CONVEYING DEVICE

• US 20180339381A1
• Filed: 05/10/2018
• Published: 11/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: AOKI, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 10,435,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 41/02 Features relating to transfer of work between machines arrangements for handling work for machine tools coordinated in production lines B23Q7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 7/05 by means of roller-ways B23Q7/1468, B23Q7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 7/06 by means of pushers B23Q7/1457, B23Q7/1489, B23B13/02, B23B13/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 25/10 with impeller pivotally mounted on a reciprocating bar
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 35/06 comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/82 Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/8823 Pivoting stop, swinging in or out of the path of the article

Abstract

A conveying device includes a workpiece pressing member and a switching member. The workpiece pressing member is able to move along a conveyance path when a mobile body moves, and also moves a workpiece downstream of the conveyance path by moving downstream of the conveyance path while pressing the workpiece. The switching member is able to move along the conveyance path as the mobile body moves, and switches between an engaged state and a non-engaged state with the workpiece pressing member depending on whether the movement is in downstream and upstream directions. When the switching member moves downstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to press the workpiece, and, when the switching member moves upstream, the workpiece pressing member is able to avoid coming into contact with the workpiece.

Claims

1. A conveying device comprising:

an actuator;

a mobile body that moves along a conveyance path by drive of the actuator;

a workpiece pressing member that is able to move along the conveyance path when the mobile body moves, the workpiece pressing member moving a workpiece by moving along the conveyance path in a state where the workpiece pressing member presses the workpiece; and

a switching member that is able to move along the conveyance path when the mobile body moves, the switching member switching a relation between a position of the workpiece pressing member and a position of the switching member such that the relation becomes a first relation or a second relation depending on a moving direction of the mobile body;

wherein;

the relation becomes one of the first relation and the second relation when the switching member moves in a first direction in the conveyance path, and thus realizes a first state in which the workpiece pressing member is able to press the workpiece; and

the relation becomes another one of the first relation and the second relation when the switching member moves in a second direction in the conveyance path, and thus realizes a second state in which the workpiece pressing member is able to avoid coming into contact with the workpiece.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein:

the workpiece pressing member is provided in the mobile body so that the workpiece pressing member is able to rotate;

the workpiece pressing member switches between the first state and the second state when the workpiece pressing member rotates;

the switching member is provided in the mobile body so that the switching member is able to rotate;

the switching member rotates in different directions in accordance with the moving direction of the mobile body;

when the switching member rotates in a first rotating direction, the relation is the first relation; and

when the switching member rotates in a second rotating direction, the relation is the second relation.

3. The conveying device according to claim 2, wherein:

the workpiece pressing member is formed into a shape that extends in the first direction in the conveyance path and also downwardly with respect to a rotating center of the workpiece pressing member in the first state;

a distal end of the workpiece pressing member comes into contact with the workpiece;

the distal end extends in the first direction in the conveyance path and also downwardly with respect to the rotating center; and

the workpiece pressing member is changed to the second state when the workpiece pressing member rotates from the first state so that the distal end moves upwardly.

4. The conveying device according to claim 2, further comprising a first guide that is fixed along the conveyance path, and engaged with the switching member so as to change a rotating position of the switching member, wherein:

the switching member rotates in the first rotating direction when the switching member is engaged with the first guide and moves in the first direction in the conveyance path; and

the switching member rotates in the second rotating direction when the switching member is engaged with the first guide and moves in the second direction in the conveyance path.

5. The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein the switching member includes a roller that rolls on the first guide when the switching member is engaged with the first guide.

6. The conveying device according to claim 4, wherein:

at least one of two end portions of the first guide includes a first guiding portion; and

the first guiding portion guides the switching member from a state where the switching member is not engaged with the first guide to a state where the switching member is engaged with the first guide.

7. The conveying device according to claim 4, further comprising a second guide that is disposed at a predetermined distance from a first end of the first guide in the first direction or the second direction in the conveyance path, the second guide changing the rotating position of the switching member when the second guide is engaged with the switching member, wherein:

the relation becomes the second relation when the switching member is engaged with the second guide at an initial standby position; and

the relation becomes the first relation when the switching member moves to a position between the first guide and the second guide from the state where the switching member is engaged with the first guide.

8. The conveying device according to claim 7, wherein:

a first end of the second guide on a first guide side includes a second guiding portion; and

the second guiding portion guides the switching member from a state where the switching member is not engaged with the second guide to a state where the switching member is engaged with the second guide.

9. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece pressing member includes:

a workpiece pressing body provided in the mobile body such that the workpiece pressing body is able to move; and

a soft material that is attached to the workpiece pressing body in a detachable manner, the soft material being made from a material softer than the workpiece pressing body, the soft material being provided in a portion that is able to come into contact with the workpiece.

10. The conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fixing member that is provided in the conveyance path in a fixed manner;

an initial position stopper that is provided in the fixing member and switches between a state where conveyance of the workpiece carried into an initial position in the conveyance path is restricted, and a state where conveyance of the workpiece is permitted; and

a stopper switching member that is able to move along the conveyance path when the mobile body moves, the stopper switching member causing the initial position stopper to be in a restricted state in which conveyance of the workpiece is restricted when the workpiece pressing member is at an initial standby position, the stopper switching member causing the initial position stopper to be in a permitted state in which conveyance of the workpiece is permitted when the workpiece pressing member is at a position that is more downstream than the initial standby position.

11. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein:

when the relation is the first relation, the workpiece pressing member and the switching member are not engaged with each other; and

when the relation is the second relation, the workpiece pressing member and the switching member are engaged with each other.

12. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein:

when the relation is the first relation, the workpiece pressing member is in the first state; and

when the relation is the second relation, the workpiece pressing member is in the second state.

13. A conveying device comprising:

an actuator;

a mobile body that moves along a conveyance path due to drive of the actuator;

a workpiece pressing member that is able to move along the conveyance path when the mobile body moves, the workpiece pressing member moving along the conveyance path in a state where the workpiece pressing member presses a workpiece, and thus moving the workpiece;

a fixing member provided in the conveyance path in a fixed manner;

an initial position stopper that is provided in the fixing member and switches between a restricted state where conveyance of the workpiece carried into an initial position in the conveyance path is restricted, and a permitted state where conveyance of the workpiece is permitted; and

a stopper switching member that is able to move along the conveyance path when the mobile body moves, the stopper switching member causing the initial position stopper to be in the restricted state when the workpiece pressing member is at an initial standby position, the stopper switching member causing the initial position stopper to be in the permitted state when the workpiece pressing member is at a position that is more downstream than the initial standby position.

14. The conveying device according to claim 13, wherein:

the initial position stopper is provided in the fixing member so that the initial position stopper is able to rotate;

the initial position stopper switches between the restricted state and the permitted state when the initial position stopper rotates; and

the stopper switching member switches a rotating position of the initial position stopper depending on whether or not the workpiece pressing member passes a predetermined position.

15. The conveying device according to claim 14, wherein:

the stopper switching member is in a non-engaged state where the stopper switching member is not engaged with the initial position stopper when the workpiece pressing member is at the initial standby position;

the stopper switching member is in a engaged state where the stopper switching member is engaged with the initial position stopper when the workpiece pressing member passes the predetermined position; and

the stopper switching member includes a guiding portion that guides the stopper switching member from the non-engaged state to the engaged state.

16. The conveying device according to claim 14, wherein the initial position stopper includes a roller that rolls on the stopper switching member when the workpiece pressing member moves from the initial standby position in a direction in which the workpiece is conveyed.

17. The conveying device according to claim 14, wherein:

the initial position stopper rotates about a rotating center that is shifted from a center of gravity of the initial position stopper; and

the initial position stopper is in the restricted state due to a weight of the initial position stopper itself when the stopper switching member is in a non-engaged state where the stopper switching member is not engaged with the initial position stopper.

18. The conveying device according to claim 13, wherein the initial position stopper includes:

a stopper body that is provided in the fixing member so that the stopper body is able to move; and

a soft material that is attached to the stopper body in a detachable manner, the soft material being made from a material softer than the stopper body, the soft material being provided in an area that is able to come into contact with the workpiece.