Conveyor system

Abstract

To provide a transport system capable of rotating an object to be transported without increasing product cost.SOLUTION: A transport system 1 comprises a rotary device 5 that delivers a panel 200 supplied from a supply device 2 onto a transporting belt 102 by rotating the panel 200. The rotary device 5 has a rotary table 50 that is placed on the transporting belt 102 and rotates the panel 200 received from the supply device 2 by rotating in a plane opposed to the transporting belt 102 using power transmitted from the conveyance belt 102 in moving, retaining pins 80 that retain the panel 200 on the rotary table 50, and a release slope 90 that releases the panel 200 from being retained by the retaining pins 80 after the panel 200 is rotated by the rotary table 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying system.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a conveyance turning device for changing the orientation of a conveyed object. The conveyance turning device includes a turntable in a space formed between a pair of left and right roller groups. The conveyance turning device lifts the conveyed object that has entered onto the roller conveyor above the rollers by raising the turntable by a lifting means. Next, the conveyance turning device rotates the turntable by a desired angle by a rotating means, and then lowers the turntable by the lifting means. Thereby, the orientation of the conveyed object can be changed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, according to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a dedicated power source for rotating the turntable is required, there is a problem that the product cost increases.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a conveying system capable of rotating a conveyed object without increasing the product cost.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A transport system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a rotating device that rotates a transported object supplied from a supply device and sends the transported object to a transport belt. The rotating device has a rotating table placed on the transport belt. The rotating table rotates within the plane facing the transport belt using the power transmitted from the running transport belt, thereby rotating the transported object received from the supply device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, since a dedicated power source for rotating the rotating table is not required, an increase in product cost can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 12

Embodiment for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. In this specification, the left - right direction and the front - rear direction orthogonal to each other in the horizontal plane, and the up - down direction orthogonal to the left - right direction and the front - rear direction respectively are used as the definition of directions.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the overall configuration of the conveying system according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the conveying system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described by applying it to a manufacturing line for manufacturing vehicle body parts. The conveying system 1 delivers a conveyed object (vehicle body part) processed by a processing machine performing a previous process to a processing machine performing a subsequent process. Specifically, when the conveying system 1 receives a conveyed object processed by a processing machine in the previous process, it sends out the conveyed object to a conveyor 100 that conveys the conveyed object to a processing machine in the subsequent process. At this time, due to the relationship with the processing machine in the subsequent process, the conveyed object sent out from the processing machine in the previous process cannot be carried into the processing machine in the subsequent process in the same posture. Therefore, when carrying the conveyed object into the processing machine in the subsequent process, it is necessary to change the posture of the conveyed object before that. Therefore, the conveying system 1 plays a role of sending out the conveyed object to the conveyor 100 while changing the posture of the conveyed object.

[0011] The conveyed object is, for example, a panel 200 which is a skeletal part of a vehicle body. The panel 200 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape with one direction being the longitudinal direction. The panel 200 processed in the previous process is sent out to the conveying system 1 in a posture such that the longitudinal direction of the panel 200 is along the left - right direction. Among both side edges (the first and second edges) 201 and 202 extending along the longitudinal direction of the panel 200, a flange portion bent with respect to the main surface of the panel 200 is formed on the second edge 202.

[0012] The conveyor 100 includes an endless conveyor belt 102 stretched between a roller 101 arranged on the processing machine side of the previous process and a roller (not shown) arranged on the processing machine side of the subsequent process. When the conveyor belt 102 circulates in a predetermined direction, the upper surface (conveying surface) of the conveyor belt 102 travels from the rear to the front, whereby the panel 200 placed on the conveyor belt 102 is conveyed. The conveyor belt 102 is formed wide in the width direction (left - right direction) orthogonal to the conveying direction (front - rear direction). The width of the conveyor belt 102 is set larger than the width of the panel 200. In this specification, when simply referring to the "conveyor belt 102", it refers to the conveying surface of the endless conveyor belt 102.

[0013] The conveying system 1 is composed of a supply device 2 and a rotating device 5.

[0014] The supply device 2 supplies the panel 200 sent out from the previous process to the rotating device 5. The supply device 2 also has a function of inverting the front and back of the panel 200. The supply device 2 is arranged between the processing machine performing the previous process and the rotating device 5. The supply device 2 is arranged at positions spaced apart in the left - right direction so as to support both sides of the wide panel 200 in the left - right direction.

[0015] Figure 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the supply device. Figures 2(a) to 2(c) are diagrams respectively showing the states of the supply device 2 according to the transition of the panel 200. The supply device 2 includes a shooter 20 and an inversion unit 30.

[0016] The shooter 20 conveys the panel 200 sent out from the previous process to the inversion unit 30 using the self - weight of the panel 200. The shooter 20 includes a support frame 21 and a plurality of conveying rollers 23.

[0017] The support frame 21 is a frame that extends linearly along the front-rear direction. The position where the panel 200 is sent out from the processing machine in the previous process is higher than that of the rotating device 5. The support frame 21 is set to slope downward toward the front so as to absorb the height difference between the processing machine and the rotating device 5.

[0018] The plurality of conveying rollers 23 are arranged on the upper part of the support frame 21 and are arranged at predetermined intervals along the extending direction of the support frame 21. A roller shaft 24 is inserted through each conveying roller 23, and each conveying roller 23 is configured to be rotatable about the roller shaft 24. Each roller shaft 24 is arranged on the support frame 21, and each of the conveying rollers 23 is supported by the support frame 21 via the roller shaft 24.

[0019] When the inversion unit 30 receives the panel 200 from the shooter 20, it inverts the front and back of the panel 200 and discharges it to the rotating device 5. The inversion unit 30 is arranged at the front end of the support frame 21. The inversion unit 30 includes a rotating plate 31 and a weight 35.

[0020] The rotating plate 31 supports the panel 200 and inverts the panel 200. The rotating plate 31 is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape along the front-rear direction and has a length necessary for supporting the panel 200. At the front end of the rotating plate 31, a butting portion 32 bent upward is formed.

[0021] On the lower surface side of the rotating plate 31, a support portion 33 for supporting the rotating plate 31 on the support frame 21 is provided. A rotating pin 34 extending in the left-right direction is inserted through the support portion 33 of the rotating plate 31, and the rotating pin 34 is fixed to the front end of the support frame 21. The rotating plate 31 is supported by the support frame 21 via the rotating pin 34 and is configured to be rotatable about the rotating pin 34.

[0022] The rotating plate 31 rotates within a range from a posture that slopes downward toward the front (hereinafter referred to as the "tilted posture") so as to be continuous with the tilt of the shooter 20 to a posture in which the front end of the rotating plate 31 faces almost directly downward (hereinafter referred to as the "vertical posture").

[0023] The weight 35 is attached to the rear end of the rotating plate 31 to maintain the posture of the rotating plate 31 in the tilted posture. When the panel 200 is not placed on the rotating plate 31, the weight of the weight 35 acts, and thus the rotating plate 31 can maintain the tilted posture. On the other hand, when the panel 200 is placed on the rotating plate 31, since the weight of the panel 200 is applied to the rotating plate 31, the rotating plate 31 rotates so that the front end side thereof drops and rotates to the vertical posture.

[0024] When the rotating plate 31 receives the panel 200 from the shooter 20, it rotates from the tilted posture to the vertical posture. As the rotating plate 31 rotates from the tilted posture to the vertical posture, the panel 200 is also discharged forward while changing its posture, whereby the front and back are reversed. The reversing unit 30 reverses the front and back of the panel 200 through the rotation operation of the rotating plate 31 and then discharges the panel 200 to the rotating device 5. The reversal of the panel 200 by the reversing unit 30 is performed by rotating the panel 200 about a rotation axis extending in the left - right direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating device 5 is arranged corresponding to the dropping position of the panel 200 discharged from the supply device 2. When the rotating device 5 receives the panel 200 discharged (supplied) from the supply device 2, it rotates the panel 200 by a predetermined angle (for example, 180°) within the plane facing the conveyor belt 102, and sends out the rotated panel 200 to the conveyor belt 102. When the panel 200 is reversed by the above-described reversing unit 30, the front and rear of the conveyed panel 200 are interchanged. Therefore, the rotating device 5 plays a role of interchanging the front and rear of the panel 200 by rotating the panel 200 within the plane facing the conveyor belt 102. The rotating device 5 mainly includes a rotating table 50, a holding pin 80, and a release slope 90.

[0026] The rotating table 50 is placed on the conveyor belt 102. The rotating table 50 is pressed against the conveyor belt 102 with a certain force by its own weight. The rotating table 50 is connected to a support beam 75 installed near the conveyor 100. By connecting the rotating table 50 to the support beam 75, the rotating table 50 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction even when the conveyor belt 102 runs.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the rotating table 50. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the main part of the rotating table 50. FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the main part of the rotating table 50. FIGS. 6 to 8 are views showing the AA cross-section, BB cross-section, and CC cross-section of the rotating table shown in FIG. 4, respectively. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the rotating table. The rotating table 50 rotates within the plane facing the conveyor belt 102, in this embodiment, within the plane parallel to the conveyor belt 102, using the power transmitted from the running conveyor belt 102. The rotating table 50 mainly includes a table body 51 and a transmission mechanism 55.

[0028] The table body 51 is a disk-shaped member and is formed of a highly rigid material such as steel. The table body 51 is arranged so as to face the conveyor belt 102 in a state of floating upward by a certain height from the conveyor belt 102. A rotating shaft 53 is inserted through the center of the table body 51, and the table body 51 is configured to be rotatable about the rotating shaft 53. The rotating shaft 53 stands almost vertically with respect to a base plate 52 parallel to the conveyor belt 102. The table body 51 is attached to the rotating shaft 53 via a support plate 54 for stably holding the table body 51.

[0029] The transmission mechanism 55 is fixed to the base plate 52. The transmission mechanism 55 is arranged between the conveyor belt 102 and the table body 51 and is in contact with the conveyor belt 102 and the table body 51 respectively. The transmission mechanism 55 rotates the table body 51 by rotating due to the running of the conveyor belt 102.

[0030] The transmission mechanism 55 includes a first transmission unit 56 and a second transmission unit 60 that face each other with the rotating shaft 53 interposed therebetween. In the present embodiment, the first transmission unit 56 is arranged on the right side with the rotating shaft 53 interposed therebetween, and the second transmission unit 60 is arranged on the left side with the rotating shaft 53 interposed therebetween. That is, the first transmission unit 56 is arranged at a position shifted to the right of the rotation center of the table body 51, and the second transmission unit 60 is arranged at a position shifted to the left of the rotation center of the table body 51.

[0031] The first transmission unit 56 includes a first rotating body 57a. The first rotating body 57a is, for example, a roller, but may be a sphere or the like. A shaft body extending in the left-right direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the running direction of the conveyor belt 102, is fixed to the base plate 52, and the first rotating body 57a is rotatably supported by the shaft body. The first rotating body 57a protrudes downward from the base plate 52 through an opening formed in the base plate 52, and the lower end of the first rotating body 57a is in contact with the conveyor belt 102. On the other hand, the upper end of the first rotating body 57a is in contact with the lower surface of the base plate 52.

[0032] The second transmission unit 60 includes a second rotating body 61a, a third rotating body 61b, and a fourth rotating body 61c. The second to fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61b, 61c are, for example, rollers and are set to have a diameter smaller than that of the first rotating body 57a. Three shaft bodies extending in the left - right direction are fixed to the base plate 52, and the second to fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61b, 61c are rotatably supported by the shaft bodies respectively. The second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c are arranged in a vertical row at the same height and at a constant interval in the front - rear direction. The second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c project downward from the base plate 52 through openings formed in the base plate 52, and the lower ends of the second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c are in contact with the conveyor belt 102 respectively. The third rotating body 61b is arranged at a position higher than the second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c and is arranged between the second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c in the front - rear direction. The lower part of the third rotating body 61b is in contact with each of the second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c, and the upper end of the third rotating body 61b is in contact with the lower surface of the base plate 52.

[0033] FIG. 10 is a perspective view for explaining the operations of the first and second transmission units. When the conveyor belt 102 travels forward, the first rotating body 57a rotates in the first direction (the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10) due to the frictional force between the conveyor belt 102. Similarly, the second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c also rotate in the first direction (the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10) due to the frictional force between the conveyor belt 102 respectively. When the second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c rotate in the first direction, the third rotating body 61b rotates in the second direction (the counter - clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10), which is opposite to the first direction, due to the frictional force between the second and fourth rotating bodies 61a, 61c.

[0034] When the first rotating body 57a rotates in the first direction, the first rotating body 57a rotates the table main body 51 in the clockwise direction due to the frictional force between the table main body 51. Also, when the third rotating body 61b that faces the first rotating body 57a with the rotation axis 53 in between rotates in the second direction, the third rotating body 61b rotates the table main body 51 in the clockwise direction due to the frictional force between the table main body 51. In this way, the rotating table 50 (table main body 51) rotates in a plane parallel to the conveyor belt 102 using the power transmitted from the traveling conveyor belt 102.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 9, a first auxiliary roller 65 is rotatably arranged on the front side of the rotation axis 53 in the base plate 52. Also, a second auxiliary roller 67 is rotatably arranged on the rear side with the rotation axis 53 in between. The first and second auxiliary rollers 65 and 67 protrude below the base plate 52 through slits formed in the base plate 52, and the lower ends of the first and second auxiliary rollers 65 and 67 are in contact with the conveyor belt 102 respectively. By providing the first and second auxiliary rollers 65 and 67 front and rear, the posture of the base plate 52 is stabilized, so that the rotating table 50 can be suppressed from swinging back and forth.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the rotating table 50 includes a plurality of arms 70 that radially extend from the peripheral portion of the table main body 51. The plurality of arms 70 support the panel 200 discharged from the supply device 2 together with the table main body 51. In the present embodiment, the number of the plurality of arms 70 is set to 8, but it is not limited thereto. However, the number of the plurality of arms 70 is preferably set so that the panel 200 placed on the table main body 51 can be supported by at least three arms 70.

[0037] Each arm 70 is attached to the lower surface of the table body 51 via a bracket 71. The arm 70 is set to slope downward toward the tip. The inclination angle of the arm 70 is set to be approximately 10° with respect to the table body 51 (conveyor belt 102). By setting the arm 70 to slope downward, the panel 200 easily slides off the arm 70, so that the panel 200 can be smoothly fed out with respect to the conveyor belt 102.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, a stopper 77 is provided on the right side of the rotary table 50. The stopper 77 is attached to the support beam 75 and extends horizontally rearward from the rotary shaft 53. The stopper 77 is disposed at a certain distance above the conveyor belt 102 and receives the panel 200 discharged from the supply device 2. The rotary table 50 described above is disposed at a position offset to the left of the horizontal center of the panel 200 discharged from the supply device 2. Therefore, when the panel 200 falls onto the rotary table 50, the panel 200 may tilt to the right and come into contact with the conveyor belt 102. By providing the stopper 77, the right side of the panel 200 discharged from the supply device 2 can be received, so that contact between the panel 200 and the conveyor belt 102 can be suppressed.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the holding pin 80 is a holding member that holds the panel 200 discharged from the supply device 2 on the rotary table 50. The holding pin 80 is provided at the peripheral edge of the table body 51 and protrudes upward from the upper surface of the table body 51. These holding pins 80 hold the panel 200 on the rotary table 50 by engaging with the flange portion formed on the second edge portion 202 of the panel 200.

[0040] A centrifugal force associated with rotation acts on the panel 200 that rotates on the rotary table 50. Therefore, before the panel 200 rotates to a predetermined angle, there is a risk that the panel 200 will slip off the rotary table 50. By providing this holding pin 80, the holding pin 80 can engage with the panel 200, so that the panel 200 can be held on the rotary table 50 until the panel 200 rotates by a predetermined angle.

[0041] The release slope 90 is a release member that releases the holding of the panel 200 by the holding pin 80 after the panel 200 is rotated by the rotary table 50. The release slope 90 is attached to the support beam 75 and is disposed on the right side of the rotary table 50. The release slope 90 is composed of a linear frame member and extends forward from the rotation axis 53. The release slope 90 is set to slope downward toward the tip, and the tip of the release slope 90 reaches near the conveyor belt 102. The inclination angle of the release slope 90 with respect to the conveyor belt 102 is set larger than the inclination angle of the arm 70 described above. When the panel 200 rotated by the rotary table 50 rotates to a certain angle, the panel 200 rides on the inclination of the release slope 90. The release slope 90 changes the posture of the panel 200 along its inclination to release the engagement between the holding pin 80 and the panel 200.

[0042] Next, the conveyance operation of the panel 200 by the conveyance system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a series of operations in which the supply device supplies the panel to the rotary table. FIGS. 11(a) to 11(c) are diagrams showing the states of the supply device 2 according to the transition of the panel 200, respectively. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a series of operations in which the rotary table rotates the panel after the supply device supplies the panel to the rotary table.

[0043] First, the panel 200 processed by the processing machine in the previous process is sent out from the processing machine in the previous process to the supply device 2. The panel 200 is delivered to the supply device 2 in a posture such that the first edge portion 201 faces the front side and the flange portion of the second edge portion 202 faces upward.

[0044] The panel 200 delivered to the supply device 2 slides down on a plurality of conveyor rollers 23 along the inclination of the shooter 20. When it slides down to the front end of the shooter 20, the panel 200 reaches the inversion unit 30. The panel 200 hits the abutting portion 32 on the front end side of the rotating plate 31 and stops on the rotating plate 31. As a result, the panel 200 is placed on the rotating plate 31 (see Fig. 11(a)).

[0045] When the panel 200 is placed on the rotating plate 31, due to the weight of the panel 200 being applied to the rotating plate 31, the rotating plate 31 rotates so that its front end side goes down and rotates to a vertical posture (Fig. 11(b)). As the rotating plate 31 shifts from the inclined posture to the vertical posture, the panel 200 is also released while rotating about the first edge 201 so that the second edge 202 draws an arc. At this time, the panel 200 falls onto the rotating table 50 while inverting its front and back. The falling position of the panel 200 is set to be behind the rotation axis 53.

[0046] The panel 200 that has fallen onto the rotating table 50 is received by the rotating table 50 and the arm 70. Since the panel 200 falls onto the rotating table 50 with its front and back inverted, the panel 200 is in a posture where the second edge 202 faces the front side and the flange portion of the second edge 202 faces downward. As a result, the flange portion at the second edge 202 of the panel 200 engages with the holding pin 80 (Fig. 11(c)).

[0047] As shown in Fig. 12, when the panel 200 falls onto the rotating table 50, the right side of the panel 200 is received by the stopper 77. Thereby, even when the panel 200 is offset to the right side of the rotating table 50, it is possible to prevent the panel 200 from contacting the conveyor belt 102.

[0048] The rotating table 50 on which the panel 200 drops rotates in a plane parallel to the conveyor belt 102 as the conveyor belt 102 travels forward. In FIG. 12, the rotating table 50 rotates clockwise. The panel 200 placed on the rotating table 50 and the arm 70 rotates about the rotation axis 53 as the rotating table 50 and the arm 70 rotate. That is, the panel 200 that has dropped onto the rotating table 50 rotates in a plane parallel to the conveyor belt 102 by changing its orientation while moving from behind the rotation axis 53, passing through the left side, to the front of the rotation axis 53.

[0049] Centrifugal force acts on the rotating panel 200. Since the flange portion of the second edge 202 is engaged with the holding pin 80, the panel 200 is held on the rotating table 50. Also, the panel 200 placed on the table body 51 is supported by the three arms 70. Since the panel 200 is supported at three points, the posture of the rotating panel 200 is stabilized. Thereby, the panel 200 can be appropriately rotated without the panel 200 touching the conveyor belt 102.

[0050] When the panel 200 placed on the rotating table 50 rotates to a certain angle, the panel 200 reaches the tip of the release slope 90 and rides onto the release slope 90 from the tip side toward the base end side. When the panel 200 rides onto the release slope 90, the rear (second edge 202) side of the panel 200 is lifted along the inclination of the release slope 90. When the rear of the panel 200 is lifted, the second edge 202 of the panel 200 is separated from the holding pin 80, so the holding of the panel 200 by the holding pin 80 is released. When the holding of the panel 200 by the holding pin 80 is released, the panel 200 is in a state of having rotated approximately 180° due to the rotation of the rotating table 50.

[0051] When the holding of the panel 200 is released, the panel 200 slides down the release slope 90 and the arm 70 due to the inclination of the release slope 90 and the arm 70, and is sent out to the conveyor belt 102. The panel 200 sent out to the conveyor belt 102 is conveyed by the conveyor belt 102 and carried out to the processing machine in the subsequent process. The panel 200 is sent out to the conveyor 100 by the conveying system 1, and is reversed front and back and rotated 180° in the horizontal plane, and then is sent out to the conveyor 100 in a posture suitable for being carried into the processing machine in the subsequent process.

[0052] As described above, according to the conveying system 1 according to the present embodiment, the rotating table 50 that rotates the panel 200 rotates using the power transmitted from the conveyor belt 102. Therefore, a dedicated power source for rotating the rotating table 50 is not required, so an increase in product cost can be suppressed.

[0053] In addition, since the holding pin 80 (an example of a holding member) holds the panel 200 on the rotating table 50, it is possible to suppress a situation where the panel 200 falls off the rotating table 50 due to the centrifugal force of rotation. Thereby, the panel 200 can be rotated to the target angle.

[0054] In addition, after the panel 200 is rotated by the rotating table 50, the holding of the panel 200 is released by the release slope 90 (an example of a release member). Therefore, the rotated panel 200 can be appropriately sent out from the rotating table 50 to the conveyor belt 102.

[0055] According to the conveying system 1 of the present embodiment, the transmission mechanism 55 rotates due to the running of the conveyor belt 102, so that the table body 51 can be rotated. Thereby, the power obtained from the running conveyor belt 102 can be transmitted to the table body 51, so that the table body 51 can be rotated without using a dedicated power source.

[0056] According to the transport system 1 of the present embodiment, due to the running of the conveyor belt 102, the first rotating body 57a of the first transmission unit 56 and the second and third rotating bodies 61a, 61b of the second transmission unit 60 rotate respectively. As a result, the first rotating body 57a and the third rotating body 61b that abut against the lower surface of the table body 51 can rotate the table body 51 respectively. At this time, since the rotation direction of the first rotating body 57a and the rotation direction of the third rotating body 61b are opposite to each other, each of the first and third rotating bodies 57a, 61b can rotate the table body 51 in the same direction. In this way, power is transmitted from the conveyor belt 102 to the table body 51 via the first rotating body 57a of the first transmission unit 56 and the second and third rotating bodies 61a, 61b of the second transmission unit 60. Thereby, the table body 51 can be rotated without using a dedicated power source.

[0057] In addition, in the present embodiment, the second transmission unit 60 includes a fourth rotating body 61c in addition to the second and third rotating bodies 61a, 61b. However, the second transmission unit 60 only needs to include at least the second and third rotating bodies 61a, 61b. Since the second transmission unit 60 includes the fourth rotating body 61c, the fourth rotating body 61c assists the rotation of the third rotating body 61b, so the rotation of the third rotating body 61b can be stabilized. Thereby, power can be appropriately transmitted from the conveyor belt 102 to the table body 51.

[0058] According to the transport system 1 of the present embodiment, since a plurality of arms 70 extend radially from the peripheral edge of the table body 51, the panel 200 protruding from the table body 51 can be supported by the arms 70. In addition, since the panel 200 can be supported by at least three arms 70, the panel 200 can be stably supported. As a result, the posture of the panel 200 is stabilized, so the panel 200 can be appropriately rotated.

[0059] According to the conveying system 1 of the present embodiment, since each arm 70 is set to be inclined downward, the panel 200 can slide down along the inclination of the arm 70. Thereby, the panel 200 can be smoothly sent out with respect to the conveying belt 102.

[0060] According to the conveying system 1 of the present embodiment, the panel 200 rotated by the rotating table 50 rides on the release slope 90, so that the panel 200 can be separated from the rotating table 50. Thereby, the holding of the panel 200 by the holding pin 80 can be released. In addition, since the release slope 90 is set to have a steeper inclination than the arm 70, the panel 200 can slide down along the inclination. Thereby, the panel 200 can be smoothly sent out with respect to the conveying belt 102.

[0061] According to the conveying system 1 of the present embodiment, one side of the panel 200 can be received by the stopper 77. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the panel 200 from coming into contact with the conveying belt 102.

[0062] In the above-described embodiment, the arm 70 and the holding pin 80 are fixedly attached to the rotating table 50. However, the size, shape, and number of the arm 70 and the holding pin 80 may be changed according to the size and shape of the conveyed object.

[0063] Also, the number and form of the rotating bodies included in the first and second transmission units 56 and 60 are examples. The first and second transmission units 56 and 60 facing each other across the rotating shaft 53 are not limited thereto as long as they can rotate the table body 51 in the same direction.

[0064] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but it should not be understood that the descriptions and drawings forming a part of this disclosure limit this invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples, and operation techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0065] 1 Conveyor system 2 Feeding device 5 Rotating device 20 Shooter 30 Inverting unit 50 Rotating table 51 Table body 52 Base plate 53 Rotating shaft 54 Support plate 55 Transmission mechanism 56 First transmission unit 57a First rotating body 60 Second transmission unit 61a Second rotating body 61b Third rotating body 61c Fourth rotating body 65 First auxiliary roller 67 Second auxiliary roller 70 Arm 75 Support beam 77 Stopper 80 Holding pin (holding member) 90 Release slope (releasing means) 100 Conveyor 102 Conveyor belt 200 Panel

Claims

1. In a conveyor in which a conveyor belt travels to convey an object to be conveyed, in a conveying system for sending out the object to be conveyed, a supply device for supplying the object to be conveyed; a rotating device that rotates the object to be conveyed supplied from the supply device and sends out the object to be conveyed onto the conveyor belt, and the rotating device includes a rotating table that is placed on the conveyor belt and rotates in a plane facing the conveyor belt by using the power transmitted from the traveling conveyor belt, thereby rotating the object to be conveyed received from the supply device; a holding member that holds the object to be conveyed on the rotating table; and a releasing member that releases the holding of the object to be conveyed by the holding member after the object to be conveyed is rotated by the rotating table. A conveying system.

2. The rotating table includes a table body that is disposed above the conveyor belt so as to face the conveyor belt and rotates about a rotation axis that stands upright with respect to the conveyor belt; and a transmission mechanism that is disposed between the conveyor belt and the table body and rotates the table body by rotating as the conveyor belt travels. The conveying system according to Claim 1.

3. The transmission mechanism includes a first transmission unit and a second transmission unit that face each other with the rotation axis interposed therebetween, the first transmission unit includes a first rotating body that abuts against the conveyor belt and the lower surface of the table body respectively and rotates in a first direction as the conveyor belt travels, the second transmission unit includes a second rotating body that abuts against the conveyor belt and rotates in the first direction as the conveyor belt travels; and a third rotating body that abuts against the second rotating body and the lower surface of the table body respectively and rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction as the second rotating body rotates. The conveying system according to Claim 2.

4. The rotating table includes a plurality of arms that extend radially from the peripheral edge of the table body and support the object to be conveyed together with the table body, and the object to be conveyed is supported by at least three arms. The conveying system according to Claim 2 or 3.

5. Each of the plurality of arms is attached to the table body so as to be inclined downward toward the tip of the arm. The conveying system according to Claim 4.

6. The releasing member is a frame member that is inclined so that the object to be conveyed rotated by the rotating table rides thereon. The inclination angle of the frame member is larger than the inclination angles of the plurality of arms. The conveying system according to claim 5.

7. A stopper is provided which is arranged on the side of the rotary table, above the conveying belt, and receives the conveyed object supplied from the supply device. The conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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