Belt conveyor, and roller for belt conveyor

Abstract

To reduce the height dimensions of the conveyor belt to make it more user-friendly.SOLUTION: A belt conveyor comprises: a belt having a rib part extending in the direction of belt feed on its back side; a first roller and a second roller on which the belt is mounted with a guide groove formed that receives the rib part between the first roller and the second roller; and multiple support rollers installed between the first roller and the second roller, where at least one of the first roller and the second roller is a driving roller with a built-in motor. The support rollers follow the movement of the belt and includes: a rotating part that supports the belt from the back side; a shaft that supports the rotating part; and a guide groove formed in the rotating part which receives the rib part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt conveyor and a roller for a belt conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] In factories, stores, hospitals, and the like, automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) that automatically transport workpieces are sometimes used. AGVs are autonomous carts that automatically travel on the floor and transport workpieces to a destination instead of a worker, thereby reducing the workload on the worker. Methods for loading workpieces onto an AGV include, for example, using a robot or manually. Furthermore, in recent years, AGVs with a belt conveyor attached to the top of the cart have also been realized (for example, Patent Document 1). With this AGV, workpieces can be loaded onto the cart using a belt conveyor, without relying on a robot or human labor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-54832 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There are various constraints on the belt conveyor installed in an automated guided vehicle. For example, it is preferable that the height of the belt conveyor be as small as possible to keep the height of the automated guided vehicle low. Also, for example, the height of belt conveyors used to transport luggage at airports and other locations is preferably as small as possible because it affects the load of the work of loading and unloading luggage onto the belt conveyor.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to reduce the height of a belt conveyor and make it easier to use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present application includes a number of means for solving at least part of the above problems, examples of which are as follows.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is a belt conveyor comprising: a belt having a bar portion on its back surface that extends in the belt feed direction; first and second rollers around which the belt is looped and on which guide grooves into which the bar portion fits; and a plurality of support rollers installed between the first and second rollers, wherein at least one of the first and second rollers is a drive roller with a built-in motor, and the support roller rotates in accordance with the movement of the belt and has a rotating portion that supports the belt from its back surface, an axle rod that supports the rotating portion, and a guide groove formed in the rotating portion into which the bar portion fits.

[0008] The shafts of the plurality of support rollers may be connected by a common support member.

[0009] The support roller may have three rotating parts: a first rotating part, a second rotating part, and an intermediate rotating part installed between the two rotating parts, the intermediate rotating part having the guide groove formed therein, and the support member may connect the shaft rod between one of the first rotating part and the second rotating part and the intermediate rotating part.

[0010] The receiving member may be installed between adjacent support rollers and receive the belt from below, and the receiving member may have a receiving portion with a top plate portion whose width in the belt feed direction is equal to or greater than the minimum distance between the support rollers.

[0011] The receiving member may have a connecting portion that connects the shaft rods of adjacent support rollers to each other.

[0012] The connecting portion may have an opening in which an engaging portion that engages with the shaft faces in the belt feeding direction, in the direction opposite to the belt feeding direction, or downward.

[0013] The first roller or the second roller incorporating a motor may be provided with a separation structure that allows the motor to be separated from the frame when the main body is attached to the frame.

[0014] The separation structure may include a housing for separating the motor from the main body, and a dividing frame for separating the motor from the frame.

[0015] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the present invention is a roller for a belt conveyor, the roller having a built-in motor, and having a separation structure that allows the motor to be separated from the frame when the roller body is attached to the frame of the belt conveyor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, the height dimension of the belt conveyor can be reduced, making it easier to use.

[0017] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a belt conveyor according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first roller. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second roller. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a belt. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the first roller. [Figure 6]3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an example of a configuration of a support roller and its surroundings. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a support member. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a configuration of a plurality of support rollers and their surroundings. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a receiving member. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a configuration of a plurality of support rollers and their surroundings. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating another example of a receiving member. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an auxiliary roller. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a tension adjustment mechanism. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the first roller. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an isolation structure. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the first roller. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of the first roller. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a view for explaining another example of the second roller. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a belt conveyor according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, examples of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components common to the following embodiments (and variations) will be designated by the same reference numerals as those previously described, and their description may be omitted. Furthermore, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of components, etc., this includes those that are substantially similar or similar to the shape, etc., unless otherwise specified or when it is clearly considered otherwise in principle.

[0020] <Overall structure> Fig. 1(a) is an example of a partial cross-sectional top view of a belt conveyor according to one embodiment. The belt conveyor 1 is a belt conveyor for an automated guided vehicle, and includes a first roller 2, a second roller 3, and a belt 4. The belt conveyor 1 also includes a frame that supports these internal structures, and as an example, includes a first frame 7 and a second frame 8 that extend parallel to each other. Note that Fig. 1 shows cross sections of the first roller 2 and the second roller 3, and the belt 4 is represented by a dashed line so that the internal structure of the belt conveyor 1 can be seen.

[0021] The first roller 2 is a drive roller with a built-in motor, and both ends of the first roller 2 are supported by a first frame 7 and a second frame 8.

[0022] The second roller 3 is a driven roller that does not have a built-in motor, and is supported at both ends by a first frame 7 and a second frame 8 in a rotatable state.

[0023] The belt 4 is an endless belt that is looped around the first roller 2 and the second roller 3. The belt 4 is made of a flexible material such as cloth, resin, or rubber. The width of the belt 4 is, for example, 20 cm to 60 cm. The distance between the first roller 2 and the second roller 3 is, for example, 30 cm to 300 cm.

[0024] In the belt conveyor 1, the belt 4 is fed in the belt feeding direction X following the rotational movement of the driven first roller 2, and the second roller 3 rotates following the movement of the belt 4. As a result, the workpiece W placed on the surface of the belt 4 is transported in the belt feeding direction X. In this embodiment, the workpiece W can be transported with a weight of about 2 kg to 50 kg.

[0025] The belt conveyor 1 further includes a plurality of support rollers 6 that support the belt 4. The support rollers 6 are provided between the first roller 2 and the second roller 3 and are generally parallel to them.

[0026] 1(b) is an example of a front view of the belt conveyor 1 when viewed from the Z direction of FIG. 1(a). In the following drawings, the surface viewed from the Z direction will be referred to as the front.

[0027] As shown in the figure, the support roller 6 is provided between the first roller 2 and the second roller 3, and rotates following the movement of the belt 4 moving along the belt feeding direction X, while supporting the belt 4 from its back surface 4b side. The back surface 4b runs above and below the support roller 6, and the back surface 4b running above is supported by the support roller 6.

[0028] By rotating the support rollers 6 in this manner, the belt conveyor 1 can reduce the friction experienced by the belt 4 while preventing the belt 4 from bending due to the weight of the workpiece W, thereby reducing the power consumption when driving the first roller 2 to rotate. For example, by setting the number of support rollers 6 to four or more in a side view as shown in FIG. 1(b), the friction experienced by the belt 4 can be effectively reduced, and the power consumption when driving the first roller 2 to rotate can be effectively reduced.

[0029] In particular, since automated guided vehicles are powered by secondary batteries, reducing power consumption can also extend the life of the secondary batteries.

[0030] In this embodiment, the height dimension H of the belt conveyor 1 is made as small as possible so that the belt conveyor 1 can be mounted on an automatic guided vehicle. As an example, the height dimension H is 6 cm to 13 cm.

[0031] <An example of the first roller> Fig. 2(a) is an example of a partial cross-sectional side view of the first roller 2, taken along line AA in Fig. 1(a). The first roller 2 includes a first tube 21, a second tube 22, and a connecting member 23. The first roller 2 is formed with a guide groove 2a into which a crosspiece (described later) of the belt 4 fits.

[0032] The first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22 are both metal pipes such as stainless steel pipes or aluminum pipes that rotate around a rotation axis K. Aluminum pipes are available in various inner diameter standards, such as 38 mm, 50 mm, and 60 mm. Here, in order to minimize the height H of the belt conveyor 1, aluminum pipes with the smallest inner diameter of 38 mm are used for the first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22. However, the inner diameter of the first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22 is not limited to this, and metal pipes with an inner diameter larger than 38 mm may also be used for the second pipe 21 and the second pipe 22.

[0033] A motor 24 is housed inside the first tube 21, and the rotational driving force of the motor 24 rotates the first roller 2 around the rotation axis K. Note that the motor 24 is shown here as a side view rather than a cross section. By housing the motor 24 inside the first tube 21 in this way, a complex mechanism for transmitting the rotational driving force of the motor 24 to the first tube 21 is not required, and the belt conveyor 1 can be made more compact.

[0034] The motor 24 includes a fixed shaft 24a extending along the rotation axis K and an outer cylinder 24b attached to the fixed shaft 24a via a bearing or other bearing and rotatable about the rotation axis K. The tip of the fixed shaft 24a is fixed to the second frame 8. The outer cylinder 24b is a metal cylinder that is attached to and fixed to the cylindrical inner circumferential surface of the first pipe 21. Note that the shapes of the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 24b and the inner circumferential surface of the first pipe 21 are not limited to cylindrical as long as the first pipe 21 can accommodate the outer cylinder 24b. The outer cylinder 24b may be fixed to the inner circumferential surface with a metal adhesive or may be mechanically fixed with a screw or the like. The tip of the fixed shaft 24a may be fixed to the second frame 8 with a fixing member such as a screw, but preferably, a rotation stopper is provided at the tip itself. The anti-rotation portion is configured to include a flat surface (plane), and may include a single flat surface, but preferably includes a pair of parallel flat surfaces or a polygonal portion including a triangle or rectangle (hexagonal in this example). In this case, the second frame 8 is provided with a through-hole of a shape that can prevent rotation (the same shape in this example) corresponding to the anti-rotation portion. The same applies to the tip end of the shaft member 19a and the first frame 7, which will be described later.

[0035] The motor 24 is not particularly limited, but for example, includes an electromagnet and a permanent magnet inside, and when a direct current is supplied to the lead wire 24c, the magnetic force acting between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet rotates the outer cylinder 24b. Note that by connecting a reducer (not shown) including a reduction gear or the like between the fixed shaft 24a and the outer cylinder 24b, the rotation speed of the outer cylinder 24b may be reduced while the torque of the outer cylinder 24b may be increased.

[0036] When the motor 24 is a DC motor as in this example, power is supplied to the motor 24 from a secondary battery (not shown) provided in the automatic guided vehicle. The rotation of the motor 24 is controlled by a controller (not shown) provided in the automatic guided vehicle. Note that an AC motor may be used as the motor 24 instead of a DC motor.

[0037] A bearing 19 such as a bearing is housed at the end of the second tube 22. A shaft member 19a is attached to the bearing 19, and the tip of the shaft member 19a is fixed to the first frame 7. In this way, the second tube 22 is rotatably attached to the first frame 7 via the bearing 19.

[0038] The connecting member 23 is a roughly cylindrical metal tube for connecting the first tube 21 and the second tube 22. Guide grooves 2a into which the rails of the belt 4 fit are formed in the connecting member 23. The guide grooves 2a are formed so as to go around the connecting member 23 around the rotation axis K. The connecting member 23 can be made of, for example, aluminum or stainless steel.

[0039] FIG. 2(b) is an example of an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connecting member 23 and its surroundings. As described above, the inner diameter of each of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22 is 38 mm. Adding the thickness (2 mm) of each tube 21, 22 to this, the outer diameter of each tube 21, 22 is 42 mm, which is larger than the outer diameter D3 of the guide groove 2a. The connecting member 23 includes a first connecting portion 23f and a second connecting portion 23g. The first connecting portion 23f is a portion that connects to the first tube 21 when the first tube 21 is attached. The second connecting portion 23g is a portion that connects to the second tube 22 when the second tube 22 is attached. The guide groove 2a described above is formed in an exposed portion of the connecting member 23 between the first connecting portion 23f and the second connecting portion 23g. The connecting member 23 holds the first tube 21 and the second tube 22 in a spaced-apart positional relationship.

[0040] The first connecting portion 23f and the second connecting portion 23g are bonded to the first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22, respectively, with a metal adhesive. The first connecting portion 23f may be connected to the first pipe 21 by screwing it into the first pipe 21. The same applies to the second connecting portion 23g and the second pipe 22.

[0041] The first connecting portion 23f has a cylindrical first outer peripheral surface 23b to which the inner peripheral surface 21a of the first tube 21 is attached, and a second outer peripheral surface 23c with a step 23d between the first outer peripheral surface 23b and the first outer peripheral surface 23b. The first tube 21 has an end 21c that abuts against the step 23d and a third outer peripheral surface 21b that is flush with the second outer peripheral surface 23c. By making the second outer peripheral surface 23c and the third outer peripheral surface 21b flush with each other in this manner, the surface of the first roller 2, excluding the guide groove 2a, is smooth and free of steps. As a result, the surface of the first roller 2 and the belt 4 are in close contact with each other, ensuring reliable transmission of the driving force of the first roller 2 to the belt 4. The same applies to the second connecting portion 23g and the second tube 22.

[0042] The shapes of the inner circumferential surface 21a of the first pipe 21 and the first outer circumferential surface 23b of the first connecting portion 23f are not limited to cylindrical as long as they can connect the first pipe 21 and the connecting member 23. The same applies to the second pipe 22 and the second connecting portion 23g.

[0043] The thickness of each of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22 is, for example, 2 mm. On the other hand, the thickness of the connecting member 23 where the first tube 21 or the second tube 22 is attached is thicker than the thickness of each of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22. Therefore, the strength of the first roller 2 can be increased compared to when the guide groove 2a is formed in the first tube 21 or the second tube 22, and bending of the first roller 2 due to the tension of the belt 4 can be prevented.

[0044] <An example of the second roller> 3 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the second roller 3, taken along line BB in FIG. 1(a). Similar to the first roller 2, the second roller 3 includes a first tube 21, a second tube 22, and a connecting member 23. Similar to the first roller 2, the second roller 3 is formed with guide grooves 2a into which the crosspieces of the belt 4 fit.

[0045] The first tube 21 accommodates a bearing 41 at its end. A shaft member 41a, the distal end of which is fixed to the second frame 8, is attached to the bearing 41. Similarly, the second tube 22 accommodates a bearing 42 at its end. A shaft member 42a, the distal end of which is fixed to the first frame, is attached to the bearing 42. The tubes 21 and 22 are connected to each other by a connecting member 23, similar to the first roller 2. This allows the second roller 3 to rotate around the rotation axis K. The distal end of the shaft member 41a may be fixed to the second frame 8 by a fixing member such as a screw, but preferably, a rotation prevention portion is provided at the distal end itself, similar to the distal end of the fixed shaft 24a described above. In this example, the rotation prevention portion is configured to include a pair of flat surfaces that are parallel to each other (see FIG. 1(b)). The same applies to the shaft member 42a.

[0046] <An example of a belt> FIG. 4(a) is an example of a top view of the belt 4. As shown in the figure, the back surface 4b of the belt 4 is provided with crosspieces 4a extending along the belt feeding direction X. The crosspieces 4a have a protruding shape that fits into the guide grooves 2a (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of the connecting member 23, and are adhered to the back surface 4b with an adhesive or the like. Alternatively, the crosspieces 4a may be integrally molded with the belt 4. Note that, as long as the crosspieces 4a fit into the guide grooves 2a, the surface of the guide grooves 2a may be coated with a material such as metal or resin.

[0047] Fig. 4(b) is an example of a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in Fig. 4(a). As shown in the figure, the belt 4 runs along the belt feeding direction X. At this time, the crosspiece 4a fits into the guide groove 2a as described above, thereby preventing the belt 4 from meandering.

[0048] <Another example of the first roller> Figure 5(a) is another example of a partial cross-sectional side view of the first roller 2, taken along line AA in Figure 1(a). The first roller 2 of this example is used in the belt conveyor 1 of Figure 1. Below, we will explain the differences from the above example, and will omit explanations of similarities as appropriate.

[0049] 2 mainly in that the outer peripheries of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22 are covered by a first covering tube 26 and a second covering tube 27, respectively. The first covering tube 26 and the second covering tube 27 are formed by covering the outer peripheries of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22, for example, by rubber lining (a technique for vulcanizing or baking rubber onto metal).

[0050] 5(b) is an example of an enlarged cross-sectional view of the connecting member 23 and its surroundings. As shown in the figure, in this example, the inner circumferential surface 26a of the first covering tube 26 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 21, and the inner circumferential surface 27a of the second covering tube 27 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the second pipe 22. In addition, the outer circumferential surface 26b of the first covering tube 26 and the outer circumferential surface 27b of the second covering tube 27 are in contact with the back surface 4b of the belt 4.

[0051] 2, the connecting member 23 includes a first connecting portion 23f to which the first pipe 21 is attached and which connects to the first pipe 21, and a second connecting portion 23g to which the second pipe 22 is attached and which connects to the second pipe 22, and a guide groove 2a is formed between the first connecting portion 23f and the second connecting portion 23g in the portions exposed from the pipes 21, 21 and the cylinders 26, 27. As in the example of FIG. 2, the first connecting portion 23f and the second connecting portion 23g are adhered or connected to the first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22, respectively, with a metal adhesive or by screwing. The same applies to the second connecting portion 23g and the second pipe 22.

[0052] FIG. 5(c) is an example of an enlarged cross-sectional view of the guide groove 2a and the connecting member 23 around it. As shown in the figure, the connecting member 23 has a cylindrical first outer peripheral surface 23b to which the inner peripheral surface of the first pipe 21 is attached, and a second outer peripheral surface 23c with a step 23d between the first outer peripheral surface 23b and the first outer peripheral surface 23b. The first pipe 21 has an end 21c that abuts against the step 23d, and the first covering tube 26 has an end 26c that abuts against the step 23d and a third outer peripheral surface 26b whose outer circumference is slightly larger than that of the second outer peripheral surface 23c. The third outer peripheral surface 26b may have the same outer circumference as the second outer peripheral surface 23c and form the same plane. This also applies to the second connecting portion 23g and the second pipe 22.

[0053] In this way, the first roller 2 of this example is provided with the first covering tube 26 and the second covering tube 27 made of rubber on its outer circumferential surface, which increases the frictional force with the belt 4, prevents slippage with the belt 4, and makes it easier to transmit the torque of the motor 25 to the belt 4. Furthermore, the first roller 2 of this example is provided with the first covering tube 26 and the second covering tube 27, which improves corrosion prevention, soundproofing, and abrasion resistance. Furthermore, the first roller 2 of this example has an outer circumferential material made of an elastic body, which improves adhesion to the belt 4.

[0054] Although not shown, the second roller 3 may also be configured similarly to the first roller 2, and may be provided with a first covering tube 26 and a second covering tube 27 made of rubber on the outer circumferential surface.

[0055] <Example of a support roller> Fig. 6 is an example of a cross-sectional view of the support roller 6 and its surrounding structure, taken along line CC in Fig. 1(a). The support roller 6 has a rotating part, a shaft 6a that supports the rotating part, and a guide groove 6b into which the crosspiece of the belt 4 fits.

[0056] The rotating portion rotates following the movement of the belt 4 and supports the back surface of the belt 4. As an example, the support roller 6 has three rotating portions: a first rotating portion 61, a second rotating portion 62, and an intermediate rotating portion 63. All of these rotating portions rotate around a rotation axis J.

[0057] Specifically, the first rotating part 61 is formed of a roughly cylindrical member, has a bearing 61a such as a bearing at one end, and a bearing 61b such as a bearing at the other end, and is rotatably attached to the shaft rod 6a via these bearings. The second rotating part 62 is similarly formed of a roughly cylindrical member, has a bearing 62a such as a bearing at one end, and a bearing 62b such as a bearing at the other end, and is rotatably attached to the shaft rod 6a via these bearings. Examples of materials for the first rotating part 61 and the second rotating part 62 include iron, plastic, and aluminum.

[0058] The intermediate rotating part 63 is composed of a roughly cylindrical short tube member, and the guide grooves 6b into which the rails of the belt 4 fit are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate rotating part 63. The guide grooves 6b are formed so as to go around the intermediate rotating part 63 around the rotation axis J. The intermediate rotating part 63 is rotatably attached to the shaft 6a so that the guide grooves 6b are aligned with the guide grooves 2a of the first roller 2 and the guide grooves 2a of the second roller 3. The intermediate rotating part 63 can be made of, for example, iron, plastic, or aluminum.

[0059] The support roller 6 may have one rotating part, with the guide groove 6b formed in this rotating part. The support roller 6 may have two rotating parts, with the guide groove 6b formed in one of the rotating parts. The support roller 6 may have four or more rotating parts, with the guide groove 6b formed in one of the rotating parts. From the viewpoints of more effectively supporting the belt 4 and reducing the load on the shaft 6a, the support roller 6 preferably has three rotating parts as described above.

[0060] The shaft 6a is a round bar made of metal such as iron or stainless steel. One end of the shaft 6a is fixed to the second frame 8 with a fixing member such as a screw, and the other end is fixed to the first frame 7 with a fixing member such as a screw, so that the center line of the shaft 6a coincides with the rotation axis J.

[0061] The first frame 7 and the second frame 8 are long metal members extending along the belt feeding direction X. The cross section (cross section CC in FIG. 1) of the first frame 7 and the second frame 8 shown in the drawing is a substantially U-shape that opens outward.

[0062] Specifically, the first frame 7 has horizontal upper and lower plate portions 71 and 72, and a vertical standing plate portion 73 connecting the two. The first roller 2, second roller 3, and support roller 6 are fixed to the standing plate portion 73 so that their tips or fixed members do not protrude from the space formed by the upper and lower plate portions 71, 72, and the standing plate portion 73. In other words, the first frame 7 is a channel-shaped member.

[0063] Similarly, the second frame 8 has horizontal upper and lower plate portions 81 and 82, and a vertical standing plate portion 83 connecting the two. The first roller 2, the second roller 3, and the support roller 6 are fixed to the standing plate portion 83 so that their tips or fixed members do not protrude from the space formed by the upper and lower plate portions 81, 82, and the standing plate portion 83. In other words, the second frame 8 is a channel-shaped member.

[0064] In this way, the belt conveyor 1 of this embodiment can more effectively prevent meandering of the belt 4 because the support rollers 6 have guide grooves 6b that correspond to the crosspieces of the belt 4. Furthermore, the support rollers 6 have shaft rods 6a that are directly fixed to the first frame 7 and the second frame 8, and are supported by the first frame 7 and the second frame 8 in common with the first roller 2 and the second roller 3, thereby reducing the number of parts and making the configuration simpler.

[0065] On the other hand, when the belt conveyor 1 is configured in this manner, when a relatively heavy workpiece W is transported, the shaft 6a of the support roller 6 below the workpiece W may bend under the load.

[0066] To deal with such a situation, the belt conveyor 1 of this example further includes a support member 9 that supports the support roller 6. As shown in the figure, the support member 9 is disposed in a position close to the intermediate rotating part 63, and holds, for example, a portion between one of the first rotating part 61 and the second rotating part 62 and the intermediate rotating part 63.

[0067] 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrams showing an example of the support member 9, where (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, and (c) is a side view. In this example, the support member 9 connects all the shaft rods 6a of the multiple support rollers 6 and engages with all the shaft rods 6a.

[0068] Specifically, as shown in the figure, the support member 9 is arranged along the belt feeding direction X and has a vertically extending upright portion 9a. The upright portion 9a has through holes 9c penetrating the plate thickness, the number of which is equal to the number of shaft rods 6a. Each shaft rod 6a is inserted through the through hole 9c so as to intersect with the upright portion 9a, and the portion of each shaft rod 6a proximal to the intermediate rotating portion 63 is held by the support member 9.

[0069] The support member 9 preferably has a lower plate portion 9b that is perpendicular to the upright plate portion 9a and is formed in a generally L-shape in side view. By including the lower plate portion 9b, the support member 9 has improved strength and is less likely to bend.

[0070] In this way, the belt conveyor 1 is provided with a support member 9 that commonly connects and supports all of the shaft rods 6a of the multiple support rollers 6, so that the load from the workpiece W is distributed to all of the shaft rods 6a rather than being applied to each individual shaft rod 6a, preventing the shaft rods 6a from bending and allowing stable transport even when the workpiece W is relatively heavy.

[0071] The belt conveyor 1 may be provided with a member that is perpendicular to and in contact with the support member 9, and both ends of the member may be fixed to the first frame 7 and the second frame 8 with fixing members such as screws, thereby further distributing the load of the workpiece W.

[0072] The support member 9 may be adapted to engage with some of the shaft rods 6a of the plurality of support rollers 6. For example, in the case of 12 shaft rods 6a as shown in the figure, the support member 9 may be adapted to engage with some of them, for example, the central 8 or 10 shaft rods. For example, two support members 9 may be provided so that the 12 shaft rods 6a are divided into two sets and engaged with these.

[0073] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the plurality of support rollers 6 and their surroundings, and is a part of the top view of FIG. 1(a).

[0074] Although not particularly limited, the belt conveyor 1 of this embodiment preferably further includes a receiving member provided between adjacent support rollers 6 for receiving the belt 4 from below.

[0075] In the belt conveyor 1 of this embodiment, in order to reduce the coefficient of friction and reduce power consumption as described above, the belt 4 is supported from the backside by support rollers 6 with rotating parts. However, because the belt 4 is made of a flexible material, when conveying uneven workpieces W, the convex parts of the workpieces W may cause the belt 4 to bend and fall between the rotating parts of adjacent support rollers 6, increasing running resistance. The receiving member is provided to deal with such cases, and receives the belt 4 from below to suppress the increase in running resistance.

[0076] The receiving members are provided corresponding to the support roller 6, and when the support roller 6 has three rotating parts as described above, as an example, it has two receiving members, a first receiving member 11 and a second receiving member 12.

[0077] The first receiving member 11 has a horizontal receiving portion 111 and is installed between the first rotating portions 61 of the adjacent support rollers 6 to receive the belt 4 from below as it bends during transport between them. The second receiving member 12 has a horizontal receiving portion 121 and is installed between the second rotating portions 62 of the adjacent support rollers 6 to receive the belt 4 from below as it bends during transport between them.

[0078] The first support member 11 may be fixed to the second frame 8 or to both the first frame 7 and the second frame 8, but is preferably attached to the shaft 6a via a pair of connecting portions 112 as shown. Similarly, the second support member 12 may be fixed to the first frame 7 or to both the first frame 7 and the second frame 8, but is preferably attached to the shaft 6a via a pair of connecting portions 122 as shown. A buffer member is preferably provided between the connecting portion 112 and the second frame 8 of the first support member 11. One example of the buffer member is an annular buffer packing having a through hole in its center corresponding to the shaft 6a. The buffer member may be made of rubber, plastic, or metal. In this example, a rubber packing (not shown) is used as the buffer member. By providing a buffer member between the contact surfaces of the connecting portion 112 and the second frame 8 in this manner, noise generated when the rotating part rotates can be reduced. The buffer member may also be provided between the connecting portion 112 and the support member 9, and between the contact surfaces of the connecting portions 112. The same applies to the second receiving member 12.

[0079] 9A and 9B are diagrams showing an example of a first receiving member 11, with (a) being a top view and (b) being a side view. As shown in the figures, the receiving member 11 is, for example, formed in a roughly I-shape and having a receiving portion 111 and a connecting portion 112. The receiving portion 111 and the connecting portion 112 are connected by welding, for example. The second receiving member 12 is configured in the same manner as the first receiving member 11, and redundant explanations will be omitted below.

[0080] The receiving portion 111 has a flat top plate portion 111a and a generally U-shaped base portion 111b that supports the top plate portion 111a and opens upward. The base portion 111b has a width M1 in the belt feeding direction X that is narrower than the minimum distance N1 (see FIG. 10) between adjacent first rotating portions 61 so as not to interfere with the first rotating portions 61. On the other hand, the top plate portion 111a has a width M2 in the belt feeding direction X that may be smaller than the minimum distance N1. However, in order to more effectively receive the belt 4, the width M2 is preferably equal to or wider than the minimum distance N1, as long as it does not interfere with the first rotating portions 61. The width M2 of the top plate portion 111a is, for example, larger than the minimum distance N1 by at least ¼ of the radius of the first rotating portion 61.

[0081] The connecting portion 112 is a flat portion that is disposed perpendicular to the top plate portion 111a and in contact with the lower end surface of the end of the top plate portion 111a and the side end surface of the end of the base portion 111b. The connecting portion 112 has a width M3 in the belt feed direction X that is wider than the center distance N2 (see FIG. 10) between the centers of adjacent first rotating portions 61. The connecting portion 112 has an engaging portion 112a at each end for engaging with the shaft rod 6a. In the illustration, the connecting portion 112 is provided with a circular through-hole that penetrates the plate thickness as the engaging portion 112a, and is attached to the shaft rod 6a so that the shaft rod 6a passes through the engaging portion 112a.

[0082] The receiving member 11 is configured so that an upper surface height H1, which is the distance between the upper surface of the top plate portion 111a and the center of the engagement portion 112a, is above the rotation axis J and below the upper end of the first rotating portion 61. As an example, the upper surface height H1 is equal to or greater than ½ of the radius of the first rotating portion 61, and preferably equal to or greater than ¾.

[0083] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the plurality of support rollers 6 and their surroundings, and shows a part of the front view of FIG. 1(b) with a part of the second frame 8 cut away.

[0084] As shown in the figure, the belt conveyor 1 is provided with a receiving member 11 having a receiving portion 111, which fills the gaps between the first rotating portions 61 of adjacent support rollers 6 as much as possible, increasing the receiving area and allowing the belt 4 to be received from below. This prevents the convex portions of the workpiece W from bending the belt 4 and causing it to fall between the first rotating portions 61, thereby preventing an increase in running resistance. As an example, the receiving portion 111 is provided so that its upper surface is in the same position as the upper end of the first rotating portion 61 and is in contact with the back surface 4b of the belt 4. The receiving portion 111 is preferably provided so that the above-mentioned upper surface height H1 is smaller than the radius of the first rotating portion 61 and so that there is a slight gap between the receiving portion 111 and the back surface 4b of the belt 4, as shown in the figure.

[0085] Furthermore, the belt conveyor 1 is provided with a receiving member 11 having a connecting portion 112, thereby enabling more stable transport of the workpieces W. That is, the shafts 6a of the multiple support rollers 6 are connected by the support members 9, and each shaft 6a is further connected to the adjacent shafts 6a on both sides by the connecting portions 112, which makes it easier to distribute the load and allows each support roller 6 to be supported more stably.

[0086] 11A, 11B, and 11C are diagrams showing another example of the first receiving member 11, where (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a diagram showing the assembled state. This example differs from the example in FIG. 9 in the engagement portion 112a.

[0087] The engagement portion 112a in this example has an opening facing in the belt feed direction X, the opposite direction to the belt feed direction X, or downward, and is formed in a generally U-shaped groove. As an example, as shown in the figure, one engagement portion 112a has an opening facing downward, and the other engagement portion 112a has an opening facing opposite to the belt feed direction X. In this example, the above-mentioned upper surface height H1 indicates the distance between the upper surface of the top plate portion 111a and the center of the arc forming the bottom of the U-shape of the engagement portion 112a. Note that one of the two engagement portions 112a of the connecting portion 112 may be formed as a circular hole, and the other as a generally U-shaped groove.

[0088] By providing the receiving member 11 of this example with such an engaging portion 112a, it can be engaged and attached without passing it through the shaft rod 6a, which makes assembly easier and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0089] <Example of an auxiliary roller> Figure 12 shows an example of an auxiliary roller provided to prevent loosening of the belt 4, where (a) is another example of a front view of the belt conveyor 1 corresponding to Figure 1(b), and (b) is another example of a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 6.

[0090] The belt conveyor 1 of this example is provided with a shaft 52 that extends in the same axial direction as the first roller 2 and the second roller 3, and both ends of the shaft 52 are fixed to the frames 7 and 8. One end of the shaft 52 is fixed to the second frame 8 with a fixing member such as a screw. The same applies to the first frame 7. The shaft 52 is also provided between the first roller 2 and the second roller 3.

[0091] The shaft 52 is a round bar made of metal such as iron or stainless steel. Auxiliary rollers 51 are attached to the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 52. The auxiliary rollers 51 are cylinders with an inner diameter approximately the same as the diameter of the shaft 52, and are rotatable around the shaft 52. The auxiliary rollers 51 can be made of metal such as aluminum, resin, or the like.

[0092] In this example, multiple auxiliary rollers 51 are attached to one shaft rod 52. However, only one auxiliary roller 51 may be attached to one shaft rod 52. Also, although one shaft rod 52 is used in this example, two or more shaft rods 52 may be provided.

[0093] As shown in the figure, the belt 4 has an upper running portion 4x and a lower running portion 4y. The upper running portion 4x is the portion of the belt 4 carrying the workpiece W, along which the belt 4 runs in the belt feed direction X. On the other hand, the lower running portion 4y is the portion of the belt 4 opposite the upper running portion 4x, along which the belt 4 runs in the direction Y opposite to the belt feed direction X.

[0094] The auxiliary roller 51 abuts against the surface 4c of the belt 4 at the lower running portion 4y and presses the lower running portion 4y in a direction narrowing the gap D between the upper running portion 4x and the lower running portion 4y. This increases the tension of the belt 4, preventing slack in the belt 4. As a result, it is possible to prevent the belt 4 from coming into contact with the floor surface due to slack, which could result in contamination or wear of the belt 4.

[0095] <An example of a tension adjustment mechanism> 1(a) or 12(a) is an enlarged view showing an example of a tension adjustment mechanism. A set of tension adjustment mechanisms 13 is provided on the front and rear sides. Here, the tension adjustment mechanism 13 on the front side will be described as an example, and the tension adjustment mechanism 13 on the rear side will be described as being provided symmetrically with respect to a line along the belt feed direction X, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0096] The tension adjustment mechanism 13 includes a guide groove 8a provided in the second frame 8, a fixing screw 13a, a contact member 13b fixed to the second frame 8 by the fixing screw 13a, a bracket 13c fixed to the second frame 8 by a fixing member such as a screw, and an adjustment screw 13d that screws into a screw hole formed in the bracket 13c. The second frame 8 is provided with a screw hole that screws into the fixing screw 13a.

[0097] The guide groove 8a is a long through hole extending along the belt feeding direction X, and has a length that allows the tip of the shaft member 41a to move within the long through hole along the belt feeding direction X. In this example, the shaft member 41a of the second roller 3 has a rotation prevention portion at its tip that includes a pair of flat surfaces that abut against the straight sides of the guide groove 8a. In this example, the tip of the fixed shaft 24a of the motor 24 of the first roller 2 has a rotation prevention portion that includes a pair of flat surfaces, and the second frame 8 has a through hole of the same shape as the rotation prevention portion.

[0098] The abutting member 13b has one or more elongated through holes extending along the belt feeding direction X, and is fixed to the second frame 8 by fastening a corresponding number of fixing screws 13a passed through the elongated holes to the second frame 8. The abutting member 13b has side end faces perpendicular to the belt feeding direction X, and is fixed to the second frame 8 so that one side end face abuts against the shaft member 41a. The bracket 13c is fixed at a position where the tip of the threaded adjustment screw 13d abuts against the other side end face of the abutting member 13b.

[0099] When adjusting the tension of the belt 4, first loosen the fixing screw 13a that fixes the contact member 13b to the second frame 8. Note that the contraction force of the belt 4 urges the second roller 3 in a direction approaching the first roller 2, so the tip of the adjustment screw 13d remains in contact with the contact member 13b.

[0100] Next, the adjustment screw 13d is rotated. This causes the shaft member 41a of the second roller 3 to move in a direction parallel to the belt feeding direction X. Then, when the belt 4 is tensioned with a predetermined tension, the rotation of the adjustment screw 13d is stopped. Furthermore, the fixing screw 13a that fixes the contact member to the second frame 8 is tightened. This completes the adjustment of the tension of the belt 4.

[0101] According to this example, the tension of the belt 4 can be easily adjusted by the tension adjusting mechanism 13.

[0102] In the above description, the tension of the belt 4 is adjusted by moving the second roller 3 with the tension adjustment mechanism 13, but a similar tension adjustment mechanism may also be provided on the first roller 2, thereby moving the first roller 2 to adjust the tension of the belt 4. Also, the tension adjustment mechanism 13 on the second roller 3 side may be omitted, and the tension of the belt 4 may be adjusted only by the tension adjustment mechanism on the first roller 2 side.

[0103] <Another example of the first roller (an example of the separation structure)> Figure 14 is another example of a partial cross-sectional side view of the first roller 2, taken along line AA in Figure 1(a). The first roller 2 of this example differs from the first roller 2 of the example in Figure 5 above mainly in that it is provided with a separation structure 14 that allows the motor 24 to be separated from the frame when the main body of the first roller 2 is attached to the frame.

[0104] The motor 24 of the belt conveyor 1 may break down. In particular, as mentioned above, if a reducer is built in, the gears and other components thereof are prone to failure. When such a failure occurs, the first roller 2 of the belt conveyor 1 must be completely removed and replaced, which requires a lot of effort.

[0105] To deal with such a situation, the first roller 2 of this example is provided with a separation structure 14. The separation structure 14 includes a housing 141 for separating the motor 24 from the main body of the first roller 2, and a dividing frame 142 for separating the motor 24 from the frame (second frame 8 in the illustrated example). Note that, in this example, the portion of the first roller 2 excluding the motor 24 and separation structure 14 is referred to as the main body.

[0106] 15A and 15B are diagrams for explaining an example of the separation structure 14, where (a) is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 14 and (b) is a partially enlarged front view.

[0107] The first roller 2 of this example is configured so that there is a slight gap between the inner peripheral surface of the first tube 21, which is the tube that houses the motor 24, and the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 24b of the motor 24. The fixed shaft 24a of the motor 24 has a polygonal rotation stopper at its tip, similar to the example in Figure 2. The first covering tube 26 is shorter than the first tube 21 and is formed so as not to cover the vicinity of the outer end of the first tube 21 (including the outer end).

[0108] The housing 141 has a generally cylindrical large-diameter portion that contacts and continues from the first covering cylinder 26, a generally cylindrical small-diameter portion that is inserted into a bearing 146 such as a bearing (described later), and a stepped portion that connects the two. The motor 24 is assembled and fixed to the first pipe 21 at its outer periphery together with the housing 141 by two to four fixing members 141a such as screws. This fixes the motor 24 to the main body, and the outer cylinder 24b moves integrally with the housing 141. The housing 141 and the first pipe 21 are provided with screw holes that correspond to the fixing members 141a.

[0109] The split frame 142 has a cross section that is approximately the same size and shape as the second frame 8, which is the frame to which the motor 24 is fixed, and has through holes for fitting bearings 146, which will be described later. In this example, the second frame 8 is formed shorter by the length of the split frame 142.

[0110] The separation structure 14 further includes a joining member 143 for joining the divided frame 142 and the second frame 8. The divided frame 142 is connected and fixed to the second frame 8 using the joining member 143 and fixing members 143a such as screws.

[0111] Separation structure 14 further includes a connection structure for connecting housing 141 to division frame 142. As an example of the connection structure, it includes square block-shaped connecting member 144 having a through hole for fitting bearing 146, rotation stop member 145 having a polygonal through hole in a convex portion, and bearing 146 such as a bearing for rotatably supporting housing 141.

[0112] The housing 141 has a small diameter portion into which the tip of the fixed shaft 24a of the motor 24 is inserted. The small diameter portion of the housing 141 is inserted into a bearing 146 fitted between the connecting member 144 and the split frame 142. The rotation stop member 145 is disposed within the small diameter portion of the housing 141 so that the protrusion allows the tip of the fixed shaft 24a to be inserted into the through hole. The rotation stop member 145 is fixed to the connecting member 144 at its thin plate portion by fixing members 145a such as two screws, and the connecting member 144 is fixed to the split frame 142 by fixing members 144a such as four screws. As a result, the tip of the fixed shaft 24a of the motor 24 is fitted into the through hole of the rotation stop member 145, and is fixed to the second frame 8 via the split frame 142. On the other hand, a housing 141 integrated with the outer cylinder 24b of the motor 24 has a small diameter portion rotatably supported by the second frame 8 via a split frame 142.

[0113] With this configuration, the motor 24 can be housed inside the first tube 21 in this example as well, and the first roller 2 can rotate around the rotation axis K by the rotational driving force of the motor 24.

[0114] When removing the motor 24, first, remove the fixing member 145a and remove the rotation stopper member 145. Next, loosen the fixing member 141a that fixes the motor 24 and housing 141 to the main body of the first roller 2. Next, remove the fixing member 143a that fixes the split frame 142 to the second frame 8 and remove the joining member 143. Next, remove the split frame 142 and housing 141 in the direction of the arrow. Finally, remove the motor 24 in the direction of the arrow and take it outside. Note that during the above procedure, the fixing member 144a may be removed if necessary.

[0115] The first roller 2 in this example is thus provided with a separation structure 14, which allows only the motor 24 to be detachably attached to the frame and main body, so that in the event of a motor failure, it is not necessary to remove and replace the entire first roller 2, thereby reducing the required costs.

[0116] <Another example of the first roller> Figure 16 is another example of a partial cross-sectional side view of the first roller 2, taken along line AA in Figure 1(a). The first roller 2 of this example comprises a main tube 20, a first tube 28, and a second tube 29. Below, we will explain the differences from the above example, and will omit explanations of similarities as appropriate.

[0117] The main body tube 20 is a metal tube that extends from the first frame 7 toward the second frame 8 and houses the motor 24 therein. The main body tube 20 is fixed to the outer cylinder 24b of the motor 24 and rotates around the rotation axis K.

[0118] A bearing 19 such as a bearing is housed in the end of main tube 20 opposite fixed shaft 24a. A shaft member 19a, the tip of which is fixed to first frame 7, is attached to bearing 19. In this way, main tube 20 is rotatably attached to first frame 7 via bearing 19.

[0119] The first tube 28 and the second tube 29 are each attached to the outer circumferential surface of the main tube 20. For example, the tubes 28, 29 are attached to the outer circumferential surface of the main tube 20 by press-fitting them into the main tube 20. Alternatively, the tubes 28, 29 may be attached to the outer circumferential surface of the main tube 20 by bonding them to the outer circumferential surface of the main tube 20. In this example, as shown in the dashed circle, the second open end 29a of the second tube 29 is provided at a distance from the first open end 28a of the first tube 28. This defines the guide groove 2a by the open ends 28a, 29a and the outer circumferential surface 20a exposed therebetween. As an example, the end faces of the open ends 28a, 29a may be inclined to form the guide groove 2a tapered to fit the shape of the rail portion of the belt 4.

[0120] The second roller 3 is configured in the same manner as the first roller 2.

[0121] The tubes 28, 29 can be made of, for example, metal, resin, or ceramic. When tubes 28, 29 made of these materials are used, they can be attached to the main tube 20 by adhesive or press-fitting, as described above, and the outer diameter of each tube 28, 29 is determined by a standard before attachment. Therefore, there is no need to grind the tubes 28, 29 to a predetermined outer diameter after attachment to the main tube 20, and the manufacturing cost of the rollers 2, 3 can be reduced.

[0122] Furthermore, each of the tubes 28, 29 may be formed from rubber. For example, the outer diameter of each of the tubes 28, 29 can be determined by press-fitting a pipe-shaped rubber formed in a mold into the main tube 20, eliminating the need for grinding to form each of the tubes 28, 29 into a predetermined outer diameter, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of each of the rollers 2, 3.

[0123] When the guide groove 2a is defined by each opening end 28a, 29a as in this example, it is not necessary to form the guide groove 2a by cutting, and the dimensional accuracy of the guide groove 2a is improved compared to when the guide groove 2a is formed by cutting.

[0124] Although not shown, first roller 2 and second roller 3 may have cavities defined by the inner circumferential surfaces of first tube 28 and second tube 29 and the outer circumferential surface of main tube 20, respectively, by thickening both ends of first tube 28 and both ends of second tube 29 to fit closely to main tube 20, while thinning the thickness of the middle portions of first tube 28 and second tube 29 to separate them from the outer circumferential surface of main tube 20. By providing cavities in this way, the weight of each tube 28, 29 can be reduced, and therefore the weight of each roller 2, 3 can also be reduced.

[0125] Although not shown, as an example, the first roller 2 and the second roller 3 may have a main tube 20 with a first tapered portion where the outer diameter decreases toward one end, a second tapered portion where the outer diameter decreases toward the other end, and a straight portion therebetween, and the first tube 28 and the second tube 29 may be omitted. In this case, the rotational speed of the outer surface of each roller 2, 3 near the center is faster than the rotational speed of the outer surface at the end. Due to this speed difference, the portions of the belt 4 that run along each tapered portion, including its edges, are attracted to the center. As a result, meandering of the belt 4 is prevented, and the belt 4 runs stably. As an example, the main tube 20 may be formed as shown, and the first tube 28 and the second tube 29 may be formed on such first and second tapered portions.

[0126] As an example, the second roller 3 may have a main tube 20 tapered in the opposite direction to the first roller 2, with a first tapered portion whose outer diameter increases toward one end and a second tapered portion whose outer diameter increases toward the other end, and a straight portion therebetween, and the first tube 28 and the second tube 29 may be omitted. In this case, the circumferential lengths (wrapped and developed lengths) of the belt 4 at the opposing straight portions of the rollers 2 and 3 and the opposing tapered portions of the rollers 2 and 3 are approximately the same. As a result, excessive stress is not applied to the belt 4, and the belt 4 is less likely to meander. As an example, the main tube 20 may be formed as shown in the figure, and the first tube 28 and the second tube 29 may be formed at such first tapered portion and second tapered portion.

[0127] In the above example, the guide groove 2a, into which the bar portion provided on the back surface of the belt 4 and extending in the belt feeding direction X is fitted, is formed in the straight portion.

[0128] <Another example of the first roller> Figure 17 is another example of a partial cross-sectional side view of the first roller 2, taken along line AA in Figure 1(a). The first roller 2 of this example differs from the first roller 2 of the example of Figure 5 above mainly in that it is equipped with two motors. Hereinafter, the motor 24 housed in the first tube 21 in the example of Figure 5 above will be referred to as the first motor 24, and explanations of similar configurations will be omitted where appropriate. Note that the example of Figure 2 or Figure 16 may also be equipped with two motors in a similar manner.

[0129] As shown in the figure, the first roller 2 of this example further includes a second motor 25 housed in the second tube 22. Similar to the first motor 24, the second motor 25 includes a fixed shaft 25a extending along the rotation axis K and an outer cylinder 25b attached to the fixed shaft 25a via a bearing or other bearing and rotatable about the rotation axis K. The tip of the fixed shaft 25a of the second motor 25 is fixed to the first frame 7 (see FIG. 19 described later). The second motor 25 can be configured symmetrically with the first motor 24 with respect to a line along the belt feeding direction X.

[0130] In addition, the end portion of the second motor 25 opposite the tip portion of the fixed shaft 25a may be partially inserted into the inner circumference of the connecting member 23 as shown in the figure. In this case, too, the outer circumference of the end portion is configured to be smaller than the inner circumference of the connecting member 23, so there is no interference between the two.

[0131] The first roller 2 of this example is configured to house a motor in each of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22, so that the driving force can be increased while keeping the height dimension H of the belt conveyor 1 as small as possible.

[0132] <Another example of the second roller> Figure 18 is another example of a partial cross-sectional side view of the second roller 3, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 1(a). The second roller 3 differs from the second roller 3 in the example of Figure 3 above mainly in that it is equipped with two motors, similar to the first roller 2 in the example of Figure 17. Hereinafter, explanations of similar points will be omitted as appropriate.

[0133] As shown in the figure, in the second roller 3 of this example, a first motor 24 is housed in a first tube 21, and a second motor 25 is housed in a second tube 22. For other points, please refer to the explanations corresponding to Figures 3 and 17 above as appropriate, and detailed explanations will be omitted here.

[0134] In this way, by accommodating two motors 25 in each of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22, the second roller 3 of this example can function not only as a driven roller, but also as a drive roller by supplying power to one or both of the first motor 24 and the second motor 25. This allows the belt conveyor 1 to further increase the driving force while minimizing the height dimension H. Note that the second roller 3 may also be configured so that a motor is accommodated in only one of the first tube 21 and the second tube 22.

[0135] <Another example of a belt conveyor> Fig. 19 is another example of a partially cross-sectional top view of a belt conveyor according to an embodiment. The belt conveyor 1 of this example differs from the example of the belt conveyor 1 of Fig. 1(a) in that it includes a first roller 2 of Fig. 17 and a second roller 3 of Fig. 18.

[0136] By providing four motors in this way, the belt conveyor 1 can increase or decrease the driving force by increasing or decreasing the number of motors to be driven depending on the conveying load. Also, by configuring it in this way, a longer belt conveyor requiring a large amount of power can be configured.

[0137] 2, 16, 17, or 18 may be provided with a separation structure 14 corresponding to each motor 25, similar to the examples in FIGS. 14 and 15. In this case, some of the configuration may be changed as appropriate depending on each example.

[0138] The length of the belt conveyor in the present invention, the number of support rollers, the number of drive rollers, the number of driven rollers, etc. can be changed as appropriate depending on the installation location and the object to be conveyed.

[0139] The belt conveyor according to the present invention can be used not only in automatic guided vehicles but also in various facilities, devices, and equipment that require a belt conveyor. Furthermore, the first roller and the second roller can be provided as parts for the belt conveyor.

[0140] Although the embodiments of the belt conveyor according to the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these. The present invention also includes combinations of the above-described embodiments and their modifications, as well as various other modifications. Various additions, modifications, and partial deletions are possible within the scope of the conceptual idea and spirit of the present invention, which is derived from the content defined in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0141] 1...belt conveyor, 2...first roller, 2a...guide groove, 21...first tube, 22...second tube, 23...connecting member, 25...motor, 3...second roller, 4...belt, 4a...crosspiece portion, 4b...back surface, 4c...front surface, 6...support roller, 7...first frame, 8...second frame, 9...support member, 11...first receiving member, 12...second receiving member, 13...tension adjustment mechanism, 14...separation structure.

Claims

1. a belt having a crosspiece on its back surface extending in the belt feeding direction; a first roller and a second roller on which the belt is wound and on which guide grooves into which the crosspieces are fitted are formed; a plurality of support rollers disposed between the first roller and the second roller; At least one of the first roller and the second roller is a drive roller incorporating a motor, The support roller is a rotating part that rotates following the movement of the belt and supports the belt from the back surface; A shaft supporting the rotating part; a guide groove formed in the rotating portion, into which the crosspiece is fitted; Conveyor belt.

2. The shafts of the plurality of support rollers are connected by a common support member.

2. The belt conveyor according to claim 1.

3. the support roller has three rotating parts, namely, a first rotating part, a second rotating part, and an intermediate rotating part disposed between the two rotating parts and having the guide groove formed therein; the support member connects the shaft rod between one of the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion and the intermediate rotating portion; 3. The belt conveyor according to claim 2.

4. a receiving member disposed between adjacent support rollers for receiving the belt from below; the receiving member has a receiving portion including a top plate portion whose width in the belt feeding direction is equal to or greater than the minimum distance between the support rollers; 2. The belt conveyor according to claim 1.

5. The receiving member has a connecting portion that connects the shaft rods of the adjacent support rollers.

5. The belt conveyor according to claim 4.

6. The connecting portion has an opening in which an engaging portion that engages with the shaft rod faces in the belt feeding direction, in the direction opposite to the belt feeding direction, or downward.

6. The belt conveyor according to claim 5.

7. the first roller or the second roller having a built-in motor has a separation structure that allows the motor to be separated from the frame when the main body is attached to the frame; 2. The belt conveyor according to claim 1.

8. The isolation structure comprises: a housing for separating the motor from the main body; a division frame for separating the motor from the frame, 8. The belt conveyor according to claim 7.

9. A roller for a belt conveyor, The roller is a roller having a built-in motor, A separation structure is provided that allows the motor to be separated from the frame when the main body is attached to the frame of the belt conveyor. Rollers for belt conveyors.

Images