Conveyor roller with built-in motor and conveyor device

Abstract

To provide a roller with a built-in motor for a conveyor reduced in temperature rise, and a conveyor device.SOLUTION: A roller MR with a built-in motor for a conveyor comprises a roller pipe 1, a pair of support shafts 2a, 2b arranged to face with each other and pivotally supporting the roller pipe 1 to be rotatable, a motor 3 arranged inside the roller pipe 1 and generating a driving force for rotating the roller pipe 1, a driving circuit 4 arranged inside the roller pipe 1 and driving the motor 3, and a heat transmission parts 5a-5e transmitting heat generated in the driving circuit 4 to one support shaft 2a out of the pair of support shafts 2a, 2b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a motorized conveyor roller for use in a conveyor device, and a conveyor device using the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conveyor devices are widely used to transport objects, for example, in production sites and distribution sites. Conveyor devices can be broadly classified into roller conveyor devices and belt conveyor devices. A roller conveyor device includes multiple rollers arranged side by side in one direction and moves (conveys) objects (transported objects) along a path (conveyance path) on the rollers. A belt conveyor device includes multiple rollers arranged side by side in one direction and a conveyor belt stretched over the rollers. The rollers in these roller conveyor devices and belt conveyor devices include motorized rollers (drive rollers) that have a built-in motor and rotate by the driving force generated by the motor, and rollers (driven rollers) that rotate in accordance with the rotation of the motorized rollers, for example, via a suspended belt or a moving object. The motor of the motorized roller is driven by a motor drive device (motor control device) attached to the outside of the motorized roller, for example, on the conveyor frame (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-068501 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-177441 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the conveyor device can be simplified by incorporating the motor drive device (motor control device) into the motorized roller. However, the temperature of the motorized roller rises due to the temperature rise of the coil in the motor caused by the drive of the motor. However, if the motor drive device is built in, the temperature rise will be further increased due to the temperature rise of the elements that make up the motor drive device, such as MOSFETs. If the motor drive device is equipped with a protection circuit to protect against temperature rise, the protection circuit may be activated, causing the motor drive device to be unable to drive the motor. Furthermore, in a roller conveyor device, temperature rise is undesirable because objects are placed on the rollers.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a compressor that can reduce temperature rise. a The present invention provides a motorized roller and a conveyor device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] After extensive investigation, the inventors have found that the above object can be achieved by the following invention: A motorized conveyor roller according to one aspect of the invention comprises a roller tube, a pair of support shafts arranged opposite each other and rotatably supporting the roller tube, a motor arranged inside the roller tube and generating a driving force to rotate the roller tube, a drive circuit arranged inside the roller tube and driving the motor, and a heat transfer unit that transfers heat generated by the drive circuit to one of the pair of support shafts.

[0007] Such a motorized conveyor roller is equipped with a heat transfer section that transfers heat generated in the drive circuit to one of a pair of support shafts, so that the heat generated in the drive circuit can be dissipated from the support shaft to the outside, thereby reducing temperature rise.

[0008] In another aspect, in the above-mentioned conveyor motor-integrated roller, the heat transfer section includes a heat sink that is in direct contact with one or more elements that make up the drive circuit, or that is in contact with the element or elements via a heat conductive sheet.

[0009] Such a motorized roller for conveyors includes a heat sink that is in direct or indirect contact with one or more elements that make up the drive circuit, and the heat generated in the drive circuit can be dissipated by the heat sink, thereby reducing the temperature rise of the elements that make up the drive circuit. When the heat sink is indirectly in contact with the drive circuit via the thermally conductive sheet, the thermally conductive sheet improves the adhesion between the heat sink and one or more elements that make up the drive circuit, allowing the heat generated in the drive circuit to be more reliably transferred to the heat sink.

[0010] In another aspect, the above-mentioned motorized conveyor rollers further include an impact absorbing member that absorbs impact forces that occur at at least one of when the motor is started and when it is stopped, and the heat transfer section includes the impact absorbing member, and the impact absorbing member has thermal conductivity.

[0011] Even when such a motorized conveyor roller includes a shock absorbing member in the heat transfer section, the shock absorbing member has thermal conductivity, so that heat generated in the drive circuit can be reliably transferred to the support shaft.

[0012] In another aspect, in the above-mentioned motorized conveyor roller, the shock absorbing member is formed of rubber containing graphite.

[0013] In such a motorized conveyor roller, the shock absorbing member is made of rubber containing graphite, so that shock can be absorbed and heat can be transferred more efficiently.

[0014] A conveyor device according to another aspect of the present invention is a roller conveyor device that includes a plurality of rollers arranged side by side in one direction, and moves an object along a movement path over the plurality of rollers, and the plurality of rollers includes one or more of any of the above-mentioned motor-integrated rollers for conveyors.

[0015] This provides a roller conveyor including one or more of the motorized conveyor rollers described above, which can reduce the temperature rise of the motorized conveyor rollers.

[0016] A conveyor device according to another aspect of the present invention is a belt conveyor device comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel in one direction and a conveyor belt stretched over the plurality of rollers, and which moves objects along a path on the conveyor belt, and the plurality of rollers include one or more of any of these conveyor motor-integrated rollers.

[0017] This provides a belt conveyor including one or more of the motorized conveyor rollers described above, which can reduce the temperature rise of the motorized conveyor rollers. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] The motorized conveyor roller according to the present invention can reduce temperature rise, and the present invention can provide a conveyor device equipped with such a motorized conveyor roller. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the conveyor device according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of a roller tube of a motorized roller for a conveyor used in the conveyor device. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the motorized roller for a conveyor. [Figure 4] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating the main configuration of the motorized roller for a conveyor. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the effect of reducing a temperature rise in the conveyor motor-incorporating roller. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a motorized roller for a conveyor in a first modified embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a conveyor device in a second modified embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. In addition, components with the same reference numerals in each drawing indicate the same components, and their description will be omitted as appropriate. In this specification, when referring to a general term, a reference numeral without a subscript is used, and when referring to an individual component, a reference numeral with a subscript is used.

[0021] The conveyor device in the embodiment is a roller conveyor device that includes multiple rollers arranged side by side in one direction and moves objects (transported objects) along a path (conveyance path) over the multiple rollers, or a belt conveyor device that includes multiple rollers arranged side by side in one direction and a conveyor belt stretched over the multiple rollers and moves objects along the conveyor belt. The motorized conveyor roller in the embodiment is included in one or more of the rollers in the conveyor device. This motorized conveyor roller includes a roller tube, a pair of support shafts arranged opposite each other and rotatably supporting the roller tube, a motor arranged inside the roller tube and generating a driving force to rotate the roller tube, a drive circuit arranged inside the roller tube and driving the motor, and a heat transfer unit that transfers heat generated by the drive circuit to one of the pair of support shafts. The conveyor device and motorized conveyor roller will be described in more detail below, using a roller conveyor device as an example.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a conveyor device according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of a roller tube of a motorized conveyor roller used in the conveyor device. Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the motorized conveyor roller. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the main configuration of the motorized conveyor roller. Fig. 4A is an external perspective view of a drive circuit, Fig. 4B is an external perspective view of a heat sink, and Fig. 4C is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating an impact absorbing member.

[0023] The conveyor device CS in the embodiment is, for example, a roller conveyor device CS that includes a plurality of rollers MR, FR arranged side by side in one direction, and moves an object (object to be conveyed) Ob on a moving path (conveying path) over the plurality of rollers MR, FR, as shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, the object Ob is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0024] More specifically, the roller conveyor device CS includes a pair of first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb, one or more conveyor motor-integrated rollers MR, one or more driven rollers FR, and one or more belts BT.

[0025] The first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb are elongated members that rotatably support motorized conveyor rollers (hereinafter referred to as "motorized rollers") MR and driven rollers (free rollers) FR. They face each other at a predetermined distance (first distance) perpendicular to the first distance and are arranged parallel to each other in the first distance. The first distance is an appropriate distance depending on the size of the object Ob to be conveyed by the roller conveyor device CS, and the lengths of the motorized rollers MR and driven rollers FR are set according to the first distance. The first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb have a generally U-shaped cross section to enhance their strength, as shown in FIG. 3. From the perspective of dissipating heat transferred by the first support shaft 2a (described later) of the motorized rollers MR, it is preferable that they be made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity, such as an iron-based metal (including alloys) such as SPC (Steel Plate Cold). The first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb are each formed with a plurality of through-holes at predetermined intervals (second intervals) along the one direction, for inserting first and second support shafts 2a and 2b of the CM-incorporated roller MR and first and second support shafts AXa and AXb of the driven roller FR, which will be described later. The first and second support shafts 2a and 2b of the CM-incorporated roller MR are inserted into the respective through-holes in the first and second conveyor frames CFa and CF, and are fixed to the first and second conveyor frames CFa and CF, respectively, by respective fixing brackets FMa and FMb (see FIG. 3; fixing bracket FMb is not shown). The first and second support shafts AXa and AXb of the driven roller FR are fixed to the first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb by, for example, inserting them into through-holes in the first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb and threading nuts (not shown) into thread grooves formed in the first and second support shafts AXa and AXb. Alternatively, the first and second support shafts AXa and AXb may have a hexagonal or oval cross section and be fitted into the hexagonal or oval through-holes in the first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb, respectively.

[0026] The multiple CM-incorporated rollers MR are arranged side by side in one direction, with two driven rollers FR arranged side by side in the same direction. That is, the multiple CM-incorporated rollers MR are arranged side by side in a predetermined number of positions, every three rollers in the example shown in FIG. 1 , and two driven rollers FR are arranged side by side in the same direction between two adjacent CM-incorporated rollers MR. Therefore, the multiple CM-incorporated rollers MR and the multiple driven rollers FR are parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. Of the multiple CM-incorporated rollers MR and the multiple driven rollers FR, each CM-incorporated roller MR is connected to each of the two driven rollers FR adjacent to it in the one direction by a belt BT wound around one end of the roller. When the single CM-incorporated roller MR rotates, the rotation of the single CM-incorporated roller MR is transmitted to each of the two driven rollers FR by the belt BT, causing each of the two driven rollers FR to rotate. This allows an object (transported object) Ob placed on the multiple CM-incorporated rollers MR and the multiple driven rollers FR to move (be transported).

[0027] The motor-integrated roller MR for a conveyor used in such a roller conveyor device CS is configured as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. More specifically, the motor-integrated roller MR includes a cylindrical roller tube 1 having a predetermined length (first length) and made of an iron-based metal (including alloys), such as carbon steel for mechanical construction. A first cap member 9a, which serves as a member for closing this one end, is fixedly attached to one end of the roller tube 1, and a second cap member 9b, which serves as a member for closing the other end, is fixedly attached to the other end. A first bearing 8a is provided within the first cap member 9a and is rotatably supported on a first support shaft 2a via a cylindrical shaft 5e, which is made of an iron-based metal (including alloys), such as carbon steel for mechanical construction (e.g., S45C). The first cap member 9a has a through-hole that penetrates along the central axis of the roller tube 1 and through which the first support shaft 2a is inserted via the shaft 5e. Similarly, a second bearing 8b rotatably supported on the second support shaft 2b is provided within the second cap member 9b, and a through-hole is provided in the second cap member 9b that penetrates along the central axis and through which the second support shaft 2b is inserted. The first support shaft 2a is a hollow columnar member formed of, for example, an iron-based metal (including an alloy) and is used to insert a cable CB connected to the drive circuit 4 described below. The cross-sectional shape of its outer periphery is a regular hexagon so that it can be fixed to the first conveyor frame CFa with the above-mentioned fixing bracket FMa. Note that the cross-sectional shape is not limited to a regular hexagon, and may be, for example, an oval shape or a D shape. In this example, the shaft 5e and the first support shaft 2a are integrally formed, and the other portion of the first support shaft 2a on the other side of the center position is the shaft 5e. The second support shaft 2b is a cylindrical member, and in order to support the second support shaft 2b at two locations, the second bearing 8b is made up of two bearings, second A and second B 81b and 82b.

[0028] With this configuration, the roller tube 1 is rotatably supported by the first and second support shafts 2a and 2b that stand upright from the first and second conveyor frames CFa and CFb, respectively.

[0029] The CM-integrated roller MR incorporates a motor 3 in a roller tube 1. More specifically, the motor M is housed in a cylindrical internal frame 10 of a predetermined length (second length) that is smaller in diameter than the roller tube 1 and made of a metal (including an alloy) such as aluminum, and the internal frame 10 is housed within the roller tube 1 with a gap from the inner peripheral surface of the roller tube 1 so that the roller tube 1 can rotate relative to the internal frame 10.

[0030] A reducer 6, composed of a planetary gear or the like, is fixedly housed within the inner frame 10 in the other part on the other side of the inner frame 10, and a cylindrical intermediate plate 7 is fixedly connected to the output shaft of the reducer 6, with the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate plate 7 fixedly connected to the inner circumferential surface of the roller tube 1. A motor 3, fixedly housed within the inner frame 10, is disposed on one side of the reducer 6, and the output shaft 31 of the motor 3 is connected to the input portion of the reducer 6. With this configuration, when the output shaft 31 of the motor 3 rotates, the intermediate plate 7 rotates via the reducer 6, and the roller tube 1 rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the intermediate plate 7. In this way, the motor 3 is disposed within the roller tube 1 via the inner frame 10, and generates a driving force that rotates the roller tube 1. The motor 3 may be any suitable type of motor, but in the example shown in Figures 2 to 4, it is a radial gap inner rotor type motor, whose rotor is equipped with multiple permanent magnets and whose stator is equipped with multiple coils. The rotating magnetic field generated by passing current through each of the multiple coils interacts with the magnetic fields of the multiple permanent magnets to rotate the rotor, and thus rotate the output shaft 31.

[0031] A motor bracket 5b, which is a member for closing one end of the internal frame 10 and is made of a metal (including an alloy) such as aluminum, is fixedly attached to one end of the internal frame 10, and a third bearing 32 is provided on the motor bracket 5b to rotatably support the output shaft 31 of the motor 3.

[0032] A drive circuit (control circuit) 4 and a heat sink 5a are arranged in series between the motor 3 and the motor bracket 5b. The drive circuit 4 and heat sink 5a are housed within an inner frame 10. The drive circuit 4 drives the motor 3, for example, by supplying power to the motor 3 and controlling it in response to control signals, such as starting, increasing speed, maintaining a constant speed, decelerating, stopping, and rotating forward and backward. Power supplied to the motor 3 is supplied from an external source via a power supply line within the cable CB, and the control signals are input from an external source via a signal line within the cable CB. The drive circuit 4 includes, for example, a cylindrical base member 4c and first and second circuit boards 4a and 4b arranged on each end surface of the base member 4c, as shown in FIG. 4B. The first substrate 4a, the base member 4c, and the second substrate 4b are provided with a through-hole that penetrates along the central axis to insert the output shaft 31 (the portion of the output shaft 31 that extends on the opposite side from the portion of the output shaft 31 that extends to the reducer 6) that extends to the third bearing 32. The first and second substrates 4a, 4b are mounted with a plurality of elements that constitute the drive circuit 4, such as a microprocessor and MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors). The base member 4c is fixed within the internal frame 10. Such a drive circuit 4 is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. The heat sink 5a is disposed so as to be in direct contact with one or more of the elements that constitute the drive circuit 4. As shown in FIG. 4B, the heat sink 5a is configured to include a semicircular plate-shaped base 51 and a plurality of plate-shaped fins 52 standing on one side of the base 51 at a predetermined interval (third interval) in the circumferential direction, and the other side of the base 51 is in direct contact with one or more of the elements that make up the drive circuit 4, and the upper surfaces of the plurality of fins 52 are in contact with the motor bracket 5b.

[0033] The motor bracket 5b, which closes one end of the inner frame 10 and is fixedly attached thereto, is fixedly connected to the shaft 5e by a coupling hub 5d via a shock-absorbing member 5c. The shock-absorbing member 5c absorbs impact forces generated at least when the motor 3 is started or stopped. In this embodiment, the shock-absorbing member 5c is a member having thermal conductivity superior to that of rubber. The shock-absorbing member 5c is formed, for example, from rubber containing graphite (e.g., urethane rubber or nitrile rubber (NBR)). In one example, graphite-containing nitrile rubber was produced by blending a medium-to-high nitrile rubber (product name: CM-580H) manufactured by Nippon Zeon Polymer Co., Ltd. with graphite having an average particle size of 180 μm manufactured by Fuji Graphite Co., Ltd., at a mass content of 100 parts by weight (50 parts by weight) of nitrile rubber to 50 parts by weight (33%), using a conventional manufacturing method. The thermal conductivity of nitrile rubber is 0.25 W / (m·K), but by blending graphite in this manner, the thermal conductivity was increased to 0.45 W / (m·K). Therefore, the shock absorbing member 5c can absorb shock and transfer heat more efficiently. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, the shock absorbing member 5c has a cylindrical shape with repeated concave and convex portions in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the inner periphery at one end of the motor bracket 5b is the inverse of the cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery of the shock absorbing member 5c, allowing the shock absorbing member 5c to fit into one end of the motor bracket 5b. The coupling hub 5d is a substantially cylindrical member made of, for example, a sintered alloy, and the cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery of the coupling hub 5d is the inverse of the cross-sectional shape of the inner periphery of the shock absorbing member 5c, allowing the coupling hub 5d to fit into the shock absorbing member 5c. The coupling hub 5d has a through-hole, for example, an oval cross-section, that penetrates along the central axis.

[0034] The cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery of the shaft 5e at one portion on one side of the approximate center position is circular because the shaft 5e is rotatably supported by the first bearing 8a, while the cross-sectional shape of the outer periphery at the other portion on the other side of the approximate center position is, for example, oval so as to be fixedly coupled to the coupling hub 5d. By fitting the other portion of the shaft 5e into the through opening of the coupling hub 5d, the shaft 5e and the coupling hub 5d are fixedly coupled to each other.

[0035] With this configuration, the motor 3 is fixed to the first conveyor frame CFa via the inner frame 10, the motor bracket 5b, the shock absorbing member 5c, the coupling hub 5d, the shaft 5e and the first support shaft 2a, and when the motor 3 rotates, the roller tube 1 rotates.

[0036] When the motor 3 is driven, heat is generated in the coil of the motor 3 and the drive circuit 4. This heat is transferred to the first conveyor frame CFa via the heat sink 5a, motor bracket 5b, shock absorbing member 5c, coupling hub 5d, shaft 5e, and first support shaft 2a, and then dissipated. For this reason, it is preferable that the drive circuit 4, heat sink 5a, motor bracket 5b, shock absorbing member 5c, coupling hub 5d, shaft 5e, first support shaft 2a, and conveyor frame CFa are in contact with each other, and more preferably in close contact. Even if there are gaps, these components are made of materials with excellent thermal conductivity, so the heat generated in the coil of the motor 3 and the drive circuit 4 is transferred sequentially through these components and dissipated to the outside.

[0037] The heat sink 5a, motor bracket 5b, shock absorbing member 5c, coupling hub 5d, and shaft 5e correspond to an example of a heat transfer unit that transfers heat generated in the drive circuit to one of the pair of support shafts. In the example shown in Fig. 3B, a heat conduction sheet 5f is included in the heat transfer unit.

[0038] An example of the temperature rise reduction effect is shown in FIG. 5 and Table 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the temperature rise reduction effect of the conveyor motor-integrated roller. The horizontal axis of FIG. 5 represents elapsed time, and the vertical axis represents temperature [°C]. FIG. 5A shows the temperature changes of the MOSFET, coil, and ambient temperature when a heat sink 5a is provided, and FIG. 5B shows the temperature changes of the MOSFET, coil, and ambient temperature when a heat sink 5a is not provided. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the shock absorbing member is made of rubber (e.g., urethane rubber or nitrile rubber) and does not contain graphite. 5A and 5B, without the heat sink 5a, the MOSFET temperature rose to approximately 141.5°C at an ambient temperature of approximately 20.66°C (a temperature rise of 120.84°C), whereas with the heat sink 5a, the MOSFET temperature rose only to approximately 93.38°C at an ambient temperature of approximately 20.32°C (a temperature rise of 73.06°C), thus reducing the temperature rise of the MOSFET. The microprocessor used in the drive circuit 4 is usually set to activate its protection function at 105°C, but the example shown in FIG. 5 makes it possible to prevent this protection function from activating. In addition, without the heat sink 5a, the coil temperature rose to approximately 85.1°C (temperature rise of 64.44°C) against an ambient temperature of approximately 20.66°C, and with the heat sink 5a, the coil temperature rose to approximately 79.8°C (temperature rise of 59.48°C) against an ambient temperature of approximately 20.32°C.

[0039] On the other hand, as can be seen from Table 1, when graphite was not added to the impact absorbing member, the temperature of the roller tube 1 was approximately 76.3°C, but by adding graphite to the impact absorbing member, the temperature of the roller tube 1 became approximately 73.1°C, and the temperature rise was reduced.

[0040] [Table 1]

[0041] In the above example, the heat transfer section is configured to include the heat sink 5a, motor bracket 5b, shock absorbing member 5c, coupling hub 5d, and shaft 5e, but is not limited to this and may have other configurations. For example, the communication path through which the cable CB is inserted from the outside to the drive circuit 4 may have a two-layer structure made of a heat insulating member, with the cable CB inserted through one layer and a heat pipe inserted through the other, and heat generated in the drive circuit 4 transferred to the first support shaft 2a by the heat pipe.

[0042] As described above, the motorized conveyor roller MR in this embodiment can radiate heat generated in the drive circuit 4 to the outside from the first support shaft 2a, thereby reducing temperature rise.

[0043] The motorized conveyor roller MR includes a heat sink 5a, which can dissipate heat generated in the drive circuit 4, thereby reducing the temperature rise of the elements that make up the drive circuit 4. When the elements are in indirect contact via a thermally conductive sheet 5f, the thermally conductive sheet 5f can improve the adhesion between the heat sink 5a and one or more elements that make up the drive circuit 4, and the heat generated in the drive circuit 4 can be more reliably transferred to the heat sink 5a.

[0044] Even when the conveyor motor-equipped roller MR includes an impact absorbing member in the heat transfer path, the impact absorbing member 5c has superior thermal conductivity to, for example, rubber, so that the heat generated in the drive circuit 5 can be reliably transferred to the support shaft.

[0045] In the motorized conveyor roller MR, the shock absorbing member 5c is made of rubber containing graphite, so that it can absorb shock and transfer heat more efficiently.

[0046] According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a roller conveyor device CS including one or more motorized rollers MR for a conveyor. Such a conveyor device CS can reduce the temperature rise of the motorized rollers for a conveyor.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment, the heat sink 5a constituting part of the heat transfer section is in direct contact with one or more elements constituting the drive circuit 4, but the heat sink 5a may also be in contact via a thermally conductive sheet 5f (first variant).

[0048] Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a motorized roller for conveyors in a first modified embodiment. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the heat sink 5a is arranged so as to be in contact with one or more of the elements constituting the drive circuit 4 via a thermally conductive sheet 5f, which is a sheet-like member having thermal conductivity, such as made of silicone containing a metal filler. In this case, the thermally conductive sheet 5f can improve the adhesion between the one or more elements constituting the drive circuit 4 and the heat sink 5a, and the heat generated in the drive circuit 4 can be reliably transferred by the heat sink 5a.

[0049] As described above, the motorized conveyor roller MR in the embodiment may be used in a belt conveyor (second modified embodiment).

[0050] Fig. 7 is a plan view of a conveyor device in a second modified embodiment. The conveyor device CSa in this second modified embodiment is, for example, a belt conveyor device including a plurality of rollers MR, FR arranged side by side in one direction and a conveyor belt BTa stretched over the plurality of rollers MR, FR, and moving objects along the conveyor belt BTa as a moving path, as shown in Fig. 7. More specifically, the conveyor device CSa includes a pair of first and second conveyor frames CFa, CFb, one or more conveyor motor-integrated rollers MR, one or more driven rollers FR, and the conveyor belt BTa. The first and second conveyor frames CFa, CFb, conveyor motor-integrated rollers MR, and driven rollers FR are similar to the first and second conveyor frames CFa, CFb, conveyor motor-integrated rollers MR, and driven rollers FR in the above-described embodiment, respectively, and therefore description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] That is, the conveyor device CS in the above-described embodiment is provided with CM-incorporating rollers MR every third roller, and the CM-incorporating rollers MR and the adjacent driven rollers FR are connected by a ring-shaped (annular) belt BT wound around one end thereof, but in the conveyor device CSa in this second modified embodiment, the rollers arranged at both ends of the multiple rollers MR and FR arranged side by side in one direction are CM-incorporating rollers MR, and a wide conveying belt BTa is stretched over these. Note that one or more of the multiple driven rollers FR arranged side by side between the CM-incorporating rollers MR at both ends may be replaced with CM-incorporating rollers MR.

[0052] This provides a belt conveyor CSa including one or more motorized conveyor rollers MR. Such a conveyor CSa can reduce the temperature rise of the motorized conveyor rollers MR.

[0053] In order to express the present invention, the present invention has been properly and sufficiently described above through the embodiments with reference to the drawings, but it should be recognized that those skilled in the art can easily change and / or improve the above-mentioned embodiments. Therefore, unless the changes or improvements made by those skilled in the art are at a level that causes departure from the scope of the claims described in the claims, such changes or improvements are interpreted as being included in the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] CS, CSa; conveyor device, MR; conveyor motor-integrated roller, 1; roller tube, 2a; first support shaft, 3; motor, 4; drive circuit, 5a; heat sink, 5b; motor bracket, 5c; shock absorbing member, 5d; coupling hub, 5e; shaft, 5f; heat conductive sheet

Claims

1. A roller tube; a pair of support shafts arranged opposite to each other and rotatably supporting the roller tube; a motor disposed inside the roller tube and generating a driving force for rotating the roller tube; a drive circuit disposed inside the roller tube for driving the motor; a heat transfer section that transfers heat generated in the drive circuit to one of the pair of support shafts; an impact absorbing member that absorbs impact forces that occur at least when the motor is started or stopped, the heat transfer portion includes the impact absorbing member, The impact absorbing member has thermal conductivity. Conveyor roller with built-in motor.

2. the heat transfer unit includes a heat sink that is in direct contact with one or more elements that constitute the drive circuit or that is in contact with the one or more elements via a thermally conductive sheet; The motorized roller for a conveyor according to claim 1.

3. The impact absorbing member is formed of rubber containing graphite. The motorized roller for a conveyor according to claim 1.

4. A roller conveyor device comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel in one direction, and an object is moved along a moving path on the plurality of rollers, The plurality of rollers include one or more motorized conveyor rollers according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Conveyor equipment.

5. A belt conveyor device comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel in one direction and a conveyor belt stretched across the plurality of rollers, and an object is moved along a movement path on the conveyor belt, The plurality of rollers include one or more motorized conveyor rollers according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Conveyor equipment.

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