JP2001031215A - Panel stocker - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily house a large number of large panels by constituting a panel stocker for housing the large panels in large numbers by arranging a casing having a carrying-in/out port, plural support guide members for horizontally supporting/guiding the panels into the casing and lifting mechanisms for lifting the support guide members. SOLUTION: Front/rear side surfaces and an upper surface are respectively opened in a casing of a panel stocker 1, and among these, a front opening 9f is used as a panel carrying-in/out port. A width of the front opening 9f is longer than the short side of a solar battery panel, and the longitudinal length of the casing is longer than the long side of the solar battery panel. Lifting mechanisms 4 are respectively arranged in side surface parts 1d, 1e of the casing to lift housed panels. The respective lifting mechanisms 4 are separately arranged on the left and right of the respective side surface parts 1d, 1e, and are arranged so that the lifting mechanism 4 of the side surface part 1d and the lifting mechanism 4 of the side surface part 1e face each other, and have plural roller guides 46 installed at equal pitch intervals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a panel stocker capable of accommodating a large number of large panels such as solar panels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A battery module on which a power generation layer and an electrode layer are formed is inspected for power generation, coated with a protective film, and fired.
It is cut in size, and a protective sheet is attached by a laminating device to form a panel. A rubber frame for protection is further adhered to the peripheral edge of the solar cell panel. Since it takes a considerable amount of time for the adhesive to dry and harden, the solar cell panel is transported from the manufacturing area to the storage area and temporarily stored during that time.

[0003] After connecting the terminals on the back surface of the solar cell panel to the lead wires, the terminal block (terminal take-out portion) is sealed with a resin, but the panel is stored until the resin sealant is dried and hardened. Keep it temporarily in the area.

[0004]

The solar cell panel tends to be large. When the size of the solar cell panel exceeds 1000 × 1000 mm, the panel becomes quite heavy. For this reason,
Large solar panels are difficult to handle, and loading and unloading them from the trolley is a heavy task. In addition, when a large number of large panels are stacked on a cart, the panels may fall off the cart during transportation.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a panel stocker which can easily accommodate a large number of large panels and can safely transport the panels. And

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a panel stocker comprising: a housing having a loading / unloading opening which is opened on at least one side for inserting and removing a rectangular panel; It is provided with a plurality of support guide members respectively provided on the side surface and supporting and guiding a panel to be stored substantially horizontally in the housing, and an elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the support guide member in the housing. And

It is preferable that the elevating mechanism synchronously raises and lowers the support guide member provided on one of the opposed side surfaces and the support guide member provided on the other side surface.

The lifting mechanism includes a drive motor capable of switching between forward and reverse rotation, a ball screw mechanism driven by the motor, a horizontal chain mechanism connected to a nut of the ball screw mechanism, and a support guide member. And a gear mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the horizontal chain mechanism to the vertical chain mechanism.

In this case, in order to prevent the vertical chain mechanism from excessively moving up and down the panel, an end limit switch for detecting the amount of movement of the chain of the horizontal chain mechanism, and the drive based on the detection signal. It is desirable to have a control unit for restricting the operation of the motor.

[0010] Further, a chain press is provided at a connecting portion between the vertical chain mechanism and the support guide member and prevents bending of the chain against a downward load applied to the chain from the support guide member. Is desirable.

Further, the support guide member includes a rod connected to a chain projection of the vertical chain mechanism,
It is desirable to have a roller guide rotatably supported at the tip of the rod.

Preferably, the opening width of the loading / unloading port is larger than the length of the short side of the panel and smaller than the length of the long side of the panel.

[0013] Further, it is preferable that an opening is formed in a side surface of the casing facing the loading / unloading port.

Further, it is preferable that the upper surface of the housing is open.

Further, it is preferable to have a foot-operated foot switch for operating the operation of starting and stopping the operation of lifting and lowering the panel, and the operation of switching the vertical movement by the above-mentioned lifting mechanism.

Further, the panel is provided at the panel loading / unloading port,
It is preferable to have a fall prevention member for preventing the storage panel from falling from the panel loading / unloading port.

Further, it is preferable that a self-propelled wheel is provided at a lower portion of the housing.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing of the panel stocker 1 has front and rear side surfaces and an upper surface, respectively. The front opening 9f is used as a panel carry-in / out port. The width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the front opening 9f is longer than the short side of the solar cell panel P, and the front-rear length (length in the X-axis direction) of the housing is longer than the long side of the solar cell panel P. Has become. The front opening 9f extends over substantially the entire height of the housing, whereas the rear opening 9r is slightly higher in height and narrower than the front opening 9f. When the front part of the panel stocker is closed, the rear opening 9r is used to assist in taking the panel P in and out. The upper opening 9u is provided to make it easier to see the storage state of the panel P, and is optional. The upper opening 9u may be closed with a transparent acrylic plate or the like to prevent particles from adhering to the panel P.

The handle 3 is provided substantially horizontally from one rear side surface 1b to the other rear side surface 1c so as to block the upper part of the rear opening 9r. When the handle 3 is pushed or pulled, the four casters 2 attached to the bottom of the housing roll, and the entire panel stocker 1 moves in the X-axis direction in the figure.

An elevating mechanism 4 is provided on each of the side surfaces 1d and 1e of the housing that is not open so that the stored panel P can be raised and lowered. The elevating mechanism 4 is arranged to be separated from the left and right sides of the side parts 1d and 1e, and the elevating mechanism 4 of the one side part 1d faces the elevating mechanism 4 of the other side part 1e. Each elevating mechanism has a plurality of roller guides 46 attached at equal pitch intervals. The roller guides 46 are mounted, for example, in 11 to 13 stages.

Panel fall prevention members 7 and 8 are attached to front and rear side surfaces 1a and 1g of the housing, respectively. The panel fall prevention members 7 and 8 are formed of elongated flat plates,
a and 8a.
At the time of transport, the members 7 and 8 stand upright, and the front and rear openings 9
f and 9r are respectively blocked, and the panel P stored in the housing is prevented from falling down. At the time of non-conveyance, the members 7 and 8 are kept horizontal.

The wiring cords of the input plug 5 and the foot switch 6 are attached to the side surface 1d of the housing that is not open. As shown in FIG.
Is the DC power supply 7 of the control panel 70 via the backflow prevention circuit 51.
1 connected. The DC power supply 71 is connected to the sequencer 72 and the motor controller 73, respectively.
Further, the power supply / signal connection panel 61 is connected to the backflow prevention circuit 51 and the foot switch 6, respectively. The operation panel 62 is connected to the foot switch 6 and the sequencer 72, respectively. In addition, code 6
Reference numeral 3 denotes a power receiving outlet, reference numeral 64 denotes a signal receiving outlet, reference numeral 65 denotes an emergency stop push button, reference numeral 66 denotes a start push button, and reference numeral 67 denotes an up / down switching toggle switch.

The drive motor 41 of the lifting mechanism 4 is of a forward / reverse rotation switching type capable of switching the rotation direction. When the toggle switch 67 is switched from the descending side to the ascending side, the direction of rotation of the motor 41 is switched from normal rotation to reverse rotation, and the movement of the panel P by the elevating mechanism 4 is changed from descent to ascent. End limit switches 81 and 82 are provided at appropriate positions on the driving force transmission chain 44a of the lifting mechanism 4.
The lifting stroke of the panel P is limited so that the panel P does not descend too much and does not rise too much.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the work table 10 is attached to the loading / unloading port 9f of the panel stocker 1, and the panel P is slid in the X-axis direction along the inclined plate 12 supported by the support plate 11, The panel P slides into the housing from the loading / unloading port 9f by the upper roller guide 46, and is stored at a predetermined position. Start push button 66 when storing the panel
Is pressed or the foot switch 6 is depressed, and the panel P is lowered one step at a time by the lifting mechanism 4. When the panel is taken out, the toggle switch 67 is switched, and the start push button 66 is turned on.
Is pressed or the foot switch 6 is depressed, and the panel P is raised one step at a time by the lifting mechanism 4.

The angle of the slope plate 12 can be freely changed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a slide ball. Further, a shock absorber (not shown) for reducing impact is attached to the rear side surfaces 1b and 1c.
To prevent damage.

The lifting mechanism 4 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

A motor 41 serving as a drive source of the lifting mechanism 4 is provided at a lower portion of the rear portion 1a of the housing, near the side portion 1d.
The drive shaft of the motor 41 is connected to the ball screw 42. A nut 43 is screwed into the ball screw 42, and the nut 43 is connected to a horizontal chain 44 by a connecting tool 43a.
a. The horizontal chain 44a is wound around a pair of left and right sprockets.

One sprocket of the horizontal chain mechanism is mounted on a shaft coaxial with a gear 45a.
5a meshes with a gear 45b attached to a shaft 49a coaxial with a sprocket 45f of the vertical chain mechanism. The other sprocket 45d of the horizontal chain mechanism is attached to the coaxial shaft 49b of the vertical chain mechanism. By the combination of such a horizontal chain mechanism and a pair of vertical chain mechanisms, the roller guides 46 facing each other are lowered or raised synchronously. Note that the shafts 49a and 4 of the vertical chain mechanism are used.
9b, 49c, 49d are bearings 49e, 49f, 49g,
49h through the side portions 1a, 1b, 1c, 1f,
Each is rotatably supported by 1 h.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the vertical chain mechanism of the lifting mechanism 4, the chain guide 48
b, and a chain 44b is guided by a guide 48. Projections 44p are formed at equal pitch intervals on the outside of the chain 44b, and the rod 46b of the roller guide 46 is connected and fixed to each chain projection 44p. A roller 46a is attached to the tip of the rod 46b by a loose holder 46.
It is freely rotatable via c.

A chain presser 47 is attached to the outside of the chain 44b. The chain presser 47 is provided at each position corresponding to the chain joint 44j. When the panel P is supported, a downward moment force is generated on the roller guide 46, and the chain 44 is connected at the joint 44j.
b attempts to bend in a V-shape as shown in the figure, but this is prevented by the chain retainer 47. With such a chain retainer 47, the roller guide 46 can maintain a horizontal posture against a downward load.

In the above embodiment, an example in which a panel stocker with casters is manually conveyed has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and the panel stocker of the present invention may be mounted on a self-propelled transport vehicle such as an AGV and transported.

Further, in the temporary storage area, another panel stocker is placed on the panel stocker of the present invention.
You may make it tier, three tiers, or four tiers.

[0034]

As described above, according to the panel stocker of the present invention, large panels can be easily stored, and a large number of panels can be safely transported. In particular, large solar cell panels of 1000 × 1000 mm or more were difficult to handle because they were heavy.
By using the panel stocker of the present invention, panels can be smoothly and quickly transferred from the worktable, and the handling of panels during loading and unloading is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case.

Further, since the panel stocker of the present invention can be easily mounted on a self-propelled carrier, a large number of panels can be quickly conveyed from the manufacturing area to the temporary storage area.

Further, in the temporary storage area, another panel stocker is placed on the panel stocker of the present invention.
It can be stacked in three, four or four layers,
There is an advantage that an occupied floor area (footprint) required for storing a large number of large panels is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a panel stocker according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing the panel stocker when the panel is carried in.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the panel stocker viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the panel stocker viewed from the side opposite to the loading / unloading port.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view showing a part of a lifting mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the panel stocker.

[Explanation of symbols]

4: Lifting mechanism, 41: Motor, 42: Ball screw, 43: Nut, 44a to 44c: Chain, 44j
... Chain joint, 44p ... Chain protrusion, 45a, 45
b: gear, 45c to 45f: sprocket, 46: roller guide (supporting guide member), 46a: roller, 46b ...
Support rod, 46c: Loose holder, 47: Chain retainer,
48: Chain guide, 49a-49d: Shaft, 49e-
49h: Bearing, 5: Input plug, 6: Foot switch,
7, 8: panel falling prevention member, 9f: front opening (loading / unloading port), 9r: rear opening, 9u: upper opening, 10: work table, 11: support plate, 12: slope plate, 13: slide ball, Reference numeral 61: power supply / signal connection panel, 62: operation panel, 70: control unit, 71: DC power supply, 72: sequencer, 73: motor controller, 81, 82: end limit switch, P: panel.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a loading / unloading opening which is opened on at least one side for taking in / out a rectangular panel, and a panel provided and housed on an opposing side adjacent to the loading / unloading opening, respectively. A panel stocker comprising: a plurality of support guide members that support and guide substantially horizontally in a body; and an elevating mechanism that moves the support guide members up and down in a housing. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elevating mechanism synchronously moves a support guide member provided on one of the opposed side surfaces and a support guide member provided on the other side surface. Panel stocker. 3. The lifting mechanism includes a drive motor capable of switching between forward and reverse rotation, a ball screw mechanism driven by the motor, a horizontal chain mechanism connected to a nut of the ball screw mechanism, and the support guide member. The panel stocker according to claim 1, further comprising: a vertical chain mechanism that moves the vertical chain mechanism vertically; and a gear mechanism that transmits a driving force from the horizontal chain mechanism to the vertical chain mechanism. 4. An end limit switch for detecting an amount of movement of a chain of the horizontal chain mechanism in order to prevent the vertical chain mechanism from excessively moving up and down by the vertical chain mechanism. 4. The panel stocker according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit for restricting an operation. 5. A chain retainer provided at a connecting portion between the vertical chain mechanism and the support guide member, for preventing a bending of the chain against a downward load applied to the chain from the support guide member. The panel stocker according to claim 3, wherein: 6. The support guide member comprises a rod connected to a chain projection of the vertical chain mechanism, and a roller guide rotatably supported at the tip of the rod. The panel stocker described. 7. The panel stocker according to claim 1, wherein an opening width of the carry-in / out port is larger than a length of a short side of the panel and smaller than a length of a long side of the panel. 8. The panel stocker according to claim 1, wherein an opening is formed in a side surface of the housing facing the loading / unloading port. 9. The panel stocker according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the housing is open. 10. The panel stocker according to claim 1, further comprising a foot-operated foot switch for operating a lifting operation, a lifting stop operation, and a lifting switching operation of the panel by the lifting mechanism. 11. The panel stocker according to claim 1, further comprising a fall prevention member provided at said panel carry-in / out port to prevent the storage panel from falling down from said panel carry-in / out port. 12. The panel stocker according to claim 1, further comprising a self-propelled wheel at a lower portion of said housing.