing is easily applied between the nip roll and the cylindrical portion 100, and problems such as wrinkles occurring in the transported medium (material) or air being entrained can be reduced.

[0060] In addition, in the roller device 1 of the first embodiment, the driving unit 40 is supported by the support unit 20 via the reducer 30. In general, a planetary reducer such as the reducer 30 is designed to have sufficient strength to ensure smooth movement of the planetary gears provided inside the housing 31 while maintaining the same. Therefore, the housing 31 of the reducer 30 is often at least more rigid than the housing 41 of the driving unit 40. Therefore, by configuring the support unit 20 to support the driving unit 40 via the reducer 30 with high rigidity, the stability of the driving unit 40 can be increased compared to when the driving unit 40 is directly supported. This makes it easier to perform a stable conveying operation. In addition, by providing the reducer 30, it is easier to appropriately adjust the rotation speed and torque output by the driving unit 40.

[0061] The reduction gear 30 provided in the roller device 1 preferably has a reduction ratio of 1 / 3 to 1 / 5. That is, it is preferable to use a planetary reduction gear capable of adjusting the rotation speed so that the value obtained by dividing the rotation speed output by the output shaft 32 of the reduction gear 30 by the rotation speed output by the output shaft 42 of the drive unit 40 is within the range of 1 / 3 to 1 / 5. When the roller device 1 is used as a conveying mechanism such as a conveying roller, a suitable conveying speed is easily achieved when the cylindrical part 100 is rotated at a rotation speed of about 1 / 3 to 1 / 5 of the rated output of the drive unit 40 (for example, rated rotation speed: 3000 rpm). Therefore, by using the reduction gear 30 having such a reduction ratio, the drive unit 40 can be operated at a rated speed to efficiently perform the conveying operation.

[0062] In addition, the reducer 30 used in the roller device 1 is preferably a planetary reducer from the viewpoint of the load resistance relative to the dimensions of the device and the above reduction ratio. Therefore, in the roller device 1 of the first embodiment, a planetary reducer is applied as the reducer 30, rather than a Cyclo reducer (registered trademark) or other reducers.

[0063] The hub 50 is also provided with ventilation holes 55 that allow air to pass from one side to the other side in the axial direction. This ensures ventilation between one end and the other end in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100 (roller device 1) as a whole, and prevents heat released from the drive unit 40 from being trapped in the space on the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 100. This improves the heat dissipation of the roller device 1, making it easier to perform a more stable conveying operation.

[0064] Moreover, the roller device 1 is attached to the vertical wall PL using the mounting support 10 (and the fixed plate 15), and during attachment, no parts such as mounting bolts are provided on the other axial surface of the vertical wall PL. In other words, there is no part that protrudes across the vertical wall PL to the side opposite to the side to which the mounting support 10 is attached. With this configuration, attachment is easy because the attachment work is completed on only one axial surface of the vertical wall PL. Also, since there are no parts that protrude on the opposite surface of the vertical wall PL, they do not get in the way when installing other parts or devices on the opposite surface, and the degree of freedom in layout design of the entire device, including the conveying mechanism, can be increased.

[0065] Moreover, the mounting support 10 is not provided at least at one of the above the driving unit 40, the below the driving unit 40, the upstream side in the conveying direction of the driving unit 40, and the downstream side in the conveying direction of the driving unit 40. As described in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in the roller device 1, the mounting support 10 is provided at three places, the upstream conveying support 11 on the upstream side in the conveying direction, the downstream conveying support 12 on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the lower support 13 on the lower side in the up-down direction, and the mounting support 10 is not arranged on the above side of the driving unit 40. Since there is at least one place in the space around the driving unit 40 where the mounting support 10 is not provided, the heat released from the driving unit 40 is less likely to be trapped in the place where the mounting support 10 is not provided, and the heat dissipation can be improved. In addition, it is easier to secure a space for installing various cables connected to the driving unit 40, and the cables can be easily arranged without being interfered with by the mounting support 10.

[0066] If there is only one location in the space (top, bottom, left, right) around the drive unit 40 where a mounting post 10 is not provided, then mounting posts 10 are provided at three locations around the drive unit 40. By providing mounting posts 10 at three locations, the support unit 20 is supported by the three mounting posts 10 as if it were a tripod. This makes it possible to secure installation space for cables, improve heat dissipation, and support the support unit 20 more stably and firmly.

[0067] In this embodiment, the connection port 45 for connecting cables such as a power cable to the drive unit 40 is provided on the upper side of the drive unit 40, and since the mounting support 10 is not provided on the upper side, it is easy to secure space on the upper side, and the cable installation work and connection work are easy to perform. On the other hand, the mounting support 10 may be provided on the upper side of the drive unit 40, and the mounting support 10 may not be provided on the lower side. In this case, when performing work such as maintenance, the mounting support 10 provided on the upper side of the drive unit 40 can be used as a foothold, so that the workability can be improved. In addition, by securing a foothold for the worker, it is possible to prevent the cable from being accidentally stepped on. Furthermore, it is easy to prevent paper powder, garbage, etc. from accumulating on the upper surface side of the drive unit 40.

[0068] In addition, the flange portion 52 of the hub 50 provided in the roller device 1 has a ring portion 522 and a fitting portion 521, and the outer diameter D522 of the ring portion 522 is larger than the outer diameter D521 of the fitting portion 521 and smaller than the inner diameter d101 of the tube portion 101 of the cylindrical portion 100 (see FIG. 3). With this configuration, when the hub 50 is inserted into the space on the inner periphery side of the cylindrical portion 100 and the ring portion 522 of the hub 50 is fastened to the protrusion portion 102 of the cylindrical portion 100, the inner periphery surface of the cylindrical portion 100 and the outer periphery surface of the hub 50 are less likely to interfere with each other. Therefore, the operation of connecting the output shaft 32 (42) and the cylindrical portion 100 via the hub 50 can be performed accurately and smoothly.

[0069] <Modification> The roller device 1 can appropriately change the size of each part according to the size of the material to be conveyed and the width of the space where the device is installed. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example when the length in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100 is shortened. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example when the length in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100 is lengthened.

[0070] The modified example of the roller device 1 shown in FIG. 5 includes a cylindrical portion 100a. The length L100a in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100a is shorter than the length L100 in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100 of the roller device 1 described in FIGS. 1 to 3 (L100a < L100). Therefore, it is suitable for conveying a material with a narrow width in the axial direction. When changing the length of the cylindrical portion 100a, the length in the axial direction of the mounting column 10 is also changed. For other configurations, the same parts as those of the roller device 1 of the first embodiment can be used. That is, the state of the modified example shown in FIG. 5 can be obtained only by replacing the cylindrical portion 100 and the mounting column 10 of the roller device 1.

[0071] Similarly, the modified example of the roller device 1 shown in FIG. 6 includes a cylindrical portion 100b. The length L100b in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100b is longer than the length L100 in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100 of the roller device 1 described in FIGS. 1 to 3 (L100b > L100). Therefore, it is suitable for conveying a material with a wide width in the axial direction.

[0072] In addition, also in the modified examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the length of the mounting column 10 is adjusted so that the support portion 20 and the hub 50 are located at the central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100a (100b). Thereby, stable conveyance can be realized regardless of the length of the cylindrical portion 100a (100b).

[0073] ===Second Embodiment=== In the second embodiment, a roller device 2 not including a reduction gear 30 will be described. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the roller device 2 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the cross-sectional structure of the roller device 2, and corresponds to Fig. 3 of the first embodiment.

[0074] The roller device 2 of the second embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to that of the roller device 1 of the first embodiment, except that the reducer 30 is not provided, and the configurations of the various parts such as the cylindrical portion 100 and the hub 50 supporting the cylindrical portion 100 are common to those of the roller device 1. On the other hand, the driving unit 40 of the roller device 2 is directly supported by the support unit 20 without the reducer 30, and differs from the roller device 1 in that the hub 50 is attached to the output shaft 42 of the driving unit 40 (see FIG. 8).

[0075] Even with the roller device 2 having such a configuration, it is possible to realize the same function as the roller device 1 of the first embodiment. That is, since the weight of the roller device 2 and the load due to the transported medium (material) are mainly supported by the mounting pillar 10 and the support part 20, a large load is unlikely to act on the drive part 40. And, since the support part 20 and the hub 50 are located in the center of the cylindrical part 100 in the axial direction, the deflection and tilt of the cylindrical part 100 are suppressed, and it is easy to perform a stable transport operation. Also, since the roller device 2 is attached to the vertical wall part PL on the other side in the axial direction and one side in the axial direction is open, there is no need to provide a support member on one side in the axial direction or a mirror plate corresponding to the vertical wall part PL, and the mounting structure can be simplified.

[0076] ===Third embodiment=== In the third embodiment, a nip roll type transport mechanism 3 is described, which transports a medium (material) in a transport direction by rotating two rolls while applying pressure to the medium. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the nip roll type transport mechanism 3 in the third embodiment. Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the transport mechanism 3 as viewed from the upstream side in the transport direction.

[0077] The transport mechanism 3 includes the roller device 1 described in the first embodiment, and a nip roll device 200 having a rotation axis CA2 parallel to the rotation axis CA of the roller device 1. The roller device 1 is similar to that of the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Note that it is also possible to configure a nip roll type transport mechanism 3 by using the roller device 2 of the second embodiment instead of the roller device 1.

[0078] The nip roll device 200 includes a mounting support 210, a pressure unit 220, a support unit 230, and a nip roll 240. In Figs. 9 and 10, the nip roll device 200 is provided on the upper side of the roller device 1 in the vertical direction. The mounting support 210 is a member that is attached to the vertical wall portion PL on the other side in the axial direction and supports the pressure unit 220 on one side in the axial direction. The pressure unit 220 is a portion that applies pressure from the upper side to the lower side in the vertical direction to the nip roll 240, and includes a piston portion 221. The piston portion 221 is a portion that is driven by a pressure drive unit (not shown) and moves relatively in the vertical direction to apply pressure (nip pressure) to the cylindrical portion 100 of the roller device 1 arranged on the lower side of the nip roll device 200. The support portion 230 is a portion that is provided at the bottom of the piston portion 221 and supports the nip roll 240 rotatably around a rotation axis CA2.

[0079] The nip roll 240 is a cylindrical part, and is arranged so that the outer circumferential surface of the nip roll 240 is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical part 100 of the roller device 1. The nip roll 240 is pressed downward by the pressure unit 220, thereby applying pressure (nip pressure) to the cylindrical part 100 and rotating in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical part 100. Pressure is applied in a direction to bring the rotation axis CA2 of the nip roll 240 closer to the rotation axis CA of the roller device 1 (cylindrical part 100), and the medium to be conveyed (material) is sandwiched between the cylindrical part 100 and the nip roll 240 and rotated while applying nip pressure, thereby conveying the non-conveyed medium in the rotation direction (conveying direction).

[0080] When such a nip roll type conveying mechanism 3 is constructed using the roller device 1, the nip pressure applied by the nip roll 240 tends to act uniformly over the entire axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100. As described in FIG. 4B, the cylindrical portion 100 of the roller device 1 is supported by the hub 50 at the center in the axial direction, and has a structure that tends to suppress bending or tilting due to a load acting on the cylindrical portion 100. Therefore, a gap caused by bending or tilting is unlikely to occur in the portion where the nip roll 240 and the cylindrical portion 100 face each other, and a uniform nip pressure acts over the entire axial direction of the cylindrical portion 100, making it easier to stabilize the conveying operation. In addition, the uniform nip pressure makes it easier to suppress wrinkles on the conveyed medium (material) and fluttering due to speed unevenness.

[0081] ===Fourth embodiment=== In the fourth embodiment, a belt conveyor type transport mechanism 4 will be described, which rotates a ring-shaped belt using a transport roller to transport a medium placed on the belt in the rotation direction (transport direction) of the belt. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the belt conveyor type transport mechanism 4 in the fourth embodiment. Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the transport mechanism 4 as viewed from one side in the axial direction.

[0082] The transport mechanism 4 includes the roller device 1 described in the first embodiment, a belt 310, a driven roller 320, and a support frame 350. The roller device 1 is similar to that in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted. Note that it is also possible to configure a belt conveyor type transport mechanism 4 by using the roller device 2 of the second embodiment instead of the roller device 1.

[0083] The belt 310 is a portion in which a band member having a predetermined width in the axial direction is formed in a ring shape, and is wound around the cylindrical portion 100 and the driven roller 320 of the roller device 1. In addition, a plurality of through holes 311, 311 ... penetrating the belt 310 in the thickness direction are distributed on the surface of the belt 310 (see FIG. 11). The driven roller 320 is a cylindrical member disposed downstream of the roller device 1 in the conveying direction and having a rotation axis CA3 parallel to the rotation axis CA of the roller device 1. When the cylindrical portion 100 of the roller device 1 rotates, the belt 310 wound around the cylindrical portion 100 rotates in the rotation direction of the cylindrical portion 100, and the driven roller 320 rotates in the same rotation direction with the rotation of the belt 310. The support frame 350 is provided between the roller device 1 and the driven roller 320 in the conveying direction, and is a portion that supports the driven roller 320. The support frame 350 of this embodiment is provided with a suction mechanism (not shown) that sucks air from the outside to the inside.

[0084] When the conveying operation is performed using the conveying mechanism 4, the cylindrical part 100 of the roller device 1 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction with the conveyed medium (material) placed on the upper surface of the belt 310 (see FIG. 12). As a result, the belt 310 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical part 100 and the driven roller 320, and the conveyed medium (material) placed on the upper surface of the belt 310 is conveyed in the conveying direction. During the conveying operation of the conveying mechanism 4, when the belt 310 passes above the support frame 350, air is sucked in by a suction mechanism provided in the support frame 350, and the air is sucked in through the through holes 311, and a negative pressure acts on the upper surface of the belt 310. As a result, the conveyed medium (material) placed on the upper surface of the belt 310 can be conveyed while being stably held.

[0085] When such a belt conveyor type transport mechanism 4 is configured using the roller device 1, the cylindrical portion 100 of the roller device 1 can rotate without distortion or tilt, and can stably drive the belt 310. In addition, the highly stable cylindrical portion 100 of the roller device 1 makes it easier to adjust the belt tension to a constant level, achieving a stable transport operation with little loss.

[0086] ===Other embodiments=== Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[0087] In the above-described embodiment, in the roller device 1 and the roller device 2, the output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 or the output shaft 42 of the drive unit 40 is either an elongated rod-shaped shaft, and the cylindrical portion 100 is supported via the hub 50 attached to the rod-shaped output shaft 32 or the output shaft 42 using the shaft fastening portion 60. However, the output shaft 32 of the reducer 30 (the output shaft 42 of the drive unit 40) may be of a flange type. In other words, the cylindrical portion 100 may be directly supported by the flange type output shaft 32, 42 without using the hub 50.

[0088] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining an example in which the output shaft of the reducer 30 in the roller device 1 is changed to a flange-type shape. In FIG. 13, a flange-type output shaft 33 is provided as the output shaft of the reducer 30. The flange-type output shaft 33 is a disk-shaped output shaft having a larger outer diameter than the rod-shaped output shaft 32 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and one end (tip) in the axial direction is formed in a wide flat shape. A hub 50 is attached to this flat surface. The hub 50 can be attached to the flange-type output shaft 33 using a mounting bolt 56, and does not require a shaft fastening part 60 for mounting. If a reducer 30 (drive part 40) equipped with such a flange-type output shaft is used, the axial length is shorter than that of the rod-shaped output shaft 32, so space saving is possible and the load-bearing performance is also improved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 1 Roller device (first embodiment), 2 Roller device (second embodiment), 3 Conveying mechanism (nip roll type conveying mechanism, third embodiment), 4 Conveying mechanism (belt conveyor type conveying mechanism, fourth embodiment), 10 mounting posts, 11 upstream support of conveying, 12 downstream support of conveying, 13 lower support, 15 Fixing plate, 20 support part; 21 fixing hole, 30 reducer, 31 housing, 32 output shaft, 33 Flange type output shaft, 40 Drive unit, 41 housing, 42 output shaft, 45 connection port, 50 hub, 51 Insertion part, 52 flange portion, 521 joint portion, 522 ring portion, 54 bolt hole, 55 ventilation hole, 56 mounting bolt, 60 shaft fastening portion, 100 cylindrical portion, 100a cylindrical portion, 100b cylindrical portion, 101 pipe section, 102 protrusion section, 200 Nip roll device, 210 mounting support, 220 pressure section, 230 support section, 240 nip roll, 310 belt, 311 through hole, 320 driven roller, 350 support frame, PL Vertical wall (mirror plate), CA rotation axis (center axis), CA2 Rotating shaft (transport mechanism 3), CA3 Rotation axis (Transport mechanism 4)

Claims

1. A roller device provided in a conveying mechanism for conveying materials related to hygiene products in a conveying direction, comprising: a mounting post attached to the vertical wall; A support portion provided at a tip end of the mounting pole; A drive unit that rotates the roller device, the output shaft side of the drive unit being supported by the support unit; a cylindrical portion rotatably attached to the output shaft and accommodating at least a portion of the drive portion in a space on an inner circumferential side thereof; having A roller device, characterized in that the support portion is located at a central portion in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion.

2. 2. The roller device of claim 1, A roller device, characterized in that the cylindrical portion is supported only by a hub attached to the output shaft.

3. 3. The roller device according to claim 2, The cylindrical portion has a tube portion and a protrusion portion protruding from an inner circumferential side of the tube portion, The hub has an engagement portion that engages with the protrusion and a ring portion having an outer diameter larger than that of the engagement portion, A roller device, characterized in that an outer diameter of the ring portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the tube portion.

4. 3. The roller device according to claim 2, A roller device characterized in that the hub has an air vent that allows air to pass from one side to the other in the axial direction.

5. A roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A roller device, characterized in that the drive unit is supported by the support unit via a reducer.

6. 6. The roller device according to claim 5, The reducer is a planetary reducer, A roller device characterized in that the reduction ratio of the reducer is 1 / 3 to 1 / 5.

7. A roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A roller device characterized in that it has no portion that protrudes across the vertical wall portion on the side opposite to the side to which the mounting post is attached.

8. A roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The mounting post is provided along the axial direction, A roller device characterized in that it is not arranged in at least one of the following locations: above the drive unit, below the drive unit, upstream of the drive unit in the conveying direction, and downstream of the drive unit in the conveying direction.

9. 9. The roller device of claim 8, A roller device characterized in that the mounting posts are arranged in three locations among the above-mentioned drive unit, the below-mentioned drive unit, the upstream side of the drive unit in the conveying direction, and the downstream side of the drive unit in the conveying direction.

10. A roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A roller device comprising a nip roll type conveying mechanism that conveys the material in the conveying direction while sandwiching and pressurizing the material between a nip roll having a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis of the roller device.

11. A roller device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A roller device which constitutes a belt conveyor type transport mechanism that transports the material placed on a circular belt in the transport direction by rotating the belt.

12. A material conveying method for conveying materials related to hygiene products in a conveying direction using a conveying mechanism having a roller device, comprising: The roller device includes: a mounting post attached to the vertical wall; A support portion provided at a tip end of the mounting pole; A drive unit that rotates the roller device, the output shaft side of the drive unit being supported by the support unit; a cylindrical portion rotatably attached to the output shaft and accommodating at least a portion of the drive portion in a space on an inner circumferential side thereof; having A material transport method, characterized in that the support portion is located at the axial center of the cylindrical portion.

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