Belt conveyor and sorting device equipped with same

Abstract

To provide a belt conveyor capable of reducing a load of a drive motor and provide a distribution device having it.SOLUTION: A belt conveyor includes: a pair of opposingly disposed side frames; a drive pulley 31 and a follower pulley 32 rotatably mounted to both the ends of the pair of side frames; a drive motor 3M for rotating and driving the drive pulley 31; an endless belt 33 that is wound while straddling the drive pulley 31 and the follower pulley 32, and conveys an article placed on an upper surface of an upper part in a horizontal direction by rotation of the drive pulley 31 rotated and driven by the drive motor 3M; and a belt support frame 81 that is disposed while straddling between the pair of side frames and supports a lower surface in an upper part of the belt 33. In the belt conveyor, the belt support frame 81 has multiple slender support members 83 that are disposed side by side with an interval in a width direction of the belt 33, and are extended in a predetermined horizontal direction and support a lower surface in an upper part of the belt 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt conveyor used in a weight sorter or the like, and a sorting device equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Agricultural and marine products and other items are sorted into ranks based on their weight, and items of the same rank are packed into boxes or bags. In this way, weight sorters are used to sort items into ranks based on their weight.

[0003] A conventional weight checker includes, for example, a weighing device that weighs the articles while transporting them in one direction on a belt conveyor, and a sorting device that is located downstream of the weighing device and sorts the articles according to the weight of the articles weighed by the weighing device. The sorting device includes, for example, a belt conveyor that transports articles in one direction and sorting means such as a sorting arm.

[0004] Patent document 1 describes the configuration of a sorting device that has a first sorting arm on both the left and right sides (both outside in the belt width direction) of a belt conveyor (conveying mechanism) that sorts defective products that are underweight, and a second sorting arm that sorts defective products that are overweight.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes the configuration of a belt conveyor used in a weighing device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-114366 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-129821 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Conventionally, the frame of a belt conveyor used in the above-mentioned sorting device or weighing device includes, for example, a pair of side frames with a drive pulley and a driven pulley rotatably attached to both ends, and a top plate provided between the pair of side frames and supporting substantially the entire lower surface (back surface) of the rotating upper portion of the conveyor belt. When substantially the entire lower surface of the upper portion of the conveyor belt is supported by the top plate in this way, the longer the length of the conveyor (the longer the distance between the drive pulley and the driven pulley), the longer the length of the top plate becomes, and the larger the contact area and frictional force between the conveyor belt and the top plate become, which causes a problem of increasing the load on the drive motor that rotates the drive pulley.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a belt conveyor that can reduce the load on the drive motor and a sorting device equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a belt conveyor according to one aspect of the present invention is a belt conveyor comprising a pair of side frames arranged opposite each other and having a shape extending in a predetermined horizontal direction, a drive pulley and a driven pulley rotatably attached to both ends of the pair of side frames, a drive motor for driving the drive pulley to rotate, an endless belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley and transporting articles placed on an upper surface of the upper portion in the predetermined horizontal direction by the rotation of the drive pulley, which is driven to rotate by the drive motor, and a belt support frame arranged between the pair of side frames and supporting the underside of the upper portion of the belt, wherein the belt support frame has a plurality of elongated support members arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction of the belt, extending in the predetermined horizontal direction and supporting the underside of the upper portion of the belt.

[0010] With this configuration, the underside of the upper part of the belt on which the article is placed is supported by a belt support frame having a plurality of elongated support members spaced apart across the width of the belt. This reduces the contact area and frictional force with the belt compared to when the entire underside of the upper part of the belt is supported by a top plate (flat plate), thereby reducing the load on the drive motor.

[0011] The belt support frame may be configured such that the width of the support members in the width direction of the belt is smaller than the interval between the support members adjacent to each other in the width direction of the belt.

[0012] According to this configuration, by making the width of the support members smaller than the distance between adjacent support members, the contact area between the belt support frame and the belt is reduced, the frictional force between the belt and the support members is reduced, and the load on the drive motor is further reduced.

[0013] The support member may have a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the predetermined horizontal direction that is a rectangle that is long in the vertical direction. Use of such a support member makes it easier to manufacture the belt support frame.

[0014] Furthermore, a plurality of the belt support frames may be arranged in the predetermined horizontal direction between the pair of side frames.

[0015] According to this configuration, for example, even in the case of a long belt conveyor, the length of each belt support frame can be shortened, making it easier to handle the belt support frames during manufacturing, maintenance, etc. of the belt conveyor.

[0016] In addition, the belt support frame may have mounting portions on both edges in the width direction of the belt for mounting to predetermined mounting locations on the pair of side frames, and the overall shape of the belt support frame including the mounting portions may be symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane including the center line in the width direction of the belt, and may also be symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane including the center line in the predetermined horizontal direction.

[0017] According to this configuration, when attaching the belt support frames to the side frames during manufacturing or maintenance of the belt conveyor, the belt support frames can be attached without paying particular attention to the orientation, making the attachment work of the belt support frames easy. Also, in a configuration in which multiple belt support frames are arranged in a predetermined horizontal direction, the belt support frames can be attached even if their attachment locations are swapped, making the attachment work of the belt support frames easy.

[0018] A sorting device according to one aspect of the present invention includes the above-described belt conveyor and sorting means for removing articles conveyed by the belt conveyor from the belt conveyor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The present invention has the above-described configuration and has an effect of providing a belt conveyor capable of reducing the load on the drive motor, and a sorting device including the same. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(A) is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a weight sorter equipped with a sorting device according to an example of this embodiment, viewed from above, and FIG. 1(B) is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the same weight sorter, viewed from the side. [Figure 2] Fig. 2(A) is a perspective view of a specific example of a sorting device, and Fig. 2(B) is a schematic diagram showing the framework of the stand of the sorting device. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sorting device shown in FIG. 2(A) seen from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the sorting device shown in FIG. 2(A) as viewed from the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor. [Figure 5] Figure 5(A) is a plan view of the belt support frame of the sorting conveyor seen from above, Figure 5(B) is a side view of the belt support frame shown in Figure 5(A) seen from one direction, and Figure 5(C) is a side view of the belt support frame shown in Figure 5(A) seen from another direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the following, identical or corresponding elements throughout the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations thereof may be omitted. Furthermore, the drawings are schematic illustrations of the respective components for ease of understanding, and the shapes, dimensional ratios, etc. may not be accurately depicted. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0022] (Embodiment) FIG. 1(A) is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a weight sorter equipped with a sorting device according to an example of this embodiment, viewed from above, and FIG. 1(B) is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of the same weight sorter, viewed from the side.

[0023] First, an outline of a weight sorter equipped with a sorting device 100 according to one example of this embodiment will be described. This weight sorter sorts items, such as agricultural and marine products like fruits and seafood, into a predetermined number of weight ranks, and includes an infeed conveyor 1, a weighing conveyor 2 supported by a weight sensor 2a such as a load cell, a sorting device 100 equipped with a sorting conveyor 3 and sorting arms 8, 9, an electrical equipment storage box 5, an operation display 6, and a control device 7. Around the sorting conveyor 3, for example, item storage boxes (containers) B1 to B7 are arranged.

[0024] An operation display device 6 is fitted into the upper front surface of the electrical equipment storage box 5, and a control device 7 is housed inside. The operation display device 6 is configured using, for example, a touch panel display, and is equipped with input means for operating the weight sorter and setting its operating conditions, and display means for displaying the weight values of articles, etc. on a display screen. The control device 7 inputs signals from the operation display device 6 and outputs signals such as data to be displayed on the operation display device 6.

[0025] The control device 7 is configured with, for example, a microcomputer, and controls the operation of the entire weight checker. Therefore, the control device 7 controls the operations of the feed conveyor 1, weighing conveyor 2, sorting conveyor 3, and sorting arms 8 and 9. The control device 7 may be configured with a single control device that performs centralized control, or may be configured with multiple control devices that cooperate with each other to perform decentralized control.

[0026] A supply conveyor (not shown), for example, is provided in front of the infeed conveyor 1. Articles are supplied to this supply conveyor from a worker or a previous device (not shown), and the articles are transported to the infeed conveyor 1. The infeed conveyor 1 receives the articles transported sequentially by the supply conveyor and transfers them to the weighing conveyor 2. The weighing conveyor 2 receives the articles transported by the infeed conveyor 1 and transfers them to the sorting conveyor 3.

[0027] The control device 7 receives a weighing signal from the weight sensor 2a, acquires the weight of the item on the weighing conveyor 2 weighed by the weight sensor 2a at a predetermined timing based on a detection signal from an item detection sensor (not shown) provided between the infeed conveyor 1 and the weighing conveyor 2, and determines which of a plurality of preset weight ranks the weight of the item belongs to. Then, based on the determination result, the control device 7 controls the operation of the sorting arms 8, 9 by controlling the arm driving device 12 (see FIG. 2, etc.) described below.

[0028] Here, for example, seven weight ranks are set, consisting of six weight ranks for standard products, numbered 1 to 6, and a weight rank for non-standard products. These weight ranks can be set by the user by operating the operation display 6.

[0029] For example, the weight range for conforming products can be set to be equal to or greater than the lower limit weight value WL and equal to or less than the upper limit weight value WU, and the range below the lower limit weight value WL and the range above the upper limit weight value WU can be set as weight ranks for non-conforming products.The weight range for conforming products can then be divided into six and weight ranks 1 to 6 can be set.

[0030] For example, by operating the sorting arms 8 and 9 corresponding to each of the storage boxes B1 to B6, items of the first to sixth weight ranks are stored in storage boxes B1 to B6, such that items of the first weight rank are stored in storage box B1, items of the second weight rank are stored in storage box B2, and items of the third weight rank are stored in storage box B3. For example, in the case of items of the first weight rank, the sorting arm 8 corresponding to storage box B1 rotates about the rotating shaft 10 as shown by the two-dot chain line and advances onto the sorting conveyor 3, so that the items transported on the sorting conveyor 3 in the direction of arrow a are stored in storage box B1. In addition, in the case of items of the fourth weight rank, the sorting arm 9 corresponding to storage box B4 rotates about the rotating shaft 10 as shown by the two-dot chain line and advances onto the sorting conveyor 3, so that the items transported on the sorting conveyor 3 in the direction of arrow a are stored in storage box B4. For articles that fall into the weight rank of non-standard items, neither of the sorting arms 8, 9 is operated, so that the articles are stored in the non-standard item storage box B7.

[0031] In order for the control device 7 to accurately control the timing at which each sorting arm 8, 9 operates, an item detection sensor can be provided at the discharge end of the weighing conveyor 2 or midway through the sorting conveyor 3, and the detection signal can be input to the control device 7.

[0032] Next, a specific example of the sorting device 100 will be described in detail. Fig. 2(A) is a perspective view of the sorting device 100 seen from diagonally above, and Fig. 2(B) is a schematic diagram showing the framework of the stand 50 of the sorting device 100. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sorting device 100 seen from above. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the sorting device 100 seen from the downstream side in the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor 3. Note that Fig. 4 does not show the storage box placement units 70 provided on both sides of the stand 50.

[0033] This sorting device 100 includes a sorting conveyor 3, which is an example of a belt conveyor in this embodiment, a drive device (motor 3M and drive transmission unit 3S) that operates the sorting conveyor 3, sorting arms 8 and 9, arm drive devices 12 (12A, 12B: see FIG. 4) that operate each of the sorting arms 8 and 9, a discharge chute 40, a stand 50 on which the sorting conveyor 3 and the like are placed, and a storage box placement unit 70 having four rods 71 arranged horizontally. Note that a jump-out prevention plate 40a is attached to the discharge chute 40 to prevent articles from jumping out of the sorting conveyor 3. This jump-out prevention plate 40a is not shown in FIG. 3.

[0034] The platform 50 supports the sorting conveyor 3 and other components from below. It includes support frames 51, 52 arranged parallel to each other and extending in the conveying direction (direction of arrow a) of the sorting conveyor 3, connecting frames 53, 54 connecting the two ends of the two support frames 51, 52, four support columns 55-58 supporting the two ends of the two support frames 51, 52, reinforcing frames 59-62 connecting the support columns 55-58, and legs 63 consisting of height adjusters attached to the bottom of each support column 55-58. The support columns 55-58 and the frames 51-54, 59-62 can be formed, for example, from equilateral angles and connected by welding or the like. In this example, a storage box mounting unit 70 having four rods 71 is attached to both sides of the platform 50. However, the configuration of the storage box mounting unit 70 can be modified as appropriate or may be omitted.

[0035] The sorting conveyor 3 is a belt conveyor that conveys articles in a predetermined horizontal direction (the direction of arrow a), and includes a drive pulley 31 on the upstream side in the conveying direction, a driven pulley 32 on the downstream side, an endless belt 33 made of a flat belt, a pair of side frames 34, 35 (FIG. 4) extending in the conveying direction and arranged opposite each other, a plurality of rod-shaped connecting portions 36 (FIG. 4) connecting the side frames 34, 35, and a belt support frame 81. As shown in FIG. 4, each side frame 34, 35 is formed, for example, by an L-shaped angle or the like, with a vertical portion 34a, 35a and a horizontal portion 34b, 35b. Each connecting portion 36 connects the vertical portions 34a, 35a of the side frames 34, 35.

[0036] The drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32 are rotatably attached to both ends of the side frames 34, 35 in the conveying direction, and a conveying belt 33 is wound between the pulleys 31, 32. That is, the endless conveying belt 33 is wound around the drive pulley 31 and the driven pulley 32. The drive pulley 31 is driven to rotate by a motor (drive motor) 3M via a drive transmission unit 3S. Although the cover member of the drive transmission unit 3S is shown in the figure and its interior is not, it may have a well-known configuration, for example, configured by a timing belt wound between a pulley to which the rotation of the motor 3M is transmitted and a pulley provided at one end of the drive pulley 31. The motor 3M is fixed to a frame 50 at the upstream end of the sorting conveyor 3 in the conveying direction.

[0037] The sorting arms 8 are arranged in a row in the conveying direction at a predetermined interval on one side of the width of the sorting conveyor 3, and the sorting arms 9 are arranged in a row in the conveying direction at a predetermined interval on the other side of the width of the sorting conveyor 3.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 4, each of the sorting arms 8, 9 has a rotating shaft 10 extending in the vertical direction, and an arm section 11 that is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 10 and removes articles from the sorting conveyor 3 as the rotating shaft 10 is rotated. The arm section 11 is, for example, the part illustrated as the sorting arms 8, 9 in Fig. 3. Each of the sorting arms 8, 9 is provided with an arm driving device 12 (12A, 12B) that is arranged below the sorting conveyor 3.

[0039] The arm driving device 12 has a housing 13 in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped having a top panel 13a through which the rotation shaft 10 passes, and a driving unit that rotates the rotation shaft 10 of the oscillation arms 8, 9 is housed within this housing 13. This driving unit can be of a known configuration that rotates the rotation shaft 10 forward and backward using, for example, an air cylinder or a motor.

[0040] The arm drive device 12A of the sorting arm 8 and the arm drive device 12B of the sorting arm 9 are configured to rotate the pivot axis 10 of the sorting arm 8 and the pivot axis 10 of the sorting arm 9 in opposite directions during the operation of the sorting arms 8, 9 to remove items from the sorting conveyor 3 (the operation shown by the dotted line in Figure 1 (A)).

[0041] In this example, the arm driving device 12A of each sorting arm 8 has its bottom plate 13b of its housing 13 fixed to one support frame 51 of the base 50 with bolts or the like (not shown), and the horizontal portion 34b of one side frame 34 of the sorting conveyor 3 is fixed to the top plate 13a with bolts or the like (not shown). Similarly, the arm driving device 12B of each sorting arm 9 has its bottom plate 13b of its housing 13 fixed to the other support frame 52 of the base 50 with bolts or the like (not shown), and the horizontal portion 35b of the other side frame 35 of the sorting conveyor 3 is fixed to the top plate 13a with bolts or the like (not shown). In this way, the arm driving devices 12A and 12B are attached between the base 50 and the side frames 34 and 35 of the sorting conveyor 3 so as to support the sorting conveyor 3.

[0042] As described above, the sorting conveyor 3 is supported on the stand 50 by the housings 13 of the arm driving devices 12A and 12B, but if necessary, a support pillar (such as support pillar 38 in Figure 2(A)) may be provided on the stand 50 to support the sorting conveyor 3.

[0043] Furthermore, a discharge chute 40 is provided for each sorting arm 8, 9. This discharge chute 40 has an inclined surface that allows articles removed from the sorting conveyor 3 by the sorting arms 8, 9 to slide downward, avoiding the arm driving devices 12A, 12B. Therefore, by allowing articles removed from the sorting conveyor 3 by the sorting arms 8, 9 to slide down the discharge chute 40, they can be stored in, for example, storage boxes B1 to B6 without colliding with the arm driving devices 12A, 12B that are arranged extending to the side of the sorting conveyor 3.

[0044] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the sorting conveyor 3 is configured to include a plurality of belt support frames 81. As shown in Fig. 1(B), if the portion of the rotating endless belt 33 located above where articles are placed is referred to as upper portion 33a and the portion located below is referred to as lower portion 33b, the belt support frames 81 support the lower surface (back surface) of the upper portion 33a of the belt 33 from below. The belt 33 transports articles placed on the top surface of the upper portion 33a in a predetermined horizontal direction indicated by arrow a by the rotation of the drive pulley 31, which is rotationally driven by the motor 3M.

[0045] The multiple belt support frames 81 are arranged side by side in the conveying direction (predetermined horizontal direction) indicated by arrow a between the pair of side frames 34, 35. Here, multiple belt support frames 81 (three in this example) are provided, but it may be configured with just one, although this increases the length. By shortening the length and dividing it into multiple frames as in this example, it becomes easier to handle.

[0046] In this example, the side frames 34, 35 are configured by attaching frame extensions 34A, 35A shown in FIG. 3 to the downstream ends of the vertical portions 34a, 35a in the conveying direction, and the driven pulley 32 is rotatably attached to these frame extensions 34A, 35A. A connecting plate 37 is attached to the frame extensions 34A, 35A and connects them to support the lower surface of the upper portion 33a of the belt 33 from below. The side frames 34, 35 may be configured without the frame extensions 34A, 35A, and with the driven pulley 32 rotatably attached to the downstream ends of the vertical portions 34a, 35a in the conveying direction. In this case, the connecting plate 37 may be omitted, and the belt support frame 81 may be configured to be positioned close to the driven pulley 32, as on the drive pulley 31 side.

[0047] Figure 5(A) is a plan view of the belt support frame 81 of the sorting conveyor 3 seen from above, Figure 5(B) is a side view of the same belt support frame 81 seen from one direction, and Figure 5(C) is a side view of the same belt support frame 81 seen from another direction.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5, the belt support frame 81 includes a pair of end plates 82, a plurality of (four in this example) support members 83, a pair of connecting plates 84, a pair of mounting rods 85, and four bolts (flanged bolts) 86 that are screwed into both ends of each mounting rod 85.

[0049] The pair of end plates 82 are arranged facing each other and spaced apart in the width direction W of the belt 33 of the sorting conveyor 3 (width direction of the sorting conveyor 3). Each end plate 82 has a flat portion 82a and a vertical portion 82b.

[0050] The multiple support members 83 are arranged parallel to each other at predetermined intervals in the width direction W of the belt 33 between the pair of end plates 82. Each support member 83 has an elongated shape extending in the conveying direction (predetermined horizontal direction) indicated by arrow a. The width of each support member 83 in the width direction W of the belt 33 is smaller (narrower) than the distance between adjacent support members 83. In this example, the cross-sectional shape of each support member 83 perpendicular to the conveying direction is a rectangle that is long in the vertical direction (see FIG. 5(C)). The multiple support members 83 and the flat plate portions 82a of the pair of end plates 82 support the lower surface of the upper portion 33a of the belt 33 from below.

[0051] The pair of connecting plates 84 are connected by welding to the portions 82bb at both ends of the pair of end plates 82 in the conveying direction where the vertical portions 82b are bent toward the inside of the belt support frame 81, and are also connected by welding to both ends of each support member 83.

[0052] The pair of mounting rods 85 are rod-shaped members extending in the width direction W of the belt 33, and are arranged in parallel with a gap in the conveying direction indicated by the arrow a, penetrating all of the support members 83 and the vertical portions 82b of the pair of end plates 82, and are connected by welding at each penetration portion. The length of each mounting rod 85 is approximately equal to the distance between the vertical portions 34a, 35a of the pair of side frames 34, 35.

[0053] Each mounting rod 85 has a threaded hole at each end into which a bolt 86 is threaded. Two grooves 34c are formed in the vertical portion 34a of the side frame 34, into which the threaded portions of the two bolts 86 are inserted from above. Similarly, although not shown, two grooves (referred to as "grooves 35c") are formed in the vertical portion 35a of the side frame 35, into which the threaded portions of the two bolts 86 are inserted from above.

[0054] When attaching the belt support frame 81 to the pair of side frames 34, 35, the four bolts 86 are loosened, the threaded portions of the four bolts 86 are inserted into the four grooves 34c, 35c of the pair of side frames 34, 35, and then the four bolts 86 are tightened. In this way, the belt support frame 81 is disposed between the vertical portions 34a, 35a of the pair of side frames 34, 35.

[0055] As described above, the belt support frame 81 has attachment portions (bolts 86) on both edge portions in the width direction W of the belt 33 for attachment to predetermined attachment locations (grooves 34c, 35c) of the pair of side frames 34, 35. The overall shape of the belt support frame 81 including these attachment portions (bolts 86) is configured to be symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane P1 including the center line in the width direction W of the belt 33, and also symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane P2 including the center line in the conveying direction indicated by arrow a. Thus, for each belt support frame 81, the two grooves 34c of the side frame 34 and the two grooves 35c of the side frame 35, which serve as attachment locations, are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the vertical plane P1, the two grooves 34c of the side frame 34 are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the vertical plane P2, and the two grooves 35c of the side frame 35 are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the vertical plane P2.

[0056] In this embodiment, the underside of the upper portion 33a of the belt 33 on which the article is placed is supported by a belt support frame 81 having a plurality of elongated support members 83 spaced apart in the width direction W of the belt 33. Therefore, compared to when the entire underside of the upper portion 33a of the belt 33 is supported by a top plate (flat plate), the contact area and frictional force with the belt 33 can be reduced, and the load on the motor 3M can be reduced.

[0057] In this embodiment, the belt support frame 81 has a plurality of support members 83 arranged at intervals only in the center of the width direction W of the belt 33 and the area therearound, and flat plate portions 82a are arranged in the areas near both ends of the belt 33 in the width direction W, but because articles are conveyed in the center of the width direction W of the belt 33 and the areas therearound, the weight of the articles acting on the flat plate portions 82a at both ends is small and the frictional force is also small, so the effect of the load on the motor 3M is also small. Note that if sufficient rigidity is obtained, the belt support frame 81 may not be provided with end plates 82 having flat plate portions 82a, and support members 83 arranged at intervals may be provided in those areas as well.

[0058] In addition, in this embodiment, the width of each support member 83 is smaller (narrower) than the distance between adjacent support members 83, so the contact area with the belt 33 is smaller, the frictional force between the belt 33 is reduced, and the load on the motor 3M can be further reduced.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, even in the case of a long belt conveyor, such as the sorting conveyor 3 in which multiple sorting arms (8, 9) are arranged side by side in the conveying direction on the side of the sorting conveyor 3, by arranging multiple belt support frames 81 in a line in the conveying direction, the length of each belt support frame 81 can be shortened, making it easier to handle the belt support frames 81 during manufacturing and maintenance of the belt conveyor (sorting conveyor 3), etc.

[0060] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5(A), by providing a long and narrow hole 87 in the flat plate portion 82a of the end plate 82 of the belt support frame 81, the weight of the belt support frame 81 can be reduced, making it easier to handle.

[0061] In this embodiment, the belt support frame 81 has mounting portions (bolts 86) on both edges in the width direction W of the belt 33 for mounting to predetermined mounting locations (grooves 34c, 35c) of the pair of side frames 34, 35. The overall shape of the belt support frame 81, including the mounting portions (bolts 86), is configured to be symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane P1 including the centerline in the width direction W of the belt 33 and also symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane P2 including the centerline in the conveying direction (predetermined horizontal direction) indicated by arrow a. This configuration makes it possible to attach the belt support frame 81 to the side frames 34, 35 during manufacturing or maintenance of the belt conveyor (sorting conveyor 3) without paying particular attention to the orientation of the belt support frame 81, facilitating the installation work of the belt support frame 81. Furthermore, when a plurality of belt support frames 81 are arranged side by side in the conveying direction as in this embodiment, the belt support frames 81 can be installed even if their installation locations are interchanged, facilitating the installation work of the belt support frame 81.

[0062] In this embodiment, a plurality of sorting arms (8, 9), which are an example of sorting means, are arranged side by side on both sides of the sorting conveyor 3 in the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor 3, but a configuration in which a plurality of sorting arms are arranged side by side on either side of the sorting conveyor 3 in the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor 3 is also possible. A configuration in which one sorting arm is arranged on each side of the sorting conveyor 3, or a configuration in which only one sorting arm is arranged on either side of the sorting conveyor 3 is also possible. The length (length in the conveying direction) of the sorting conveyor 3 may be changed as appropriate depending on the number of sorting arms, etc.

[0063] Furthermore, the belt support frame 81 of this embodiment can be applied not only to belt conveyors used in sorting devices (sorting conveyor 3), but also to other belt conveyors, such as belt conveyors used in weighing devices that weigh items while transporting them.

[0064] From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure and / or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0065] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as a belt conveyor capable of reducing the load on a drive motor, and as a sorting device or the like equipped with the same. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 3. Sort conveyor 8,9 Swing arm 3M Motor 31 Drive pulley 32 driven pulley 33 Belt 34,35 Side frame 81 Belt support frame 83 Support member 100 sorting device

Claims

1. A pair of side frames that have a shape extending in a predetermined horizontal direction and are arranged opposite to each other; a drive pulley and a driven pulley rotatably attached to both ends of the pair of side frames; a drive motor that rotates the drive pulley; an endless belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, which conveys an article placed on an upper surface of the upper portion in the predetermined horizontal direction by rotation of the drive pulley driven by the drive motor; a belt support frame disposed between the pair of side frames and supporting a lower surface of an upper portion of the belt; A belt conveyor comprising: The belt support frame is a plurality of elongated support members arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction of the belt and extending in the predetermined horizontal direction to support the lower surface of the upper portion of the belt; A belt conveyor, wherein a plurality of the belt support frames are disposed between the pair of side frames, and the plurality of the belt support frames are aligned in the predetermined horizontal direction in which the pair of side frames extend.

2. A belt conveyor as described in claim 1, wherein the belt support frame has a pair of end plates arranged at a distance from each other in the width direction of the belt, with a plurality of the support members between them, and having flat portions that support the underside of the upper part of the belt.

3. The belt support frame is The width of the support member in the width direction of the belt is configured to be smaller than the interval between the support members adjacent to each other in the width direction of the belt.

3. The belt conveyor according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The support member is The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the predetermined horizontal direction is a rectangle that is long in the vertical direction. The belt conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The belt support frame is The belt support frame has attachment portions at both edge portions in the width direction of the belt for attachment to predetermined attachment locations of the pair of side frames, and the overall shape of the belt support frame including the attachment portions is symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane including a center line in the width direction of the belt and also symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane including a center line in the predetermined horizontal direction. The belt conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A pair of side frames that have a shape extending in a predetermined horizontal direction and are arranged opposite each other; a drive pulley and a driven pulley rotatably attached to both ends of the pair of side frames; a drive motor that rotates the drive pulley; an endless belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, which conveys an article placed on an upper surface of the upper portion in the predetermined horizontal direction by rotation of the drive pulley driven by the drive motor; a belt support frame disposed between the pair of side frames and supporting a lower surface of an upper portion of the belt; A belt conveyor comprising: The belt support frame is a plurality of elongated support members arranged side by side at intervals in the width direction of the belt, extending in the predetermined horizontal direction and supporting the underside of the upper portion of the belt; a pair of end plates each having a flat plate portion that is disposed in a width direction of the belt with a plurality of the support members therebetween and that supports a lower surface of an upper portion of the belt; The conveyor belt has:

7. A belt conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a sorting device comprising a sorting means for removing articles conveyed by the belt conveyor from the belt conveyor.

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