Particulate matter dispersing device

Abstract

Provided is a particulate matter dispersing device capable of suppressing leakage of particulate matter from a rotating body.　A particulate matter dispersing device (1) comprises a rotating body (6) including a cylindrical portion (6a) supported by a supporting portion (5) so as to be capable of rotating about a rotational axis (C1) extending in a horizontal direction, and dispersion holes (6b) penetrating through the cylindrical portion in a hole-forming region (R1) in a portion, in an axial direction along the rotational axis (C1), of the cylindrical portion (6a), and a particulate matter introduction member (7) which includes an accommodating portion (7a) having an accommodating space (SP) for accommodating particulate matter, and an opening portion (7b) provided in a lower end portion of the accommodating portion (7a) to introduce the particulate matter into the cylindrical portion (6a), and which is attached to the supporting portion (5) such that the opening portion (7b) is disposed inside the cylindrical portion (6a), wherein an edge portion of the opening portion (7b) of the accommodating portion (7a) is in slidable contact with a region of an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion (6a) lower than the rotational axis (C1), in a state covering the entire hole-forming region (R1) in the axial direction so as to confine the particulate matter between the edge portion and the cylindrical portion (6a).

Description

Powder spreading equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder / granular material sprinkling device.

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Powder and granular material sprinkling devices for sprinkling powder and granular material onto a sprinkling target have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a superabsorbent polymer particle sprinkling means for sprinkling superabsorbent polymer particles.

[0003] The superabsorbent polymer particle spraying means described in Patent Document 1 includes a rotating drum that is rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a predetermined direction and that surrounds the entire circumference of the rotation axis, and a hopper connected to the rotating drum so as to supply superabsorbent polymer particles into the rotating drum. The rotating drum has a projection hole for spraying the superabsorbent polymer particles supplied from the hopper.

[0004] Patent Document 1 does not disclose a specific configuration for connecting the rotating drum and the hopper. Here, the rotating drum needs to rotate in order to project the superabsorbent polymer particles therein by centrifugal force, while the hopper needs to be fixed in order to guide the superabsorbent polymer particles into the rotating drum by their own weight. Therefore, it is conceivable to connect the rotating drum and the hopper as follows.

[0005] Specifically, a lid is attached to the open end of the rotating drum in a slidable manner relative to the axial open end to confine the superabsorbent polymer particles within the rotating drum. The lid is fixed to a portion of the superabsorbent polymer particle scattering means fixed to an installation location, and the rotating drum is attached to the lid so that the superabsorbent polymer particles are supplied into the rotating drum through insertion holes formed in the lid. This allows the superabsorbent polymer particles to be supplied from the hopper into the rotating drum while allowing relative rotation between the rotating drum and the hopper.

[0006] However, when the rotating drum and the hopper are connected as described above, the lid must be in sliding contact with the rotating drum over the entire axial end face of the rotating drum to allow relative rotation with the rotating drum while restricting leakage of superabsorbent polymer, which may result in leakage of superabsorbent polymer particles due to wear of at least one of the rotating drum and the lid.

[0007] Patent No. 4790281

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a powder / granular material sprinkling device that can prevent the powder / granular material from leaking from a rotating body.

[0009] In order to solve the above problems, the first invention provides a powder / granular material spraying device for spraying powder / granular material onto an object to be sprayed, comprising: a rotor having a support portion, a cylindrical portion supported on the support portion so as to be rotatable around a horizontally extending rotation axis and surrounding the entire circumference of the rotation axis, and a spray hole penetrating the cylindrical portion in a hole-forming area in a portion of the axial direction of the cylindrical portion along the rotation axis; a storage portion having a storage space for accommodating the powder / granular material; an opening provided at the lower end of the storage portion for introducing the powder / granular material into the cylindrical portion, the opening being positioned within the cylindrical portion; and a powder / granular material introduction member attached to the support portion so that the opening is positioned within the cylindrical portion, wherein the edge of the opening in the storage portion is in slidable contact with a region below the rotation axis on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion while covering the entire hole-forming area in the axial direction so as to confine the powder / granular material between the storage portion and the cylindrical portion.

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powder / granular material sprinkling device that can suppress leakage of powder / granular material from a rotating body.

[0011] 8 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the powder / granular material spraying device, with the scraper and part of the recovery mechanism omitted. A cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. A cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. A cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. 3. A developed view showing the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the relationship between the opening of the powder / granular material introduction member and the scraper. A plan view showing an enlarged view of a mesh portion provided on the conveying belt of FIG. 1. A block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the spraying device main body of FIG. 1. A flowchart showing a shutter drive process executed by the controller of FIG. 8. A flowchart showing a powder / granular material recovery process executed by the controller of FIG. 8.

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a front view showing the overall configuration of a powder / granular material sprinkling device, with a scraper and part of a recovery mechanism omitted. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 2.

[0014] 1 to 3, the powder sprinkling device 1 sprinkles powder onto a sprinkling target A1. The sprinkling target A1 is, for example, a continuous body such as an absorbent body (a nonwoven fabric having an absorbent core disposed thereon) used in a disposable wearing article. The powder sprinkling target A1 is, for example, powder such as citric acid sprinkled onto a portion of the disposable wearing article that absorbs the wearer's body waste.

[0015] The powder and granular material spraying device 1 comprises a spraying device main body 2 for spraying powder and granular material onto a spraying target A1, a first conveying section 3 provided below the spraying device main body 2 and continuously transporting the strip-shaped spraying target A1, and a second conveying section 4 continuously transporting a strip-shaped covering member A2 onto the spraying target A1 so that the spraying target A1 being transported in the first conveying section 3 is covered.

[0016] The spraying device main body 2 comprises a support part 5 fixed to a predetermined installation location, a rotating body 6 supported by the support part 5 so as to be rotatable around a horizontally extending rotation axis C1, a powder / granular material introduction member 7 for guiding powder / granular material into the rotating body 6, a scraper (removal member) 8 provided inside the rotating body 6 for removing powder / granular material remaining in the rotating body 6, a recovery mechanism 9 for recovering the powder / granular material removed by the scraper 8 into the powder / granular material introduction member 7, a spray amount adjustment mechanism 10 for adjusting the amount of powder / granular material sprayed from the rotating body 6, and a rotating body drive motor 11 for driving the rotating body 6 to rotate.

[0017] 1 and 2, the support unit 5 includes an upright plate 5a erected at a predetermined installation location, and a support mechanism provided on the front surface of the upright plate 5a for supporting the rotor 6, the powder / granular material introduction member 7, the scraper 8, the recovery mechanism 9, the spray rate adjustment mechanism 10, and the rotor drive motor 11. The support mechanism includes a forward protrusion 5b protruding forward from the front surface of the upright plate 5a, a load receiving plate 5c provided on the forward protrusion 5b, a weight detector 5d interposed between the forward protrusion 5b and the load receiving plate 5c, a lower extension plate 5e extending downward from the load receiving plate 5c in a position parallel to the upright plate 5a, a cover 5f fixed to the front surface of the lower extension plate 5e and covering the rotor 6, and an adjustment mechanism mounting portion 5g for mounting the spray rate adjustment mechanism 10 on the front surface of the cover 5f.

[0018] The forward protruding portion 5b has a through hole 5b1 that penetrates in the vertical direction to allow the powder introduction member 7 and the lower extending plate 5e to pass therethrough.

[0019] The load-receiving plate 5c has a through-hole 5c1 extending vertically to allow the powder / granular material introduction member 7 to pass through, and is fixed to the powder / granular material introduction member 7 inserted into the through-hole 5c1. This allows the load-receiving plate 5c to bear the load of the powder / granular material introduction member 7 and the recovery mechanism 9 fixed above it. The load-receiving plate 5c also bears the loads of the rotor 6, scraper 8, spray amount adjustment mechanism 10, and rotor drive motor 11 via the lower extension plate 5e and cover 5f. Therefore, the amount of powder / granular material sprayed within a predetermined period can be determined by detecting the decrease in the load received by the load-receiving plate 5c within the predetermined period using the weight detector 5d. The weight detector 5d may include, for example, a load cell.

[0020] The rotating body 6 has a cylindrical portion 6a supported by the lower extension plate 5e so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis C1 and surrounding the entire circumference of the rotation axis C1, a hole formation region R1 (see FIG. 6) in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 6a along the rotation axis C1, and a closure plate 6c fixed to the rear end of the cylindrical portion 6a to close the rearward opening of the cylindrical portion 6a. As shown in FIG. 6, multiple hole formation regions R1 are formed with multiple hole formation regions 6b. The cylindrical portion 6a also has multiple groups G1 each consisting of multiple hole formation regions 6b. The multiple groups G1 are intermittently formed in the cylindrical portion 6a in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis C1.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , a circumferential region of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a is covered by the outer circumferential covering portion 5f1 of the cover 5f. Specifically, the outer circumferential covering portion 5f1 covers the region of the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a above the vertical position between the rotation axis C1 and the opening 7b of the powder / granular material introduction member 7 (described later). The outer circumferential covering portion 5f1 may cover the entire outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, excluding the region where the opening 7b is located, in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation axis C1. The forward opening of the cylindrical portion 6a is covered from the front by the front covering portion 5f2 of the cover 5f. The coverage area of ​​the front surface of the cylindrical portion 6a by the front covering portion 5f2 includes the region above the position between the rotation axis C1 and the lower end of the cylindrical portion 6a, as shown in FIG. 1 , and the region overlapping with the shutter drive motor 10b (described later) in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, the closing plate 6c of the rotor 6 is covered from the rear by the rear covering plate 5f3 of the cover 5f. The covering range of the rear covering plate 5f3 relative to the closing plate 6c includes the range above the position between the rotation axis C1 and the lower end of the closing plate 6c, and the range overlapping in the front-to-rear direction with the rotating body drive motor 11 described below.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the rotor drive motor 11 includes a motor body 11a fixed to the lower extension plate 5e and a drive shaft 11b extending forward from the motor body 11a. The drive shaft 11b extends forward through an insertion hole formed in the lower extension plate 5e and the rear cover plate 5f3 and is rotatable about a rotation axis C1 relative to the lower extension plate 5e and the rear cover plate 5f3. The front end of the drive shaft 11b is fixed to the closing plate 6c of the rotor 6. Therefore, rotation of the drive shaft 11b relative to the motor body 11a rotates the rotor 6 relative to the support portion 5. The drive shaft 11b rotates in the direction Y1 indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3 to spray powder or granular material.

[0023] 1 to 3, the powder / granular material introduction member 7 has a storage portion 7a having a storage space SP for storing powder / granular material, and an opening 7b provided at the lower end of the storage portion 7a for introducing powder / granular material into the cylindrical portion 6a, and is attached to the support portion 5 (load-receiving plate 5c) so that the opening 7b is positioned within the cylindrical portion 6a. Furthermore, the edge of the opening 7b in the storage portion 7a is in slidable contact with a region below the rotation axis C1 on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, in a state in which the edge covers the entire hole formation region R1 in the axial direction (front-rear direction) so as to confine the powder / granular material between the storage portion 7a and the cylindrical portion 6a (see FIG. 6).

[0024] Here, in order for the edge of the opening 7b to "confine the powder and granular material between the cylindrical portion 6a," two portions (hereinafter referred to as "axially opposite portions") P1 and P2 (see the hatched portion in Figure 6) of the edge of the opening 7b that axially sandwich the hole formation region R1 must be in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a to prevent the powder and granular material from leaking axially. On the other hand, even if the powder and granular material leaks between the region between the axially opposite portions P1 and P2 of the edge of the opening 7b and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, the powder and granular material will be dispersed from the dispersion holes due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 6a, so there will be no substantial leakage of the powder and granular material. In other words, the most important portions of the edge of the opening 7b for "confining the powder and granular material between the cylindrical portion 6a" are the axially opposite portions P1 and P2. Note that Figure 6 is an exploded view showing the cylindrical portion 6a cut in a circumferential direction and partially expanded.

[0025] The specific configuration of the storage section 7a will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0026] The storage section 7a has an inner storage section 7a1 having an opening 7b and arranged inside the cylindrical section 6a, an outer storage section 7a2 for accommodating powder or granular material and arranged outside the cylindrical section 6a, and a connecting section 7a3 connecting the inner storage section 7a1 and the outer storage section 7a2 to guide the powder or granular material from the outer storage section 7a2 to the inner storage section 7a1.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the inner accommodating portion 7a1 has a contact portion 7a11 that contacts the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a and a mounting portion 7a12 that is attached to the contact portion 7a11 with the contact portion 7a11 sandwiched between the contact portion 7a11 and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a. The mounting portion 7a12 is a container that tapers downward and opens downward. The contact portion 7a11 is attached to the edge of the opening of the mounting portion 7a12. In other words, the contact portion 7a11 and the mounting portion 7a12 form the edge of the opening 7b. The contact portion 7a11 has higher elasticity than the mounting portion 7a12. For example, the mounting portion 7a12 may be made of metal, and the contact portion 7a11 may be made of felt. The edge of the opening in the mounting portion 7a12 has an arc-shaped front shape (see FIG. 3) and side shape (see FIG. 4) that conform to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a. In this embodiment, the opening shape of the mounting portion 7a12 is rectangular (see FIG. 6).

[0028] 2, the outer accommodating portion 7a2 is a container having a shape tapering downward. The outer accommodating portion 7a2 has a lower end portion located above and in front of the cylindrical portion 6a.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connecting portion 7a3 is a cylindrical member connecting the upper end of the inner accommodating portion 7a1 (the mounting portion 7a12) and the lower end of the outer accommodating portion 7a2. Specifically, the connecting portion 7a3 has a lower end that is disposed within the inner accommodating portion 7a1 through a through-hole (reference numeral omitted) formed in the upper end of the inner accommodating portion 7a1, a middle portion that extends from the lower end to the outside (upward and forward) of the inner accommodating portion 7a1 through an insertion hole 5f21 (see FIG. 1 ) formed in the front cover portion 5f2, and an upper end that extends upward from the middle portion and is connected to the outer accommodating portion 7a2. The connection portion between the inner accommodating portion 7a1 and the outer accommodating portion 7a2 and the connecting portion 7a3 is sealed to prevent leakage of the powder. In other words, the inner accommodating portion 7a1, the outer accommodating portion 7a2, and the connecting portion 7a3 define an accommodating space SP.

[0030] With the storage section 7a configured as described above, the powder or granules are guided from the outer storage section 7a2 into the cylindrical section 6a and are trapped between the cylindrical section 6a and the storage section 7a. Then, by driving the rotor drive motor 11 to rotate in the rotation direction Y1 indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, the powder or granules are dispersed below the cylindrical section 6a through the dispersion holes 6b formed in the cylindrical section 6a.

[0031] Here, the powder / granular material introduction member 7 (inner storage portion 7a1) is attached to the support portion 5 (front cover portion 5f2) so that, in a side view of the rotor 6 along the rotation axis C1, i.e., the perspective shown in Figure 3, the center position CP of the opening 7b is located upstream of the reference line BL extending downward from the rotation axis C1 in the rotation direction Y1 of the rotor 6. This makes it possible to include a force component F1 in the direction toward the target A1 to be sprayed below in the centrifugal force F applied to the powder / granular material from the rotor 6, thereby ensuring that the powder / granular material is placed reliably on the target A1 to be sprayed.

[0032] As described above, a contact portion 7a11 having a higher elasticity than the attachment portion 7a12 is provided between the attachment portion 7a12 of the inner storage portion 7a1 and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a. Therefore, the contact portion 7a11 can elastically deform appropriately depending on the condition of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, thereby suppressing wear on the edge of the opening 7b. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a spray rate adjustment mechanism 10 is provided to adjust the amount of powder and granular material sprayed by utilizing the elasticity of the contact portion 7a11. The configuration of the spray rate adjustment mechanism 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0033] The spray amount adjustment mechanism 10 is equipped with a shutter 10a (opening adjustment member: see Figure 3) attached to the support part 5 (front covering part 5f2) so as to be movable between the contact part 7a11 and the inner surface of the cylindrical part 6a while undergoing elastic deformation of the contact part 7a11 in order to adjust the opening of the opening 7b of the powder / granular material introduction member 7.

[0034] 2, the spray rate adjustment mechanism 10 is attached to an adjustment mechanism attachment portion 5g provided on the front surface of the cover 5f. The adjustment mechanism attachment portion 5g includes a plurality of legs 5g1 extending forward from a front surface covering portion 5f2 of the cover 5f and a fixed plate 5g2 attached to the front ends of the plurality of legs 5g1 and spaced forward from the front surface covering portion 5f2. The adjustment mechanism attachment portion 5g includes a shutter drive motor 10b attached to the fixed plate 5g2, an arm 10c fixed to a drive shaft 10b2 of the shutter drive motor 10b, and a shutter 10a fixed to the tip of the arm 10c.

[0035] The shutter drive motor 10b has a motor body 10b1 fixed to a fixed plate 5g2, and a drive shaft 10b2 extending rearward from the motor body 10b1 through an insertion hole formed in the fixed plate 5g2 while being rotatable around a rotation axis C1 relative to the fixed plate 5g2.

[0036] The arm 10c extends from the drive shaft 10b2 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis C1 at a position between the front cover portion 5f2 and the fixed plate 5g2 (in front of the cylindrical portion 6a as shown in FIG. 2).

[0037] The shutter 10a extends rearward from the tip of the arm 10c and is inserted into the cylindrical portion 6a. Specifically, the shutter 10a has an outer peripheral surface (arcuate surface) with a radius equivalent to that of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 6a so that the shutter 10a can slide against the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 6a when viewed along the rotation axis C1 as shown in FIG. 3. The shutter 10a also has a thickness that allows it to be inserted between the contact portion 7a11 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 6a while the contact portion 7a11 elastically deforms. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the shutter 10a is large enough to cover the opening 7b in both the axial direction along the rotation axis C1 and the circumferential direction about the rotation axis C1.

[0038] The above-described spray rate adjusting mechanism 10 allows the shutter 10a to rotate about the rotation axis C1 driven by the shutter drive motor 10b, thereby adjusting the opening degree of the opening 7b of the powder / granular material introducing member 7. Specifically, the shutter 10a is attached to the support member 5 so as to be rotatable within a range between a fully open position shown in FIG. 3 , in which the shutter 10a is circumferentially displaced from a position between the opening 7b and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a to fully open the opening 7b, and a fully closed position shown in FIG. 4 , in which the shutter 10a is interposed between the opening 7b and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a to fully close the opening 7b. In this embodiment, the fully open position is a position rotated upstream in the rotation direction Y1 (see FIG. 3 ) of the rotor 6 from the fully closed position shown in FIG. 4 . Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , in the fully open position, the shutter 10a is positioned between the contact portion 7a11 and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a. This allows the shutter 10a to remain sandwiched between the contact portion 7a11 and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, thereby reducing the sliding resistance that occurs in the shutter 10a when it rotates from the fully open position to the fully closed position, compared to when the shutter 10a is rotated to a position where it is no longer in contact with the contact portion 7a11 at the fully open position.

[0039] 3, as the cylindrical portion 6a rotates in the rotation direction Y1, the powder or granular material in the storage space SP of the powder or granular material introduction member 7 is scattered (projected) from the cylindrical portion 6a at a period in which the group G1 (see FIG. 6) of scattering holes 6b faces the openings 7b. However, some powder or granular material adheres to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a due to static electricity or the like and remains on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a up to a downstream position in the rotation direction Y1 of the powder or granular material introduction member 7. The spraying device main body 2 is provided with a scraper 8 for removing such powder or granular material from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a and a recovery mechanism 9 for recovering the removed powder or granular material into the powder or granular material introduction member 7.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3 , the scraper 8 is attached to the support member 5 so as to slidably contact the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6 a in a region below the rotation axis C1 and downstream of the opening 7 b in the rotation direction Y1 of the rotor 6 in order to remove powder and granular material remaining on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6 a. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 , the scraper 8 has a width that allows it to contact the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6 a over the entire hole formation region R1 in the axial direction along the rotation axis C1. As shown in FIG. 3 , the scraper 8 is a plate-shaped member having a base end 8 a spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6 a, a tip end 8 b pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6 a at a position upstream of the base end 8 a in the rotation direction Y1, and a curved intermediate portion 8 c that stores a biasing force between the base end 8 a and the tip end 8 b in a direction that presses the tip end 8 b against the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6 a. The scraper 8 may be attached directly to the support part 5, but in this embodiment, the base end part 8a of the scraper 8 is attached to the support part 5 via a recovery mechanism 9, which will be described later.

[0041] The recovery mechanism 9 has a suction source 9g and uses the suction force of the suction source 9g to guide the powder and granular material removed by the scraper 8 to the powder and granular material introduction member 7. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the recovery mechanism 9 includes a capture member 9a that captures the powder and granular material removed by the scraper 8, a storage container 9b that is connected to the suction source 9g and that sucks and stores the powder and granular material captured by the capture member 9a, and a transfer container 9c that is provided below the storage container 9b and above the powder and granular material introduction member 7 (outer storage portion 7a2) and that transfers the powder and granular material from the storage container 9b to the powder and granular material introduction member 7. As shown in FIG. 6 , the capture member 9a has a width that is sufficient to cover the entire hole formation region R1 and the scraper 8 in the axial direction along the rotation axis C1. Furthermore, the capture member 9a has a length that is sufficient to cover the entire scraper 8 in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis C1. The base end 8a of the scraper 8 is fixed to the surface of the capturing member 9a facing the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a with a screw B1. The capturing member 9a has a first opening that faces the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a and a second opening that faces away from the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a and avoids the storage portion 7a (the inner storage portion 7a1). The capturing member 9a has a through-hole 9a1 that extends between the first and second openings. As shown in FIG. 3 , a sealing member Se is provided between the capturing member 9a and the inner storage portion 7a1 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis C1. The sealing member Se prevents powder from scattering between the capturing member 9a and the inner storage portion 7a1.

[0042] The recovery mechanism 9 further includes a connection pipe 9d connecting the capture member 9a and the storage container 9b, a first valve mechanism 9e provided between the storage container 9b and the transfer container 9c, and a second valve mechanism 9f provided between the transfer container 9c and the powder / granular material introduction member 7 (outer storage portion 7a2). The connection pipe 9d has a lower end 9d1 attached to the capture member 9a in communication with the through-hole 9a1, an intermediate portion (not shown) extending from the lower end 9d1 to the outside of the cylindrical portion 6a through the space below the front surface covering portion 5f2 (see FIG. 1), and an upper end 9d2 extending upward from the intermediate portion and fixed to the side surface of the storage container 9b as shown in FIG. 1. The storage container 9b is connected to a suction source 9g through a pipe extending upward from the storage container 9b. The first valve mechanism 9e includes a first passage 9e1 connecting the storage vessel 9b and the transfer vessel 9c, a first on-off valve 9e2 that can open and close the first passage 9e1, and a first on-off valve drive motor 9e3 that drives the first on-off valve 9e2 to open and close. The second valve mechanism 9f includes a second passage 9f1 connecting the transfer vessel 9c and the powder / granular material introducing member 7, a second on-off valve 9f2 that can open and close the second passage 9f1, and a second on-off valve drive motor 9f3 that drives the second on-off valve 9f2 to open and close. In this embodiment, both on-off valves 9e2, 9f2 are butterfly valves that can be rotated by both on-off valve drive motors 9e3, 9f3.

[0043] As will be described in detail later, the recovery mechanism 9 recovers powdered or granular material into the powdered or granular material introducing member 7 while the inside of the storage container 9b is always maintained in a negative pressure state. Specifically, when suctioning powdered or granular material, the first on-off valve 9e2 is open and the second on-off valve 9f2 is closed, and the powdered or granular material is sucked into the delivery container 9c. When transferring powdered or granular material to the powdered or granular material introducing member 7, the first on-off valve 9e2 is closed and the second on-off valve 9f2 is open, and the powdered or granular material in the delivery container 9c is transferred to the powdered or granular material introducing member 7 by its own weight while the powdered or granular material is being sucked into the storage container 9b.

[0044] The configuration of the first conveying unit 3, which conveys the target object A1, which holds the powder and granular material sprayed from the spraying device main body 2, will be described below with reference to FIG. 1. The first conveying unit 3 conveys the target object A1 along a first conveying path TR1 established below the cylindrical portion 6a. The first conveying path TR1 includes an inclined portion that conveys the target object A1 diagonally upward from a position below the cylindrical portion 6a toward the cylindrical portion 6a, and a horizontal portion that conveys the target object A1 substantially horizontally from the inclined portion along the rotation direction Y1 of the cylindrical portion 6a (see FIG. 3). Specifically, the first conveying unit 3 includes a plurality of conveying rollers, including a conveying roller 3a, located at the boundary between the inclined portion and the horizontal portion, and a suction conveying mechanism 3b that applies suction force to the target object A1 and conveys the target object A1 in a predetermined region of the first conveying path TR1. The predetermined region will be described later.

[0045] The suction transport mechanism 3b includes a conveyor belt 3b2 (see FIG. 7 ) that is stretched over multiple rollers and arranged along the first transport path TR1 and has multiple through-holes 3b1, a suction box 3b3 provided below the conveyor belt 3b2, and a suction source 9g connected to the suction box 3b3 and configured to apply suction force to the target objects A1 on the conveyor belt 3b2 through the through-holes 3b1. In this embodiment, the suction source 9g of the recovery mechanism 9 is used as the suction source for the suction transport mechanism 3b, but a suction source other than the suction source 9g may also be provided for the suction transport mechanism 3b. The conveyor belt 3b2 has a predetermined suction region R2 (the entire area of ​​the conveyor belt 3b2 in this embodiment; see FIG. 7 ) for sucking the target objects A1, and the through-holes 3b1 are provided in the suction region R2. As shown in FIG. 7 , the suction region R2 has a mesh portion that defines the through-holes 3b1 using multiple wires arranged along two intersecting directions. 1, the suction box 3b3 is a box member that defines a decompression chamber that is decompressed by the suction source 9g, and has an upper wall 3b31 that is in sliding contact with the conveyor belt 3b2. The upper wall 3b31 has a plurality of through holes (not shown), and the negative pressure in the decompression chamber is supplied to the conveyor belt 3b2 through the through holes.

[0046] The second conveying unit 4 conveys the coating material A2 along a second conveying path TR2 that merges with the first conveying path TR1 at a position downstream of a predetermined powder / granular material spraying position P3 on the first conveying path TR1 in the conveying direction by the first conveying unit 3. The second conveying path TR2 includes an inclined portion that extends downward from a position above the first conveying path TR1 and downstream of the rotating body 6 on the first conveying path TR1 toward a region between the cylindrical portion 6a and the first conveying path TR1, and a horizontal portion that extends horizontally along the first conveying path TR1. The second conveying unit 4 has a pressing roller 4a provided at the boundary between the inclined portion and the horizontal portion of the second conveying path TR2. Specifically, the pressing roller 4a is provided at a position sandwiched between a region downstream of the predetermined powder / granular material spraying position P3 on the first conveying path TR1 in the conveying direction by the first conveying unit 3 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, and presses the coating material A2 against the target object A1.

[0047] Here, the suction area of ​​the suction conveying mechanism 3b will be described. The suction conveying mechanism 3b can apply suction force to the target object A1 over a range including the range from the planned spraying position P3 on the first conveying path TR1 to the position where the pressure roller 4a presses the coating material A2. Specifically, the suction box 3b3 is provided on the first conveying path TR1 over a range from the upstream position of the planned spraying position P3 to the downstream position of the pressure roller 4a. Therefore, suction force can be applied to the target object A1 from before the powder is sprayed to after it is pressed by the pressure roller 4a, thereby suppressing scattering of the sprayed powder. Note that the second conveying unit 4 may have an adhesive application unit provided upstream of the pressure roller 4a on the second conveying path TR2 so that the coating material A2 is adhered to the target object A1 by pressure from the pressure roller 4a.

[0048] The electrical configuration of the spraying device main body 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0049] In addition to the above-mentioned configuration, the spraying device main body 2 is equipped with an input unit 12 that allows the operator to input specified information, a rotor angle detector 13 that detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 11b of the rotor drive motor 11, a shutter angle detector 14 that detects the rotation angle of the drive shaft 10b2 of the shutter drive motor 10b, and a controller 15.

[0050] The controller 15 executes a shutter drive process S (see FIG. 9) that controls the drive of the shutter drive motor 10b and a powder / granular material recovery process T (see FIG. 10) that controls the drive of the first on-off valve drive motor 9e3 and the second on-off valve drive motor 9f3 based on information input from the input unit 12, the rotor angle detector 13, the weight detector 5d, and the shutter angle detector 14. Specifically, the controller 15 has a memory unit 15a, a spray amount calculation unit 15b, an opening setting unit 15c, an opening command unit 15d, and a suction control unit 15e.

[0051] The memory unit 15a stores initial setting values ​​and information input via the input unit 12. For example, the memory unit 15a stores a target amount of powder or granular material to be sprayed per shot input by an operator via the input unit 12. One shot is a unit of powder or granular material to be sprayed through the multiple spray holes 6b included in one group G1 in Figure 6.

[0052] 3 and 8, the spray amount calculation unit 15b calculates the amount of powder or granular material sprayed per shot based on information from the rotor angle detector 13, the weight detector 5d, and the memory unit 15a. Specifically, the spray amount calculation unit 15b calculates the number of shots sprayed within a predetermined period based on the rotation angle of the drive shaft 11b of the rotor drive motor 11 during the predetermined period detected by the rotor angle detector 13 and the rotation angle of the drive shaft 11b for one group G1 to pass through the opening 7b, which is stored in the memory unit 15a. The spray amount calculation unit 15b also calculates the amount of powder or granular material sprayed per shot based on the amount of powder or granular material reduced during the predetermined period detected by the weight detector 5d and the number of shots sprayed during the predetermined period.

[0053] The opening setting unit 15c sets the opening of the opening 7b to approximate a predetermined target spray amount per shot based on the spray amount per shot calculated by the spray amount calculation unit 15b and the rotation angle of the drive shaft 10b2 of the shutter drive motor 10b detected by the shutter angle detector 14. Specifically, the opening setting unit 15c determines the deviation between the target spray amount per shot stored in the memory unit 15a and the spray amount per shot calculated by the spray amount calculation unit 15b. Furthermore, the opening setting unit 15c determines the rotation angle of the drive shaft 10b2 to approximate the spray amount per shot to the target spray amount based on the deviation, the angle of the drive shaft 10b2 detected by the shutter angle detector 14, and a map stored in the memory unit 15a. The map shows the relationship between the expected change in the spray amount per shot versus the rotation angle of the drive shaft 10b2 of the shutter drive motor 10b.

[0054] The opening command unit 15d outputs a drive command to the shutter drive motor 10b based on the rotation angle of the drive shaft 10b2 set by the opening setting unit 15c.

[0055] In order to carry out the powder / granular material recovery process T, the suction control unit 15e outputs drive commands to the first on-off valve drive motor 9e3 and the second on-off valve drive motor 9f3 as appropriate.

[0056] The shutter drive process S executed by the controller 15 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0057] The shutter drive process S is started at a predetermined timing (for example, when a command to start scattering powder or granular material is input through the input unit 12). When the shutter drive process S is started, the angle of the rotor 6 (the rotation angle of the drive shaft 11b) is detected by the rotor angle detector 13 (step S1).

[0058] Next, the weight detector 5d detects the load received by the load receiving plate 5c (see FIG. 2) (step S2), and the system waits for a preset detection time to arrive (step S3).

[0059] If it is determined in step S3 that the detection time has arrived (YES in step S3), the angle of the rotor 6 is detected (step S4), and the weight detector 5d detects the load received by the load receiving plate 5c (step S5).

[0060] Next, the amount of powder or granular material scattered per shot is calculated (step S6). Specifically, in step S6, the difference between the angles detected in steps S1 and S4 is found, and the number of shots of powder or granular material during the waiting period in step S3 is calculated based on this angle difference. Also in step S6, the difference between the loads detected in steps S2 and S5, i.e., the weight of the scattered powder or granular material, is calculated, and this weight is divided by the calculated number of shots to calculate the amount of powder or granular material scattered per shot.

[0061] In the following step S7, it is determined whether the amount of spray per shot calculated in step S6 is within a predetermined range of specified spray amounts.

[0062] In step S7, if it is determined that the spray amount per shot calculated in step S6 is within the range of the specified spray amount (YES in step S7), the process returns to step S1.

[0063] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the spray amount per shot calculated in step S6 is not within the specified spray amount range (NO in step S7), the amount of change in the opening of opening 7b caused by shutter 10a is identified (step S8). Specifically, in step S8, the deviation between the spray amount per shot calculated in step S6 and the target spray amount per shot stored in memory unit 15a is identified. Furthermore, in step S8, the rotation angle of drive shaft 10b2 required to bring the spray amount per shot closer to the target spray amount is identified based on the deviation, the angle of drive shaft 10b2 detected by shutter angle detector 14, and the map stored in memory unit 15a.

[0064] Next, a command to drive the drive shaft 10b2 is output to the shutter drive motor 10b based on the amount of change in the opening degree identified in step S9 (step S9), and the process returns to step S1.

[0065] Next, the powder / granular material recovery process T executed by the controller 15 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0066] The powder / granular material recovery process T is initiated at a predetermined timing (e.g., when a command to start spraying powder / granular material is input via the input unit 12). When the powder / granular material recovery process T is initiated, the first on-off valve 9e2 is opened (step T1) and the second on-off valve 9f2 is closed (step T2). This creates a negative pressure inside the storage container 9b and the transfer container 9c, and the powder / granular material is sucked into these containers 9b and 9c. Meanwhile, the transfer container 9c is separated from the powder / granular material introduction member 7 (outer storage portion 7a2). Since the powder / granular material introduction member 7 is provided with an external air intake port (not shown), the powder / granular material in the powder / granular material introduction member 7 is introduced into the cylindrical portion 6a by its own weight.

[0067] Next, it is determined whether the time for collection has arrived after a predetermined time has elapsed in the above situation (step T3), and if it is determined that the time for collection has not arrived (NO in step T3), steps T1 and T2 are repeatedly executed.

[0068] On the other hand, if it is determined in step T3 that the recovery time has arrived (YES in step T3), the first on-off valve 9e2 is closed (step T4) and the second on-off valve 9f2 is opened (step T5). As a result, the storage container 9b is separated from the transfer container 9c, and the powder or granular material is sucked into the storage container 9b. Meanwhile, the transfer container 9c and the powder or granular material introduction member 7 (outer storage section 7a2) are connected, and the powder or granular material stored in the transfer container 9c is recovered into the powder or granular material introduction member 7 by its own weight.

[0069] Then, it is determined whether the recovery time for recovering the powder or granular material has elapsed as described above (step T6), and if it is determined that the recovery time has not elapsed (NO in step T6), steps T4 and T5 are repeatedly executed.

[0070] On the other hand, if it is determined in step T6 that the collection time has elapsed (YES in step T6), the process returns to step T1.

[0071] As described above, the edge of the opening 7b is in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a while covering the entire hole formation region R1 in the axial direction so as to confine the powder and granular material between the opening 7b and the cylindrical portion 6a. Therefore, the powder and granular material confined between the edge of the opening 7b and the cylindrical portion 6a can be dispersed onto the dispersion target A1 by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotor 6.

[0072] Furthermore, the edge of opening 7b is in slidable contact with a region below rotation axis C1 on the inner circumferential surface of cylindrical portion 6a. Therefore, the circumferential length over which both axial side portions P1, P2 (see FIG. 6) are in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of cylindrical portion 6a is shorter than the circumferential length over which the cover is in sliding contact with the entire circumference of one end face in the axial direction of the rotating drum, as in the conventional case. Therefore, wear of the sliding contact portions can be suppressed compared to the conventional case, and as a result, leakage of powder and granular material from rotating body 6 can be suppressed.

[0073] According to the embodiment, the edge of the opening 7b is in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a in a state where the contact portion 7a11, which has higher elasticity than the attached portion 7a12, is sandwiched between the attached portion 7a12 and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a. As a result, the contact portion elastically deforms appropriately depending on the condition of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, thereby reducing wear on the edge of the opening 7b.

[0074] According to the above embodiment, the elasticity of the contact portion 7a11 is utilized to move the shutter 10a between the contact portion 7a11 and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, thereby changing the opening area of ​​the opening 7b and adjusting the amount of powder or granular material to be dispersed.

[0075] For example, if the center position CP of the opening 7b is positioned on the reference line BL extending downward from the rotation axis C1, the powder or granules scattered from the scattering hole are subjected to a horizontal force as the centrifugal force of the rotor 6. In this case, the centrifugal force cannot be effectively utilized to actively position the powder or granules relative to the object to be scattered located below the rotor 6. On the other hand, as in the above embodiment, if the center position CP of the opening 7b is located upstream of the reference line BL extending downward from the rotation axis in the rotation direction Y1 of the rotor in a side view, a downward component F1 can be applied to the centrifugal force acting on the powder or granules due to the rotation of the rotor 6, and the centrifugal force can be effectively utilized to position the powder or granules relative to the object to be scattered A1.

[0076] Basically, the powder and granular material is sprayed onto the spraying target A1 through the spraying holes 6b, but it may adhere to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a due to static electricity or the like. In this case, the powder and granular material remaining on the cylindrical portion 6a increases the apparent thickness of the cylindrical portion 6a, which increases the sliding resistance between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a and the edge of the opening 7b and may accelerate wear of the edge of the opening 7b. In contrast, according to the above embodiment, the powder and granular material remaining on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a due to static electricity or the like can be removed by the scraper 8, thereby suppressing the accelerated wear of the edge of the opening 7b as described above.

[0077] According to the embodiment, the powder or granular material removed by the scraper 8 can be collected in the powder or granular material introducing member 7 and introduced again into the cylindrical portion 6a through the opening 7b.

[0078] According to the above embodiment, the pressure roller 4a presses the coating member A2 against the target object A1, and by coating the target object A1 with the coating member A2 after the powder or granular material has been sprayed, the powder or granular material can be prevented from scattering from the target object A1. Here, the pressure roller 4a is positioned between an area downstream of the intended spray position P3 on the first transport path in the conveying direction by the first transport unit 3 and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, that is, in a position close to the intended spray position P3, so that the target object A1 can be immediately coated with the coating member A2 immediately after the powder or granular material has been sprayed.

[0079] According to the above embodiment, the suction conveying mechanism 3b is provided, so that scattering of powder and granular material can be suppressed from the intended spraying position P3 until the spraying target A1 is covered by the covering member A2.

[0080] According to the above embodiment, since the suction area R2 is formed by a mesh portion, the opening area of ​​the through-holes can be kept small compared to a suction area having through-holes formed by punching or the like in a belt. Therefore, when the target A1 is made of a flexible material (e.g., nonwoven fabric), it is possible to prevent the suction force from leaving marks on the target A1.

[0081] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following aspects may also be adopted, for example.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the edge of the opening has a contact portion 7a11 and an attached portion 7a12, but the contact portion 7a11 can also be omitted and the attached portion 7a12 can be made to directly contact the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6a in a slidable manner.

[0083] In the above embodiment, the shutter 10a is provided, but the shutter 10a can be omitted. In this case, the opening can be adjusted by, for example, narrowing the opening area of ​​the opening 7b by providing a baffle plate in the powder introduction member 7 while the spraying device main body 2 is stopped.

[0084] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the shutter drive motor 10b is provided to rotate the shutter 10a, but the shutter drive motor 10b may be omitted and the shutter 10a may be rotated manually.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the powder introduction member 7 is attached to the support member 5 so that the center position CP of the opening 7b is located upstream of the reference line BL in the rotation direction Y1, but the position of the center position CP of the opening 7b is not limited to the above. For example, the center position CP of the opening 7b may be located on the reference line BL and / or the center position CP of the opening 7b may be located downstream of the reference line BL in the rotation direction Y1. In this case, in order to utilize the centrifugal force from the rotor 6 as a force toward the target A1, the first conveying path TR1 of the first conveying unit 3 can be adjusted so that the direction of the centrifugal force intersects with the target A1.

[0086] In the above embodiment, the removal member is exemplified as a plate-like (spatula-like) scraper 8 having a base end 8a, a tip end 8b, and an intermediate portion 8c, but the removal member may be any member capable of removing powder or granular material remaining on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, and is not limited to the scraper 8. For example, the removal member may be a sponge-like member (such as a melamine sponge) or a cloth-like member (such as a microfiber).

[0087] In the above embodiment, the scraper 8 and the recovery mechanism 9 are provided, but these may be omitted. In this case, by taking measures to remove static electricity from the cylindrical portion 6 a, it is possible to prevent the powder from adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 6 a.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the first conveying unit 3 and the second conveying unit 4 are provided, but at least one of these conveying units 3, 4 may be omitted. In this case, at least one of the conveying units 3, 4 may be configured as a separate unit that can be used in combination with the spraying device main body 2.

[0089] In the above embodiment, the suction conveying mechanism 3b of the first conveying unit 3 uses the suction force of the suction source 9g to hold the powder or granular material on the target object A1, but the means for holding the powder or granular material is not limited to suction force. For example, if a nonwoven fabric is used as the target object A1, the surface of the target object A1 can be raised at a position upstream of the intended spray position P3 to hold the powder or granular material on the target object A1.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the conveyor belt 3b2 has a mesh portion, but a conveyor belt having through holes formed by punching or the like can also be used. In this case, by using a relatively inflexible object to be sprayed, it is possible to prevent the marks of the through holes from being left on the underside of the object to be sprayed by suction.

[0091] The above-described specific embodiments mainly include inventions having the following configurations.

[0092] In order to solve the above problems, the first invention provides a powder / granular material spraying device for spraying powder / granular material onto an object to be sprayed, comprising: a rotor having a support portion, a cylindrical portion supported on the support portion so as to be rotatable around a horizontally extending rotation axis and surrounding the entire circumference of the rotation axis, and a spray hole penetrating the cylindrical portion in a hole-forming area in a portion of the axial direction of the cylindrical portion along the rotation axis; a storage portion having a storage space for accommodating the powder / granular material; an opening provided at the lower end of the storage portion for introducing the powder / granular material into the cylindrical portion, the opening being positioned within the cylindrical portion; and a powder / granular material introduction member attached to the support portion so that the opening is positioned within the cylindrical portion, wherein the edge of the opening in the storage portion is in slidable contact with a region below the rotation axis on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion while covering the entire hole-forming area in the axial direction so as to confine the powder / granular material between the storage portion and the cylindrical portion.

[0093] In the first invention, the edge of the opening is in slidable contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion while covering the entire hole formation region in the axial direction so as to confine the powder and granular material between the opening edge and the cylindrical portion. Therefore, the powder and granular material confined between the edge of the opening and the cylindrical portion can be dispersed onto the target object by centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotor.

[0094] Here, in order for the edge of the opening to "confine the powder and granular material between itself and the cylindrical portion," the two portions of the edge of the opening that sandwich the hole-forming region in the axial direction (hereinafter referred to as "both axial side portions") must be in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion so as not to leak the powder and granular material in the axial direction. On the other hand, even if the powder and granular material leaks from the region sandwiched between the two axial side portions of the edge of the opening and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, the powder and granular material will be dispersed from the dispersion holes by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the cylindrical portion, so there will be no substantial leakage of the powder and granular material. In other words, the most important portions of the edge of the opening for "confining the powder and granular material between itself and the cylindrical portion" are the two axial side portions.

[0095] In contrast, in the first invention, the edge of the opening is in slidable contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion in a region below the rotation axis. Therefore, the circumferential length along which both axial ends are in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion is shorter than the circumferential length along which the cover is in sliding contact with the entire periphery of one end face in the axial direction of the rotating drum, as in the conventional case. This makes it possible to suppress wear of the sliding contact portions compared to the conventional case, and as a result, it is possible to suppress leakage of powder and granular material from the rotating body.

[0096] The second invention is the first invention, wherein the edge of the opening has a contact portion that contacts the inner surface of the cylindrical portion and an attached portion that is attached to the contact portion with the contact portion sandwiched between the contact portion and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion, and it is preferable that the contact portion has higher elasticity than the attached portion.

[0097] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the edge of the opening is in sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion while the contact portion, which has a higher elasticity than the attached portion, is sandwiched between the attached portion and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion. This allows the contact portion to elastically deform appropriately depending on the condition of the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion, thereby reducing wear on the edge of the opening.

[0098] The third invention is preferably the second invention, further comprising an opening adjustment member attached to the support portion so as to be movable between the contact portion and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion while elastically deforming the contact portion, in order to adjust the opening of the opening of the powder / granular material introduction member.

[0099] According to the third invention, the opening adjustment member can be moved between the contact portion and the inner surface of the cylindrical portion by utilizing the elasticity of the contact portion, thereby changing the opening area of ​​the opening and adjusting the amount of powder or granular material to be dispersed.

[0100] The fourth invention is any one of the first to third inventions, and it is preferable that the powder / granular material introduction member is attached to the support part so that, in a side view of the rotating body along the rotation axis, the center position of the opening is located upstream in the rotation direction of the rotating body from a reference line extending downward from the rotation axis.

[0101] For example, if the center position of the opening is located on a reference line extending downward from the rotation axis, the powder or granules being sprayed from the spraying hole will be subjected to a horizontal force as a centrifugal force of the rotor. In this case, the centrifugal force cannot be effectively utilized to actively position the powder or granules on the object to be sprayed located below the rotor. On the other hand, as in the fourth invention, if the center position of the opening is located upstream of the reference line extending downward from the rotation axis in the direction of rotation of the rotor in a side view, a downward component can be given to the centrifugal force acting on the powder or granules due to the rotation of the rotor, and the centrifugal force can be effectively utilized to position the powder or granules on the object to be sprayed.

[0102] A fifth invention is any one of the first to fourth inventions, and preferably further includes a removal member attached to the support portion so as to be in slidable contact with a region on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion below the rotation axis and downstream of the opening in the rotation direction of the rotating body, in order to remove the powder or granular material remaining on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion.

[0103] Basically, powder and granular material are sprayed onto the target object through the spraying holes, but they may adhere to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion due to static electricity or the like. In this case, the powder and granular material remaining in the cylindrical portion increases the apparent wall thickness of the cylindrical portion, increasing the sliding resistance between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion and the edge of the opening, which may accelerate wear of the edge of the opening. In contrast, according to the fifth invention, the powder and granular material remaining on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion due to static electricity or the like can be removed by the removal member, thereby suppressing the accelerated wear of the edge of the opening.

[0104] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the fifth aspect of the present invention, further comprising a recovery mechanism that recovers the powder or granular material removed by the removal member into the powder or granular material introduction member.

[0105] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the powder or granular material removed by the removing member can be collected in the powder or granular material introducing member and introduced again into the cylindrical portion through the opening.

[0106] The seventh invention is any one of the first to sixth inventions, and further comprises a first conveying unit that conveys the object to be sprayed along a first conveying path set below the cylindrical portion, and a second conveying unit that conveys a coating material along a second conveying path that joins the first conveying path at a position downstream in the conveying direction by the first conveying unit from a planned spraying position of the powder or granular material that is preset on the first conveying path, and it is preferable that the second conveying unit is located at a position sandwiched between an area located downstream in the conveying direction by the first conveying unit from the planned spraying position on the first conveying path and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion, and has a pressure roller that presses the coating material against the object to be sprayed.

[0107] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the spraying device has a pressure roller that presses the coating member against the spraying target, and by coating the spraying target with the coating member after the powder or granular material has been sprayed, the powder or granular material can be prevented from scattering from the spraying target. Here, the pressure roller is located between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion and an area downstream of the intended spraying position in the first transport path by the first transport unit, i.e., close to the intended spraying position, so that the spraying target can be immediately coated with the coating member immediately after the powder or granular material has been sprayed.

[0108] The eighth invention is the seventh invention, and it is preferable that the first conveying section has a suction conveying mechanism that conveys the spraying object while applying suction force to the spraying object over a range from the intended spraying position on the first conveying path to the pressing position of the covering member by the pressing roller.

[0109] According to the eighth invention, since a suction and conveying mechanism is provided, scattering of powder and granular material can be suppressed from the intended spraying position until the spraying target is covered by the covering member.

[0110] The ninth invention is the eighth invention, wherein the suction conveying mechanism comprises a conveying belt having a plurality of through holes provided in a predetermined suction area for sucking the object to be sprayed, and a suction source for applying suction force to the object to be sprayed on the conveying belt through the through holes, and it is preferable that the suction area has a mesh portion that defines the through holes by a plurality of wires arranged along two intersecting directions.

[0111] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the suction area is formed by the mesh portion, the opening area of ​​the through holes can be kept small compared to a suction area having through holes formed in the belt by punching, etc. Therefore, when the target object is made of a flexible material (e.g., nonwoven fabric), it is possible to prevent the suction force from leaving marks on the target object.

Claims

1. A powder particle spraying device for spraying powder particles onto an object to be sprayed, comprising: a support part; a cylindrical part rotatably supported by the support part about a rotation axis extending in the horizontal direction and surrounding the rotation axis over the entire circumference, and spraying holes penetrating the cylindrical part in a part of the hole forming region in the axial direction along the rotation axis in the cylindrical part; a rotating body having the same; a housing part having a housing space for housing the powder particles, and an opening provided at a lower end part of the housing part for introducing the powder particles into the cylindrical part, and a powder particle introduction member attached to the support part such that the opening is disposed within the cylindrical part; A powder particle spraying device, wherein an edge part of the opening in the housing part is slidably in contact with a region below the rotation axis on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part in a state of covering the entire hole forming region in the axial direction so as to confine the powder particles between the cylindrical part.

2. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 1, wherein the edge part of the opening has a contact part in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part, and an attached part attached to the contact part in a state of sandwiching the contact part between the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part; The powder particle spraying device, wherein the contact part has higher elasticity than the attached part.

3. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 2, further comprising an opening degree adjusting member attached to the support part so as to be movable between the contact part and the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part while undergoing elastic deformation of the contact part in order to adjust the opening degree of the opening of the powder particle introduction member.

4. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 1, wherein in a side view of viewing the rotating body along the rotation axis, the powder particle introduction member is attached to the support part such that a central position of the opening is located upstream in the rotation direction of the rotating body from a reference line extending downward from the rotation axis.

5. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 1, further comprising a removing member attached to the support part so as to be slidably in contact with a region below the rotation axis on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part and in a region downstream of the opening in the rotation direction of the rotating body in order to remove the powder particles remaining on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part.

6. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 5, A powder particle spraying device further comprising a recovery mechanism for recovering the powder particles removed by the removal member to the powder particle introduction member.

7. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 1, a first conveying unit configured to convey the object to be sprayed along a first conveying path set below the cylindrical portion; a second conveying unit configured to convey a covering member along a second conveying path that merges with the first conveying path at a position downstream of the powder particle spraying planned position preset on the first conveying path in the conveying direction by the first conveying unit; The second conveying unit is provided at a position sandwiched between a region located downstream of the spraying planned position in the first conveying path in the conveying direction by the first conveying unit and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and has a pressing roller for pressing the covering member against the object to be sprayed.

8. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 7, wherein the first conveying unit has a suction conveying mechanism configured to convey the object to be sprayed while applying a suction force to the object to be sprayed over a range from the spraying planned position in the first conveying path to the pressing position of the covering member by the pressing roller.

9. The powder particle spraying device according to claim 8, wherein the suction conveying mechanism includes a conveying belt having a plurality of through holes provided in a preset suction region for sucking the object to be sprayed, and a suction source for applying a suction force to the object to be sprayed on the conveying belt through the through holes; The suction region has a mesh portion defining the through holes by a plurality of wire members arranged along two intersecting directions.