JP2002087570A - Article conveying device by tray - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article conveying device capable of efficiently conveying a conveyed object by preventing the conveyed object from falling at a curve with a small radius. SOLUTION: A slit 2d is provided along a shelf-like circulation conveying passage 2, a chain 4 is pitched along the shelf-like circulation conveying passage 2 under the slit 2d, many trays 6 moved by a roller 6b are disposed on the shelf-like circulation conveying passage 2, and L-shaped plates 6c of the trays 6 and the chain 4 are interconnected through connecting parts 6e.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article transporting apparatus using trays which can continuously transport articles by moving a large number of trays on which articles to be transported are circulated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional tray-based article transport apparatus,
The trajectory on the curved part of the tray for loading the conveyed goods and the chain for moving the tray did not become the same. When the center of gravity of the tray passes outside the locus of the curved portion of the chain, a force for rotating the tray is exerted by centrifugal force, so that the conveyed product placed on the tray may fall from the tray. In order to prevent this, the radius of the curve could not be reduced more than a certain degree by the conventional circulating transfer device.

[0003]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve these problems of the prior art, and to convey articles by a tray which can hardly drop articles even with a small curve radius and can efficiently convey articles. It is to provide a device.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems The constitution of the present invention which has solved the above problems is as follows: 1) The endless cord-like body is passed over the center of a shelf-like circulating conveyance path arranged in a plane so as to pass through the center of the path. A plurality of trays are movably mounted on the shelf-like circulating conveyance path by providing two rollers on one side or the other side with respect to the conveyance direction of the lower surface of the tray on which the articles to be conveyed are mounted and providing one roller on the other side. , Front and rear on the transport direction line passing through the center of the lower surface of the tray 2
A point is engaged with the endless cord-shaped body, and the conveyed article is placed on a tray sent by driving the endless cord-shaped body to carry the article. An article transport device using a tray that is hard to fall off from the tray 2) A slit is provided along the center of the road, and the engagement between the tray and the endless cord-like body is formed through the slit 1).
3) An article transport device using a tray according to 1) or 2) above, wherein a plurality of motors are provided to drive the endless cord at a plurality of locations. 4) A tray lower surface and an endless cord. The article conveying device using a tray according to any one of the above 1) to 3), wherein one of the engagement portions at two points before and after is freely slidable back and forth within a predetermined range. An article transporting device using a tray according to any one of the above 1) to 4), which is configured to be swingable in an angle range. 6) A guide portion branched from the curved portion inside or outside the curved portion of the shelf-shaped circulating transport path. The above-mentioned items 1) to (4), wherein the tray is changed by 180 ° when one of the front and rear engaging portions of the tray passes through the curved portion and the other passes through the guide portion and passes through the curved portion. 5)
An article conveying apparatus using a tray according to any of the above.

[0005]

In the present invention, the front and rear two points on the transport direction line passing through the center of the lower surface of the tray on which the article is loaded are engaged with the endless cord-like body. Pass. Further, also in the curved portion, the front and rear two points on the transport direction line passing through the center of the lower surface of the tray are engaged with the endless cord, so that the tray is drawn on the line connecting the two points of the curved endless cord. The conveyance direction line passing through the center of the lower surface is positioned, and the distance between the center of gravity of the tray and the endless cord-like body curves while maintaining a very short state. Therefore, since the tray does not rotate more than necessary to change the traveling direction, it is possible to reduce the force applied to the load placed on the tray to drop from the tray. In the case where the slit is provided along the center of the path so that the engagement between the tray and the endless cord is through the slit, the tray is provided so that the endless cord is provided below the shelf-like circulating conveyance path. As the engagement between the lower surface and the endless cord-like body passes through the slit,
The endless cord-like body can be prevented from being exposed on the shelf-like circulating conveyance path. With multiple motors to drive the endless cable at multiple locations, each of the motors can be downsized, and even if one motor fails, the other motor drives the endless cable. it can. One of the engagement portions at the front and rear two points between the lower surface of the tray and the endless cord-shaped body so that either one can be slid back and forth within a predetermined range is used as the endless cord-shaped body to be engaged with the lower surface of the tray. The distance between the points is shorter in the curved part than in the straight part. At this time, one of the engagement portions of the lower surface of the tray with the endless cord-like body is slidable, so that the tray and the endless cord-like body are securely engaged at the curved portion. In the case where the roller is swingable within a predetermined angle range, the roller swings so that the roller changes direction when the tray curves, so that the roller rotates smoothly. In the case where the guide portion branched from the curved portion is provided inside or outside the curved portion of the shelf-shaped circulation conveyance path, one of the engaging portions at two points before and after with the endless cord-like body on the lower surface of the tray is a shelf shape. At the end of the curved portion, the tray passes through the curved portion of the circulating transport path, the other passes through the guide portion, and the tray passes through the curved portion without changing the direction. In contrast, the direction of the tray is changed by 180 °.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION As an endless cord, a chain,
There are wires, belts, and the like, which may be determined based on the weight of the transported material, the transport length, the driving method, and the like. The shelf-shaped circulating conveyance path may be used by stacking a plurality of stages vertically. The shelf-shaped circulation conveyance path may be a conveyance path in which a part of the conveyance path is changed in height, and when divided into a forward path and a return path, the height is different so that the forward path and the return path are stepped. May be used. There are two ways to support the chain: a method in which the sprocket is engaged with the chain to support it, and a method in which a rail groove is provided on the shelf-like circulating transport path and the chain is supported by the rail groove. Any type can be used as long as it can circulate along the transport path and can drive the chain sufficiently.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Example 1 (see FIGS. 1 to 5) In Example 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, an endless chain is driven by a plurality of motors, and a tray that is moved by rollers provided on a lower surface is attached to the endless chain. It is an example of an article conveying device by a tray. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tray-based article transport device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the tray of the article transport device using the tray according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of the tray of the article transport device using the tray according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the tray-based article transport device according to the first embodiment. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes an article conveying device using a tray, 2 denotes a shelf-shaped circulation type conveying path, 2a, 2b, and 2c denote conveying path units and 2d.
Is a slit, 3 is a groove rail, 4 is a chain used as an endless cord, 4a is a plate, 4b is a roller, 4c is a bush, 5 is a driving device, 5a is a driving motor, 5b is a gear section, 6 is a tray, 6a is a disk, 6b is a roller, 6c is an L-shaped plate, 6d is a dog, 6e is a connecting portion, 6f is a hole, 6g is a long hole, and w is a work.

In the first embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of transport units are combined to provide a shelf-shaped circulating transport path. The transport unit is composed of a transport path unit 2a of a U-turn section for U-turning the transport path, a transport path unit 2b of a straight section of the transport path, and a transport path unit 2c of a curved section for curving the transport path at a substantially right angle. Transport path units 2a, 2
b and 2c have an upper surface as a transfer surface, and a slit 2d is provided at the center of the transfer path along the transfer path. Next, a groove rail 3 is provided below the slit 2d on the transfer surface along the slit 2d on the transfer surface. Slit 2d of conveyance surface and groove rail 3
Are provided in a U-shape on the transport surface in the transport path unit 2a,
In the transport path unit 2b, two are provided so as to be parallel, and in the transport path unit 2c, two are provided so as to make a substantially 90 ° turn. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the transport path units 2a, 2b, and 2c are combined and connected so as to connect the slit 2d and the groove rail 3 on the transport surface.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a chain 4 is attached to the groove rail 3 connected so as to circulate. The chain 4 is configured such that a plurality of plates 4a arranged in parallel are rotatably connected to another plate 4a by rollers 4b and bushes 4c within a predetermined range so as to be endless. The length of the chain 4 is made substantially the same as the length of the groove rail 3. This chain is connected to the plate 4a
So that the lower plate 4 a is fitted into the groove rail 3, and the upper plate 4 a projects upward from the groove rail 3.

Next, a part of the groove rail 3 of the transport path units 2a and 2b is cut out to provide a part where the chain 4 is not supported by the groove rail 3, and a gear part 5b for driving is engaged in this part. A drive motor 5a for driving the gear portion 5b is provided. In this manner, the chain 4 is driven at a plurality of locations by the drive device 5 including the drive motor 5a and the gear portion 5b.

Next, a tray 6 for placing articles to be transported on the transport surface is provided. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the tray is provided with a long L-shaped plate 6c at the center of the lower surface of the disk 6a. The L-shaped plate 6c extends downward from the lower surface of the disk 6a by a predetermined length and is bent at the lower end into an L-shape so that the disks are parallel to each other. Next, a portion penetrated so that one is a hole 6f and the other is a long hole 6g is provided before and after a portion of the L-shaped plate 6c parallel to the disk 6a. Next, rollers 6b are provided on the lower surface of the disk 6a divided into right and left by the L-shaped plate 6c. The roller 6b is provided at one location on one of the left and right sides of the lower surface of the disk 6a, and at two locations on the other. Next, an L-shaped plate 6c on the lower surface of the disk 6a and rollers 6b provided at two places
A long dog 6d is provided between the front and rear rollers 6b. A tapered portion is provided at the front and rear ends of the dog 6d. Next, a vertically long rod-shaped connecting portion 6e is provided, and a large-diameter portion having a large diameter is provided at the upper end. The lower end of this connection part 6e is
The connection portion 6e is inserted into the hole 6f and the long hole 6g provided in the character plate 6c from above, so that the large diameter portion is engaged.
It is attached to the character board 6c. The tray 6 configured as described above can load a work of up to 30 kg.

Next, the tray 6 is placed on the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2. In this case, the L-shaped plate 6c provided on the lower surface of the tray 6
The lower end of the connecting portion 6e attached before and after is inserted into the slit 2d of the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2, and the lower end of the connecting portion 6e is detachably attached to the bush 4c of the chain 4. Further, when placing the tray 6 on the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2, a roller is placed on the outer peripheral side of the slit 2 d on the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2.
The side where one roller is provided is located on the inner peripheral side of the slit 2d on the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2. In this way, a plurality of trays 6 are mounted on the shelf-like circulating transport path 2.

The tray-based article transport device of the first embodiment transports a work for processing. When this work w is placed on the disk 6a of the tray 6 and the drive device 5 is operated, the drive of the drive motor 5a is transmitted to the chain 4 via the gear portion 5b, and the chain 4 moves along the groove rail 3. Rotate. Thus, the chain 4 rotates along the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2. Since the chain 4 and the tray 6 are connected by the connecting portion 6e, the tray 6 connected by the connecting portion 6e by the rotation of the chain.
Moves. In the linear portion of the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2,
The front and rear holes 6f and the long holes 6 of the L-shaped plate 6c of the tray 6
Since g is connected to the chain 4 by the connecting portion 6e, the tray 6 moves on the tune 4 at the front and rear portions, and moves without slipping off the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2. In the U-turn portion and the curved portion of the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2, as shown in FIG. 5, the chain 4 circulates so as to bend along the curvature of the U-turn portion or the curved portion. The two portions of the chain 4 to which the connecting portions 6e are attached are bent along the curvature of the curved portion, so that the distance between the two connecting portions is shorter than that of the straight portion. One of the L-shaped plates 6c of the tray 6 engaged with the connecting portion 6e is engaged with the elongated hole 6g. Therefore, the L-shaped plate 6c and the elongated hole 6g correspond to the change in the distance between the connecting portions 6e. The upper end portion of the engaged connection portion 6e slides. However, since the upper end of the connection portion 6e can move only a small amount in the left-right direction with respect to the long hole 6g, the tray 6 moves without slipping off the chain 4.

By moving the tray 6 in this manner, the center of gravity of the disc-shaped tray 6 passes through the curved portion without leaving the chain 4, so that the tray 6 does not turn more than necessary. Therefore, the rotation of the tray 6 itself can be suppressed to the minimum necessary, and the centrifugal force acting on the work w placed on the tray 6 at the curved portion can be suppressed to a small value. Therefore, it is possible to make a curve with a smaller curvature than before, or it is possible to make the conveying speed higher than before. By being able to curve with a smaller curvature than before, it can be used in a narrower space than before, making it possible to effectively use the space, and it is possible to improve the efficiency by being able to make the transport speed faster than before. Also, in the tray-based article conveying apparatus of the present embodiment, various shelf-shaped circulating conveying paths 2 can be provided by combining one or more of the U-turn section conveying unit 2a, the linear section conveying path unit 2b, and the curved section conveying path unit 2c. Can be constructed. When the entire shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2 is extended, the chain 4 may be spliced in accordance with the extension.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a U-turn portion of another example of the tray-based article transport device according to the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 7 denotes a rotating disk. In another example of the first embodiment, the chain is supported without using the groove rail. In the U-turn section, the turntable 7 matching the curvature of the U-turn of the chain is attached to the chain 4
The chain is curved at a predetermined curvature by engaging between the upper and lower plates 4a to make a U-turn. The chain may be supported in this manner.

Embodiment 2 (see FIG. 7) Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 7 is an example of an article conveying apparatus using a tray in which the rollers of the tray can swing freely within a predetermined angle range. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the tray of the article transport device using the tray according to the second embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a swing roller. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a swing roller 8 that can swing freely within a predetermined angle range is provided on the lower surface of the tray 6. When the tray 6 curves, the swinging roller 8 swings so as to face the direction of the least resistance, that is, the traveling direction of the tray 6 due to the resistance to the ground contact surface. This allows the tray 6 to move more smoothly on the shelf-shaped circulating transport path 2. Other symbols, configurations, operations, and usages are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Embodiment 3 (see FIG. 8) Embodiment 3 shown in FIG. 8 is an example of an article conveying apparatus using a tray provided with a guide portion branched from the curved portion inside or outside the curved portion of the shelf-shaped circulating transport path. It is. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a tray-based article transport device according to the third embodiment. In the figure, 10 is a guide slit provided as a guide portion, 11
Is a release device, and 12 is a connection device. In the third embodiment, the guide slit 10 that branches and joins from the shelf-shaped circulating conveyance path 2 inside the U-turn curved portion of the shelf-shaped circulating conveyance path 2
And a guide for the connecting portion 6e along the guide slit 10 is provided thereunder, and a releasing device 11 and a connecting device 12 are provided at a portion where the shelf 6 converges and joins with the circulating transport path 2. When the tray 6 moves to the branch portion between the shelf-shaped circulating conveyance path 2 and the guide slit 10, the release device 11 connects the connection portion 6 e behind the connection portion 6 e with the chain 4 at two places before and after the tray 6.
e is disengaged from the chain 4 so that the rear connecting portion 6e passes through the guide slit 10. Further, the tray 6 is prevented from changing its direction at the curved portion by another means (not shown). Further, it is preferable to use a roller of the tray 6 that can swing freely so as to rotate. The tray 6 has a front connecting portion 6e connected to the chain 4 and passing through a curved portion, and a rear connecting portion 6e having a guide slit 1
0, the junction between the shelf-shaped circulating conveyance path 2 and the guide slit 10 is closer to the guide slit 1 than the connecting portion 6e that has passed through the curved portion in the tray traveling direction.
Thus, the connection portion 6e that has passed through 0 is located forward.
The connecting portion 6e passing through the guide slit 10 is connected to the connecting device 1
When the tray 6 is connected to the chain 4 by 2, the tray 6 changes its orientation by 180 ° with respect to the transport direction as shown in FIG. If the movement of the direction of the tray 6 is changed by 180 °, if it is used when a machine provided in the middle of the transport path can work efficiently, the efficiency in equipment using the tray-based article transport apparatus 1 is further improved. be able to.

[0018]

According to the present invention, a conveyed object can be hardly dropped from a tray even with a small curve radius, and can be efficiently conveyed. In addition, the structure can be easily formed into blocks and modules, and various shelf-shaped circulation conveyance paths can be constructed as needed. A slit provided along the center of the road so that the engagement between the tray and the endless cord is through the slit can protect the endless cord and can provide a more reliable tray-based article transport device. . In the motor provided with a plurality of motors to drive the endless cable at a plurality of positions, the transportation can be prevented from being stopped easily due to the failure of the motor. When the engaging portion of the lower surface of the tray and the endless cord-like body at the front and rear two points is slidable in either one of the predetermined range, the tray can be smoothly turned or curved. When the roller can swing freely within a predetermined angle range, it can be smoothly conveyed even in a curved portion or a U-turn portion. The one provided with a guide portion branched from the curved portion inside or outside the curved portion of the shelf-shaped circulating transport path is very useful, and can transport the tray more stably so as not to fall from the tray.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tray-based article transport device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the tray of the article transport device using the tray according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a tray of the article transporting apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a tray of the article transport device using the tray according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a U-turn portion of another example of the tray-based article transport device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the tray of the article transport device using the tray according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a tray-based article transport device according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Article transport device by tray 2 Shelf-shaped circulation transport path 2a Transport path unit 2b Transport path unit 2c Transport path unit 2d Slit 3 Groove rail 4 Chain 4a Plate 4b Roller 4c Bush 5 Drive unit 5a Drive motor 5b Gear unit 6 Tray 6a Disk 6b Roller 6c L-shaped plate 6d Dog 6e Connection 6f Hole 6g Long hole 7 Turntable 8 Swing roller 10 Guide slit 11 Release device 12 Connection device w Work

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An endless cord-like body is passed along the center of a path along a shelf-shaped circulating conveyance path arranged in a plane, and left and right with respect to the conveyance direction of a lower surface of a tray on which articles to be conveyed are placed. Two rollers are provided on one side, and one roller is provided on the other side, and a plurality of trays are movably mounted on the shelf-like circulating conveyance path. The front and rear two points on the conveyance direction line passing through the center of the lower surface of the tray are described above. The transported object is engaged with the endless cord-like body, and is transported by placing the article on the tray sent by driving the endless cord-like body. An article transport device using a tray that has been made difficult. 2. The tray-based article transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a slit is provided along the center of the road, and the engagement between the tray and the endless cord-like body is formed through the slit. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of motors are provided to drive the endless cord at a plurality of positions. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of the engagement portions of the lower surface of the tray and the endless cord-like body at two points in front and rear is slidable back and forth within a predetermined range. An article transfer device using a tray. 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said roller is configured to swing freely within a predetermined angle range. 6. A guide portion branched from the curved portion is provided inside or outside the curved portion of the shelf-shaped circulating transport path, and one of the front and rear engaging portions of the tray passes through the curved portion and the other passes through the guide portion. The article conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the direction of the tray is changed by 180 ° when passing through the curved portion.