JPH07115725B2 - Goods transport system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an article transport system, and more particularly to a system for transporting articles from a conveyor to an article storage unit such as a fluidized shelf.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in order to carry articles into the fluidized shelves, an operator lifts the articles conveyed by a conveyor to the carry-in port of the fluidized shelves, or a stacker movably provided between the fluidized shelves provided on both sides. It was done by a crane.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional manual type, a lot of time and labor are spent at the time of loading due to the manual work of lifting and loading the items transported at the loading port of the fluidized shelf, resulting in poor work efficiency.

Further, in the type in which the stacker crane carries in the fluidized shelves, two driving means, that is, article transportation and transfer, are required. A transfer driving means such as a slide fork for transferring the incoming articles to the fluidized shelves is required, and the apparatus becomes large in scale, and time is spent when the articles are carried in.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is to carry the article between each transfer station by an overhead traveling vehicle,
A floor body having a plurality of standing plates for supporting articles and a conveying surface which is fitted between the standing plates and is formed by the plurality of standing plates on an elevating table that is vertically movable in an overhead traveling vehicle. A plurality of rollers located below the article support surface, and a conveyor body that is tiltable so that the transport surface of the rollers is located above the article support surface, and at the transfer station, the conveyor body A member for supporting one end of the article on the side opposite to the transfer direction is provided while the elevator is descending.

〔Example〕

An embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic plan view of the article transport system of the present embodiment. The article transport system receives an article (W) delivery device (1) and receives the article (W) from the delivery device (1). It is composed of an overhead traveling vehicle (2) to be transported and a fluidized shelf (3) for storing the article (W) transported by the overhead traveling vehicle (2), and the respective devices will be sequentially described below.

The delivery device (1) includes first and second conveyors (5) and (6) provided in a direction orthogonal to a conveyor (4) that conveys an article (W) from a station (not shown), and the conveyor (4). To the first conveyor (5) to transfer the article (W) from the article transfer device (7). The article transfer device (7) is stopped by a stopper (8) which is provided orthogonal to the transfer direction of the transfer conveyor (4) and perpendicular to the surface of the transfer conveyor (4), and the stopper (8). It is composed of a pusher (9) for pushing the article (W) from the conveyor (4) to the first conveyor (5) described later.

The stopper (8) is in the form of a plate, and is provided with a detection means such as a proximity sensor that detects the contact of the article (W). The pusher (9) includes a cylinder (10), a piston rod (11) thereof, and a pressing plate (12) provided at the tip of the piston rod (11), and the stopper (8) detects an article ( The cylinder (10) is started when it detects that W) has arrived.

The first conveyor (5) is installed so that one guide (14) is aligned with the surface of the stopper (8). The first conveyor (5) has pulleys (15) provided at both ends thereof, a belt (16) wound between the pulleys (15), and the belt (16) having pulleys (15). ) Via a drive motor (17). This first conveyor (5) serves as a temporary storage of the article (W) between the above-mentioned transfer conveyor (4) and a second conveyor (6) described later, and the length of the transfer surface thereof. The number of articles (W) placed on the surface of the belt (16) can be adjusted by adjusting. Also, the first conveyor (5)
Is provided at a position slightly higher than the second conveyor (6), and the transfer of the article (W) from the first conveyor (5) to the second conveyor (6) is performed by both conveyors (5) ( 6)
It is performed by dropping the article (W) through the step (18) generated between them. Of course, the step (18) is designed so that the article (W) will not be damaged even if it falls. Article (W) from the first conveyor (5) to the second conveyor (6)
The first conveyor (5) is provided with the photoelectric switch (20) so that the optical axis (19) runs on the step (18) where the object falls.
(W) dropped and transferred from the second conveyor to the second conveyor (6)
Is detected, the drive motor (1
It works to stop 7). Since the photoelectric switch (20) and the drive motor (17) of the first conveyor (5) are interlocked with each other, one article (W) having various sizes on the first conveyor (5) is provided. Only can be transferred to the second conveyor (6).

The second conveyor (6), like the first conveyor (5), has pulleys (21) at both ends, a belt (23) wound between the pulleys (21), and the belt (23). And a drive motor (24) for driving the. One guide (25) of the second conveyor (6) is the above conveyor (6)
It is provided so that it can move back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. That is, normally, the stopper (8) and the guide (25) of the first conveyor (5) are on the same straight line, but only when the article (W) comes to the second conveyor (6), the cylinder ( By the action of 26), it is projected forward (direction A in the figure).
That is, although the end surface of the article (W) is aligned to some extent by the stopper (8) on the transport conveyor (4) and the guide (14) of the first conveyor (5), that of the second conveyor (6). Even a slight deviation can be corrected by the above-mentioned protruding action of the guide (25).

A delivery station (27), which is one of the transfer stations described below, is provided on the extension of the second conveyor (6) in the transport direction. That is, the guide pole (28) for positioning the overhead traveling vehicle (2) described later.
And an engaging rod (29) that engages with the engaging member (62) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2) (a member that supports one end of the conveyor body (55) while the elevator table (34) is descending). Is provided,
The conveyor body (55), which will be described later, is tilted to smoothly transfer the article (W).

Next, the overhead traveling vehicle (2) will be described.

The overhead traveling vehicle (2) is an overhead traveling vehicle movable along a rail (32) suspended from the ceiling (31), and the overhead traveling vehicle (2) travels along the rail (32). It is composed of a free traveling vehicle main body (33) and a lift table (34) located below the traveling vehicle main body (33) and capable of moving up and down with respect to the traveling vehicle main body (33).

The traveling vehicle main body (33) has drive wheels (35) traveling on the rail (32) and driven wheels (36), and supplies electric power to a traveling motor (37) for driving the drive wheels (35). A power supply device called a trolley (not shown) for
A current collector (38) corresponding to the power feeding device is provided on the overhead traveling vehicle (2) side. In addition, overhead traveling vehicle (2)
A plurality of guide rollers (39) engaging with the rails (32) at appropriate positions are provided in order to prevent rolling of the rails (32) on the rails (32). The position information of the overhead traveling vehicle (2) is provided by detecting the number of passage blocking plates (40) by the detector (41).

Next, a mechanism for lifting and lowering the lift table (34) will be described. A drum (45) around which the belt (44) is wound is attached to both ends of the horizontal shaft (43), and a timing belt (46) is provided so that the horizontal shaft (43) is rotated in synchronization with each other. Are connected through. One horizontal shaft (43) is rotated by a lifting motor (48) via a belt (47) to wind and unwind the belt (44). An encoder (49) for measuring the winding amount or the feeding amount of the belt (44) is provided at the end of the other horizontal shaft (43). An elevating table (34) described below is fixed to the lower end of the belt (44).

The elevating table (34) includes a horizontal elevating body (51) to which the belt (47) is fixed, and a horizontal portion of a hanging frame (52) provided on both sides of the horizontal elevating body (51). The floor body (53) supported at both ends, and the floor body (5) on the floor body (53)
3) is composed of a conveyor body (55) connected by a plurality of links (54).

As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of standing plates (56) are provided on the upper surface of the floor body (53) at regular intervals, and the upper ends of the plurality of standing plates (56) support the article (W). The standing plate (56) is inclined in the same direction in one direction except the frontmost sheet (56a) in the article loading direction (arrow B). 56) When the article (W) is transferred onto the article (W), the article (W) is guided in one direction regardless of the size of the article (W). Further, one of the standing plates (56) that is not inclined (56a) serves as a stop piece at the time of transferring articles at the delivery station (27) or a stopper piece for preventing falling during traveling. Further, trumpet members (57) each having a tapered lower surface are provided at the front and rear ends of the floor body (53) in the direction of the arrow C, and the guide station (27) is fitted into the trumpet member (27). Positioning is performed.

Next, the conveyor body (55) will be described. Guides (58), which also serve as stoppers during the conveyance of articles, are provided at the front and rear ends of the conveyor body (55) in the direction of arrow C, and one end of the link (54) is provided outside the guides (58). The other end is pivotally supported by the bracket (59) of the floor body (53),
The conveyor body (55) is tiltable so as to move toward and away from the upper surface of the floor body (53). The floor body (53) is located between the guides (58) of the conveyor body (55) at the lowest position of the conveyor body (55), that is, at a position in contact with the floor body (53).
A rotatable roller (60) is provided so that it is fitted between the upper standing plates (56), that is, the carrying surface is located below the bearing surface of the article (W) by the standing plates (56). There is. Further, the conveyor body (55) has a shape slightly longer than the floor body (53) in the front-rear direction of the article carrying-in direction (arrow B) and protrudes from the floor body (53). Further, on the lower surfaces of the front and rear ends of the conveyor body (55), an abutment piece (61) that engages with a locking piece (73) provided on a flow shelf (3) described later, and an engagement rod (29). Engaging members (62) that engage with (71) are respectively provided. Two engaging members (62) are provided in front of and behind the traveling direction (arrow C) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2), and the rear engaging member (62B) guides an engaging rod (71) described later. Although only the engaging portion (64) that fits into the tapered portion (63) is formed, the engaging member (62F) at the front portion has a thickness in the traveling direction of the overhead traveling vehicle (2) in addition to that. By having the taper portion (65) into which the piece member (72) provided on the engaging rod (71) described later is inserted, a slight positional deviation in the traveling direction can be corrected. The guide (58) of the conveyor body (55) is provided with a plurality of photoelectric switches (not shown) whose optical axis runs in the traveling direction (arrow C) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2).

Next, the fluidized shelf (3) will be described.

The fluidized shelf (3) is a known fluidized shelf, and in the present embodiment, the fluidized shelf (3) has several types of article inlet (70) widths for transporting articles (W) having several types of shapes. It is provided to be. A rail (32) is provided on the ceiling (31) so that the overhead traveling vehicle (2) travels in front of the carry-in port (70) which is a transfer station of the fluidized shelf (3).

Also, the fluidized shelves (3) are divided into several groups according to the type of the article (W) to be stored. That is, the one group includes both narrow and wide carry-in ports (70). The lower surface of the conveyor body (55) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2) across the entire area of the group in front of the carry-in port (70) of the fluidized shelves (3) of the one group, and in parallel with the carry-in port (70). An engaging rod (a member that supports one end of the conveyor body (55) during the descent of the elevator (34)) that engages with the engaging member (62) during the descent of the elevator (34). It is installed horizontally. The height of the engagement rod (71) is such that the conveyor body (55) of the lift table (34) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2) is completely separated from the floor body (53), and the flow is Carry-in entrance (70) of shelf (3),
That is, the height is set to be slightly higher than the transfer level. A piece member (72) is fixed to an appropriate position of the engaging rod (71). The piece members (72) are provided one by one in correspondence with the carry-in port (70) of the fluidized shelf (3), and the fixed position thereof is the engaging member of the conveyor body (55) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2). When engaged with (62F), guide (5) of conveyor body (55)
8) and one end of the carry-in port (70) of the fluidized shelf (3) are positioned so as to form a straight line. A lock piece (73) that engages with the contact piece (61) of the conveyor body (55) is provided at each of the carry-in ports (70) of the fluidized shelf (3).

With the above-described configuration, the article transport system of this embodiment operates as described below.

First, the article (W) is conveyed by a conveyor (4) from a station (not shown). The conveyed article (W) comes into contact with a stopper (8) standing upright at a right angle to the conveying direction of the conveyor (4) and perpendicular to the conveying surface. When the article (W) comes into contact with the stopper (8), the detection means provided on the stopper (8) detects the article (W), and then the pusher (9) transfers the article (W) to the first conveyor (5). W) is transferred. Since the article (W) is brought into contact with the stopper (8) and then transferred to the first conveyor (5) having the guide (14) which is in the same straight line as the stopper (8), the article (W) is transferred. The front end faces are aligned in the transport direction of the transport conveyor (4) regardless of size. As it is conveyed on the first conveyor (5), it falls onto the second conveyor (6) provided with a slight step (18) from the first conveyor (5) as described above. Listed. When the photoelectric switch (20) provided on the step (18) on which the article (W) falls down detects that the article (W) has been transferred onto the second conveyor (6), the first The drive motor (17) of the conveyor (5) is stopped. That is, the articles (W) can be cut out one by one from the first conveyor (5) to the second conveyor (6). Goods (W)
The second conveyor (6) on which the vehicle has been transferred is the overhead traveling vehicle (2).
Will not drive unless you have confirmed that you have arrived at the shipping station (27). When it is confirmed that the overhead traveling vehicle (2) has arrived at the exit station (27), the drive motor (24) of the second conveyor (6) starts driving. That is, when the article (W) is conveyed on the second conveyor (6) by a certain distance after the conveyance of the article is started, the guide (25) of the conveyor (6) moves forward, so that the end surface of the article (W) is Are aligned with the guide (58) surface of the conveyor body (55) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2), and then the article (W) is transferred to the overhead traveling vehicle (2).

When the overhead traveling vehicle (2) reaches the upper part of the exit station (27) for receiving the article (W) from the second conveyor (6), the traveling is stopped, and the lifting platform (34) is moved to the motor (48) and the drum (45). ), The belt (44) acts to start lowering. When the lifting table (34) continues to descend, the trumpet members (5) provided on both ends of the floor body (53) of the lifting table (34) during the descending process.
7) Insert into the guide pole (28). At this time, since the lower surface of the trumpet member (57) has a tapered shape, a slight positional deviation can be corrected. In addition, lifts (34)
If you continue descending, the conveyor body (55)
The engaging member (62) on the lower surface engages with the engaging rod (29), whereby the conveyor body (55) starts to tilt with one end supported. When the elevator table (34) is further lowered, the floor body (53) on the engaging member (62) side and the conveyor body (55) start to separate from each other, and finally the standing plate (56) of the floor body (53) is released. Only one sheet (56a) that is not inclined protrudes from the roller (60) of the conveyor body (55) (Fig. 7).
Stops descending at. That is, one of the standing plates (56) that is not inclined serves as a stopper piece for the article (W) to be transferred.

The overhead traveling vehicle (2) capable of receiving the article (W) by the above action sends a signal to that effect to the delivery apparatus (1). Upon receiving the signal, the shipping device (1) drives the second conveyor (6) to transfer the article (W) to the overhead traveling vehicle (2) waiting at the shipping station (27). The article (W) supplied to the overhead traveling vehicle (2) rolls on the rollers (60) of the inclined conveyor body (55), comes into contact with the innermost stopper piece (56a), and stops. ) Transfer is completed. Completion of transfer of the article (W) is performed by detection of a photoelectric switch provided on the conveyor body (55).

The overhead traveling vehicle (2) on which the article (W) has been transferred is mounted on the lifting platform (3
4) Start rising. When the lifting of the lift table (34) is started, the engaging member (6
2) and the engagement rod (29) are disengaged, and the standing plate (56) of the floor body (53) from the roller (60) surface of the conveyor body (55).
Comes out. That is, the bearing surface of the article (W) changes from the roller (60) of the conveyor body (55) to the standing plate (56) of the floor body (53). Furthermore, since the standing plates (56) of the floor body (53) are inclined except for one as described above,
In the process of changing the bearing surface from the roller (60) to the standing plate (56), the articles (W) are guided by the weight of the article (W) in the inclined direction of the standing plate (56) regardless of their size. ing. When the fitting state of the trumpet member (57) and the guide pole (28) is also released, and the lift table (34) reaches the uppermost position, the overhead traveling vehicle (2) is a fluidized shelf (3) into which the article (W) should be loaded. Start traveling to the carry-in entrance (70).

The overhead traveling vehicle (2) stopped above the carry-in port (70) of the fluidized shelf (3) starts lowering the lifting platform (34). If the descent is continued, the engaging member (62) of the conveyor body (55) first comes into contact with the engaging rod (71) during the descent (Fig. 8a). At this time, one engaging member (62F) is engaged with the engaging rod (7F).
By engaging with the piece member (72) of 1), slight positional deviations in the front and rear and in the side are corrected. Of course, the article (W) is still supported by the standing plate (56).

The lift table (34) further descends, and the conveyor body (55) begins to tilt with one end supported by the engagement rod (71) (Fig. 8b). The article (W) is still supported by the standing plate (56). The elevating table (34) further descends, and the contact piece (61) at the other end of the conveyor body (55) comes into contact with the locking piece (73) of the fluidized shelf (3), at which point the conveyor body is reached. The tilting of (55) stops (Fig. 8c). A part supporting the article (W) is transferred from the standing plate (56) to the roller (60).

The lift table (34) is further lowered, and the roller (60) and the standing plate (56) are completely separated from each other in the direction of the engaging rod (71) (Fig. 8d). Although the article (W) is supported by the rollers (60), one of the standing plates (56) that is not inclined (56a) serves as a stopper to prevent the article (W) from moving.

The lift table (34) is further lowered, and the roller (60) and the standing plate (56) are separated from each other over the entire surface (Fig. 8e). The article (W) is disengaged from the stopper (56a) and moved from the roller (60) of the conveyor body (55) to the fluidized shelf (3).

Although the article transportation is completed as described above, in the present embodiment, as is clear from the above description, the articles are conveyed on the first and second conveyors (5) and (6), and on the lift table (34) of the overhead traveling vehicle (2). Since one end surface of (W) is aligned, regardless of the size of the article (W), it is possible to support high-mix low-volume production.

Further, by providing a plurality of overhead traveling vehicles (2), it is possible to carry articles without deteriorating work efficiency even if the number of fluidized shelves (3) increases.

〔The invention's effect〕

As is clear from the above description, the article transport system according to the present invention is such that the elevator of the overhead traveling vehicle only descends to the transfer station, and the conveyor is installed during the lowering of the elevator installed in the transfer station. By the action of the member supporting one end of the body, the conveyor body can be tilted to transfer the article. That is, since no driving means is required at the time of transferring the article, it is possible to save time and labor and improve work efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the entire system of an example to which the article transport system according to the present invention is applied, FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views and side views of a delivery device, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are front views of overhead traveling vehicles. , Side views, FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are side views and front views, respectively, of the engaging member, FIG. 7 is a side view of the overhead traveling vehicle at the delivery station, and FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (e) are It is a figure which shows the operation | movement of an article transfer from an overhead traveling vehicle to a fluidized shelf. (2) …… Overhead traveling vehicle, (3) …… Fluid shelf, (34) ……
Elevator, (53) …… floor, (55) …… conveyor, (5
6) ... Standing plate, (60) ... Roller, (62) ... Engaging member, (70) ... Inlet port, (71) ... Engaging rod,
(W) ... goods

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An article transport system comprising an overhead traveling vehicle for transporting articles between respective transfer stations, wherein a plurality of stands for supporting the articles are mounted on an elevating table provided on the ceiling traveling vehicle so as to be vertically movable. A floor body having an installation plate, and a plurality of rollers that are fitted between the standing plates and that are located below the article support surface formed by the plurality of upright plates, and the transfer surface of the rollers. A conveyor body that is tiltable so as to be located above the article support surface is provided, and at the transfer station, a member that supports one end of the conveyor body on the side opposite to the article transfer direction is supported while the elevator is descending. An article transfer system characterized by being provided.