BELT TYPE TRANSFER APPARATUS AND SECTIONAL ROLLER USED THEREIN

Abstract: A belt type transfer apparatus which has a plurality of rollers arranged in two rows in the transfer direction, and a plurality of pairs of belts set in two rows over these rollers, and which is adapted to transfer object articles, such as ampules, vials, and bottles or cans for drink and food while holding them between the belts. These belts are passed around the rollers in such a manner that the object holding belts in one row cross the belts in the other row, in a position in the vicinity of the rollers in the latter row in a direction conversion zone. When the belts pass through this zone, they are bent in accordance with the size of the object articles, so that the direction of advancement of the belts is changed smoothly. The rollers at which the transfer speed is changed consist of sectional rollers composed of a plurality of sectional pulleys mounted rotatably on one shaft. Belts of different speeds are passed around the sectional pulleys, and the pulleys are rotated independently in accordance with belt speed so as to offset a difference in the rotational speed.

Description: Background Art Conventionally, small cylindrical medical bottles such as ampules, vials or the like are successively filled with a medical liquid in a clean and in particular aseptic room by a filing machine, encased in cases and then brought to the exterior of the clean, aseptic room. In the production of such bottled medical liquid, it is a key for the guarantee of the quality to enhance the cleanness, in particular asepsis, during filling. To this end, it is convenient to minimize the volume of the clean room, while serving as much as possible the number of workers and machines in the clean room, so as to enable the bottles stuffed with the liquid to be directly conveyed to the exterior of the clean room without any manual labor. To cope with such demand, a belt-type transfer apparatus is known (JP-A-62-167120), which has a row of rollers extending in the direction of transfer or convey and another row of rollers arranged at predetermined spacing from the first row. Belts are stretched between rollers and also between further rollers so that two rows of groups of belts are formed in pairs, the respective rollers are driven by a driving system at the same speed so that objects such as ampules are pinched between and transferred by the belts. In this known belt-type transfer apparatus, two rows of rollers are arranged to define a path which first extends horizontally and then vertically or a path in which the objects which are being transferred are progressively turned sideways and then upright. The belts are stretched over these rollers and the rollers are driven at the same speed by a driving unit such as a motor which is disposed at the outlet end of the path, whereby the objects are conveyed from the clean room to the exterior via an intermediate chamber. This belt-type transfer apparatus enables the objects such as ampules to be safety and stably conveyed to a destined position over a long distance without requiring any specific attention to timing of the transfer, thus contributing to enhancement of the asepsis and realization of unmanned operation. This transfer system can transfer the objects in any desired direction over a long distance. For changing the transfer direction, a pair of rollers is provided at a corner or region where the direction is to be changed, and belts are stretched to define the new direction of the transfer path. The distance between the rollers must be maintained constant in conformity with the size of the objects to be transferred. This requires that the distance between the pair of the rollers be delicately adjusted in accordance with the size of the object to be transferred. If this adjustment is failed, troubles are caused such as collapse of the object due to too narrow gap between the rollers or dropping or throwing off the object due to too large gap between the rollers. In addition, readjustment of the gap between the rollers. is necessary each time the type of the object to be transferred is changed, in conformity with the size of the new type of the object. Thus, the known transfer apparatus cannot be used for a plurality of types of objects having different sizes. Another problem encountered with this known transfer apparatus is that, when the objects are transferred at high speed, it is not easy to receive and encase the objects which jump off the outlet of the transfer apparatus. Deceleration is necessary to obviate this problem and to ensure a smooth delivery of the objects to a next step. Problems are caused also when a plurality of driving motors are used for a long-distance transfer. In such a case, adjacent rollers may be driven at different speeds, causing mechanical overload between the rollers and the belts, resulting in damages of the rollers and the belts or rubbing of the rollers and belts to generate dust which causes contamination. It is therefore necessary to smoothly absorb any difference in the rotation speed between adjacent rollers at selected region of the transfer apparatus where any difference of roller speed takes place. In a known device for handling ends for tins (WO-A-85-03 497) a number of ropes run around rollers so as to realize a three-point support of the peripheral portion of each round and flat object to be transferred. In arear in which the objects change their travelling direction the objects are supported by ropes running over guide discs wherein the distances of the several ropes or belts supporting the objects to be transferred have to be adjusted accurately. Furthermore, in an apparatus for lifting box-like objects by a rope conveyer (JP-Ul-61-8629) in which at an area where the transferring direction is altered, a transfer conveyer is interposed between a horizontal conveyer and an inclined conveyer opposite to a back-face conveyer. In this known apparatus, the objects to be transferred are sandwitched between opposite belts only when they are transferred by the inclined conveyer so that such known apparatus is not suitable for securely transferring cylindrical objects like bottles, ampules or vials. The inventors have found, as a result of an intensive study, that a belt type transfer apparatus capable of changing transfer direction regardless of the size of the objects without requiring any readjustment is obtainable by adopting a specific arrangement of the rollers and a specific manner of setting the belts. The inventors also have found that any difference in the rotation speed of the rollers due to a change in the transfer speed can be absorbed smoothly by a specific construction of the roller. The object of the invention is to provide a belt type transfer apparatus having two rows of belts which can smoothly change the transfer direction and which can transfer different types of objects of different diameters without causing breakage of the objects. Furthermore, it is object of the invention is to provide a sectional roller for use in a belt type transfer apparatus which is capable of absorbing differences in the rotation speed between adjacent rollers. According to the present invention, there is provided (see claim 1) a belt-type transfer apparatus having two rows of rollers arranged to extend in a desired direction of transfer pairs of belts wound around successive rollers of the respective rows so as to form two trains of belts and so as to clamp therebetween objects to be conveyed, and at least one drive roller included in each row of rollers and adapted to be driven by a drive unit so as to drive the belts associated with the rollers of the same row, thereby enabling the pair of trains of belts to clamp and transfer the objects, wherein in the vicinity of one of the rollers of one of the rows around which belts are wound to provide different directions of transfer, the successive belts associated with the rollers of the other row are arranged to intersect each other at their run sides for clamping the objects, thereby enabling the direction of transfer of the objects to be changed. The direction of transfer of the objects is changed when it passes by the above-mentioned roller around which belts are wound to provide different directions of transfer. Since the successive belts associated with the rollers of the other row are arranged to intersect each other at their run sides for clamping the objects in the region near the above-mentioned roller, the intersecting belts are made to flex in accordance with the side of the object so that the direction of transfer can be changed smoothly regardless of a slight variation in the size of the objects. This also enables objects of different sizes to be transferred by the same apparatus without requiring any readjustment. The invention also provides a sectional roller for use in a belt type transfer apparatus, comprising a plurality of segregation pulley segments fitted by a common shaft for independent rotation. Belts running at different speeds are wound on different segregation pulleys so that the pulley segments rotate independently of each other at the speed of the associated belts, thus absorbing differences in the rotation speed. Consequently, any mechanical overload due to differences in the rotation speed of rollers is eliminated to reduce damaging, while prolonging the life of the parts, and to prevent contamination attributable to generation of dust which otherwise may be caused. In other wards, the invention provides a belt type transfer apparatus which can safely transfer to a destined location various types of objects such as columnar objects, e.g., ampules or vials filled with medical liquids, bottles or cans of foods or beverages, and so forth. More particularly, the present invention provides in a belt type transfer apparatus a sectional roller used in the apparatus, wherein the arrangement of rollers and the manner in which belts are stretched around these rollers are so improved as to enable direction of transfer to be switched without requiring any change-over operation and to enable absorption of any difference in the rotation speed of the rollers which occurs at predetermined portion of the apparatus due to a change in the transfer speed. The invention will be more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an illustration of the arrangement of rollers and the manner in which belts are engaged with the rollers in a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an illustration of the arrangement of rollers and the manner in which belts are engaged with the rollers in a second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is an illustration of a modification of the embodiments, Fig. 6 is an illustration of another modification of the embodiment, Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a sectional roller embodying the present invention and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the sectional roller of Fig. 7. In Figs. 1 and 2 rollers 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 of a first row of rollers are arranged in a region where the direction of transfer is changed. Similarly, rollers 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 and 12-4 are arranged to form a second row of rollers in this region. Each of the rollers 11-1 to 11-3 and 12-1 to 12-4 is provided in its peripheral surface with a plurality of grooves 14 for receiving belts 13. In the first row of rollers, the rollers 11-1 and 11-3 are so arranged that the direction of path of transfer is flexed around the roller 11-2 by an angle ϑ from a direction A to a direction B. Different belts are stretched between the rollers 11-1 and 11-2 and between the rollers 11-2 and 11-3. In the other row of rollers, the roller 12-3 is positioned on the extension of the transfer path in the direction A, whereas the roller 12-2 is positioned on the extension of the transfer path in the direction B. A plurality of belts are alternately arranged around the rollers 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 and around the rollers 12-2, 12-3 and 12-4. Thus, the belts 13 around the rollers 12-1,12-2, 12-3 and the belts 13 around the rollers 12-2, 12-3 and 12-4 are arranged to intersect each other at the angle ϑ at their nipping runs at a position in the vicinity of the roller 11-2 of the first row at which the direction of path is changed. The rollers 11 and 12 of the two rows of rollers are arranged such that the surfaces of the belts 13 for clamping the object 15 is spaced by a distance which is slightly smaller than the size of an object 15 to be transferred. These rollers 11, 12 are power-driven to run at constant speed by driving units which are not shown. In operation, the object 15 is pinched between and conveyed by the belts 13, 13 in the direction A and, after passing the region around the roller 11-2, conveyed in the direction B. When the object 15 makes a turn around the roller 11-2, the belts 13, 13 on the rollers 12 of the second row, intersecting each other at the angle ϑ at their straight runs, are allowed to flex in the direction normal to the direction of convey in accordance with the size of the object 15. More specifically, as will be seen from Fig. 1, the belts 13, 13 flex only by a small amount (a) when the object 15a has a small size, whereas, when the object has a large size, as denoted by 15b, the belts 13, 13 flex by a large amount (b). It is therefore possible to eliminate troubles such as breakage of the objects 15 due to too small spacing or dropping or throwing of the same due to too large spacing. In addition, there is no need for conducting readjustment of the spacing of rollers for the transfer of objects 15a, 15b of different sizes, because the belts 13,13 conveniently flex at the region where the direction of the transfer is changed. In Fig. 3, rollers 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 and 11-4 are arranged to form a row which is curved or bent along the path of transfer, while rollers 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, 12-5 and 12-6 are arranged to form the other row of rollers. More pecifically, the rollers 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 and 11-4 are so arranged that the direction of convey is changed by an angle ϑ₁ from the initial direction A around the roller 11-2 and further changed by an angle ϑ₂ about the roller 11-3. Belts 13, 13 are stretched between the pairs of successive rollers 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 and 11-4 as illustrated. In the other row of the rollers, the roller 12-3 is disposed on the extension of the direction A, while the roller 12-2 is arranged on the extension of a line which intersects the direction A at the angle ϑ₁. In addition, the roller 12-5 is disposed on the extension of the above-mentioned line which intersects the direction A at the angle ϑ₁ at the opposite side to the roller 12-2. The roller 12-4 is disposed on the extension of the line parallel to the direction B of the transfer. A plurality of belts 13 are alternately wound around groups of rollers: namely, rollers 12-1, 12-2 and 12-3, rollers 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 and 12-5 and rollers 12-4, 12-5 and 12-6. Namely, the belts 13 going around the rollers 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, of the second row and the belts 13 going around the rollers 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, 12-5 of the same row intersect each other at the angle ϑ₁ at their nipping runs in the region around the direction changing roller 11-2. Similarly, the belts 13 wound around the rollers 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 and 12-5 of the second row and the belts 13 wound around the rollers 12-4, 12-5 and 12-6 of the same row intersect each other at the angle ϑ₂ at their nipping runs in the region around the direction changing roller 11-3. Other portions are the same as those described before in connection with the first embodiment. In operation, an object 15 is nipped between and conveyed by the belts 13,13 in the direction A and then makes a turn about the roller 11-2 by the angle ϑ₁. The direction of convey is further changed by the angle ϑ₂ about the roller 11-3 so that the object 15 is finally transferred in the direction B. As in the case of the first embodiment, the plurality of groups of belts 13,13, 13 intersecting at angles ϑ₁ and ϑ₂ about the rollers 11-2 and 11-3, respectively, are made to flex by amounts corresponding to the size of the object 15 as the object passes by each direction changing roller 11-1,11-3. Thus, in the second embodiment of the invention, the change of the transfer direction from the direction A to the direction B is performed in stages: namely, first by an angle ϑ₁ and then by an angle ϑ₂. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle ϑ₁ and ϑ₂ are respectively set to be 45° from the directions A and B. Referring to Fig. 5 which shows a modification of the first embodiment, the rollers are arranged in the same manner as that in the first embodiment but the manner of winding of the belts 13 is changed. Namely, belts 13 are respectively wound around the rollers 12-1 and 12-3 and between the rollers 12-2 and 12-3 such that the belts around the rollers 12-1 and 12-3 and the belts around the roller 12-2 and 12-3 intersect each other. The operation of this modification is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment, but the rollers 12-2 and 12-3 have to be driven separately from each other because they are not drivingly connected to each other. In an arrangement shown in Fig. 6, a pair of roller and belt arrangements, each being the same as that described in the first embodiment, are arranged in series so as to provide a change in the transfer direction from the direction A to the direction B in stages, i.e., first by an angle ϑ₁ and then by an angle ϑ₂. In this modification, the same effect is produced by each direction changing portion as that in the first embodiment. Consequently, the direction of transfer is changed from the direction A to the direction B in the same manner as in the second embodiment. This modification, however, requires greater numbers of rollers 12 and belts 13 than the second embodiment. The transfer apparatus of the present invention can transfer objects having diameters of several millimeters or greater. It has been confirmed that different types of ampules, having diameters varying between 10 mm and 18 mm, can be transferred without necessitating readjustment of the apparatus. Any number of belts, one,two or more, belts, can be used between the rollers 11, as well as between the rollers 12. Thus, the number of belts used in parallel is determined to be, for example, three to four, according to the size of the objects 15 to be transferred. The belts may be flat or may be of the type used in the described embodiments. The material of belts also can be selected freely. All what is required is that belts are wound on a direction changing roller in the first row so as to change the direction of convey and that belts on the rollers of the other row intersect each other at an angle substantially equal to the amount of change of the transfer direction at their pinching sides, in the region around the direction changing roller of the first row. The angle of intersection can be freely determined in accordance with the angle of change of the transfer direction, e.g., from several degrees up to 90°. Although the second embodiment as described employ two regions where the transfer direction is changed, it is possible to design the apparatus such that a plurality of such direction changing regions is provided. Furthermore, the belts are preferably arranged such that they intersect each other substantially at the midst of their runs between the associated rollers, in order to maximize the margin for the flexing of these belts. The sectional roller of Figs 7 and 8 has a plurality of pulley segments 21 with bearings 22 and a shaft 23. The pulley segments 21 have an equal diameter and are respectively provided with substantially semi-circular grooves 21a formed in their outer peripheral surfaces so as to receive belts 26. The pulley segments 21 are rotatably carried by the shaft 23 through respective bearings 22. Spacers 24 are provided between adjacent pulley segments 21 so as to maintain a constant interval between adjacent pulley segments 21. Although not exclusive, the number of the pulley segments 21 generally ranges between two and twenty, preferably between four to sixteen. In case of the transfer of ampules,for example, eight pulley segments in total are used to enable the use of four belts. The shaft 23 is threaded at its one end as at 23a,and a fixing nut 25 is screwed to this threaded end 23a. Thus, the sectional roller is secured to the threaded end 23a of the shaft 23 by means of the nut 25. Belts 26 extending in a direction C and belts 26 extending in a direction D which is in 180° difference from the direction C are wound on alternating pulley segments 21 of each sectional roller. The pulley segments 21 associated with the the belts 26 extending in the direction C and the pulley segments 21 associated with the belts 26 extending in the direction D are rotatable independently of each other because they are rotatably supported by the shaft 23 through independent bearings 22. It is therefore possible to absorb any difference in the running speed between these belts. Consequently, any mechanical overload which may otherwise be caused due to differences in the rotation speed can be eliminated and the consequent dust generation due to rubbing is also avoided, thus preventing contamination The sectional roller as described, when provided at the outlet of the belt type transfer apparatus or in the vicinity of the inlet to the next step of process, can absorb any difference in the rotation speed caused by deceleration, thus ensuring gentle and smooth discharge of the objects, without any fall-down, or smooth delivery of the same to the next step of the process. Transfer of objects over a long distance usually requires a plurality of driving motors, which inevitably is accompanied by generation of differences in the rotation speed between the rollers driven by different motors. The sectional roller of the invention can effectively absorb such a difference in the rotation speed, thus making a great contribution to the improvement in the production efficiency in the long-distance transfer of objects. Furthermore, the sectional roller of the invention, when used in the belt type transfer apparatus of the invention having improved roller and belt arrangement, ensures a smooth change of the transfer direction by absorbing any difference in the rotation speed of the rollers. The sectional roller of the present invention, when used in a transfer apparatus for transferring ampules, vials or the like, preferably has eight pulley segments 21 to enable use of four belts 26 in each direction, i.e., eight belts 26 in total in alternating direction. This number of pulley segments 21, however, is only illustrative and the sectional pulley of the present invention essentially requires at least two pulley segments 21 which are rotatably mounted on the shaft 23 and which are adapted to engage with belts 26 running at different speeds. The size and the number of the pulley segments can be suitably determined in accordance with the shape and length of the objects to be conveyed, without being restricted to those in the described embodiments. The belts 26 engaging with the pulley segments 21 may have circular cross-section, as in the illustrated embodiment, or may be flat belts. The shape of the grooves is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the belt. It is not essential that two groups of belts extending from one sectional roller form 180° angle therebetween: namely,these two groups of belts may be arranged to form any desired angle therebetween in conformity with th angle through which the transfer direction is changed. As will be understood from the foregoing description, the belt type transfer apparatus of the present invention enables a smooth change of the direction of transfer without requiring any readjustment despite any change in the size of the objects to be transferred. The apparatus, therefore, can suitably be used in transferring ampules or vials charged with medial liquids, as well as bottles and cans stuffed with beverages and foods. Furthermore, the sectional roller in accordance with the present invention can suitably be used in a belt-type transfer apparatus employing pairs of belts, because it can absorb any change in the rotation speed of rollers caused by a variation in the transfer speed.

Claims: Belt-type transfer apparatus, having two rows of rollers (11 and 12) arranged to extend in a desired direction (A and B) of transfer, pairs of belts (13) wound around rollers of the respective rows so as to clamp therebetween objects (15) to be conveyed, and at least one drive roller in each row of rollers adapted to be driven by a drive unit so as to drive the belts associated with the rollers of the same row, thereby enabling said belts to transfer the objects, clamped therebetween, characterized in that in the vicinity of one of the rollers, (11-2) of one of said rows of rollers around which successive belts (13) are wound so as to form a first train of belts and to provide different directions (A and B) of transfer, successive belts (13) wound around successive rollers (12) of the other row of rollers and forming a second train of belts are arranged to intersect each other with their laterally yielding run sides, away from any roller (12), in an angle (ϑ) for clamping said objects (15), thereby enabling the direction of transfer of said objects to be changed. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rollers (11 and 12) of each of said rows of rollers include at least one sectional roller which comprises a plurality of pulley segments (21) carried by a shaft (23) for independent rotation. Roller for use in a belt type transfer apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of pulley segments (21) carried by a shaft (23) for independent rotation.

Inventors: WACHI HITOSHI, YAMATO HOUJI, WACHI, HITOSHI, YAMATO, HOUJI
Applicants: NIPPON KAYAKU KK, NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65G15
IPC codes: B65G39, B65G15