JP2018111584A - Belt conveyor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize weight saving and cost reduction of a flexure prevention structure in a belt conveyor system.SOLUTION: A second conveyor 11 comprises a driven roller 103, a driving roller 101, an endless belt 105, a flexure prevention member 107, and a bearing member 109. The endless belt 105 is wound on the driving roller 101 and the driven roller 103. The flexure prevention member 107 includes a rotating body 107a which is arranged below the belt 105 to support a return side part 105b of the belt 105 from a lower side toward an upper side, and a support member 107b which supports the rotating body 107a and has a connection part 107c at its bottom part. The bearing member 109 bears the flexure prevention member 107 by connecting with the connection part 107c of the support member 107b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a belt conveyor system, and more particularly, to a belt conveyor system having an endless belt hung on a driving unit and a driven unit.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, belt conveyor systems that convey articles are used in various applications. The belt conveyor system has a driving roller, a driven roller, and an endless belt wound around both rollers. When the driving roller is driven by a motor, the endless belt moves and the article thereon is moved (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The belt conveyor system has a deflection preventing structure for preventing the deflection in the transport direction and the width direction of the return side portion (lower moving portion) of the belt. The deflection preventing structure is, for example, a plurality of shafts arranged below the return side portion of the belt. The shaft includes a shaft body and a support roller that is rotatably supported by the shaft body. The support roller is in contact with the lower surface of the return side portion of the belt and rotates as the belt moves.

JP 2001-180805 A

When a belt having a wide belt width and a heavy weight is used in the conventional belt conveyor system, a load acting on the shaft of the deflection preventing structure becomes large. Therefore, it is required to ensure the rigidity of the shaft by increasing the diameter of the shaft. Moreover, when the belt width is wide, it is necessary to extend the length of the shaft.
As a result, an increase in weight and cost of the shaft having the deflection preventing structure occurs.

  An object of the present invention is to realize weight reduction and cost reduction of a deflection preventing structure in a belt conveyor system.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of modes will be described as means for solving the problems. These aspects can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

A belt conveyor system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a drive unit, a driven unit, an endless belt, a deflection preventing member, and a support member.
The endless belt is wound around the drive unit and the driven unit.
The deflection preventing member is disposed below the belt, and includes an upper member that supports the return side portion of the belt from the lower side to the upper side, and a lower member that supports the upper member and has a connection portion at the bottom.
The support member supports the deflection preventing member by connecting to the connecting portion of the lower member.
In this apparatus, the belt can be supported without using a large-diameter or long shaft by providing a support member below the belt and providing a deflection preventing member thereon. Therefore, the cost and weight of the belt conveyor system can be reduced.

The upper member may be a rotating body that is rotatable along the belt conveyance direction.
The lower member may support the upper member rotatably.
In this device, since the upper member that supports the return side portion of the belt is a rotating body, the wear of the belt can be reduced, and the belt can be supported smoothly.

The belt conveyor system may further include a frame-shaped frame disposed below the belt.
The support member may be a reinforcing member that reinforces the frame by extending in the width direction of the belt and connecting the members of the frame.
In this apparatus, since the reinforcing member of the frame is used as the support member, it is not necessary to add a special member, and therefore, the weight and cost of the entire belt conveyor system can be reduced.

  The deflection preventing member may be arranged on the support member so that the intermediate portion in the width direction of the belt does not sag.

The belt may have portions with different thicknesses in the width direction of the belt.
A plurality of the deflection preventing members may be arranged in line in the width direction of the belt and corresponding to portions where the thickness of the belt is different.
The belt conveyor system may further include a plurality of spacers.
The spacer may be disposed between the lower member and the support member and have a thickness that allows the upper member to contact the belt.
In this apparatus, by using the spacer in consideration of the thickness of the belt, the belt can be supported by using the same deflection preventing member even if the belt has portions having different thicknesses.

The bell conveyor system may further include at least one of a turning drive unit that turns the frame in the left-right direction and an elevating drive unit that raises and lowers the frame.
The belt may be moved together with the frame by driving at least one of the turning drive unit and the lifting drive unit.
In this case, the belt can be moved integrally with the frame by moving the frame.

  In the belt conveyor system according to the present invention, weight reduction and cost reduction of the deflection preventing structure are realized.

1 is a perspective view of a vanning / devanning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The side view of a vanning and a debanning apparatus. Top view of vanning and devanning. The perspective view of a vanning and a debanning apparatus. The perspective view of a vanning and a debanning apparatus. The perspective view of a vanning and a debanning apparatus. The top view of a vanning and a debanning apparatus. The top view of a 2nd conveyor. It is sectional drawing of a 2nd conveyor and is IX-IX sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing of a 2nd conveyor and is XX sectional drawing of FIG. Sectional drawing of the 2nd conveyor of 2nd Embodiment.

1. First Embodiment (1) Mechanism Configuration of Vanning / Devanning Device Using FIGS. 1 to 3, a vanning / devanning device 1 (hereinafter referred to as “device 1”) employing the belt conveyor system of the first embodiment. Will be explained. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vanning / devanning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the vanning and devanning apparatus. FIG. 3 is a top view of the vanning and devanning.
The device 1 is used to execute, for example, unloading a load W from a container (devanning) or loading a load W into a container (vanning), for example. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the worker S1 loads the load W into the apparatus 1 from, for example, a container. Then, the apparatus 1 moves the load W by a predetermined distance by the conveyor 5 (described later). Thereafter, the worker S2 unloads the load from the conveyor 5. The worker S2 loads the cargo W onto another conveyor or loads it on a pallet.

  The device 1 has a traveling unit 3. The traveling unit 3 is a known technique, and includes a traveling unit body, traveling wheels, a traveling motor, and a power transmission unit. Thereby, the traveling unit 3 can turn forward, backward, and right and left. Further, the traveling unit 3 can travel at a low speed and a high speed.

The device 1 has a conveyor 5. The conveyor 5 is a device that conveys the load W from the load input portion to the load discharge portion with the load W placed on the upper surface.
The conveyor 5 is composed of a plurality of conveyors that can operate independently. Specifically, the conveyor 5 includes a first conveyor 9, a second conveyor 11, a third conveyor 13, a fourth conveyor 15, and a fifth conveyor 17. The first to fourth conveyors 9, 11, 13, 15 are driven by separate motors. The fifth conveyor 17 is a free roller. However, the fifth conveyor 17 may be driven by a motor. Moreover, the 4th conveyor 15 may be a free roller similarly to the 5th conveyor 17, and a motor drive may be sufficient as it.

The first conveyor 9 realizes a luggage input unit for the worker S1 to place the luggage W. In this embodiment, the first conveyor 9 is a belt conveyor. The first conveyor 9 is disposed, for example, inside a container or a truck when performing vanning or devanning.
The second conveyor 11 (an example of a belt conveyor system) is continuous from the first conveyor 9 and has a relatively long configuration. In this embodiment, the second conveyor 11 is a belt conveyor.

The third conveyor 13 is continuous from the second conveyor 11 and has a relatively short configuration. In this embodiment, the third conveyor 13 is a roller conveyor.
The 4th conveyor 15 is following the 3rd conveyor 13, and is a comparatively short structure. In this embodiment, the fourth conveyor 15 is a roller conveyor. In addition, the 4th conveyor 15 may become long depending on the container length or the waiting position of worker S2.

  The fifth conveyor 17 is continuous from the fourth conveyor 15 and has a relatively short configuration. In this embodiment, the fifth conveyor 17 is a roller conveyor. The fifth conveyor 17 realizes a luggage discharge unit for the operator S2 to take out the luggage W.

The apparatus 1 has a work table 7. The workbench 7 is disposed below the first conveyor 9 and can receive the worker S1. By getting on the work table 7, the worker S <b> 1 can place the luggage W on the first conveyor 9.
The work table 7 extends in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the first conveyor 9 is in the vicinity of the center position in the left-right direction of the work table 7, the worker S1 can be viewed from either the left or right side with respect to the first conveyor 9. Is accessible.

The first conveyor 9 needs to be movable in the vertical direction according to the position of the load when the worker S1 loads the load W on the conveyor 5. As a structure for that purpose, the base end of the second conveyor 11 is attached to the traveling unit 3 as a fixed base so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the conveyor raising / lowering part 8 (an example of an raising / lowering drive part) which rotates the base end of the 2nd conveyor 11 is provided. The conveyor lifting / lowering unit 8 is a known technique for driving the first conveyor 9 up and down, and includes a lifting / lowering motor, a rotation driving unit including a plurality of gears, and the like. Thereby, worker S1 can move the 1st conveyor 9 to the up-and-down desired position.
FIG. 4 shows a state where the first conveyor 9 is disposed above, and FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a state where the first conveyor 9 is disposed below. 4 to 6 are perspective views of the vanning and devanning apparatus.

The first conveyor 9 needs to be movable in the left-right direction according to the position of the load when the worker S1 loads the load W on the conveyor 5. As a conveyor swivel unit 14 (an example of a swivel drive unit) for that purpose, the base end of the second conveyor 11 is attached to the traveling unit 3 as a fixed base so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. Yes. More specifically, the various structures of the conveyor elevating unit 8 described above are rotatable with respect to the traveling unit 3. Thereby, worker S1 can move the 1st conveyor 9 to the left and right desired positions manually, for example.
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the first conveyor 9 is moved to one side in the left-right direction. FIG. 7 is a top view of the vanning and devanning apparatus.

  The work table 7 needs to be movable in the vertical direction according to the position of the first conveyor 9 when the worker S1 loads the cargo W onto the conveyor 5. As a structure for that purpose, the work table 7 is connected to the traveling unit 3 by a work table elevating unit 10. The work table elevating unit 10 is a known technique for moving the work table 7 up and down, and includes a cylinder, a drive direction conversion mechanism, and the like. Thereby, worker S1 can move work table 7 to a desired position up and down.

The device 1 has an operation device 49. The operation device 49 is a device for the operator S1 to input an operation signal for operating the device 1, and is, for example, a mechanical button device. The operation device 49 may be a touch panel. In this embodiment, the operating device 49 is provided in the vicinity of the first conveyor 9. Specifically, the operating device 49 is arranged on both the left and right sides of the first conveyor 9. In addition, the operating device 49 is drawn in drawings having a configuration only in FIGS. 1 to 3 and is omitted in other drawings.
The operation device 49 displays, for example, a conveyor up button, a conveyor down button, a work table up button, a work table down button, and an operation stop button.

  The apparatus 1 has a laser scanner 77. The laser scanner 77 detects the presence and position of peripheral objects existing around the first conveyor 9 and the work table 7. The laser scanner 77 is a non-contact type distance measuring device. As shown in FIG. 3, the laser scanner 77 is attached to the front part of the traveling unit 3 and detects the presence of an object within a scan angle (detection area). More specifically, the laser scanner 77 is disposed near the rear of the work table 7.

(2) Detailed Configuration of Second Conveyor The second conveyor 11 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the second conveyor. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the second conveyor, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the second conveyor, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG.

The second conveyor 11 includes a driven roller 103 (an example of a driven unit) and a driving roller 101 (an example of a driving unit). The driving roller 101 is disposed on the proximal end side of the second conveyor 11, and the driven roller 103 is disposed on the distal end side of the second conveyor 11. As shown in FIG. 9, both ends of the driving roller 101 and the driven roller 103 are rotatably supported by the support frame 104. The support frame 104 is a plate-like member having an upright wall, and includes a first support portion 104 a that supports the driving roller 101 and a second support portion 104 b that supports the driven roller 103. The first support portion 104a and the second support portion 104b are bearing structures in which both ends of the driving roller 101 and the driven roller 103 are supported through. The support frame 104 is attached to a frame 111 described later.
A motor and a power transmission mechanism (not shown) are connected to the drive roller 101.
In the second conveyor, a driving roller may be provided on the distal end side, and a driven roller may be provided on the proximal end side. The second conveyor 11 has an endless belt 105. The belt 105 is wound around the driving roller 101 and the driven roller 103. As shown in FIG. 9, the upper part of the belt 105 is a load moving part 105a, and the lower part of the belt 105 is a return side part 105b.

As shown in FIG. 8, the second conveyor 11 has a frame-shaped frame 111. The frame 111 is disposed below the belt 105. The base end of the frame 111 is supported by the traveling unit 3.
The second conveyor 11 has a support member 109. The support member 109 is a reinforcing member that extends in the belt width direction (arrow X) and reinforces the frame 111. The support member 109 is connected to members on both sides of the frame 111 in the belt width direction. In this embodiment, a plurality of (specifically, four) support members 109 are arranged side by side in the transport direction (arrow Y) of the second conveyor 11.

The second conveyor 11 has a deflection preventing member 107. The deflection preventing member 107 is a member that prevents deflection (a state in which the belt 105 hangs down by its own weight) by supporting the return side portion 105b of the belt 105 from below.
A plurality of deflection preventing members 107 are arranged on the support member 109 side by side in the width direction of the belt 105, and specifically, a plurality of roller members 107A. The roller member 107A is disposed below the belt 105. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the roller member 107A rotates with a rotating body 107a (an example of an upper member) that supports the return side portion 105b of the belt 105 from below to above. And a support member 107b (an example of a lower member) that supports the body 107a. Specifically, the rotating body 107a is a circular roller, and the support member 107b is a plate-like member on which a rotation support portion is mounted. The uppermost part of the rotating body 107a is disposed at a higher position than the lowermost part of the driven roller 103 and the driving roller 101, and they are at the same height. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the return side portion 105b of the belt 105 is in a state of being stretched linearly by being supported by the rotating body 107a.

The rotating body 107a is rotatable along the conveying direction of the belt 105. Specifically, the rotation center axis of the rotator 107a extends parallel to a direction (belt width direction) perpendicular to the transport direction. The support member 107b supports the rotating body 107a to be rotatable. In this case, since the rotating body supports the return side portion 105b of the belt 105, wear of the belt 105 can be reduced, and the belt 105 can be smoothly supported.
The support member 107b has a connection portion 107c at the bottom. The connecting portion 107 c is a seating portion that sits on the upper surface of the support member 109 at the bottom of the support member 107 b and a fixing member (for example, a bolt) that fixes the seat portion to the support member 109. In this way, the support member 109 supports the deflection preventing member 107.

As described above, the belt 105 can be supported without using a large-diameter or long shaft by providing the support member 109 below the belt 105 and providing the deflection preventing member 107 thereon. Therefore, the cost and weight of the deflection preventing member 107 can be reduced.
Specifically, cost reduction can be realized by supporting the belt 105 with an arbitrary number of roller members 107A. Even if the width and length of the belt 105 change, it can be dealt with only by changing the quantity of the roller members 107A.

  The roller member 107 </ b> A of the deflection preventing member 107 is arranged on the support member 109 so that the intermediate portion in the width direction of the belt 105 does not sag. Specifically, at least two roller members 107 </ b> A are arranged at positions sufficiently close to the center in the width direction on both sides of the center in the width direction of the belt 105. As another embodiment, the roller member 107 </ b> A may be closer to the center in the width direction of the belt 105, or may be disposed at a coincident position. Note that only one roller member may be provided near the center in the width direction of the belt.

2. Second Embodiment A second embodiment as a modified example of the deflection preventing member will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the second conveyor of the second embodiment. The basic structure of the second conveyor 11A is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the following description will focus on the different points.
The belt 105A has a portion with a different thickness in the belt width direction. Specifically, the return side portion 105b of the belt 105A has a first portion 105b1 at the center in the belt width direction and a second portion 105b2 at the outer side in the belt width direction. The second portion 105b2 is thinner than the first portion 105b1, so that the lower surface of the second portion 105b2 is higher than the lower surface of the first portion 105b1 in the return side portion 105b.

  A plurality of the deflection preventing members 107 are arranged corresponding to the portions of the belt 105 having different thicknesses, and specifically, are a plurality of roller members 107A. The roller member 107 </ b> A has the same shape and size, and is arranged in the width direction of the belt 105 on each support member 109. Specifically, a pair of roller members 107A is disposed corresponding to the first portion 105b1, and a pair of roller members 107A is disposed corresponding to the second portion 105b2.

  The second conveyor 11 </ b> A further includes a spacer 113. The spacer 113 is disposed between the support member 107 b and the support member 109 and has a thickness that allows the rotating body 107 a to contact the belt 105. Specifically, a pair of roller members 107A corresponding to the second portion 105b2 is provided with a spacer 113, so that the pair of roller members 107A is connected to the lower surface of the belt 105 (specifically, the second portion 105b2 of the second portion 105b2). (Bottom surface).

In this case, by using the spacer 113 in consideration of the thickness of the belt 105, the same roller member 107A can be used even if the belt 105 has portions having different thicknesses.
The spacer may be applied to all roller members. Further, different thickness spacers may be applied separately to different roller members.

3. Common Items of Embodiments The belt conveyor system (second conveyor 11, second conveyor 11A) includes a driven unit (driven roller 103), a driving unit (driving roller 101), and an endless belt (belt 105, belt 105A). A deflection preventing member (a deflection preventing member 107) and a support member (a support member 109) are provided.
The endless belt is wound around the drive unit and the driven unit.
The deflection preventing member is disposed below the belt, and supports an upper member (rotating body 107a) that supports the return side portion (return side portion 105b) of the belt from the lower side to the upper side, and supports the upper member and a connecting portion. A lower member (supporting member 107b) having a (connecting portion 107c) at the bottom.
The support member supports the deflection preventing member by connecting to the connecting portion of the support member.

  In this case, the belt can be supported without using a large-diameter or long shaft by providing a support member below the belt and providing a deflection preventing member thereon. Therefore, the cost and weight of the belt conveyor system can be reduced.

4). Other Embodiments Although a plurality of embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, a plurality of embodiments and modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

In the above-described embodiment, the second conveyor of the vanning and devanning apparatus has been described as the belt conveyor system. However, the present invention can also be applied to other conveyors of the vanning and devanning apparatus.
The present invention can also be applied to a conveyor of a conveying device other than the vanning / devanning device.
As the deflection preventing member, a fixed block that does not use a rotating body may be used.
The number and position of the support members are not limited to the above embodiment.
The number and position of the roller members are not limited to the above embodiment.

  The present invention can be widely applied to a belt conveyor system having an endless belt hung on a drive unit and a driven unit.

1: Vanning / Devanning device 3: Traveling unit 5: Conveyor 7: Work table 8: Conveyor lifting unit 9: First conveyor 9A: First conveyor 10: Work table lifting unit 11: Second conveyor 13: Third conveyor 14: Conveyor turning part 15: Fourth conveyor 17: Fifth conveyor 49: Operating device 77: Laser scanner 101: Drive roller 103: Driven roller 104: Support frame 105: Belt 105A: Belt 105a: Load moving part 105b: Return side part 105b1 : First portion 105b2: Second portion 107: Deflection prevention member 107A: Roller member 107a: Rotating body 107b: Support member 107c: Connection portion 109: Support member 111: Frame 113: Spacer

Claims (6)

A drive unit;
A follower,
An endless belt wound around the drive unit and the driven unit;
A deflection preventing member that is disposed below the belt and includes an upper member that supports a return side portion of the belt from below to above, and a lower member that supports the upper member and has a connection portion at the bottom. When,
A support member for supporting the deflection preventing member by connecting to the connecting portion of the lower member;
A belt conveyor system comprising: The upper member is a rotating body that is rotatable along the conveying direction of the belt,
The belt conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the lower member rotatably supports the upper member. A frame-shaped frame disposed below the belt;
The belt conveyor system according to claim 1, wherein the support member is a reinforcing member that reinforces the frame by extending in the width direction of the belt and connecting the members of the frame.   4. The belt conveyor system according to claim 3, wherein the deflection preventing member is disposed on the support member such that an intermediate portion in the width direction of the belt does not sag. 5. The belt has a portion having a different thickness in the width direction of the belt,
The deflection preventing members are arranged in the width direction of the belt, and a plurality of the deflection preventing members are arranged corresponding to portions where the thickness of the belt is different, respectively.
The belt conveyor system according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a spacer disposed between the lower member and the support member and having a thickness that allows the upper member to contact the belt. It further comprises at least one of a turning drive unit for turning the frame in the left-right direction and a lifting drive unit for raising and lowering the frame,
The belt conveyor system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the belt is moved together with the frame by driving at least one of the turning drive unit and the elevating drive unit.

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