CN112405069A

CN112405069A - Tray conveying device and tray conveying method

Info

Publication number: CN112405069A
Application number: CN202010771979.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杉本进司; 小野田雅也
Original assignee: Ritter Co ltd
Current assignee: Ritter Co ltd; Nittoku Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-21
Filing date: 2020-08-04
Publication date: 2021-02-26
Also published as: JP2021030333A; TW202108286A; JP7345229B2

Abstract

A pallet conveying device is provided with: a conveyance rail on which a tray on which the fluid pressure device is mounted is movably mounted; a conveying unit for conveying the tray loaded on the conveying rail; a fluid rail provided along the carrying rail and having a fluid passage formed therein; and a fluid supply and suction unit that is provided in communication with the fluid passage and supplies or sucks the fluid toward or from the fluid passage. The fluid rail is provided with a plurality of through holes for communicating the fluid passages with the outside, the tray is provided with a facing member and a communication passage, the facing member is provided with a recess for covering a part of the plurality of through holes, and faces the fluid rail, and the communication passage communicates the recess with the fluid pressure device.

Description

Tray conveying device and tray conveying method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tray conveying apparatus and a tray conveying method.

Background

Conventionally, a conveying apparatus is provided in a production line, which conveys a workpiece by a conveyor belt and performs a predetermined process on the workpiece by a machine tool at a conveyance destination. However, in the conventional conveying device, for example, when a heavy workpiece such as a stator is carried on a conveyor belt and conveyed, an inertial force acting on the workpiece when the conveyance of the workpiece is stopped is large. Therefore, there are problems that it is difficult to increase the conveying speed and to perform accurate positioning by the stopper.

In order to solve the above-described problems, for example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2007-21629 proposes a pallet conveying device that conveys a plurality of pallets on which workpieces are mounted, through a quadrangular rail with respect to a machine tool. In this tray conveying device, a plurality of trays are mounted on a rail, and the plurality of trays are held between a left tray conveying mechanism and a right tray conveying mechanism and conveyed while being held by a distance of one tray.

Disclosure of Invention

In recent years, there has been a rapidly increasing demand for carrying a pallet by mounting a fluid pressure device operated by fluid pressure on the pallet and operating the fluid pressure device.

When the fluid pressure device is mounted on the tray, it is necessary to mount a fluid supply/suction unit for supplying or sucking a fluid to operate the fluid pressure device on the tray. Further, there are also problems that the weight of the pallet increases, the mounting area of the work on the pallet decreases, and effective conveyance of the work becomes difficult.

In addition, when a plurality of trays are mounted on the conveying rail and conveyed, it is necessary to mount fluid supply and suction units for operating the fluid pressure devices on the plurality of trays, respectively, when the fluid pressure devices are mounted on the plurality of trays, respectively. Further, since the same number of fluid supply and suction units as the number of trays are required, the unit price of the tray conveying apparatus is still too high.

The invention aims to provide a tray conveying device and a tray conveying method, wherein the tray conveying device and the tray conveying method can avoid the situation that a fluid supply and suction unit for operating a fluid pressure device is mounted on a tray.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tray conveying device including: a conveyance rail on which a tray on which the fluid pressure device is mounted is movably mounted; a conveying unit that conveys the pallet mounted on the conveying rail; a fluid rail provided along the carrying rail and having a fluid passage formed therein; and a fluid supply suction unit that is provided so as to communicate with the fluid passage and supplies or sucks fluid to or from the fluid passage, wherein the fluid rail is provided with a plurality of through holes that communicate the fluid channel with the outside, the tray is provided with an opposing member that is provided with a recess that covers a part of the plurality of through holes and faces the fluid rail, and a communication passage that communicates the recess with the fluid pressure device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pallet conveying method for conveying a pallet on which a fluid pressure device is mounted, by mounting the pallet on a conveying rail, arranging a fluid rail having a fluid passage hole formed therein and a plurality of through holes for communicating the fluid passage with the outside along the conveying rail, supplying or sucking fluid to or from the fluid passage, facing a facing member having a recess formed therein for covering a part of the plurality of through holes to the fluid rail, communicating the recess with the fluid pressure device mounted on the pallet, and conveying the pallet and the facing member while operating the fluid pressure device.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to avoid mounting the fluid supply and suction unit for operating the fluid pressure device on the tray.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a tray conveying apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line a-a of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion E of fig. 1 showing the front surface of the tray.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tray mounted on the conveying rail as viewed from above.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of fig. 4 showing a state where the tray is locked to the endless belt.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of fig. 9 showing the tray transfer mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line C-C of fig. 10 showing the tray transfer mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a state before the pallet is conveyed along the conveying rail.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a state after the tray is conveyed along the conveying rail and before the tray is moved to the return rail.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a state after the tray is moved to the return rail and before the tray is retracted along the return rail.

Fig. 11 is a plan view showing a state after the pallet retreats along the return rail and before the pallet moves to the conveying rail.

Detailed Description

The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 to 8 show a pallet conveying apparatus 10 according to the present invention. In the drawings, the structure of the tray conveying apparatus 10 will be described by setting the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis orthogonal to each other, setting the X axis to be substantially horizontal and horizontal, setting the Y axis to be substantially horizontal and forward and backward, and setting the Z axis to be substantially vertical.

As shown in fig. 1 and 8, the pallet carrying apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is installed in a production line for manufacturing small products. The tray conveying apparatus 10 conveys the plurality of trays 21 on which the suction nozzles 26 as the fluid pressure devices are mounted on the conveying rails 31. The production line is a line in which three

processing stations

11, 12, 13 are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals along the X-axis direction. Each of the

machining stations

11, 12, and 13 is formed in a box shape, and a machine tool not shown is provided inside.

The machine tools in the

respective machining stations

11, 12, and 13 sequentially perform various necessary machining operations such as drilling, fastening, and welding on the workpiece 14 (see fig. 2) conveyed by the pallet conveyor 10, thereby automatically manufacturing a product (not shown). A work supply machine 16 that supplies the work 14 and a work recovery machine 17 that recovers the work 14 are provided upstream and downstream of the

machining stations

11, 12, and 13, respectively, with the

machining stations

11, 12, and 13 therebetween.

As shown in fig. 8 to 11, the pallet conveying apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes: a conveying rail 31 provided to extend in the X-axis direction; a return rail 41 provided apart from the conveying rail 31 in the Y-axis direction and parallel to the conveying rail 31; a tray conveying unit 51 for conveying the tray 21 mounted on the conveying rail 31; a tray returning means 61 for moving the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 in a direction opposite to the conveying direction; a return tray transfer mechanism 70 that transfers the tray 21 mounted on the transport rail 31 from the top end of the transport rail 31 to the top end of the return rail 41; and a transport tray transfer mechanism 80 for transferring the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 from the base end of the return rail 41 to the base end of the transport rail 31.

As shown in fig. 2, the conveying rail 31 of the present embodiment includes a support plate 32 having a rectangular cross section along the Z-axis direction, a commercially available linear motion guide 33 fixed to the upper edge of the support plate 32 by screwing, and an attachment plate 34 welded to the lower end of the support plate 32.

As shown in fig. 8, the return rail 41 has the same structure as the conveying rail 31, and includes a support plate 42 having the same cross-sectional shape as the support plate 32 of the conveying rail 31, a commercially available linear motion guide rail 43 fixed to the upper edge of the support plate 42 by screwing, and an attachment plate 44 welded to the lower end of the support plate 42.

The conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 are attached to the

stands

71 and 81 at both ends of the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 so as to be parallel to each other with the three

processing stations

11, 12, and 13 interposed therebetween. The

stands

71 and 81 are provided separately in the X-axis direction so as to sandwich the three

machining stations

11, 12, and 13 and the work feeder 16 and the work reclaimer 17 provided at both ends of the three

machining stations

11, 12, and 13.

Mounts

71 and 81 are formed to be long in the Y-axis direction. The longitudinal ends of the

mounting plates

34 and 44 on the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 are screwed to the

mounts

71 and 81. Thus, the conveying rail 31 is attached to the mounts 71 and 81 (see fig. 1 and 8) at both ends of the conveying rail 31 so as to connect the workpiece collector 17 to the workpiece supply device 16 via the three

processing stations

11, 12, and 13.

The conveyance rail 31 and the return rail 41 each movably mount the tray 21. As shown in fig. 2, the tray 21 mounted on the carrying rail 31 or the return rail 41 includes: a linear motion block 22 configured to straddle the linear

motion guide rails

33 and 43 of the conveying rail 31 or the return rail 41 and movable on the linear

motion guide rails

33 and 43; and a pedestal 23 screwed to the linear motion block 22. The locking members 24 are provided on the lower side of the base 23 and along both sides of the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41.

The linear motion block 22 is a commercial product sold in pairs with the linear

motion guide rails

33 and 43 on the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41. As shown in fig. 4, the linear motion blocks 22 are provided so as to be separated in the X-axis direction in two with respect to the pedestal 23. By using the linear motion block 22, the movement of the linear motion block 22 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) can be inhibited, and the resistance to the movement of the tray 21 on the conveying rail 31 or the return rail 41 can be reduced. Therefore, the tray 21 is mounted so as to be movable on the conveying rail 31 or the return rail 41.

As shown in fig. 2, a suction nozzle 26 is mounted on the base 23 of the tray 21. The illustrated suction nozzle 26 is a component that sucks the workpiece 14. The suction nozzle 26 is provided on the base 23 of the tray 21 via a mounting jig 27, and extends in the vertical direction above the base 23. Thus, the tray 21 is configured to suck and hold the workpiece 14 through the suction nozzle 26. The workpiece 14, not shown, is a workpiece to be machined in each of the

machining stations

11, 12, and 13, and is a flat plate that can be sucked by the suction nozzle 26 in fig. 2.

As shown in fig. 1 and 8, the tray conveying unit 51 for conveying the trays 21 mounted on the conveying rails 31 includes a conveying belt 52, and the conveying belt 52 is configured to be capable of locking the trays 21 mounted on the conveying rails 31 and to be annularly arranged so as to be capable of circulating along the conveying rails 31.

The

mounts

71 and 81 that support both ends of the conveying rail 31 are provided with the first support base 53 and the second support base 54, and the first support base 53 and the second support base 54 are located on the extension line of the conveying rail 31. The first support base 53 and the second support base 54 are provided with a first pulley 55 and a second pulley 56 having the same shape and the same size. The conveying belt 52 is provided so as to be hung on the first pulley 55 and the second pulley 56, and can be circulated along the conveying rail 31 by the rotation of the first pulley 55 and the second pulley 56.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 1, the conveying belt 52 is provided along the conveying rail 31 (specifically, in the extending direction of the conveying rail 31), and is spaced apart from the conveying rail 31 in the vertical direction by a distance substantially equal to the outer diameters of the first pulley 55 and the second pulley 56. As shown in fig. 2, the conveying rail 31 is provided with a belt rail 57 and a support rail 58. The belt rail 57 supports the lower conveying belt 52c of the conveying belt 52 that is hooked on the first pulley 55 and the second pulley 56, and suppresses the slack of the lower conveying belt 52 c. The support rail 58 prevents the upper conveyance belt 52d from hanging down.

The support plate 32 of the transport rail 31 is provided with a plurality of first attachment members 57a for attaching the belt rail 57 to the transport rail 31, and the plurality of first attachment members 57a are provided with a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 32. The belt rail 57 is attached to the conveying rail 31 via a plurality of first attachment members 57 a. The support plate 32 is provided with a plurality of second attachment members 58a for attaching the support rail 58 to the transport rail 31, and the plurality of second attachment members 58a are provided with a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 32. The support rail 58 is attached to the conveyance rail 31 via a plurality of second attachment members 58 a.

On the other hand, the conveying belt 52 of the present embodiment is a so-called toothed belt. As shown in fig. 5, the conveying belt 52 as a toothed belt is a conveying belt in which

irregularities

52a and 52b extending in the width direction are alternately continuous in the longitudinal direction. The locking member 24 of the tray 21 is provided with inverse projections and

depressions

24a and 24b that can be locked to the projections and

depressions

52a and 52 b.

As shown in fig. 2 and 5, when the pallet 21 is mounted on the conveying rail 31, the locking member 24 is superposed on the upper conveying belt 52d supported by the support rail 58 from above. In the stacked state, the

irregularities

52a, 52b formed on the conveying belt 52 are locked to the

inverse irregularities

24a, 24b of the locking member 24. The support rail 58 is provided over the entire length in the conveying direction between the workpiece supply device 16 and the workpiece collection device 17, so as to prevent the upper conveying belt 52d from hanging down and prevent the locking between the

irregularities

52a, 52b and the

inverse irregularities

24a, 24b from being released.

As shown in fig. 5, the locking members 24 of the tray 21 are provided so that the inverted projections and recesses 24a and 24b continuously formed in the longitudinal direction can be locked to the projections and recesses 52a and 52b of the conveying belt 52. Therefore, when the

reverse irregularities

24a, 24b of the tray 21 are locked to the

irregularities

52a, 52b, the movement of the tray 21 independent of the conveying belt 52 is prohibited. Thereby, the tray 21 is locked to the conveying belt 52.

As shown in fig. 1 and 8, the tray conveying unit 51 includes a first circulating unit 59 that circulates the conveying belt 52. The first circulating means 59 of the present embodiment is an electrically driven servo motor 59 for rotationally driving the first pulley 55. The servo motor 59 having the first pulley 55 attached to the rotary shaft 59a is attached to the support base 53 provided upright on the mount 71.

The servo motor 59 is connected to a control output from a controller, not shown. When the servo motor 59 is driven by a control output from the controller, the first pulley 55 rotates together with the rotating shaft 59 a. Thereby, the conveying belt 52 hung between the first pulley 55 and the second pulley 56 is circulated, and the tray 21 locked to the conveying belt 52 is conveyed while being mounted on the conveying rail 31.

As shown in fig. 8 to 11, the tray returning means 61 for moving and returning the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 in the direction opposite to the conveying direction has the same configuration as the tray conveying means 51. The tray returning unit 61 includes a return belt 62, and the return belt 62 is configured to be engageable with the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 and to be annularly provided so as to be capable of circulating along the return rail 41.

The

mounts

71 and 81 that support both ends of the return rail 41 are provided with a third support base 63 and a fourth support base 64, and the third support base 63 and the fourth support base 64 are positioned on the extension line of the return rail 41. The third support base 63 and the fourth support base 64 are provided with a third pulley 65 and a fourth pulley 66. The return belt 62 is hooked on a third support table 63 and a fourth support table 64 provided on extension lines of both ends of the return rail 41.

The second circulating means for circulating the return belt 62 is a servo motor 69 for rotationally driving a fourth pulley 66 attached to a fourth support table 64 on the base end in the backward direction. As in the tray conveyance unit 51, the return rail 41 is provided with a belt rail, not shown, that supports the lower return belt and a support rail 68 that prevents the upper return belt 62d from hanging down.

The return belt 62 is a so-called toothed belt, similar to the conveying belt 52 of the tray conveying unit 51. The returning belt 62 is formed such that

irregularities

62a and 62b extending in the width direction are continuous and alternate in the longitudinal direction. The reverse concavities and

convexities

24a and 24b that can be locked to the concavities and

convexities

62a and 62b are formed on the other locking member 24 of the tray 21 (see fig. 7).

Specifically, as shown in fig. 2, the locking members 24 are provided on both sides of the tray 21 below the base 23 with the linear motion block 22 interposed therebetween. As shown in fig. 10, when the tray 21 is continuous with the return rail 41, the other locking member 24 is disposed to face the return belt 62 as shown in fig. 7. The

reverse irregularities

24a, 24b of the locking member 24 are formed to move in the width direction of the return belt 62 and to be locked to the

irregularities

62a, 62b of the return belt 62 from above.

As shown in fig. 8 to 11, a return tray transfer mechanism 70 is provided on a mount 71 on the tip side of the tip side to which the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 are attached, and the return tray transfer mechanism 70 transfers the tray 21 mounted on the conveying rail 31 from the tip of the conveying rail 31 to the tip of the return rail 41. On the other hand, a conveyance tray transfer mechanism 80 is provided on a pedestal 81 on the base end side on which the conveyance rail 31 and the return rail 41 are mounted, and the conveyance tray transfer mechanism 80 transfers the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 from the base end of the return rail 41 toward the base end of the conveyance rail 31.

The return tray transfer mechanism 70 and the transport tray transfer mechanism 80 have the same structure.

Mounts

71 and 81 provided separately in the X-axis direction are provided so as to extend in the Y-axis direction, respectively. The distance L (see fig. 8) between the end edges of the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 and the support bases 53, 54, 63, and 64 provided on the extension lines of the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 is formed to be wider than the width W1 in the conveying direction of the base 23 of the tray 21 (that is, the length of the tray 21 in the extending direction of the fluid rail 91, which will be described later, see fig. 8). The return tray transfer mechanism 70 and the transport tray transfer mechanism 80 are provided with

movable bodies

72 and 82, respectively, and the

movable bodies

72 and 82 close the gaps L between the support bases 53, 54, 63, and 64 provided at the end edges of the transport rail 31 and the return rail 41 and the extension lines of the transport rail 31 and the return rail 41.

The

movable bodies

72, 82 are respectively provided with a

platen

72a, 82a and a

short rail

72b, 82b, the

platen

72a, 82a is continuous with the

support plate

32, 42 on the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 in a state of being accommodated between the end edge of the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 and the support table 53, 54, 63, 64, and the

short rail

72b, 82b is attached to the upper edge of the

platen

72a, 82a and is continuous with the

linear motion guide

33, 43.

The

short rails

72b, 82b have the same sectional shape as the linear

motion guide rails

33, 43. The tray 21 moving on the linear motion guides 33 and 43 is configured to be movable to the

short rails

72b and 82b in a state where the

movable bodies

72 and 82 block between the end edges of the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 and the support bases 53, 54, 63, and 64. Thereby, the

movable bodies

72 and 82 are configured to be able to mount the tray 21.

The return tray transfer mechanism 70 and the transport tray transfer mechanism 80 have the same configuration. The return tray transfer mechanism 70 and the transport tray transfer mechanism 80 each include: a pair of

rails

73, 83 extending in the Y-axis direction on

mounts

71, 81 so that

movable bodies

72, 82 can be mounted thereon;

table members

74, 84 movably provided on the pair of

rails

73, 83; ball screws 75, 85 screwed to the

table members

74, 84 and provided in parallel with the

rails

73, 83; and

motors

76, 86 that rotate the ball screws 75, 85. The

table members

74, 84 are provided with the tables 72a, 82a of the

movable bodies

72, 82, respectively, standing upright thereon.

In the return tray transfer mechanism 70 and the transport tray transfer mechanism 80 configured as described above, the

motors

76 and 86 are driven to rotate the ball screws 75 and 85, whereby the

table members

74 and 84 mounted on the pair of

rails

73 and 83 can be moved along the

rails

73 and 83 together with the

movable bodies

72 and 82.

Therefore, in the return tray transfer mechanism 70, the movable body 72 continuous with the distal end of the conveying rail 31 can be moved to a position continuous with the distal end of the return rail 41. As shown in fig. 6 and 9, the tray 21 separated from the front end of the conveying rail 31 is moved to the movable body 72 and mounted thereon. As shown in fig. 7 and 10, the movable body 72 is moved together with the tray 21 in the Y-axis direction from the front end of the conveying rail 31 to the front end of the return rail 41, and the tray 21 is moved again from the movable body 72 toward the front end of the return rail 41, whereby the tray 21 can be transferred from the front end of the conveying rail 31 to the front end of the return rail 41.

On the other hand, in the transport tray transfer mechanism 80, the movable body 72 continuous with the base end of the return rail 41 is moved to a position continuous with the base end of the transport rail 31. As shown in fig. 11, the tray 21 separated from the base end of the return rail 41 is moved to the movable body 82 and mounted thereon. As shown in fig. 8, the movable body 82 is moved together with the tray 21 in the Y-axis direction from the base end of the return rail 41 to the base end of the transport rail 31, and the tray 21 is moved again from the movable body 82 toward the base end of the transport rail 31, whereby the tray 21 can be transferred from the base end of the return rail 41 to the base end of the transport rail 31.

As shown in fig. 8, in the present embodiment, a work supply machine 16 and a work recovery machine 17 are provided so as to sandwich 3

machining stations

11, 12, and 13. The work feeder 16 and the work reclaimer 17 are provided at the same pitch P as the

machining stations

11, 12, and 13. The

movable bodies

72 and 82 provided continuously with the end edges of the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41 are provided at the same pitch P from the workpiece feeder 16 and the supply/recovery machine 17.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, the pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a fluid rail 91 in which a groove 91d serving as a fluid passage is formed. The fluid rail 91 is a member provided along the conveying rail 31 (specifically, the extending direction of the conveying rail 31), and includes a long base material 91a and a cover plate 91b attached to the base material 91 a.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, a support 91c is provided on the support plate 32. The base material 91a is mounted in parallel to the conveyance rail 31 via the support 91 c. A groove 91d extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on the upper surface of the base material 91a covered with the cover plate 91 b. As shown in fig. 1, a fluid pump 92 as a fluid supply and suction unit that supplies fluid to the groove 91d or sucks fluid from the groove 91d is provided on the mount 81 on the proximal end side.

The fluid pump 92 in the present embodiment is a fluid pump that discharges or sucks gas as a fluid. One end of a communication passage 92a is attached to the discharge/suction port of the fluid pump 92. The other end of the communication path 92a is attached to the base 91a so as to be open to the groove 91 d. Thus, the fluid pump 92 is configured to supply fluid to the groove 91d constituting the fluid passage of the base member 91a covered with the cover plate 91b or to suck fluid from the recess 91 d.

As shown in the enlarged view of fig. 1, a through hole 91e that communicates with the groove 91d and penetrates in the vertical direction is formed in the cover plate 91 b. The plurality of through holes 91e are formed to be continuous with a predetermined interval T in the longitudinal direction of the fluid rail 91 (i.e., the extending direction of the fluid rail 91).

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, opposed members 93 opposed to the fluid rails 91 and having recesses 93a formed therein for covering one or more through holes 91e are provided on each of the plurality of trays 21. As shown in fig. 3, the opposing member 93 is a rod-shaped member having a length W2 (i.e., a length W2 of the opposing member 93 in the extending direction of the fluid rail 91) that is longer than a width W1 of the pedestal 23 on the tray 21 in the conveying rail 31 direction. The opposing member 93 has a square cross section, and a recess 93a having a length M that is longer than the interval T between the plurality of through holes 91e and extends in the longitudinal direction is formed on the side opposing the fluid rail 91.

The opposing member 93 is provided on the base 23 of the tray 21 via a hanging means 94. The suspension unit 94 is a member that is biased so as to press the opposing member 93 toward the fluid rail 91. A support shaft 94a penetrating in the vertical direction is provided on the outer side of the base 23 of the tray 21 to which the locking member 24 is attached, and the support shaft 94a is movable in the axial direction.

As shown in fig. 3, the support shaft 94a is a member to the lower end of which the opposing member 93 is attached. The single opposing member 93 is supported by two support shafts 94 a. Two support shafts 94a are provided at the side edges of the base 23 supported by the single opposing member 93 so as to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the conveying rail 31. A single opposing member 93 is attached to the lower ends of the two support shafts 94 a. Here, a reference numeral 94b in the drawing denotes a slide bush which is provided on the base 23 and supports the support shaft 94a so as to be movable in the axial direction.

A coil spring 94c as an urging member is mounted in a compressed state on the support shaft 94a between the opposing member 93 and the base 23. The force of the coil spring 94c to be extended acts in a direction of separating the opposing member 93 from the base 23 of the tray 21. When the opposing member 93 opposes the fluid rail 91, the opposing member 93 can be pressed toward the fluid rail 91.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, when the opposing member 93 does not face the fluid rail 91, the support shaft 94a is moved downward in the Z-axis direction by the biasing force of the coil spring 94 c. A ring 94d is mounted at an upper portion of the support shaft 94a penetrating the pedestal 23 on the tray 21. The ring 94d is configured to prohibit the support shaft 94a from being further lowered when the support shaft 94a is lowered together with the opposing member 93 and the ring 94d abuts on the upper surface of the base 23 of the tray 21. Therefore, the ring 94d is a member that limits the movable range of the opposing member 93.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the length W2 of the opposing member 93 in the fluid rail 91 direction is formed to be longer than the length W1 of the pedestal 23 on the tray 21 in the fluid rail 91 direction. That is, the tray 21 is formed such that an end portion in the extending direction of the fluid rail 91 does not protrude from an end portion of the stand member 93. This prevents the end portions of the adjacent facing members 93 from coming into contact with each other to cause a gap between the end portions of the adjacent trays 21. In the present embodiment, the length W2 of the opposing member 93 is equal to or slightly smaller than the pitch P at which the

processing stations

11, 12, and 13 are provided.

A roller 96 is pivotally supported by the opposing member 93, and the roller 96 rolls on the fluid rail 91 to cause the opposing member 93 to face the fluid rail 91 with a predetermined gap therebetween. In addition, the predetermined interval is 0 to 0.1 mm. As shown in the enlarged view of fig. 1, an inclined surface 91f, which is formed on the upper surface of the fluid rail 91 on the base end side and on which the roller 96 rolls to guide the opposing member 93 toward the upper surface of the fluid rail 91, is formed. In the present embodiment, the pair of rollers 96 are pivotally supported by the opposing member 93 near the support shaft 94 a.

The opposing member 93 is provided with a communication member 93b communicating with the recess 93 a. The communication member 93b and the suction nozzle 26 are communicated by a communication path 93 c. That is, one end of the communication passage 93c is attached so as to open toward the recess 93a via the communication member 93b, and the other end of the communication passage 93c is connected to the suction nozzle 26 as the fluid pressure device. Thus, the tray 21 is provided with the communication path 93c, and the fluid rail 91 and the suction nozzle 26 are communicated with each other through the communication path 93c in a state where the tray 21 is mounted on the conveyance rail 31.

Therefore, when the fluid pump 92 (see fig. 1) as the fluid supply and suction means is driven to, for example, change the suction of the gas in the groove 91d covered with the cover plate 91b to a negative pressure, the fluid in the recess 93a of the opposing member 93 opposing the groove 91d via the through hole 91e is sucked as shown in fig. 2. Further, since the suction nozzles 26 are communicated with the concave portion 93a via the communication path 93c, when the fluid in the concave portion 93a is sucked, the suction nozzles 26 communicated via the communication path 93c are configured to suck the workpiece 14 to the lower ends of the suction nozzles 26.

The carrier belt 52 as a toothed belt is configured to be lockable to the tray 21 mounted on the carrier rail 31. Thus, when the servo motor 59 (see fig. 8) is driven to circulate the conveying belt 52 to which the tray 21 is locked, the tray 21 provided with the suction nozzles 26, which suck the workpiece 14 at the lower ends thereof, is conveyed along the conveying rail 31 along which the conveying belt 52 is conveyed.

Next, a pallet conveying method of the present invention using the pallet conveying device 10 will be described.

The pallet conveying method of the present invention is a pallet conveying method in which a plurality of pallets 21 having suction nozzles 26 mounted thereon are mounted on a conveying rail 31 and conveyed.

As shown in fig. 8, in the pallet conveying apparatus 10, the return rail 41 is provided in parallel with the conveying rail 31. Thus, after the tray 21 mounted on the conveying rail 31 is conveyed, the tray 21 is transferred from the front end of the conveying rail 31 to the front end of the return rail 41, and then the tray 21 is retracted to the base end side of the return rail 41. Thereafter, the pallets 21 are returned to the base end side of the conveying rail 31, thereby realizing the circulating conveyance of the plurality of pallets 21.

As shown in fig. 3, in the pallet conveying apparatus 10, the fluid rail 91 having the recessed groove 91d formed therein and communicating with the outside is formed so as to be spaced apart by a predetermined interval T in the extending direction of the conveying rail 31, and the fluid rail 91 is provided along the conveying rail 31 (i.e., the extending direction of the conveying rail 31). Thus, during the conveyance of the tray 21 mounted on the conveyance rail 31, the fluid is supplied to the groove 91d serving as a fluid passage or sucked from the groove 91d, and the opposing member 93 having the recessed portion 93a covering one or two or more through holes 91e is opposed to the fluid rail 91, whereby the tray 21 and the opposing member 93 can be conveyed while the suction nozzle 26 mounted on the tray 21 is operated while the recessed portion 93a and the suction nozzle 26 communicate with each other.

The explanation starts with conveying and circulating the plurality of pallets 21. First, a plurality of pallets 21 are loaded onto the conveyance rail 31. In mounting the tray 21, the tray 21 is first mounted on the base end side of the conveying rail 31, i.e., the base end side mount 81. When the tray 21 is mounted on the conveying rail 31, the locking member 24 of the tray 21 overlaps the conveying belt 52.

After the trays 21 are mounted on the base end sides of the conveying rails 31 in this way, the conveying belts 52 are circulated to convey the mounted trays 21 by the predetermined pitch P. Then, the tray 21 is mounted on the conveying rail 31 again from the base end side of the conveying rail 31. By repeating such operations, as shown in fig. 8, a plurality of pallets 21 (6 pallets in the present embodiment) are mounted on the conveying rail 31 at the pitch P equal to the pitch P of the

processing stations

11, 12, and 13.

Here, when the length of the opposing members 93 provided on the tray 21 is equal to or less than the predetermined pitch P or equal to the predetermined pitch P, the trays 21 can be easily mounted at the predetermined pitch P by sequentially mounting the trays 21 on the conveying rails 31 and bringing the opposing members 93 into contact with each other (contact with each other).

Next, a state in which the plurality of pallets 21 are circularly conveyed will be described.

When the conveying belt 52 along the conveying rail 31 is circulated from the state shown in fig. 8, the plurality of trays 21 are advanced while maintaining the predetermined interval P. When the plurality of trays 21 are advanced by the predetermined interval P, as shown in fig. 9, the initial tray 21 is separated from the top end of the conveying rail 31. Further, since the movable body 72 is continuous with the tip end of the conveying rail 31, as shown in fig. 6, the tray 21 that has moved on the linear motion guide 33 on the conveying rail 31 can be moved to the short rail 72b of the movable body 72, and the tray 21 that has started can be mounted on the movable body 72.

Next, as shown in fig. 7 and 10, the tray 21 mounted on the movable body 72 is moved to the tip end of the return rail 41 by the return tray transfer mechanism 70. Specifically, the ball screw 75 is rotated by the drive motor 76 to move the movable body 72 in the Y-axis direction, so that the movable body 72 can be moved from the state shown in fig. 6 in which it is continuous with the distal end of the conveying rail 31 to the position in which it is continuous with the distal end of the return rail 41 as shown in fig. 7. Thereafter, the tray 21 is moved from the movable body 72 to the front end of the return rail 41 again, whereby the tray 21 is transferred from the front end of the conveying rail 31 to the front end of the return rail 41.

Here, when the movable body 72 on which the tray 21 is mounted is moved in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the conveyor belt 52 together with the tray 21, the locked state between the tray 21 and the conveyor belt 52 is released because the locked

state

24a and 24b of the locking member 24 of the tray 21 is shifted and separated from the locked

state

52a and 52b extending in the width direction of the conveyor belt 52 in the width direction.

Further, by moving the tray 21 in the Y-axis direction together with the movable body 72, the tray 21 and the return rail 41 can be made continuous, and the

movable bodies

72 and 82 can be aligned on the same straight line with the return rail 41. When the tray 21 moves in the width direction of the return belt 62, the locking member 24 of the tray 21 is locked again to the return belt 62 provided along the return rail 41.

Therefore, by using the conveying belt 52 and the return belt 62 formed of so-called toothed belts, the tray 21 can be moved in the Y-axis direction together with the movable body 72 without being hindered, and the conveying belt 52 and the return belt 62 of the tray 21 can be easily re-engaged.

Next, the tray 21 is moved in the direction opposite to the conveying direction, and the tray 21 is mounted on the return rail 41. Therefore, when the servo motor 69 of the tray returning unit 61 is driven to circulate the return belt 62, the tray 21 mounted on the movable body 72 moves from the leading edge of the return rail 41 to the leading end thereof. Thereby, the tray 21 is transferred from the front end of the conveying rail 31 to the front end of the return rail 41.

After the tray 21 is transferred to the front end of the return rail 41 in this way, when the tray returning unit 61 continues the circulation of the return belt 62, the tray 21 moved from the movable body 72 to the return rail 41 is further retracted on the return rail 41. Then, the tray 21 is retracted until the tray 21 reaches the base end of the return rail 41.

As shown in fig. 11, when the tray 21 is retracted so that the movable body 82 of the transport tray transfer mechanism 80 is accommodated on the proximal end side of the return rail 41, the tray 21 that is mounted on the return rail 41 and retracted moves to the movable body 82 of the transport tray transfer mechanism 80, and the tray 21 is mounted on the movable body 82.

Next, the tray 21, which is moved from the return rail 41 and mounted on the movable body 82, is moved from the base end of the return rail 41 to the base end of the conveying rail 31 by the conveying tray transfer mechanism 80. Specifically, the motor 86 on the transport tray transfer mechanism 80 is driven to rotate the ball screw 85, and the movable body 82 is moved in the Y-axis direction, so that the movable body 82 is moved from the state shown in fig. 11, which is continuous with the base end of the return rail 41, to the position shown in fig. 8, which is continuous with the base end of the transport rail 31.

Thereafter, the tray 21 is moved from the movable body 82 to the base end of the conveying rail 31 again, so that the tray 21 is transferred from the base end of the return rail 41 to the base end of the conveying rail 31. That is, in a state where the movable body 82 is continuous with the conveying rail 31, the movable body 82 and the conveying rail 31 are aligned on the same line, and the tray 21 is locked again to the conveying belt 52 provided along the conveying rail 31. Therefore, the pallet 21 mounted on the movable body 82 continuous with the conveying rail 31 can be conveyed again by the circulation of the conveying belt 52, and is transferred to the base end of the conveying rail 31. Thereby, the plurality of trays 21 including the tray 21 can be circulated in a square shape in a plane.

Next, the tray 21 is conveyed while operating the suction nozzles 26 as the fluid pressure devices.

That is, as shown in fig. 1, in the conveyance of the pallet 21 mounted on the conveyance rail 31, the conveyance belt 52 provided along the conveyance rail 31 is circulated and the fluid is supplied to the groove 91d as the fluid passage of the fluid rail 91 or the fluid is sucked from the groove 91 d. The suction nozzles 26 mounted on the tray 21 are communicated with the concave grooves 91d, and the tray 21 is conveyed while the suction nozzles 26 are operated.

Specifically, as shown in the enlarged view of fig. 1, a groove 91d as a fluid passage is formed in the fluid rail 91 facing the work feeder 16. A plurality of through holes 91e are formed in the cover plate 91d mounted on the base member 91a so as to cover the grooves 91 d. Therefore, first, the fluid pump 92 as the fluid supply suction means is driven to suck the gas inside the concave groove 91d covered with the cover plate 91b, and the inside of the concave groove 91d becomes a negative pressure.

In this state, when the pallet 21 is opposed to the work feeder 16, the pallet 21 is provided with an opposed member 93, and the opposed member 93 is formed with a recess 93a covering the plurality of through holes 91 e. This sucks the gas in the recess 93a covering the through hole 91e of the fluid rail 91 through the through hole 91e, and causes the recess 93a to have a negative pressure. As shown in fig. 2, the concave portion 93a and the suction nozzle 26 are connected by the communication path 93c, and the air is sucked from the suction nozzle 26 of the tray 21 communicating with the concave portion 93a via the communication path 93 c. Therefore, the workpiece 14 supplied from the workpiece supply machine 16 can be sucked to the lower end of the suction nozzle 26.

After the work 14 is sucked, when the conveying belt 52 along the conveying rail 31 is circulated again to move the pallet 21 forward in a state where the work 14 is sucked, the pallet 21 is then opposed to the third processing station 13 as shown in fig. 1.

Then, the conveyance of the pallet 21 is stopped at a stage where the pallet 21 faces the third processing station 13. Then, in the third processing station 13, a predetermined process is performed on the workpiece 14 sucked by the suction nozzle 26 of the tray 21. After the predetermined processing is finished, the tray 21 is conveyed again by circulating the conveying belt 52 again. By repeating such operations, the conveyed pallet 21 is sequentially opposed to the

respective processing stations

11, 12, and 13, and the workpieces 14 sucked by the suction nozzles 26 of the pallet 21 are sequentially processed.

Here, a plurality of through holes 91e are formed in the fluid rail 91 provided along the conveying rail 31, and the plurality of through holes 91e are continuous with a predetermined interval T in the longitudinal direction. Thus, the recess 93a of the opposing member 93 of the pallet 21 and the pallets 21 opposing the

processing stations

11, 12, and 13 during conveyance cover any one of the through holes 91e in the fluid rail 91.

Therefore, when the fluid pump 92 serving as the fluid supply suction unit is driven, the suction nozzle 26 communicating with the concave portion 93a of the opposing member 93 on the tray 21 can always suck the gas, and the suction state of the workpiece 14 to the lower end of the suction nozzle 26 is maintained, regardless of the conveyance.

After the machining by all the

machining stations

11, 12, and 13 is completed, the pallet 21, which is further conveyed, faces the work collector 17. Then, in the work recovery machine 17 facing the pallet 21, the work 14 subjected to a series of processes is detached from the suction nozzle 26 and recovered.

After the workpiece 14 is collected, as shown in fig. 6 and 9, the tray 21 to be further conveyed is separated from the tip end of the conveying rail 31, and the tray 21 is moved to the movable body 72 of the return tray transfer mechanism 70 and mounted on the movable body 72.

Here, the fluid rail 91 disappears at the movable body 72. That is, the fluid rail 91 is not provided in the movable body 72. Therefore, even when the fluid pump 92 as the fluid supply and suction means is driven, the suction of the gas from the suction nozzle 26 of the tray 21 is eliminated on the movable body 72 where the fluid rail 91 disappears, and the tray 21 can be transferred to the return rail 41.

The movable body 72 continuous to the tip side of the transport rail 31 is provided so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction at the same pitch P as the

respective machining stations

11, 12, and 13 arranged in the X-axis direction. Thus, when a plurality of pallets 21 are mounted on the conveying rail 31 at the pitch P equal to the pitch P and the first pallet 21 reaches the movable body 72, the other pallets 21 also face the

processing stations

11, 12, and 13. Therefore, in each of the

processing stations

11, 12, and 13, the conveyance of the pallet 21 is temporarily stopped for processing the workpiece 14.

For processing the workpiece 14, while the conveyance of the tray 21 is stopped, the tray 21 that has reached the beginning of the movable body 72 on the front end side of the conveyance rail 31 is transferred to the front end of the return rail 41. Then, the tray 21 is retreated along the return rail 41, and the tray 21 is transferred again from the base end of the return rail 41 to the base end side of the conveying rail 31.

In this way, when the circulation of returning the tray 21 from the distal end of the conveying rail 31 to the proximal end of the conveying rail 31 is performed once, the plurality of trays 21 mounted on the conveying rail 31 can be conveyed in the counterclockwise direction.

Each time such a cycle is performed, the

machining stations

11, 12, and 13 are operated in a state where the operation of the pallet conveying device 10 is stopped, and various machining and suction and collection of the workpieces 14 are performed in synchronization with each other with respect to the suction nozzles 26 sucked to the pallets 21 arranged on the conveying rails 31.

As described above, in the pallet conveying apparatus 10 and the pallet conveying method according to the present invention, the plurality of pallets 21 can be conveyed in a circulating manner. By using the fluid rail 91 provided in parallel with the conveying rail 31, even a single fluid pump 92 serving as a fluid supply and suction means can convey a plurality of trays 21 simultaneously in a state where the suction nozzles 26 of the plurality of trays 21 are operated.

The groove 91d forming the fluid passage of the fluid rail 91 is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the fluid rail 91, i.e., in the conveying direction of the tray 21. Thus, even when the tray 21 mounted on the conveying rail 31 is conveyed, the through hole 91e of the fluid rail 91 covered by the facing member 93 is always in communication with the recess 93a, and the tray 21 moves together with the facing member 93, so that the through hole 91e is always in communication with the recess 93a of the facing member 93. As a result, even if the tray 21 moves, the suction of the workpiece 14 at the lower end of the suction nozzle 26 can be maintained (see fig. 2).

Therefore, in the tray conveyance device 10, the tray 21 can be moved while the suction nozzle 26 is operated, and the fluid pump 92 for operating the flow suction nozzle 26 can be prevented from being mounted on the tray 21.

Here, when the fluid pump 92 sucks the gas in the concave groove 91d constituting the fluid passage and sucks the gas in the concave portion 93a of the opposing member 93 through the through hole 91e, the opposing member 93 is attracted to the upper surface of the fluid rail 91, and this attraction may become resistance to the conveyance of the tray 21.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent the opposing member 93 from being attracted to the upper surface of the fluid rail 91, a roller 96 that rolls on the fluid rail 91 is pivotally supported on the opposing member 93. This can reduce resistance to conveyance of the tray 21 even when the opposing member 93 is positioned facing the upper surface of the fluid rail 91.

On the other hand, it is considered that when the opposing member 93 is opposed to the fluid rail 91 with a predetermined gap from the upper surface of the fluid rail 91, gas as a fluid flows into the recess 93a from the predetermined gap, and suction of the gas from the suction nozzle 26 communicating with the recess 93a becomes difficult. Therefore, by setting the predetermined gap to 0 to 0.1mm, the amount of gas that makes it difficult to suck the gas from the suction nozzle 26 flows into the concave portion 93a less frequently. In consideration of the inflow of the gas from the gap, the suction of the gas from the suction nozzle 26 can be continued by securing a sufficient cross-sectional area of the concave groove 91d and the number or size of the through holes 91 e.

Further, it is also conceivable that if the through hole 91e not covered by the facing member 93 is generated, the gas flows from the through hole 91e into the groove 91d, and the suction of the gas through the recess 93a communicating with the groove 91d via the other through hole 91e covered by the facing member 93 becomes difficult. Therefore, by continuously mounting the plurality of trays 21 on the conveying rail 31 and conveying the opposing members 93 of the plurality of trays 21 by bringing them close to or into contact with each other, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of the situation where the opposing members 93 do not cover the through holes 91 e. Further, the end portions of the adjacent facing members 93 facing each other preferably abut against each other.

Further, it is also conceivable that the fluid rail 91 provided in parallel with the conveying rail 31 is also long when the length of the conveying rail 31 is long, and the fluid rail 91 may be distorted with respect to the conveying rail 31 on which the pallet 21 is carried. Therefore, by attaching the opposing member 93 to the tray 21 via the hanging unit 94, the opposing member 93 is constantly pressed toward the fluid rail 91 by the hanging unit 94. As a result, the distortion of the fluid rail 91 is absorbed by the suspension unit 94, and the tray 21 can be conveyed with a predetermined gap maintained from the upper surface of the fluid rail 91 of the opposing member 93.

Next, the operational effects of the present embodiment will be described.

The tray conveying apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes: a carrying rail 31 for movably carrying the tray 21 carrying the suction nozzle 26; a tray conveying unit 51 for conveying the tray 21 mounted on the conveying rail 31; a fluid rail 91 provided along the conveyance rail 31 and having a groove 91d formed therein; and a fluid pump 92 that is provided in communication with the groove 91d and supplies fluid toward the groove 91d or sucks fluid from the groove 91 d. The fluid rail 91 is provided with a plurality of through holes 91e for communicating the recessed groove 91d with the outside, the tray 21 is provided with a facing member 93 and a communicating passage 93c, the facing member 93 is provided with a recessed portion 93a for covering a part of the plurality of through holes 91e, and the communicating passage 93c communicates the recessed portion 93a with the suction nozzle 26 while facing the fluid rail 91.

The tray conveying method according to the present embodiment conveys the tray 21 on which the suction nozzles 26 are mounted on the conveying rail 31, arranges the fluid rail 91 having the concave groove 91d formed therein and the plurality of through holes 91e for communicating the concave groove 91d with the outside along the conveying rail 31, supplies the fluid to the concave groove 91d or sucks the fluid from the concave groove 91d, causes the facing member 93 having the concave portion 93a formed to cover a part of the plurality of through holes 91e to face the fluid rail 91, communicates the concave portion 93a with the suction nozzles 26 mounted on the tray 21, and conveys the tray 21 and the facing member 93 while operating the suction nozzles 26.

According to such a configuration, since the fluid rail 91 is provided along the conveying rail 31, the fluid is supplied or sucked from the fluid pump 92 to the fluid rail 91, the suction nozzles 26 mounted on the tray 21 are communicated with the fluid rail 91, and the tray 21 is conveyed while the suction nozzles 26 are operated, it is possible to avoid mounting the fluid pump 26 for operating the suction nozzles 26 on the tray 21.

Even when the plurality of trays 21 are mounted on the conveying rail 31 and conveyed, the fluid rail 91 is provided along the conveying rail 31, and the suction nozzles 26 mounted on the plurality of trays 21 can be connected to the fluid rail 91, respectively. As a result, even with a single fluid pump 92, the fluid pump 92 can supply or suck the fluid to or from the fluid rail 91, thereby simultaneously operating the suction nozzles 26 mounted on the plurality of trays 21.

In the present embodiment, even when the tray 21 is conveyed to any position of the conveying rail 31 by the tray conveying unit 51, the recessed portions 93a cover a part of the through holes 91 e.

With this configuration, the suction nozzles 26 of the tray 21 and the grooves 91d of the fluid rail 91 can be reliably communicated with each other through the recesses 93a that constantly cover a part of the through holes 91e formed in the fluid rail 91. As a result, the tray 21 can be conveyed while operating the suction nozzles 26.

In the present embodiment, the roller 96 is pivotally supported by the opposing member 93, and the roller 96 rolls on the fluid rail 91, so that the opposing member 93 and the fluid rail 91 face each other with a predetermined gap therebetween.

According to such a configuration, since the opposing member 93 can be prevented from being attracted to the upper surface of the fluid rail 91, the sliding resistance caused by the opposing member 93 contacting the fluid rail 91 can be eliminated. As a result, the resistance to the conveyance of the tray 21 can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the tray 21 is provided with the hanging means 94, and the hanging means 94 presses the opposing member 93 toward the fluid rail 91.

According to this configuration, distortion of the fluid 91 is absorbed by the suspension unit 94, and the tray 21 can be conveyed with a predetermined gap maintained from the upper surface of the fluid rail 91 of the opposing member 93.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of trays 21 arranged along the conveying rail 31 are mounted on the conveying rail 91, and the end portions of the adjacent facing members 93 facing each other are in contact with each other.

According to this configuration, the ends of the adjacent facing members 93 that face each other abut against each other, and therefore, a gap between the ends of the adjacent facing members 93 can be eliminated. As a result, the through hole 91e not covered by the facing member 93 can be prevented from being generated during the conveyance of the tray 21, and the air leakage due to the through hole 91e can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the tray 21 is formed such that the end portion of the fluid rail 91 in the extending direction does not protrude from the end portion of the opposing member 93.

According to this configuration, since the end of the tray 21 in the extending direction of the fluid rail 91 does not protrude from the end of the opposing member 93, it is possible to prevent a gap from being generated between the ends of the adjacent opposing members 93 due to the abutting of the ends of the adjacent trays 21. As a result, the through hole 91e not covered by the facing member 93 can be prevented from being generated during the conveyance of the tray 21, and the air leakage due to the through hole 91e can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the tray conveying apparatus 10 further includes: a return rail 41 that is provided in parallel with the conveying rail 31 and that movably mounts the tray 21; a tray returning means 61 for moving the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 in a direction opposite to the conveying direction; a return tray transfer mechanism 70 that transfers the tray 21 mounted on the transport rail 31 from the top end of the transport rail 31 to the top end of the return rail 41; and a transport tray transfer mechanism 80 for transferring the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 from the base end of the return rail 41 to the base end of the transport rail 21.

With this configuration, the tray 21 can be conveyed so as to circulate the tray 21 along the conveying rail 31 and the return rail 41.

In the present embodiment, the tray conveying unit 51 includes: a conveying belt 52, the conveying belt 52 being provided to be able to circulate along the conveying rail 31, a servo motor 59, the servo motor 59 circulating the conveying belt 52, and a tray returning unit 61 including: a return belt 62, the return belt 62 being provided so as to be able to circulate along the return rail 41, a servomotor 69, the servomotor 69 circulating the return belt 62. The tray 21 is provided with a locking member 24, and the locking member 24 moves in the width direction of the conveying belt 52 or the return belt 62 together with the tray 21, and can be locked to the conveying belt 52 or the return belt 62.

According to this configuration, since the movement of the pallet 21 independent of the conveying belt 52 or the return belt 62 is prohibited, the pallet 21 is locked to the conveying belt 52 or the return belt 62 and conveyed.

The plurality of trays 21 are continuously mounted on the conveying rail 31, and the trays 21 are conveyed while the opposing members 93 provided on the plurality of trays 21 are brought close to or brought into contact with each other.

With this configuration, the through hole 91e not covered by the facing member 93 can be prevented from being generated during conveyance of the tray 21, and air leakage due to the through hole 91e can be prevented.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments are merely some of application examples of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

Next, a modified example according to the present invention will be explained.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the length W2 of the opposing member 93 in the fluid rail 91 direction is longer than the length W1 in the fluid rail 91 direction of the base 23 of the tray 21 has been described. However, the length W2 of the opposing member 93 in the fluid rail 91 direction is not limited to this, and may be the same as the length W1 in the fluid rail 91 direction of the base 23 of the tray 21. Even in this case, by continuously mounting the plurality of trays 21 on the conveying rail 31 and conveying the trays 21 by bringing the opposing members 93 of the plurality of trays 21 into proximity or contact with each other, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of the situation where the opposing members 93 do not cover the through holes 91 e.

In the above embodiment, the case where the conveying belt 52 and the return belt 62 are circulated by rotating the

pulleys

55 and 66 by the electrically driven

servomotors

59 and 69 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a fluid pressure cylinder or a fluid pressure motor may be used instead of the servo motor as long as the

pulleys

55 and 66 can be rotated.

In the above embodiment, the case where the fluid rail 91 is not allowed to run along the return rail 41 and the suction nozzles 26 are not operated in the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41 has been described. However, not limited to this, the fluid rail 91 may be formed along the return rail 41 that retracts the tray 21. In this case, the opposed member 93 is opposed to the fluid rail 91 provided along the return rail 41, whereby the suction nozzles 26 can be operated even in the tray 21 mounted on the return rail 41.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the fluid pressure device is the suction nozzle 26 that sucks the workpiece 14 by suction of gas is described. However, the fluid pressure device is not limited to this as long as it can be operated by a fluid, and may be, for example, a member that rotates the workpiece 14 by suction of the fluid or a member that machines the workpiece 14.

Further, in the above embodiment, the suction nozzle 26 is operated by changing the air suction of the groove 91d of the fluid rail 91 to the negative pressure by the fluid pump 92. However, it is also possible to supply the fluid toward the groove 91d for pressurization and to dispose the working nozzles 26 on the tray 21 with the fluid supplied from the groove 91 d.

In this case, it is considered that the opposing member 93 covering the through hole 91e communicating with the groove 91d floats and the fluid leaks. Therefore, by providing the suspension unit 94 that presses the opposing member 93 toward the fluid rail 91 on the tray 21, the opposing member 93 can be prevented from floating from the fluid rail 91, leakage of fluid can be suppressed, and operation of the suction nozzle 26 can be ensured.

The application claims priority based on Japanese patent application 2019-151021, which was filed to the office on 8/21/2019, and the entire content of which is incorporated by reference in the present specification.

Claims

1. A tray conveying device is provided with:

a conveyance rail on which a tray on which the fluid pressure device is mounted is movably mounted;

a tray conveying unit that conveys the tray mounted on the conveying rail;

a fluid rail provided along the carrying rail and having a fluid passage formed therein;

a fluid supply and suction unit that is provided in communication with the fluid passage and supplies or sucks fluid toward or from the fluid passage,

a plurality of through holes for communicating the fluid passage with the outside are formed in the fluid rail,

the tray is provided with an opposing member that is formed with a recess that covers a part of the plurality of through holes and that faces the fluid rail, and a communication path that communicates the recess with the fluid pressure device.

2. The pallet handling apparatus of claim 1,

the recessed portions each cover a part of the plurality of through holes when the tray is conveyed to an arbitrary position of the conveying rail by the tray conveying unit.

3. The pallet handling apparatus of claim 1 or 2,

a roller is pivotally supported by the opposing member, and the roller rolls on the fluid rail to cause the opposing member to oppose the fluid rail with a predetermined gap therebetween.

4. The pallet handling apparatus of claim 3 wherein,

a hanging unit is provided on the tray, and the hanging unit presses the opposing member toward the fluid rail.

5. The pallet handling apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4,

a plurality of pallets arranged along the conveying rail are mounted on the conveying rail,

the end portions of the adjacent opposing members that face each other abut against each other.

6. The pallet handling apparatus as claimed in claim 5,

the tray is formed such that an end portion in an extending direction of the fluid rail does not protrude from the end portion of the opposing member.

7. The pallet conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:

a return rail that is provided in parallel with the carrying rail and that carries the pallet movably;

a tray returning unit that moves the tray mounted on the return rail in a direction opposite to the conveying direction;

a return tray transfer mechanism that transfers the tray loaded on the transport rail from a top end of the transport rail to a top end of the return rail;

and a transport tray transfer mechanism for transferring the trays loaded on the return rail from the base end of the return rail to the base end of the transport rail.

8. The pallet handling apparatus of claim 7 wherein,

the tray conveying unit includes:

a carrying belt provided to be able to circulate along the carrying rail,

a first circulating unit that circulates the carrier tape,

the tray returning unit has:

a return belt provided to be capable of circulating along the return rail,

a second circulating unit that circulates the return belt,

the tray is provided with a locking member that is movable in the width direction of the conveying belt or the return belt together with the tray so as to be lockable to the conveying belt or the return belt.

9. A pallet carrying method for carrying a pallet on which a fluid pressure device is mounted on a carrying rail,

a fluid rail having a fluid passage formed therein and a plurality of through holes formed therein for communicating the fluid passage with the outside is provided along the carrier rail,

supplying fluid to or drawing fluid from the fluid pathway,

an opposing member having a recess formed therein for covering a part of the plurality of through holes is opposed to the fluid rail,

the concave portion is communicated with the fluid pressure device mounted on the tray, and the tray and the opposing member are conveyed while the fluid pressure device is operated.

10. The pallet handling method according to claim 9,

rollers are pivotally supported by the opposing member, and the rollers roll on the fluid rail, and convey the pallet while opposing the opposing member to the fluid rail with a predetermined gap therebetween.

11. The pallet handling method according to claim 10,

the tray is transported while the opposing member is pressed against the fluid rail.

12. The pallet handling method according to any one of claims 9 to 11,

the plurality of pallets are continuously mounted on the conveying rail, and the pallets are conveyed while the opposing members provided on the plurality of pallets are brought into proximity with or brought into contact with each other.