JPH031219B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a conveying device suitable for use as a conveying means for cylindrical aluminum cans.

"Prior Art" Normally, in the manufacturing process of cylindrical aluminum cans, the aluminum cans are transported at high speed horizontally between each step in the manufacturing process, or vertically between positions at different heights. There is a need.

Conventionally, conveyors have been mainly used as means for transporting such aluminum cans. For example, the conveying device shown in FIG. 1 is a belt conveyor that conveys aluminum cans from a low position to a high position.
The belt 2, which is driven in the direction of the arrow B, and the belt 3, which is also driven in the direction of the arrow B by the motor 1, sandwich the aluminum cans _4-1 to _4-5 , and convey them from the bottom to the top in the figure. This is what I did.

``Problem to be solved by the invention'' By the way, this type of belt conveyor not only has a complicated structure, but also has many moving parts, and generally a large amount of oil is used in the manufacturing process of metal cans such as aluminum cans. As a result, not only is it necessary to carry out maintenance work quite frequently due to, for example, belt breakage or belt feed sprocket wear, but the maintenance work is also extremely complicated.

This invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a transport device that can transport cylindrical rolling elements (transferred objects) such as aluminum cans and does not have any moving parts. It is intended to.

"Means for Solving the Problems" In order to achieve the above object, the conveying device according to the present invention uses the principle of a linear motor to move rolling elements made of cylindrical aluminum cans that are lightweight compared to their outer diameter. a first guiding surface that is horizontal;
a second guide surface connected to an end of the first guide surface in the rolling direction of the rolling element and inclined with respect to the first guide surface at an angle of more than zero degrees and less than +90 degrees in the rolling direction; and a horizontal third guide surface connected to the end of the second guide surface in the rolling direction; The present invention is characterized in that it includes a stator of a linear motor that generates a moving magnetic field that continuously applies rotational force to the rolling elements along the entire guide surface.

"Operation" According to the present invention, when alternating current is supplied to the windings of the stator of the linear motor, a moving magnetic field is generated that continuously applies rotational force to the rolling elements over the entire guide surface.

As a result, rotational force is continuously applied to the rolling elements from the first guide surface to the third guide surface.

Therefore, the rolling element has the first to third guide surfaces at the connection portion between the first guide surface and the second guide surface or at the connection portion between the second guide surface and the third guide surface. It rolls smoothly one after another without any stagnation and climbs up to the third guide surface.

"Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the principle of operation of this invention will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, 4 is a cylindrical rolling element (transferred object) such as an aluminum can. Also 5
is a guide member having a guide surface 5a formed on its upper surface on which the rolling elements 4 can roll and move, and the guide surface 5a extends left and right in the figure. Also, 6 is a stator of the linear motor, and this stator 6 is
The magnetic pole surface 6a is placed above the guide surface 5a.
The rolling elements 4 are disposed facing the magnetic pole face 6a and the guide face 5a and are spaced uniformly apart from each other so that they can roll and move between the magnetic pole face 6a and the guide face 5a, and the windings _7-1 to _7-i are provided with alternating current. When a current is supplied, a moving magnetic field is generated near the upper part of the rolling element 4 in the figure along the magnetic pole face 6a in the direction of arrow C (to the left in the figure). In this case, since the rolling elements 4 are made of a non-magnetic conductor, the moving magnetic field applies a rotational force in the direction of arrow D (counterclockwise in the figure) and a repulsive force downward in the figure. It turns out. As a result, the rolling element 4 rotates in the direction of arrow D, and in this case, sufficient frictional resistance is generated at the contact portion between the rolling element 4 and the guide surface 5a due to the repulsive force and the weight of the rolling element 4. do. Therefore, the rolling elements 4 roll (convey) on the guide surface 5a in the direction of arrow E without slipping.

Next, based on the above-mentioned principle, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in which a cylindrical aluminum can is conveyed from a first horizontal guide surface to a second horizontal guide surface located at a higher position than this guide surface. explain. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted. In Fig. 3, the guide surface 5a _-1 is the aluminum can 4.
_-1 to 4 _-o is the first horizontal guide surface, and the guide surface 5a _-3 is also the second horizontal guide surface to guide the aluminum cans 4 _-1 to 4 _-o . The guide surface 5a _-3 is higher than the guide surface 5a _-1 by a height h. Further, between the guide surface 5a _-1 and the guide surface 5a _-3 , there is a guide surface 5a _{- 2} whose guide surface is inclined by an angle θ with respect to the guide surface 5a-1.
are provided, and these guide surfaces 5a _-1 , 5a _-2 , 5
a _-3 is connected so that the aluminum cans 4 _-1 to 4 _-o can be sequentially rolled and moved.

Further, the stator 6 has its magnetic pole surface 6a facing the guide surface 5a _-2 , and the magnetic pole surface 6a is located at a distance slightly longer than the diameter of the aluminum cans _4-1 to 4 _-o from the guide surface 5a _-2 . They are provided so as to be uniformly spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the stator 6 has a guide surface 5
A predetermined length is extended along the guide surface 5a-1 toward the guide surface 5a _-1 from the part corresponding to the connection between the guide surface a _-1 and the guide surface 5a _- 2 _. The magnetic pole surface 6a _{- 1} in the portion 6-1 faces the guide surface 5a _-1 and is uniformly spaced apart by the same distance as the distance between the magnetic pole surface 6a and the guide surface 5a _-2 . In addition, the stator 6 is extended by a predetermined length along the guide surface 5a-3 toward the guide surface 5a _{-3 from} a portion corresponding to the connecting portion between the guide surface 5a _-2 and the guide surface 5a _-3 . The magnetic pole surface 6a _-3 in the extended portion _6-3 of the stator 6 faces the guide surface 5a _-3 , and is separated by the same distance as the distance between the magnetic pole surface 6a and the guide surface 5a _-2 . uniformly spaced.

In the above configuration, the windings 7 _-1 to 7 of the stator 6
When an alternating current is supplied to _-i , a moving magnetic field in the direction of arrow C is generated near the magnetic pole face 6a, and also near the connecting portion of the guide surfaces 5a _-1 , 5a _-2 and the guide surfaces 5a-1, 5a _-2 .
A continuous moving magnetic field is also generated near the connection part 5a _-2 . As a result, the aluminum cans _4-1 to 4 _-o, which have been conveyed from the left to the right in the figure on the guide surface 5a _-1 by the unillustrated conveyance means, are transported from the guide surface 5a _-1 to the guide surface 5a. Rotational force will be applied continuously for _-3 . Therefore,
Aluminum cans _4-1 to 4 _-o are guide surfaces 5a _-1 , 5
a _-2 and 5a _-3 are sequentially and smoothly rolled without any stagnation at the connecting portion between guide surface 5 a _-1 and guide surface 5 a _-2 or between guide surface 5 a _-2 and guide surface 5 a _-3 . Move up and reach the climbing guideway 5a _-3 .

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, the conveying device according to the present invention guides a rolling element, and has a horizontal first guide surface and a horizontal direction of the rolling element on the first guide surface. a second guide surface connected to the end portion and inclined with respect to the first guide surface in the rolling direction at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than +90 degrees; and an end of the second guide surface in the rolling direction. a horizontal third guide surface connected to the guide surface, and a magnetic pole face of the guide surface facing the guide surface above the guide surface and extending continuously over all of these guide surfaces. The stator of the linear motor generates a moving magnetic field that applies rotational force to the rolling element, and the rolling element is made of a cylindrical aluminum can that is lightweight compared to its outer diameter. Since the material is conveyed by rolling on the guide surface, it is possible to realize a conveyance device having no movable parts. Therefore, this conveying device has the advantage that it requires almost no maintenance work, has a low failure rate, and has extremely low maintenance costs.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional aluminum can conveying device, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. . 4, 4 _-1 ~ 4 _-o ...Rolling element, 5a, 5a _{-1 ~} 5
a _-3 ... Guide surface, 6, 6 _-1 , 6 _-3 ... Linear motor stator (stator), 6a, 6a _-1 , 6a _-3 ...
magnetic pole face.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A rolling element made of a cylindrical aluminum can that is lightweight compared to its outer diameter is guided, and a horizontal first guide surface and a rolling element of the rolling element on the first guide surface are provided. a second guide surface connected to an end in the rolling direction and inclined at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than +90 degrees in the rolling direction with respect to the first guide surface; and the rolling motion of the second guide surface. A guide surface consisting of a horizontal third guide surface connected to the end of the direction, and a magnetic pole face of the guide surface facing above the guide surface, and extending along all of these guide surfaces. A conveying device comprising: a stator of a linear motor that generates a moving magnetic field that continuously applies rotational force to the rolling elements.