JP2000203475A - Device and method for conveying work - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify equipment constitution of a whole and to also simplify operation. SOLUTION: This device comprises a conveyance rail 73 over which a conveyance carriage 41 to support a work W is moved; and forwarding rail 75 situated in a position turned in a 90 deg. arc centering around a conveyance direction, serving as a central axis, based on the conveyance rail 73 and forwarding the empty conveyance carriage 41 after convey-out of the work W. Switch rails 71 at front and rear ends in a work conveying direction are situated on the extension of the conveying rail 73 when the work W is conveyed and on the extension of the forwarding rail 75 when the empty conveying carriage 41 is forwarded. The conveying carriage 41 is conveyed in a way that a work holding mechanism 103 is moved forward along a linear motion guide rail 99 with the protrusion 105 of the conveying carriage 41 on the conveying rail 73 being held by a finger lever for conveyance. The conveyance carriage 41 is forwarded in a way that a lock protrusion forded on a chain 153 makes contact with and presses the protrusion of the conveyance carriage 41 on the forwarding rail 75 through rotational drive of the chain 153.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a work transfer apparatus and a transfer method for sequentially transferring works by circulating a plurality of transfer carts that support the works.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a front view and FIG. 8 is a plan view of a device for transporting, for example, a vehicle body panel material as a work. In this work transfer device, a transfer rail 1 is arranged at an upper stage in FIG. 7, and a forwarding rail 3 is arranged at a lower stage in the lower stage so as to extend in the left-right direction. The transporting trolley 5 moves from right to left in FIG. 7 along the transporting rail 1 while supporting the workpiece W (see FIG. 10), and the transporting trolley 5 after transporting the workpiece W is forwarded. In an empty state in which the work W is not supported along the rail 3, it moves from left to right in reverse to the above. A plurality of transport vehicles 5 are arranged continuously on the transport rail 1 and the transport rail 3.

At the left end and the right end in FIG. 7 of the work transfer device, a transfer carriage 5 is provided so as to be vertically movable between an extension of the transfer rail 1 and an extension of the transport rail 3. Driving lifter mechanisms 7 and 9 are provided. The lifter mechanisms 7, 9 are composed of carriage receiving stands 11, 13 that move up and down on the transport carriage 5, and driving cylinders 15, 17 that move the carriage receiving stands 11, 13 up and down.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
FIG. 10 is a left side view of FIG. On the transport rail 1 side,
A carriage unloading mechanism 19 for unloading the carriage 5 on the carriage rail 1 onto the carriage receiver 11 when it is located at the upper part is provided, and the carriage receiver 11 when it is located at the lower part is provided on the forwarding rail 3 side. A trolley retraction mechanism 21 is provided for pulling the upper transport trolley 5 onto the transport rail 3. The carriage carry-out mechanism 19 and the carriage retracting mechanism 21 include engaging portions 23 and 25 that engage with the lower portion of the transport carriage 5 and cylinders 27 and 29 that move the engaging portions 23 and 25 back and forth.

A bogie unloading mechanism 19a similar to the above-described bogie unloading mechanism 19 is provided at the right end of the transporting rail 3 in FIG. 7 in a symmetrical state and a bogie retraction mechanism similar to the bogie retraction mechanism 21. 21a is provided at the right end of the transport rail 1 in FIG. In other words, the transport carriage 5 on the transport rail 3 is carried out to the carriage receiving base 13 at the lower position by the carriage transport mechanism 19a provided at the right end of the transport rail 3, and the transport carriage 5 is provided at the right end of the transport rail 1. By the provided truck retraction mechanism 21a,
The transport cart 5 on the cart receiver 13 at the upper position is drawn into the transport rail 1.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 8, and FIG. 12 is a left side view of FIG. A carriage driving chain 31 is provided between the transport rail 1 and the forwarding rail 3 in parallel with the rails 1 and 3. As shown in FIG. 11, the bogie drive chain 31 has one end wound around a drive sprocket 33 and the other end wound around a driven sprocket 35, and a drive motor 37 is linked to the drive sprocket 33.

The carriage drive chain 31 is engaged with a lower projection 5a of the carriage 5 on the carriage rail 1 and has an upper projection 5b of the carriage 5 on the forwarding rail 3.
And the fingers 39 for moving the transport carriage 5
A plurality of transport vehicles 5 are provided at the same interval as each other.

[0008] According to the work transfer device having the above structure,
The carriage driving chain 31 is driven by the driving motor 37, and the carriage 5 locked on each finger 39 that moves with the driving of the carriage driving chain 31 supports the work W on the carriage rail 1 in FIG. It moves to the left and moves to the right in FIG. 11 opposite to the above-described work transport direction in an empty state where the work W is not supported on the transport rail 3.

[0009] Then, as shown in FIG.
The transport trolley 5 supporting the work W reaching the end on the front side in the transport direction is transported out to the trolley receiving table 11 at the upper position by the trolley transport mechanism 19. The work W on the trolley support 11 is carried out to the outside by a robot or the like. The work cradle 11 on which the transport carriage 5 after the work is carried out is
The work cradle 1 lowered by the lifter mechanism 7 and lowered
The transport cart 5 on 1 is pulled into the transport rail 3 by the cart pull-in mechanism 21.

At the end on the right side in FIG. 7 opposite to the above, the empty transport carriage 5 on the recirculating rail 3 is carried out by the carriage carry-out mechanism 19a to the carriage carrier 13 located at the lower position, and thereafter the carriage carrier The platform 13 is lifted by the lifter mechanism 9 with the transport trolley 5 mounted thereon, and the transport trolley 5 on the raised trolley receiving platform 13 is loaded on the transport rail 1 by the trolley retraction mechanism 21a after receiving a new work W. Drawn into.

In this way, the work W is successively conveyed by the circulating movement of the conveyance carriage 5 on the conveyance rail 1 and the recirculation rail 3.

[0012]

However, in such a conventional work transfer device, the transfer carriage 5 is
In order to circulate between the transport rail 1 and the transport rail 3, the carriage transport mechanisms 19, 19 a for transporting the transport carriage 5 to the carriage receivers 11, 13 and the transport carriage 5 from the carriage receivers 11, 13. Since the carriage pull-in mechanisms 21 and 21a for pulling the carriage rail 1 and the transport rail 3 are required, and the lifter mechanisms 7 and 9 for vertically moving the carriage receivers 11 and 13 are required, the entire equipment is used. As the operation becomes complicated and the operation is complicated, the cycle time increases, and there is a problem in shortening the work transfer time.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to simplify the entire equipment and to simplify the operation.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of transport vehicles for supporting and transporting a work, and the plurality of transport vehicles in a state where the work is supported. A transport rail that guides the transport carriage forward in the transport direction, a transport rail that is disposed parallel to the transport rail, and guides the transport cart to be transported backward in the opposite direction to the transport direction, and the work transport direction. Are provided at the front end and the rear end, respectively, and are located on the extension of the transport rail to guide the transport trolley, and are located on the extension of the forwarding rail and can guide the transport trolley. A switching rail displaceable between the transport rails and a plurality of transport carts continuously arranged on the transport rail and on the switching rail positioned on the extension of the transport rail and forward in the transport direction. A trolley transport drive mechanism to be moved, and a trolley for holding a plurality of trolleys continuously arranged on the switching rails located on the forwarding rail and an extension of the forwarding rail, and moving the trolley rearward in the opposite direction to the transport direction It has a configuration having a forwarding drive mechanism.

According to the work transfer device having the above-described structure, the carriage transfer drive mechanism supports each transfer trolley supporting the work on the transfer rail and the work on the switching rail on the rear side in the transfer direction. The transport trolleys are sequentially sent forward, and the transport trolley at the front end in the transport direction is sent to the front switching rail. The work supported by the carrier on the switching rail is carried out from here, and the empty carrier moves as the switching rail is displaced onto the extension of the forwarding rail. At this time, there is no carrier on the switching rail on the rear side in the transport direction, and this switching rail is also displaced from the extension of the transport rail to the extension of the forwarding rail. In this state, the carriage transport drive mechanism sequentially transports each transport carriage on the transport rail and the transport carriage on the switching rail on the forward side in the transport direction to the rear side in the workpiece transport direction. The transport trolley is sent on the switching rail, and the transport trolley on the switching rail on the forward side in the transport direction is sent on the forwarding rail. Thereafter, the switching rail on the rear side in the transport direction is displaced from the extension of the transport rail to the extension of the transport rail together with the transport trolley, and the switching rail on the front side in the transport direction is similarly extended from the extension of the transport rail to the extension of the transport rail. Is displaced. Then, a new work is put into the transport carriage on the switching rail on the rear side in the transport direction displaced along the extension of the transport rail, and thereafter the above operation is repeated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the transport rail and the recirculation rail are arranged at positions mutually rotated by 90 degrees around the workpiece transport direction as a central axis.

According to the above configuration, the switching rails provided at the front and rear ends in the transport direction are rotated by 90 degrees about the workpiece transport direction as a central axis, so that the switching rail can be extended over the transport rail and the transport rail. Displace between.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the carriage transport drive mechanism is provided with a reciprocating body that is arranged to extend along the workpiece transport direction and that can reciprocate in the extension direction. The reciprocating body is provided with a holding portion capable of holding a predetermined portion of the carrier.

According to the above configuration, the reciprocating moving body moves forward in the transport direction in a state where the transport carriage on the transport rail supporting the work is held by the holding unit, so that the transport carriage moves in the workpiece transport direction. It is transported forward.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the configuration of the third aspect of the invention, the holding portion is constituted by a rotating lever whose tip can be engaged with a projection provided on the side of the carriage.

According to the above configuration, the tip of the rotating lever is engaged with the projection on the side of the carriage by the rotation of the rotation lever, so that the carriage can be carried.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the third or fourth aspect, the reciprocating movable body includes a rack along an extending direction thereof, and reciprocates by rotating a pinion meshing with the rack.

According to the above configuration, the rack is moved in the longitudinal direction by the rotation of the pinion, and the reciprocating body is moved in the work transfer direction or the opposite direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the bogie forwarding drive mechanism is rotatable by being wound around rotating bodies installed near both ends of the forwarding rail. The endless body is provided with a locking projection that can be locked to the locking portion of the transport carriage on the switching rail positioned on the forwarding rail and an extension of the forwarding rail.

According to the above configuration, the locking projection also moves with the rotation of the endless body, and the locking projection is locked to the locking portion of the transport vehicle, so that the transport vehicle is transported on the transport rail. Moving.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the sixth aspect, the locking portion is constituted by a projection projecting toward the endless body, and the locking projection is formed by the rotation of the endless body. It is configured to contact and press the rear surface of the portion.

According to the above configuration, the movement of the endless body causes
The transporting trolley is forwarded to the rear side in the workpiece transport direction by the pressing projection that contacts the projection of the transporting trolley.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the sixth or seventh aspect, the rotating body is constituted by a sprocket.
The endless body is constituted by a chain wound around the sprocket.

According to the above arrangement, the transporting vehicle is moved forward by the rotational movement of the chain wound around the sprocket.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of any one of the first to eighth aspects, the transport rail, the forward rail, and the switching rail are each formed in a plate shape, and the transport trolley is formed of the plate-shaped rail. And a roller that rotates while nipping the sheet from both sides.

According to the above construction, the transport carriage rotates in a state in which the rollers sandwich the transport rail, the transport rail, and the switching rail formed in the shape of a plate, thereby moving in the transport direction of the work or in the opposite direction. Moving.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of successively arranged carriages are transported one pitch forward along a transport rail to support a workpiece at a forward end in the transport direction. The workpieces are sequentially transported so that the transport trolley is located on the front switching rail, and in this state, after unloading the frontmost work, the front switching rail is placed on an extension of the forwarding rail arranged in parallel with the transport rail. A plurality of transport vehicles that are displaced and displace a rear switching rail on the extension of the transport rail at the rear end in the transport direction to an extension of the transport rail, and are continuously disposed on the front switching rail and the transport rail. To the rear along the forwarding rail
The transport truck is moved forward by pitch so that the transport truck at the rear end in the workpiece transport direction on the transport rail is sequentially forwarded so as to be positioned on the rear switching rail, and further, the rear switching rail and the front switching rail are transported by the transport rail. After displacing the work from the extension of the transfer rail to the extension of the transfer rail, and loading a new work on the transfer carriage on the rear switching rail displaced on the extension of the transfer rail, the above operation is repeated to transfer the work. As a work transfer method.

According to the above transport method, the transfer of the frontmost transport trolley from the transport rail to the transport rail is performed by displacing the front switching rail from the extension of the transport rail to the extension of the transport rail. The transfer of the transfer rail from the transport rail of the rearmost transport cart is performed by displacing the rear switching rail from the extension of the transport rail to the extension of the transport rail.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The transfer between the transfer rail and the transfer rail is performed by displacing the switching rail between the extension of the transfer rail and the extension of the transfer rail. As well as lower costs,
The operation is also simplified, the cycle time is shortened, and the work transfer time is shortened.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the transport rail and the recirculation rail are arranged at positions that are mutually rotated by 90 degrees about the workpiece transport direction as a central axis, so that the entire equipment can be made compact. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the carriage transport drive mechanism includes a reciprocating movable body that is extended along the work transport direction and that can reciprocate in the extended direction. Since the holding unit capable of holding the predetermined portion is provided, the reciprocating moving body moves forward in the transfer direction while the transfer unit supporting the work on the transfer rail is held by the holding unit. Can be transported forward in the workpiece transport direction.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the holding portion is constituted by the rotating lever whose tip can be engaged with the projection provided on the side of the carrier, the holding portion is formed by the rotating operation of the rotating lever. The leading end engages with the protrusion on the side of the carriage, so that the carriage can be carried.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the reciprocating moving body is
A rack is provided along the extension direction, and the rack is reciprocated by the rotation drive of a pinion that meshes with the rack. Can be moved forward in the transport direction of the work.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the bogie forwarding drive mechanism includes an endless body which is wound between rotating bodies installed near both ends of the forwarding rail and is rotatable and movable. Since the locking projection of the transporting trolley on the switching rail positioned on the rail and the extension of the forwarding rail is provided with a locking projection, the locking projection moves with the rotation of the endless body. Is locked to the locking portion of the transport trolley, whereby the transport trolley can be transported on the transport rail.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the locking portion is constituted by a projection projecting toward the endless body, and the locking projection comes into contact with the rear surface of the projection and is pressed by the movement of the endless body. With this configuration, the locking projections that move with the rotation of the endless body come into contact with and press the projections of the transport trolley, thereby enabling the transport trolley to move backward in the workpiece transport direction. .

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the rotating body is constituted by a sprocket, and the endless body is constituted by a chain wound around the sprocket, so that the chain rotates and moves through the sprocket. The transport trolley can be moved forward and backward in the workpiece transport direction.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, each of the transport rail, the forward rail, and the switching rail is formed in a plate shape, and the transport trolley is provided with rollers that rotate while holding the plate-shaped rail from both sides. So the transport rail,
By rotating and moving the transport rail and the switching rail while the rollers are sandwiched therebetween, the transport carriage can be moved in the transport direction of the work or in the opposite direction.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention,
The transfer between the transfer rail and the transfer rail is performed by displacing the switching rail between the extension of the transfer rail and the extension of the transfer rail. As well as lower costs,
The operation is also simplified, the cycle time is shortened, and the work transfer time is shortened.

[0044]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a part on the rearmost side in the work transfer direction in a work transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. This work transfer device is arranged to extend leftward from the rearmost end shown in the drawing, and a transfer cart 41 supporting the work W is continuously arranged along the transfer direction of the work W to the left in the drawing. A plurality of transport vehicles 41 are sequentially transported leftward one pitch at a time.

The above-mentioned work W is a body side panel of an automobile, and the carriage 41 has two work receiving jigs 43 and 45 for supporting the lower end of the body side panel.
And holding jigs 47 and 49 for pressing and holding the peripheral edge of the opening Wa on the front side of the vehicle body in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and a supporting jig 51 for supporting a lower end on the rear side of the vehicle body. It is installed in.

The holding jigs 47 and 49 are mounted on the base plate 53 via the support legs 55, and move rightward and leftward in the drawing by cylinder driving to press the opening Wa. The support jig 51 is provided at the tip of the rotating arm 57, and the rotating arm 57 is
It is supported by a bracket 59 installed on the base plate 53 and is rotatable in a plane parallel to the paper. By displacing the other end of the rotating arm 59 downward by a cylinder 63 attached to the base plate 53 via an attachment bracket 61, the support jig 51
Press the lower end of.

The transport carriage 41 is provided with rollers 69 which rotate while sandwiching two plate-like guide rails 67 arranged along the work transport direction from above and below. A portion of the guide rail 67 located at the rear end portion in the work transfer direction shown in the figure is divided by a dividing portion S to be a rear switching rail 71. At the front end in the work transfer direction (not shown), the two guide rails 67 are similarly divided to be front switching rails. The guide rails 67 between the switching rails at the front and rear ends in the work transfer direction serve as transfer rails 73. That is, the transport trolley 41 moves from the rear switching rail 71 to the front switching rail via the central transport rail 73 while supporting the work W.

In a state in which it is rotated clockwise by 90 degrees when viewed from the front in the transport direction (leftward in FIG. 1) with respect to the transport rail 73, a plate-like 2 A number of forwarding rails 75 are arranged. The transporting rail 75 moves the transport carriage 41 from an end on the front side in the workpiece transport direction to an end on the rear side in an empty state where the workpiece W is not supported (in the rightward direction in FIG. 1). ) Guides when forwarding.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1. The rear switching rail 71 corresponds to the position indicated by a solid line corresponding to the extension of the transport rail 73, and corresponds to the extension of the forwarding rail 75. Between the rotation support shaft 77 centered on the work transfer direction and the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The rotation support shaft 77 is supported by a pair of support brackets 81 on a base table 79, and is mounted on a rotation support member 83 rotatably supported between the support brackets 81 via a connection member 85. The rear switching rail 71 of the book is fixed.

As shown in FIG. 3, a rail switching cylinder 89 is mounted on a base 79 via a cylinder bracket 87, and the tip of a piston rod 91 is provided on the side of the connecting member 85. It is rotatably connected to the bracket 93 via a pin 95. That is, when the piston rod 91 advances rightward in the figure from the position shown in FIG. 3, the rear switching rail 71 is rotationally displaced from the solid line position to the two-dot chain line position.

2 (not shown) on the front end side in the work transfer direction
Similarly to the rear switching rail 71, the front switching rail can be rotationally displaced between a position corresponding to an extension of the transport rail 73 and a position corresponding to an extension of the forwarding rail 75. .

A carriage transport drive mechanism 97 as shown in FIG. 1 is provided between the rear switching rail 71 and a front switching rail (not shown) on the transport rail 73 and on the extension of the transport rail 73. A plurality of the carriages 41 are provided corresponding to the respective transport carts 41. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a view as seen from an arrow E in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a view as seen from an arrow F in FIG. The carriage transport drive mechanism 97 includes a linear guide rail 99 below the transport rail 73.
The work holding mechanism 103 reciprocates on the linear guide rail 99 along the work transfer direction.

The work holding mechanism 103 engages with a projection 105 provided at a predetermined position near the front end of the transfer carriage 41 in the work transfer direction, and serves as a rotation lever as a holding section for holding the transfer carriage 41. Finger lever 107 is provided. This transfer finger lever 107 is
Is held on the transport rail 73 or the transport rail 7.
This is the time when the transport carriage 41 on the rear switching rail 71 located on the extension of No. 3 is transported forward.

Although not shown, the projection 105 of the carriage 41 is also provided near the rear end of the work carriage in the work conveyance direction. When the transport carriage 41 is transported from the foremost end to the front switching rail, the workpiece holding mechanism 103 arranged corresponding to the projection 105 holds the transport carriage 41. This is because, when the work holding mechanism 103 holds the protrusion 105 near the front end and moves into the front switching rail, the work holding mechanism 103 interferes with the rail switching mechanism of the front switching rail. is there.

The transfer finger lever 107 described above is
A concave portion 107 a that is rotatably supported by a support pin 115 provided on the rotation support bracket 113 and engages with the protrusion 105 is formed on the distal end side. Transfer finger lever 10
The other end of 7 is connected to a piston rod 127 of a lever switching cylinder 123 via a connecting portion 119.
That is, the transfer finger lever 107 is rotated by the reciprocating movement of the piston rod 127, and the engaging and disengaging operations with the protrusion 105 are performed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation support bracket 113 is a reciprocating movable body that extends in the workpiece transfer direction on a linear guide 131 that slides while being fitted to the linear guide rail 99. The lever switching cylinder 123 is fixed to the transfer bar 133 via a cylinder bracket 135.

A rack 137 is fixed to the transport bar 133 along the longitudinal direction of the transport bar 133.
The pinion 139 meshes with a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction, and the pinion 139 meshes with a drive gear 143 rotated by the transport drive motor 141. Drive gear 1
43 is a support member 14 via upper and lower support arms 145.
7, and the transport drive motor 141 is fixed to a support member 147 via a motor bracket 149. The support member 147 is fixed to the base 101.

By the forward rotation of the transport drive motor 141,
The transfer bar 133 moves forward in the work transfer direction, and accordingly, the work holding mechanism 103 also moves the transfer finger lever 1.
07 is moved in the same direction while holding the projection 105, and the transport carriage 41 is transported. When the transport drive motor 141 rotates in the reverse direction, the transport bar 133 moves backward, opposite to the above. At this time, the work holding mechanism 103 moves backward with the transport finger lever 107 released from holding the projection 105. To prepare for the next one-pitch conveyance.

In contrast to the carriage transport drive mechanism 97 that transports the transport carriage 41 supporting the work W forward, a carriage transport drive mechanism 151 (FIG. 3) that transports an empty transport carriage 41 that does not support the work W backward. ) Is the forwarding rail 75
And a chain 153 as an endless body extending along the work transfer direction at the side position of the workpiece. The bogie transport drive mechanism 151 shown in FIG. 3 is not actually located at this position, but is disposed at the front end side in the work transport direction on the near side in the drawing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the chain 153 is wound around a sprocket 155 as a rotating body having one end on the rear side in the work transfer direction located near the end of the switching rail 71. 155 is rotatably supported by the rotation support bracket 157.

The other end of the chain 153 is located near the end of the front switching rail, and is wound around a sprocket 159 as a rotating body as shown in FIG.
The sprocket 159 is rotatably supported by the rotation support bracket 161, and is driven to rotate by a transport drive motor 165 supported by the cylinder bracket 163.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the transport vehicle 41 is on the transfer rail 75 or on a switching rail located on the extension of the transport rail 75, the chain 1
A protrusion 167 is provided as a locking portion protruding toward 53. On the other hand, the chain 153 has the protrusion 6
7 is provided with a locking projection 169 that can be locked. The locking projection 169 is provided over the entire circumference of the chain 153 at an interval equivalent to the interval between the plurality of transport carts 41. The projection 169 is formed by the rearward movement of the chain 153 in the workpiece transport direction accompanying the rotational movement. 167 and pressed.
The transport carriage 41 is moved forward.

Next, the operation of the work transfer device having the above configuration will be described. In the state of FIG.
The front switching rail is on an extension of the transport rail 73. At this time, the transport carriage 41 at the rearmost end in the workpiece transport direction
As shown in FIG. 1, is located on the rear side switching rail 71, and the transport carriage 41 at the foremost end is located on the transport rail 73 adjacent to the rear side of the front side switching rail. The transport vehicles 41 are also sequentially and continuously arranged between them. That is, the carrier 41 does not exist on the front switching rail. The transport carts 41 are also arranged continuously on the transport rail 75.

Here, the transfer drive motor 107 is held by the transfer finger lever 107 while holding the projections 105 of the transfer carriages 41 on the transfer rail 73 and the rear switching rail 71 located on the extension of the transfer rail 73. 141 is rotated forward, the rotation of the pinion 139 causes the rack 1 to rotate.
37 moves one pitch to the left in FIG. 1 together with the transport bar 133. By this one-pitch movement, the transport vehicles 41 on the guide rail 67 are transported one pitch at a time. By being transported by one pitch, the foremost transport vehicle 41
Moves on the front switching rail, and the work W supported by the transport carriage 41 on this switching rail is carried out. The rearmost transport vehicle 41 shown in FIG. 1 moves leftward in the figure while supporting the work W, whereby the transport vehicle 41 does not exist on the rear switching rail 71. .

Next, the rail switching cylinder 8 shown in FIG.
9 to rotate the rear switching rail 71 by 90 degrees from the extension of the transport rail 73 at the solid line position to the extension of the transport rail 75 at the two-dot chain line position. Similarly, the front-side switching rail is moved together with the transport carriage 41 so as to extend from the extension of the transport rail 73 to the extension of the transport rail 75.
Rotate 0 degrees.

Here, when the chain driving motor 165 is driven to rotate the chain 153, the locking projection 169 provided on the chain 153 causes the front switching rail located on the conveying rail 75 and the extension of the conveying rail 75. The carrier trolley 41 comes into contact with the protrusion 167 of each upper carrier 41 and pushes the protrusion 167 rearward in the work transport direction to move each carrier 41 one pitch in the same direction (rightward in FIG. 1). By moving forward by one pitch, the transport vehicle 41 on the front switching rail moves onto the transport rail 75, and the frontmost transport vehicle 41 on the transport rail 75 in the transport direction is moved by the front switching rail 7
Move up one.

In this state, the rail switching cylinder 89 shown in FIG. 3 is operated to move the rear switching rail 71 together with the carriage 41 from the extension of the transporting rail 75 at the two-dot chain line position to the transportation rail at the solid line position. Rotate 90 degrees to be an extension of 73. At this time, the front switching rail is also rotated by 90 degrees in the same direction to extend the transport rail 73.

Here, a new work W is set on the carrier 41 on the rear switching rail 71, and in this state, each carrier 41 is moved forward one pitch again to repeat the above operation.

According to the above-described work transfer device, the transfer between the transfer rail 73 and the reciprocating rail 75 of the transfer carriage 41 at the front and rear ends in the work transfer direction is performed by the front switch rail 71 and the rear switch rail 71 by 90 degrees. Since the rotation is performed, the overall equipment configuration is simplified, the cost is reduced, the operation is also simplified, the cycle time is shortened, and the work transfer time is shortened. In addition, since the transport rail 73 and the transport rail 75 are arranged at positions rotated by 90 degrees, the entire equipment can be made compact.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a part of a rearmost side in a work transfer direction in a work transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the work transfer device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view as seen from an arrow E in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrow F in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a work transfer device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the work transfer device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a left side view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged BB sectional view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a left side view of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 W Work 41 Transport cart 69 Roller 71 Rear switching rail 73 Transport rail 75 Forwarding rail 97 Truck transport drive mechanism 105 Projection 107 Transport finger lever (rotary lever, holding unit) 133 Transport bar (reciprocating movable body) 137 Rack 139 Pinion 151 Cart transport drive mechanism 153 Chain (endless body) 155,159 Sprocket (rotating body) 167 Projection (locking portion) 169 Locking projection

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of transport vehicles that support and transport a work, a transport rail that guides the plurality of transport vehicles to transport the workpiece forward in a transport direction while supporting the work, and And a transport rail that guides the transport cart to be transported backward in a direction opposite to the transport direction, and is provided at a front end and a rear end in the work transport direction, respectively. A switching rail that can be displaced between a state where the carrier is guided on the extension and a state where the carrier is guided and is located on the extension of the forwarding rail; and A carriage transport drive mechanism for holding a plurality of transport carriages continuously arranged on the switching rail positioned on an extension and moving the transport carriage forward in the transport direction; A carriage transport drive mechanism for holding a plurality of transport vehicles continuously arranged on the switching rail positioned on the extension of the transport rail and moving the transport vehicles backward in a direction opposite to the transport direction. . 2. The work transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer rail and the recirculation rail are arranged at positions that are mutually rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the transfer direction of the work as a central axis. 3. The carriage transport drive mechanism includes a reciprocating body that is extended along the workpiece transport direction and that can reciprocate in the extension direction. The reciprocating body can hold a predetermined portion of the transport vehicle. 3. The work transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 4. The work transfer device according to claim 3, wherein the holding portion is constituted by a rotation lever whose tip can be engaged with a protrusion provided on the transfer carriage. 5. The reciprocating moving body includes a rack along an extending direction thereof, and reciprocates by rotating a pinion that meshes with the rack.
The work transfer device according to any one of the above. 6. The bogie forwarding drive mechanism includes an endless body that is rotatably wound around rotating bodies provided near both ends of the forwarding rail, and the endless body is extended on the forwarding rail and extending the forwarding rail. 6. The work transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a lock projection that can be locked to a lock portion of the transport carriage on the upper switching rail. 7. The locking portion is constituted by a projection projecting toward the endless body, and the locking projection contacts and presses the rear surface of the projection as the endless body moves. Item 6
Work transfer device as described in the above. 8. The work transfer device according to claim 6, wherein the rotating body is constituted by a sprocket, and the endless body is constituted by a chain wound around the sprocket. 9. The transfer rail, the forward rail and the switching rail are each formed in a plate shape, and the transfer carriage is provided with rollers that rotate while holding the plate-shaped rail from both sides. The work transfer device according to claim 1. 10. A plurality of transport vehicles continuously arranged along a workpiece transport direction are transported forward by one pitch along a transport rail, and a transport vehicle supporting a workpiece at a forward end in the transport direction is moved forward. The workpieces are sequentially transported so as to be positioned on the switching rails, and in this state, after the foremost workpiece is unloaded, the front switching rail is displaced on an extension of a recirculating rail arranged in parallel with the transport rails, and transported. The rear switching rail on the extension of the transport rail at the rear end in the direction is displaced on the extension of the transport rail, and the plurality of transport vehicles continuously arranged on the front switching rail and the transport rail are connected to the transport rail. The transport carriage is moved forward by one pitch along the transport rail, and is sequentially transported so that the transport carriage at the rear end in the workpiece transport direction on the transport rail is positioned on the rear switching rail. The rear switching rail and the front switching rail are displaced from the extension of the forwarding rail to the extension of the transport rail, respectively, and a new work is loaded on the transport carriage on the rear switching rail displaced along the extension of the transport rail. And then carrying out the work by repeating the above operation.