EP0691089A1 - Tray conveying device with multiple work stations - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is for transferring slabs (4), each being transported on the endless chain conveyor (2) between fixed workstations (3) and carrying two upright pegs (13) with points for supporting a piece (15) on which a workpiece such as a shoe (1) is mounted for machining. The slab is transferred to each workstation by a bar (22) engaging in a dovetail slot (11) before being driven laterally by a magnetically coupled jack (24) under the worktable (19). The position of the slab w.r.t. pairs of lateral guides (20,21) is checked by means of three detectors (31,33,35) immediately ahead of retractable stops (32,34,36). The piece (15) is gripped between fixed and movable jaws (27,28) for the machining operation. The detectors are coupled to a programmable computer system. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for transferring trays, supporting articles or objects during manufacture, between a chain driving these trays and work stations, on an automatic or semi-automatic article production line. or of objects, comprising in known manner at least one endless chain with continuous movement ensuring the driving of the plates by adhesion effect, according to a determined circuit by bringing them successively to a certain number of work stations, located on the side of the chain, where the various operations for manufacturing or processing the articles or objects carried by said trays are carried out. This invention applies more particularly, but not exclusively, to an automated or semi-automated shoe manufacturing line.

In an installation of this kind, where a chain driving the trays passes them one after the other to a certain number of work stations, it should be possible to stop the trays at the height of the work stations, and to separate these trays from the chain to bring the items being manufactured to automatic machines (robots), or to present them to an operator performing a manual operation. In the case of a shoe manufacturing line, the problem is complicated by the fact that a succession of shoes of different sizes, for right foot or left foot, and belonging to various types which do not always require the same manufacturing operations , or which require, at least, an adaptation of these operations. It is therefore advisable not only to move trays supporting shoes during manufacture, but also to identify and monitor, on the production line, each of the shoes, to make it undergo the appropriate operations at the various work stations. and, possibly, so as not to introduce this shoe into certain work stations.

The present invention provides, in this context, a simple and safe solution for workstations located on one or two sides of the chain drive chain.

The proposed device essentially comprises, for a work station located on one side of the drive chain, at least one guide track for the plates, extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chain, and for each track a transverse drive member designed to cooperate with a complementary part formed on each plate, the transverse drive member being movable in translation perpendicular to the chain, under the action of control means, between a position close to the chain d drive, and a position remote from said chain but close to a machine or an operator performing an operation or a treatment on the articles or objects carried by the trays, means being provided for controlling the position of the trays in particular at intersection of the chain and the or each guide track.

The device preferably comprises at least two parallel guide tracks for the plates, extending one next to the other perpendicular to the drive chain.

Thus, at the workstation considered, the trays carrying the articles or objects being manufactured can be selectively removed from the drive chain, these trays then engaging on the transverse drive members, which move them perpendicular to the chain to bring them to the machine or operator, then to bring them back to the chain. In the case of two tracks, the operations of transferring a chainring, between the chain and the machine or the operator, are carried out on a track while this machine or this operator intervenes on an article or object carried by a plate being on the other track, which gets an operation in "masked time".

According to a simple embodiment of the device, the or each guide track is constituted by a pair of guides perpendicular to the chain and carried by a horizontal table, the spacing between the two guides of the same pair being substantially equal to the length of a tray. The plates rest and thus slide on the table, between two guides, while they are moved by the transverse drive member.

This transverse drive member, associated with each guide track, may be a bar which extends parallel to the drive chain and which has a profile, such as in a dovetail, complementary to the profile of the minus a longitudinal groove formed in the underside of each tray. When a plate arrives at the height of a guide track, this groove of the plate engages directly on the transverse drive bar which is placed on standby in a suitable position.

According to a particular embodiment, the transverse drive bar is coupled, through a slot of the table extending between the two guides parallel to these, to a jack arranged under the table.

The means provided for controlling the position of the plates at the intersection of the drive chain and the or each guide track advantageously include presence detectors associated with retractable stops, at least one detector and at least one stop being associated with each track. These means, connected to a computer system, make it possible to "manage" the movements of the plates, by directing them selectively towards one or the other of the two guide tracks, and by avoiding any collision or interference between the plates.

The device according to the invention can be used in particular with trays on which removable supports are placed for articles or objects during manufacture or treatment. In this case, the device also advantageously comprises, in correspondence with the end-of-travel position of the plates remote from the drive chain and close to the machine or the operator, indexing means provided to ensure temporary blocking a removable support carried by a plate brought into said end-of-travel position by the transverse drive member.

The removable supports for the articles or objects in the course of manufacture or treatment being able to be provided with an electronic "chip" containing information relating to the articles or objects in the course of manufacture or treatment, it can still be provided, in correspondence with the end-of-travel position of the plates remote from the drive chain and close to the machine or the operator, means for reading the information contained in the electronic "chip" of a removable support carried by a plate brought into said end-of-travel position by the transverse drive member.

In particular, when the invention is applied to an automatic or semi-automatic shoe manufacturing line, the shoes being manufactured are mounted on forms held by removable supports, themselves carried by the plates. Each electronic "chip", fitted to a removable support, then contains data relating to the shoe being manufactured.

• Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, d'un dispositif conforme à la présente invention, placé sur le côté d'une chaîne d'entraînement de plateaux ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en plan par dessus du dispositif de figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un plateau seul, vu par dessous ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en coupe du dispositif, suivant IV-IV de figure 1 ;
• Figure 5 est une vue en perspective plus détaillée d'un plateau, vu par dessous, dans une forme de réalisation perfectionnée ;
• Figure 6 est une vue de côté du plateau de figure 5, avec indication de deux types de supports amovibles pouvant être mis en place sur ce plateau.

The invention will be better understood using the following description, with reference to the schematic drawing attached showing, by way of example, an embodiment of this device for transferring trays between a drive chain and work stations, applied here to a shoe manufacturing line:

• Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a device according to the present invention, placed on the side of a chain drive chain;
• Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the device of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a single tray, seen from below;
• Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device according to IV-IV of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a more detailed perspective view of a tray, seen from below, in an improved embodiment;
• Figure 6 is a side view of the tray of Figure 5, with indication of two types of removable media that can be placed on this tray.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the invention applies to a shoe manufacturing line 1, comprising an endless pallet chain 2 driven continuously in the direction of arrow F, and fixed work stations 3 of which only one is shown here, and which are located on one side of the chain 2, or on both sides of the latter. The shoes 1 during manufacture are individually supported by plates 4, which rest on the pallet chain 2 and are driven forward by the latter, by grip effect. At workstation 3, the plates 4 are extracted from the chain 2 and transferred, in a movement perpendicular to the direction of movement F of the chain 2, to a robot or an operator 5 performing a particular manufacturing operation at this location. Once this operation has been carried out, each plate 4 is brought back to chain 2, which can then drive it forward to the next work station.

Referring also to FIG. 3, each plate 4, of generally rectangular shape, has on its lower face 6 a first longitudinal groove 7 of rectangular section serving for its guidance. At the two ends of the groove 7 are fixed, respectively, a shoe 8 and a finger 9. The longitudinal groove 7 is provided to cooperate with a fixed guide rail 10, which runs along the drive chain 2 on one of its edges (the term "longitudinal" here referring to the direction of movement F of the chain 2).

The lower face 6 of the plate 4 has another longitudinal groove 11, parallel to the previous one and of dovetail section, which intervenes only at the height of the work station 3 as explained below.

On the upper face 12 of the plate 4 protrude two vertical pins 13, each ending in a point. On the two pins 13 is put in place a removable support 14 for a shape 15, on which the manufacture of a shoe 1. The removable support 14 has, in its lower part, two "diabolo" conformations 16, from respectively surrounding the two pins 13.

The removable support 14 is provided with a side tab 17, directed downwards, on which is mounted an electronic "chip" 18 capable of storing information relating to the shoe 1 during manufacture, this information not being limited with only predetermined characteristics of shoe 1 but which can also be upgradeable and include the list of operations already carried out, or remaining to be carried out, for a shoe 1 during manufacture.

At the height of the work station 3, a horizontal table 19 is provided, adjacent to the chain 2. The table 19 carries a first pair of guides 20, perpendicular to the chain 2, and a second pair of guides 21, also perpendicular to the chain 2, and located further downstream than the first pair of guides 20 (with reference to the direction of movement F of the chain 2). The guide rail 10 is interrupted opposite the first pair of guides 20 and opposite the second pair of guides 21. The interval between the two guides 20 or 21 of each pair is equal to the length of a plate 4 (the "length" here being the dimension measured along the direction of movement F of the chain 2).

Between the two guides 20 or 21 of each pair is mounted, movable in translation parallel to these guides, a bar 22 for transversely driving the plates, which extends parallel to the chain 2, and which has a profile in tail dovetail corresponding to that of the groove 11 formed under each plate 4 - see also FIG. 4. Each bar 22 is coupled, through a slot 23 of the table 19 extending between the two guides 20 or 21, parallel to those here, to a jack 24 arranged under the table 19. It is in particular a jack 24 with magnetic coupling, of known type. Each bar 22 can thus be moved between an advanced position, close to the chain 2, and a remote position, close to the robot or the operator 5.

On the table 19, in the region remote from the chain 2 and close to the robot or the operator 5, two indexing devices 25 and 26 are provided, associated respectively with the two pairs of guides 20 and 21. Each device indexing 25 or 26 comprises a fixed jaw 27, located opposite a movable jaw 28, movable parallel to the chain 2 (therefore perpendicular to the guides 20 and 21) by means of a jack 29. In the example shown, the two fixed jaws 27 are arranged internally and carried by the same support 30, while the movable jaws 28 are arranged externally, the associated jacks 29 being close to the edges of the table 19.

• un premier détecteur 31, suivi immédiatement d'une première butée escamotable 32, situés sensiblement à hauteur du premier guide 20 ;
• un deuxième détecteur 33, suivi immédiatement d'une deuxième butée escamotable 34, situés sensiblement à hauteur du second guide 20 ;
• un troisième détecteur 35, suivi immédiatement d'une troisième butée escamotable 36, situés sensiblement à hauteur du second guide 21.

On its edge adjacent to the chain 2, the table 19 comprises, from upstream to downstream (with reference to the direction of movement F of the chain 2):

• a first detector 31, immediately followed by a first retractable stop 32, located substantially at the level of the first guide 20;
• a second detector 33, immediately followed by a second retractable stop 34, located substantially at the level of the second guide 20;
• a third detector 35, immediately followed by a third retractable stop 36, located substantially at the height of the second guide 21.

Finally, towards its edge furthest from the chain 2, the table 19 carries a first reader 37, located in the plane of symmetry of the first pair of guides 20, and a second reader 38, located in the plane of symmetry of the second pair of guides 21.

The overall operation of the device is as follows:

Trays 4, carrying forms 15 receiving shoes 1 during manufacture, are moved on the chain 2 and arrive, successively, at the work station 3 considered. The arrival of a plate 4 is recognized by the first detector 31, and this plate 4 is stopped or released by the first retractable stop 32.

Once released, the plate 4 is driven further by the chain 2, and it can be stopped either by the second stop 34, which immobilizes it opposite the first pair of guides 20, or by the third stop 36, which immobilizes it in front of the second pair of guides 21.

Assuming that the plate 4 is stopped by the second stop 34, this plate 4 engages, by its lower groove 11 in dovetail, on the bar 22 of corresponding profile which is then placed towards the end of the guides 20 closest to the chain 2.

Then, the jack 24 associated with the bar 22 is actuated to move it in the direction of its distance from the chain 2. The bar 22 then carries with it the plate 4, which is released from the chain 2 and moved perpendicularly to the latter , being guided between the two guides 20, so as to be brought into a region of the table 19 remote from the chain 2, and close to the robot or the operator 5.

When the plate 4 has arrived in its position furthest from the chain 2, the corresponding jack 29 is actuated, in order to bring the movable jaw 28 closer to the fixed jaw 27 located opposite. The two conformations 16, belonging to the support 14 of the form 15 placed on the plate 4, are thus clamped between the fixed jaw 27 and the movable jaw 28. The support 14 is then slightly raised and suitably immobilized, in a precise position, and the robot or operator 5 can carry out on the shoe 1 the operation provided for at the work station 3 considered, for example a sizing or carding, or any other manufacturing step.

When the plate 4 arrives in its end-of-travel position distant from the chain 2, the electronic "chip" 18 arrives near the first reader 37, which reads the information contained in this "chip" and consequently controls the robot 5, so that the operation carried out corresponds to the characteristics of the shoe 1 to be manufactured. It can also be carried out automatic recording, on the "chip" 18, of the operation which is carried out.

Once this operation has been completed, the movable jaw 28 is loosened, thus releasing the support 14 and the form 15. The jack 24 is actuated in the opposite direction to the previous movement, to bring back the bar 22, therefore the plate 4, towards the chain 2. When the plate 4 is returned in the axis of the chain 2, the second stop 34 retracts and allows the plate 4 to be driven further, in particular towards another work station , by the chain 2. The bar 22 can then be brought back "empty", or transfer a new plate 4.

In the case of a plate 4 stopped by the third stop 35 opposite the second pair of guides 21, the process is the same as that described above, the plate 4 then being released from the chain 2 and brought closer to the robot or the operator 5 being guided between the two other guides 21, thanks to the intervention of the other bar 22. In the end-of-travel position of the plate 4 (position visible in FIG. 1), the second reader 38 intervenes.

It will be noted that the operation takes place in masked time, the transfer of a plate 4 from the chain 2 to the robot or the operator 5, or vice versa, being able to be done on one of the two "tracks" (defined by example by the first pair of guides 20), while the robot or the operator 5 is performing an operation on a shoe 1 carried by a plate 4 stopped at the end of the race on the other "track" (defined for example by the second pair of guides 21).

In such an operation, the detectors 31, 33 and 35 and the retractable stops 32, 34 and 36, associated with a suitably programmed computer system, avoid any collisions or interference between plates 4; for example, if the detector 33 or 35 indicates the presence of a plate 4 on the chain 2 opposite one of the two "tracks", the system delays the return of a plate 4 from this "track" to the chain 2, by prohibiting the operation of the corresponding jack 24. In addition, the first detector 31, associated with the first retractable stop 32, makes it possible to place plates 4 in waiting position, accumulating them if necessary, before admitting them into the device by lowering the stop 32. The computer system can also determine to which track, identified as being free, is directed each tray 4, so as to optimize the functioning of the whole. If all the stops 32, 34 and 36 are retracted with the passage of a plate 4, this can be driven forward on the chain 2 without being transferred to the workstation 3 considered, which allows the plate 4 to " skip "this position to go directly to the next one, so that the production line equipped with the device according to the invention has great flexibility.

While Figures 1 to 4 show the plate 4 in principle, Figures 5 and 6 show in more detail a particular embodiment of this plate 4, and more fully illustrate its possibilities of use.

The plate 4 comprises a rectangular metal pallet 39, under which is fixed a central friction plate 40 made of synthetic material, coming into contact with the drive chain 2. At the four corners of the pallet 39 are fixed friction pads 41 in synthetic material, with rounded external profile; the pads 41 allow two consecutive plates 4 to describe a suitable relative movement, in the curved parts of the path of the chain 2.

Under the pallet 39, on either side of the central friction plate 40, are provided symmetrically two parallel grooves 11, of dovetail section. Thanks to these two grooves 11, the plate 4 can be transferred to work stations located either on the right side or on the left side of the drive chain 2.

Two pairs of fingers 9 are provided under the pallet 39, respectively on either side of the plate central friction 40. The fixed guide rail 10 can thus pass, on one side or the other of the friction plate 40, between the latter and the two adjacent fingers 9. These fingers 9 also cooperate with the presence detectors.

The pallet 39 has a front edge folded down 42, the ends of which cooperate with the retractable stops (such as 32,34,36) which stop or release the plate 4. The pallet 39 also has a rear edge folded down 43, which is shorter than the folded front edge 42, so as not to collide with the retractable stops. Thus, a retractable stop can be lowered to release a plate 4, then raised very quickly in order to stop with certainty the next plate.

Finally, the right and left lateral edges 44 and 45 of the pallet 39 are also folded down, and they have legs folded inwards, respectively 46 and 47, which cooperate with other stops acting for the movements. of rotation of the plates 4, in the case where the circuit of the plates comprises bifurcations.

As shown in Figure 6, the two pins 13 protruding from the upper face 12 of the plate 4 allow the choice of the establishment of a removable support 14 receiving a shape 15, as already described above, or the establishment of 'a removable support 48 secured to a soleplate plate 49. Like the support 14, the support 48 receiving the soleplate plate 49 is provided with a side tab 50 on which is mounted an electronic "chip" 51 .

• en modifiant le nombre des "pistes" du dispositif, qui s'étendent perpendiculairement à la chaîne d'entraînement ;
• en modifiant des détails constructifs, par exemple en remplaçant le profil en queue d'aronde (de la rainure 11 et de la barrette 22) par un profil en "T",
• en ayant recours à tous moyens équivalents à ceux décrits, les vérins de déplacement des barrettes pouvant ainsi être remplacés par tous moyens de commande, et le bord replié 42 pouvant être remplacé par toute partie faisant saillie vers le bas, à l'avant du plateau 4, et apte à coopérer avec les butées escamotables,
• en destinant le dispositif à une ligne de fabrication d'articles ou d'objets autres que des chaussures, les postes de travail concernés pouvant réaliser toutes opérations ou traitements.

We would not depart from the scope of the invention:

• by changing the number of "tracks" of the device, which extend perpendicular to the drive chain;
• by modifying constructive details, for example by replacing the dovetail profile (of the groove 11 and of the bar 22) by a "T" profile,
• using any means equivalent to those described, the displacement cylinders of the bars can thus be replaced by any control means, and the folded edge 42 can be replaced by any part projecting downwards, at the front of the plate 4, and able to cooperate with the retractable stops,
• by devoting the device to a line for manufacturing articles or objects other than shoes, the work stations concerned being able to carry out all operations or treatments.

Claims (11)

Device for the transfer of trays, supporting articles or objects (1) during manufacture or treatment, between an endless drive chain (2) on which these trays (4) rest and are driven by adhesion effect , and work stations (3) where operations or treatments are carried out on these articles or objects, characterized in that it comprises, for a work station (3) located on one side of the drive chain (2 ), at least one guide track (20, 21) for the plates (4), extending perpendicular to the direction of movement (F) of the chain (2), and for each track (20,21) a member transverse drive (22) provided to cooperate with a complementary part (11) formed on each plate (4), the transverse drive member (22) being displaceable in translation, under the action of control means (24 ), between a position close to the drive chain (2), and a distant position e of said chain (2) but close to a machine or an operator (5) performing an operation or a treatment on the articles or objects (1) carried by the trays (4), means (31 to 38) being provided to control the position of the plates (4) in particular at the intersection of the chain (2) and the or each guide track (20,21). Device for transferring plates between a drive chain and work stations, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two parallel guide tracks (20, 21) for the plates (4), s 'extending one next to the other perpendicular to the drive chain (2). Device for transferring plates between a drive chain and work stations, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the or each guide track consists of a pair of guides (20, 21), perpendicular to the chain (2) and carried by a horizontal table (19), the spacing between the two guides (20,21) of the same pair being substantially equal to the length of a plate (4). Device for transferring plates between a drive chain and work stations, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transverse drive member associated with each guide track (20,21 ) is a bar (22) which extends parallel to the drive chain (2) and which has a profile, such as a dovetail, complementary to the profile of at least one longitudinal groove (11) formed in the lower face (6) of each plate (4). Device for transferring trays between a drive chain and work stations, according to all of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the transverse drive bar (22) is coupled, through a slot (23) of the table (19) extending between the two guides (20,21) parallel to the latter, to a jack (24) arranged under the table (19). Device for transferring trays between a drive chain and work stations, according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that each tray (4) has two parallel grooves (11), such as tail grooves dovetail, provided on either side of a central friction plate (40) cooperating with the drive chain (2). Device for transferring trays between a drive chain and work stations, according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the means provided for controlling the position of the trays (4) at the intersection of the drive chain (2) and the or each guide track (20,21) comprise presence detectors (31,33,35) associated with retractable stops (32,34,36), at least one detector and at least one stop being associated with each track. Device for transferring plates between a drive chain and work stations, according to claim 7, characterized in that each plate (4) comprises, to cooperate with the retractable stops (32,34,36), a part projecting downstream from the front of this tray (4), such as a downward folded front edge (42). Device for transferring trays between a drive chain and work stations, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, intended for trays (4) on which are removable supports (14,15) for articles or objects (1) during manufacture or treatment, characterized in that there are provided, in correspondence with the end of travel position of these plates (4) distant from the drive chain (2) and close together of the machine or of the operator (5), indexing means (25, 26) provided for temporarily locking a removable support (14, 15) carried by a plate (4) brought into said position of limit switch by the transverse drive member (22). Device for transferring trays between a drive chain and work stations, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, intended for trays (4) receiving removable supports (14,15) for articles or objects (1) during manufacture or treatment, the supports (14,15) being provided with an electronic "chip" (18) containing information relating to the articles or objects (1) during manufacture or treatment, characterized in that there are still provided, in correspondence with the end-of-travel position of the plates (4) remote from the drive chain (2) and close to the machine or the operator (5), reading means ( 37,38) of the information contained in the electronic "chip" (18) of a removable support (14,15) carried by a plate (4) brought into said end-of-travel position by the transverse drive member (22). Use of the device for transferring plates between a drive chain and work stations, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, for an automatic or semi-automatic production line for shoes (1), mounted on forms (15) held by removable supports (14), themselves carried by the plates (4).

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