JP2002283192A - Part supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a part supply device reducing a space by reducing a floor area, and manufacturable at a low cost. SOLUTION: A transfer line TR is constituted by juxtaposing a plurality of processing stages 30. Pallet stockers 3 are integrated into one place, and are arranged on one end side of the transfer line TR. A stand 5 having a rail 8 in the carrying direction of the transfer line TR is extended till reaching a final process from a first process, and a carrier loader 10 is made to travel on the rail 8. A pallet gripping hand 14A for gripping a part housing pallet P and a pallet gripping hand 14B for gripping an empty pallet P are vertically movably arranged in the carrier loader 10. While, a plurality of part housing pallet rows PP are juxtaposed in the pallet stockers 3, and parts for the prescribed processing stage 30 are housed, respectively and are recognized and carried by a controller 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a component supply device for supplying components in a stocker to a plurality of processing stages constituting one line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a production factory is provided with a so-called transfer line in which, when a single part is manufactured as a product, human factors are reduced and automated.
In the transfer line, a processing machine such as a press machine or a processing machine for processing parts or an assembling machine for assembling processed parts is arranged in each processing stage, and a plurality of processing stages are arranged side by side. . Then, one component is manufactured as a product by sequentially flowing components from the first process to the final process. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 6, a stocker 41 for storing components is arranged on each processing stage 40 of one line, and the stocker 41 flows from the stocker 41 into a component storage area 42 provided in the processing stage 40. Parts (usually stored on pallets) are supplied. Then, the parts are supplied into the processing machine 45 or the transport path 46 by the robot 43 or the parts feeder 44 arranged in the processing stage 40 and processed by the processing machine 45.

The parts processed in such a line are:
Due to the relatively large number of small parts, each part was to be loaded in large numbers on a pallet. Each processing stage 4
A large number of component storage pallets P each storing components are accumulated in the stocker 41 disposed in the stacker 0, and are sequentially supplied to the component storage 42 of the processing stage 40, and the empty pallets P that have become empty are stored in the stocker 41. The component supply device M is configured as a pallet changer so as to be collected inside.

[0004]

However, in the conventional component supply device M in the transfer line TR1, a stocker 41 is arranged for each processing stage 40, and supplies a component storage pallet P for each stage 40 to empty. Pallet P
, The space for the floor space is widened, and a controller for controlling each of the component supply devices M must be installed for each stage 40, so that the cost for configuring the transfer line TR1 is greatly increased. Was higher. In addition, if the number of products fluctuates or parts are changed due to a model change, the remodeling time is time-consuming and time-consuming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by reducing the floor space to save space, making one transfer line inexpensive, and changing the number of products produced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a component supply device capable of quickly responding to component change due to model change.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component supply apparatus according to the present invention.
In the described invention, the stockers arranged for each process are consolidated into one place, the components are collectively stored in the stocker, and the gantry is installed along the one-line transport direction. Then, the transport loader is configured to be able to travel on rails arranged on the gantry, and the transport loader is configured to include a supply hand for supplying the component storage pallet toward each processing stage. Therefore, since the supply hand sequentially supplies the components collectively stored in the stocker to the processing machine, it is possible to eliminate the stocker arranged for each process, thereby reducing the floor area. In addition to saving space, it became possible to install component supply equipment at low cost. In addition, since the change of the parts due to the change of the production amount or the model change can be performed in the stocker integrated in one place, the remodeling change can be performed in a short time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the transport loader is provided with a controller for traveling control, and the controller is moved together with the transport loader. This can be performed by the controller, and the controller arranged for each processing stage can be removed, so that it is not necessary to provide a floor area for the controller, and the space can be further reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the pallet row for each processing stage is arranged in the stocker, and the controller recognizes the components in the pallet row so that they can be supplied to a predetermined processing stage. Therefore, the supply hand mounted on the transport loader takes out the components stored in the predetermined row of pallets and supplies them to the predetermined processing stage, so that the component supply is surely supplied.

In the invention according to claim 4, since the empty loader pallet hand arranged in parallel with the supply hand is arranged in the transport loader, the supply hand is used when parts are supplied from the stocker. Grips the component storage pallet and transports the component, and the emptied pallet is collected by the empty pallet hand from the processing stage to the stocker. Therefore, since each hand can be processed in one round trip, efficient work can be performed.

In the invention described in claim 5, the supply hand or the empty pallet hand is provided with an openable / closable chuck portion for gripping a component storage pallet or an empty pallet, and the chuck portion holds the pallet. Since the positioning part for positioning is formed, when the supply hand or the empty pallet hand grips each pallet, each hand moves to each pallet with the chuck part released, and the chuck part At the same time, the pallet is positioned by the positioning portion of the chuck portion. Therefore, the tact time can be shortened by grasping the pallet in a short time, the component storage pallet is accurately placed at a predetermined position on the processing stage, and the empty pallet is accurately placed at a predetermined position in the stocker, resulting in malfunction. It is possible to perform continuous work without causing trouble.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is to configure and install a component supply apparatus so that equipment can be installed in one line of a production factory in a space-saving manner and at low cost. First, it is installed in each process in one line. Secondly, the stocker is integrated in one place, and secondly, a controller for driving and controlling the component supply device is housed in the component supply device so that a space of a floor area is opened. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a component supply apparatus 1 according to an embodiment has a transfer line in which processing stages 30 each including a processing machine such as a press machine or an assembly machine are arranged in series. In the following, the line T)
A pallet stocker 3 arranged near a first processing stage R1 (hereinafter, referred to as a first process R1) R1 and a gantry 5 extending from the first process R1 to the final process (Rn) in one line TR. And a transport loader 10 that is disposed so as to be able to run on the gantry 5.

In the pallet stocker 3, a plurality of pallets P are stacked to form one pallet row, and a plurality of pallet rows are juxtaposed in line with each process of the line TR. A plurality of pallet rows arranged side by side are composed of an empty pallet row PS for accumulating empty pallets P and a component storage pallet row PP for accumulating component storage pallets for storing components. Supplied to the process. In the embodiment, the pallets P are divided into two types having different sizes and arranged in respective pallet rows.

For example, the first pallet row P1 and the second pallet row P2 of the pallet stocker 3 are each provided with two types of empty pallets PS, and the third pallet row P3 stores the components for the first process R1 in the line TR. Small pallet P
Are arranged, and a small pallet P in which components for the second step R2 are stored is arranged in the fourth pallet row P4. Also,
In the fifth pallet row P5, small pallets P in which components for the fourth step R4 are stored are arranged, and in the sixth pallet row P6,
A small pallet P in which components for the process R5 are stored is arranged, and a large pallet P in which components for the third process R3 are stored is integrated in the seventh pallet row P7. Then, each pallet P is identified with an identification number and recognized so as to be supplied to a dedicated process. Of course, the layout of each process varies depending on the configuration of parts or lines, and is not limited to the above.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pallet P is formed in a housing shape having an open upper portion, and a flange portion PF is formed over the entire upper portion. It is formed as a locking portion that is locked to the chuck portion. Also, on the trunk below the flange PF,
Positioning surface PL that can be locked to the positioning portion of the chuck portion
Are formed.

The gantry 5 is formed of a loader pedestal 6 formed in a long plate shape and a plurality of legs 7 supporting the loader pedestal 6. Two rails 8.8 are laid along.

The transport loader 10 includes a support base 11 guided on the rail 8 and traveling on the rail 8, an L-shaped bracket 12 mounted on the rail 8, and a longitudinally extending side of the bracket 12. Two hand supporting plates 13 (13A and 13B) formed on a scale and arranged side by side, and a pallet gripping hand 14 movable on each hand supporting plate 13 in a vertical direction.
(14A and 14B). One pallet gripping hand 14A is arranged to grip the component storage pallet P, and the other pallet gripping hand 14A
B is arranged to hold the empty pallet P.
And chuck parts 15 and 15 for gripping the component storage pallets P or the empty pallets P are arranged at the lower ends of the pallet gripping hands 14A and 14B, respectively.

Hand support plate 13 and pallet gripping hand 1
For example, a linear bearing that allows the pallet gripping hand 14 to move linearly and accurately is used. The pallet gripping hand 14 is attached to the hand support plate 1 by mounting the fixed portion of the linear bearing on the hand support plate 13 and mounting the movable portion of the linear bearing on the pallet support hand 14.
3 moves linearly.

The shape of the chuck portion 15 is not limited as long as it can be opened and closed to lock the flange portion PF of the pallet P and can be moved from the pallet stocker 3 to each step. . In the embodiment,
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of pallet grippers 22. 2 are attached to a base 21 provided at the lower end of the pallet support hand 14.
2 are provided so as to be movable in mutually opposite directions. The mutual movement of the pallet grippers 22 is not particularly limited. For example, the respective pallet grippers 22 may be attached to ball screws formed in opposite directions.
And a ball screw may be rotated by the operation of a motor (not shown). Alternatively, a link mechanism may be used to open both sides. Further, the pallet grip 22 may be connected to a cylinder mounted on the base 21 and moved by the operation of the cylinder.

In any case, the pallet gripper 22 can be moved and guided by interposing a guide member with respect to the base 21.
2 is accurately moved on a straight line, and it is desirable that a malfunction does not easily occur when the pallet P is gripped.

The pallet gripping portion 22 is formed to have a claw portion 23 for locking the flange portion PF of each pallet P from below, and a positioning portion 24 capable of engaging with the positioning surface PL of the pallet P. I have. Claw part 23 and positioning part 24
The shape of the pallet is determined by the shape of the pallet P, and the shape is not limited as long as each function can be performed.

When the chuck portion 15 is disposed above the pallet P, the pallet holding portion 22
For example, by rotating the ball screw, the pallet P is released in a direction away from the flange portion PF, and the pallet gripping portion 22 is moved downward beyond the flange portion PF of the pallet P, and then approaches the flange portion PF. Try to close. And it locks from both sides of the flange part PF. Then, the pallet gripper 22 is moved upward after coming into contact with the positioning surface PF of the body of the pallet P.

A controller 16 is arranged on the bracket 12. The controller 16 instructs each motor arranged on the bracket 12 to move the pallet support hand 14 up and down and drive the transport loader 10 to travel, and recognizes the pallet P to be gripped and supplies it to a predetermined process. Therefore, the current position and the traveling position are detected each time.

The processing stage 30 disposed in the line TR includes a processing machine 3 for processing or assembling.
1, a transport path 32 for transporting between the processing machines 31, a pallet place 33 for placing the pallets P supplied by the transport loader 10, and a robot 34 for taking out components from the pallets P and supplying them to the transport path. Are arranged, and a parts feeder 35 for supplying parts other than the parts in the pallet P is arranged as necessary. The processing machines 31 are arranged in series along the conveyance direction, the conveyance paths 32 are linearly arranged to connect the processing positions of the respective processing machines 31, and the components in the conveyance paths 32 are Conveyed sequentially to the next step.

Next, the operation of the component supply device 1 configured as described above will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, empty pallets P are accumulated in an empty pallet row PS in the pallet stocker 3,
The component storage pallets P are integrated in the component storage pallet row PP. The transport rotor 10 has been moved to a position above the pallet stocker 3, and is at a position where the pallet gripping hand 14A first grips the small pallets P in the third pallet row P1 for the first process R1. When a motor (not shown) is operated by a command from the controller 16, the pallet gripping hand 14 </ b> A descends with respect to the hand support plate 13. At this time, the chuck portion 15 of the pallet gripping hand 14A causes the pallet gripping portions 22 to be moved by the operation of the ball screw, for example, to the flange portion PF of the pallet P.
By moving outward, the pallet gripper 22
22 is left open on both sides.

When the pallet gripping hand 14A descends and the pallet grippers 22 of the chuck 15 move below the flange PF on both sides of the flange PF of the component storage pallet P, for example, the pallet is actuated by a ball screw. The grippers 22 are brought closer to the body of the component storage pallet P. Then, the positioning part 2 of the pallet holding parts 22
4 and 24 are in contact with positioning surfaces PL, PL formed on both side surfaces of the component storage pallet P, and the component storage pallet P
To correct the posture. At this time, the claw portions 23 of the pallet grippers 22 are slightly moved below the lower surface of the flange portion PF of the pallet P, and the pallet gripping hand 14 is directed upward by the operation of the motor according to a command from the controller 16. As a result, the claw portions 23 are locked on the lower surface of the flange portion PF, and the component storage pallet P is moved upward as it is.

The parts storage pallet P is a hand support plate 13A.
Is moved upward, the pallet gripping hand 14A holding one of the component storage pallets P
This means that the other pallet gripping hands 14B that do not grip the empty pallet P are arranged side by side.

Next, when the controller 16 confirms the position above the pallet gripping hand 14A, it issues a command again, and the transport loader 10 moves toward the processing stage 30.
The current state is that the pallet gripping hand 14A is in the first step R
The controller 16 moves the transport roller 10 toward the processing stage 30 for the first process R1 since the controller 16 holds the pallet P component for the first process R1, and moves the component to the pallet place 33 of the processing stage 30 for the first process R1. The storage pallet P is placed. The action of the pallet gripping hand 14A placing the component storage pallet on the pallet place 33 is performed in the reverse procedure of the action of gripping the component storage pallet P in the pallet stocker 3.

At this time, if it is confirmed that the empty pallet P is placed on the pallet place 33, the other pallet gripping hand 14B descends and grips the empty pallet P. After being moved upward, the gripped pallet P is transported by the transport loader 10 and sent to the empty pallet row PS of the pallet stocker 3. The procedure for gripping the empty pallet P by the pallet gripping hand 14B is performed in the same manner as the procedure for gripping the component storage pallet P.

In this manner, the component supply pallets P in the pallet stocker are sequentially processed by the pallet gripping hand 14A in each of the predetermined steps (first step R1 to seventh step R7).
The empty pallet P which has been conveyed and supplied and all the components have been taken out is collected in the pallet stocker 3 by the pallet gripping hand 14B.

As described above, the component supply device 1 of the embodiment
The pallet stocker 3 arranged for each processing stage 30 is collected in one place, the components are collectively stored in the pallet stocker 3, and the stored components are transferred to the transfer loader 1.
Since each pallet is supplied to each process (first process R1 to seventh process R7) by 0, the installation floor area of the transfer line TR can be reduced, space can be saved, and the equipment cost is low. It became possible to. In addition, since the change of the parts due to the change of the production amount or the model change can be performed in the pallet stocker 3 integrated in one place, the remodeling change can be performed in a short time.

Since the transport loader 10 has the controller 16 for supplying the components in the pallet stocker 3 to the respective processing stages 30, both the movement of the transport loader 10 and the driving of the pallet gripping hand 14 are performed by the transport rollers. 1
By performing the control with the controller traveling along with 0, the floor area can be reduced without installing the controller 16 on the floor.

Since the pallet stocker 3 is divided into an empty pallet row PS and a component storage pallet row PP arranged for each predetermined process, the pallet gripping hand 14A of the transport loader 10 can store a predetermined component. Pallet row P
When the component storage pallet P is gripped from the P, the component storage pallet P can be transported to the predetermined processing stage 30 with the controller 16 recognizing the predetermined processing stage 30. Therefore, there is no possibility of incorrect supply of parts.

In addition, since the pallet holding hand 14A for holding the component storage pallet P and the pallet holding hand 14B for holding the empty pallet P are arranged side by side on the transport loader 10, each pallet is held in one reciprocation. Since the hand can process, efficient work can be performed.

Further, since each of the hands 14A and 14B has a pallet gripper 22 which can be opened and closed and a positioning portion 24 which engages with a positioning surface PF of the pallet P, the posture of the pallet P can be corrected. As a result, it is possible to place the processing stage 30 on the pallet place 33 or the place inside the pallet stocker 3 in an accurate posture, and to prevent a malfunction during transport.

The above-described component supply apparatus is not limited to a transfer line in a factory, and can be applied to a line in which a plurality of processing stages are arranged in an arbitrary state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a component supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a transfer line in which the component supply device of FIG. 1 is arranged.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the component supply device in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a chuck portion of the pallet gripping hand in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing the chuck unit in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional component supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Component supply apparatus 3 ... Pallet stocker 5 ... Stand 10 ... Transport loader 14A ... Pallet gripping hand (hand for supply) 14B ... Pallet gripping hand (hand for empty pallet) 15 ... Chuck part 16 ... Controller 22 ... Pallet gripping part 23 ... Claws 24 ... Positioning part 30 ... Processing stage P ... Pallet (empty pallet, parts storage pallet) PP ... Parts storage pallet row PS ... empty pallet row TR ... Transfer line

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A component supply apparatus comprising: a stocker for storing a component storage pallet; and a transport loader running between the stocker and a processing stage for processing or assembling components, wherein the processing stage includes a plurality of processing stages. Are arranged to form one line,
The stocker collectively stores components to be supplied to each processing stage, and is disposed near one end of the line.The transport loader includes a supply hand for gripping the component storage pallet, A component supply device, wherein the component supply device is movably arranged on a pedestal that is laid between processing stages. 2. The component supply device according to claim 1, wherein a controller that controls travel is provided in the transport loader, and the controller travels with the transport loader. 3. A pallet row for each processing stage is arranged in the stocker, and the controller recognizes the components in the pallet row so that they can be supplied to a predetermined processing stage. Item 4. The component supply device according to Item 2. 4. The transfer loader, wherein an empty pallet hand arranged in parallel with the supply hand is arranged so as to be able to collect empty pallets from each processing stage. The component supply device according to 1, 2, or 3. 5. The supply hand or the empty pallet hand is provided with an openable / closable chuck portion for gripping a component storage pallet or an empty pallet, and a positioning portion for positioning the pallet is formed in the chuck portion. The component supply device according to claim 4, wherein