Cover attaching / detaching device and heat treatment system using the same

Abstract

To provide a lid detachment device capable of suppressing the fall of a lid when removing the lid from a container or attaching the lid to the container. 【Solution means】A lid detachment device that can remove a plate-shaped lid 6 attached to the upper part of a box-shaped container 3 from the container 3 or attach the lid 6 to the container 3, comprising a gripping part 81 and a support part 82. The gripping part 81 can grip the outer edge part of the lid 6 from both horizontal sides. The support part 82 can support the lower surface of the lid 6.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid detachment device and a heat treatment system using the same.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a lid detachment device capable of removing a lid from a container containing a processed object after processing or attaching a lid to a container containing a processed object before processing is known. For example, the lid detachment device of Patent Document 1 includes a lid removal device capable of removing a lid from a container and a lid attachment device capable of attaching a lid to the container.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the lid removal device of Patent Document 1, the lid is removed from the container by raising the gripping portion that grips the lid with respect to the container. Also, in the lid attachment device of Patent Document 1, the gripping portion that grips the lid is moved above the container to attach the lid to the container. In the lid detachment device of Patent Document 1, when removing the lid from the container or attaching the lid to the container, the lid cannot be reliably gripped by the gripping portion, and there is a risk that the lid may fall from the gripping portion.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a lid detachment device capable of suppressing the fall of a lid when removing the lid from a container or attaching the lid to the container, and a heat treatment system using the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a lid detaching device (80, 801, 802) that can remove a plate-like lid (6) attached to the upper part of a box-shaped container (3) from the container or attach a lid to the container, and includes a gripping part (81) and a support part (82). The gripping part can grip the outer edge part of the lid from both horizontal sides. The support part can support the lower surface of the lid. Therefore, when removing the lid from the container or attaching the lid to the container, it is possible to suppress the dropping of the lid. Thereby, problems caused by the dropping of the lid can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, a heat treatment system, a cleaning device, and a lid attaching / detaching device according to a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the plurality of embodiments, substantially the same constituent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0009] (First Embodiment) The heat treatment system according to the first embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The heat treatment system 1 includes a heat treatment unit 10 and a transfer system 2. The heat treatment unit 10 is for heat-treating a workpiece 8 to be described later, and is, for example, a firing furnace. The transfer system 2 is provided so as to pass through the heat treatment unit 10 and can transfer a container 3 or the like containing the workpiece 8.

[0010] The transfer system 2 includes a heat treatment transfer conveyor 20, a post-treatment transfer conveyor 30, a lid transfer conveyor 40, a container transfer conveyor 50, a pre-treatment transfer conveyor 60, a cleaning device 70, a lid attaching / detaching device 80, and the like.

[0011] One heat treatment unit 10 is provided in the heat treatment system 1. One heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 is provided. One post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 is provided. Three lid transfer conveyors 40 are provided. For the sake of convenience, the respective lid transfer conveyors 40 are referred to as lid transfer conveyors 41, 42, and 43. Two container transfer conveyors 50 are provided. For the sake of convenience, the respective container transfer conveyors 50 are referred to as container transfer conveyors 51 and 52. One pre-treatment transfer conveyor 60 is provided. In the present embodiment, the heat treatment unit 10, the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20, and the lid transfer conveyor 40 are set to have a length of about 100 m, for example.

[0012] Here, xyz coordinates are defined in the space where the heat treatment system 1 is installed. The x-axis, y-axis, and xy plane are along the horizontal direction. The z-axis, zx plane, and zy plane are along the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat treatment unit 10 is provided along the x-axis. The heat treatment conveyor 20 is provided so as to pass through the heat treatment unit 10, that is, along the x-axis. The post-treatment conveyor 30 is provided along the y-axis. The lid conveyor 41 is provided along the y-axis, that is, in parallel with the post-treatment conveyor 30. The lid conveyor 42 is provided along the x-axis, and one end thereof is connected to the end of the lid conveyor 41. The lid conveyor 43 is provided along the y-axis, and one end thereof is connected to the other end of the lid conveyor 42. The container conveyor 51 is provided along the x-axis, and one end thereof is connected to the end of the post-treatment conveyor 30 on the side opposite to the heat treatment conveyor 20. The container conveyor 52 is provided along the x-axis at a position separated from the end of the container conveyor 51 on the side opposite to the post-treatment conveyor 30 by a predetermined distance. The pre-treatment conveyor 60 is provided along the y-axis, and one end thereof is connected to the end of the container conveyor 52 on the side opposite to the container conveyor 51.

[0013] The heat treatment conveyor 20 conveys the covered container 7 composed of the container 3 and one lid 6 attached to the upper side in the vertical direction thereof by rotating a conveying roller (not shown). The container 3 is formed in a rectangular box shape having a bottom wall at the lower part, four side walls 4, and an opening at the upper part, made of a ceramic material such as alumina, for example. The container 3 is set to be about 330 mm in length, about 300 mm in width, and about 120 mm in height, for example. The lid 6 is formed in a rectangular plate shape made of a ceramic material such as alumina, for example. The lid 6 is set to be about 328 mm in length, about 298 mm in width, and about 10 mm in height (thickness), for example.

[0014] The container 3 contains the object to be treated 8. The object to be treated 8 is, for example, a mixture of a lithium-containing compound and a transition metal compound, an electrode material of a lithium-ion battery, etc., and is contained in the container 3 in a state where a powder-like material is pressed firmly under a predetermined pressure.

[0015] The heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 conveys the covered containers 7 arranged in a plurality in the width direction (y-axis direction) of the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20. In the present embodiment, the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 conveys the covered containers 7 arranged in two in the width direction (y-axis direction) of the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20, that is, the covered containers in two rows and one stage. The conveyance direction of the covered container 7 on the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 is the +x direction. Here, the “+x direction” means the positive direction on the x-axis (the same applies to the “+y direction” and the “+z direction” hereinafter). Further, the “-x direction” means the negative direction on the x-axis (the same applies to the “-y direction” and the “-z direction” hereinafter).

[0016] The heat treatment unit 10 has a furnace body 100 and a heater (not shown). The furnace body 100 is formed in a tunnel shape by, for example, heat insulating materials such as heat-resistant bricks and ceramic boards, and a casing that coats the heat insulating materials. The heater is provided inside the furnace body 100. The heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 is provided such that parts other than both ends are located inside the heat treatment unit 10. The covered container 7 conveyed by the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 is carried into the furnace body 100 from the furnace body inlet 101, heated by the heater, and carried out from the furnace body outlet 102. When the covered container 7 passes through the heat treatment unit 10, the object to be processed 8 in the container 3 is heat-treated by the heater of the heat treatment unit 10.

[0017] The post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 has an end on the +y direction side connected to the end on the +x direction side of the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20. The covered container 7 containing the object to be processed 8 heat-treated in the heat treatment unit 10 is conveyed from the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 to the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The covered container 7 conveyed to the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 is conveyed in the -y direction by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. In this way, the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 conveys the container 3 containing the object to be processed 8 after being heat-treated in the heat treatment unit 10 and the lid 6 attached to the container 3 in the -y direction.

[0018] The cleaning device 70 is provided in the middle of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The cleaning device 70 can clean the upper surface of the lid 6 and the side wall 4 of the container 3 conveyed by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30.

[0019] Two lid attaching / detaching devices 80 are provided, for example, in the heat treatment system 1 (transfer system 2). For the sake of convenience, each lid attaching / detaching device 80 is referred to as a lid removing device 801 and a lid attaching device 802. The lid removing device 801 is provided so as to straddle the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and the y-direction end of the lid transfer conveyor 41 on the downstream side of the cleaning device 70 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The lid removing device 801 can remove the lid 6 from the container 3 (container 7 with a lid) conveyed by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and convey it to the lid transfer conveyor 41.

[0020] The lid transfer conveyor 41 conveys the lid 6 removed by the lid removing device 801 in the -y direction. The lid 6 conveyed to the -y direction end of the lid transfer conveyor 41 is conveyed to the lid transfer conveyor 42 and conveyed in the -x direction. The lid 6 conveyed to the -x direction end of the lid transfer conveyor 42 is conveyed to the lid transfer conveyor 43 and conveyed in the y direction.

[0021] The container 3 from which the lid 6 has been removed by the lid removing device 801 is conveyed to the -y direction end of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The +x direction end of the container transfer conveyor 51 is connected to the -y direction end of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The container transfer conveyor 51 conveys the container 3 conveyed to the -y direction end of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 in the -x direction.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, between the -x direction end of the container transfer conveyor 51 and the +x direction end of the container transfer conveyor 52, a workpiece recovery unit 150 and a workpiece filling unit 160 are provided. The workpiece recovery unit 150 drops and recovers the processed workpiece 8 accommodated in the container 3 by, for example, inverting the container 3 conveyed by the container transfer conveyor 51 vertically. The recovered processed workpiece 8 is, for example, pulverized and used as a material for electrodes of lithium ion batteries and the like.

[0023] The object - to - be - treated filling unit 160 fills the container 3 emptied by the object - to - be - treated recovery unit 150 with the object 8 to be treated before processing. The object - to - be - treated filling unit 160 fills the container 3, for example, with a mixture of a powdery lithium - containing compound and a transition metal compound, and compresses it with a predetermined pressure from the upper side in the vertical direction.

[0024] The container transport conveyor 52 transports the container 3 filled with the object 8 to be treated by the object - to - be - treated filling unit 160 in the - x direction. The pre - treatment transport conveyor 60 has its +y - direction side end connected to the - x - direction side end of the heat - treatment transport conveyor 20. The - y - direction side end of the pre - treatment transport conveyor 60 is connected to the - x - direction side end of the container transport conveyor 52.

[0025] The pre - treatment transport conveyor 60 transports the container 3 filled with the object 8 to be treated before processing by the object - to - be - treated filling unit 160 and transported to the - x - direction side end of the container transport conveyor 52 in the +y direction.

[0026] The lid attaching device 802 is provided so as to straddle the y - direction side end of the lid transport conveyor 43 and the middle of the pre - treatment transport conveyor 60. The lid attaching device 802 can attach the lid 6 transported to the y - direction side end of the lid transport conveyor 43 to the container 3 transported by the pre - treatment transport conveyor 60.

[0027] The container 3 (the container 7 with a lid) to which the lid 6 is attached by the lid attaching device 802 is transported in the +y direction on the pre - treatment transport conveyor 60. The container 7 with a lid transported to the +y - direction side end of the pre - treatment transport conveyor 60 is transported to the heat - treatment transport conveyor 20 respectively. The container 7 with a lid containing the object 8 to be treated before processing and transported to the heat - treatment transport conveyor 20 is heated by the heat - treatment unit 10. In this way, in the heat - treatment system 1, the object - to - be - treated filling unit 160 fills the container 3 with the object 8 to be treated before processing, passes the object 8 through the heat - treatment unit 10 in the transport system 2 to heat - treat the object 8, and the object - to - be - treated recovery unit 150 repeatedly recovers the treated object 8 from the container 3, so that the treated object 8 can be efficiently and continuously obtained.

[0028] Next, each part of the heat treatment system 1 will be described in detail.

[0029] Hereinafter, the cleaning device 70 will be described.

[0030] The cleaning device 70 is provided on the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30, that is, on the transfer path R1 of the container 3 (container 7 with a lid) to which the lid 6 is attached (see FIG. 2). The post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 has transfer rollers 300, a rotating shaft 301, and roller support portions 306. The transfer rollers 300 are formed in a cylindrical shape from a ceramic material such as alumina, for example. The rotating shaft 301 is formed in a rod shape from a metal, for example, and is provided integrally with the transfer roller 300 so as to pass through the center of the transfer roller 300. The roller support portions 306 are formed in a long shape and are provided on both sides in the width direction (x-axis direction) of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 along the y-axis. The roller support portions 306 rotatably support both ends of the rotating shaft 301. A plurality of transfer rollers 300 (rotating shafts 301) are provided at predetermined intervals in the length direction (y-axis direction) of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The transfer roller 300 (rotating shaft 301) is rotatable in a predetermined direction by a driving device (not shown). Thereby, the container 7 with a lid on the transfer roller 300 is transferred in the -y direction on the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 (transfer path R1).

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the cleaning device 70 includes a lid cleaning portion 71, a container cleaning portion 72, a container lifting portion 75, a cleaning side hopper 76, a clamp portion 77, cleaning side stoppers 781 and 782, a hood 79, and the like. The hood 79 is provided so as to cover the upper surface of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lid cleaning unit 71 includes a lid upper surface cleaning unit 73, a lid cleaning unit main body 700, a lid cleaning unit support 711, a lid cleaning unit motor 712, a timing belt 713, etc. The lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 has a brush shaft portion 731 and brush bristles 732. The brush shaft portion 731 is formed in a rod shape, for example, made of metal. The brush bristles 732 are formed in a hair shape, for example, made of aramid fiber, and are provided in a large number in the circumferential direction and the axial direction along the radial direction of the brush shaft portion 731. The lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 is a so-called rotary brush. The lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 is provided inside the hood 79 such that the brush shaft portion 731 is along the x-axis. The lid cleaning unit main body 700 is provided above the hood 79 and is reciprocally movable along the y-axis by a driving unit (not shown).

[0033] The lid cleaning unit support 711 rotatably supports both ends of the brush shaft portion 731 of the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 and is provided such that the upper part is connected to the lid cleaning unit main body 700. Thus, the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 and the lid cleaning unit support 711 are reciprocally movable along the y-axis together with the lid cleaning unit main body 700. The lid cleaning unit motor 712 is provided above the lid cleaning unit main body 700, and its rotation is controlled by a control unit (not shown). The timing belt 713 is provided between the rotation shaft of the lid cleaning unit motor 712 and the brush shaft portion 731 of the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73, and can transmit the power of the lid cleaning unit motor 712 to the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73. With the above configuration, the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 can reciprocally move along the y-axis while rotating inside the hood 79.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the container cleaning unit 72 includes a side wall cleaning unit 74, a container cleaning unit support 721, a container cleaning unit motor 722, a timing belt 723, etc. The side wall cleaning unit 74 has a brush shaft portion 745 and brush bristles 746. The brush shaft portion 745 is formed in a rod shape, for example, made of metal. The brush bristles 746 are formed in a hair shape, for example, made of aramid fiber, and are provided in a large number in the circumferential direction and the axial direction along the radial direction of the brush shaft portion 745. The side wall cleaning unit 74 is a so-called rotary brush.

[0035] In this embodiment, four side wall cleaning units 74 are provided. For the sake of convenience, each side wall cleaning unit 74 is referred to as a first side wall cleaning unit 741, a second side wall cleaning unit 742, a third side wall cleaning unit 743, and a fourth side wall cleaning unit 744. As shown in FIG. 2, the first side wall cleaning unit 741 is provided inside the hood 79 such that the brush shaft portion 745 is along the x-axis. The second side wall cleaning unit 742 is provided such that the brush shaft portion 745 is along the y-axis and the end portion on the -y direction side of the brush shaft portion 745 overlaps the end portion on the -x direction side of the brush shaft portion 745 of the first side wall cleaning unit 741 when viewed from the z-axis direction. The third side wall cleaning unit 743 is provided such that the brush shaft portion 745 is along the x-axis and the end portion on the -x direction side of the brush shaft portion 745 overlaps the end portion on the y direction side of the brush shaft portion 745 of the second side wall cleaning unit 742 when viewed from the z-axis direction. The fourth side wall cleaning unit 744 is provided such that the brush shaft portion 745 is along the y-axis and the end portion on the y direction side of the brush shaft portion 745 overlaps the end portion on the x direction side of the brush shaft portion 745 of the third side wall cleaning unit 743 when viewed from the z-axis direction.

[0036] Here, the first side wall cleaning unit 741 and the third side wall cleaning unit 743 are arranged substantially in parallel. The second side wall cleaning unit 742 and the fourth side wall cleaning unit 744 are arranged substantially in parallel. Here, "substantially in parallel" means not only a state where two elements are strictly parallel but also a state where they are slightly non-parallel due to manufacturing, assembly errors, etc. (the same applies hereinafter). The first side wall cleaning unit 741 and the third side wall cleaning unit 743 are provided at positions offset upward in the vertical direction with respect to the second side wall cleaning unit 742 and the fourth side wall cleaning unit 744 (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

[0037] The container cleaning unit support 721 rotatably supports both ends of the brush shaft portions 745 of each of the four side wall cleaning portions 74, and is provided such that the upper portion is connected to the upper wall of the hood 79. The container cleaning unit motor 722 is provided above the hood 79, and its rotation is controlled by a control unit (not shown). The timing belt 723 is provided between the rotating shaft of the container cleaning unit motor 722 and the brush shaft portion 745 of the side wall cleaning portion 74, and can transmit the power of the container cleaning unit motor 722 to the four side wall cleaning portions 74. Thereby, the four side wall cleaning portions 74 can rotate simultaneously inside the hood 79.

[0038] The container lifting unit 75 is provided at a position (vertically below) corresponding to the four side wall cleaning portions 74 of the container cleaning unit 72 on the vertically lower side of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The container lifting unit 75 can be reciprocally driven up and down through between a plurality of transfer rollers 400 by a drive unit (not shown). The container lifting unit 75 supports the bottom surface of the container 3 at its upper end, and by reciprocally driving up and down, the covered container 7 can be lifted and lowered in the region A1 surrounded by the four side wall cleaning portions 74 (see Fig. 2). The container lifting unit 75 can lift the covered container 7 until the bottom surface of the container 3 corresponds to the upper end portion of the brush shaft portion 745 of the first side wall cleaning portion 741 (see Fig. 5).

[0039] The clamp portion 77 is provided at a position corresponding to the lid cleaning portion 71. The clamp portion 77 has a clamp body 771 and a clamp body 772. The clamp portion 77 can grip the side wall 4 of the container 3 on the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 from both sides in the x-axis direction by the clamp body 771 and the clamp body 772 (see Fig. 4).

[0040] The cleaning-side stopper 781 is provided at a position corresponding to the lid cleaning unit 71 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The cleaning-side stopper 782 is provided at a position corresponding to the container cleaning unit 72 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. When the cleaning-side stoppers 781 and 782 are rotationally driven by a drive unit (not shown), their ends are positioned vertically above the upper ends of the transfer rollers 400 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 (see FIG. 3). The cleaning-side stopper 781 can stop the lid-equipped container 7 at a position corresponding to the lid cleaning unit 71 by abutting against the lower part of the front surface (-y direction side surface) of the lid-equipped container 7 conveyed by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The cleaning-side stopper 782 can stop the lid-equipped container 7 at a position corresponding to the container cleaning unit 72 by abutting against the lower part of the front surface (-y direction side surface) of the lid-equipped container 7 conveyed by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30.

[0041] Next, the cleaning of the lid-equipped container 7 by the cleaning device 70 will be described.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, when the lid-equipped container 7 conveyed in the -y direction by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 abuts against the end of the cleaning-side stopper 781, it stops at a position corresponding to the lid cleaning unit 71. Subsequently, the lid-equipped container 7 is gripped from both sides in the x-axis direction by the clamp bodies 771 and 772 of the clamp unit 77. Subsequently, as the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 moves in the -y direction while rotating, the foreign matter adhering to the upper surface of the lid 6 can be scraped off by the brush bristles 732 of the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73. Thereby, the upper surface of the lid 6 is cleaned. The rotation direction of the lid upper surface cleaning unit 73 at this time is, for example, the rotation direction in which the tip of the brush bristles 732 moves in the y direction side on the upper surface of the lid 6. After that, the gripping of the lid-equipped container 7 by the clamp unit 77 and the contact with the cleaning-side stopper 781 are released, and it is conveyed to the container cleaning unit 72 side in the -y direction.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the lidded container 7 conveyed to the container cleaning unit 72 side by the post-treatment conveyor 30 stops at a position corresponding to the container cleaning unit 72 when it abuts against the end of the cleaning-side stopper 782. Subsequently, the lidded container 7 is lifted by the container lifting unit 75 and passes vertically upward inside the four rotating side wall cleaning units 74. At this time, the foreign matter adhering to the outer surfaces of the four side walls 4 can be scraped off by the brush bristles 746 of the side wall cleaning unit 74. Thereby, the outer surfaces of the four side walls 4 are cleaned. The rotation direction of the side wall cleaning unit 74 at this time is, for example, the rotation direction in which the tip of the brush bristle 746 moves in the -z direction on the outer surface of the side wall 4. The first side wall cleaning unit 741 can clean the outer surface of the first side wall 201, which is one of the four side walls 4 of the container 3. The second side wall cleaning unit 742 can clean the outer surface of the second side wall 202, which is a side wall 4 adjacent to the first side wall 201. The third side wall cleaning unit 743 can clean the outer surface of the third side wall 203, which is a side wall 4 adjacent to the second side wall 202. The fourth side wall cleaning unit 744 can clean the outer surface of the fourth side wall 204, which is a side wall 4 adjacent to the third side wall 203. When the container lifting unit 75 descends, the lidded container 7 is placed on the conveyor roller 400 of the post-treatment conveyor 30 and conveyed in the -y direction.

[0044] The cleaning-side hopper 76 is provided at a position (vertically downward) corresponding to the lid cleaning unit 71 and the container cleaning unit 72 on the vertically lower side of the post-treatment conveyor 30. The cleaning-side hopper 76 can collect the foreign matter scraped off during the cleaning of the lid 6 and the container 3 by the lid cleaning unit 71 and the container cleaning unit 72. Further, since the hood 79 is provided so as to cover the upper surface of the post-treatment conveyor 30, it is possible to suppress the scattering of the foreign matter scraped off during the cleaning of the lid 6 and the container 3 by the lid cleaning unit 71 and the container cleaning unit 72 to the surroundings.

[0045] Hereinafter, the lid detaching device 80 will be described.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 11, the lid removal device 801 as the lid detachment device 80 includes a gripping part 81, a support part 82, a seating stopper 83, a guide 84, detachment side stoppers 851, 852, a lid lower surface cleaning part 86, a detachment side hopper 87, a hood 88, a drive base 91, an up-and-down drive air cylinder 92, a transfer drive part 93, etc. The hood 88 is provided downstream of the cleaning device 70 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and straddles the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and the end of the lid transfer conveyor 41 on the y-direction side, and is provided so as to cover the upper surfaces of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and the lid transfer conveyor 41.

[0047] The drive base 91 is provided inside the hood 88. The up-and-down drive air cylinder 92 is provided at the upper part of the hood 88, and the end of the piston rod is connected to the drive base 91. The up-and-down drive air cylinder 92 can drive the drive base 91 vertically up and down by driving the piston rod vertically up and down. The transfer drive part 93 is provided above the hood 88 in the vertical direction and can reciprocate the up-and-down drive air cylinder 92 in the x-axis direction.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the gripping part 81 has gripping pieces 811, 812. Further, the lid removal device 801 has two gripping contact parts 813, air chucks 814, etc. The gripping pieces 811, 812 are formed in a plate shape and are provided at a predetermined interval in the y-axis direction so that one surface faces each other. The two gripping contact parts 813 are formed of an elastic member such as nitrile rubber and are provided to face each other at the lower ends of the gripping pieces 811, 812. The air chuck 814 is fixed to the drive base 91 and can move integrally with the drive base 91. The air chuck 814 can drive the gripping piece 811 and the gripping piece 812 so that the gripping piece 811 and the gripping piece 812 approach each other or move away from each other under the control of a control part (not shown). Thereby, the gripping part 81 can grip the outer edge part (side surface) of the lid 6 from both sides in the horizontal direction (y-axis direction) by the gripping piece 811 and the gripping piece 812 (see FIG. 10(B)). At this time, the gripping contact part 813 abuts against the outer edge part (side surface) of the lid 6.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the support portion 82 has support pieces 821 and 822. Further, the lid removal device 801 has two air cylinders 823, two knuckle joints 824, etc. The support pieces 821 and 822 are formed such that, for example, the cross-sectional shape in the yz plane is L-shaped, and are provided on the opposite sides of the air chucks 814 of the gripping pieces 811 and 812, respectively. In the present embodiment, two support pieces 821 and 822 are provided in the x-axis direction respectively (see FIG. 6).

[0050] The two air cylinders 823 are connected to the respective gripping pieces 811 and 812 so as to be relatively rotatable, and are provided so as to be integrally movable in the vertical direction (z-axis direction). The two knuckle joints 824 are provided integrally with the respective support pieces 821 and 822. The knuckle joint 824 and the support pieces 821 and 822 are relatively rotatable with respect to the respective gripping pieces 811 and 812 about the rotary shaft portions 825 fixed to the respective gripping pieces 811 and 812. The tip end portion of the piston rod of the air cylinder 823 is connected to the end portion on the opposite side of the rotary shaft portion 825 of the knuckle joint 824 so as to be relatively rotatable.

[0051] With the above configuration, when the piston rod of the air cylinder 823 projects downward in the vertical direction, the knuckle joint 824 and the support piece 821 and the support piece 822 rotate about 90 degrees about the rotary shaft portion 825 (see FIG. 11). Thereby, the support ends 826 and 827, which are the end portions on the opposite side of the rotary shaft portion 825 of the support pieces 821 and 822, are positioned below both ends in the y-axis direction of the region A2 between the two gripping contact portions 813 at the lower ends of the gripping pieces 811 and 812 (see FIG. 11(B)).

[0052] The seating stopper 83 is formed in a long plate shape, and two seating stoppers 83 are provided in the x-axis direction such that the longitudinal direction is along the y-axis (see FIG. 6). The seating stopper 83 is fixed to the drive base 91 so as to be able to contact the upper surface of the lid 6.

[0053] While the lid 6 is being gripped by the gripping part 81, the vertical drive air cylinder 92 is moved in the -x-axis direction by the transfer drive part 93, so that the lid 6 can be transferred from the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 to the lid transfer conveyor 41.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, the lid transfer conveyor 40 (lid transfer conveyor 41) has a transfer roller 400, a rotating shaft 401, and a roller support part 406. The transfer roller 400 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a ceramic material such as alumina, for example. The rotating shaft 401 is formed in a rod shape from a metal, for example, and is provided integrally with the transfer roller 400 so as to pass through the center of the transfer roller 400. The roller support part 406 is formed in a long shape and is provided on both sides in the width direction of the lid transfer conveyor 40 (lid transfer conveyor 41) along the y-axis. The roller support part 406 rotatably supports both ends of the rotating shaft 401. A plurality of transfer rollers 400 and rotating shafts 401 are provided at predetermined intervals in the length direction of the lid transfer conveyor 40 (lid transfer conveyor 41). The transfer roller 400 (rotating shaft 401) can be rotated in a predetermined direction by a driving device (not shown). Thereby, the lid 6 placed on the transfer roller 400 is transferred in the -y direction on the lid transfer conveyor 41.

[0055] The guides 84 are provided on both sides in the width direction (x-axis direction) of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and on both sides in the width direction (x-axis direction) of the lid transfer conveyor 41. The guide 84 has guide rollers 841. The guide rollers 841 are formed in an annular shape from a ceramic material such as alumina, for example, and are rotatable about a rotation axis along the vertical direction (z-axis direction). A plurality of guide rollers 841 are provided in the length direction (x-axis direction) of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and the lid transfer conveyor 41. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the dropping of the container 7 with the lid on the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and the lid 6 on the lid transfer conveyor 41, and to guide their transfer.

[0056] The removal-side stopper 851 is provided at a position corresponding to the lid removal device 801 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 (see Fig. 8). The removal-side stopper 852 is provided on the upstream (y-direction) side with respect to the removal-side stopper 851 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. When the removal-side stoppers 851 and 852 are rotationally driven by a drive unit (not shown), their ends are in a state of being positioned vertically above the upper ends of the transfer rollers 400 of the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 (see Fig. 8). The removal-side stopper 851 can stop the lid-equipped container 7 at a position corresponding to the lid removal device 801 by coming into contact with the lower part of the front surface (-y-direction side surface) of the lid-equipped container 7 conveyed by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The removal-side stopper 852 can stop the lid-equipped container 7 on the upstream side of the position corresponding to the lid removal device 801 by coming into contact with the lower part of the front surface (-y-direction side surface) of the lid-equipped container 7 conveyed by the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30.

[0057] As shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 9, the lid lower surface cleaning unit 86 has a brush shaft portion 861 and brush bristles 862. The brush shaft portion 861 is formed in a rod shape, for example, by metal. The brush bristles 862 are formed in a hair shape, for example, by aramid fiber, and a large number are provided in the circumferential direction and the axial direction along the radial direction of the brush shaft portion 861. The lid lower surface cleaning unit 86 is a so-called rotary brush. The lid lower surface cleaning unit 86 is provided between the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30 and the lid transfer conveyor 41 inside the hood 88 with the brush shaft portion 861 along the y-axis. The removal-side hopper 87 is provided below the lid lower surface cleaning unit 86.

[0058] A lid lower surface cleaning unit motor 863 is connected to one end of the brush shaft portion 861. The rotation of the lid lower surface cleaning unit motor 863 is controlled by a control unit (not shown). Thereby, the lid lower surface cleaning unit 86 can rotate above the removal-side hopper 87.

[0059] Next, the removal of the lid 6 by the lid removal device 801 will be described.

[0060] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, when the lid-equipped container 7 conveyed in the -y direction by the post-treatment conveyance conveyor 30 abuts against the end of the detachable side stopper 851, it stops at a position corresponding to the lid removal device 801.

[0061] Subsequently, the vertical drive air cylinder 92 moves the drive base 91 (air chuck 814, gripping part 81, support part 82, air cylinder 823, seating stopper 83) downward in the vertical direction. As a result, the seating stopper 83 abuts against the upper surface of the lid 6 of the lid-equipped container 7, and the gripping contact parts 813 of the gripping pieces 811 and 812 are in a state of being located on both sides in the y-axis direction with respect to the lid 6 (see FIG. 10(A)).

[0062] Subsequently, the air chuck 814 moves the gripping piece 811 and the gripping piece 812 closer to each other (see FIGS. 10(A) and (B)). As a result, the lid 6 is in a state of being gripped by the gripping piece 811 and the gripping piece 812 from both sides in the horizontal direction (y-axis direction) of the outer edge part (side surface) (see FIG. 10(B)).

[0063] Subsequently, the vertical drive air cylinder 92 moves the drive base 91 (air chuck 814, gripping part 81, support part 82, air cylinder 823) upward in the vertical direction (see FIGS. 10(B) and 11(A)). As a result, the lid 6 separates from the container 3, and a gap G1 is formed between the container 3 and the lid 6 (see FIG. 11(A)).

[0064] Subsequently, the air cylinder 823 rotates the knuckle joint 824 (support pieces 821, 822) 90 degrees relative to the gripping pieces 811 and 812 (see FIGS. 11(A) and (B)). As a result, the support pieces 821 and 822 are in a state where the support end parts 826 and 827 are located below both end parts of the lid 6 in the y-axis direction (see FIG. 11(B)). Therefore, the lower surface of the lid 6 can be supported by the support end parts 826 and 827. Therefore, the fall of the lid 6 from the gripping part 81 can be suppressed.

[0065] Subsequently, with the lid 6 being gripped by the gripping portion 81, the vertical drive air cylinder 92 is moved in the -x-axis direction by the transfer drive portion 93 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). When the lid 6 moves in the -x-axis direction above the lid lower surface cleaning portion 86, the rotating brush hairs 862 of the lid lower surface cleaning portion 86 can scrape off foreign matters such as the object 8 to be processed adhering to the lower surface of the lid 6. The detachable side hopper 87 can collect the foreign matters scraped off during the cleaning of the lower surface of the lid 6 by the lid lower surface cleaning portion 86.

[0066] Subsequently, when the lid 6 gripped by the gripping portion 81 is transferred to a position above the lid transfer conveyor 41, the vertical drive air cylinder 92 moves the drive base 91 (air chuck 814, gripping portion 81, support portion 82, air cylinder 823) downward in the vertical direction.

[0067] Subsequently, when the lid 6 descends to a position near the upper part of the conveying roller 400, the air cylinder 823 rotates the support pieces 821 and 822, and the air chuck 814 moves the gripping pieces 811 and 812 away from each other, releasing the gripping of the lid 6 by the gripping portion 81. Thereby, the lid 6 is placed on the conveying roller 400.

[0068] Since the lid attachment device 802 as the lid detachment device 80 has the same configuration as the lid removal device 801, the description of the specific configuration is omitted. The lid attachment device 802 can grip the lid 6 on the lid transfer conveyor 43 by the gripping portion 81, transfer it above the container 3 on the pre-treatment transfer conveyor 60, and attach it to the upper part of the container 3.

[0069] As described above, (1) this embodiment is a lid detachment device 80 capable of removing the plate-shaped lid 6 attached to the upper part of the box-shaped container 3 from the container 3 or attaching the lid 6 to the container 3, and includes a gripping portion 81 and a support portion 82. The gripping portion 81 can grip the outer edge portion of the lid 6 from both horizontal sides. The support portion 82 can support the lower surface of the lid 6. Therefore, when removing the lid 6 from the container 3 or attaching the lid 6 to the container 3, it is possible to suppress the fall of the lid 6. Thereby, problems caused by the fall of the lid 6 can be suppressed.

[0070] Also, (2) in the present embodiment, the support portion 82 is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the gripping portion 81. Therefore, a device (air cylinder 823) or the like for rotationally driving the support portion 82 can be provided at a position other than the horizontal direction of the lid 6, and the size of the lid attaching / detaching device 80 in the horizontal direction of the lid 6 can be reduced.

[0071] Also, (3) in the present embodiment, after gripping the outer edge portion of the lid 6 with the gripping portion 81 and lifting it by a predetermined distance, the support portion 82 is rotated relative to the gripping portion 81 so that a part of the support portion 82 is positioned below the lid 6 in the vertical direction. Therefore, even when there are no gaps or notches formed between the container 3 and the lid 6 in a state where the lid 6 is attached to the upper portion of the container 3, the support portion 82 can be rotated without contacting the container 3 by lifting the lid 6 by a predetermined distance with the gripping portion 81.

[0072] Also, (4) the present embodiment further includes a lid lower surface cleaning portion 86 capable of cleaning the lower surface of the lid 6 gripped by the gripping portion 81. Therefore, the lower surface of the lid 6 where the object to be processed 8 in the container 3 may adhere can be cleaned by the lid lower surface cleaning portion 86. Further, in the present embodiment, since the lower surface of the lid 6 can be supported by the support portion 82 when the lid 6 is gripped by the gripping portion 81, it is possible to prevent the lid 6 from falling from the gripping portion 81 during the cleaning of the lower surface of the lid 6 by the lid lower surface cleaning portion 86.

[0073] Moreover, (6) this embodiment is a heat treatment system 1 including a heat treatment unit 10, a heat treatment transfer conveyor 20, and a lid attaching / detaching device 80. The heat treatment unit 10 can heat-treat a workpiece 8. The heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 is provided to pass through the heat treatment unit 10 and conveys a container 3 housing the workpiece 8 and a lid 6 attached to the container 3. The lid attaching / detaching device 80 (lid removing device 801, lid attaching device 802) can remove the lid 6 from the container 3 conveyed by the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20 or attach the lid 6 to the container 3 before being conveyed by the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20. In this embodiment, when the lid 6 is removed from the container 3 or attached to the container 3 by the lid attaching / detaching device 80, the fall of the lid 6 can be suppressed. Thereby, malfunctions in the heat treatment system 1 can be suppressed.

[0074] Moreover, (7) this embodiment further includes a cleaning device 70 capable of cleaning the container 3 and the lid 6 before the lid 6 is removed by the lid attaching / detaching device 80. Therefore, the entry of foreign matter into the container 3 in the heat treatment system 1 can be suppressed.

[0075] (Second Embodiment) The heat treatment system according to the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 12. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the heat treatment unit 10, the heat treatment transfer conveyor 20, the lid transfer conveyor 40, the container transfer conveyor 50, the lid attaching / detaching device 80, etc. Hereinafter, mainly the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0076] In this embodiment, two heat treatment units 10, two heat treatment transfer conveyors 20, and two lid transfer conveyors 40 are provided in the heat treatment system 1 respectively. For the sake of convenience, the two heat treatment units 10 are respectively referred to as heat treatment units 11 and 12. For the sake of convenience, the two heat treatment transfer conveyors 20 are respectively referred to as heat treatment transfer conveyors 21 and 22. For the sake of convenience, the two lid transfer conveyors 40 are respectively referred to as lid transfer conveyors 44 and 45. Four container transfer conveyors 50 are provided. For the sake of convenience, the four container transfer conveyors 50 are respectively referred to as container transfer conveyors 51, 52, 53, and 54. Similar to the first embodiment, two lid attaching / detaching devices 80 are provided. One of the lid attaching / detaching devices 80 is referred to as a lid removing device 801, and the other is referred to as a lid attaching device 802.

[0077] The heat treatment units 11 and 12 are provided in parallel along the x-axis. The heat treatment transfer conveyors 21 and 22 are provided in parallel so as to pass through the heat treatment units 11 and 12, that is, along the x-axis. One end of each of the heat treatment transfer conveyors 21 and 22 is connected to the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30, and the other end of each is connected to the pre-treatment transfer conveyor 60. The lid transfer conveyors 44 and 45 are provided in parallel along the x-axis. The container transfer conveyors 51 and 52 are provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The container transfer conveyor 53 is provided in parallel with the container transfer conveyor 51 along the x-axis, and one end is connected to the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30. The container transfer conveyor 54 is provided in parallel with the container transfer conveyor 52 along the x-axis at a position a predetermined distance away from the end of the container transfer conveyor 53 on the side opposite to the post-treatment transfer conveyor 30, and the end on the side opposite to the container transfer conveyor 53 is connected to the pre-treatment transfer conveyor 60.

[0078] In this embodiment, the lid attaching / detaching device 80 (lid removing device 801, lid attaching device 802) includes two gripping parts 81, two supporting parts 82, and two lid bottom cleaning parts 86. That is, two gripping parts 81 and two supporting parts 82 are provided on the conveyance path R1 of the container 7 with a lid, two by two. The lid removing device 801 simultaneously removes two lids 6 from two containers 7 with lids on the post-treatment conveyance conveyor 30 by the two gripping parts 81, and after simultaneously cleaning the lower surfaces of the two lids 6 by the lid bottom cleaning part 86, each of the two lids 6 can be placed on the x-direction side ends of the lid conveyance conveyors 44 and 45. Thus, in the lid removing device 801 of this embodiment, two lids 6 are simultaneously removed from two containers 7 with lids on the post-treatment conveyance conveyor 30 and can be transferred to each of the lid conveyance conveyors 44 and 45 orthogonal to the post-treatment conveyance conveyor 30.

[0079] Similar to the container conveyance conveyor 51, the container conveyance conveyor 53 conveys the container 3 conveyed to the -y direction side end of the post-treatment conveyance conveyor 30 to the workpiece collection part 150 in the -x direction. Similar to the container conveyance conveyor 52, the container conveyance conveyor 54 conveys the container 3 filled with the workpiece 8 in the workpiece filling part 160 to the pre-treatment conveyance conveyor 60 in the -x direction.

[0080] In the lid attaching device 802, one of the two gripping parts 81 and the two supporting parts 82 is located on the lid conveyance conveyor 44, and the other is located on the lid conveyance conveyor 45. The lid attaching device 802 simultaneously grips the lid 6 on the lid conveyance conveyor 44 and the lid 6 on the lid conveyance conveyor 45 by the two gripping parts 81, and after simultaneously cleaning the lower surfaces of the two lids 6 by the lid bottom cleaning part 86, each of the two lids 6 is transferred above two containers 3 on the pre-treatment conveyance conveyor 60 and can be attached to the upper part of the container 3.

[0081] As described above, in this embodiment, a plurality of heat treatment parts 10, heat treatment conveyance conveyors 20, lid conveyance conveyors 40, and container conveyance conveyors 50 are provided. Therefore, a large number of containers 7 with lids containing the workpiece 8 can be conveyed by the conveyance system 2, and the processed workpiece 8 can be obtained more efficiently and continuously.

[0082] In addition, the cleaning device 70 can efficiently clean a large number of lid-equipped containers 7 conveyed by the conveying system 2.

[0083] In addition, (5) in the present embodiment, a plurality of gripping portions 81 and support portions 82 are provided on the conveyance path R1 of the container 3. Therefore, while suppressing the fall of the lid 6 from the gripping portion 81, the lid 6 can be efficiently removed from a large number of containers 3 conveyed on the conveyance path R1, and the lid 6 can be efficiently attached to a large number of containers 3 conveyed on the conveyance path R1.

[0084] (Other embodiments) In other embodiments, the lid-equipped containers 7 are not limited to being arranged and conveyed in two in the width direction (y-axis direction) of the heat treatment conveyance conveyor 20, and one or three or more may be arranged and conveyed in the y-axis direction.

[0085] In addition, in other embodiments, the heat treatment unit 10, the heat treatment conveyance conveyor 20, the lid conveyance conveyor 40, and the container conveyance conveyor 50 may be provided in any number in the heat treatment system 1 according to the amount of the object to be processed to be processed.

[0086] In addition, in other embodiments, the lid attachment device 802 may not include the lid lower surface cleaning unit 86.

[0087] In addition, in other embodiments, the heat treatment conveyance conveyor may convey a multi-stage container with a lid composed of a plurality of containers stacked in the vertical direction and one lid attached to the upper side in the vertical direction.

[0088] As described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0089] 3 Container, 6 Lid, 81 Gripping portion, 82 Support portion, 80 Lid attaching / detaching device, 801 Lid removing device (lid attaching / detaching device), 802 Lid attaching device (lid attaching / detaching device)

Claims

1. A lid detaching device (80, 801, 802) capable of removing a plate-shaped lid (6) attached to the upper part of a box-shaped container (3) from the container or attaching the lid to the container, comprising: A gripping part (81) capable of gripping the outer edge part of the lid from both horizontal sides; A supporting part (82) capable of supporting the lower surface of the lid; The lid detaching device comprising the above.

2. The lid detaching device according to Claim 1, wherein the supporting part is provided so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the gripping part.

3. The lid detaching device according to Claim 2, wherein the outer edge part of the lid is gripped by the gripping part and lifted by a predetermined distance, and then the supporting part is rotated relative to the gripping part so that a part of the supporting part is located below the lid in the vertical direction.

4. The lid detaching device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, further comprising a lid lower surface cleaning part (86) capable of cleaning the lower surface of the lid gripped by the gripping part.

5. The lid detaching device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the gripping parts and the supporting parts are provided on the conveyance path (R1) of the container.

6. A heat treatment part (10, 11, 12) capable of heat-treating an object to be processed (8); A heat treatment conveyance conveyor (20, 21, 22) provided so as to pass through the heat treatment part and conveying the container accommodating the object to be processed and the lid attached to the container; The heat treatment system comprising the lid detaching device (80, 801, 802) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, capable of removing the lid from the container conveyed by the heat treatment conveyance conveyor or attaching the lid to the container before being conveyed by the heat treatment conveyance conveyor.

7. The heat treatment system according to Claim 6, further comprising a cleaning device (70) capable of cleaning the container and the lid before the lid is removed by the lid detaching device.

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