Relay device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10160561-B2
Application number	US-201815906957-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2018
Priority date	Mar 1, 2017
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

Provided is a relay device capable of moving objects to be conveyed from a conveying section of a continuous conveying system to a conveying section of an intermittent conveying system in various modes. The relay device includes: a first conveying section that conveys the objects to be conveyed, continuously in a forward direction in a first direction; a second conveying section that transfers a plurality of assembly sections intermittently in the forward direction in the first direction; a relay conveying section provided between the first conveying section and the second conveying section; and a relay driving section that moves the relay conveying section in the first direction. The relay driving section moves the relay conveying section in the forward direction in the first direction, at the same speed as a speed at which the plurality of objects are conveyed in the forward direction of the first direction by the first conveying section, at least while the first pusher moves the plurality of objects in the forward direction of the second direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A relay device comprising:
a first conveying section that conveys a plurality of objects to be conveyed, continuously in a forward direction of a first direction;
a second conveying section that conveys a plurality of assembly sections, intermittently in the forward direction of the first direction;
a relay conveying section provided between the first conveying section and the second conveying section with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
a relay driving section that moves the relay conveying section in the forward direction and a reverse direction of the first direction;
a first pusher that moves two or more of the plurality of objects conveyed by the first conveying section, in a forward direction of the second direction, so as to dispose the two or more objects on the relay conveying section; and
a second pusher that moves the two or more objects in the forward direction of the second direction after the two or more objects are disposed on the relay conveying section by the first pusher, so as to dispose the two or more objects on one or more of the plurality of assembly sections,
wherein the relay driving section moves the relay conveying section in the forward direction of the first direction, at a same speed as a speed at which the plurality of objects are conveyed in the forward direction of the first direction by the first conveying section, at least while the first pusher is moving the two or more objects in the forward direction of the second direction.

2. The relay device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the relay conveying section has a plurality of introducing passages,
the first pusher disposes the two or more objects on the plurality of introducing passages,
the second pusher moves the two or more objects in the forward direction of the second direction after the two or more objects are disposed on the plurality of introducing passages, so as to dispose the two or more objects on one or more of the plurality of assembly sections, and
the relay driving section moves the plurality of introducing passages in the forward direction of the first direction, at a same speed as a speed at which the plurality of objects are moved in the forward direction of the first direction by the first conveying section, at least while the first pusher is moving the two or more objects in the forward direction of the second direction.

3. The relay device according to claim 2 , further comprising a relay pusher that moves the two or more objects disposed on the plurality of introducing passages, in the forward direction of the second direction.

4. The relay device according to claim 3 , further comprising a first pusher driver that moves the first pusher in the second direction and in a height direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction, wherein:
while the first pusher is moved in the forward direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver disposes the first pusher at a position in the height direction where the first pusher makes contact with the two or more objects, and
while the first pusher is moved in a reverse direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver raises the first pusher above the two or more objects and then lowers the first pusher to a position below height of the two or more objects.

5. The relay device according to claim 3 , wherein the first pusher and the relay pusher are connected with each other and operate in conjunction with each other.

6. The relay device according to claim 5 , further comprising a first pusher driver that moves the first pusher and the relay pusher in the second direction and in a height direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction, wherein:
while the first pusher and the relay pusher are moved in the forward direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver disposes the first pusher and the relay pusher at positions in the height direction such that the first pusher makes contact with two or more objects and the relay pusher makes contact with other two or more of the objects, and
while the first pusher and the relay pusher are moved in a reverse direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver raises the first pusher and the relay pusher above the two or more objects and then lowers the first pusher and the relay pusher to positions below height of the two or more objects.

7. The relay device according to claim 3 , further comprising a first pusher driver that moves the first pusher and the relay pusher in the second direction and in a height direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction, wherein:
while the first pusher and the relay pusher are moved in the forward direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver disposes the first pusher and the relay pusher at positions in the height direction such that the first pusher makes contact with two or more objects and the relay pusher makes contact with other two or more of the objects, and
while the first pusher and the relay pusher are moved in a reverse direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver raises the first pusher and the relay pusher above the two or more objects and then lowers the first pusher and the relay pusher to positions below height of the two or more objects.

8. The relay device according to any one of claim 3 , wherein the first pusher and the relay pusher are connected to the relay conveying section and are moved in an integrated fashion, together with the relay conveying section, with respect to the first direction.

9. The relay device according to claim 3 , wherein:
the relay conveying section further has a junction passage where the plurality of introducing passages merge,
the relay pusher assembles the two or more objects disposed on the plurality of introducing passages, onto the junction passage, so as to dispose the two or more objects together, and
the second pusher moves the two or more objects disposed together on the junction passage, in the forward direction of the second direction so as to dispose the two or more objects together on one of the plurality of assembly sections.

10. The relay device according to claim 9 , further comprising a first pusher driver that moves the first pusher in the second direction and in a height direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction, wherein:
while the first pusher is moved in the forward direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver disposes the first pusher at a position in the height direction where the first pusher makes contact with the two or more objects, and
while the first pusher is moved in a reverse direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver raises the first pusher above the two or more objects and then lowers the first pusher to a position below height of the two or more objects.

11. The relay device according to claim 9 , wherein the first pusher and the relay pusher are connected with each other and operate in conjunction with each other.

12. The relay device according to claim 11 , further comprising a first pusher driver that moves the first pusher and the relay pusher in the second direction and in a height direction perpendicular to each of the first direction and the second direction, wherein:
while the first pusher and the relay pusher are moved in the forward direction of the second direction, the first pusher driver disposes the first pusher and the relay pusher at positions in the height direction such that the first pusher makes contact with two or more objects and the relay pusher makes

Assignees

• Toyo Jidoki Kk

Inventors

• Nakamoto Kakue

Classifications

• B65G47/52 Primary

  Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices (loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00) · CPC title

• B65G47/82

  Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} · CPC title

• B65G47/57 Primary

  for articles · CPC title

• B65B43/52

  using roller-ways or endless conveyors · CPC title

• B65G47/082 Primary

  grouping articles in rows · CPC title