JP2000118632A - Stocker device of carrier conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve driving efficiency of a stocker device and to certainly store and deliver a work by devising the stocker device and its moving mechanism and carrier driving mechanism so as to manufacture them at low cost by simplifying a driving mechanism. SOLUTION: This stocker device is constituted of a stocker means 4 capable of storing a sheet type or plate type work on each of shelves in multiple stages and having a seuding means to carry the work, a stocker moving means 5 to position the stocker means 4 by holding the stocker means 4 and selectively moving a shelf position of the stocker means to a position of a conveyor and connecting means 6a, 6b to selectively transmit motive power of upstream and downstream conveyors 2a, 2b to the sending means of the shelf of the stocker means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stocker device provided on a conveyor for conveying sheet materials, and a mechanism of the stocker device of the stocker device and a drive mechanism of a feeding device of a storage shelf of the stocker device are simplified. It can reduce the installation space and reduce the manufacturing cost, and is effective when used for a sheet (eg, plastic film) conveying device in a semiconductor, liquid crystal production line or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conveyor system having a buffer function for storing a difference between a speed at which a work is carried into a conveyor and a speed at which a work is carried out of the conveyor is provided with various functions. There is something. Most commonly, a pair of endless chains are arranged facing each other across a conveyor, a multi-stage storage shelf is configured between both endless chains, and the endless chain is driven to raise and lower the multi-stage storage shelf. In this way, the excess is sequentially stocked (JP-A-6-092417, JP-A-6-321).
No. 317), and a stocker having a guide rail is arranged between conveyors,
There is one that is stocked by a storage / removal mechanism (JP-A-6-092417 and JP-A-6-321317). Furthermore, by means of transport such as a robot,
The work is stored in a stocker for buffering and is carried out (Fig. 6). A plurality of bypass lines are provided separately from the main line of the conveyor system, and excess work is stocked in these bypass lines. And can be used as a vertical type buffer (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-3217). The above can arrange the work vertically, so even a work with a large surface area can effectively use the space and stock it in large quantities, but it is not suitable for a flexible work such as a film sheet, Also, the thing has the same problem as the thing. further,
Can handle flexible workpieces such as film sheets, but requires a large amount of operating space due to special transfer means such as robots, and robots that automatically operate Since the advanced transfer means is used, the installation cost is high and the maintenance cost is high. In addition, the above-mentioned one is provided with elevating means on both sides of the stocker as the transport switching means, so that a large installation space is required, and the transport switching means and each bypass line need to be individually provided with a drive unit. For example, a complicated mechanism cannot be avoided, the manufacturing cost is high, and a sufficient number of shelves cannot always be arranged due to space restrictions.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve all of the above problems (1) to (3) with regard to a stocker device arranged between conveyors in a sheet-like work conveying process. Not necessary, so that the drive mechanism is simple and can be manufactured at low cost, devising the stocker device and its moving mechanism, transport drive mechanism,
In addition, (2) the control means for improving the operation efficiency of the stocker device and reliably storing and carrying out the work is devised, and (3) a flexible work such as a film sheet is further improved. It is an object of the present invention to devise a stocker device, a moving mechanism thereof, and a transport driving mechanism so as to facilitate handling, (4) easy handling in a clean room, and (5) easy handling in a plurality of branch lines. It is assumed that.

[0004]

[Measures taken to solve the above problems]

A means taken to solve the above problem (1) is capable of accommodating a sheet-like or plate-like work in each of multi-stage shelves and has a feeding means for conveying the work. The stocker means, the stocker moving means for holding the stocker means, selectively moving the shelf position of the stocker means to the position of the conveyor, and positioning the power of the upstream and downstream conveyors to the feeding means of the shelf of the stocker means. That is, the stocker device is constituted by the connecting means for selectively transmitting.

[0005]

A means taken to solve the above problem (2) has a control means for controlling a stocker device, and the control means operates at least three stages of a storage mode, a carry-out mode, and a through mode. That is to have a mode switching means for selectively executing.

(Embodiment 1) The control means in the above-mentioned solution means 2 has a shelf management function for managing a work storage in the stocker means and a work unloading order from the stocker means.

[Embodiment 2] In the stocker device according to the above-mentioned Solution 2, a means for detecting a completion state of storing or unloading the work in the stocker means is provided.

[0006]

A means taken to solve the above problem (3) is that, in the stocker device according to the above solution 1, the stocker has a sheet material holding function.

[0007]

Another means taken to solve the above problem (3) is that the connecting means has a speed adjusting mechanism.

[0008]

A means taken to solve the above problem (4) is that a dustproof plate is provided between the shelves of the stocker means in the stocker device according to the above solution 1.

[0009]

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the stocker device according to the first aspect, the stocker moving unit has a horizontal moving unit.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. For example, the stocker device 3 is provided between the conveyors 2a and 2b that convey the sheet material 1 between the exit of the washing process of the sheet material 1 and the entrance of the printing process in the liquid crystal manufacturing line. Since the speed at which the sheet material is unloaded from the washing process and is fed into the conveyor 2a is not constant, and the speed at which the sheet material is fed into the printing process is not constant, the excess sheet material is stocked in a stocker device. Alternatively, the shortage is replenished from the stocker device, and the sheet material is supplied from the conveyor 2b to the printing process without any shortage. This is a general function of interposing a stocker device in the conveyor system. The stocker device 3 includes a stocker means 4 having multi-stage shelves, a stocker moving means 5 for moving the stocker means 4 up and down and positioning it at a predetermined height, a driving means 6 for driving a shelf conveyor 41 constituting each shelf, and a stocker. It comprises control means 7 for controlling the means. Since this embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a conveyor for transporting the sheet material 1 of a film liquid crystal substrate, all the components of each means are basically compatible with a clean room.

[Stocker Means] The mechanism of the stocker means is as follows. A six-stage shelf conveyor 41 is provided on the frame 40 of the stocker means 4, and the sheet material 1 can be stocked on each of these shelf conveyors 41. Each shelf conveyor 41 is for moving the sheet material 1 from the upstream conveyor 2a to the downstream conveyor 2b, and is a normal belt conveyor including a transport belt 42 and a driving roller. And a normal holding means for smooth conveyance.

In the above embodiment, a belt conveyor is used as the shelf conveyor 41. An example in which a roller conveyor is used is shown in FIG. The details of the shelf conveyor (form using a transport roller) using a roller conveyor are as follows. The embodiment shown in FIG.
3 is provided as a holding means, and the sheet material 1 is slid with the necessary number of conveying rollers 44. The transport roller 44 has a configuration in which a plurality of cylindrical rubber rollers (or metal rollers) are arranged on a shaft 45, and the shaft 45 is supported by a frame with a bearing. A pulley 46 is fixed to one side of the shaft 45, and a belt 47 (or a chain) is hung on these transport rollers so that the transport rollers are linked. A guide roller 48 is provided on each shaft 45 in order to improve the straightness of the sheet material 1, and a dust-proof plate 49 is provided to shield dust generated from the transport system and prevent the dust from dropping to the lower shelf. Provided.

Although an appropriate load is applied to the shelf conveyor (feeding means) in this embodiment in the feeding direction so that the sheet material does not move or drop due to inertia, inertia, vibration, etc. A mechanism for locking the feed may be provided for more certainty.

[Stocker moving means] The mechanism of the stocker moving means is as follows. The stocker moving means 5 has a lifting means 50 and a stocker holding means 51.
The frame 40 of the stocker unit 4 is held by the stocker holding unit 51, and the elevating unit 50 is composed of a guide unit 52 and a driving unit 53, and the frame 40 of the stocker unit is guided and supported by the guide unit 52 so as to be able to move up and down. . Thereby, any shelf conveyor 41 of the stocker means 4 can be moved to the height of the conveyors 2a and 2b.

[Connecting Means] The connecting means for selectively transmitting power to the feeding means of the shelf is constituted as follows. 1 and 2
As shown in (1), the connecting means 6a and 6b have idle rollers 60 as transmission means. This idle roller 6
0 is rotatably provided at the tip of a piston rod of a cylinder 61 as a switching means.
1 advances and retreats, and selectively presses the drive roller 62 provided on the shaft of the end roller of the conveyors 2a and 2b and the driven roller 63 provided on the shaft of the end roller of the shelf conveyor 41, thereby conveying the conveyor. The shelf conveyors 2a and 2b are linked to each other. The cylinder 61 is controlled by control means described later. In this embodiment, a rubber roller is used as the idle roller 60. However, it is preferable that minute grooves and minute unevenness in the longitudinal direction for preventing slip are formed on the surface of the idle roller 60. When the idle roller 60 is pressed against the drive roller 62 of the upstream conveyor 2a and the driven roller 63 of the shelf conveyor 41, the shelf conveyor 41 is linked and connected to the conveyor 2a and is driven by the conveyor 2a, and is conveyed by the conveyor 2a. The sheet material 1 that has been removed is smoothly taken up by the shelf conveyor 41. In addition, the shelf conveyor 41 is similarly connected to the downstream conveyor 2b by the idle roller 60 and driven by the conveyor 2b, so that the sheet material 1 fed from the shelf conveyor 41 is smoothly taken up by the conveyor 2b. By using the power of the front and rear conveyors 2a and 2b for driving the shelf conveyor 41 in this way, each shelf conveyor 41 is individually driven only when necessary. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a drive unit such as a motor on the shelf conveyor 41 as each stocker shelf, and the mechanism of the stocker apparatus is extremely simplified. Further, by providing the speed adjusting means, it is necessary to adjust the sheet feeding speed of the shelf conveyor 41 to the feeding speed of the conveyors 2a and 2b.
The above speed adjustment is performed by changing the diameter of the motor. Regarding the adjustment of the speed, when the shelf conveyor 41 takes in the sheet material 1, the conveying speed of the shelf conveyor 41 is slightly increased, and when the sheet material is fed from the shelf conveyor 41, the feeding speed of the shelf conveyor 41 is set to Slightly slow, sheet material 1
It is important to prevent feed wrinkles from occurring. Two idle rollers 60 are provided. One of the idle rollers is pressed against the drive roller 62 of the conveyor 2a, 2b, and the other is pressed against the driven roller 63 of the shelf conveyor 41. A transmission mechanism (for example, a gear transmission mechanism, a friction wheel transmission mechanism, or the like) may be interposed, and the transmission ratio may be adjusted by the transmission mechanism.

[Control Means] The control means 7 of the above embodiment is
Shelf management function for grasping the presence / absence and storage order of sheet material on each shelf conveyor 41, up / down drive control function of stocker means 4, positioning control function of stocker means 4, advance / retreat operation control function of connecting means, sheet material Has a determination function (a timer or a signal determination of the presence / absence detection sensor) for determining the completion of the transfer of the data. In this embodiment, since a shelf management function is provided, first-in first-out is possible. The output signals of the work detection sensors 8 of the upstream conveyor and the downstream conveyor are used as means for determining the completion of the transfer of the sheet material.

[Operation of the Embodiment] FIG. 3 shows a processing flow of the embodiment controlled by the control means.
The modes are selectively executed. When the buffer function is not required, the through mode is selected. In this through mode, the sheet material 1 is taken as it is via the shelf conveyor 41 of the stocker means 4 to the downstream conveyor 2b.

[Processing Flow of Storage Mode] The storage operation of the stocker apparatus of the embodiment is controlled in the following procedure. (1) One of empty shelf conveyors is selected based on the determined rule. (2) The stocker means 4 is raised and lowered by the lifting means 50,
The selected shelf conveyor 41 is moved to a predetermined height (conveyor 2).
a, 2b). (3) The upstream conveyor 2a and the shelf conveyor 41 are interlocked and connected by the connection means 6a. (4) The work detection sensor 8 confirms that the storage of the sheet material 1 on the shelf conveyor 41 of the stocker means 4 is completed. (5) Conveyor 2a and shelf conveyor 4 by connecting means 6a
Release the connection with 1. (6) Register the work data (storage order, work presence / absence, etc.) in the registration memory of the stocker means 4.

[Processing Flow in Unloading Mode] The unloading operation of the stocker apparatus of the above embodiment is controlled in the following procedure. (1) One of the shelf conveyors 41 accommodating the sheet material 1 is selected based on the determined rule. (2) The stocker means is raised and lowered by the lifting means 50, and the selected shelf conveyor 41 is moved to a predetermined height (conveyor 2a,
2b). (3) The downstream conveyor and the shelf conveyor 41 are connected by the downstream connecting means 6b. (4) The work detection sensor 8 confirms that the unloading of the sheet material 1 from the shelf conveyor 41 is completed. (5) Shelf conveyor 41 and conveyor 2 by connecting means 6b
Release the connection with b. (6) Delete the work data (storage order, work presence / absence, etc.) in the above-mentioned registration memory for the shelf conveyor that has been unloaded.

[Process Flow in Through Mode] The through mode operation of the stocker apparatus of the embodiment is controlled in the following procedure. (1) Empty shelf conveyor 4 based on determined rules
Select any one from among 1. (2) The stocker means 4 is moved up and down by the elevating means 50 to position the selected empty shelf conveyor 41 at a predetermined height (the height of the conveyers 2a and 2b). (3) Conveyor 2a and shelf conveyor 4 by connecting means 6a
And 1. (4) The work detection sensor 8 confirms that the storage of the sheet material 1 on the shelf conveyor 41 is completed. (5) Conveyor 2a and shelf conveyor 4 by connecting means 6a
Release the connection with 1. (6) The shelf conveyor 41 and the conveyor 2 by the connecting means 6b
b. (7) The work detection sensor 8 confirms that the unloading of the sheet material 1 from the shelf conveyor 41 is completed. (8) The shelf conveyor 41 and the conveyor 2 by the connecting means 6b
Release the connection with b.

In the above embodiment, the downstream conveyor 2b is composed of one conveyor.
This embodiment can also be applied to a configuration in which a plurality of conveyors are vertically overlapped. In this case, the upstream conveyor 2a and the selected conveyor 2
b, the height of the shelf conveyor 41 must be selectively adjusted to any of the branched downstream conveyors 2b in the unloading mode from the shelf conveyor 41. is there.

[Other Embodiments] Next, other embodiments will be described. Another embodiment is shown in FIG. The conveyor line of this embodiment includes an upstream conveyor 102a and a downstream conveyor 10 in which three conveyors X, Y, and Z are laterally branched.
2b. Although the stocker device and the lifting / lowering means of this embodiment are not different from the stocker device 3 and the lifting / lowering means 50 of the embodiment of FIG. 1, this embodiment moves the guide portion 52 of the lifting / lowering means in the horizontal direction (lateral direction). In the horizontal direction. The horizontal moving means is a linear motion shaft 9
And the drive motor 10, and thereby the stocker device 3
Is moved in the horizontal direction, and the branched conveyors X, Y, Z
Can be positioned at any of the positions. Sheet material A, B, C conveyed by conveyor 102a
Is temporarily stored in a stocker device and selectively delivered to any of the conveyors X, Y, and Z at an arbitrary timing. In this embodiment, a sheet material conveyed from a plurality of branched upstream conveyors 102a is stocked in a single stocker device, and the stock material is transferred to a single downstream conveyor or a plurality of branched downstream conveyors. It can also be applied.

[Others] The connecting means may be as follows. That is, the idle rollers 60, 60 of the connecting means 6a, 6b are always positioned between the conveyors 2a, 2b and the stocker means 4 in FIG. Is pressed against the idle roller 60, and the idle roller 60 is driven by the drive roller 6 of the conveyor 2a, 2b.
2 and the driven roller 63, and the driven roller 6
3 is driven by the drive roller 62 via the idle roller 60. Further, the shelf conveyor of the stocker means 4 is not limited to one that stores one sheet material, but may be one that stores a plurality of sheet materials. In this case, the number of sheets stored in each shelf conveyor is registered in the registration memory, and the number of sheets stored in each shelf conveyor is taken into consideration, and the number of sheets stored in each shelf conveyor is taken into each shelf conveyor. It is necessary to control the unloading from.

[0024]

According to the present invention, (1) a work can be stored in each of the multi-stage shelves, and stocker means having a feeding means for conveying the work, and a stocker section are held, and a shelf position of the stocker section can be selectively set. And a stocker moving means for positioning at the position of the conveyor (claim 1), so that the stocker device as an intermediate buffer of the transport conveyor can be arranged in a space-saving manner. Since there is a connecting means for selectively transmitting the power of the upstream and downstream conveyors to the feeding means of the shelves, individual driving means is not required for each shelf, and the mechanism is simplified, so that the stocker is simplified. The production costs of the device are significantly reduced. (2) There is a control means for controlling the stocker device, and the control means has a mode switching means for selectively executing at least three stages of operation modes of a storage mode, a carry-out mode, and a through mode. Storage in stocker,
The unloading operation can be performed automatically and efficiently. (3) Since the control means has a shelf management function for managing the order of storing the work in the stocker means and the order of unloading from the stocker means, the works can be unloaded in any order. (4) Since there is provided a means for detecting the completion state of the storage of the work in the stocker means or the unloading of the work from the stocker means (claim 4), the work storage and unloading operation can be performed more reliably. (5) Since the sheet material holding means for holding the sheet material flat on each shelf of the stocker means is provided (claim 5), even a flexible work such as a sheet material can be smoothly and reliably stored in the stocker. , You can also carry it out. (6) Since the connecting means has a speed adjusting mechanism (claim 6), the sheet feeding speed in the stocker can be adjusted according to the speed of the conveyor. In addition, since a predetermined speed difference can be provided between the conveyor and the stocker, when a flexible work such as a sheet material is transferred, the occurrence of feed wrinkles is prevented. (7) Since a dust-proof plate is provided between the shelves of the stocker means (claim 7), it is possible to shield dust generated from the transport system and prevent the dust from dropping to the lower shelf, and high cleanliness is required. It can be used for storing and transporting workpieces. (8) Since the stocker moving means has a moving means in the horizontal direction (claim 8), the stocker moving means is installed at a branch point of the conveyor line to a plurality of conveyors to efficiently transfer the conveyed goods to a plurality of downstream conveyors. Can be distributed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A is a side view of an embodiment, FIG. 1B is a front view, and FIG. 1C is a plan view.

2 (a) is a side view of the connecting means in the above embodiment in a connected state, FIG. 2 (b) is a side view of the connecting means in a disconnected state, and FIG. 2 (c) is a plan view of the connecting means. .

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

4 (a) is a plan view of another embodiment of the shelf conveyor in the embodiment of FIG. 1, (b) is a front view of (a), and (c) is a view of the shelf conveyor of (a). It is a top view of another form.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: sheet material 2a, 102a: upstream conveyor 2b, 102b: downstream conveyor 3: stocker device 4: stocker means 5: stocker moving means 6a, 6b: connecting means 40: frame 41: shelf conveyor 42: transport belt 43: Shelf board 44: Conveyance roller 45: Shaft 46: Pulley 47: Belt (or chain) 48: Guide roller 49: Dustproof plate 50: Elevating means 51: Stocker holding means 52: Guide means 53: Driving unit 60: Idle roller 61: Cylinder 62: Drive roller 63: Driven roller

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An intermediate buffer device arranged in the middle of a conveyor, comprising: a sheet-like or plate-like work which can be stored in each of a plurality of shelves; and a feeding means for conveying the work. A stocker means, a stocker moving means for holding the stocker means, and selectively moving and positioning the shelf position of the stocker means to the position of the conveyor; and supplying the power of the upstream and downstream conveyors to the feeding means of the shelf of the stocker means. And a transmission means for selectively transmitting power. 2. A control device for controlling a stocker device,
2. The stocker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes mode switching means for selectively executing at least three operation modes of a storage mode, a carry-out mode, and a through mode. 3. The stocker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means has a shelf management function for managing a work storage in the stocker means and a work unloading order from the stocker means. 4. The stocker apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting a completion state of the operation of storing the work in the stocker means or the operation of unloading the work from the stocker means. 5. The stocker device according to claim 1, wherein said stocker means has a sheet material holding function. 6. The stocker device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission means has a speed adjusting mechanism. 7. The stocker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a dustproof plate is provided between the shelves of said stocker means. 8. The stocker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stocker moving means has a horizontal moving means.