Conveyance device and conveyance method

Abstract

To provide a safe and long-life conveyance device capable of satisfying requirements such as cost, conveyance performance, and degree of freedom of layout in a good balance, and a conveyance method.SOLUTION: A conveyance device 100 has: a conveyor in which a plurality of rotors 2 sensitive to magnetic are arrayed; and a belt 5 driven by rotation of a pulley 6. The belt 5 includes: a magnet belt 51 containing a magnetic material; and a reinforcement sheet 52 arranged at least on an inner peripheral surface contacting with the pulley 6. The belt 5 is installed in parallel with a conveyance surface 8 formed by the plurality of rotors 2, and the plurality of rotors 2 autorotate by magnetic response with the advance of the belt 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device, and more particularly to a conveying device and a conveying method in which a rotating body constituting a conveyor is rotated by utilizing relative magnetic response with a magnetic belt, thereby enabling the conveying of an object placed on the rotating body. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in warehouses where product packaging and shipping are performed, conveyors are used to place and transport items such as products and boxes. For example, roller conveyors include those equipped with power to transport items, as well as those that do not have power (free roller conveyors).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a powered roller conveyor. A large number of magnetically sensitive metallic rotors (rollers) are arranged at regular intervals. A magnetic rubber endless belt (hereinafter simply referred to as the belt) is brought into contact with these rollers. When the belt is advanced by a pulley, the rotors rotate in response to the magnetism. This allows the transport of objects placed on the rotors.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses an example in which a drive unit is retrofitted to a free roller conveyor so that it can be used as a powered roller conveyor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 51-141184 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-patent document 2] Preseed Co., Ltd., "Free Roller Conveyor Drive Unit PFD-1500 Now on Sale!", [online], June 17, 2021, [Retrieved March 11, 2024], Internet<URL:https: / / prtimes.jp / main / html / rd / p / 000000006.000080659.html> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The roller conveyor described in Patent Document 1 has a special structure (separator plate 4) that is not found in free roller conveyors, in order to bring the belt into contact with the rollers (see Patent Document 1, Figures 1 and 2). This structure has the advantage of preventing interference between the belt and the conveyed objects. However, compared to free roller conveyors, it also has disadvantages such as increased manufacturing costs and installation space, and reduced layout flexibility. For this reason, businesses that have traditionally used free roller conveyors have sometimes hesitated to introduce powered roller conveyors.

[0008] According to the example described in Patent Document 2, a free roller conveyor can be easily converted into a powered roller conveyor. However, all of the retrofit drive units currently available, including the one described in Patent Document 2, have complex structures and are expensive, so they have not yet become widely used.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and aims to provide a transport device and transport method that can balance requirements such as cost, transport performance, and layout freedom, and is safe and has a long lifespan.

[0010] In one embodiment, the conveying device has a conveyor with an arrangement of multiple rotating bodies that are sensitive to magnetism, and a belt driven by the rotation of a pulley, the belt including a magnetic belt containing a magnetic material and a reinforcing sheet arranged on at least the inner surface that contacts the pulley, the belt is installed parallel to the conveying surface formed by the multiple rotating bodies, and the multiple rotating bodies rotate on their own axes due to magnetic sensitivity as the belt moves forward. In one embodiment, the surface of the reinforcing sheet has a higher coefficient of friction than the surface of the magnetic belt. In one embodiment, the conveying method includes the steps of: placing a belt parallel to a conveying surface formed by a plurality of magnetically sensitive rotating bodies of a conveyor having an arrangement of the plurality of rotating bodies; driving the belt by rotating a pulley; and causing the plurality of rotating bodies to rotate on their own axes by magnetic sensitivity as the belt moves forward; the belt includes a magnetic belt containing a magnetic material and a reinforcing sheet arranged on at least the inner surface that contacts the pulley. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The present invention can provide a safe and long-lasting transport device and transport method that can satisfy requirements such as cost, transport performance, and layout freedom in a well-balanced manner. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main components of the transport device 100. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conveying device 100 taken along the line AA'. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a belt 5 and a rotating body 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the transported object and the rotating body 2. [Figure 5] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the main components of a conveying device 100. A fixed shaft 1 is suspended between support plates 3A and 3B. Multiple fixed shafts 1 are arranged at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the support plates 3A and 3B. Rotating bodies 2 are fitted onto the fixed shaft 1 so that they can freely rotate around the fixed shaft 1. In this way, multiple rotating bodies 2 are arranged at predetermined intervals to form a free roller conveyor.

[0015] An endless belt 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as the belt 5) is suspended on at least two pulleys 6. At least one of the pulleys 6 is driven by a motor 9 to rotate, thereby moving the belt 5 forward.

[0016] The motor 9 may be provided with a switch 10 such as a foot switch or a remote control switch for turning on / off the generation or transmission of the driving force.

[0017] The material of the rotating body 2 is a magnetic material that is sensitive to magnetism, typically iron. The material of the belt 5 is magnetic and has enough elasticity to bend along the outer circumference of the pulley 6. Typically, the main material is a rubber belt or a resin belt containing a magnetic material (hereinafter referred to as a magnetic belt).

[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' in FIG. 1. Typically, the belt 5 moves in contact with the multiple rotating bodies 2. Alternatively, a small gap may be provided between the belt 5 and the multiple rotating bodies 2. Typically, the belt 5 is installed parallel to the conveying path 8 on the reverse side (the surface opposite the conveying path 8 across the multiple rotating bodies 2) of the conveying path 8 (a virtual surface formed by the multiple rotating bodies 2, on which the conveyed object 7 is placed). The belt 5 and the rotating bodies 2 are magnetically coupled, and as the belt 5 moves in the X direction, the rotating bodies 2 also rotate in the R direction. Stopping the belt 5 immediately stops the rotation of each rotating body 2. Therefore, for example, an operator or manager can instantly stop or start the rotation of the rotating bodies 2 by turning the switch 10 ON / OFF.

[0019] 4, when an object 7 is placed on the conveying path 8, the bottom surface of the object 7 is supported by multiple rotating bodies 2. When each rotating body 2 rotates in the R direction as the belt 5 moves in the X direction, the rotation moves the object 7 in the -X direction.

[0020] The belt 5 may have different properties on its outer circumferential surface in contact with the rotating body 2 and its inner circumferential surface in contact with the pulley 6. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the belt 5 may be formed by bonding a magnetic belt 51 and a reinforcing sheet 52 (such as polyethylene canvas) together. In one embodiment, the belt 5 is formed by bonding a magnetic belt 51 having a width of 25 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm to a reinforcing sheet 52 made of polyethylene canvas having a width of 25 mm and a thickness of 0.4 mm with an elastic adhesive. The belt 5 is incorporated into the conveying device 100 so that the magnetic belt 51 forms the outer circumferential surface and the reinforcing sheet 52 forms the inner circumferential surface.

[0021] Reinforcing sheet 52 is more resistant to repeated pulling and shearing than magnetic belt 51. Therefore, even if magnetic belt 51 develops cracks or other deformations due to repeated use, reinforcing sheet 52 ensures the strength of the entire belt 5. Compared to belt 5 formed from magnetic belt 51 alone, belt 5 with reinforcing sheet 52 attached is less likely to break, so it is possible to increase the distance between pulleys 6-6, increase the torque applied to pulley 6 to improve conveying performance (upper limit of weight of transported object 7 that can be transported between pulleys 6-6), increase the rotational speed of pulley 6 to improve the conveying speed of transported object 7, and extend the life of belt 5.

[0022] If an unexpected load is placed on the conveying path 8, such as when an object 7 heavier than the conveying capacity is placed on the conveying path 8, the belt 5 will be unable to rotate the rotating body 2 due to magnetic sensitivity, and typically slippage will occur between the belt 5 and the rotating body 2. In this way, even if an unexpected event occurs, conveyance will be temporarily stopped, ensuring safety.

[0023] 5, the surface of reinforcing sheet 52 preferably has a higher coefficient of friction than the surface of magnetic belt 51. As a result, the frictional force acting on the contact surface between belt 5 and pulley 6 is greater than when belt 5 is formed from magnetic belt 51 alone, making it less likely for slippage to occur between belt 5 and pulley 6 even when a greater torque is applied to pulley 6. Therefore, conveying performance (upper limit of weight of conveyed object 7 that can be conveyed between pulleys 6-6) can be improved compared to when belt 5 is formed from magnetic belt 51 alone.

[0024] 5, the reinforcing sheet 52 may be adhered to both surfaces (both the inner and outer peripheral surfaces) of the magnetic belt 51. In this case, reinforcing sheets 52 with different properties may be adhered to the inner and outer peripheral surfaces.

[0025] According to this embodiment, by providing a belt 5 made primarily of a magnetic belt in parallel with a plurality of magnetically sensitive rotors 2, the rotors 2 rotate on their own axes as the belt 5 moves, enabling the transport of the transported object 7. In other words, by retrofitting an existing free roller conveyor with a unit consisting of the belt 5, pulley 6, motor 9, switch 10, etc., it is possible to easily convert it into a motor-driven roller conveyor. These units can be simply placed on the backside of the transport path 8, so no special installation work is required. If a 100V motor 9 is used, it can be driven by an existing power source, eliminating the need for extensive power supply construction.

[0026] Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the cost of electrifying free roller conveyors. According to one calculation by the inventor, the construction cost of electrifying a free roller conveyor, which was previously about 170,000 yen / m, can be reduced to about 30,000 yen / m. It is also easy to rearrange, expand, or relocate an electrified transport line.

[0027] In addition, the add-on unit consisting of the belt 5, pulley 6, motor 9, switch 10, etc. can be installed directly below the free roller conveyor, making it possible to introduce it even in small locations.

[0028] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the belt 5 has a structure in which a reinforcing sheet 52 is adhered to at least the inner peripheral surface of the magnetic belt 51. This improves conveyance performance and extends the life of the belt 5. By employing a reinforcing sheet 52 that has a higher coefficient of friction than the surface of the magnetic belt 51, it is possible to further improve conveyance performance. In a test conducted by the inventor, conveyance of more than 3,000 km in total was achieved without replacing the belt 5.

[0029] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Any of the components of the embodiments can be modified or omitted within the scope of the present invention.

[0030] For example, although the rotating body 2 is treated as a magnetic roller in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and may be, for example, a magnetic ball, etc. In this case, the transport device 100 is realized as a powered ball conveyor, etc.

[0031] Furthermore, although the belt 5 is disposed on the back side of the conveying path 8 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the belt 5 may be disposed, for example, on the same surface as the conveying path 8 at a position where it does not interfere with the conveyance of the object 7. In other words, the belt 5 may be disposed in any positional relationship as long as the belt 5 is positioned such that a rotational force is applied to the magnetically sensitive rotating body 2 as the belt 5 travels. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 100 conveying device 1 Fixed axis 2 Rotating bodies 3A,3B Support plate 5 Endless Belt (Belt) 51 Magnetic Belt 52 Reinforcement sheet 6 pulleys 7. Transported goods 8 Conveyor path 9 motors 10 Switch

Claims

1. a conveyor having an array of multiple magnetically sensitive rotating bodies; a belt driven by rotation of the pulley; the belt includes a magnetic belt containing a magnetic material and a reinforcing sheet disposed on at least an inner peripheral surface that contacts the pulley, the belt is installed in parallel to a conveyance surface formed by the plurality of rotating bodies, As the belt moves, the plurality of rotating bodies rotate by magnetic induction. Conveying device.

2. The surface of the reinforcing sheet has a higher coefficient of friction than the surface of the magnetic belt. The conveying device according to claim 1.

3. a conveyor having a plurality of magnetically sensitive rotating bodies arranged thereon, and a belt disposed parallel to a conveying surface formed by the plurality of rotating bodies; driving the belt by rotation of a pulley; a step in which the plurality of rotating bodies rotate by magnetic induction as the belt moves; The belt includes a magnetic belt containing a magnetic material and a reinforcing sheet disposed on at least the inner peripheral surface that contacts the pulley. Transportation method.

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