Width variable belt conveyor apparatus

Abstract

To provide a width variable belt conveyor apparatus, when a conveyor belt is damaged, which allows the easy replacement of the conveyance belt with reduced man hours.SOLUTION: A width variable conveyor apparatus comprises a pair of left and right conveyor frames 5, 6 having conveyor belts 11, 12 wound around conveyor pulleys 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, relatively movably in a belt width direction. The conveyor belts 11, 12 are endless, are wound around the conveyor pullies 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b of the respective conveyor frames 5, 6 replaceably on the left and right sides, and comprise linkage means 44 for co-rotatably linking the conveyor pullies 7b, 8b on the driving side of the respective conveyor frames 5, 6 in the regulation range of a belt width between the respective conveyor belts 11, 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a variable-width belt conveyor device capable of adjusting the belt width according to the dimensions of a workpiece or the like.

Background Art

[0002] In an inspection system for an IC substrate or the like, in a belt conveyor device that supports a workpiece from below by two left and right conveying belt portions arranged on both sides in the belt width direction and conveys it to an inspection unit, a variable-width type that can adjust the belt width determined by the interval between the left and right conveying belt portions according to the size of the object to be conveyed is used (Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this conventional variable-width belt conveyor device, of a pair of left and right conveyor frames that support the conveyor belt, one is a fixed reference-side frame, and the other conveyor frame is a moving-side frame that can move in the belt width direction with respect to the reference-side frame. A conveying belt portion that supports and conveys the workpiece from below is wound between the conveying pulleys at both front and rear ends of each conveyor frame.

[0004] Each conveying belt portion is constituted by a single endless conveying belt. The single conveying belt is wound in an S shape across the driving pulley of the driving motor from the conveying pulleys of the reference-side frame and the moving-side frame via the guide pulleys of the reference-side frame and the moving-side frame. The driving motor drives each conveying belt portion in synchronization in the conveying direction. The conveying pulley is rotatably provided around a horizontal axis, and the guide pulley and the driving pulley are rotatably provided around a vertical axis.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In this variable-width belt conveyor device, when the workpiece is large, the moving-side frame is moved in the belt width direction away from the reference-side frame to increase the distance between the left and right conveyor belt portions. When the workpiece is small, the moving-side frame is moved in the belt width direction closer to the reference-side frame to decrease the distance between the left and right conveyor belt portions. Thus, there is an advantage that the distance between the left and right conveyor belt portions can be adjusted while the endless conveyor belt is wound around each conveyor frame.

[0007] However, in a conventional variable-width belt conveyor device, a combination of a conveying pulley that rotates around a horizontal axis, a guiding pulley that rotates around a vertical axis, and a driving pulley is used. An endless conveyor belt is wound in an S shape across the driving pulley of the driving motor from the conveying pulleys of the reference-side frame and the moving-side frame via the guiding pulleys of the reference-side frame and the moving-side frame. Therefore, the overall configuration of the device is structurally complex. When the conveyor belt is damaged, it is necessary to integrally replace the conveyor belt portion that spans each conveyor frame, and the replacement work is complicated and requires a lot of man-hours.

[0008] In view of such conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a variable-width belt conveyor device that can easily replace the conveyor belt with few man-hours even when the conveyor belt is damaged.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] In a variable-width belt conveyor device including a pair of left and right conveyor frames having a conveyor belt wound around a conveying pulley and relatively movable in the belt width direction, the conveyor belt is endless, and is separately wound around the conveying pulleys of each conveyor frame on the left and right in a replaceable manner. Linking means is provided to link the conveying pulleys on the driving side of each conveyor frame so as to be synchronously rotatable within the adjustment range of the belt width between the conveyor belts.

[0010] It is desirable that one of the conveyor frames be a fixed reference-side frame, and the other conveyor frame be a movable-side frame that is relatively movable in the belt width direction with respect to the reference-side frame. Further, the conveyor pulleys are provided on the opposing sides of the respective conveyor frames, and when the interval between the two conveyor belts expands beyond the adjustment range of the belt width, it is desirable that there be an exchange space between the respective conveyor frames including the linking means where the conveyor belts can be separately exchanged with respect to the respective conveyor pulleys.

[0011] Furthermore, among the left and right conveyor pulleys on the driving side that drive the respective conveyor belts, one of the conveyor pulleys is a driving pulley supported by one of the conveyor frames, and the other conveyor pulley is a rotating pulley rotatably supported on the other conveyor frame on the same axis as the driving pulley. The linking means may include a linked portion provided on one of the driving pulley and the rotating pulley, and a linking portion provided on the other and capable of linking with the linked portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, there is an advantage that even when the conveyor belt is damaged, the conveyor belt can be easily exchanged with a small number of man-hours.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 11 illustrate an outer diameter dimension measuring device for measuring the outer diameter dimension of a workpiece. This outer diameter dimension measuring device measures the outer diameter dimension X (see FIG. 5) in a direction perpendicular to the axis Y of the workpiece W ground by a centerless grinding machine, and is used when sorting the workpiece W into good products and defective products according to the measurement result. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a variable-width belt conveyor device 1 that supports the workpiece W from below and continuously conveys it in the axial direction, an attachment removing means 2 that blows air onto the workpiece W on the belt conveyor device 1 to remove attachments, a measuring instrument 3 that measures the outer diameter dimension X of the workpiece W after attachment removal on the belt conveyor device 1, and a workpiece discharging device 4 that discharges the workpiece W into good products and defective products according to the measurement result of this measuring instrument 3.

[0015] The workpiece W is a cylindrical body, a cylinder, etc. having a cylindrical surface on the outer peripheral side, and is ground into a cylindrical shape by a centerless grinding machine. Note that the workpiece W is not limited to a straight cylindrical shape or a straight cylindrical shape, and may be configured with a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion via a stepped portion in the middle of the axial direction, or may have a circumferential groove portion in the middle thereof, etc., and may be configured with different diameters in the axial direction.

[0016] The belt conveyor device 1 includes conveyor frames 5 and 6 arranged substantially parallel to each other on both the left and right sides, conveyor pulley rows 7, 8, 9, and 10 arranged on the inner sides of the respective conveyor frames 5 and 6 facing each other, and left and right two conveyor belts 11, 12, 13, and 14 that are separately and replaceably wound around the conveyor pulley rows 7, 8, 9, and 10 of each conveyor frame 5 and 6 and support the work W from below and convey it in the axial direction thereof.

[0017] One pair of left and right conveyor frames 5 and 6 consists of a fixed reference-side frame 5 on one side and a movable-side frame 6 arranged to be relatively movable in the belt width direction (left and right direction) with respect to the reference-side frame 5 on the other side. On the opposing sides of the reference-side frame 5 and the movable-side frame 6, reference-side conveyor belts 11 and 13 and reference-side pulley rows 7 and 9 for winding the reference-side conveyor belts 11 and 13 are provided on the reference-side frame 5 side, and movable-side conveyor belts 12 and 14 and movable-side pulley rows 8 and 10 for winding the movable-side conveyor belts 12 and 14 are provided on the movable-side frame 6 side.

[0018] The conveyor belts 11 to 14 are endless and are composed of a wire or the like having a cross-sectional circular shape with the same diameter or substantially the same diameter for the entire length. Note that the conveyor belts 11 to 14 may be an inelastic wire or the like, an elastic belt having elasticity, or something other than a cross-sectional circular shape.

[0019] The belt conveyor device 1 includes an upstream conveyor 16 and a downstream conveyor 17 in series. Above the upstream conveyor 16 side, attachment removing means 2 is provided in a row in the conveying direction, and a measuring instrument 3 is provided straddling both the upper and lower sides on the downstream conveyor 17 side. The upstream conveyor 16 has a wider belt width between the conveyor belts 11 and 12 in order to improve the stability of the work W when passing under the attachment removing means 2. On the other hand, the downstream conveyor 17 has a narrower belt width between the conveyor belts 13 and 14 than the upstream conveyor 16 so that the left and right side surfaces in the diameter direction of the work W do not overlap vertically with the conveyor belts 13 and 14 when measuring the outer diameter dimension X of the work W by the measuring instrument 3.

[0020] The reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6 have a length straddling the upstream conveyor 16 and the downstream conveyor 17, are arranged substantially parallel on a support member (not shown) such as a fixed base, and the moving side frame 6 is supported so as to be relatively movable in the belt width direction (left - right direction) with respect to the reference side frame 5. Note that the reference side frame 5 may be fixed to the support member, and the moving side frame 6 may be attached to the support member via guiding means. That is, the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6 may be provided separately with respect to the support member. Also, the moving side frame 6 may be attached so as to be movable in the belt width direction with respect to the reference side frame 5, for example, by providing the moving side frame 6 via guiding means on the reference side frame 5. Further, the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6 may be provided in a suspended state below the support member.

[0021] At the most upstream side of the belt conveyor device 1, an inlet chute 20 for guiding the work W from the centerless grinding machine onto the upstream conveyor 16 is arranged. The deposit removing means 2 includes a plurality of air blowers 21 arranged downward on the upper side of the upstream conveyor 16, and blows air against the work W on the upstream conveyor 16 to remove deposits such as coolant.

[0022] The measuring instrument 3 includes a light projecting part 22 that projects parallel light rays such as laser light downward from above onto the work W on the downstream conveyor 17, and a light receiving part 23 that receives the parallel light rays such as laser light from the light projecting part 22 below the downstream conveyor 17. The outer diameter dimension X of the work W is measured from the light - shielding region in the left - right direction shielded by the work W in the light - receiving image of the light receiving part 23. The light projecting part 22 and the light receiving part 23 are arranged on the upper and lower sides sandwiching the downstream conveyor 17, and are attached in a cantilevered manner to a support frame 24 fixed to the reference side frame 5.

[0023] The light projecting unit 22 and the light receiving unit 23 have a light projecting area and a light receiving area that protrude outward in the left - right direction from the reference - side frame 5 and the moving - side frame 6. Even when both sides of the work W on the conveyor belts 13 and 14 in the belt width direction protrude outward from the reference - side frame 5 and the moving - side frame 6, light can be projected and received through both sides of the work W in the belt width direction. Notch portions 5a and 6a are provided in the reference - side frame 5 and the moving - side frame 6 corresponding to the light projecting area and the light receiving area. Note that the measuring device 3 may adopt other measuring methods such as an imaging type method.

[0024] The work discharging device 4 includes a discharge conveyor 25 arranged in series downstream of the downstream conveyor 17, a defective - product discharge chute 26 arranged on one side (left or right) of the discharge conveyor 25, a defective - product guide plate 27 for guiding the defective - product work W on the discharge conveyor 25 onto the defective - product discharge chute 26, a guide - plate driving means 28 such as a cylinder for driving the defective - product guide plate 27 toward the defective - product discharge chute 26 side, and a non - defective - product discharge chute 29 arranged in series downstream of the discharge conveyor 25.

[0025] This work discharging device 4, according to the measurement results of the non - defective and defective products of the work W by the measuring device 3, sends the work W from the discharge conveyor 25 to the non - defective - product discharge chute 29 when the work W is a non - defective product, and when the work W is a defective product, the guide - plate driving means 28 projects the defective - product guide plate 27 toward the defective - product discharge chute 26 side, and the defective - product guide plate 27 sends the defective - product work W from the discharge conveyor 25 to the defective - product discharge chute 26.

[0026] Note that the defective - product discharge chute 26 of the work discharging device 4 is provided on the reference - side frame 5, and the other discharge conveyor 25, defective - product guide plate 27, guide - plate driving means 28, and non - defective - product discharge chute 29 are provided on the moving - side frame 6 via a support frame 30 or the like.

[0027] On the upper and lower ends of the upstream conveyor 16, a reference-side conveying pulley pair 7 composed of reference-side conveying pulleys 7a and 7b, and a moving-side conveying pulley pair 8 composed of moving-side conveying pulleys 8a and 8b are provided. In the upstream conveyor 16, the reference-side conveying pulley 7b and the moving-side conveying pulley 8b on the downstream end side are the driving sides, and the reference-side conveying pulley 7a and the moving-side conveying pulley 8a on the upstream end side are the driven sides. A reference-side conveying belt 11 is separately wound around the reference-side conveying pulleys 7a and 7b, and a moving-side conveying belt 12 is separately wound around the moving-side conveying pulleys 8a and 8b.

[0028] Between the driving and driven conveying pulleys 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b of the upstream conveyor 16, a plurality of intermediate pulleys 7c, 8c are provided so as to receive the conveying parts of the reference-side conveying belt 11 and the moving-side conveying belt 12 from below, and tension adjusting means 7d, 8d such as tension adjusting pulleys for adjusting the tension of the reference-side conveying belt 11 and the moving-side conveying belt 12 are provided below the intermediate pulleys 7c, 8c. The tension adjusting means 7d, 8d are provided in the vicinity of the driving-side conveying pulleys 7b, 8b.

[0029] On the upper and lower ends of the downstream conveyor 17, a reference-side conveying pulley pair 9 composed of reference-side conveying pulleys 9a and 9b, and a moving-side conveying pulley pair 10 composed of moving-side conveying pulleys 10a and 10b are provided. In this downstream conveyor 17, the reference-side conveying pulleys 9a and 9b and the moving-side conveying pulleys 10a and 10b on the upper and lower ends are the driving sides, and a reference-side conveying belt 13 and a moving-side conveying belt 14 are respectively wound across the reference-side conveying pulleys 9a and 9b and the moving-side conveying pulleys 10a and 10b on both driving sides.

[0030] Between the driving-side conveying pulleys 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b on the upstream and downstream of the downstream conveyor 17, a plurality of intermediate pulleys 9c, 10c are provided so as to receive the conveying sides of the reference-side conveying belt 13 and the moving-side conveying belt 14 from below, and tension adjusting means 9d, 10d such as tension adjusting pulleys for adjusting the tension of the reference-side conveying belt 13 and the moving-side conveying belt 14 are provided below the intermediate pulleys 9c, 10c. The tension adjusting means 9d, 10d are provided in the vicinity of the driving-side conveying pulleys 9b, 10b.

[0031] As illustrated in Fig. 3 with the conveying pulley 7a and the conveying belt 11, a circumferential groove 32 for winding the conveying belt 11 is formed. The circumferential groove 32 has an outer wall 32a provided substantially perpendicular to the axis of the conveying pulley 7a on the outer side in the left - right direction of the conveying belt 11, and an inclined wall 32b that extends from the inner circumferential side of the outer wall 32a to the opposite side. The outer wall 32a guides the conveying belt 11 while preventing the conveying belt 11 from spreading outward. Other pulleys are the same as the conveying pulley 7a and the like.

[0032] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, on the downstream driving side of the upstream conveyor 16 and the upstream driving side of the downstream conveyor 17, a driving shaft 35, a rotating shaft 36, a reference - side driving pulley body 38, a moving - side idle pulley body 42, etc. are provided on substantially the same axis on the reference - side frame 5 and the moving - side frame 6.

[0033] The driving shaft 35 is rotatably arranged through a bearing case 37 on the reference - side frame 5 side. A reference - side driving pulley body 38 is fixed to the inner end side of the driving shaft 35, and a transmission pulley 40 of a winding transmission mechanism 39 is fixed to the outer end side. The rotating shaft 36 is rotatably arranged through a bearing case 41 on the moving - side frame 6 side, and a moving - side idle pulley body 42 is fixed to the inner end side thereof. Also, a linking means 44 for linking the reference - side driving pulley body 38 and the moving - side idle pulley body 42 is provided between them. This linking means 44 is capable of synchronously rotating the reference - side driving pulley body 38 and the moving - side idle pulley body 42 within the belt - width adjustment range of the conveying belts 11 - 14, and releasing the linkage when exceeding the belt - width adjustment range.

[0034] On each pulley body 38, 42, a large-diameter reference-side conveying pulley 7b and a moving-side conveying pulley 8b for the upstream conveyor 16 are concentrically and integrally provided on the outer side in the left-right direction, and a small-diameter reference-side conveying pulley 9a and a moving-side conveying pulley 10a for the downstream conveyor 17 are concentrically and integrally provided on the inner side in the left-right direction. And a reference-side conveying belt 11 and a moving-side conveying belt 12 are wound between the reference-side conveying pulley 7b and the moving-side conveying pulley 8b for the upstream conveyor 16 and the reference-side conveying pulley 7a and the moving-side conveying pulley 8b at the upstream end side having substantially the same shape as these. Also, a reference-side conveying belt 13 and a moving-side conveying belt 14 are wound between the reference-side conveying pulley 9a and the moving-side conveying pulley 10a for the downstream conveyor 17 and the reference-side conveying pulley 9b and the moving-side conveying pulley 10b at the downstream end side having substantially the same shape as these.

[0035] The difference in diameter between the large-diameter conveying pulleys 7b, 8b and the small-diameter conveying pulleys 9a, 10a of each pulley body 38, 42 is such that when the work W is transferred from the conveying belts 11, 12 on the upstream conveyor 16 side with a wide belt width to the conveying belts 13, 14 on the downstream conveyor 17 side with a narrow belt width, the work W can maintain a substantially constant height without a large vertical change.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5, the linking means 44 includes a linking portion 46 that projects substantially parallel to the drive shaft 35 and the rotating shaft 36 from the moving-side idle pulley body 42 toward the reference-side drive pulley body 38 side, and a linked portion 47 that is formed on the reference-side drive pulley body 38 and with which the linking portion 46 is slidably engaged in the belt width direction within the belt width adjustment range. When the distance between the reference-side frame 5 and the moving-side frame 6 is within the belt width adjustment range, the linking portion 46 and the linked portion 47 are engaged and linked, and when the distance between the reference-side frame 5 and the moving-side frame 6 exceeds the belt width adjustment range, the linking portion 46 and the linked portion 47 are disengaged, so that a belt replacement space S (see FIG. 8) necessary for replacing the conveying belts 11 to 14 can be formed through the space between the two.

[0037] The connecting part 46 is constituted by an engaging pin, the connected part 47 is constituted by an engaging hole into which the engaging pin is detachably engaged, and two of them are arranged substantially axially symmetrically with respect to the drive shaft 35 and the like. Further, the connected part 47 is provided on the reference side drive pulley body 38, and the connecting part 46 is provided on the moving side idle pulley body 42, respectively. On the outer side in the left-right direction of the reference side drive pulley body 38, an opening 48 of the reference side frame 5 and a circumferential groove 49 of the bearing case 37 are provided substantially concentrically corresponding to the rotation locus of the connecting part 46. When the distance between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6 becomes narrow, the tip of the connecting part 46 projects into the circumferential groove 49 through the opening 48, and the connecting part 46 rotates within this circumferential groove 49.

[0038] Note that the connecting part 46 and the connected part 47 may be arranged in the reverse direction to FIG. 5. Further, the connecting means 44 is such that the connecting part 46 and the connected part 47 are engaged within the belt width adjustment range between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6, and when the belt width adjustment range is exceeded, the connecting part 46 and the connected part 47 are disengaged so that a belt replacement space S is formed therebetween, and the specific structure can be arbitrarily selected. For example, the connecting means 44 may include a connecting part 46 having an inner peripheral side engaging part and a connected part 47 having the inner peripheral side engaging part provided substantially concentrically with respect to the drive shaft 35 and the like.

[0039] On the drive side at the downstream end side of the downstream conveyor 17, as shown in FIG. 6, a drive shaft 51 and a rotating shaft 52 arranged to face each other on the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6 are provided on substantially the same axis. The drive shaft 51 is rotatably arranged through a bearing case 53 on the reference side frame 5 side, a reference side conveying pulley 9b is fixed to the inner end side thereof, and a transmission pulley 54 of the winding transmission mechanism 39 is fixed to the outer end side thereof. The rotating shaft 52 is rotatably arranged through a bearing case 55 on the moving side frame 6 side, and a moving side conveying pulley (idle pulley) 10b is fixed to the inner end side thereof.

[0040] Further, between the reference-side conveying pulley (drive pulley) 9b and the moving-side conveying pulley (idler pulley) 10b, there is provided a linking means 56 that can synchronously rotate the reference-side conveying pulley 9b and the moving-side conveying pulley 10b within the belt width adjustment range of each of the conveying belts 11 to 14 and can release the linkage when the belt width adjustment range is exceeded.

[0041] The linking means 56 has substantially the same configuration as the linking means 44, and includes a linking portion 57 that protrudes from the moving-side conveying pulley 10b toward the reference-side conveying pulley 9b side substantially parallel to the drive shaft 51 and the like, and a linked portion 58 that is formed on the reference-side conveying pulley 9b and with which the linking portion 57 engages within the belt width adjustment range.

[0042] This linking means 56 engages and links the linking portion 57 and the linked portion 58 when the distance between the reference-side frame 5 and the moving-side frame 6 is within the belt width adjustment range, and when the distance between the reference-side frame 5 and the moving-side frame 6 exceeds the belt width adjustment range, the linking portion 57 and the linked portion 58 are disengaged, so that a belt replacement space S necessary for replacing the conveying belts 11 to 14 through between the two can be created. The linking portion 57 is constituted by an engagement pin, the linked portion 58 is constituted by an engagement hole into which the engagement pin engages and disengages freely, and two are arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the axis of the drive shaft 51 and the like. Note that this linking means 56 can also be variously modified in the same manner as the linking means 44.

[0043] The drive shaft 51 is connected to the output shaft of the conveying drive motor 63 via a shaft coupling 62. The conveying drive motor 63 is attached to a mounting base 64 outside the reference-side frame 5, and the conveying drive motor 63 drives the upstream conveyor 16 and the downstream conveyor 17 substantially in synchronization via a winding transmission mechanism 39 and the like. Note that the winding transmission mechanism 39 is constituted by a timing belt, a timing pulley, and the like, but other transmission means may be employed.

[0044] Between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6, a plurality of width adjusting means 67 for adjusting the belt width between the left and right conveying belts 11, 13, 12, 14 by moving the moving side frame 6 in the belt width direction with respect to the reference side frame 5 are provided at predetermined intervals in the frame longitudinal direction. Note that the width adjusting means 67 are provided at two locations, namely, the intermediate portion and the downstream end portion in the longitudinal direction of the frames of the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6, but they may be provided at other positions. It is sufficient to have one or more width adjusting means 67.

[0045] By operating this width adjusting means 67, the belt width can be arbitrarily adjusted from the maximum belt width (see FIGS. 5 and 6) when conveying a large workpiece W to the minimum belt width (see FIG. 7) when conveying a small workpiece W. Also, when the conveying belts 11 to 14 are damaged, as shown in FIG. 8, the coupling means 44, 56 can be disengaged and the conveying belts 11 to 14 can be spread to a state where they can be exchanged through the space between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 9, this width adjusting means 67 includes a linear guiding means 68 for guiding the moving side frame 6 to be movable in the belt width direction with respect to the reference side frame 5, and a reciprocating feeding means 69 for sending the moving side frame 6 along this linear guiding means 68 to be reciprocally movable in the belt width direction. The linear guiding means 68 has a fixed guiding member 70 fixed to the reference side frame 5 and protruding toward the moving side frame 6 side, and a moving guiding member 71 movably fitted in the belt width direction via a rolling bearing or the like outside this fixed guiding member 70 and fixed to the moving side frame 6.

[0047] The reciprocating feeding means 69 includes a female screw portion 72 provided in the fixed guiding member 70, a feed shaft 73 screwed to this female screw portion 72 so as to be capable of normal and reverse rotation, and a width adjusting motor 74 for driving this feed shaft 73 to be capable of normal and reverse rotation. The width adjusting motor 74 is constituted by a stepping motor or the like and is supported by a fixed mounting base 75 outside the moving side frame 6.

[0048] In the vicinity of the width adjustment means 67, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, width restricting means 77 for restricting the distance between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6 to the maximum belt replacement width is provided. The width restricting means 77 includes a restricting member 78 fixed to the reference side frame 5 and penetrating the moving side frame 6. When the moving side frame 6 moves to a position where the belt can be replaced, as shown in FIG. 10, it abuts against the head 78a at the tip of the restricting member 78 of the width restricting means 77 to restrict the movement. Note that the linear guiding means 68 restricts the moving side frame 6 with the minimum belt width of the conveyor belts 11, 13, 12, 14 when the moving guide member 71 abuts against the reference side frame 5 (see FIG. 11). The width adjustment means 67 and the width restricting means 77 are provided at positions not surrounded by the endless conveyor belts 11 to 14.

[0049] When replacing the conveyor belts 11 to 14, the distance between the reference side frame 5 side and the moving side frame 6 is widened to the belt replacement width. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8 on the side of the linking means 44, the linking portions 46, 57 and the linked portions 47, 58 of the respective linking means 44, 56 are disengaged, and a predetermined belt replacement space S is formed between the reference side frame 5 side and the moving side frame 6 side. Therefore, since the conveyor belts 11, 13 on the reference side frame 5 side and the conveyor belts 12, 14 on the moving side frame 6 side are separate, the conveyor belts 11 to 14 can be easily replaced through the belt replacement space S.

[0050] When measuring the outer diameter dimension X in the direction perpendicular to the axis Y of the workpiece W ground by the centerless grinding machine and sorting the workpiece W into good products and defective products according to the measurement result, in the upstream conveyor 16 of the belt conveyor device 1, the workpiece W is supported from below by the two left and right conveyor belts 11, 12, and in the downstream conveyor 17, the workpiece W is supported from below by the two left and right conveyor belts 13, 14, and while continuously feeding in the conveying direction, the air blower 21 of the deposit removing means 2 blows air from above to remove deposits such as coolant. After the removal, the light projecting portion 22 of the measuring instrument 3 irradiates the workpiece W with laser light from above, and the light receiving portion 23 receives the laser light, thereby measuring the outer diameter dimension X of the workpiece W.

[0051] Then, in the workpiece discharging device 4, the workpieces W are discharged after being sorted into good products and defective products according to the measurement results of the measuring instrument 3. The good workpieces W with appropriate outer diameter dimensions X are discharged from the discharge conveyor 25 to the good product side through the good product discharge chute 29, and the defective products with inappropriate outer diameter dimensions X are discharged from the discharge conveyor 25 to the defective product side through the defective product discharge chute 26.

[0052] In this way, all the dimensional measurements of the workpieces W ground by the centerless grinding machine are carried out, and they are sorted into good products and defective products. In the case where defective products of the workpiece W appear, the measurement data may be fed back to the control system of the centerless grinding machine to automatically control and adjust the processing conditions of the centerless grinding machine.

[0053] The belt conveyor device 1 includes an upstream conveyor 16 with a wide belt width between the conveyor belts 11 and 12, and a downstream conveyor 17 with a narrow belt width between the conveyor belts 13 and 14. Then, an upstream conveyor 16 with a wide belt width between the conveyor belts 11 and 12 is arranged on the workpiece W output side of the centerless grinding machine, and the deposit removing means 2 is arranged above this upstream conveyor 16. On the other hand, since the measuring instrument 3 is arranged on the side of the downstream conveyor 17 with a narrow belt width between the conveyor belts 13 and 14, there are the following advantages.

[0054] That is, since the wide upstream conveyor 16 between the conveyor belts 11 and 12 continues on the outlet side of the work W of the centerless grinding machine, the work W from the centerless grinding machine can be easily and surely received by the two wide conveyor belts 11 and 12 of the upstream conveyor 16. Further, since air is blown onto the work W on the two wide conveyor belts 11 and 12 from above to remove the adherents, the work W on the conveyor belts 11 and 12 can be stably conveyed without being affected by the blowing of the air. On the side of the measuring instrument 3, there is a narrow downstream conveyor 17 between the conveyor belts 13 and 14, and the work W is conveyed while being supported from below by the two conveyor belts 13 and 14. Therefore, even if the measuring instrument 3 is a transmissive type of laser light or the like, it is difficult for the two conveyor belts 13 and 14 to overlap with the left and right directions of the work W, that is, both side portions of the belt width and vertically, and the outer diameter dimension X of the work W can be measured without being affected by the size of the work W.

[0055] The upstream conveyor 16 and the downstream conveyor 17 of the belt conveyor device 1 are driven in synchronization by the conveying drive motor 63. In this case, the downstream drive side of the downstream conveyor 17 is in a linked state by the linking means 56 between the reference side conveying pulley 9b on the drive shaft 51 and the moving side conveying pulley 10b on the rotating shaft 52 (see FIG. 6). The downstream drive side of the upstream conveyor 16 and the upstream drive side of the downstream conveyor 17 are in a linked state by the linking means 44 between the reference side drive pulley body 38 on the drive shaft 35 and the moving side idle pulley body 42 on the rotating shaft 36 (see FIG. 5). Further, the conveying drive motor 63 is connected to the drive shaft 51 of the downstream drive side of the downstream conveyor 17, and is connected to the drive shaft 35 of the downstream drive side of the upstream conveyor 16 and the upstream drive side of the downstream conveyor 17 via the winding transmission mechanism 39.

[0056] Therefore, the conveyance drive motor 63 can drive the reference-side conveyance pulley 9b on the downstream drive side and the moving-side conveyance pulley 10b of the downstream conveyor 17 via the drive shaft 51 and the like, and can also drive the reference-side conveyance pulleys 7b, 9a and the moving-side conveyance pulleys 8b, 10a on the drive shaft 35 on the downstream drive side of the upstream conveyor 16 and the upstream drive side of the downstream conveyor 17 via the winding transmission mechanism 39, the drive shaft 35, the rotating shaft 36, and the like. Therefore, although the belt conveyor device 1 has two conveyors, namely the upstream conveyor 16 and the downstream conveyor 17, there is an advantage that these two can be driven by a single conveyance drive motor 63.

[0057] In addition, the transfer of the work W from the upstream conveyor 16 to the downstream conveyor 17 is such that the reference-side conveyance pulleys 7b, 9a are concentric with the reference-side drive pulley body 38 on the drive shaft 35, and the moving-side conveyance pulleys 8b, 10a are concentric with the moving-side idle pulley body 42 on the rotating shaft 36. Moreover, the conveyance pulleys 7b, 8b of the upstream conveyor 16 have a large diameter, and the conveyance pulleys 9a, 10a of the downstream conveyor 17 have a small diameter. Therefore, the work W can be smoothly transferred from the upstream conveyor 16 to the downstream conveyor 17.

[0058] Particularly, in the upstream conveyor 16, the belt width between the conveyor belts 11, 12 is wide, and in the downstream conveyor 17, the belt width between the conveyor belts 13, 14 is narrow. Therefore, by setting the intervals between the conveyor belts 11, 13 and the conveyor belts 12, 14, it is possible to transfer the work W from the upstream conveyor 16 to the downstream conveyor 17 at substantially the same height. Therefore, since the conveyance posture of the work W on the downstream conveyor 17 is stabilized, after the transfer to the conveyance of the work W by the downstream conveyor 17, the outer diameter dimension X of the work W can be immediately measured by the measuring instrument 3. Therefore, since it is not necessary to wait for the posture of the work W to stabilize on the downstream conveyor 17, it is also possible to shorten the length of the downstream conveyor 17 required for measuring the outer diameter dimension X of the work W.

[0059] The belt conveyor device 1 can adjust the distance between the reference-side conveyor belts 11 and 13 and the moving-side conveyor belts 12 and 14 according to the size of the outer diameter of the workpiece W. The belt conveyor device 1 has left and right conveyor pulley rows 7, 8, 9, 10, etc. on the opposite sides of a pair of left and right conveyor frames 5 and 6, and endless conveyor belts 11, 12, 13, 14 are wound around the conveyor pulley rows 7, 8, 9, 10 separately for the left and right sides in an exchangeable manner. However, among the pair of left and right conveyor frames 5 and 6, one of them is set as a fixed reference-side frame 5, and the other is set as a moving-side frame 6 that can move in the left and right directions with respect to the reference-side frame 5. By means of the width adjustment means 67 between the reference-side frame 5 and the moving-side frame 6, the belt width between the left and right reference-side conveyor belts 11, 13 and the moving-side conveyor belts 12, 14 can be adjusted as appropriate.

[0060] When adjusting the distance between the reference-side frame 5 and the moving-side frame 6, it is carried out by rotating the width adjustment motor 74 such as a stepping motor of the width adjustment means 67 forward or backward. When the width adjustment motor 74 is rotated forward or backward, the feed shaft 73 screwed into the female screw portion 72 of the fixed guide member 70 rotates forward or backward and moves forward and backward in the left and right directions, and the moving guide member 71 on the fixed guide member 70 moves in the left and right directions. As a result, the moving-side frame 6 moves integrally with the moving guide member 71 in the left and right directions, and the belt width between the conveyor belts 11, 13 on the reference-side frame 5 side and the conveyor belt 12, 14 of the moving-side frame 6 can be adjusted according to the rotation direction and rotation amount of the width adjustment motor 74.

[0061] The belt width between the conveyor belts 11, 12, 13, 14 can be arbitrarily adjusted, for example, between the state of measuring a large workpiece W as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and the state of measuring a small workpiece W as shown in FIG. 7. When exchanging the conveyor belts 11, 12, 13, 14, the distance between the reference-side frame 5 and the moving-side frame 6 can be widened to an interval where the belts can be exchanged as shown in FIG. 8.

[0062] When measuring a large-diameter workpiece W, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the moving frame 6 is separated from the reference frame 5 to increase the distance therebetween. When the moving frame 6 moves away from the reference frame 5, the moving conveying pulleys 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b, etc. that constitute the moving pulley rows 8, 10 inside the moving frame 6 move integrally with the moving frame 6, and the belt widths between the conveying belts 11, 13 on the reference frame 5 side and the conveying belts 12, 14 of the moving frame 6 widen.

[0063] At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a linking means 44 between the reference driving pulley body 38 of the reference pulley rows 7, 9 inside the reference frame 5 and the moving idle pulley body 42 that constitutes the moving pulley rows 8, 10 inside the moving frame 6. Since the linking portion 46 thereof is in a linked state engaged with the linked portion 47, the left and right conveying pulley bodies 38, 42 can be integrally rotated via the linking means 44 by the rotation of the drive shaft 35.

[0064] When measuring a small-diameter workpiece W, as shown in FIG. 7, the moving frame 6 is brought closer to the reference frame 5 to narrow the distance therebetween. When the moving frame 6 approaches the reference frame 5, the moving conveying pulleys 8a, 8b, 10a, 10b, etc. that constitute the moving pulley rows 8, 10 inside the moving frame 6 move integrally with the moving frame 6, and the belt widths between the conveying belts 11, 13 on the reference frame 5 side and the conveying belts 12, 14 of the moving frame 6 narrow.

[0065] At this time, on the linking means 44, 56 side, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the linking portions 46, 57 thereof move integrally with the moving frame 6 in the approaching direction with respect to the reference frame 5 while remaining in the state where they are engaged with the linked portions 47, 58. Therefore, the linking portion 46 penetrates the linked portion 47 and protrudes into the circumferential groove 49, and rotates in the circumferential direction within the circumferential groove 49. Accordingly, even when the distance between the conveying belts 11, 13 and the conveying belts 12, 14 narrows, the linking portions 46, 57 of the linking means 44, 56 only protrude to the opposite side of the linked portions 47, 58, and the left and right linked states are not hindered, and they can be integrally rotated.

[0066] The belt conveyor device 1 includes an upstream conveyor 16 and a downstream conveyor 17. A pair of left and right conveyor belts 11 to 14 are wound around a series of conveying pulleys 7 to 10 arranged inside each conveyor frame 5 and 6 for the upstream conveyor 16 and the downstream conveyor 17. However, when the conveyor belts 11 to 14 are damaged, as shown in FIG. 8, the engaging portion 46 of the engaging means 44 comes out of the engaged portion 47, and the distance between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6 is widened until a belt replacement space S is formed between the engaging portions 46, 57 and the engaged portions 47, 58. Then, each conveyor belt 11 to 14 can be replaced separately on the left and right for each conveyor 16, 17 through the belt replacement space S between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6. Therefore, it is possible to easily replace each conveyor belt 11 to 14 with a small number of man-hours.

[0067] When widening the distance between the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6, the feed shaft 73 is driven by the width adjustment motor 74 in a direction to disengage from the female screw portion 72 of the fixed guide member 70, and the moving side frame 6 is separated from the reference side frame 5. When the moving side frame 6 moves to a position where it abuts against the head 78a of the regulating member 78, as shown in FIG. 8, the engaging portions 46, 57 of the engaging means 44, 56 are disengaged from the engaged portions 47, 58, and a belt replacement space S is formed between the engaging portions 46, 57 and the engaged portions 47, 58. Therefore, each conveyor belt 11 to 14 can be removed through the belt replacement space S.

[0068] Each conveyor belt 11 to 14 is formed in an endless shape with a steel wire or the like, and there is tension adjusting means 7d to 10d for each conveyor belt 11 to 14. Therefore, by appropriately operating the tension adjusting means 7d to 10d, a margin sufficient to remove each conveyor belt 11 to 14 from the series of conveying pulleys 7 to 10 can be ensured.

[0069] In addition, if an outer diameter dimension measuring device with such a configuration is adopted, there are the following advantages. That is, the outer diameter dimension X of the work W can be continuously measured. Also, since the belt widths of the conveyor belts 11 to 14 can be freely adjusted, workpieces W with different outer diameters can be continuously conveyed, and the changeover operation according to the model number of the workpiece W becomes easy. By moving the moving side frame 6 in the left-right direction until the linking portions 46, 57 of the linking means 44, 56 are disengaged from the linked portions 47, 58, each conveyor belt 11 to 14 can be removed passing between the linking portion 46, 57 and the linked portion 47, 58, so that the conveyor belts 11 to 14 can be easily replaced.

[0070] Since the measuring instrument 3 can measure the outer diameter dimension X of the work W in a non-contact manner, the outer periphery of the work W is not damaged during measurement. It is possible to perform a complete inspection of the work W, and it is possible to perform real-time equipment control (grinding dimension control) according to the measurement results, thereby improving and stabilizing the quality of the work W. Since the measurement results of all the workpieces W can be recorded, it is possible to perform sign management, which is advantageous for traceability. The cycle time is short, and the entire outer diameter dimension measuring device including the belt conveyor device 1 can be made compact. Also, by automatic measurement and ejection of defective products, it is possible to reduce the number of inspection personnel.

[0071] FIG. 12 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. When the work W is in a flat plate shape, the conveyor belts 11, 12 may be wound around a pair of left and right conveyor pulleys 80, 81 having circumferential grooves of a left-right symmetric shape formed on the outer periphery, and the work W may be supported from below by the conveyor belts 11, 12. The work W on the conveyor belts 11, 12 is guided by a pair of left and right guide members 84, 85. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0072] Even in a belt conveyor device that conveys a flat workpiece W by two conveyor belts 11 and 12 in this manner, among the pair of left and right conveyor frames 5 and 6, one side is set as the reference side frame 5 and the other side is set as the moving side frame 6. By separately and replaceably winding the conveyor belts 11 and 12 around the conveyor pulley rows 82 and 83 on the opposing sides of the reference side frame 5 and the moving side frame 6, the belt width between the left and right conveyor belts 11 and 12 can be appropriately adjusted according to the left and right widths of the workpiece W and the like.

[0073] As described above, each embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited to each embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The workpiece W may have a circular outer peripheral surface of the measurement target portion, such as a straight cylindrical shape or a straight cylindrical shape.

[0074] The belt conveyor device 1 is provided with left and right conveyor belts 11 to 14 separately and replaceably on the conveyor pulley rows 7 to 10 of the pair of left and right conveyor frames 5 and 6. When adjusting the distance between the conveyor frames 5 and 6, one fixed side is set as the reference side frame 5, and the other side is set as the moving side frame 6 that can move relative to the reference side frame 5. In addition, both conveyor frames 5 and 6 are provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and each conveyor frame 5 and 6 can be adjusted in the left-right direction by independent width adjustment means 67, or both conveyor frames 5 and 6 can be adjusted in conjunction with each other by one width adjustment means 67.

[0075] The conveying pulley group or conveying pulley row for winding the left and right conveying belts 11 to 14 is provided on the opposite sides of the respective conveyor frames 5 and 6. If the conveying belts 11 to 14 are exchanged for each conveying pulley group or conveying pulley row through the belt exchange space S between the conveyor frames 5 and 6, the entire belt conveyor device 1 can be mechanically simplified. However, if it can be driven by a conveying drive motor and the conveying belts 11 to 14 can be replaced, it is also possible to arrange the conveying pulley group directly above each conveyor frame 5 and 6 or on the opposite side of each conveyor frame 5 and 6. Therefore, each conveying pulley group or conveying pulley row may be arranged other than on the opposite sides of the respective conveyor frames 5 and 6.

[0076] When the belt conveyor device 1 of an outer diameter dimension measuring device that supports the cylindrical workpiece W from below by two conveying belts 11 to 14 and measures the outer diameter dimension X while conveying it in the axial direction is adopted, an endless steel belt with a substantially circular cross-section of the same diameter throughout is suitable for the conveying belts 11 to 14. However, depending on the shape on the workpiece W side and other conditions, those made of a material suitable for it may be used. Therefore, the conveying belts 11 to 14 may adopt those having appropriate stretchability and / or elasticity.

[0077] The coupling means 44 and 56 are constituted by pin-shaped coupling portions 46 and 57 and pin-hole-shaped coupled portions 47 and 58 with which the coupling portions 46 and 57 can be retractably engaged. However, the coupling portions 46 and 57 may be serrated shafts or multi-sided shafts with a multi-sided diameter in cross-section, and the coupled portions 47 and 58 may be slidably fitted in the left-right direction and non-rotatably fitted in the circumferential direction to the coupling portions of the serrated shaft or multi-sided shaft. In this case, it is desirable to provide the coupling means 44 and 56 substantially concentrically with the drive shafts 35, 51, etc. Also, non-circular pin-shaped ones may be used instead of the serrated shafts, etc.

[0078] In addition, the conveyor belts 11 and 12 wound around the conveyor pulley groups of the conveyor frames 5 and 6 are endless belts, one on each side, left and right. With each endless belt, the upstream conveyor 16 may widen the interval between the conveyor belts 11 and 12, and the downstream conveyor 17 may narrow the interval between the conveyor belts 11 and 12. In this case, in the intermediate frame portion between the upstream conveyor 16 and the downstream conveyor 17, the interval between the left and right peripheral grooves of the conveyor pulley may be changed.

[0079] When both the upstream conveyor pulleys 9a and 10a and the downstream conveyor pulleys 9b and 10b of the downstream conveyor 17 are driving sides, the peripheral speed of the downstream conveyor pulleys 9b and 10b may be slightly faster than that of the upstream conveyor pulleys 9a and 10a. In this way, the conveying side of the conveyor belts 13 and 14 can be kept in a tensioned state. Therefore, it is also possible to make the conveying side of the conveyor belts 13 and 14 longer in the conveying direction.

[0080] The variable-width belt conveyor device 1 only needs to be provided with a pair of left and right conveyor belts 11 and 12. Also, the conveyor belts 11 and 12 do not necessarily have a circular cross-section. Depending on the workpiece W (the object to be conveyed), for example, a V-belt with a trapezoidal cross-section can be used, or a flat belt can also be used. In the embodiment, an outer diameter measuring device including the belt conveyor device 1 and the measuring instrument 3 is illustrated. However, various working devices other than the measuring instrument 3 can be combined with the belt conveyor device 1 so that while the object to be conveyed is conveyed by the belt conveyor device 1, the working device automatically performs a predetermined operation. Of course, even when the belt conveyor device 1 is used alone, the belt width between the conveyor belts 11 and 12 may be adjustable. The feed shaft 73 of the width adjustment means 67 may be rotated manually by a handle or the like. Also, the width adjustment means 67 may be constituted by other mechanisms.

Explanation of Signs

[0081] W Workpiece X Outer diameter dimension S Belt replacement space 1 Belt conveyor device 2 Adhesion removing means 3 Measuring instrument 4 Work discharging device 5,6 Conveyor frame 7,9 Reference side pulley row 8,10 Moving side pulley row 11,13 Conveyor belt (reference side conveyor belt) 12,14 Conveyor belt (moving side conveyor belt) 16 Upstream side conveyor 17 Downstream side conveyor 7a,7b, 9a,9b Reference side conveying pulleys 8a,8b, 10a,10b Moving side conveying pulleys 35,51 Drive shaft 36,52 Rotating shaft 44,56 Linking means 67 Width adjusting means

Claims

1. In a variable-width belt conveyor device comprising a pair of left and right conveyor frames having a conveyor belt wound around a conveying pulley and relatively movable in the belt width direction, the conveyor belt is endless and is separately and replaceably wound around the conveying pulleys of the respective conveyor frames on the left and right, and coupling means is provided for synchronously rotating the conveying pulleys on the driving side of the respective conveyor frames within the adjustment range of the belt width between the respective conveyor belts. A variable-width belt conveyor device characterized by the above.

2. One of the conveyor frames is a fixed reference-side frame, and the other conveyor frame is a moving-side frame relatively movable in the belt width direction with respect to the reference-side frame. The variable-width belt conveyor device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The conveying pulleys are provided on the opposing sides of the respective conveyor frames, and when the distance between the two conveyor belts expands beyond the adjustment range of the belt width, there is an exchange space between the respective conveyor frames including the coupling means for separately replacing the conveyor belts with respect to the respective conveying pulleys. The variable-width belt conveyor device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. Among the left and right conveying pulleys on the driving side for driving the respective conveyor belts, one of the conveying pulleys is a driving pulley supported by one of the conveyor frames, and the other conveying pulley is a rotating pulley rotatably supported on the other conveyor frame on the same axis as the driving pulley. The coupling means includes a coupled portion provided on one of the driving pulley and the rotating pulley, and a coupling portion provided on the other and capable of being coupled to the coupled portion. The variable-width belt conveyor device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

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