阅读说明：本技术 输送装置和输送方向改变装置 (Conveying device and conveying direction changing device ) 是由 伊东一夫 中村龙彦 伊藤崇纮 于 2019-02-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的课题在于开发能够在多个方向将被输送物送出的输送装置。辊子部(旋转体)(30)具有驱动体(50)。旋转体(30)能够以至少一个轴即第一旋转轴(60)为中心旋转,且该旋转体能够以与第一旋转轴(60)交叉的方向的第二旋转轴(61)为中心旋转,旋转体(30)能够通过旋转改变姿态从而改变第一旋转轴(60)的朝向。驱动体(50)因动力以第三旋转轴(62)为中心旋转,该第三旋转轴(62)在与所述第一旋转轴(60)交叉的方向延伸。驱动体(50)与所述旋转体的姿态无关地在相对于第二旋转轴(61)偏心于第一旋转轴(60)方向的一侧的位置与所述旋转体接触。(The invention aims to develop a conveying device capable of conveying conveyed objects in multiple directions. The roller (rotating body) (30) has a driving body (50). The rotating body (30) can rotate around a first rotating shaft (60) which is at least one axis, and can rotate around a second rotating shaft (61) in the direction intersecting the first rotating shaft (60), and the rotating body (30) can change the orientation of the first rotating shaft (60) by changing the posture through rotation. The drive body (50) rotates around a third rotation shaft (62) by power, and the third rotation shaft (62) extends in a direction intersecting the first rotation shaft (60). The drive body (50) is in contact with the rotating body at a position eccentric to the second rotating shaft (61) in the direction of the first rotating shaft (60), regardless of the posture of the rotating body.)

1. A conveyor apparatus, comprising:

a rotating body for applying force to the conveyed object; and

a driving body for applying a rotational force to the rotating body,

The rotating body is rotatable about at least a first rotation axis and rotatable about a second rotation axis in a direction intersecting the first rotation axis, and the rotating body is rotatable to change the orientation of the first rotation axis by changing the posture thereof,

The driving body rotates around a third rotation shaft as a center due to power, the third rotation shaft extends in a direction intersecting the first rotation shaft,

The driving body contacts the rotating body at a position eccentric to the second rotating shaft from one side in the direction of the first rotating shaft,

The driving body is rotated to rotate the rotating body regardless of the posture change of the rotating body.

2. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein:

The second rotation axis and the third rotation axis are aligned on a substantially same straight line,

The center of the rotating body in the first rotation axis direction is eccentric with respect to the third rotation axis.

3. A conveying device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

The rotating body is spherical, barrel-shaped, or cylindrical, and a part of the circumference of the rotating body in the axial direction is in contact with the driving body, and the other parts are not in contact with the driving body substantially, regardless of the posture change of the rotating body.

4. A delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

The driving body has an annular contact portion that contacts a part of the rotating body and rotates to rotate the rotating body.

5. A conveyor apparatus, comprising:

A rotating body for applying force to the conveyed object; and

a driving body for applying a rotational force to the rotating body,

The rotating body is rotatable about at least a first rotation axis and rotatable about a second rotation axis in a direction intersecting the first rotation axis, and the rotating body is rotatable to change the orientation of the first rotation axis by changing the posture thereof,

The driving body is rotated by the power,

The driving body has an annular contact portion which is in contact with the rotating body in a state of being partially in contact with the rotating body,

Rotating a driving body to rotate the rotating body regardless of a posture change of the rotating body.

6. The delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

When the rotating body is viewed in plan, the rotating body and the driving body are in contact at a specific coordinate position, and the coordinate position at which the rotating body and the driving body are in contact changes as the posture of the rotating body changes.

7. The delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:

When the rotating body is rotated about a second rotation axis, a movement locus of a center point of the rotating body in the first rotation axis direction describes a centrifugal rotation locus about the second rotation axis.

8. The delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising:

A support member that rotatably supports the rotating body around a first rotation axis: and a second power transmission member portion that receives power transmission from the other member and rotates the support member about the second rotation axis.

9. A conveying direction changing device characterized in that:

The conveyor apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of conveyor apparatuses are arranged in a planar manner, and the second power transmission member portions of adjacent conveyor apparatuses transmit power therebetween to change the postures of the rotating bodies of the plurality of conveyor apparatuses.

10. The conveying direction changing device according to claim 9, wherein:

The second power transmission member parts are gears, another gear is provided between the second power transmission member parts of the adjacent conveying devices to perform power transmission between the second power transmission member parts of the adjacent conveying devices,

The number of teeth of the gear as the second power transmission member part is a multiple of 6, and the number of teeth of the other gear is a multiple of 3.

11. The delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein:

Includes a first power transmission member part receiving power transmission from another member to rotate the driving body.

12. A conveying direction changing device characterized in that:

A plurality of the conveying apparatuses according to claim 11 are arranged in a planar manner, and power transmission is performed between the first power transmission member portions of the adjacent conveying apparatuses to rotate the rotating bodies of the plurality of conveying apparatuses.

Technical Field

the present invention relates to a conveying device for conveying an object to be conveyed, and more particularly, to a conveying device for conveying an object to be conveyed in a plurality of directions or conveying an object to be conveyed in a plurality of directions.

The present invention also relates to a conveying direction changing device for changing a conveying direction of an object to be conveyed.

Background

In a distribution station, a collection station, a warehouse, and the like, there are cases where a plurality of transported objects are handled. In addition, a plurality of objects to be transported may be sorted and then loaded on a truck or transported to a predetermined rack.

Conventionally, a sorting system provided with a plurality of transfer devices as described in patent documents 1, 2, and 3 is used to sort objects to be conveyed.

The transfer device described in patent documents 1 and 2 includes a main conveyance path through which an object to be conveyed passes linearly and a sub-conveyance path through which the object to be conveyed is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the main conveyance path, and is capable of transferring the object to another conveyance line.

The transfer device described in patent document 3 includes a main conveyance path through which an object to be conveyed passes linearly and a discharge mechanism that discharges the object in an oblique direction, and is capable of transferring the object to another conveyance line while conveying the object in the oblique direction.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conveying direction changing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

fig. 2 is a perspective view of the conveying apparatus constituting the conveying direction changing apparatus of fig. 1, and (a) and (b) show a state where the rotary table is rotated to change the direction of the rotary body.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the delivery device of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the conveying apparatus of fig. 2 divided into a turntable side and a driving member side.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the conveyor of fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view conceptually illustrating a rotary body and a drive body of the transport device of fig. 2, and (b) is a perspective view of the drive body.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating a positional relationship between a rotary body and a drive body of the conveying device.

Fig. 8 (a) is a front view conceptually showing a relationship between the rotary body and the drive body when the short axis side of the conveying roller is oriented in the 9 o' clock direction, and (b) is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 9 shows a front view conceptually illustrating a relationship between the rotary body and the drive body when the short axis side of the conveying roller is directed in the 7-dot 30-division direction, and a plan view thereof.

Fig. 10 shows a front view conceptually illustrating a relationship between the rotary body and the drive body when the short axis side of the conveying roller is oriented in the 6 o' clock direction, and a plan view thereof.

Fig. 11 is a plan view, an enlarged view, and a directional view as viewed from the arrow direction conceptually illustrating the relationship between the center point of the first rotational axis direction and the second rotational axis of the rotating body in the case where the short axis side of the conveying roller is directed in a predetermined direction, (a) shows the case where the short axis side of the conveying roller is directed in the 9 o ' clock direction, (b) shows the case where the short axis side of the conveying roller is directed in the 7 o ' clock 30 minute direction, and (c) shows the case where the short axis side of the conveying roller is directed in the 6 o ' clock direction.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the conveying direction changing device of fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a top sectional view of the conveying direction changing device of fig. 1, showing the relationship between the rotation driving gear and the idler gear of each conveying device.

In fig. 14, (a), (b), and (c) are plan views showing the operation of the conveying direction changing device in fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view conceptually illustrating a rotary body and a drive body of a conveying device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a front sectional view conceptually illustrating the rotary body and the drive body of the transport device of fig. 15, and is a perspective view thereof (a).

Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating a rotary body and a drive body of a conveying device according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be further described.

In the following description, the upper and lower relationships are based on the posture in use.

Fig. 1 shows a conveying direction changing device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transport direction changing device 2 is a device in which a plurality of small transport devices 1 are arranged in a planar shape as shown in fig. 1. That is, the conveying direction changing device 2 is configured by laying a plurality of conveying devices 1 in a planar manner.

The external appearance of the conveying apparatus 1 is shown in fig. 2.

The conveying device 1 has a function of moving the object by biasing the object with the roller portion (rotating body) 30 of the conveying roller 3. Further, a conveying direction changing mechanism that changes the conveying direction is provided. Specifically, the conveying device 1 includes a rotary table 6, and the roller portion 30 of the conveying roller 3 is rotatably supported on the rotary table 6. In the present embodiment, the direction of the transport rollers 3 can be changed by rotating the rotary table 6, and the direction of movement of the transported object can be changed.

The following describes the structure of the transport apparatus 1. As shown in fig. 4, the transport apparatus 1 is divided into a rotary table side member 10 and a fixed table side member 11, and is an apparatus in which both members are integrally combined.

The rotary table side member 10 is a member in which the roller portion 30 of the conveying roller 3 is rotatably supported by the rotary table 6. As shown in fig. 5, the rotary table 6 includes a roller cup 15 and a pressing member 16.

As shown in fig. 5, the roller cup 15 is a cylindrical body having a large volume on the upper side and a slightly narrow shape on the lower side. The roller cup 15 is a support member that rotatably supports the roller portion 30.

The roller cup 15 is a cylindrical body as described above, and the inside thereof penetrates in the vertical direction.

The upper portion of the roller cup 15 functions as a roller housing 18, and the inside is hollow.

On the outer periphery of the lower portion of the roller cup 15, a gear 20 is engraved as shown in fig. 5. Since the gear 20 is integrally formed with the roller cup 15, when the gear 20 is rotated, the roller cup 15 is rotated as a whole, and the inner roller portion 30 is rotated. In the present embodiment, the gear 20 functions as a second power transmission member portion.

The upper end of the roller cup 15 is open. A notch 21 is provided at 2 in the side wall of the roller housing 18 of the roller cup 15. The notches 21 are in an opposite positional relationship at 2.

The pressing member 16 is a cover corresponding to an opening of an upper portion of the roller cup 15. There is a large opening 22 in the center of the pressing member 16. The diameter of the opening 22 is smaller than the diameter of the roller portion 30.

As shown in fig. 3, 4, and 5, a stepped portion 23 is formed on the outer periphery of the pressing member 16. That is, a horizontal wall portion 25 and a vertical wall portion 26 are formed at an upper end portion of the outer periphery of the pressing member 16.

The conveying roller 3 has a roller portion (rotating body) 30 and a shaft 31.

The roller portion 30 is shaped like a barrel (a goblet type) of a sphere.

The shaft 31 penetrates the roller part 30. A bearing 27 is attached to the roller portion 30, and a shaft 31 is supported by the bearing 27.

Both ends of the shaft 31 protrude from the roller portion 30. In the present embodiment, the amount of protrusion of the shaft 31 from the roller section 30 differs at both ends of the shaft 31, and the amount of protrusion on one side is shorter than the amount of protrusion on the other side. For convenience of explanation, the side with a short projection amount is referred to as a short axis S, and the side with a long projection amount is referred to as a long axis L.

In the conveyor roller 3, the roller portion 30 is housed in the roller housing portion 18 of the roller cup 15, and both ends of the shaft 31 are engaged with the notches 21 of the roller cup 15.

As described above, since the roller portion 30 has the bearing 27 and the shaft 31 passes through the roller portion 30 via the bearing 27, the roller portion 30 is rotatably supported by the roller cup 15.

A pressing member 16 is fitted to an opening in the upper portion of the roller cup 15. A part of the roller portion 30 is exposed from the opening 22 of the pressing member 16.

The roller portion 30 of the conveyor roller 3 is rotatably accommodated in a roller accommodating portion 18 formed between the roller cup 15 and the pressing member 16.

The position of the roller portion 30 is eccentric from the center of the roller cup 15 to one side. As described above, the amount of projection of the shaft 31 from the roller portion 30 is long or short in the left-right direction, and the roller portion 30 is slightly offset to the short axis S side from the center of the roller cup 15.

Next, the stationary-table-side member 11 will be described.

the fixed-table-side member 11 is constituted by a lower cover member 32, a power transmission member 33, a drive member 38, a spring 37, and a bearing 41.

The lower lid member 32 has a cylindrical portion 43 formed at the center thereof, and a flange portion 45 formed at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal (vertical) direction thereof. The cylindrical portions 43 communicate in the longitudinal direction.

The power transmission member 33 has a pulley portion 46 formed at one end (lower portion side), and a power transmission shaft 47 is projected from the center of the pulley portion 46.

The pulley portion 46 is a 2-groove pulley. The pulley portion 46 functions as a first power transmission member portion.

The power transmission shaft 47 is a small-diameter cylinder. An engaging portion 48 is provided at the tip of the power transmission shaft 47. The engaging portion 48 is a part of the cylindrical body.

The driving member 38 is constituted by a driving body 50 and a connecting shaft 51.

the driving body 50 has a dish shape, and a tapered contact portion 52 is formed on the inner surface. Further, a friction increasing member 53 is bonded to the contact portion 52.

when the contact portion 52 of the driving body 50 is viewed from above, it is annular as shown in fig. 6.

The connecting shaft 51 is provided in a vertical direction on the rear surface side of the drive body 50.

An engaging portion 55 is provided on the rear surface of the driver 50. The engaging portion 55 is a protrusion protruding downward.

as shown in fig. 3 and 4, in the stationary-table-side member 11, a power transmission shaft 47 of the power transmission member 33 is inserted through a bearing 41 into a hole of the cylindrical portion 43 of the lower cover member 32. Further, a connecting shaft 51 of the driving member 38 is inserted into the cylindrical body of the power transmission shaft 47.

A spring 37 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 43 of the lower cover member 32, and the power transmission member 33 is biased in the protruding direction by the spring 37.

The power transmission shaft 47 of the power transmission member 33 is engaged with the connecting shaft 51 of the driving member 38 via the engaging portions 48 and 55.

The power transmission shaft 47 and the connecting shaft 51 allow relative movement in the axial direction to be engaged together in such a manner as to be integrated in the rotational direction.

Since the power transmission member 33 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 43 of the lower cover member 32 via the bearing 41, the power transmission member 33 is rotatable relative to the cylindrical portion 43 of the lower cover member 32. Further, since the power transmission shaft 47 of the power transmission member 33 is fixed by a retaining member, not shown, so as not to move in the axial direction with respect to the cylindrical portion 43 of the lower cover member 32, the power transmission member 33 is rotatably and non-detachably attached to the lower cover member 32.

As described above, the driving member 38 is mounted to the power transmission member 33 so as not to be relatively rotatable, and therefore when the pulley portion (first power transmission member portion) 46 of the power transmission member 33 is rotated, the driving member 38 is rotated in synchronization. That is, when the pulley portion 46 of the power transmission member 33 is rotated, the driving body 50 is rotated.

As described above, the transport apparatus 1 is an apparatus in which the rotary table side member 10 and the fixed table side member 11 are combined.

That is, the conveyor 1 is a device in which the fixed table side member 11 is attached to the lower portion of the rotating table side member 10.

In the assembled state, as shown in fig. 3, the flange 45 of the fixed-table-side member 11 covers the opening in the lower part of the rotating table 6, and the upper part of the cylindrical part 43 is inserted into the roller cup 15.

The rotating table side member 10 and the fixed table side member 11 are joined together by an engaging member, not shown, and are integrated.

The drive body 50 of the drive member 38 belonging to the fixed-table-side member 11 side is located in the roller housing portion 18.

next, the positional relationship of the respective members constituting the conveying device 1 will be described with reference to fig. 6 and 7.

As shown in fig. 3 and 7, the conveyor roller 3 is positioned in the roller housing 18 in the roller cup 15, and the roller portion 30 is rotatably supported by the roller cup 15.

The roller unit 30 rotates about a shaft 31 inserted through the roller unit 30. That is, the first rotation axis 60 of the roller section 30 is the center line of the shaft 31 as shown in fig. 6 and 7.

The first rotation shaft 60 of the roller part 30 is oriented in the horizontal direction.

The roller cup 15 is fixed to the lower stationary platen side member 11 via the lower cover member 32, and the power transmission shaft 47 of the power transmission member 33 inserted through the cylindrical portion 43 of the stationary platen side member 11 is rotatably supported by the bearing 41.

Therefore, the turntable-side member 10 can rotate with respect to the lower power transmission member 33 and the internal drive body 50. The roller portion 30 in the turntable-side member 10 rotates integrally with the turntable-side member 10.

The rotary table side member 10 is turned around the power transmission shaft 47 of the fixed table side member 11. Therefore, the roller portion 30 also swings around the power transmission shaft 47 of the fixed table-side member 11.

Therefore, the second rotation shaft 61 of the roller portion 30 is the center line of the power transmission shaft 47. The second rotation axis 61 is a longitudinal axis.

Since the driving body 50 provided in the roller housing portion 18 is rotated by the power transmission shaft 47 of the fixed-table-side member 11, the driving body 50 is rotated about the power transmission shaft 47. Therefore, the third rotation shaft 62 of the driving body 50 is a center line of the power transmission shaft 47 and coincides with the second rotation shaft 61 of the roller part 30. The third axis of rotation 62 is a longitudinal axis.

Here, as described above, in the present embodiment, the amount of projection of the shaft 31 from the roller section 30 differs at both ends of the shaft 31, and the amount of projection on one side is shorter than the amount of projection on the other side.

therefore, the center C of the roller section 30 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60 does not coincide with the intersection 63 of the first rotation axis 60 and the second rotation axis 61 of the entire conveyor roller 3. Specifically, the roller section 30 is biased toward the minor axis S of the roller cup 15, and the center C of the roller section 30 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60 is biased toward the minor axis S.

The center C of the roller portion 30 is offset from the center line of the roller cup 15 toward the minor axis S.

Therefore, the roller portion 30 is located at a position eccentric to one side in the horizontal direction. The second rotation axis 61 of the roller section 30 does not pass through the center C of the roller section 30 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60. A perpendicular line 65 passing through the center C of the roller part 30 does not coincide with the third rotation axis 62.

When the posture of fig. 4 and 7 is taken as a basis, the entire roller portion 30 is located at a position deviated to the left side (the minor axis S side), and the center C of the single member of the roller portion 30 is located at a position where the third rotation shaft 62 and the second rotation shaft 61 do not pass.

Fig. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the above relationship, and the roller section 30 is rotatable about a first rotation axis 60 which is a single axis of a horizontal axis, and the roller section 30 is also rotatable about a second rotation axis 61 in a direction orthogonal to the first rotation axis 60.

The roller section 30 rotates about the second rotation shaft 61 to change the posture thereof, and the orientation of the first rotation shaft 60 can be changed.

On the other hand, the drive body 50 rotates about the third rotation shaft 62 as a vertical axis. The third rotation shaft 62 is concentric with the second rotation shaft 61, and the third rotation shaft 62 extends in a direction intersecting the first rotation shaft 60.

Further, the center C of the roller portion 30 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60 is eccentric with respect to the second rotation axis 61 and the third rotation axis 62.

in the conveying device 1 of the present embodiment, a drive body 50 is provided below the roller portion 30 in the roller housing portion 18.

A spring 37 is provided at a lower portion of the driving body 50, and the driving body 50 is biased toward the upper roller portion 30.

The driving body 50 is pressed to the circumferential surface of the roller portion 30 by the urging force of the spring 37.

Here, in the present embodiment, the roller portion 30 is located at a position deviated to one side in the horizontal direction, and the center C of the roller portion 30 in the direction of the first rotation shaft 60 is eccentric with respect to the second rotation shaft 61 and the third rotation shaft 62.

Therefore, the perpendicular line 65 passing through the center C of the ball of the roller portion 30 does not coincide with the third rotation axis 62, and the drive body 50 comes into contact with the peripheral surface portion of the roller portion 30 as shown in the enlarged circle view of fig. 7. That is, as shown in fig. 7, a part of the surface of the drive body 50 is in contact with the circumferential surface of the roller part 30, and the other parts are not in contact.

As shown in the schematic diagram of fig. 7, when the first rotation shaft 60 is horizontal and the minor axis S of the conveying roller 3 in the plane direction is oriented in the 9 o 'clock direction of the coordinates in the hour state as indicated by the posture and the first rotation shaft 60 is oriented in the same direction, the driving body 50 is in point contact with the roller portion 30 at the position in the 9 o' clock direction of the coordinates in the hour state and is not in contact with other portions.

The area where the roller portion 30 contacts the drive body 50 is a fixed contact range 70 on the short axis side S with respect to the second rotation axis 61. Further, the abutment range 70 is closer to the short axis side S than the center C of the ball of the roller portion 30.

As shown in the schematic diagrams of fig. 7, 8, and 11 (a), when the first rotation shaft 60 as a horizontal axis is oriented in the 9 o 'clock direction of the coordinates of the clockwise state, the drive body 50 is in point contact with the contact range 70 of the roller portion 30 at the 9 o' clock portion of the coordinates, and therefore, when the drive body 50 rotates, the roller portion 30 receives power transmission and rotates around the first rotation shaft 60.

as described above, the roller section 30 can rotate about the second rotation shaft 61 as a vertical axis.

For example, as shown in the posture representations of fig. 9 and 11 (b), when the roller section 30 rotates about the second rotation shaft 61 as the vertical axis and the short axis S of the conveying roller 3 is oriented in the 7-point 30-minute direction of the coordinates of the clockwise state and the first rotation shaft 60 as the horizontal axis is oriented in the same direction, the drive body 50 is in point contact with the roller section 30 at the 7-point 30-minute portion and is not in contact with the other portions.

In addition, the area where the roller portion 30 and the driven body 50 contact each other is a constant contact range 70 on the short axis side S with respect to the center 63 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60, similarly to the case where the roller portion 30 is oriented in the 9 o' clock direction. As described above, the abutment range 70 is closer to the short axis side S than the center C of the ball of the roller portion 30.

As shown in the schematic diagrams of fig. 9 and 11 (b), when the first rotation shaft 60 is oriented in the direction of 7 o 'clock 30 minutes of the coordinates, the drive body 50 is in point contact with the contact range 70 of the roller portion 30 at the portion of 7 o' clock 30 of the coordinates, and therefore, when the drive body 50 rotates, the roller portion 30 rotates around the first rotation shaft 60 by receiving power transmission.

As shown in the posture representations of fig. 10 and 11 (c), when the roller section 30 rotates about the second rotation shaft 61 as the vertical axis and the short axis S of the conveying roller 3 is oriented in the 6 o 'clock direction of the coordinates of the hour state and the first rotation shaft 60 as the horizontal axis is oriented in the same direction, the drive body 50 is in point contact with the roller section 30 at the 6 o' clock portion and is not in contact with other portions.

In addition, the area where the roller portion 30 and the driven body 50 contact each other is a constant contact range 70 on the short axis side S with respect to the center 63 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60, similarly to the case where the roller portion 30 is oriented in the 9 o' clock direction.

As shown in the schematic diagrams of fig. 10 and 11 (c), when the first rotation shaft 60 is oriented in the 6 o 'clock direction of the coordinates, the drive body 50 is in point contact with the contact range 70 of the roller portion 30 at the 6 o' clock portion of the coordinates, and therefore, when the drive body 50 rotates, the roller portion 30 receives power transmission and rotates around the first rotation shaft 60.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the roller section 30 and the driving body 50 are in point contact at the coordinate position in the specific hour hand state when the roller section 30 is viewed in plan. Further, as the posture of the roller part 30 changes and the orientation changes, the coordinate position where the roller part 30 contacts the driving body 50 changes.

When the roller section 30 is rotated about the second rotation axis 61, the movement locus of the center point of the roller section 30 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60 describes a centrifugal rotation locus about the second rotation axis 61 as shown in fig. 11.

Next, a conveying direction changing device 2 in which the conveying device 1 is assembled will be described.

As described above, the transport direction changing device 2 is a device in which a plurality of small transport devices 1 are arranged in a planar shape as shown in fig. 1.

The conveying direction changing device 2 is constituted by a conveying box 71 in which the conveying device 1 is laid in a planar shape, and external conveyor belts 72 and 73 (power transmission members) and the like.

As shown in fig. 12, the conveyance case 71 is a box body covered with a top panel 75, a side panel 76, and a bottom panel 77, and having a hollow portion 78 inside.

openings 80, 81 are formed in the top panel 75 and the bottom panel 77 of the conveyance case 71. The openings 80 and 81 are coaxial and communicate with each other.

Most of the conveyor 1 is housed in the hollow portion 78 of the conveyor box 71, and a part of the roller portion 30 protrudes from the opening 80 of the top plate 75.

In addition, the pulley portion 46 of the conveyor 1 protrudes from the opening 81 of the bottom panel 77.

Each of the transport devices 1 is fixed to a bottom plate 77 of the transport box 71 by screws or the like, not shown. That is, the flange 45 of the lower cover member 32 of the transport apparatus 1 is in contact with the periphery of the hole of the opening 81 of the bottom panel 77, and this portion is fixed to the transport box 71 by screws or the like.

The upper surface of each conveyor 1 is spaced from the top panel 75.

further, a bearing 83 is hung on the top plate 75 of the conveyance case 71, and an outer ring of the bearing 83 is engaged with a step 23 provided on the outer periphery of the roller cup 15 of the conveyance device 1. Therefore, the lower cover member 32 of the fixed-table-side member 11 of the transport apparatus 1 is integrally fixed to the transport box 71 and is not rotatable with respect to the transport box 71, but the rotary-table-side member 10 is rotatable with respect to the transport box 71.

As shown in fig. 12 and 13, the conveyance case 71 is provided with a plurality of idler gears 85. As shown in fig. 13, the idler gear 85 is provided between the gears (second power transmission member portions) 20 of the adjacent conveyor apparatuses 1.

In the present embodiment, the gears 20 of all the transport devices 1 attached to the transport box 71 are joined via the idler gear 85, and constitute one gear train as a whole.

As shown in fig. 1, the conveyance case 71 incorporates a motor 87 for changing the posture, and the motor 87 can rotate any gear.

As a result, the turntable-side members 10 of all the transport apparatuses 1 rotate by the same angle, and the orientations are changed at once as shown in fig. 14.

Through the experiments of the present inventors, when the number of teeth of the gear (second power transmission member part) 20 of the conveyor 1 is a multiple of 6 and the number of teeth of the idler gear 85 is a multiple of 3, the power transmission by the conveyor 1 can be performed most smoothly.

In the present embodiment, the number of teeth of the gear 20 of the transport device 1 is 18, which is a multiple of 6. On the other hand, the number of teeth of the idler gear 85 is 9, which is a multiple of 3.

As shown in fig. 12, the pulley portion 46 of the conveyor 1 is exposed from the lower portion of the conveyance case 71. The belts 72 and 73 are mounted on the pulley portions 46 of the adjacent conveyor 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the conveyance case 71 incorporates a traveling motor 88, and any of the pulley portions 46 can be rotated by the traveling motor 88.

As a result, the roller portions 30 of all the conveying devices 1 rotate synchronously, and the conveyed object is urged to move.

As described above, by driving the rotation motor 87, all the turntable-side members 10 rotate by the same angle, and all the roller sections 30 face the same angle, and then by rotating the travel motor 88, each roller section 30 rotates, and the conveyed object can be sent in a desired direction. That is, even if the center line of the upper rotating table 6 is shifted from the center of the lower fixed table side member 11, the object to be conveyed can be fed in a desired direction.

For example, when the short axis side of the transport roller 3 is changed to the 7 o 'clock 30 min direction as shown in fig. 9, 11 (b) and 14 (b) from the state where the short axis side of the transport roller 3 is oriented in the 9 o' clock direction as shown in fig. 8, 11 (a) and 14 (c), the transport object is sent out by changing the traveling direction of the transport object by 45 degrees.

in addition, when the short axis side of the conveying roller 3 is changed to the 6 o 'clock direction as shown in fig. 10, 11 (c) and 14 (a) from the state where the short axis side of the conveying roller 3 is directed to the 9 o' clock direction as shown in fig. 8, 11 (a) and 14 (c), the traveling direction of the object is changed by 90 degrees and the object is sent out.

in the embodiment described above, the drive body 50 is in contact with a part of the roller portion 30 by shifting the position of the roller portion 30 to one side, but similar operational effects can be obtained even if the third rotation shaft 62 of the drive body 50 is shifted from the second rotation shaft 61 of the roller portion 30.

In the above-described embodiment, the roller portion 30 has a substantially spherical shape. The spherical roller section 30 is preferably in contact with a part of the drive body 50 with the position of the roller section 30 shifted.

However, if more careful, cylindrical rollers may also be used.

For example, as in the conveyor device 90 shown in fig. 15 and 16, a cylindrical roller portion 91 is used, and an annular groove 95 for evacuation is formed in a partial region 92 of the roller portion 91.

In addition, the driving body 50 is point-contacted at the other partial region 93.

As a result, the drive body 50 is in contact with a part of the roller portion 91.

In the embodiment described above, the perpendicular line 65 passing through the center C of the roller section 30 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60 does not coincide with the third rotation axis 62.

The present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the perpendicular line 65 passing through the center C of the roller section 30 may be aligned with the third rotation axis 62.

For example, as shown in fig. 17, although there is a spherical roller portion 96, a spherical roller portion having an annular groove 97 for escape formed in a part thereof is used.

In the present configuration, a perpendicular line 68 passing through the center C of the roller portion 96 in the direction of the first rotation axis 60 is defined as the third rotation axis 62 and the second rotation axis 61.

In this configuration, the drive body 50 is in contact with a part of the roller portion 96, and the drive body 50 can be in contact with the roller portion 96 and transmit power regardless of the posture of the roller portion 96.

In the above-described embodiment, the gear 20 provided on the outer periphery of the roller cup 15 functions as a second power transmission member, and is engaged with another gear to rotate the roller cup 15 serving as a support member, thereby rotating the roller portion 30 about the second rotation shaft 61.

The second power transmission member portion is not limited to the gear 20, and may be a constituent member of another power transmission member. However, in the conveying direction changing device 2, since it is necessary to rotate the plurality of roller portions 30 in synchronization, it is preferable to use a power transmission member that does not slip. From this viewpoint, gears, sprockets, and toothed pulleys are preferably used as the second power transmission member.

On the other hand, since the first power transmission member portions do not necessarily have to rotate in synchronization, gears, friction wheels, chains, and the like may be used in addition to the pulleys used in the above-described embodiments.

In the above-described embodiment, the conveying direction changing device 2 is configured by arranging the conveying devices 1 in a planar manner, but the object may be conveyed by a single conveying device 1.

in the embodiment described above, the shaft 31 is inserted through the roller portion 30, and the roller portion 30 rotates about the shaft 31, but a spherical rotating body without a specific shaft may be used, and the rotating body may be slidably held around the conveying roller and may rotate in any direction.

Description of the reference numerals

1 conveying device

2 conveying direction changing device

3 conveying roller

6 rotating table

10 side member of rotary table

11 fixed table side member

18 roller receiving part

20 Gear (second power transmission component part)

30 roller part (rotating body)

33 power transmission member

38 drive member

46 pulley part (first power transmission component part)

50 drive body

60 first rotation axis

61 second axis of rotation

62 third axis of rotation

90 conveying device

91 roller part.