Conveyor apparatus

A conveyor apparatus that conveys articles supported by a plurality of arranged article supports, the conveyor apparatus including infilling members, each being disposed between the article supports. In one embodiment, the infilling member includes a plate contact part in contact with the article support such that the upward curvature of the plate contact part is larger than that of the tray contact part of the article support corresponding to the plate contact part.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a conveyor apparatus for transporting articles, and particularly relates to a conveyor apparatus for transporting articles placed on article supports such as a tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conveyor apparatuses are used in some facilities where a plurality of articles need to be conveyed from an origin to destinations, for example, in the case of an airport where passenger's baggage is conveyed from an airport check-in area to an area for loading the baggage into an airplane that is scheduled to board passengers. Such a conveyor apparatus conveys articles on trays (article supports) traveling on a conveying path and inclines the trays at positions for the placed articles (inclines the trays laterally with respect to the conveying direction), so that the articles are discharged into chutes disposed along the conveying path and connected to the destinations.

In such a conveyor apparatus, a clearance is left between the adjacent article supports, that is, between the trays, so that part (e.g., the shoulder strap of a bag) of baggage (article) may be dropped or caught in the clearance. In order to solve the problem, as described in WO00/02802 (“Patent Literature 1”), a cover member for covering a clearance (gap) may be prepared.

A cover member described in Patent Literature 1 is directly connected to the bottom of an article support member (tray) via a pivot or a pin and thus the cover member is inclined with the article support member being inclined.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

In this configuration, the cover member described in Patent Literature 1 is directly connected to the article support member at the center of the cover member in the width direction (a direction crossing the conveying direction). Thus, the weight of the cover member is supported only at the center of the cover member in the width direction. In other words, the weight of one end of the cover member in the width direction is not supported and thus after an extended period of use in this state, one end of the cover member may curve downward because of the weight of the cover member. This leaves a vertical clearance between the end of the cover member in the width direction and the article support member, so that baggage may be partially dropped or caught in the clearance. Moreover, when the article support member inclines, one end of the cover member in the width direction is pressed from the article support member. This press also may curve downward one end of the cover member in the width direction.

Patent Literature 1 also describes a method of supporting the cover member by means of a support element reinforced with a rib, as a supporting method of the cover member. However, this method also requires the support element in addition to the cover member, as a structure for filling a clearance between the article support members. This increases the number of components and the cost of constructing conveyor equipment. If a rib is additionally mounted on the cover member by welding in the absence of the support element, heat for welding may warp the cover member toward the mounting surface of the rib, that is, the underside of the cover member, causing a difference in shape between the cover member and the article support member. This leaves a clearance between the cover member and the article support member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor apparatus that prevents a clearance from being vertically left between an article support and one end of an infilling member in the width direction while suppressing the cost of constructing conveyor equipment without the need for a support element, the infilling member filling a gap between the article supports arranged on a conveying path.

In order to solve the problem, a conveyor apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is a conveyor apparatus for conveying articles, including: a plurality of traveling units that travel in series along a conveying path for the articles; and a plurality of article supports that have article support surfaces for supporting the articles and that are caused to travel on the conveying path by the respective traveling units, the conveyor apparatus further including infilling members provided for the respective article supports, the infilling member filling a clearance between the article supports longitudinally adjacent to each other in the conveying path, in which the article support has a support contact part on the rear end along the conveying path, the infilling member has an infilling contact part on the front end along the conveying path, the infilling contact part being in contact with the support contact part, and the infilling contact part has a larger curvature than the support contact part.

With this configuration, a difference in curvature between the infilling contact part and the support contact part allows the infilling contact portion of the infilling member to securely come into contact with the support contact part of the article support, vertically leaving no clearance on one end of the infilling member in the width direction. Furthermore, even if one end of the infilling member in the width direction curves downward (the curvature decreases), the curvature of the infilling contact part is brought closer to that of the support contact part. Thus, the infilling contact part is more securely brought into contact with the support contact part, vertically leaving no clearance. Similarly, even if a rib is additionally attached to the infilling contact part of the infilling member by welding and thus the infilling contact part is slightly warped downward (the curvature decreases), the curvature of the infilling contact part is brought closer to that of the support contact part, vertically leaving no clearance.

In addition to the configuration, the conveyor apparatus according to the embodiment the present invention may further include an urging member that urges the infilling contact part of the infilling member to the support contact part of the article support, in which the infilling contact part is made of a flexible material, and the infilling contact part may be urged to the support contact part by the urging member so as to come into contact with the support contact part while being bent along the shape of the support contact part.

With this configuration, even if the infilling contact part and the support contact part have different shapes because of a difference in curvature between the infilling contact part and the support contact part, the urging member urges the infilling contact part to the support contact part so as to shape the infilling contact part along the support contact part, thereby completely filling a clearance between the infilling contact part and the support contact part.

In addition to the configuration, the conveyor apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may be configured such that the infilling contact part of the infilling member is made of an elastic material and the infilling contact part may be brought into contact with the support contact part by the elasticity of the infilling contact part while being bent along the shape of the support contact part of the article support.

With this configuration, even if the infilling contact part and the support contact part have different shapes because of a difference in curvature between the infilling contact part and the support contact part, the infilling contact part is shaped along the shape of the support contact part by the elasticity of the infilling contact part, thereby completely filling a clearance between the infilling contact part and the support contact part.

In addition to the configuration, in the conveyor apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the infilling member may be formed such that the curvature of the infilling contact part of the infilling member increases toward one end of the infilling member.

With this configuration, the curvature of the infilling contact part increases toward the vicinity of one end of the infilling member that is likely to curve downward. Thus, even if a part around the center of the infilling contact part does not considerably curve downward while the vicinity of one end of the infilling contact part curves downward to a somewhat high degree, a clearance between the infilling contact part and the support contact part is kept closed. Moreover, for example, when the article support travels on a curve in the conveying path, one end of the infilling contact part may receive a larger load than a part around the center. Also in this case, a curvature on one end is larger than that of a part around the center, thereby keeping the infilling contact part and the support contact part in close contact with each other.

According to the conveyor apparatus of the present invention, a clearance between the article supports is filled with the infilling member and a clearance is prevented from being left between the infilling member and the article support even if both ends of the infilling member in the width direction are curved downward by the weight of the infilling member after an extended period of use of the infilling member. This eliminates the need for changing the infilling members over an extended period. Thus, the number of spare infilling members can be reduced, thereby suppressing the cost of resource acquisition for operating the conveyor apparatus. Moreover, the need for a support element can be eliminated unlike in the related art, thereby inexpensively constructing the conveyor apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Schematic Structure of a Conveyor Apparatus

FIG. 1shows a part of a conveyor apparatus10as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. In the conveyor apparatus10, an article12to be conveyed is placed on a tray14serving as an article support and is conveyed in a conveying direction W. In this configuration, a direction along the conveying direction W is referred to as a longitudinal direction and a direction crossing the conveying direction W is referred to as a lateral direction or a width direction. The longitudinal and lateral directions are determined as indicated by arrows inFIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 1, the trays14are arranged in series along the conveying direction W. Each of the trays14can support the article12on an article support surface14a. As shown inFIG. 4A, the top surface of the tray14is curved slightly upward. Thus, when the article12is placed on the top surface of the tray14, the article12is moved by the weight of the article12to the center of the tray14in the width direction along the curve of the top surface of the tray14. This prevents the article12from laterally falling in the width direction of the tray14, thereby stably supporting the article12at the center of the tray14in the width direction.

As indicated by a virtual line inFIG. 1, the tray14can be laterally inclined with respect to the conveying direction W (FIG. 1only shows a tray14inclined to the left). Thus, the article support surface14aof the tray14can be inclined from a horizontal plane so as to discharge the article12into one of a plurality of chutes18placed along the conveying direction W. The chutes18are connected to the respective destinations. The operation of the conveyor apparatus10is controlled so as to discharge the article12on the tray14into the chute18connected to the destination of the article12.

Moreover, an infill plate16serving as an infilling member is provided for each of the trays14so as to fill a clearance between the two trays14longitudinally arranged (adjacent to each other) along the conveying direction W. This configuration prevents a part or the whole of the article12from falling into a clearance between the trays14. The infill plate16is inclined with the corresponding tray14when the tray14is inclined.

Traveling Unit

FIG. 2is a side view of the conveyor apparatus10. As shown inFIG. 2, the tray14is supported by a traveling unit20. The traveling unit20travels along a rail (not shown inFIG. 2) laid along a conveying path. The entire traveling unit20is substantially shaped like a rectangular plate longitudinally extended along the conveying direction W. The traveling units20longitudinally arranged (adjacent to each other) along the conveying direction W are connected to each other via a coupler22. The coupler22is not specifically illustrated. The bodies of the connected traveling units20can vertically and horizontally pivot about the coupler22. Thus, even if the traveling units20travel along curves or ups and downs in the conveying path, the line of traveling units20can travel along the shape of the conveying path.

Moreover, the traveling unit20supports the tray14via an inclining part24. The inclining part24rotates a tray support member25, which vertically extends so as to support the tray14, by a driving force of a motor26and the like around an inclination axis P parallel to the conveying direction W, thereby inclining the tray14so as to incline the article support surface14aof the tray14from the horizontal plane.

Plate Support Part

Furthermore, a plate support part30supporting the infill plate16is provided at the front of the traveling unit20with respect to the conveying direction W. The plate support part30includes a plate inclining shaft32(infilling member inclining shaft) supported by the traveling unit20and a plate support34connected to the plate inclining shaft32.

The plate inclining shaft32is a long member axially extended along the conveying direction W. The plate inclining shaft32is extended coaxially with the inclination axis P of the tray14. Moreover, the plate inclining shaft32can rotate about the axial direction. If the infill plate16is inclined, the plate support34and the plate inclining shaft32both rotate along the axial direction of the plate inclining shaft32according to the inclination.

The plate support34includes a vertical part34athat is connected to the plate inclining shaft32and is vertically extended upward, and front extending parts34bthat extend forward from the vertical part34ain the conveying direction W. Moreover, a swing bar38is supported on the upper end of the vertical part34aand the rear ends of the front extending parts34bso as to form a swinging shaft laterally extending with respect to the conveying direction W. Furthermore, springs36vertically extending upward are respectively supported on the front sides of the front extending parts34b. The infill plate16is supported from below by the swing bar38and the springs36.

Infill Plate

The infill plate16can be made of, for example, injection-molded synthetic resin. As indicated by broken lines in the plan view ofFIG. 3, the infill plate16supported by the plate support part30is as large as the tray14in the width direction (a direction crossing the conveying direction W) and is longer than a clearance between the trays14in the longitudinal direction along the conveying direction W. The infill plate16is longer than the clearance in the longitudinal direction and thus extends from the front end of the rear tray14(the tray14indicated by a solid line on the right side inFIG. 3) to the bottom of the rear of the front tray14(the tray14indicated by a virtual line on the left side inFIG. 3), thereby completely filling the clearance in the longitudinal direction. As will be discussed below, a part of the infill plate16is disposed under the rear of the front tray14(a part overlapping the tray14in plan view) and the part will be called a plate contact part16a(infilling contact part). Moreover, a part of the tray14overlaps the plate contact part16a(the rear end extended along the conveying path or the conveying direction W) and the part will be called a tray contact part14b(support contact part).

When the trays14travel on a curve, the traveling directions of the tray14and the infill plate16intersect each other as indicated on the right end ofFIG. 3, so that the vertically overlapping area of the tray14and the infill plate16is small on one of the right and left sides (the right side inFIG. 3) and is large on the other side (the left side inFIG. 3) unlike when traveling on a linear part. Also in this case, in order to completely close the clearance, the right and left parts of the infill plate16in the width direction have larger longitudinal dimensions than the center of the infill plate16in the width direction.

As shown in a perspective view inFIG. 5, the bottom of the front side (plate contact part16a) of the infill plate16is supported from below by the springs36. Moreover, a bar fitting part38a, e.g., a groove or a hole sized to be fit to the swing bar38is provided below the rear side of the infill plate16(in this configuration, the bar fitting part38ais a hole). As has been discussed, the swing bar38fit into the bar fitting part38ais supported by the plate support part30. The infill plate16can vertically swing around the axis of the swing bar38.

As shown inFIG. 4A, when the infill plate16is viewed in a direction along line A-A ofFIG. 2(the front side along the conveying direction W), the plate contact part16alocated at the front of the infill plate16has a higher degree of upward curving (curvature) than the tray contact part14blocated at the rear of the tray14. In other words, the top surface of the plate contact part16ahas a smaller curvature radius than the bottom of the tray contact part14b. Thus, in the absence of urging by the springs36, the ends (right and left ends) of the top surface of the plate contact part16ain the width direction are in contact with the underside of the tray contact part14bas shown inFIG. 4A; whereas the center of the plate contact part16ain the width direction is not in contact with the tray contact part14b. As will be discussed later, as shown inFIG. 4B, the plate contact part16ain the width direction is entirely brought into contact with the tray contact part14bby being urged with the springs36.

Spring

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, the front extending parts34bof the plate support34are branches extending forward to the right and left. The two branch front extending parts34bsupport the respective springs36on the front ends. Thus, the two springs36are respectively disposed at two points separated in the width direction under the plate contact part16aand support the plate contact part16a.

When the spring36acting as an urging member is extended or compressed (displaced) from a length in a state of equilibrium (an external force is not applied), the spring36generates a force for restoration to the state of equilibrium, that is, a restoring force by the elasticity of the spring36. The spring36in the state of equilibrium is designed to be longer than a distance from a position where the plate support part30inFIGS. 2, 4Asupports the spring36(specifically, the top surface of the front extending part34bof the plate support34) to the bottom of the tray contact part14b. Thus, as shown inFIG. 4A, the springs36are compressed from a state of equilibrium in a state in which the center of the plate contact part16ain the width direction is separated from the tray contact part14band the upper ends of the springs36are in contact with the underside of the central part of the plate contact part16ain the width direction. Thus, the plate contact part16ais likely to extend upward to the tray contact part14b. The springs36extending upward press upward the central part of the plate contact part16ain the width direction while the upper ends of the springs36are in contact with the plate contact part16a. At this point, if the infill plate16is made of a flexible material (e.g., injection-molded synthetic resin), when the plate contact part16aof the infill plate16is pressed to the tray contact part14bby the springs36, the plate contact part16ais bent along the shape of the underside of the tray contact part14bby the flexibility of the plate contact part16a. Finally, as shown inFIG. 4B, the top surface of the plate contact part16ais in contact with the underside of the tray contact part14b, so that the plate contact part16aand the tray contact part14bare in contact with each other over the width direction.

As has been discussed, the plate contact part16aof the infill plate16is in contact with the tray contact part14bof the tray14, allowing the infill plate16to follow the movement of the tray14. For example, when the tray14laterally inclines, the infill plate16is inclined with the tray14while being kept in contact with the tray14.

In the conveyor apparatus10of the present embodiment, the plate contact part16aserving as the infilling contact part has a larger curvature than the tray contact part14bserving as the support contact part (the infill plate16has a smaller curvature radius than the tray14). Thus, the ends of the plate contact part16ain the width direction come into contact with the underside of the tray contact part14b, vertically leaving no clearance on the ends in the width direction.

Moreover, the tray contact part14bis urged to the plate contact part16aby the springs36and the tray contact part14bis in contact with the plate contact part16awhile being bent along the shape of the plate contact part16a. Thus, the plate contact part16ais brought into close contact with the plate contact part16aat the center of the plate contact part16ain the width direction as well as on the ends of the plate contact part16ain the width direction, vertically leaving no clearance over the width direction.

Furthermore, before the contact part is bent by urging, the upward curvature of the plate contact part16ais larger than that of the tray contact part14b(the plate contact part16ahas a smaller curvature radius than the tray contact part14b). Thus, even if the ends of the infill plate16in the width direction are slightly curved downward by the weight of the infill plate16as a result of using the infill plate16over an extended period, the curving affects the shape of the plate contact part16aso as to slightly reduce the upward curvature (increase the curvature radius), thereby bringing the curvature of the plate contact part16aclose to that of the tray contact part14b. In other words, even if the ends in the width direction are curved downward, the curving does not separate the plate contact part16afrom the tray contact part14bbut brings the shape of the plate contact part16aclose to that of the tray contact part14b. Thus, even if the ends of the plate contact part16ain the width direction are slightly curved downward, a clearance is not left between the plate contact part16aand the tray contact part14b. Similarly, even if the ends of the plate contact part16ain the width direction are slightly curved downward as a result of laterally inclining the tray14many times so as to press down the ends of the plate contact part16ain the lateral direction (width direction) many times, a clearance is not left between the plate contact part16aand the tray contact part14b. Thus, even if the infill plate16is made of a material, e.g., resin that is likely to be deformed over an extended period of use, a clearance is not left between the infill plate16and the tray14by some deformation, thereby keeping normal functions for a long time.

The infill plate16may curve downward to the front in the traveling direction (to the front end along the conveying path) as well as to the right and left in the width direction. In order to prevent a clearance from being vertically left between the tray14and the infill plate16even if the infill plate16curves downward to the front, as schematically illustrated in the balloon ofFIG. 2, the curvature of the front side of the plate contact part16ais preferably somewhat larger than that of the tray contact part14b(For understanding, the curvature of the plate contact part16ais larger than an actual curvature in the balloon ofFIG. 2). In other words, the curvature of the plate contact part16ais desirably larger than that of the tray contact part14bwhen viewed not only in the traveling direction (line A-A ofFIG. 2) as shown inFIG. 4Abut also from the side (in a direction crossing the traveling direction) as indicated in the balloon ofFIG. 2. If the infill plate16is made of injection-molded resin, the infill plate16can be formed with curvatures in the width direction and longitudinal direction (bent in various directions) because of quite a high degree of flexibility in shape.

As shown inFIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5, ribs17may be provided on the underside of the infill plate16so as to increase the strength of the infill plate16. If the ribs17are additionally provided after the infill plate16is fabricated without the ribs17, for example, the ribs17formed as separate plate members for the infill plate16are attached to the underside of the infill plate16by welding. When the ribs17are welded to the underside of the infill plate16, the infill plate16is slightly warped downward by heat of welding, and the downward warping affects the plate contact part16aso as to slightly reduce the upward curvature. Thus, the warping does not separate the plate contact part16afrom the tray contact part14bbut brings the shape of the plate contact part16aclose to the shape of the tray contact part14b. Thus, even if the plate contact part16ais slightly warped by welding the ribs17, a clearance is not left between the plate contact part16aand the tray contact part14b.

As has been discussed, according to the conveyor apparatus10of the present embodiment, a clearance between the trays14is filled with the infill plate16and a clearance between the infill plate16and the tray14is prevented from being left even if both ends of the infill plate16in the width direction are curved downward as a result of using the infill plate16for an extended period or repeatedly inclining the tray14in the lateral direction. This eliminates the need for exchanging the infill plate16each time the infill plate16is deformed, thereby suppressing the cost of resource acquisition for operating the conveyor apparatus10. Moreover, even if the ribs17are welded to the infill plate16later, a clearance is not left between the infill plate16and the tray14by the warp of the infill plate16, thereby increasing the strength of the infill plate16later. For example, another method may be used as follows: a load to the infill plate16is first checked by a test run on the conveyor apparatus10with the infill plate16not provided with the ribs17, and then the ribs17are welded later according to desired strength.

In the present embodiment, the infill plate16is made of a flexible material, e.g., synthetic resin and the plate contact part16aof the infill plate16is urged by the springs36as shown inFIG. 4B, so that the plate contact part16ais bent along the shape of the tray contact part14b. The plate contact part16amay be made of a material such as wood that is not so flexible, so that the plate contact part16ais not bent along the shape of the tray contact part14b. In this case, the plate contact part16ais not bent and thus as shown inFIG. 4A, the center of the plate contact part16ain the width direction is separated from the tray contact part14b. If the plate contact part16aof the infill plate16has a different shape from the other part (rear part) of the infill plate16, the article12is prevented from partially falling between the tray contact part14band the center of the plate contact part16ain the width direction. For example, if a step is provided between the plate contact part16aof the infill plate16and the other rear part of the infill plate16and the rear end of the tray14is brought into contact with the perpendicular face of the step, a clearance is not left between the rear end of the tray14and the infill plate16. Thus, the article12does not partially fall into a clearance between the tray contact part14band the center of the plate contact part16ain the width direction. Needless to say, if the infill plate16is made of a flexible material, a step is not necessary between the plate contact part16aand the other part and thus the top surface of the infill plate16may be entirely smoothed.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the entire infill plate16is made of a flexible material (e.g., injection-molded synthetic resin). Only the plate contact part16aof the infill plate16may be flexible. For example, if the infill plate16is made of synthetic resin, the plate contact part16amay have a small thickness and the other part may have a large thickness, so that the plate contact part16ais likely to be bent while the other part is not easily bent.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, the two springs36are provided in the width direction. Three or more springs may be provided according to the sizes and shapes of the tray14and the infill plate16. If the tray14and the infill plate16are extremely large in size, a load may be unevenly applied to the overall infill plate16by the elastic force of the two springs36. The load can be evenly applied to the overall infill plate16by increasing the number of springs36. If the tray14and the infill plate16are small in size, a load applied to the overall infill plate16is not so uneven even in the case of the single spring36. Thus, the number of components may be reduced by placing the single spring36, for example, under the center of the plate contact part16aof the infill plate16in the width direction.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the springs36shown inFIG. 5are used as urging members for urging the plate contact part16ato the tray contact part14b. Any member may be used as long as the plate contact part16ais always pressed to the tray contact part14b. For example, the spring36may be replaced with a restoring force member, e.g., a rubber cylinder or an air cylinder. The restoring force member generates a restoring force for restoration to a state of equilibrium according to a displacement from a state where an external force is not applied (a state of equilibrium). Even if a restoring force member other than the springs36is used, the restoring force member may be disposed so as to apply a restoring force in a direction that presses the plate contact part16ato the tray contact part14b, so that the infill plate16moves according to a movement of the tray14and the plate contact part16abends along the shape of the tray contact part14b.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, the springs36are disposed under the plate contact part16aso as to urge the plate contact part16ato the tray contact part14b. The springs36may be replaced with the infill plate16(particularly the plate contact part16a) made of an elastic material, e.g., rubber, so that the plate contact part16ais urged to the tray contact part14bby the elasticity of the plate contact part16aand is brought into contact with the tray contact part14bwhile being bent along the shape of the tray contact part14b. With this configuration, the plate contact part16acan be urged to the tray contact part14bwithout the springs36. This eliminates the need for preparing the springs36and reduces the number of kinds of components constituting the conveyor apparatus10. Thus, the cost of component acquisition can be lowered and the number of spare parts to be kept for maintenance can be reduced. Moreover, the springs36do not need to be disposed and thus the process of assembly of the conveyor apparatus10can be simplified. This can reduce the initial cost of constructing the conveyor apparatus10and the maintenance cost.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 4A, the curvature of the plate contact part16ais substantially constant in the width direction. Actually, a point near one end of the plate contact part16ain the width direction is more likely to curve downward than a point near the center of the plate contact part16ain the width direction. Thus, it is desirable to form the infill plate16so as to gradually and continuously increase the curvature toward the ends of the plate contact part16a(gradually reduce the curvature radius). Furthermore, it is desirable to form the infill plate16so as to gradually and continuously increase the curvature toward the front end along the conveying path as well as in the width direction.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST