Variable pitch device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11780685-B2
Application number	US-202017125170-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2020
Priority date	Dec 19, 2019
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

A variable pitch device includes a body, a drive unit fixed to the body, a plurality of movable fingers disposed movably along a longitudinal direction of the body, and a driving force transmission mechanism that transmits a driving force of the drive unit to the movable fingers. The driving force transmission mechanism is formed of a connecting block connected to an end block driven in a vertical direction, a cam plate accommodated in the body and connected to the connecting block, and four finger pins inserted through first to fourth cam grooves of the cam plate. The finger pins are disposed movably in the longitudinal direction along guide holes of the body and connected to the movable fingers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable pitch device comprising:
a body;
a drive unit connected to the body;
a plurality of movable fingers disposed movably along a longitudinal direction of the body; and
a driving force transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the drive unit to the movable fingers,
the variable pitch device moving the plurality of movable fingers along the longitudinal direction under a driving action of the drive unit, wherein:
the driving force transmission mechanism includes a cam plate provided on the body, and configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the movable fingers;
a plurality of cam grooves, which are inclined with respect to the direction of movement, are formed in the cam plate, and finger pins as portions of the movable fingers are inserted through the cam grooves; and
a fixed finger disposed at a center in the longitudinal direction of the body,
wherein the driving force transmission mechanism is configured to move the plurality of movable fingers in a manner so that the plurality of movable fingers and the fixed finger are arranged at an equal interval separation in the direction of movement of the plurality of movable fingers,
the body includes a main body portion formed along the longitudinal direction of the body,
the main body portion includes: a finger accommodating section formed on a front side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body, and configured to accommodate the plurality of movable fingers; and an accommodation chamber formed on a rear side opposite to the front side, and recessed from the rear side toward the front side,
the cam plate is accommodated in the accommodation chamber so as to be movable in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable fingers,
the body includes a cover member fixed to the main body portion so as to cover the accommodation chamber,
the main body portion includes a separating wall that separates the finger accommodating section and the accommodation chamber,
the separating wall includes a guide hole extending along the longitudinal direction of the body, and
the finger pins pass through the separating wall and are inserted into the cam grooves.

2. The variable pitch device according to claim 1 , wherein the body is equipped with a guide member extending along the longitudinal direction and configured to guide the movable fingers along the direction of movement.

3. The variable pitch device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive unit comprises a cylinder device and is configured in a manner that an output shaft of the drive unit moves forward and rearward along an axial direction under a fluid supplying action.

4. The variable pitch device according to claim 1 , wherein the body is equipped with a stopper mechanism configured to regulate an amount of movement of the movable fingers in an opening direction in which the movable fingers are separated from each other in the direction of movement.

5. The variable pitch device according to claim 4 , wherein the stopper mechanism includes a stopper member disposed so as to be movable forward and rearward along the longitudinal direction of the body, and configured to contact an end portion in the direction of movement of the movable fingers.

6. The variable pitch device according to claim 4 , wherein the stopper mechanism is made up from a fluid pressure cylinder equipped with a stopper member disposed so as to be movable forward and rearward along the longitudinal direction of the body under a fluid supplying action, the stopper mechanism being configured to, by changing a position of the stopper member along the longitudinal direction, switch between a regulated state in which the amount of movement of the movable fingers in the opening direction is regulated, and an unregulated state in which movement of the movable fingers in the opening direction is not regulated.

7. A variable pitch device comprising:
a body:
a drive unit connected to the body;
a plurality of movable fingers disposed movably along a longitudinal direction of the body; and
a driving force transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the drive unit to the movable fingers,
the variable pitch device moving the plurality of movable fingers in a manner so that an interval separation between the movable fingers becomes even along the longitudinal direction under a driving action of the drive unit, wherein:
the driving force transmission mechanism includes a cam plate provided on the body, and configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the movable fingers; and
a plurality of cam grooves, which are inclined with respect to the direction of movement, are formed in the cam plate, and finger pins as portions of the movable fingers are inserted through the cam grooves,
wherein the drive unit includes an output shaft configured to output the driving force by being displaced along an axial direction, the axial direction of the output shaft is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable fingers, and the output shaft and the cam plate are connected by a connecting member,
the body includes a main body portion formed along the longitudinal direction of the body,
the main body portion includes: a finger accommodating section formed on a front side perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body, and configured to accommodate the plurality of movable fingers; and an accommodation chamber formed on a rear side opposite to the front side, and recessed from the rear side toward the front side,
the cam plate is accommodated in the accommodation chamber so as to be movable in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable fingers,
the body includes a cover member fixed to the main body portion so as to cover the accommodation chamber,
the main body portion includes a separating wall that separates the finger accommodating section and the accommodation chamber,
the separating wall includes a guide hole extending along the longitudinal direction of the body, and
the finger pins pass through the separating wall and are inserted into the cam grooves.

8. A variable pitch device comprising:
a body;
a drive unit connected to the body;
a plurality of movable fingers disposed movably along a longitudinal direction of the body; and
a driving force transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force of the drive unit to the movable fingers,
the variable pitch device moving the plurality of movable fingers in a manner so that an interval separation between the movable fingers becomes even along the longitudinal direction under a driving action of the drive unit, wherein:
the driving force transmission mechanism includes a cam plate provided on the body, and configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the movable fingers; and
a plurality of cam grooves, which are inclined with respect to the direction of movement, are formed in the cam plate, and portions of the movable fingers are inserted through the cam grooves,
wherein the drive unit includes an output shaft configured to output the driving force by being displaced along an axial direction, and the axial direction of the output shaft is parallel to the direction of movement of the movable fingers.

9. The variable pitch device according to claim 8 , wherein the driving force transmission mechanism includes an output conversion unit configured to convert an output direction of the driving force into the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the movable fingers, and to transmit the driving force to the cam plate.

Assignees

• Smc Corp

Inventors

• Seo Takeshi

Classifications

• B65G47/907 Primary

  with at least two picking-up heads · CPC title

• B23Q1/44

  using particular mechanisms (B23Q1/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65G35/06

  comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path (effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32) · CPC title

• B65G47/918 Primary

  with at least two picking-up heads · CPC title

• B65G47/26 Primary

  arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles · CPC title