JPH0120332Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a tire conveying device for centering or positioning a tire.

(Prior art and its problems) Tires are usually transported by means of transport with the tires laid on their sides, and for example, in order to transport them to the next hanging device, it is necessary to position them, that is, to align them with a predetermined transport center line. It is required that the center of the tire be aligned with the center of the tire.

Basically, this tire positioning is done by arranging a pair of arms on both sides of the conveyance means so that they are symmetrical with respect to the conveyance center line, and adjusting the distance between the pair of arms in the conveyance direction (tire conveyance direction - below). Same) When the downstream side is smaller than the upstream side, and the tire is in contact with both arms, that is, in a two-point contact state, the center of the tire and the conveyance center line are aligned, resulting in a positioning state. That's what I do.

By the way, if the pair of arms remains fixed, the tire will not be able to pass through this portion. For this reason, conventionally, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-48540, a pair of arms is provided swingably about a fulcrum on the upstream side of the conveyance direction, and the distance between the downstream end portions of the pair of arms is adjusted to fit the tire. While the tire can be expanded as appropriate to allow the tire to pass through, the operation of the pair of arms is electrically controlled depending on the positioning state of the tire. That is, as a conveyance means, left and right drive roller groups that can be driven independently of each other in the width direction are provided, and a switch is provided to detect whether or not a tire is in contact with both arms. When the tire is in contact with both arms, drive only one of the left and right drive roller groups as appropriate to guide the tire into contact with both arms, and after confirming with a switch that the tire is in contact with both arms, drive both arms. After that, the left and right drive roller groups are simultaneously driven to send out the tire.

However, in the case of the above-mentioned system, not only is there a disadvantage that complicated electrical control must be performed, but also the timing of tire positioning and tire feeding after positioning must be shifted. Since it has to be temporarily interrupted, the transport efficiency becomes poor. In addition, since the tire is fed out after positioning by the left and right drive rollers that are driven independently from each other with the restriction by the arm released, the tire is likely to become misaligned again during this feeding. It had become a thing.

Furthermore, there is another system that uses a pair of arms to position the tire, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-28297. In this case, a link mechanism allows the pair of arms to swing while maintaining the same swing angle with respect to the conveyance center line, while the cylinder (which is (forming part of the link mechanism) urges the pair of arms so that the distance between their downstream ends becomes smaller. Then, the tires are guided so as to come into contact with the pair of arms while being subjected to the conveying force by the conveying means, and by continuing to receive the conveying force from the conveying means, the tires are brought into contact with the pair of arms against the urging force of the cylinder. It is designed to be sent out while expanding its arms.

The above-mentioned system is advantageous in that it does not require complicated electrical control and does not require interruption of tire transport.
It is still not completely satisfactory in terms of accurately positioning and delivering the tire.
To explain this point in detail, in the case of the device shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-28297, the conveying force transmitted from the conveying means to the tire is used to guide the tire so that it comes into contact with both arms (positioning ), and the tire is sent out while expanding the pair of arms against the biasing force of the cylinder. Although the pair of arms is expanded while maintaining the same swing angle with respect to the conveyance center line, for example, if an external force larger than the biasing force of the cylinder is applied to only one arm, It is designed so that it can be expanded even if the tire is positioned, ie whether or not the tire is positioned. In order to accurately position the tire under these conditions, it is desirable to have a large biasing force on the cylinder to prevent the pair of arms from expanding unnecessarily. In order to smoothly send out the arms, it is desirable that the force required to expand the arms be small. However, in order to optimally balance both of these factors and carry out transport using a transport means, it is highly dependent on the frictional force of the arm and the link mechanism that links the two, and the frictional force between the transport means and tires that occurs during positioning. However, these tend to cause variations, making it difficult to accurately position the tire and to feed the tire while maintaining this positioned state.

(Purpose of the invention) The present invention was created taking the above circumstances into consideration, and it is possible to more accurately position the tires and this positioning without performing complicated electrical control and without interrupting transportation. An object of the present invention is to provide a tire conveying device capable of transporting a tire while reliably maintaining the condition in which the tire is transported.

(Means and actions for solving the problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in a tire conveyance device that positions the center of a tire that is conveyed in a horizontal state by a conveyance means to coincide with a predetermined conveyance center line, the tire is positioned symmetrically with respect to the conveyance center line. a pair of endless belt conveyors disposed on both sides of the conveying means and swingable about an upstream portion in the conveying direction with belt surfaces extending in the conveying direction facing each other; a prime mover that drives both belt conveyors so that both belt surfaces move in the conveyance direction, a slider that is movable along the conveyance center line, and a motor that drives one of the belt conveyors and the slider, respectively. a link mechanism including a first link rotatably connected and a second link rotatably connected to the other side of the belt conveyor and the slider, one end of which is locked to the slider; and urging means for forcing the downstream end portions of both belt conveyors in the conveyance direction toward the conveyance center line through the link mechanism; is set so that it gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and the swing angles with respect to the transport center line are set to be equal to each other.

With this configuration, a tire that is out of position comes into contact with the belt surface of one of the belt conveyors, is driven and guided by this one belt conveyor toward the conveyance center line, and eventually reaches both belt conveyors. The belt is brought into contact with each belt surface to determine its position (the center of the tire and the center line of the conveyor match). In this positioned state, each belt conveyor (its belt surface) performs an action of pushing the tire toward the other belt conveyor (its belt surface) while pushing the tire out in the conveying direction. At this time, as the tires are driven in the sending direction, the driving force of both belt conveyors increases the distance between the downstream ends of the two belt conveyors against the biasing means using the tires as an intermediary. Eventually, the tire is sent out with its center aligned with the conveyance center line.

In this way, since the belt conveyor is used as a guide and its driving force is used to drive the tires for positioning, this positioning is performed reliably. Additionally, the tire is not fed out unless the tire maintains two-point contact with both belt conveyors, i.e., both belt conveyors will not expand unless the tire is positioned. This also reliably prevents a situation in which the tire is sent out with a misaligned position.

Of course, a complicated control device is not required, and the above-mentioned operations are performed sequentially on the tires being transported without interrupting the transport of the tires.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below based on the attached drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a conveying means, and this conveying means 1 is in the form of an inclined chute in the embodiment. That is, the inclined chute 1 rotatably has rollers 1a at predetermined intervals in its longitudinal direction, and the inclined chute 1 is used as a guide to drive tires.
A ₁ or A ₂ slides forward (in the direction of arrow B) and is transported.

A pair of belt conveyors 2A and 2B are disposed on both sides of the front part of the inclined chute 1, extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. Both belt conveyors 2A, 2
B corrects the positional deviation of the tire A ₁ or A ₂ that has been conveyed by sliding on the inclined chute 1,
Centered state, i.e., positioned state,
This is for carrying out to the hanging standby position which will be described later. Both belt conveyors 2A and 2B are constructed by stretching endless belts 2a ₁ and 2b 1 around drive pulleys 3a and 3b and driven pulleys 4a and _4b , with belt surfaces 2a and 2b facing each other. is faced.

The drive pulleys 3a, 3b are attached to the upper end of a rotating shaft 5 so as to be rotatable at the same time, and a prime mover 6 such as a motor is connected to the lower end of the rotating shaft 5.
This rotating shaft 5 is supported by a frame 8 via a bearing member 7, and a prime mover 6 causes the belt surfaces 2a and 2b to move toward the downstream side in the conveying direction, as shown by arrows C and D, respectively. Driven.

The driven pulleys 4a and 4b are rotatably attached to the upper end of a support shaft 10 via a bearing 9. The support shaft 10 is held at the tip of an arm 11, and the base end 11a of the arm 11 is rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the rotating shaft 5 via a bearing 12. Therefore, the pair of arms 11, the pair of support shafts 10, and the driven pulleys 4a, 4b are as follows:
It is designed to be able to swing in the directions of arrows E and F about the rotating shaft 5 as a fulcrum.

In the middle part between both belt conveyors 2A and 2B,
A rail 17 is fixedly arranged along the longitudinal direction, that is, along a predetermined conveyance center line _C1 , and this rail 17
A rolling element 19 as a slider is guided therein.

13a and 13b indicate a pair of first and second links, the tip 13a ₂ of one link 13a is connected to the lower end of the spindle 10 of the driven pulley 4a, and the tip (not shown) of the other link 13b is connected to the driven pulley 4a. Each of the pulleys 4b is rotatably connected to the lower end of the support shaft 10 of the pulley 4b. Base end 13a ₁ of both links 13a, 13b
and 13b ₁ are pivotally supported by a pin member 14, to which a connecting plate 15 and the rolling element 19 are attached.

A link mechanism constituted by the links 13a, 13b and the roller 19 sets the belt conveyors 2A, 2B in a predetermined relationship. First, both belt conveyors 2A and 2B and the link mechanism are configured to be symmetrical about the conveyance center line _C1 . Therefore, as the rollers 19 move along the rails 17, both belt conveyors 2A and 2B maintain an equal swing angle with respect to the conveyance center line _C1 , and this swing angle itself changes. That is, the facing distance _L2 between the downstream ends of both belt conveyors 2A and 2B (belt surfaces 2a, 2b) is changed. A spring 16, which is engaged between the connecting plate 15 and a retaining rod 18 attached to the center of the rear end of the rail 17, is biased in a direction that reduces the facing distance _L2 . There is. Furthermore, due to the link mechanism, the above-mentioned face-to-face distance is _L2 , which is the rotation axis 5.
The facing distance between the two belt conveyors 2A and 2B is made smaller than the facing distance _L1 between the two belt conveyors 2A and 2B, and as a whole, the facing distance between the two belt conveyors 2A and 2B gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

The facing distance L ₁ is set to be somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the largest diameter tire A ₁ to be transported.
Further, the facing interval L ₂ is set to be somewhat smaller than the outer diameter of the tire A ₂ with the smallest diameter to be transported.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a hanging standby stand extending downstream of the belt conveyors 2A, 2B, on which a roller 20a is rotatably disposed.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained.

In FIG. 3a, a large diameter tire A ₁ is placed along the inclined chute 1 as indicated by
If the belt conveyor slides with its position shifted in the width direction, a point on the outer circumference at the Y position will be
It contacts the belt surface 2b at B. After that, the tire A ₁ is forcibly conveyed forward and toward the conveyance center line C ₁ by the belt 2b ₁ , and eventually two points on the outer circumference reach the belt surfaces 2 of the belt conveyors 2A and 2B.
a and 2b, that is, the center of the tire A ₁ and the conveyance center line C ₁ match, resulting in a positioning state indicated by Z ₁ in which the positional deviation is corrected.

Next, the tire A ₁ is conveyed in the direction of arrow B by both belt conveyors 2A, 2B, but in this case, the driving force of the belt conveyors 2A, 2B resists the spring force of the spring 16. Arm 1
1 and 11 are rotated in the direction of arrow F with the rotating shaft 5 as a fulcrum, and the roller 19 is rotated in the direction of arrow B with the rail 17 as a guide.
Tire A ₁ moves to the hanging standby stand 20 while maintaining the positioning state in which the positional deviation has been corrected.
Sent upwards (Z ₂ position). And tire A ₁
The driving force of the belt conveyors 2A, 2B acts as a force to spread the belt conveyors 2A, 2B only when they are in the positioning state where they are in contact with both belt surfaces 2a, _2b . The positioning will continue as it is.

At the above-mentioned position _Z2 , it is hung, for example, on a hanger (not shown) of a trolley conveyor and is transported to the next process. When the tire A ₁ reaches the above-mentioned hanging standby stand 20, the positional deviation is forcibly corrected and the tire A 1 is stopped in a centered state, so that the hanging operation by the hanger of the trolley conveyor can be done easily and properly. can be done.

On the other hand, when the tire _A1 is displaced in the opposite direction to that described above, it comes into contact with the belt surface 2a and is forcibly conveyed forward by the belt _2a1 toward the conveyance center line _C1 , Two points on the outer circumference are both belt surfaces 2
It is forcibly corrected to the state shown by Z ₁ above in contact with a and 2b, and is carried out onto the hanging standby stand 20 in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, if the small-diameter tire A ₂ slides along the inclined chute 1 as shown in Fig. 3b, with its position shifted in the width direction (see position X), it should be treated in the same way as the large-diameter tire A ₁ . Positioning is then performed, and feeding is performed while maintaining the positioning state. In addition, both belt conveyors 2A at this time,
The opening angle of 2B is smaller than that of the large diameter tire _A1 .

In the above example, two types of tires with different outer diameters are used.
Although the case of transporting A ₁ and A ₂ has been described, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to transporting tires having other different outer diameters.

(Effects of the invention) As is clear from the above, the invention has the following effects:
It has various effects as follows.

It is possible to accurately position the tire and send it out while maintaining this positioning state.

There is no need to temporarily interrupt transport of tires by the transport means.

Does not require complex control equipment.

It can automatically handle tires with different outer diameters, and there is no need to separately make special adjustments depending on the difference in outer diameter.

As the conveying means, a simple one such as an inclined chute using gravity can be used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention. Second
The figure is an enlarged side sectional view of the main part of FIG. Figures 3a and 3b are plan views showing the operating state of the device of the present invention. A ₁ , A ₂ ... tire, L ₁ ... facing distance (upstream side), L ₂ ... facing distance (downstream side), 1 ... conveyance means (inclined chute), 2a, 2b ... belt conveyor, 2a ₁ , 2b ₁ ...Belt surface, 2a, 2b...
Belt, 6... Prime mover, 13a, 13b... Link, 13a ₁ , 13b ₁ ... Base end, 13a ₂ ... Tip,
14...Pin member, 16...Spring, 17...
...Rail, 19...Roller (slider).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A tire conveying device that positions the center of a tire conveyed in a horizontal state by a conveying means so that it coincides with a predetermined conveyance center line, which a pair of endless belts that are disposed on both sides of the conveyance means in symmetrical positions and are swingable about the upstream side in the conveyance direction with the belt surfaces extending in the conveyance direction facing each other; a conveyor; a prime mover that drives both of the belt conveyors so that the opposing belt surfaces move in the conveyance direction; a slider that is movable along the conveyance center line; and one of the belt conveyors. and a first link rotatably connected to the slider, and a second link rotatably connected to the other belt conveyor and the slider, respectively; a biasing means having one end locked and forcing each downstream end in the conveyance direction of both the belt conveyors to move toward the conveyance center line via the link mechanism; 1. A tire conveyance device, characterized in that the link mechanism is configured such that the interval thereof gradually decreases toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the swing angles relative to the conveyance center line are set to be equal to each other.