Air floating conveyer, and pressure adjustment method

Abstract

To provide an air floating conveyer which can regulate the pressure fluctuation in a casing to stabilize an exhaust gas flow rate from the casing.SOLUTION: An air floating conveyer 1 comprises: an endless belt 12 which conveys a conveyed article S; a casing 11 inside which the endless belt 12 is provided; a supply and exhaust unit 50 which supplies air A floating the endless belt 12 to the casing 11 and exhausts the casing 11; a discharge unit 102A which discharges part of the air A to the outside before supplying the air A to the casing 11; an adjustment unit 111 which adjusts a discharge amount of the air A; and pressure detection units 41, 42 which detect the pressure inside the casing 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air floating conveyor and a method for adjusting pressure inside a casing of the air floating conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] An air floating conveyor (AFC) is a device that transports objects by placing them on an endless belt, floating the belt with air supplied from below, and running the belt using pulleys on both ends. A typical air floating conveyor is equipped with an air supply fan that supplies air to float the endless belt, and a dust collection fan that collects dust generated when the transported object is transported by the endless belt.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an air floating conveyor that uses a common air supply and exhaust fan by providing an air circulation line and connecting the air circulation line to an air supply and exhaust fan. The air floating conveyor in Patent Document 1 consolidates the functions of two fans, an air supply fan and a dust collection fan, into a single air supply and exhaust fan, thereby reducing power and equipment requirements. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-023075 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Fluctuations in the pressure inside the casing of an air floating conveyor can cause fluctuations in the exhaust flow rate from the casing, which can reduce the dust collection capacity.There is a demand for an air floating conveyor that can stabilize the exhaust flow rate from the casing by regulating pressure fluctuations inside the casing.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air floating conveyor that can regulate pressure fluctuations inside the casing and stabilize the exhaust flow rate from the casing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The air floating conveyor of the present invention is an endless belt for transporting an object; a casing in which an endless belt is provided; an air supply / exhaust section that supplies air to the casing to float the endless belt and exhausts air from the casing; a discharge section that discharges a portion of the air outside the aircraft before supplying the air to the casing; an adjusting unit that adjusts the amount of air discharged; and a pressure detection unit that detects the pressure inside the casing.

[0008] The air floating conveyor of the present invention is It is preferable that the flow rate of air supplied to the casing is less than the flow rate of air exhausted from the casing.

[0009] The air floating conveyor of the present invention is The pressure detection unit is preferably provided upstream and / or downstream of the endless belt in the conveying direction in which the object is conveyed.

[0010] The air floating conveyor of the present invention is It is preferable to provide a dust collecting section that collects dust from the air exhausted from the casing.

[0011] The air floating conveyor of the present invention is Equipped with a circulation line that connects the casing to the intake and exhaust section, It is preferable that the circulation line is provided with a dust collecting section.

[0012] The air floating conveyor of the present invention is a supply flow rate detection unit that detects the amount of air supplied to the casing; It is preferable to further include an exhaust flow rate detector that detects the amount of air exhausted from the casing.

[0013] The pressure regulating method of the present invention includes: A method for adjusting pressure inside a casing of an air floating conveyor, in which air for floating an endless belt that transports an object is supplied to the casing by an air supply and exhaust unit, and the casing is exhausted, Based on the detection results of the pressure detection unit that detects the pressure inside the casing, the adjustment unit adjusts the discharge amount that discharges a portion of the air from the discharge unit to the outside of the machine before the air is supplied to the casing, thereby adjusting the pressure inside the casing.

[0014] The pressure regulating method of the present invention includes: Based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit, It is preferable that the amount of air discharged from the discharge section to the outside of the machine is adjusted by the adjustment section so that the pressure inside the casing becomes negative. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air floating conveyor that can regulate pressure fluctuations inside the casing and stabilize the exhaust flow rate from the casing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an air floating conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of a casing of the air floating conveyor according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of a casing of an air floating conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The air floating conveyor 1 is a conveyor that places the input object S on an endless belt and transports the object S from an upstream process to a downstream process. The endless belt of the air floating conveyor 1 is a device that transports the object S by floating the belt with air A supplied from below and running the belt using pulleys on both ends. This air floating conveyor 1 can regulate pressure fluctuations inside the casing and stabilize the exhaust flow rate from the casing. Also, by stabilizing the exhaust flow rate from the casing, the dust collection capacity from the casing can be stabilized. Regulating pressure fluctuations inside the casing refers to regulating pressure fluctuations that affect the stable operation of the air floating conveyor 1, as the exhaust flow rate from the casing fluctuates due to pressure fluctuations inside the casing, causing an increase in dust particles to accumulate inside the casing and leading to dust accumulation inside the casing.

[0018] [Air floating conveyor 1: See Figures 1, 2, and 3] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the air floating conveyor 1 includes a conveyor section 10 that receives an input object S to be transported, places the object S on a conveyor belt 12 that is an endless belt, and transports the object S from an upstream process to a downstream process, and an air supply and exhaust section 50 that supplies air A to float the conveyor belt 12 and exhausts the air A from the conveyor section 10.

[0019] The air floating conveyor 1 also includes an air supply line 100 that supplies air from the air supply and exhaust section 50 to the conveyor section 10, and a dust collection and circulation line 200 as a circulation line of the present invention that circulates the air A exhausted from the conveyor section 10 to the air supply and exhaust section 50. The dust collection and circulation line 200 is provided with a dust collection section 60 that collects dust contained in the air A exhausted from the conveyor section 10.

[0020] [Conveyor section 10: see Figures 1, 2, and 3] As shown in Figure 1, the conveyor section 10 includes a casing 11 in which a conveyor belt 12 is installed, an endless conveyor belt 12 on which the supplied transported material S is placed and which transports the transported material S from the upstream side to the downstream side, and a drive pulley 13 and a driven pulley 14 around which the conveyor belt 12 is wound.

[0021] The casing 11 has a supply port 11a through which the transported object S is supplied and an unloading port 11b through which the transported object S is unloaded. The supply port 11a and the unloading port 11b are open parts of the casing 11. A first pressure detector 41 serving as a pressure detector for detecting the pressure inside the casing 11 is provided near the supply port 11a. Furthermore, a second pressure detector 42 serving as a pressure detector for detecting the pressure inside the casing 11 is provided near the unloading port 11b.

[0022] In this embodiment, the first pressure detector 41 provided near the supply port 11a is provided upstream of the conveyor belt 12 in the conveying direction in which the transported object S is transported. The second pressure detector 42 provided near the discharge port 11b is provided downstream of the conveyor belt 12 in the conveying direction in which the transported object S is transported.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the casing 11 includes a carrier section 20 along which a conveyor belt 12U that transports the transported object S runs, and a return section 30 along which a conveyor belt 12D that has finished transporting the transported object S runs.

[0024] The carrier section 20 includes an inlet 21 for introducing air A supplied from the air supply and exhaust section 50, a duct 22 through which the supplied air A circulates, a pipe frame 23 inside which the conveyor belt 12U runs, an outlet 24 from which the air A that lifts the conveyor belt 12U is ejected, and an exhaust port 25 for exhausting the air A that lifts the conveyor belt 12U.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 3, a duct 22 is provided below a pipe frame 23 having a circular cross section, and air A supplied from an air supply / exhaust section 50 is supplied through an outlet 24 between the pipe frame 23 and the conveyor belt 12U, and the pressure of the air A causes the conveyor belt 12U carrying the transported object S to float. The air A that has caused the conveyor belt 12U to float is exhausted from an exhaust port 25 provided in the pipe frame 23.

[0026] The return section 30 includes an inlet 31 for introducing air A supplied from the air supply / exhaust section 50, a duct 32 through which the supplied air A circulates, a pipe frame 33 inside which the conveyor belt 12D runs, an outlet 34 from which the air A that lifts the conveyor belt 12D is ejected, and an exhaust port 35 for discharging the air A that lifts the conveyor belt 12D.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 3, a duct 32 is provided below a pipe frame 33 having a circular cross section, and air A supplied from an air supply / exhaust section 50 is supplied through an outlet 34 between the pipe frame 33 and the conveyor belt 12D, and the pressure of the air A causes the conveyor belt 12D to float after conveying the transported object S. The air A that has caused the conveyor belt 12D to float is exhausted from an exhaust port 35 provided in the pipe frame 33.

[0028] [Air supply line 100: See Figures 1 and 3] As shown in Figure 1, the air supply line 100 is connected to the air supply and exhaust section 50 on the upstream side and to the conveyor section 10 on the downstream side, and circulates air A supplied from the air supply and exhaust section 50 to supply air A to the conveyor section 10.

[0029] The air supply line 100 is composed of a main line 101 connected to the air supply and exhaust section 50, an air supply and exhaust line 102 through which air A flows that is exhausted outside the machine before being supplied to the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10, a supply line 103 through which air A that lifts the conveyor belt 12 flows, a carrier section supply line 104 that supplies air A to the carrier section 20, and a return section supply line 105 that supplies air A to the return section 30.

[0030] The air A supplied from the air supply / exhaust section 50 is clean air A1 after dust exhausted from the conveyor section 10 along with the air A has been collected by the dust collecting section 60. In other words, the air A flowing through the air supply line 100 is clean air A1.

[0031] The air supply and discharge line 102 is provided with, in order from the upstream side, a discharge flow rate adjustment valve 111 as an adjustment unit that adjusts the discharge rate of the air A1 discharged outside the apparatus, a discharge flow rate detector 121 as a discharge flow rate detection unit that detects the flow rate of the air A1 discharged outside the apparatus, and a discharge unit 102A from which the air A1 is discharged. Clean air A1 is discharged into the atmosphere from the discharge unit 102A.

[0032] The supply line 103 is provided with, from the upstream side, a supply flow rate adjustment valve 112 as an adjustment unit that adjusts the amount of air A1 supplied to the conveyor section 10, and a supply flow rate detector 122 as a supply flow rate detection unit that detects the flow rate of air A supplied to the conveyor section 10.

[0033] Further, downstream of the supply flow rate detector 122, the supply line 103 branches into a carrier section supply line 104 that supplies air A1 to the carrier section 20 and a return section supply line 105 that supplies air A1 to the return section 30. As shown in Fig. 3, the carrier section supply line 104 is connected to the inlet 21 of the carrier section 20 and supplies air A1 to the carrier section 20. The return section supply line 105 is connected to the inlet 31 of the return section 30 and supplies air A1 to the return section 30.

[0034] The supply flow rate adjusting valve 112 is adjusted so that the supply rate of the air A1 supplied to the carrier section 20 and the return section 30 detected by the supply flow rate detector 122 is equal to the design air rate.

[0035] [Dust collection circulation line 200: see Figures 1 and 3] As shown in FIG. 1, the dust collection circulation line 200 is connected to the conveyor section 10 on the upstream side and to the air supply and exhaust section 50 on the downstream side, and circulates air A exhausted from the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10 through the air supply and exhaust section 50 so that it can be supplied again to the conveyor section 10.

[0036] The dust collection circulation line 200 is composed of a dust collection line 201 that circulates dust-containing air A2 exhausted from the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10 to the dust collection section 60, the dust collection section 60 that collects dust from the dust-containing air A2 that has circulated through the dust collection line 201, and a circulation line 202 that circulates clean air A1 after the dust has been collected in the dust collection section 60 to the air supply / exhaust section 50.

[0037] The dust collection line 201 allows the air A2 exhausted from multiple locations in the casing 11 of the conveyor unit 10 to flow to the dust collection unit 60. The dust collection line 201 is provided with an exhaust flow rate detector 211 as an exhaust flow rate detection unit that detects the amount of exhaust air A2 flowing to the dust collection unit 60.

[0038] 3, air A2 is exhausted from exhaust ports 25 of carrier section 20 and exhaust ports 35 of return section 30. Exhaust ports 25 and exhaust ports 35 are provided, for example, at equal intervals from upstream to downstream in the conveying direction in which conveyed object S is conveyed on conveyor section 10.

[0039] The dust collecting section 60 is composed of a dust collector 61 provided with a filter 62 therein. The dust collector 61 collects dust-containing air A2 introduced into the dust collector 61 by passing the air through the filter 62, and discharges clean air A1. A bag filter is used as an example of the dust collector 61. The clean air A1 after dust collection by the dust collector 61 flows through the circulation line 202 and is sucked into the air supply / exhaust section 50.

[0040] [Air intake and exhaust section 50: see Figures 1 and 3] 1, air intake and exhaust section 50 is configured with air intake and exhaust fan 51, with an intake port connected to dust collection and circulation line 200 and an outlet connected to air supply line 100. Air intake and exhaust fan 51 supplies clean air A1 from air supply line 100 to conveyor section 10, exhausts dust-containing air A2 from conveyor section 10, and sucks in clean air A1 after the dust-containing air A2 has been collected in dust collection section 60. In other words, air intake and exhaust fan 51 performs both the functions of air intake and exhaust for conveyor section 10.

[0041] Conventional air levitation conveyors drive two fans: an air supply fan for supplying air A to the conveyor section 10, and an exhaust fan for exhausting air A from the conveyor section 10. However, the air levitation conveyor 1 of this embodiment drives only one fan, the air supply and exhaust fan 51, thereby reducing power consumption and the amount of equipment requiring maintenance. When an exhaust fan is used together with a dust collector, for example, when an exhaust fan is installed in the dust collector, the exhaust fan is also called a dust collection fan.

[0042] [Regulation of pressure fluctuations in air floating conveyor 1: See Figure 1] When the air floating conveyor 1 conveys the object S, the air supply / exhaust fan 51 is driven to supply air A to the conveyor section 10 and exhaust the air A from the conveyor section 10. Here, atmospheric air flows into the casing 11 through the supply port 11a and the discharge port 11b, which are open parts of the casing 11, causing fluctuations in the pressure inside the casing 11. Therefore, the first pressure detector 41 and the second pressure detector 42 detect the pressure inside the casing 11, and the discharge flow rate adjustment valve 111 is adjusted to regulate the pressure fluctuations inside the casing 11. By regulating the pressure fluctuations inside the casing 11, the air levitation conveyor 1 can stabilize the exhaust flow rate from the casing 11. Furthermore, stabilizing the exhaust flow rate from the casing 11 stabilizes the dust collection capacity of the conveyor section 10. As a method for adjusting the pressure inside the casing 11, the discharge flow rate adjustment valve 111 is adjusted based on the detection results of the pressure inside the casing 11 detected by the first pressure detector 41 and the second pressure detector .

[0043] In addition, by discharging a portion of the air A1 supplied to the conveyor section 10 from the discharge section 102A, the air flows through the circulation line 202, and the flow rate of the air A1 supplied to the conveyor section 10 is reduced compared to the flow rate of the air A1 sucked in by the intake / exhaust fan 51, thereby creating a negative pressure inside the casing 11. That is, since the flow rate of the air A1 supplied to the casing 11 is smaller than the flow rate of the air A2 exhausted from the casing 11, the inside of the casing 11 becomes negative pressure.

[0044] Furthermore, the first pressure detector 41 and the second pressure detector 42 detect the pressure inside the casing 11, and based on the detection results, the discharge flow rate adjustment valve 111 is adjusted so that the pressure inside the casing 11 becomes negative. By making the pressure inside the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10 negative, the air levitation conveyor 1 can improve environmental performance by preventing dust from scattering from inside the casing 11 into the atmosphere.

[0045] To stabilize pressure fluctuations while maintaining a negative pressure inside casing 11, it is preferable to not only detect pressure using first pressure detector 41 and second pressure detector 42, but also to detect the flow rate of air A1 supplied to conveyor section 10 using supply flow rate detector 122 and the flow rate of air A2 exhausted from conveyor section 10 using exhaust flow rate detector 211. By detecting the supply and exhaust rates of air A to conveyor section 10 and adjusting the supply rate of air A1 to conveyor section 10 using supply flow rate adjustment valve 112, pressure fluctuations can be regulated and the exhaust flow rate from casing 11 can be stabilized. Furthermore, stabilizing the exhaust flow rate from casing 11 stabilizes the dust collection capacity of conveyor section 10.

[0046] [Effects of this embodiment] The air floating conveyor 1 according to this embodiment described above has the following advantages. [Effect 1] The air levitation conveyor 1 includes a conveyor belt 12 as an endless belt for transporting the object S to be conveyed, a casing 11 inside which the conveyor belt 12 is installed, an air supply / exhaust section 50 that supplies air A to levitate the conveyor belt 12 and exhausts the air A inside the casing 11, a discharge section 102A that exhausts a portion of the air A outside the machine before supplying it to the casing 11, a discharge flow control valve 111 as an adjustment section that adjusts the amount of air A exhausted, and a first pressure detector 41 and a second pressure detector 42 as pressure detection sections that detect the pressure inside the casing 11. Such an air floating conveyor 1 can stabilize the exhaust flow rate from the casing 11 by regulating pressure fluctuations inside the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10. Furthermore, stabilizing the exhaust flow rate from the casing 11 can stabilize the dust collection capacity of the conveyor section 10.

[0047] [Effect 2] In the air floating conveyor 1, the flow rate of air A1 supplied to the casing 11 is less than the flow rate of air A2 exhausted from the casing 11. By creating a negative pressure inside the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10, the air floating conveyor 1 can improve environmental performance by preventing dust from scattering from inside the casing 11 into the atmosphere.

[0048] [Effect 3] Furthermore, the first pressure detector 41 and the second pressure detector 42 detect the pressure inside the casing 11, and based on the detection results, the discharge flow rate adjustment valve 111 is adjusted so that the pressure inside the casing 11 becomes negative. By making the pressure inside the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10 negative, the air levitation conveyor 1 can improve environmental performance by preventing dust from scattering from inside the casing 11 into the atmosphere.

[0049] In addition to the above, the configurations given in the above embodiments can be selected or changed as appropriate to other configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0050] In this embodiment, the conveyor section 10 is provided with a first pressure detector 41 and a second pressure detector 42, and pressure is detected at two locations, one upstream and one downstream, of the conveyor section 10, but this is not limited to this. Only either the first pressure detector 41 or the second pressure detector 42 may be provided, and pressure may be detected at one location, either upstream or downstream, of the conveyor section 10. This type of air levitation conveyor 1 also stabilizes the exhaust flow rate from the casing 11 by regulating pressure fluctuations inside the casing 11 of the conveyor section 10. Furthermore, stabilizing the exhaust flow rate from the casing 11 stabilizes the dust collection capacity of the conveyor section 10.

[0051] In addition, the first pressure detector 41 is provided upstream of the conveyor belt 12 in the conveying direction in which the transported item S is transported, and the second pressure detector 42 is provided downstream of the conveyor belt 12 in the conveying direction in which the transported item S is transported, but they may also be provided in an area along the way in which the conveyor belt 12 is transporting the transported item S.

[0052] The dust from the transported object S collected in the filter 62 of the dust collector 61 may be discharged from the bottom of the dust collector 61 and merged with the transported object S discharged from the discharge port 11b of the casing 11. Such an air floating conveyor 1 may be provided with, for example, a chute section that connects the bottom of the dust collector 61 to the top of the conveyor section 10, or a connection section that allows direct supply from the bottom of the dust collector 61 to a downstream process to which the transported object S discharged from the discharge port 11b is supplied. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 Air floating conveyor 10 Conveyor section 11 Casing 11a Supply port 11b Exit 12 Conveyor Belt 12D conveyor belt 12U conveyor belt 13 Drive pulley 14 driven pulley 20 Carrier section 21 Introduction 22 Duct 23 Pipe Frame 24 Blowhole 25 exhaust port 30 Return section 31 Introduction 32 Duct 33 Pipe Frame 34 Blowhole 35 exhaust port 41 First pressure detector 42 Second pressure detector 50 Intake and exhaust section 51 Intake and exhaust fan 60 Dust collection unit 61 Dust collector 62 filters 100 Air supply line 101 Main Line 102 Air intake and exhaust line 102A Discharge section 103 Supply Line 104 Carrier supply line 105 Return supply line 111 Discharge flow control valve 112 Supply flow control valve 121 Discharge flow detector 122 Supply flow detector 200 Dust collection circulation line 201 Dust collection line 202 Circulation Line 211 Exhaust flow detector A. Air A1 Air A2 Air S Transported item

Claims

1. an endless belt for transporting an object; a casing in which the endless belt is provided; an air supply / exhaust section that supplies air to the casing to float the endless belt and exhausts air from the casing; a discharge section that discharges a portion of the air to the outside of the aircraft before supplying the air to the casing; an adjusting unit that adjusts the amount of air discharged; a pressure detection unit that detects the pressure inside the casing, Air floating conveyor.

2. The flow rate of air supplied to the casing is less than the flow rate of air exhausted from the casing.

2. The air floating conveyor according to claim 1.

3. the pressure detection unit is provided upstream and / or downstream of the endless belt in a conveying direction in which the object is conveyed.

3. The air floating conveyor according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a dust collecting unit that collects dust from the air exhausted from the casing; 3. The air floating conveyor according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a circulation line connecting the casing to the air intake and exhaust unit; The dust collecting unit is provided in the circulation line.

5. The air floating conveyor according to claim 4.

6. a supply flow rate detection unit that detects the amount of air supplied to the casing; an exhaust flow rate detection unit that detects the amount of air exhausted from the casing, 6. The air floating conveyor according to claim 5.

7. A method for adjusting pressure inside a casing of an air floating conveyor, in which air for floating an endless belt that transports an object is supplied to the casing by an air supply and exhaust unit, and the casing is exhausted, based on a detection result of a pressure detection unit that detects the pressure inside the casing, an adjustment unit adjusts a discharge amount for discharging a part of the air from a discharge unit to the outside of the machine before the air is supplied to the casing, thereby adjusting the pressure inside the casing. Pressure adjustment method.

8. Based on the detection result of the pressure detection unit, an adjusting unit adjusts the amount of air discharged from the discharge unit to the outside of the aircraft so that the pressure inside the casing becomes negative; The pressure adjusting method according to claim 7.

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