Transportation device and conveyor device

The objective is to develop a conveying device and a conveyer device having high conveying efficiency and high reliability when an article is transferred to a conveyer line with different height. Branching units (8) of a lower-level side conveyer line (5) and an upper-level side conveyer line (6) are connected to an inclined connection conveyer line (10). The branching unit (8) has a sub conveying passage (53) for conveying an article (60) in the same direction as a conveying direction of the connection conveyer line (10). The sub conveying passage (53) has a lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller (43) and cams (46a, 46b). When the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller (43) is driven, the cams (46a, 46b) rotate, and the sub conveying passage (53) is connected to the connection conveyer line (10) in an inclined attitude. As a result, the article (60) can move between the lower-level side conveyer line (5) and the upper-level side conveyer line (6) via the connection conveyer line (10).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a conveying device which configures a part of a conveyer line, and particularly relates to a conveying device capable of changing a conveying direction of a conveyed object to a direction intersecting with a carrying-in direction. Further, the present invention relates to a conveyer device in which conveyer lines are constructed in multistages.

BACKGROUND ART

In an assembly line of products or a delivery location of articles, conveyer lines are often utilized for conveying a conveyed object. For example, a number of conveyer lines are installed vertically and horizontally in the delivery location, and a transfer device is disposed at a position where the conveyer lines cross each other. In other words, the transfer device has a function of carrying out an article from an original conveyer line (a main conveyer line), and transferring the article to another conveyer line (a sub conveyer line), thereby conveying the article to a desired location.

Also, in order to perform the above-described function, the transfer device includes two conveyer units for conveying the article and a lifting and lowering unit for changing a height position of the conveyer unit. The two conveyer units respectively have conveying passages for placing and conveying the conveyed object. The conveying passages of the two conveyer units have mutually different conveying directions. The transfer device is configured so that relative heights of the two conveying passages can be changed by the above-described lifting and lowering unit.

In other words, in this type of transfer device, a top surface of the conveying passage of the conveyer unit which is not involved in the conveyance is retreated downward from a conveying surface of the conveyer line by the lifting and lowering unit. Moreover, a top surface of the conveyer unit which contributes to the conveyance is lifted and exposed as a conveying surface of the conveyer line by the lifting and lowering unit. Also, smooth conveyance is realized without being obstructed by the conveying unit which is not involved in the conveyance, by operating (driving) the conveyer unit that is lifted as the conveying surface.

Further, in recent years, there has been a case where conveyer lines are sterically constructed in the delivery location or the like to effectively utilize a floor area. In other words, a conveyer line in a first floor part, a conveyer line in a second floor part, or further, conveyer lines in multi-stages are disposed to deliver an article to a desired position.

In a case where the article is transferred from the conveyer line in the first floor part to the conveyer line in the other floor, a lift disclosed in Patent Document 2 is used, for example.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: JP 2012-51679 A

Patent Document 2: SP 2012-51674 A

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

As described above, in the conventional techniques, the lift is used in a case where the article is transferred to the conveyer line in another floor.

However, in the lift, the article is transferred to the conveyer line in the other floor through processes of introducing the article into a car gondola and stopping the car gondola, of lifting and lowering the car gondola to be stopped at a fixed height, and of discharging the article from the car gondola. Accordingly, conveying efficiency is poor. In other words, it takes time to transfer the article to the conveyer line in another floor.

Further, there is also a method in which a conveyer line in a branching passage is installed in an inclined attitude, an article discharged from a transfer device in a lower-level conveyer line is transferred to the conveyer line having the inclined attitude, and is transferred to an upper-level conveyer line by climbing the conveyer line having the inclined attitude. However, in this configuration, since an angle is formed between a conveying surface of the transfer device and a conveying surface of the branching passage, there is a case where a corner of the article collides with the conveying surface of the branching passage during movement of the article along the branching passage, and the article cannot be transferred to the branching passage. In other words, smoothness in transfer is lacking and reliability is low in the method in which the conveyer line in the branching passage is installed in the inclined attitude.

Therefore, in consideration of the above-described problems of the conventional techniques, an object of the present invention is to develop a conveying device and a conveyer device having high conveying efficiency and high reliability when an article is transferred to a conveyer line with different height.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above-described problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a conveying device including a main conveyer unit that includes a main conveying passage disposed in a fixed planar region and that conveys a conveyed object in a fixed direction, a sub conveyer unit that includes a sub conveying passage disposed in the same planar region as the main conveying passage and that conveys the conveyed object in a direction intersecting with the conveying direction of the main conveying passage, and a lifting and lowering unit that lifts and lowers at least one of the main conveyer unit and the sub conveyer unit, the lifting and lowering unit being capable of lifting the sub conveying passage above the main conveying passage, wherein when the sub conveying passage is disposed above the main conveying passage, the sub conveying passage takes an inclined attitude in a height direction.

The conveying device of the present aspect is used as a part of a conveyer device in which conveyer lines are constructed in multistages. For example, the conveying device is used for the purpose of transferring an article (a conveyed object) from a lower-level conveyer line to an upper-level conveyer line.

For example, the conveying device of the present aspect is used as a part of the lower-level conveyer line, and a connection line in an inclined attitude is provided beside the conveying device to connect to the upper-level conveyer line.

Here, the conveying device of the present aspect has the main conveyer unit and the sub conveyer unit, and the lifting and lowering unit enables lifting the sub conveying passage above the main conveying passage. Also, in the conveying device of the present aspect, when the sub conveying passage is disposed above the main conveying passage, the sub conveying passage takes the inclined attitude in the height direction. Accordingly, a relative angle between the sub conveying passage and the connection line becomes small, and the article is transferred from the sub conveying passage to the connection line without resistance.

Preferably, the main conveying passage and the sub conveying passage include a plurality of conveying bodies that come into contact with the conveyed object to provide conveying force to the conveyed object, the conveying bodies being disposed at intervals, the conveying bodies of the sub conveying passage appearing from between the conveying bodies of the main conveying passage, the sub conveyer unit includes a swinging frame that mounts the conveying bodies of the sub conveying passage thereon, one end-side of the swinging frame being axially fixed rotatably, and the sub conveying passage takes the inclined attitude in the height direction by moving another end-side of the swinging frame in an up and down direction.

In the conveying device of this preferable aspect, the swinging frame swings around the one end, and the sub conveying passage takes the inclined attitude in the height direction.

Preferably, the main conveying passage and the sub conveying passage include a plurality of conveying bodies that come into contact with the conveyed object to provide conveying force to the conveyed object, the conveying bodies being disposed at intervals, the conveying bodies of the sub conveying passage appearing from between the conveying bodies of the main conveying passage, a main conveying surface that places the conveyed object is configured with the plurality of conveying bodies of the main conveying passage, a sub conveying surface that places the conveyed object is configured with the plurality of conveying bodies of the sub conveying passage, and when the sub conveying passage is lifted above the main conveying passage by the lifting and lowering unit, the sub conveying surface is moved above the main conveying surface.

Preferably, the main conveying passage is configured with a roller conveyer, whereas the sub conveying passage is configured with a belt conveyer.

Preferably, the lifting and lowering unit includes a cam that lifts and lowers the sub conveying passage.

Preferably, the cam has an involute curved surface, and the sub conveyer unit has a rotating body disposed on the involute curved surface of the cam.

In the conveying device of this preferable aspect, the rotating body is disposed on the involute curved surface of the cam of the lifting and lowering unit. Accordingly, as the cam rotates, the rotating body of the sub conveyer unit is supported by the cam while rotating on the cam. Because of this, the other end-side of sub conveyer unit smoothly moves in the up and down direction with the axially fixed one end-side as a fulcrum.

Preferably, the lifting and lowering unit includes a motor-incorporating roller having a rotating roller body, and the cam is integrally formed with the roller body.

Preferably, the sub conveyer unit has a pair of the swinging frames, the respective swinging frames being separately disposed in a longitudinal direction of the conveying bodies of the sub conveying passage, and one of the swinging frames is axially fixed rotatably, and the other swinging frame moves in the up and down direction.

A second aspect of the present invention includes a lower-level side conveyer line installed in a lower level, an upper-level side conveyer line installed in an upper level, and a connection line connecting the lower-level side conveyer line and the upper-level side conveyer line, wherein the conveying device of the first aspect of the present information is provided into at least one of the conveyer lines to form a branching unit, and wherein the connection line is installed in an inclined attitude near the conveying device.

Here, it is desirable that the “connection line” is a conveyer for conveying a conveyed object by power. However, in a case where the conveyed object is conveyed from the upper-level side conveyer line to the lower-level side conveyer line, the power is not necessarily required. In a case where the “connection line” is used only for conveying the conveyed object from the upper-level side conveyer line to the lower-level side conveyer line, it may be formed by simply aligning idling rollers or idling small rollers or may be a simple slope.

According to the conveyer device of the present aspect, a relative angle between the sub conveying passage and the connection line becomes small, and the article (the conveyed object) can be transferred from the sub conveying passage to the connection line without resistance.

Preferably, idling roller is disposed between the sub conveying passage and the connection line, the idling roller intersecting with a conveying direction of the connection line, and an extension line of a conveying surface of the connection line abuts on an outer peripheral surface of the idling roller. When the sub conveying passage takes an inclined attitude, an extension line of a conveying surface of the sub conveying passage abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the idling roller.

Since the conveyer device of this preferable aspect has the idling roller between the sub conveying passage and the connection line, a placing part of the conveyed object can be formed between the sub conveying passage and the connection line. Further, when the power is applied from the sub conveying passage or the connection line, the conveyed object moves while rotating the idling roller. Accordingly, the conveyed object is smoothly moved on the idling roller.

Further, since the extension line of the conveying surface of the connection line abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the idling roller, the conveyed object can be smoothly transferred from the connection line to the idling roller or from the idling roller to the connection line.

Moreover, when the sub conveying passage takes the inclined attitude, since the extension line of the conveying surface of the sub conveying passage abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the idling roller, the conveyed object can be smoothly transferred from the sub conveying passage to the idling roller or from the idling roller to the sub conveying passage.

Effect of Invention

The conveying device and the conveyer device of the present invention have effects of high conveying efficiency and high reliability when an article is transferred to a conveyer line with different height.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A conveyer device1and a conveying device2according to an embodiment of the present invention will be further described below.

The conveyer device1of the present embodiment is a device in which conveyer lines are sterically disposed, and includes a lower-level side conveyer line5installed in a lower level and an upper-level side conveyer line6installed in an upper level.

Both of the lower-level side conveyer line5and the upper-level side conveyer line6have the same structure and are roller conveyer devices.

In other words, a plurality of rollers are provided between two frame members7disposed parallel to each other. Some of the rollers are motor-incorporating rollers, and the motor and a reduction gear are built in a roller body. The roller body is rotated by feeding power to the motor.

The other rollers are follower rollers. A belt is suspended between the follower rollers and the motor-incorporating rollers, and the follower rollers are rotated by receiving power transmission from the motor-incorporating rollers.

Both of the lower-level side conveyer line5and the upper-level side conveyer line6are divided into a plurality of zones and can be driven/stopped for each zone.

Branching units8exist at portions of the lower-level side conveyer line5and the upper-level side conveyer line6, and conveying devices2a,2bare utilized for the branching units8. The conveying device2awhich configures the portion of the lower-level side conveyer line5and the conveying device2bwhich configures the portion of the upper-level side conveyer line6are devices having the same structure. Accordingly, in a case where there is no need to distinguish between the two, the conveying devices2a,2bwill be simply denoted below as a conveying device2.

Further, the conveying devices2a,2bare connected by a connection conveyer line (a connection line)10. The connection conveyer line10is installed in an inclined attitude and connects the lower-level side conveyer line5and the upper-level side conveyer line6. The connection conveyer line10is a belt conveyer. A detailed description of the connection conveyer line10is omitted.

FIG. 2shows the conveying device2of the present embodiment. As shown inFIG. 3, the conveying device2has a main conveyer unit11and a sub conveyer unit12.

The main conveyer unit11is a roller conveyer, and seven rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gare disposed between two parallel main conveying side frame members15disposed parallel to each other with a fixed gap in between.

Among the seven rollers, the central roller18cis a motor-incorporating roller. The other rollers18a,18b,18d,18e,18f,18gare follower rollers. A belt20is suspended between the follower rollers and the roller18cserving as the motor-incorporating roller, and the follower rollers are rotated by receiving power transmission from the motor-incorporating roller. A main conveying passage52is configured with the seven rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18g. InFIGS. 2 and 3, a conveying direction of the main conveying passage52is indicated by arrow A. The conveying direction may be a direction opposite to the direction of arrow A. Further, heights of uppermost parts of the seven rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gcoincide with one another, and a main conveying surface52a(FIG. 8) is formed on the uppermost parts of the seven rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18g. The main conveying passage52conveys an article60(a conveyed object) in the direction indicated by arrow A or the direction opposite to the direction indicated by arrow A.

Further, in the present embodiment, an auxiliary roller19is provided at one of the main conveying side frame members15. In other words, the auxiliary roller19is provided on the main conveying side frame member15on a side to which the connection conveyer line10, which will be described below, is connected. A rotation shaft of the auxiliary roller19intersects with (is orthogonal to) a rotation shaft of the roller18a. As shown inFIG. 2, the auxiliary roller19has a length ranging from the roller18ato the roller18f. Further, the auxiliary roller19is an idling roller.

In the conveying device2of the present embodiment, the sub conveyer unit12is provided below the main conveying side frame members15of the above-described main conveyer unit11.

As shown inFIG. 3, the sub conveyer unit12has a pair of sub conveying side frame members21provided in a direction orthogonal to the main conveying side frame members15of the main conveyer unit11.

The pair of sub conveying side frame members21is disposed oppositely and parallel to each other at a predetermined interval. As shown inFIG. 3, each sub conveying side frame member21has two parallel flange parts24a,24band a web24c. Each sub conveying side frame member21can be formed of, for example, channel-shaped steel or C-shaped steel.

As shown inFIG. 2, the main conveying side frame members15are fixed onto the upper flange parts24a.

A swinging pin49which protrudes inward is provided at the web24cof each sub conveying side frame member21. The respective swinging pins49are disposed in horizontal attitudes and height positions thereof coincide with each other. Further, centers of the respective swinging pins49are disposed on the same straight line.

Further, the web24cis provided with a supporting part28for supporting a lifting and lowering device25(a lifting and lowering unit), which will be described below. The supporting part28is configured with a bearing.

A narrow conveyer group23(FIG. 4) is disposed between the pair of sub conveying side frame members21. The narrow conveyer group23is swingably mounted to the sub conveying side frame members21on both sides thereof.

The narrow conveyer group23is formed by providing four rows of narrow conveyers22ato22dat a swinging frame26.

The swinging frame26is a frame made of known recessed steel or the like. In other words, as shown inFIG. 3, the swinging frame26has a pair of main beams47,48disposed at a fixed interval. Lengths of the main beam47,48are shorter than an interval between the pair of sub conveying side frame members21.

A short roller45(rotating body) functioning as a cam follower is provided at the one main beam47. Extension members50a,50bare provided at both ends of the other main beam48. The extension members50a,50bhave opposite surfaces which are opposite to each other. Also, holes51a,51bare provided on the opposite surfaces of the extension members50a,50b. Centers of the holes51a,51bare disposed on the same straight line.

Any of the narrow conveyers22ato22dhas one plate-shaped member27, and as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, eight pulleys30to37are supported by this portion in a cantilever state.

All of the plate-shaped members27have the same shape and substantially belt-shaped. Also, a protruding part38which protrudes downward is provided at a bottom center of the plate-shaped member27. Further, the protruding part38is provided with an arc-shaped cut-away part40.

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, a plate-shaped supporting member29is fixed to the narrow conveyer22d. Although not shown for convenience of illustration, the narrow conveyer22ais also provided with the similar supporting member29. The supporting members29are disposed outside the narrow conveyer group23. In other words, the supporting members29project downward to cover outsides of the cut-away parts40of the plate-shaped members27of the narrow conveyers22a,22d.

As described above, the eight pulleys30to37are supported by the plate-shaped member27in the cantilever state. All of these pulleys30to37are freely idled.FIG. 5shows arrangement of the pulleys30to37, and the six pulleys30to35are provided in a row on an upper surface of the plate-shaped member27. Also, the remaining two pulleys36,37are provided near the protruding part38of the plate-shaped member27.

It should be noted thatFIG. 5shows a perspective view of the narrow conveyers22a,22c, and that a side of the plate-shaped member27, to which the pulleys are mounted, of the narrow conveyer22a,22cis opposite to that of the narrow conveyer22b,22d.

The plate-shaped members27are fixed in vertical attitudes to the respective swinging frames26(the main beams47,48) at fixed intervals.

Further, a conveying motor-incorporating roller41is inserted into the cut-away parts40of the respective plate-shaped members27. In other words, the conveying motor-incorporating roller41is disposed inside the cut-away parts40of the respective plate-shaped members27.

The conveying motor-incorporating roller41has a shaft part41aand a roller body41b. The shaft part41ais fixed to the supporting member29. A motor and a reduction gear (not shown) are provided inside the roller body41b. In other words, the shaft parts41aat both ends of the conveying motor-incorporating roller41are fixed to the two opposite supporting members29, and the roller body41brotates when power is supplied to the motor (not shown).

Also, a belt42is suspended between the pulleys30to37provided at the plate-shaped member27and the roller body41bof the conveying motor-incorporating roller41. It should be noted that a toothed belt is adopted for the belt42in the present embodiment.

When the conveying motor-incorporating roller41is rotated, the belts42of the entire narrow conveyers22ato22dis driven.

A sub conveying passage53is configured with the respective belts42of the narrow conveyers22ato22d. Further, heights of the uppermost part of the respective belts42of the narrow conveyers22ato22dcoincide with one another. A sub conveying surface53ais formed on the uppermost parts of these respective belts42. The sub conveying passage53conveys the article60in a direction indicated by arrow B inFIG. 3. The direction indicated by arrow13intersects with (is orthogonal to) the conveying direction of the main conveying passage52of the main conveyer unit11indicated by arrow A.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the eight pulleys30to37are mounted on the plate-shaped member27, and the six pulleys30to35of these are provided at upper positions. Regarding the pulleys30,31,33,34,35of the six pulleys30to35, upper sides of the pulleys30,31,33,34,35are engaged with the belt42. However, regarding the pulley32disposed in an intermediate part, the belt42is suspended on a lower side of the pulley32. This is to apply appropriate tension to the belt42on the sub conveying passage53(the sub conveying surface53a).

As shown inFIG. 5, a tension pulley39is further provided at the plate-shaped member27. The tension pulley39presses a region of the belt42where the sub conveying surface53ais not configured and applies tension to the belt42.

Next, the lifting and lowering device25will be described.

As shown inFIG. 3, the lifting and lowering device25is configured with one lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43and cams46a,46bmounted on the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43.

The lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43has a shaft part43aand a roller body43b. A motor and a reduction gear (not shown) are disposed inside the roller body43b. The shaft parts43aat both ends of the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43are respectively supported by the supporting parts28(the bearings) of the sub conveying side frame members21. Further, as shown inFIG. 4, the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43is disposed below the narrow conveyer group23. The roller body43brotates when power is supplied to the motor (not shown).

The cams46a,46bare involute cams having involute-shaped cam surfaces. In other words, peripheral surfaces of the cams46a,46bform involute curved surfaces.

The cams46a,46bare provided at both ends of the roller body43bof the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43. When power is supplied to the motor (not shown) inside the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43, the cams46a,46bintegrally rotate with the roller body43b.

Next, a positional relation of the respective members which configure the sub conveyer unit12will be described. As described above, the narrow conveyer group23is formed by integrally fixing the narrow conveyers22ato22dto the swinging frames26(the main beams47,48).

The swinging pins49of the sub conveying side frame members21are inserted into the holes51a,51bprovided at the extension plates50a,50bof the swinging frame26. In other words, one end-side (the main beam48side) of the narrow conveyer group23is supported by the sub conveying side frame members21.

Further, the short rollers45of the swinging frame26on another end-side (the main beam47side) of the narrow conveyer group23are installed on the cams46a,46b. In other words, the short rollers45are mounted on the cams46a,46b.

Therefore, when the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43is driven and the cams46a,46bare rotated together with the roller body43b, one end of the swinging frame26is lifted and lowered due to actions of the cams46a,46b, and the swinging frame26(the narrow conveyer group23) swings. In other words, the narrow conveyer group23swings around the swinging pin49in an up and down direction. At this time, since the peripheral surfaces of the cams46a,46bare involute-shaped, the short rollers45are supported by the cams46a,46bwhile rotating on the earns46a,46b.

Further, the sub conveyer unit12is provided below the main conveying side frame members15of the above-described main conveyer unit11.

In other words, the main conveyer unit11and the sub conveyer unit12are disposed in a common planar region, and the narrow conveyers22ato22dof the sub conveyer unit12are disposed between any of the seven rollers18ato18gof the main conveyer unit11.

In the example shown inFIG. 2, the narrow conveyer22ais disposed between the roller18band the roller18c. Similarly, the narrow conveyers22b,22c,22dare respectively disposed between the roller18cand the roller18d, between the roller18dand the roller18e, and between the roller18eand the roller18f. In other words, the narrow conveyers22ato22dand the rollers18bto18fare alternately disposed in a plane view. Since the number of narrow conveyers is arbitrarily set, for example, in a case there are six narrow conveyers, the narrow conveyer is disposed between the roller18aand the roller18band between the roller18fand the roller18g.

Also, the narrow conveyers22ato22dof the sub conveyer unit12are always immersed between the seven rollers18ato18gof the main conveyer unit11.

Also, when the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43is rotated to lift the one end-side (the main beam47side) of the narrow conveyer group23, the narrow conveyer group23of the sub conveyer unit12protrudes above the seven rollers8ato18gof the main conveyer unit11. At this time, the swinging pins49are inserted into the one end-side (the main beam48side) of the narrow conveyer group23, and the height on the swinging pin49side is not changed. Accordingly, the narrow conveyer group23is largely inclined and takes the inclined attitude as shown inFIG. 7.

Next, functions of the conveyer device1and the conveying device2according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As described above, the conveyer device1of the present embodiment has the lower-level side conveyer line5and the upper-level side conveyer line6, and the article60(the conveyed object) can be placed thereon and linearly conveyed.

Further, in the conveyer device1of the present embodiment, the article60can be transferred from the lower-level side conveyer line5to the upper-level side conveyer line6. Alternatively, the article60can be transferred from the upper-level side conveyer line6to the lower-level side conveyer line5.

For example, in a case where the article60is transferred from the lower-level side conveyer line5to the upper-level side conveyer line6, as shown inFIG. 8, the article60is introduced to the conveying device2aof the lower-level side conveyer line5, and then the article60is stopped on the main conveying surface52aof the conveying device2a.

In other words, as shown inFIG. 8, in a state in which the sub conveyer unit12is immersed in the main conveyer unit11, the article60is placed on the main conveying surface52a, the rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gof the main conveyer unit11are rotated, and the article60is introduced to the conveying device2a. Also, when a sensor (not shown) detects the introduction of the article60to the conveying device2a, rotation of the rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gis stopped.

Subsequently, as shown inFIG. 9, the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43is rotated so as to protrude the narrow conveyer group23of the sub conveyer unit12above the seven rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gof the main conveyer unit11. At this time, the narrow conveyer group23(the sub conveying surface53a) is inclined in an attitude in which the connection conveyer line10becomes an upper side, and the article60is scooped up by the sub conveying surface53aof the narrow conveyer group23. As a result, heights of a tip of the sub conveying surface53aof the narrow conveyer group23and the connection conveyer line10are substantially matched, and an angular difference between the sub conveying surface53aof the narrow conveyer group23and the conveying surface of the connection conveyer line10is made small. Accordingly, the two surfaces are aligned on a substantially straight line. Alternatively, an extension line55in the conveying direction of the sub conveying surface53aabuts on the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller19. An extension line56in the conveying direction of the conveying surface of the connection conveyer line10also abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller19. In other words, the extension lines55,56are on the same straight line. Here, the extension lines55,56are actually surfaces, but are illustrated as lines inFIG. 9which is a sectional view.

The conveying motor-incorporating roller41(FIG. 7) is rotated in that state to allow the respective belts42to drive. Further, rotation of rollers of the connection conveyer line10is also started.

As a result, the article60on the sub conveyor unit12is moved to the connection conveyer line10and transferred to the adjacent connection conveyer line10as shown inFIG. 10by passing through the auxiliary roller19. In other words, the article60is smoothly moved from the sub conveying surface53aof the sub conveyer unit12onto the auxiliary roller19, and is further moved smoothly onto the conveying surface of the connection conveyer line10while rotating the auxiliary roller19.

Also, the article60is conveyed diagonally upward by the connection conveyer line10. On the other hand, regarding the upper-level side conveyer line6serving as a receiving side as well, as shown inFIG. 11, the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43is rotated so as to protrude the narrow conveyer group23of the sub conveyer unit12above the seven rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gof the main conveyer unit11. At this time, the sub conveying passage53(the sub conveying surface53a) is inclined in an attitude in which the connection conveyer line10becomes an upper side.

At this time, an extension line57in the conveying direction of the sub conveying surface53aof the conveying device2babuts on the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller19. An extension line58in the conveying direction of the conveying surface of the connection conveyer line10also abuts on the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller19. The extension lines57,58intersect with each other, and respectively abut on different regions of the outer peripheral surface of the auxiliary roller19. Here, the extension lines57,58are actually surfaces, but are illustrated as lines inFIG. 11which is a sectional view.

Also, the conveying motor-incorporating roller41is rotated in this state to allow the belts42to drive.

As a result, the article60conveyed by the connection conveyor line10smoothly passes on the auxiliary roller19. Further, the article60is received by the sub conveying surface53a(the belts42) of the conveying device2band transferred to the conveying device2b, as shown inFIG. 11.

When the sensor (not shown) confirms that the article60has been transferred to the conveying device2b, the lifting and lowering motor-incorporating roller43is rotated in a reverse direction, the one end-side (the main beam47side) of the narrow conveyer group23is lowered, and the attitude of the sub conveyer unit12is returned to a horizontal attitude (FIG. 12). At this time, the entire narrow conveyer group23of the sub conveyer unit12is sunk between the rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gof the main conveyer unit11, and the article60is received by the rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18g(the main conveying surface52a) of the main conveyer unit11. In other words, the uppermost parts of the rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gof the main conveyer unit11configure the main conveying surface52a, and the article60is placed on the main conveying surface52aof the main conveyer unit11.

Also, the rollers18a,18b,18c,18d,18e,18f,18gof the main conveyer unit11are rotated to convey the article60to a downstream side of the upper-level side conveyer line6along the main conveying passage52.

In the above-described embodiment, the main conveyer unit is the roller conveyer and the sub conveyer device is the narrow belt conveyer. However, the two may be the reverse. In other words, it is possible that the roller conveyer is used for the sub conveyer device and the roller conveyer is inclined.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the cam is adopted as the lifting and lowering unit. However, a mechanism, such as a crank or a screw, may be applied. Further, a solenoid may be utilized.

Further, in the above description, the present invention is utilized for the purpose of lifting the article60from the lower-level side conveyer line5to the upper-level side conveyer line6. However, the present invention can be utilized for the purpose of lowering the article60from the upper-level side conveyer line6to the lower-level side conveyer line5.

In a case where the present invention is utilized only for the purpose of lowering the article60from the upper-level side conveyer line6to the lower-level side conveyer line5, it is not necessary for the connection line which connects the upper-level side conveyer line6and the lower-level side conveyer line S to have power. For example, the connection line may be formed by simply aligning idling rollers or idling small rollers or may be a simple slope. In a case where the slope or the like is adopted, the article60is slid down by gravity by utilizing a difference of elevation.

The auxiliary roller19is not essential. In a case where the sub conveying surface53aof the conveying device2can be close to the conveying surface of the connection conveyer line10, the auxiliary roller19can be omitted.

The swinging frame26may be formed so that the main beam47side and the main beam48side are continuous. In other words, in the example shown inFIG. 3or the like, the swinging frame26on the main beam47and the swinging frame48on the main beam48are separate members. However, these swinging frames may be formed with one member.

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