Conveying device

Abstract

To provide a transport device that makes it easy for workers to perform their tasks. [Solution] The conveying device 13 comprises a conveying conveyor 16 for conveying objects and a work conveyor 17 positioned to the side of the conveying conveyor 16 on which the objects can be placed. The conveying conveyor 16 is supported by legs 20. A first support member 36 is attached to the conveying conveyor 16. A second support member 37 is attached to the work conveyor 17. The second support member 37 is attached to a protruding portion 44b of the first support member 36 that protrudes to the side of the conveying conveyor 16, thereby positioning the work conveyor 17 to the side of the conveying conveyor 16.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device for conveying an object to be conveyed.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for example, a conveying device described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In this conveying device, a main conveyor and a sub-conveyor, each supported at a predetermined height by legs, are arranged in parallel, enabling the transfer of an object to be conveyed between these conveyors.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conveying device as described above, the legs may interfere with the work of an operator working on the side of the conveying device.

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a conveying device that is easy for an operator to work on.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The conveying device of the present invention includes a conveying conveyor for conveying an object to be conveyed, legs for supporting the conveying conveyor, a protruding portion protruding into a side region of the conveying conveyor, a first support member attached to the conveying conveyor, a conveying object placement portion arranged in the side region of the conveying conveyor and capable of placing the object to be conveyed thereon, and a second support member attached to the conveying object placement portion. By attaching the second support member to the protruding portion of the first support member, the conveying object placement portion is arranged in the side region of the conveying conveyor.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a transport device that is easy for workers to use can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a plan view of a transport system equipped with a transport device that shows one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the same conveying device. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the underside of the same conveying device. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged perspective view showing the underside of the same conveying device. [Figure 5] A partial side view of the same conveying device, seen from the opposite direction to the conveying direction. [Figure 6] A partial side view of the above-mentioned conveying device, as seen from the conveying direction. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 shows a plan view of the transport system 10. The transport system 10 includes a storage unit 11 for storing goods, and a transport device 13 that allows workers 12, who are the main performers of the work, to take the goods stored in the storage unit 11 and store them in containers (transported items 14), such as containers or cardboard boxes, and then transport the containers once storage is complete in the transport direction F.

[0011] Storage units 11 are installed on both sides of the left-right direction W, which is the width direction intersecting the transport direction F of the transport device 13, and a work area where the worker 12 performs their work is provided between the transport device 13 and the storage units 11. The transport device 13 is provided with multiple zones Z where the worker 12 performs their work, along the transport direction F.

[0012] The conveying device 13 includes a conveying conveyor (first conveyor) 16 that conveys containers in the conveying direction F, and a work conveyor (second conveyor) 17 which is a conveyed object placement section arranged in parallel to the lateral area of ​​the conveying conveyor 16 in the left-right direction W. The worker 12 places the items taken from the storage room 11 into the containers placed on the work conveyor 17, and moves the containers with the items stored inside to the conveying conveyor 16, which then conveys them in the conveying direction F.

[0013] When storage units 11 are located on both sides of the conveying device 13 in the left-right direction W, work conveyors 17 are arranged in parallel on both sides of the conveying conveyor 16 in the left-right direction W. However, when storage units 11 are located on only one side of the conveying device 13 in the left-right direction W, the work conveyor 17 is arranged in parallel on only one side of the conveying conveyor 16 in the left-right direction W. The containers transported by the conveying device 13 are referred to as transported objects 14.

[0014] Figures 2 to 6 show the conveying device 13. The conveying device 13 comprises a central conveying conveyor 16, work conveyors 17 arranged in parallel to the left and right lateral regions W of the conveying conveyor 16, legs 20 supporting the conveying conveyor 16, a support structure 21 supporting the work conveyors 17 relative to the conveying conveyor 16, and a transfer mechanism 22 for conveyed objects 14 between the conveying conveyor 16 and the work conveyors 17.

[0015] The conveying conveyor 16 is a roller conveyor having a frame 24 and a plurality of conveying rollers 25 arranged in parallel on the frame 24 along the conveying direction F. The frame 24 comprises side frames 26 arranged opposite each other on both sides in the left-right direction W, and connecting members (not shown) that connect these side frames 26. The side frames 26 are formed in a long, roughly C-shape in cross-section. The conveying rollers 25 have their axial direction in the left-right direction W and are rotationally driven in the conveying direction F for conveying the conveyed object 14 using a drive mechanism that transmits the driving force of a motor (not shown) or a motor roller with a built-in motor. The upper surfaces of the plurality of conveying rollers 25 form a conveying surface 27 that supports and conveys the bottom surface of the conveyed object 14. The conveying surface 27 is located above the upper surface of the side frames 26.

[0016] Further, the work conveyor 17 is a roller conveyor having a frame 30 and work rollers 31 as a plurality of carriers arranged side by side along the conveyance direction F on the frame 30. The frame 30 includes side frames 32 disposed opposite to each other on both sides in the left - right direction W, and a connecting member (not shown) connecting between these side frames 32. The work rollers 31 have an axial direction in the left - right direction W and are arranged rotatable freely with respect to the side frames 32. A placement surface (work surface) 33 for placing the conveyed object 14 is formed by the upper surface sides of the plurality of work rollers 31. The placement surface 33 is located above the upper surfaces of the side frames 32.

[0017] Also, the legs 20 are attached to the lower part of the conveyance conveyor 16, and support the work conveyor 17 via the conveyance conveyor 16 and the support structure 21 at a predetermined height position from an installation surface such as a floor surface. The legs 20 are attached to the lower parts of the side frames 26 on both the left and right sides at a plurality of locations along the conveyance direction F of the conveyance conveyor 16.

[0018] Further, the support structure 21 includes a first support member 36 attached to the lower part of the conveyance conveyor 16, a second support member 37 attached to the lower part of the work conveyor 17, a fixture 38 for fixing the first support member 36 to the conveyance conveyor 16, a height adjustment part 39 for attaching the second support member 37 to the work conveyor 17, and a connecting tool 40 for connecting the first support member 36 and the second support member 37.

[0019] The first support member 36 is attached to the lower part of the conveyor 16, for example, at the upstream and downstream ends of the conveying direction F in zone Z. The first support member 36 has a substantially L-shaped cross-section and is formed to be long, with a first horizontal part 42 as a first connecting part and a first vertical part 43 as a first hanging part that is bent at a right angle downward from one side of the first horizontal part 42. The first support member 36 is oriented with its longitudinal direction facing the left-right direction W of the conveyor 16, and the first vertical part 43 is positioned upstream of the first horizontal part 42 in the conveying direction F. The mounting part 44a in the longitudinal center of the first horizontal part 42 is attached to the lower surface of each side frame 26 of the conveyor 16 by fasteners 38. The first support member 36 is attached to a position on the conveyor 16 different from that of the legs 20. The first horizontal section 42 is provided with a notch 45 to avoid interference with the height adjustment section 39, which is located on the inside closer to the conveyor belt 16, when the first support member 36 and the second support member 37 are combined.

[0020] The first support member 36 is provided with protruding portions 44b at both longitudinal ends, which protrude into the lateral area of ​​the conveyor belt 16. The protruding portions 44b protrude laterally from the conveyor belt 16 and are positioned inward from the side opposite to the conveyor belt 16 on the work conveyor belt 17, which is located in the lateral area of ​​the conveyor belt 16. The protruding portions 44b are also provided with a first horizontal portion 42 as a first connecting portion and a first vertical portion 43 as a first downward-hanging portion, which are connected to the second connecting portion described later.

[0021] The second support member 37 is attached to the lower part of the work conveyor 17, for example, at the upstream and downstream end sides in the conveyance direction F of the zone Z. The second support member 37 has a substantially L-shaped cross section having a second horizontal portion 46 as a second connecting portion and a second vertical portion 47 as a second hanging portion that extends downward at a right angle from the second horizontal portion 46, and is formed in a long shape. The second support member 37 has its longitudinal direction oriented in the left-right direction W of the work conveyor 17, and in a direction where the second vertical portion 47 is disposed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction F with respect to the second horizontal portion 46, and both longitudinal ends of the second horizontal portion 46 are attached to the lower surfaces of the respective side frames 32 of the work conveyor 17 by the height adjuster 39. The second support member 37 is attached at a position of the work conveyor 17 corresponding to the first support member 36 attached to the conveyance conveyor 16.

[0022] The second support member 37 is positioned and arranged on the first support member 36 in a state where the second horizontal portion 46 of the second support member 37 rests on the first horizontal portion 42 of the first support member 36 and the second vertical portion 47 of the second support member 37 abuts against the first vertical portion 43 of the first support member 36 by combining the corner formed by the second horizontal portion 46 and the second vertical portion 47 of the second support member 37 with the corner formed by the first horizontal portion 42 and the first vertical portion 43 of the first support member 36.

[0023] The fixture 38 includes a bolt 49 that is sequentially inserted through each side frame 26 of the conveyance conveyor 16 and the first horizontal portion 42 of the first support member 36 from above, and a nut 50 that is screwed onto the tip side of the bolt 49 that has passed through the first horizontal portion 42, and fastens and fixes the side frame 26 and the first support member 36 between the bolt 49 and the nut 50.

[0024] The height adjustment section 39 includes a cylindrical spacer 52 interposed between each side frame 32 of the work conveyor 17 and the second horizontal section 46 of the second support member 37, a bolt 53 inserted from below in the order of the second horizontal section 46, spacer 52, and side frame 32, and a nut 54 screwed onto the tip of the bolt 53 that has passed through the side frame 32. The height position of the work conveyor 17 relative to the second support member 37 can be adjusted by the type of spacer 52 with different height dimensions, or by the presence or absence of the spacer 52. In other words, the height adjustment section 39 is a connecting member for forming a gap so that the distance between the side frame 32 of the work conveyor 17 and the second horizontal section 46 is a predetermined dimension determined by the length of the spacer 52, and the height relationship between the conveying surface 27 of the transport conveyor 16 and the mounting surface 33 of the work conveyor 17 when the first support member 36 and the second support member 37 are connected is defined by the length of this gap. Furthermore, the height position of the mounting surface 33 of the work conveyor 17 changes in accordance with the variation in the spacing, and the relative position of the work conveyor 17 with respect to the transport conveyor 16 changes accordingly. Therefore, the height can be adjusted by setting the spacer 52 to any length. In this embodiment, the height dimensions of the side frame 26 of the transport conveyor 16 and the side frame 32 of the work conveyor 17 are the same, but the height adjustment section 39 positions the mounting surface 33 of the work conveyor 17 higher than the transport surface 27 of the transport conveyor 16. Although the work conveyor 17 is raised from the first horizontal section 42 by the thickness of the second horizontal section 46 when attached to the transport conveyor 16, the thickness of the second horizontal section 46 alone is not sufficient to create a sufficient height difference between the mounting surface 33 of the work conveyor 17 and the transport surface 27 of the transport conveyor 16. Therefore, the height adjustment section 39 is significant in order to create a sufficient height difference and smooth the movement of the transported object 14.

[0025] The connector 40 is positioned between two height adjustment sections 39 of the second support member 37 to which the work conveyor 17 is attached, and is positioned on the outside, further away from the transport conveyor 16 side than the inner mounting section (height adjustment section 39) of the mounting points of the second support member 37 that are attached to the transport conveyor 16 side. The connector 40 comprises a bolt 56 that is inserted sequentially from above through the second horizontal section 46 of the second support member 37 and the first horizontal section 42 of the first support member 36, and a nut 57 that is screwed onto the tip side of the bolt 56 that has passed through the first horizontal section 42, and fastens and fixes the second horizontal section 46 of the second support member 37 and the first horizontal section 42 of the first support member 36 between the bolt 56 and the nut 57.

[0026] Furthermore, the transfer mechanism 22 includes a transfer member 60 that is mounted across the upper surface between the side frame 26 of the transport conveyor 16 and the side frame 32 of the work conveyor 17, and a transfer roller 61 that is rotatably attached to the transfer member 60.

[0027] The transfer member 60 is provided with a bent portion 62 on the side frame 26 side of the transport conveyor 16, which is bent in a roughly U-shape in cross-section, to correspond to the step difference between the side frame 26 of the transport conveyor 16 and the side frame 32 of the work conveyor 17, and the upper surface of the transfer member 60 is positioned horizontally. An opening 63 is formed on the upper surface of the transfer member 60 in which the transfer roller 61 is positioned.

[0028] The transfer roller 61 is positioned in the opening 63 of the transfer member 60 with its axial direction intersecting the axial directions of the conveyor roller 25 and the work roller 31, and is rotatably supported by the transfer member 60. The upper surface of the transfer roller 61 protrudes above the upper surface of the transfer member 60. The height of the upper surface of the transfer roller 61 is lower than the upper surface of the work roller 31 and higher than the upper surface of the conveyor roller 25.

[0029] Furthermore, partition members 66 are provided on both sides of each zone Z on the work conveyor 17 (see Figure 1). The partition members 66 are mounted on the side frames 32 of the work conveyor 17. The end of the partition member 66 on the transport conveyor 16 side extends above the transfer member 60, and a sensor 67 is positioned at this end of the partition member 66 to detect when the transported object 14 has moved from the work conveyor 17 to the transport conveyor 16. The sensor 67 has a light emitter that emits sensor light provided on one side of the partition member 66 in zone Z, and a light receiving unit that receives sensor light provided on the other side of the partition member 66 in zone Z.

[0030] Furthermore, a sensor 68 for detecting the passage of conveyed objects 14 on the conveyed conveyor 16 is positioned in the bent portion 62 of the transfer member 60 on the upstream side of the area of ​​the transport conveyor 16 corresponding to each zone Z of the work conveyor 17. The sensor 68 has a light emitter that emits sensor light and is positioned in the bent portion 62 of one transfer member 60, and a light receiving unit that receives sensor light and is positioned in the bent portion 62 of the other transfer member 60.

[0031] The partition member 66 has a guide surface 66a that is perpendicular to the transport direction F of the work conveyor 17 (parallel to the axial direction of the work roller 31), and the worker 12 can push the transported object 14 from the work conveyor 17 to the transport conveyor 16 while sliding the transported object 14 against the guide surface 66a.

[0032] Next, we will explain how to assemble the conveying device 13.

[0033] Assemble the conveyor belt 16 having legs 20. The first horizontal portion 42 of the first support member 36 is fixed to the lower surface of the side frame 26 of the conveyor belt 16 with a fastener 38. In this state, the protruding portion 44b of the first support member 36 protrudes from the lateral area in the left-right direction W of the conveyor belt 16.

[0034] The second support member 37 is attached to the underside of the side frame 32 of the work conveyor 17 by a height adjustment section 39. The height adjustment section 39 is attached with a spacer 52 of a predetermined height interposed between the side frame 32 and the second horizontal section 46 of the second support member 37.

[0035] The second support member 37 of the work conveyor 17 is combined with the protruding portion 44b of the first support member 36. At this time, by combining the corner formed by the second horizontal portion 46 and the second vertical portion 47 of the second support member 37 with the corner formed by the first horizontal portion 42 and the first vertical portion 43 of the first support member 36, the second horizontal portion 46 of the second support member 37 rests on the first horizontal portion 42 of the first support member 36, and the second vertical portion 47 of the second support member 37 engages with the first vertical portion 43 of the first support member 36, thereby supporting the second support member 37 in a position fixed in the transport direction F relative to the first support member 36.

[0036] Of the two height adjustment sections 39 of the second support member 37, the height adjustment section 39 located on the inside, closer to the conveyor belt 16, is positioned in the notch 45 of the first horizontal section 42 of the first support member 36, while the height adjustment section 39 located on the outside, further away from the conveyor belt 16, is positioned further out than the first support member 36.

[0037] The second horizontal section 46 of the second support member 37 is connected to the first horizontal section 42 of the first support member 36 by a connector 40. At this time, the assembler performing the assembly will crawl under (or reach out) the work conveyor 17 to connect the connector 40 using the bolts 56 and nuts 57. However, the connection work between the first support member 36 and the second support member 37 using the connector 40 can be performed at a location that is further out from the transport conveyor 16 side than the inner mounting location (height adjustment section 39) of the second support member 37 that is located on the transport conveyor 16 side, and is closer to the outside of the work conveyor 17, making the connection work easier.

[0038] Subsequently, the transfer mechanism 22 incorporating sensor 68 and the partition member 66 incorporating sensor 67 are assembled. Alternatively, the work conveyor 17, to which the transfer mechanism 22 and partition member 66 have been attached first, may be assembled to the transport conveyor 16 using the support structure 21.

[0039] In the transport system 10, the worker 12 takes items stored in the storage room 11 and places them in containers (transported items 14), such as containers or cardboard boxes, placed on the work conveyor 17. The containers (transported items 14) on the work conveyor 17 are moved within zone Z in the transport direction F or in the opposite direction to the transport direction F by the rotation of the work rollers 31, allowing for the storage of items. Once the storage is complete, the containers (transported items 14) are pushed onto the transport conveyor 16 via the transfer mechanism 22. The transported items 14 pushed onto the transport conveyor 16 are then transported by the transport conveyor 16 in the transport direction F.

[0040] In the conveying device 13 of this embodiment, by attaching the second support member 37, which is attached to the work conveyor 17, to the protruding portion 44b of the first support member 36 attached to the conveying conveyor 16 that protrudes to the side of the conveying conveyor 16, the work conveyor 17 can be arranged in parallel to the side of the conveying conveyor 16, and because there are no legs of the work conveyor 17 on the underside of the work conveyor 17, it does not get in the way of workers 12 working on the work conveyor 17 side, making it easier for workers 12 to work.

[0041] Since the work conveyor 17 and the second support member 37 are attached by the height adjustment section 39, even if the legs 20 are shared between the transport conveyor 16 and the work conveyor 17, the height of the work conveyor 17 relative to the transport conveyor 16 can be adjusted. For example, the height of the mounting surface 33 of the work conveyor 17 can be made higher than the height of the transport surface 27 of the transport conveyor 16 to facilitate the movement of transported objects 14 from the work conveyor 17 to the transport conveyor 16, or conversely, the height of the mounting surface 33 of the work conveyor 17 can be made lower than the height of the transport surface 27 of the transport conveyor 16 to facilitate the movement of transported objects 14 from the transport conveyor 16 to the work conveyor 17.

[0042] Since the connection work between the first support member 36 and the second support member 37 using the connector 40 can be performed at the outer mounting point (height adjustment section 39) of the second support member 37 attached to the work conveyor 17, which is further away from the transport conveyor 16 than the inner mounting point (height adjustment section 39) located on the transport conveyor 16 side, it is made easier for the assembler to perform the connection work by crawling under the work conveyor 17 (or reaching in).

[0043] By combining the corner formed by the second horizontal portion 46 and the second vertical portion 47 of the second support member 37 with the corner formed by the first horizontal portion 42 and the first vertical portion 43 of the first support member 36, the first support member 36 and the second support member 37 can be positioned, improving ease of assembly.

[0044] Furthermore, the conveying object placement section is not limited to the work conveyor 17; it may also be a workbench or the like on which the conveying object 14 can be placed.

[0045] Embodiments of the present invention and their variations have been described above, but various combinations of configurations, as well as partial omissions, substitutions, and modifications, are also possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 13 Conveying device 14. Transported items 16 Conveyor 17. Work conveyor, which is the section for placing conveyed materials. 20 legs 36 First support member 37 Second support member 39 Height adjustment section 40 Connectors 42 First horizontal section as first connection section 43. First vertical section as the first hanging section 44b Protrusion 46 Second horizontal section as second connection section 47. Second vertical section as the second hanging section

Claims

1. A conveyor that transports the transported items, The legs supporting the aforementioned conveyor, A first support member is attached to the conveyor and has a protruding portion that extends outwards from the side of the conveyor. A conveying object placement section is located in the lateral area of ​​the conveying conveyor and is capable of placing the conveyed objects on it. A second support member attached to the transport object placement section, Equipped with, The second support member is attached to the protruding portion of the first support member, thereby positioning the conveyed material placement area in the lateral region of the conveying conveyor. A conveying device characterized by the following features.

2. The second support member is attached to the material placement section, and a height adjustment section is provided to adjust the height position of the material placement section relative to the conveyor. The conveying device according to feature 1.

3. The second support member has a second connecting portion which is connected to the conveyed object placement portion and also to the protruding portion. The second connecting portion is connected to the conveyed material placement portion at a distance from it, and the length of the distance determines the height relationship of the conveyed material placement portion with respect to the conveying conveyor when the protruding portion and the second connecting portion are connected. The conveying device according to feature 1.

4. The mounting location of the second support member attached to the conveyed material placement section is located further outward from the conveyed material side than the mounting location on the conveyed material side, and includes a connector that connects the first support member and the second support member. The conveying device according to feature 1.

5. The first support member has a first connecting portion connected to the second support member on the protruding portion and a first hanging portion extending downward from the first connecting portion. The second support member has a second connecting portion connected to the conveyed object placement portion and a second hanging portion extending downward from the second connecting portion. The first support member and the second support member are positioned by combining the corner formed by the first connecting portion and the first hanging portion, and the corner formed by the second connecting portion and the second hanging portion. The conveying device according to feature 1.

6. The aforementioned conveyed material placement section is a work conveyor arranged in parallel to the side of the conveying conveyor. A conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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