JP2014118228A - Carrier device for small-sized molded products - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To change a tablet that is not in a posture suitable for processing in a processing device to a target posture in a tablet conveying device that is aligned while transporting tablets, which are small molded products, and is supplied to a processing device in the next stage. Or eliminate this and reduce the load on the tablet during the conversion or exclusion.
In order to allow only the tablets in a target posture to be conveyed toward the processing apparatus at a connection portion with respect to the processing apparatus, a regulating roller is arranged with a gap from the conveyance surface. The regulating roller is rotatably supported and has a softer and more elastic surface than the tablet.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus that conveys small molded articles such as tablets so that they are aligned and supplied to a subsequent processing apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a small molded article conveying apparatus improved to improve the alignment of small molded articles on the conveying belt and to improve the conveying ability and, in turn, the efficiency of processing in the next stage.

  In a processing apparatus for small molded articles, for example, an inspection apparatus for performing an appearance inspection of small molded articles, it is necessary that all small molded articles are subjected to uniform and stable inspection. For this purpose, it is important that the individual small molded products are aligned in a separated state without overlapping and are supplied to the inspection apparatus in a state of a constant target posture. However, on the conveyance path from the supply part of the small molded product to be inspected to the inspection device, the small molded products may be entirely or partially overlapped. In addition, the flat cylindrical small molded product may have a target posture in which the end surface is in contact with the conveyance surface and may have a posture in which the peripheral side surface portion is in contact with the conveyance surface (standing posture). Therefore, as a conventional conveying device, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the small molded products are aligned by gradually narrowing the conveyance path of the conveying belt on which the small molded products are placed and conveyed toward the downstream. Some are provided with an alignment guide and a regulation gate that is arranged on the conveyance path leading to the inspection device and regulates the height between the alignment belt and the conveyance surface of the conveyance belt to target a small molded product. In addition, in such a transport apparatus, a return path is further provided for returning small molded products that could not be aligned and set in the target posture to a position on the upstream side of the transport path, and the restriction gate is provided with these small molded products. It is also configured to perform the function of eliminating the return path.

JP 2003-128233 A

  Nowadays, the conveyance speed is improved by the conveyance device, the retention and clogging of small molded products are reduced, the load applied to the small molded products during conveyance is reduced, and the small molded products that are not aligned in the target posture are upstream. There is a strong demand for reliable reflux. However, the conventional conveying device as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is sufficiently derived from the configuration and shape of the restriction gate, and sufficiently satisfies those demands depending on the shape and surface state of the small molded product to be inspected. Sometimes I could not get it.

  An object of this invention is to provide the conveying apparatus which can respond to the said request by comprising appropriately the control mechanism of a small molded article.

  For this purpose, the present invention provides a transport device for transporting the small molded product toward the processing device in the transport device of the small molded product that is aligned while transporting the small molded product and is supplied to the processing device of the next stage. Only the small molded product that is separated from others and has a target posture suitable for processing in the processing apparatus is connected to the processing apparatus in order to allow conveyance toward the processing apparatus. A regulating roller disposed with a gap from the belt conveying surface, and the regulating roller is rotatably supported and has a surface that is softer and more elastic than the small molded product.

  According to the present invention, a small molded product that is not in a state suitable for processing in the processing apparatus is converted into a state suitable for processing or removed from the conveyance path in accordance with the contact with the regulating roller. Is done. Since the regulating roller is rotatably supported and has a softer and more elastic surface than the small molded product, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the small molded product with the contact.

It is a perspective view which shows the conveyance apparatus of the small molded product which can apply this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the connection part of the conveying apparatus of FIG. 1, and a small molded article supply part. It is a perspective view which shows the control unit conventionally applied to the conveying apparatus of FIG. (A) And (b) is a perspective view for demonstrating the problem which may arise when the control unit of FIG. 2 is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the control unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and its surrounding conveyance path. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the structure of the control unit in FIG. 5, and its periphery. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration for allowing a small molded product that has not reached a target posture to be more effectively excluded from a conveyance path according to another embodiment of the conveyance device of the present invention. (A) And (b) is a perspective view for demonstrating operation | movement of the structure shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an embodiment of a transfer apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection portion between the transfer apparatus of FIG. 1 and a small molded article supply unit.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a transport device 1 according to the present embodiment for transporting a tablet T as a small molded product includes a transport path 10 that aligns the tablets T and supplies them to an inspection device (not shown), And a return path 80 juxtaposed laterally. The conveyance path 10 includes a conveyance belt 11 that conveys the tablet T supplied from the supply unit F in the main conveyance direction indicated by an arrow X, and a guide member 20 on which a guide side surface 21 that guides the tablet T is formed. The conveyor belt 11 is in the form of an endless belt conveyor, and the two conveyor belts 11 extend so that the conveyance surface of the tablet T extends from the supply unit F at the previous stage to the inspection processing apparatus (not shown) for the next-stage small molded product. It is stretched between the pulley blocks 30 and 30 and driven. The supply unit F is disposed at a position higher than the conveyance surface of the conveyance path 10 on the upstream side portion of the conveyance path 10, and the tablet T is a slope portion disposed so as to connect the supply unit F and the conveyance path 10. By sliding down 205, the belt is received by the conveyor belt 11. Therefore, at the time of the reception, the tablet T changes its direction as indicated by an arrow C in FIG.

  The guide member 20 is disposed immediately above the conveyance belt 11 and has the guide side surface 21 for guiding the tablet T as described above. The guide side surface 21 is formed so as to cross the conveying belt 11 obliquely in the downstream direction. That is, the guide side surface 21 of the guide member 20 defines a transport path 10 that is substantially equal to the width of the transport belt 11 in the tablet receiving portion on the upstream side in the main transport direction of the tablet T, and on the return path 80 side as it goes downstream. As a result, the width of the conveyance path 10 of the tablet T is gradually narrowed. Furthermore, the guide side surface 21 defines the conveyance path 10 in which the width of the conveyance path 10 is the narrowest in the vicinity of the entrance of the regulation unit 40 ′ that is continuous with the inspection device (not shown) and has a width substantially equal to the diameter of the tablet T to be conveyed. To do.

  The guide member 20 is movable in the horizontal direction and orthogonal to the main transport direction X, and the tablet T to be transported by moving the guide member 20 and thus the guide side surface 21 by the position adjusting knob 16. The width of the conveyance path 10 can be adjusted in accordance with the size of. Reference numeral 17 denotes a clamper for fixing the guide member 20 to the base at a desired adjustment position.

  The restricting unit 40 ′ is disposed at the most downstream side of the transport device 1, that is, at the connection portion to the inspection device, and finally restricts the width and height of the tablets T to be transported to become a target posture one tablet at a time. While allowing only the tablets arranged in a separated state to pass, the function of excluding other tablets to the return path 80 side is achieved. The regulation unit 40 ′ has adjustment knobs 42 and 44 that can adjust the regulated width and height according to the dimensions of the tablet T to be transported or inspected. The restriction unit constituting the main part of the present embodiment is applied to the transport apparatus 1 instead of the restriction unit 40 ′ shown in FIG. 1, and the configuration will be described in detail later.

  The return path 80 is defined by a return belt 81 in the form of an endless belt conveyor. The return path 80 is located on the side of the regulation unit 40 ′ and lower than the transport surface of the transport path 10 from the transport surface of the transport path 10. Also extends to a position upstream of the higher conveyance direction. Accordingly, the removed tablet T falls on the return belt 81, is returned in the direction indicated by the arrow R1 in FIG. 2, is changed in direction to the direction indicated by the arrow R2 by the guide member 83, and moves on the slope portion 85. It slides down and is received by the conveyor belt 11. In FIG. 2, what is indicated by reference numeral 87 is that the traveling direction of the tablet T received from the return path 80 side is quickly matched with the main transport direction X and smoothly joined with the tablet T received from the supply unit F side. It is a guide member for.

  In the present embodiment, the supply unit F is disposed on the upstream side of the conveyance path 10, and the tablet T is received by the conveyance belt 11 via the inclined surface portion 205 that connects the supply unit F and the conveyance path 10. I try to do it. In addition, although an improvement in the conveyance speed is desired from the viewpoint of improving the efficiency of conveyance or inspection, since the traveling direction of the tablet supplied from the supply unit F and the tablet returned via the return path 80 changes rapidly, As shown in FIG. 1, the tablet remains cluttered with an increase in the conveyance speed, that is, the tablets are entirely or partially overlapped, or the posture in which the peripheral side surface portion is in contact with the conveyance surface ( The probability of being transported in a standing position is increased.

  FIG. 3 shows a restriction unit 40 ′ including a restriction gate 46, which is equivalent to that indicated by reference numeral 14 in FIG. The regulation gate 46 is continuous with the end of the guide side surface 21 on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction, and has a width substantially equal to the diameter of the flat, substantially cylindrical tablet T and less than twice the thickness of the tablet (for example, 1. An opening 47 having a height of about 5 times is defined on the conveyance path 10. In addition, the regulation gate 46 is formed in a shape that obliquely crosses the top of the conveyance path 10 so as to approach the return path 80 side from the portion continuous with the guide side surface 21 toward the downstream. Further, an exclusion member 48 is continuously provided at the end of the regulating gate 46 on the most downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the exclusion member 48 is shaped to project upward from the return path 80 toward the downstream from the continuous portion. As a result, only the tablets in the aligned state and the target posture separated one by one pass through the opening 47 and are guided to the next-stage inspection apparatus. On the other hand, the other tablets are regulated by the regulation gate 46 and converted to the target posture and pass through the opening 47 or displaced in the direction toward the return path 80 and come into contact with the exclusion member 48 with further conveyance. By being guided, the return path 80 is excluded.

  However, the present inventors have found that there are tablets that are not suitable for such a regulation unit 40 '. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

  In the case of a tablet Tf called a so-called flat tablet having a flat columnar shape having two flat end surfaces, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, one tablet partially overlaps another tablet. Even if the tablet is transported by the above, the tablet overlying it is bounced by hitting the regulation gate 46 to be changed to the target posture or removed from the transport path toward the next stage inspection apparatus. On the other hand, in the case of a tablet Tr called a so-called R-attached tablet having two convex spherical end faces, even if it has the same diameter d and thickness t as the tablet Tf, as shown in FIG. Since the maximum height in a partially overlapped state is reduced, the tablet Tr overlapping therewith may be bitten into the opening 47 or conveyed while being in sliding contact with the restriction surface 46a of the restriction gate 46. Thus, the occurrence of inconvenience that the tablet Tr was damaged was recognized. It was also recognized that such inconvenience occurred more markedly in tablets with a non-smooth surface, but this is thought to be because the overlapping state is difficult to unravel. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a regulation unit that can effectively prevent the occurrence of such inconvenience is employed.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the regulating unit 40 employed in the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part thereof. In these drawings, the reference numeral 401 denotes a regulating roller, which is disposed obliquely across the transport path 10 so as to approach the return path 80 side as it goes downstream from a portion connected to the adjacent guide member 20. The restriction roller 401 includes, for example, a resinous hollow tube 403 and a plug 407 that is attached to one end of the tube 403 and has a conical portion protruding therefrom. A rod-shaped core member 405 fixed to the support member 410 is inserted from the other end side of the tube 403, and the inner peripheral surface of the tube 403 can slide with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the core member 405. The outer peripheral surface of the tube 403 is partially slidable with respect to the sliding surface of the support member 410 having a radius of curvature equivalent to the roller radius. Therefore, the regulation roller 401 can rotate while the inner surface and the outer surface of the tube 403 are in contact with the outer surface of the core member 405 and the sliding surface of the support member 410, respectively.

  In order to clearly show the shape of the plug 407 of the regulating roller 401, FIG. 5 shows a part of the guide member 20 cut away. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the conical portion of the plug 407 is actually a guide member. By being received in a recess (not shown) drilled in 20, it is not exposed in the space above the conveyance path 10. Further, the tip of the conical portion of the plug 407 is abutted against the surface on the back side of the recess. Thereby, a special bearing member is not required, and the regulation roller 401 can be smoothly rotated.

  The radius of the regulating roller 401 should be less than the radius of curvature of the convex spherical surface of the tablet Tr so that the height of the central axis from the conveying surface, that is, the maximum height of the opening defined by the regulating roller 401 does not become excessively large. Is preferred. Further, the gap between the regulating roller 401 and the conveying surface, that is, the minimum height of the opening defined by the regulating roller 401 is set to be more than one time and less than twice the thickness of the tablet. Further, it is highly desirable that the tube 403 has good sliding properties with respect to the sliding surfaces of the core member 405 and the support member 410, is soft so as not to damage the tablet, and has a certain degree of elasticity. It may be formed of a fluororesin. Furthermore, it is desirable that the plug 407 is formed of a material that does not easily wear the tip of the conical portion. The regulating roller 401 can be an integral solid member and both ends of the regulating roller 401 can be rotatably supported by bearings or the like. However, considering the simplification of the configuration of the conveying device and the specifications required for the surface of the regulating roller 401, For example, it is preferable to employ the configuration of the present embodiment.

  A tablet in a standing posture or a tablet that partially overlaps another tablet (hereinafter, these tablets are referred to as inspection-incompatible tablets) is controlled by the restriction roller 401 of this embodiment as in the past. Compared with the case of colliding with a stationary gate, the impact at the time of contact is moderated, and even if it is a tablet Tr with an R-shaped tablet, the possibility of breakage due to biting or sliding contact is significantly reduced. . According to the observations by the present inventors, the inspection-incompatible tablets are changed to a target posture and are brought into an aligned state and conveyed to the inspection device side, or after being bitten into the lower part of the regulation roller 401 momentarily. It was confirmed that it was repelled upstream in the transport direction and effectively removed from the transport path 10. The latter case is considered to be caused by deformation and restoration of the tube 403, and at this time, rotation is recognized such that the lower surface side of the regulating roller 401 proceeds in the direction opposite to the tablet conveying direction. It is considered that the removal from the conveyance path 10 has become more effective. In any case, according to the present embodiment, the tablets can be effectively unwrapped without damaging the tablets, and the inspection-incompatible tablets can be converted into the target posture to be in an aligned state or effective from the conveyance path 10. Can be eliminated.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the conical portion of the plug 407 is not exposed to the space above the conveyance path 10, so that the regulation roller 401 is pushed up when the inspection-incompatible tablet sinks under the conical portion. It is possible to prevent inconvenience that the tablet causes the subsequent tablet to stay or is broken by being strongly struck by the conical portion.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 shows the main part of the transport apparatus according to the embodiment, which can further contribute to the improvement of the transport speed, the suppression of the retention and clogging of the small molded product, and the reliable return to the upstream side of the inspection-incompatible tablet.

  In the present embodiment, a part of the guide member 20 is cut out at a portion adjacent to the regulation unit 40, and the air injection unit 421 is disposed here. The air injection unit 421 has a portion that forms a part of the guide side surface 21 to compensate for the loss of the guide side surface 21 due to the notch of the guide member 20, and a recess that receives the conical portion of the plug 407. An air passage is formed inside the air injection unit 421, one end of the air passage communicates with an air joint disposed in the air injection unit 421, and the other end is formed in a portion that complements the guide side surface 21. A slit 425 is formed. Therefore, the compressed air can be injected from the slit 425 by introducing the compressed air from the compressed air source (not shown) into the joint 423.

  Here, the height of the slit 425 from the conveyance surface of the conveyance path 10 can be determined according to the thickness t of the tablet Tr, and is preferably slightly larger than that, for example. The conveyance path 10 is narrow at the part where the slit 425 is provided, and therefore air is jetted from the slit 425 at a part close to the tablet Tr. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8A, the restriction roller 401 having the lowest height from the conveying surface without being affected by the jetted air on the tablets Tr aligned and in the target posture. This part is led as it is to the opening that defines. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the inspection-incompatible tablet is affected by the jetted air and is excluded to the return path 80.

  In light of the purpose of suppressing air consumption and effectively eliminating only test-incompatible tablets, the transport path 10 is narrow and the downstream side of the transport direction in which the tablets approach the return path 80, that is, It is preferable to provide the slit 425 in an appropriate range in the immediate vicinity of the restriction unit 40. When the slit is extended long in the transport direction, or when it is provided at a position biased upstream in the transport direction, a larger amount of air is consumed to deliver compressed air to tablets located far from the slit. In other words, the target tablet is affected by the spread of the jet flow, and the tablet is pushed away from the guide side surface 21 to guide the tablet toward the regulation unit 40. This is because problems such as destroying the effect of the guide side surface 21 may occur.

  In addition, as in the present embodiment, adopting a configuration in which the overlapping of the tablets is released before the regulation by the regulation unit 40 is performed, the load applied to the regulation unit 40, particularly a tube formed of a fluororesin. It is preferable in that it can be reduced and its life can be extended.

(Other)
1 and 2 exemplify a configuration including one transport path 10 and one return path 80, the present invention has two transport paths in a state where one return path is interposed. It may be applied to the provided configuration or may be applied to other combinations.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the conveyance apparatus was demonstrated as what was suitable for conveyance of the lock with R shown in FIG.4 (b) as a small molded article, other shape tablets (shown in Fig.4 (a)) are demonstrated. It can also be effectively applied to the transport of flat locks and deformed tablets. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to tablets like these, but also to conveying devices for granular confectionery and other small molded products.

  In addition, in the above-described second embodiment, the case where a single slit is provided as an air injection port is illustrated in the figure, but the height from the conveyance surface and the arrangement range in the conveyance direction should be appropriate. For example, a plurality of short slits or openings having an appropriate shape may be arranged.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance apparatus 10 Conveyance path 11 Conveyance belt 20 Guide member 21 Guide side surface 40, 49 'Restriction unit 46 Restriction gate 47 Opening 80 Return path 401 Restriction roller 403 Tube 405 Core member 407 Plug 410 Support member 421 Air injection unit 423 Air joint 425 Slit T, Tf, Tr Tablet

Claims (4)

In the transport device for small molded products, which are aligned while transporting small molded products and supplied to the processing device in the next stage,
A transport belt for transporting the small molded product toward the processing device;
Only the small molded product that is separated from others and has a target posture suitable for processing in the processing apparatus is connected to the processing apparatus in order to allow conveyance toward the processing apparatus. A regulating roller arranged with a gap from the belt conveying surface;
And the regulation roller is rotatably supported and has a softer and more elastic surface than the small molded product.   The restriction roller has a tube having the surface and a plug having a conical portion that is attached to one end of the tube and protrudes from the one end, and the tube is an outer peripheral surface of a core member inserted from the other end. The small molded article conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plug is supported so as to be rotatable while being in sliding contact, and the tip of the conical portion of the plug is abutted against the surface of an adjacent member.   The apparatus for transporting a small molded article according to claim 2, wherein the adjacent member is provided with a concave portion for receiving the conical portion and having an abutting surface of the tip.   A guide member disposed on one side of the transport belt and having a side surface that gradually narrows the transport path by the transport belt toward the regulation roller in order to align the small molded products; and on the upstream side of the transport path An air injection unit that is disposed adjacent to the restriction roller and that forms a part of the side surface and has an opening for injecting air toward the small molded article, and further comprising: 4. The apparatus for transporting a small molded product according to claim 1, wherein the height of the opening is determined in accordance with the thickness of the small molded product in the target posture. .

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