WO2011052144A1 - Conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a conveying device having conveying units which are arranged parallel to one another in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, each conveying unit being provided with: a pair of endless chains which are arranged at intervals in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction and are provided with travelling sections that travel in the conveyance direction; a drive means for moving the pair of endless chains circularly; and a plurality of conveying rollers, which are disposed between the pair of endless chains along the conveyance direction thereof, and supported at both ends by the pair of endless chains. The conveyance rollers are supported on the pair of endless chains so as to be able to rotate freely around the roller-axis, which extends in the aforementioned perpendicular direction, and the rollers are tapered from the outer end to the inner end thereof.

Description

Transport device

The present invention relates to a transfer device.

As a conventional transport device, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a device is disclosed in which a transport target is placed on a roller and the transport target is transported by rotation of the roller. In this type of transport device, if the transport distance is increased, the transport target may be transported out of the center of the roller and fall off to the side.

Patent Documents 2 to 4 disclose a transport device using a conical roller in order to cope with rectangular transport objects having different sizes. In the transport device using the conical roller, it is possible to prevent the transport target from being transported out of the range of the transport track. In addition, the thing using the cone-shaped roller and aiming at the increase / decrease in conveyance speed is proposed (patent documents 5 thru / or 7).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-035207 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-321536 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-136428 JP 62-012562 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 53-030679 JP-A-60-144220 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-18504

Depending on the system in which the transfer device is employed, the movement of the transfer object being transferred may be stopped by an external force while operating the transfer device, and transferred to another device. At that time, since the roller is rotating, the conveyance object may be damaged due to friction between the roller and the conveyance object. Further, when an external force is applied to the conveyance object, the conveyance object may be displaced from the center of the roller.

An object of the present invention is to prevent the object to be conveyed from being deviated from the range of the conveyance path during the conveyance and to damage the object to be conveyed when an external force is applied for transfer. This is to reduce the occurrence of deviation.

According to this invention, it is a conveying apparatus provided with the 1st and 2nd conveying unit juxtaposed in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to a conveying direction, Comprising: The said 1st and 2nd conveying unit is said orthogonal A pair of endless chains that are spaced apart in the direction and have a travel section that travels in the transport direction; drive means that circulates the pair of endless chains; and the endless chain between the pair of endless chains A plurality of conveying rollers disposed along the traveling direction, and having both ends supported by the pair of endless chains, respectively, and the conveying rollers are freely rotatable about an axis extending in the orthogonal direction. The plurality of transport rollers in the first transport unit are rollers whose diameter decreases toward the second transport unit, A plurality of the transport roller in the second transport unit, the transport device, wherein the roller diameter toward said first transport unit side is a roller whose diameter is reduced is provided.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the transfer object from being transferred out of the range of the transfer track during transfer, and to damage the transfer object when an external force is applied for transfer. It is possible to reduce the occurrence of misalignment and misalignment.

The perspective view of the conveying apparatus A. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a chain 21 showing a support structure for a conveyance roller 23. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus A. FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus A. FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus A. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the attachment structure of the friction member 27. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the attachment position of the friction member 27. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus B. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus C. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus D. FIG. The exploded perspective view of the conveying apparatus E. FIG. Operation | movement explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus E. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the conveying apparatus F. FIG.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. An arrow X indicates the direction of conveyance of the conveyance object by the conveyance device A, and an arrow Y indicates an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction X. In this embodiment, although the tire T is assumed as a conveyance target object, it is not restricted to this. The transport apparatus A includes a base frame 10 and two sets of transport units 20 mounted on the base frame 10. The transport units 20 and 20 are arranged side by side in the Y direction symmetrically with respect to the center line CL.

The transport unit 20 includes a pair of endless chains 21 and 21 that are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction. The endless chain 21 extends in the X direction in the vertical plane (vertical plane) and is arranged in an oval shape, and the upper straight portion thereof is a transport side travel section that travels in the X direction and transports the tire T. .

The pair of endless chains 21 and 21 support a plurality of transport rollers 23 and define a circular movement track in which the transport tracks of the transport rollers 23 are arranged vertically. The plurality of transport rollers 23 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the track of the endless chain 21, one end of which is supported by one endless chain 21 and the other end is supported by the other endless chain 21. .

Each conveying roller 23 is supported by a pair of endless chains 21 and 21 so as to be freely rotatable about an axis extending in the Y direction. As the support structure, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a shaft 21a is provided on the endless chain 21, and the end portion of the transport roller 23 is rotatably attached to the shaft 21a.

The conveying roller 23 is a taper roller whose diameter is increased from one end portion (reduced diameter side end portion) 23a toward the other end portion (expanded diameter side end portion) 23b. In the present embodiment, the transport roller 23 is arranged so that the one end portion 23 a of the transport roller 23 of one transport unit 20 is positioned on the other transport unit 20 side. For this reason, the roller diameters of the plurality of transport rollers 23 in one transport unit 20 are reduced toward the other transport unit 20 side. In short, the conveyance roller 23 is arranged so that the diameter is small on the center side in the Y direction of the conveyance units 20 and 20 and the diameter is large on the outside in the Y direction.

The transport unit 20 includes a motor 22a, a speed reducer 22b, and sprockets 22d, 22d and 22e, 22e around which the endless chain 21 is wound as a drive device for circulating the pair of endless chains 21, 21. The motor 22a is a drive source for causing the pair of endless chains 21 and 21 to travel cyclically. The reduction gear 22b is a gear device that reduces the output of the motor 22a and transmits it to the shaft member 22c.

The sprockets (drives) 22d and 22d are mounted and fixed on the peripheral surface near the end of the shaft 22c extending in the Y direction. The shaft 22c is rotatably supported by support frames 24 and 25 separated in the Y direction. The sprockets (followers) 22e and 22e are separated from each other in the Y direction, and one is rotatably supported by the support frame 24 and the other is supported by the support frame 25. The sprocket 22d and the sprocket 22e are spaced apart from each other in the X direction. In this embodiment, two sprockets 22d and 22e are used for one endless chain 21, but three or more may be used.

Thus, by driving the motor 22a, the rotational force is transmitted to the sprockets 22d and 22d via the speed reducer 22b and the shaft member 22c, and the endless chains 21 and 21 travel by rotating the sprockets 22d and 22d. It will be. The endless chains 21 and 21 of the transport units 20 and 20 are driven synchronously by the motors 22a so that the traveling speeds thereof are the same.

The support frames 24 and 25 are arranged at predetermined intervals with the lower surfaces of both ends fixed to the plate-like base members 28 and 28. Each of the support frames 24 and 25 includes upper guide portions 24a and 25a and lower guide portions 24b and 25b protruding in the Y direction on the inner (opposite side) surface. These guide portions 24a, 25a, 24b, and 25b support the whole (or at least a part) of the upper straight portion (conveying side traveling section) and the lower straight portion (non-conveying side traveling section) of the endless chain 21 from below. Therefore, it extends continuously (or intermittently at a predetermined interval) along the X direction at positions below the upper and lower straight portions of the endless chain 21. As a result, the transport roller 23 is also indirectly supported by these guide portions 24a, 25a, 24b, and 25b.

Further, a support portion 25c protruding toward the support frame 24 is formed on the guide portion 25a. The support portion 25c is provided over the entire length of the guide portion 25a in the X direction. A friction member 27 is fixed to the upper surface of the support portion 25c. The friction member 27 has a strip shape extending in the X direction, and a material having a high friction coefficient on the surface thereof is desirable. For example, a material having a certain friction coefficient may be used. For example, the surface is roughened. A metal plate may be used. The support portion 25c may be provided on both the guide portions 25a and 25b.

The friction member 27 is disposed at a position in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 23 located in the transport side travel section. In the present embodiment, the friction member 27 is particularly at a position in contact with the relatively large-diameter end portion 23b. Has been placed. If the transport roller 23 is rotatably supported as in the present embodiment, the transport roller 23 may idle during transport of the tire T, and the transport force of the tire T may be inferior. Therefore, in this embodiment, the friction roller 27 prevents the conveyance roller 23 located in the conveyance-side travel section from slipping due to friction between the conveyance roller 23 and the friction member 27 and receives the rotation of the conveyance roller 23. ing.

The contact position of the friction member 27 with respect to the transport roller 23 may be a position other than the end 23b. For example, the contact position of the friction member 27 with respect to the conveyance roller 23 may be changed by making the attachment position of the friction member 27 with respect to the support portion 25c freely changeable.

FIG. 6A shows an example of the structure. In the example of the figure, a support portion 25c is formed on the side surface of the guide portion 25a so as to protrude in the Y direction, and a plurality of mounting holes 25d arranged in the Y direction are formed in the support portion 25c. The mounting hole 25d may be either a through hole or a non-through hole. The friction member 27 can change its position in the Y direction as shown in FIG. 6B by selecting and attaching one of the attachment holes 25d. Since the conveyance roller 23 is a taper roller, changing the position of the friction member 27 in the Y direction changes the contact pressure between the conveyance roller 23 and the friction member 27, and frictional force (that is, rotational force of the conveyance roller 23 due to friction) is generated. Adjustable.

In the present embodiment, the support portion 25c is formed on the support frame 25. However, the support portion 25c may be formed on the support frame 24, the support frames 24 and 25 may be provided with the support portion 25c, or the support portion 25c. May be formed in the shape of a beam constructed between the support frame 24 and the support frame 25.

The cover member 26 is supported by the upper ends of the support frames 24 and 25. The cover member 26 is a plate-like member that protrudes above the endless chain 21 and covers the upper side of the upper end straight portion of the endless chain 21. By providing the cover member 26, it is possible to prevent the conveyance object and the endless chain 21 from contacting each other. The upper end of each of the one end portion 23 a and the other end portion 23 b of the transport roller 23 is located above the cover member 26.

Next, the operation of the conveying apparatus A will be described with reference to FIGS. 3B, 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 3B, the tire T that is the conveyance object is placed so as to straddle the conveyance units 20 and 20. By driving the motor 22a, as shown in FIG. 4, the endless chain 21 circulates in the direction indicated by the arrow d1, and each of the transport rollers 23 supported by the endless chain 21 follows the annular track of the endless chain 21. Travel along. As a result, the tire T on the transport roller 23 is transported in the X direction. At that time, for the transport roller 23 located in the transport side travel section, the transport roller 23 rotates in the direction of the arrow d2 due to the friction between the transport roller 23 and the friction member 27, so that the tire T is moved from the travel speed of the endless chain 21. Can be transported in the X direction at a higher speed (chain traveling speed + roller rotational speed).

As shown on the left side of FIG. 3B, even if the tire T is placed with the center line CLt of the tire T shifted from the center line CL, the inner side of the transport roller 23 is a small-diameter taper roller. The conveyance speed differs between the enlarged diameter side end 23b and the reduced diameter side end 23a of the conveyance roller 23. Specifically, the conveyance speed is higher at the diameter-expanded side end 23b than at the diameter-reduced end 23a. For this reason, the tire T conveyed in the state of the left side of FIG. 3B is rotated (rotated counterclockwise) in the direction of arrow R1 in the process of conveyance.

As a result, as shown on the right side of FIG. 3B, the tire T is guided to the center in the Y direction, and the tire T is prevented from dropping from the transport device A. In this way, in the transport device A, the tire T can be transported while being centered in the Y direction center side, and can be prevented from being transported out of the range of the transport track during transport. Even when a tire having a size different from that of the tire T is transported, the tire T can be transported while being centered regardless of the size of the tire T because it can be centered in the Y direction center by the same action.

Further, since the transport roller 23 is a free roller that is rotatably supported, for example, an external force F in the direction opposite to the transport direction acts on the tire T being transported as shown in FIG. In this case, when the frictional force between the tire T and the conveyance roller 23 exceeds the frictional force between the conveyance roller 23 and the friction member 27, the conveyance roller 23 in contact with the tire T rotates in the arrow d3 direction, It is possible to reduce damage to T. In addition, when the position where the external force F acts is determined in advance, the configuration in which the friction member 27 is not provided at the position can further reduce the damage to the tire T.

Further, since the conveying roller 23 is a small-diameter taper roller on the inner side, even if a force in the Y direction acts on the tire T as a component force due to the external force F acting on the conveyance roller 23, the conveyance roller 23 runs on the large-diameter side of the taper roller. Therefore, the displacement of the tire T in the Y direction due to friction with the taper roller is reduced.

Further, when an external force F is applied, even if a bounce phenomenon occurs in which the tire T is displaced in the Y direction due to the impact and the tire T moves backward, and then repeats advancing and colliding again, gradually during repeated forward movement Thus, the tire T is centered to prevent the deviation from the range of the conveyance track.

As described above, the transport device A according to the present embodiment transports the tire T, which is a transport object, while being centered toward the center, and prevents the tire T from being transported out of the range of the transport track during transport. When the external force F is applied for mounting, the tire T can be prevented from being damaged or displaced.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, each transport unit 20 is provided with a motor 22a as a drive source individually. However, a common drive source may be provided for these transport units 20. Thereby, cost reduction can be aimed at. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a transport apparatus B according to another embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. In the figure, the same components as those of the conveying device A are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, different components will be described.

In the transfer device B, only one motor 22a and a speed reduction device 22b are provided, and the speed reduction device 22b is shared in addition to the motor 22a as a drive source. A shaft 22c ′ instead of the shaft 22c of the first embodiment is connected to the speed reducer 22b across the two transport units 20, and each sprocket 22d of the two transport units 20 is fixed to the shaft member 22c ′. Yes. Thus, by driving the motor 22a, the sprockets 22d of the two transport units 20 rotate simultaneously, and the endless chains 21 of the two transport units 20 travel. The shaft member 22c′ｃ may be configured in each transport unit, and a coupling member such as a coupling may be configured in a portion between the two transport units 20.

As an example in which one common drive source is provided in the transport unit 20, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a transport apparatus C according to another embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. It is a figure to do. In the figure, the same components as those of the conveying device A are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, different components will be described.

In the transfer device C, only one motor 22a and a speed reduction device 22b are provided, and the speed reduction device 22b is shared in addition to the motor 22a as a drive source. However, unlike the conveyance device B, the motor 22a and the speed reduction device 22b are disposed between the two conveyance units 20. As in the first embodiment, the shafts 22c are provided in the respective transport units 20, but the speed reducer 22b has output shafts on both sides, and the shafts 22c are connected to both output shafts of the speed reducer 22b. ing. Thus, by driving the motor 22a, the sprockets 22d of the two transport units 20 rotate simultaneously, and the endless chains 21 of the two transport units 20 travel.

Since the conveyance device C is provided with the motor 22a and the speed reduction device 22b between the conveyance units 20 and 20, compared with the conveyance devices A and B, the width in the Y direction becomes larger. However, since the conveying device C can use the same conveying units 20 and 20 as the conveying devices A and B and can have a larger width in the Y direction, it corresponds to a tire T having a larger diameter than the conveying devices A and B. can do. In addition, since the motor 22a and the speed reduction device 22b are accommodated between the transport units 20 and 20, the protrusion of the device is eliminated, and the safety for an operator working near the transport device C is improved.

<Third Embodiment>
Although the conveyance apparatus of the said 1st and 2nd embodiment is the structure which conveys the tire T by 1 row, it can also be set as the structure which conveys by 2 rows (parallel). FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a transport apparatus D according to another embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. In the figure, the same components as those of the conveying device A are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, different components will be described.

The transport apparatus D includes a transport unit 30 between the two transport units 20. The basic configuration of the transport unit 30 is the same as that of the transport unit 20, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the transport unit 20, and the description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, different configurations will be described.

The conveyance roller 33 of the conveyance unit 30 is a roller whose diameter decreases from the disc-shaped central portion 33c toward both end portions 33a and 33b. The transport unit 30 includes a pair of support frames 25 spaced apart in the Y direction without using the support frame 24. Then, the support portions 25c ′ are configured to be suspended on the respective support portions 25c by using the support portions 25c formed on the support frame 25, and the friction member 27 provided on the support portions 25c ′ is provided with the conveying roller 33. Is brought into contact with the central portion 33 c of the roller, and a rotational force is applied to the conveying roller 33.

In the case of the present embodiment, the motor 22a and the speed reduction device 22b are common to the transport unit 20 as in the case of the transport device B, but are also common to the transport unit 30. That is, the shaft member 22c ′ is connected to the speed reducer 22b across the three transport units 20, 30, 20, and the sprockets 22d of the three transport units 20, 30 are fixed to the shaft member 22c ′. . Thus, by driving the motor 22a, the sprockets 22d of the three transport units 20 and 30 rotate simultaneously, and the endless chains 21 of the three transport units 20 and 30 travel. In addition, it is good also as a structure which provided the drive source in each conveyance unit 20 and 30 separately. Further, the shaft member 22c ′ may be configured in each transport unit, and a coupling member such as a coupling may be configured in a portion between the three transport units 20 and 30.

In the transport apparatus D having such a configuration, two tires T can be aligned in the Y direction and transported simultaneously with the central portion 33c of the transport roller 33 as a boundary as shown in FIG. The two tires T may be the same size or different sizes. The transport device A and the transport device B can also perform such two-row (parallel) transport by arranging four transport units 20 in the Y direction, but in the present embodiment, both end portions 33a from the central portion 33c. , 33b, the number of transport units can be reduced to 3 by using the transport unit 30 using the transport roller 33 whose diameter is reduced toward the center 33b, thereby reducing the cost and the installation space.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the first to third embodiments, the position of the transport unit is fixed, but it may be slid in the Y direction. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a transport apparatus E according to another embodiment of the present invention. The transport device E includes transport units 20 and 20 having the same configuration as the transport device A, but includes a slide device 40 that moves them in the Y direction.

The slide device 40 includes base members 41 and 41 (corresponding to the base member 28 of the transport devices A to D) on which the transport units 20 are mounted. A slider 41 a is fixed to the lower surface of the base member 41. The slider 41a slides on a rail 42 provided on the base frame 10 and extending in the Y direction. With these configurations, the transport units 20 and 20 are slidable in the Y direction, that is, slidable in directions close to and away from each other.

The slide device 40 further includes a ball screw mechanism including a screw rod 43 and bearings 44a and 44b having nut portions screwed onto the screw rod 43. The threaded rod 43 includes threaded portions 43a and 43b that are opposite to each other at the center, and the bearing 44a is screwed into the threaded portion 43a and the bearing 44b is threaded into the threaded portion 43b. The bearing 44 a is fixed to one base member 41, and the bearing 44 b is fixed to the other base member 41. A handle 45 is attached to the end of the screw rod 43. Although not shown, a support member that rotatably supports the screw rod 43 may be provided at the center and / or both ends (or near both ends) of the screw rod 43. The support member can be fixed to the base frame 10 or the like.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the slide operation of the transport units 20 and 20 by the slide device 40. Since the screw rod 43 has screw portions 43a and 43b which are reverse screws, when the operator rotates the handle 45 in one direction, the transport units 20 and 20 slide in the directions close to each other, and reversely When rotated in the direction, the transport units 20 and 20 slide in directions away from each other. When transporting the small-diameter tire T1, the transport units 20, 20 are arranged close to each other as shown on the left side of FIG. 11, and when transporting the large-diameter tire T2, the transport unit as shown on the right side of FIG. 20 and 20 are arranged in a separated state. Thus, in the present embodiment, the separation distance between the transport units 20 and 20 can be changed, so that various tires T having different sizes can be handled.

In the present embodiment, the screw rod 43 is manually rotated, but may be automatic by a driving means such as a motor. Further, in the present embodiment, both the transport units 20 and 20 are slid by the rotation of the screw rod 43, but one transport unit 20 may be fixed and only the other slides. In this embodiment, the ball screw mechanism is adopted. However, other mechanisms (for example, a rack and pinion, a linear motor, or the like, or a plurality of holes are formed in the base frame at a predetermined interval, and are fixed by screw members such as bolts. May be adopted.

<Fifth Embodiment>
The said 4th Embodiment is applicable also to the conveying apparatus D of the said 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a transport device F according to another embodiment of the present invention. The transport device F is configured by using the transport units 20, 30, and 20 of the transport device D, the position of the transport unit 30 is fixed, and the transport units 20 and 20 are transported by the slide devices 40 ′ and 40 ′. It is the structure which slides in the direction which approaches and leaves | separates.

The slide device 40 ′ is provided for each transport unit 20. The difference from the slide device 40 of the fourth embodiment is that the screw rod 43 ′ has a single screw portion, and a bearing 44 c having a nut portion screwed with the screw portion is provided therein. The bearing 44c is fixed to the base member 41 on which the transport unit 20 is mounted. The end of the screw rod 43 ′ (no screw portion) is supported by a bearing 44 d, and this bearing 44 d is fixed to the transport unit 30. Thus, when the operator rotates the handle 45, the transport units 20 and 20 approach or separate from the transport unit 30 depending on the rotation direction. By changing the distance between the transport unit 20 and the transport unit 30, various tires T having different sizes can be handled.

Each transport unit 20, 30, 20 is individually provided with a shaft member 22 c, and the adjacent shaft members 22 c are connected by a coupling member 50. When the distance between the transport unit 20 and the transport unit 30 is changed, the coupling member 50 is replaced, or the insertion amount of the shaft member 22c into the coupling member 50 is adjusted. As a connection structure between the shaft member 22c and the coupling member 50, for example, a spline structure may be employed. In the present embodiment, the motor 22a and the speed reducer 22b are common to the transport units 20, 30, and 20, but may be provided individually.

In the case of this embodiment, since the slide device 40 ′ is provided for each transport unit 20, the distance between the transport unit 20 and the transport unit 30 can be changed for each transport unit 20. For this reason, for example, two tires having different sizes can be simultaneously transported (parallel transport) by one transport unit 20 and transport unit 30, and the other transport unit 20 and transport unit 30.

Claims (8)

A transport device comprising first and second transport units arranged in parallel in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction,
The first and second transport units are respectively
A pair of endless chains having travel sections that are spaced apart in the orthogonal direction and travel in the transport direction;
Drive means for circulating the pair of endless chains;
A plurality of rollers disposed along the traveling direction of the endless chain between the pair of endless chains, and both end portions are respectively supported by the pair of endless chains,
With
The transport roller is supported by the pair of endless chains so as to be freely rotatable about an axis extending in the orthogonal direction,
The plurality of transport rollers in the first transport unit are rollers whose diameter decreases toward the second transport unit,
The plurality of transport rollers in the second transport unit are rollers whose diameter decreases toward the first transport unit. The driving means includes at least two sprockets around which the endless chain is wound;
The first and second transport units are respectively
A frame that rotatably supports each of the sprockets;
A friction member disposed at a position in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller located in the travel section, and configured to rotate the transport roller by friction with the moving transport roller;
The transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the position of the friction member can be changed in the axial direction of the conveying roller. 2. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive means of each of the first and second transport units includes a common drive source. 2. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the driving units of the first and second transport units includes a drive source. A third transport unit provided between the first transport unit and the second transport unit;
The third transport unit is
A pair of endless chains having travel sections that are spaced apart in the orthogonal direction and travel in the transport direction;
Drive means for circulating the pair of endless chains of the third transport unit;
A plurality of endless chains are arranged between the pair of endless chains of the third transport unit along the traveling direction of the endless chain, and both end portions are respectively supported by the pair of endless chains of the third transport unit. A conveyance roller,
The transport roller of the third transport unit is supported by the pair of endless chains of the third transport unit so as to be freely rotatable around an axis extending in the orthogonal direction,
2. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the transport roller of the third transport unit is a roller whose diameter decreases from a central portion toward both end portions thereof. First sliding means for sliding the first transport unit in a direction toward and away from the third transport unit;
Second sliding means for sliding the second transport unit in a direction approaching and separating from the third transport unit;
The transport apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: 2. The transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a slide unit that slides at least one of the first transport unit and the second transport unit toward and away from the other side.

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