JP2004067304A

JP2004067304A - Article receiving member processing equipment

Info

Publication number: JP2004067304A
Application number: JP2002228053A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Akira Miyahara; 宮原　明
Original assignee: Daifuku Co Ltd
Current assignee: Daifuku Co Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-06
Filing date: 2002-08-06
Publication date: 2004-03-04

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide article receiving member processing equipment capable of improving efficiency of using space and reducing costs using lifting function in common. <P>SOLUTION: The equipment has a lifting means 25 of the article receiving member of which article receiving member support surface 30a can be vertically moved in and out for a conveyance route 19 of the article receiving member 1, and an article receiving member holding means 40 which can engage with and disengage from the article receiving member at the lowest stage among the article receiving member 1 located at the upper side of the conveyance route 19. The article receiving member support surface 30a is formed by the lateral conveyer device 30. Raising-up or lowering down of the article receiving member 1 and taking-out of the article receiving member 1 are performed by using the lifting function of the lifting means 25 of the article receiving member in common to be able to improve efficiency of space and reduce cost by suitably performing switching control from the lifting control of the conveyer device 30 to the holding posture and releasing posture by the article receiving member holding means 25, and the combination control of the drive of the conveyer device 30 and the drive stop control. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、たとえば搬送経路上で搬送してきた物品受け体（パレット、コンテナ、カートンなど）を段積みしたのち、段積み物品受け体を別の搬送経路上で搬送させたり、または、搬送経路上で搬送してきた段積み物品受け体を段ばらしたのち、物品受け体を別の搬送経路上で搬送させるのに使用される物品受け体処理設備に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、この種の設備としては、たとえば搬送経路上で搬送してきた空のパレットを段積み装置により段積みし、そして段積みパレットを搬送経路上に戻して搬送したのち、その終端部分から昇降形式の受け渡し装置（昇降コンベヤ装置）に移し、その後に受け渡し装置を下降させて別の搬送経路に移し、以て横方向に搬出させる構成が提供されている。
【０００３】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、上記した従来構成によると、段積み装置、受け渡し装置ともに昇降機能を有することで、それぞれ昇降装置を装備しており、その結果、機能重複、スペースの無駄、コストアップなどの問題がある。
【０００４】
そこで本発明の請求項１記載の発明は、昇降機能を兼用して、スペースの効率化、コストダウンを可能とし得る物品受け体処理設備を提供することを目的としたものである。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
前述した目的を達成するために、本発明の請求項１記載の物品受け体処理設備は、物品受け体の搬送経路に対して、物品受け体支持面が上下方向に出退動可能な物品受け体昇降手段と、前記搬送経路の上方に位置した物品受け体のうち、最下段の物品受け体に係脱可能な物品受け体保持手段とを有し、前記物品受け体支持面を横方向のコンベヤ装置により形成したことを特徴としたものである。
【０００６】
したがって請求項１の発明によると、物品受け体昇降手段の作動により、搬送面に対して、物品受け体支持面を下方に退入動させることによって、搬送経路上で搬送してきた物品受け体を、コンベヤ装置の上方に停止し得る。次いで、物品受け体昇降手段を上昇動させることにより、物品受け体支持面を搬送面に対して上方に突出動させて、搬送面上で支持していた物品受け体を持ち上げ得る。この状態で物品受け体保持手段を作動させることにより、物品受け体を保持し得る。
【０００７】
また、物品受け体昇降手段を上昇動させて物品受け体を持ち上げた状態で、物品受け体保持手段を逆作動させて解除姿勢にしたのち、物品受け体昇降手段を下降動させることにより、コンベヤ装置とともに物品受け体を下降（持ち下げ）し得る。そして、物品受け体支持面を搬送面に対して上方の所定レベルに停止させたのち、コンベヤ装置を駆動することで、物品受け体を横方向に搬送し得る。
【０００８】
このように、コンベヤ装置の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、物品受け体の持ち上げや持ち下げと、物品受け体の搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段の昇降機能を兼用して行える。
【０００９】
また本発明の請求項２記載の物品受け体処理設備は、上記した請求項１記載の構成において、物品受け体を段積みする物品受け体処理設備であって、搬送経路上の物品受け体を、コンベヤ装置を介して持ち上げることにより物品受け体保持手段で保持し、段積みした物品受け体を、コンベヤ装置を介して横方向に搬出することを特徴としたものである。
【００１０】
したがって請求項２の発明によると、物品受け体昇降手段では、コンベヤ装置を下降限位置で停止させて、その物品受け体支持面を搬送面に対して下方に退入動させるとともに、物品受け体保持手段では離脱姿勢にしている。この状態で最初の物品受け体を搬送経路上で搬送し、コンベヤ装置の上方に停止させる。次いで物品受け体昇降手段を上昇動させることにより、物品受け体支持面を搬送面に対して上方に突出動させて、搬送面上で支持していた物品受け体を持ち上げる。この持ち上げを上昇限位置で停止させ、以て物品受け体を係脱レベルに位置させる。
【００１１】
この状態で、物品受け体保持手段を作動して物品受け体に対する係合姿勢にしたのち、物品受け体昇降手段を下降動させることにより、コンベヤ装置とともに物品受け体を下降させて係合させ、以て物品受け体を物品受け体保持手段により保持し得る。このコンベヤ装置の下降動を下降限位置に停止させることで、物品受け体支持面を搬送面に対して下方に退入動させた最初の状態に戻し得る。
【００１２】
搬送経路上で搬送してきた次の物品受け体は、同様にして、コンベヤ装置の上方に停止し、そして、物品受け体昇降手段を上昇動させることにより、コンベヤ装置を介して持ち上げる。この持ち上げの途中において、上昇する次の物品受け体が最初（最下段）の物品受け体に当接し、以て以降は両物品受け体を一体状に持ち上げ得る。この持ち上げは、物品受け体保持手段に対して最初の物品受け体の係止が開放された状態での中間位置で停止させる。そして、物品受け体保持手段を逆作動させて解除姿勢にし得る。
【００１３】
次いで物品受け体昇降手段を再び上昇動させることにより、両物品受け体を持ち上げることになる。この持ち上げを上昇限位置で停止させ、以て次の物品受け体を係脱レベルに位置させる。この状態で、物品受け体保持手段を作動して次の物品受け体に対する係合姿勢にしたのち、物品受け体昇降手段を下降動させることにより、コンベヤ装置とともに物品受け体を下降させて係合させ、以て段積みした両物品受け体を物品受け体保持手段により保持し得る。以上の作用の繰り返しによって、物品受け体を順次段積みしながら物品受け体保持手段により保持し得る。
【００１４】
そして所定数の物品受け体を段積みしたとき、まず物品受け体保持手段を逆作動させて解除姿勢にする。次いで、コンベヤ装置を駆動させることによって、その物品受け体支持面で支持している段積み物品受け体を横方向に搬出し得る。
【００１５】
このように、コンベヤ装置の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、物品受け体の段積み作業と、段積み物品受け体の搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段の昇降機能を兼用して行える。
【００１６】
そして本発明の請求項３記載の物品受け体処理設備は、上記した請求項１記載の構成において、物品受け体を段ばらしする物品受け体処理設備であって、搬送経路上の段積みされている物品受け体を、コンベヤ装置を介して持ち上げることにより物品受け体保持手段で保持し、段積みされている物品受け体は、最下段の物品受け体から段ばらしたのちコンベヤ装置を介して横方向に搬出することを特徴としたものである。
【００１７】
したがって請求項３の発明によると、物品受け体昇降手段では、コンベヤ装置を下降限位置で停止させて、その物品受け体支持面を搬送面に対して下方に退入動させるとともに、物品受け体保持手段では離脱姿勢にしている。この状態で段積み物品受け体を搬送経路上で搬送し、コンベヤ装置の上方に停止し得る。次いで物品受け体昇降手段を上昇動させることにより、物品受け体支持面を搬送面に対して上方に突出動させて、搬送面上で支持していた段積み物品受け体を持ち上げる。この持ち上げを上部中間位置で停止させ、以て下から２段目の物品受け体を係脱レベルに位置させる。
【００１８】
この状態で、物品受け体保持手段を作動して下から２段目の物品受け体に対する係合姿勢にしたのち、物品受け体昇降手段を下降動させることにより、コンベヤ装置とともに段積み物品受け体を下降（持ち下げ）させて、下から２段目の物品受け体を係合させ、以て下から２段目以上の段積み物品受け体を物品受け体保持手段により保持し得る。そして、コンベヤ装置の下降動を下部中間位置まで行い、コンベヤ装置の物品受け体支持面を搬送手段の搬出面と同一状のレベルに位置させる。
【００１９】
次いで、コンベヤ装置を駆動させることによって、その物品受け体支持面で支持している物品受け体を横方向に搬出し得る。これにより、最下段の物品受け体を段ばらししたのち、搬送手段により搬出し得る。
【００２０】
このように最下段の物品受け体を搬出させたのち、物品受け体昇降手段を上昇動させることにより、コンベヤ装置を段積み物品受け体における現在の最下段の物品受け体に当接させ得、以て段積み物品受け体を持ち上げ得る。この持ち上げを上限位置で停止させることで、最下段の物品受け体を物品受け体保持手段に対して浮かせた位置にし得る。
【００２１】
そして、物品受け体保持手段を逆作動させて解除姿勢にしたのち、物品受け体昇降手段を再び下降動させることにより、コンベヤ装置とともに段積み物品受け体を下降させることになる。この下降を下部中間位置で停止させ、以て下から２枚目の物品受け体を係脱レベルに位置させる。
【００２２】
この状態で、物品受け体保持手段を作動して、下から２段目の物品受け体に対する係合姿勢にしたのち、物品受け体昇降手段を下降動させることにより、コンベヤ装置とともに段積み物品受け体を下降（持ち下げ）させて、下から２段目の物品受け体を係合させ、以て下から２段目以上の段積み物品受け体を物品受け体保持手段により保持し得る。そして、コンベヤ装置の下降動を下部中間位置まで行い、コンベヤ装置の物品受け体支持面を搬送手段の搬出面と同一状のレベルに位置させて搬出し得る。以上の作用の繰り返しによって、段積み物品受け体を順次段ばらししながら、搬送手段により搬出し得る。
【００２３】
このように、コンベヤ装置の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、段積み物品受け体の段ばらし作業と、段ばらしした物品受け体の搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段の昇降機能を兼用して行える。
【００２４】
さらに本発明の請求項４記載の物品受け体処理設備は、上記した請求項１〜３のいずれかに記載の構成において、コンベヤ装置の搬送方向が、搬送経路の方向に対して直交状の横方向であることを特徴としたものである。
【００２５】
したがって請求項４の発明によると、コンベヤ装置の駆動によって、その物品受け体支持面で支持している単体の物品受け体や段積み物品受け体を、搬送経路に対して直交状の横方向に搬送し得る。
【００２６】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下に、本発明の実施の形態を、パレットの段積みに採用した状態として図１〜図８に基づいて説明する。
【００２７】
図１〜図３、図６において、パレット（物品受け体の一例）１はフォーク挿入空間２を有する形式であり、そして搬送手段１０は、たとえばチェーンコンベヤ形式であって、空のパレット１を、そのフォーク挿入空間２を搬送方向とは直交状の向き（左右方向）として搬送可能に構成されている。
【００２８】
すなわち、搬送手段１０は左右一対のコンベヤフレーム１１を有し、これらコンベヤフレーム１１は脚部材１２により床側に支持されている。両コンベヤフレーム１１の一端間には共通の駆動軸１３が配設され、この駆動軸１３には正逆駆動可能な回転駆動装置（モータや減速機などからなる。）１４が連動連結されている。両コンベヤフレーム１１の一端部分において、前記駆動軸１３にはそれぞれ駆動歯輪１５が取り付けられ、また両コンベヤフレーム１１の他端部分には、それぞれ従動軸１６が遊転可能に設けられるとともに、これら従動軸１６には従動歯輪１７が取り付けられている。
【００２９】
そして、前後で対向される駆動歯輪１５と従動歯輪１７との間に無端チェーン１８が巻回されている。ここで両無端チェーン１８は、上位の移動部分においてコンベヤフレーム１１側のガイド体に支持案内され、以て両無端チェーン１８の上面間に安定した搬送面１０ａが形成されるとともに、その上方に正逆の搬送経路１９が形成される。
【００３０】
この搬送経路１９の始終端部分にはそれぞれストッパ装置２０が設けられている。すなわち、前記コンベヤフレーム１１の両端部間分には、それぞれ左右の連結フレーム２１が設けられ、これら連結フレーム２１には、シリンダー装置（昇降用装置）２２を介してストッパ体２３が設けられている。ここで両ストッパ体２３は、そのストッパ面を相対向して配設されている。以上の２１〜２３などによりストッパ装置２０の一例が構成される。
【００３１】
したがって、回転駆動装置１４を正逆駆動することで、駆動軸１３、駆動歯輪１５などを介して両無端チェーン１８を同期して正逆に回動し得、以て両無端チェーン１８間に形成した搬送面１０ａで支持しているパレット１を、搬送経路１９上で正逆に搬送し得る。
【００３２】
その際に、搬入側のストッパ装置２０におけるシリンダー装置２２を収縮動させてストッパ体２３を搬送面１０ａの下方に位置させておくことで、パレット１の搬入を何ら支障なく行え、そして反対側のストッパ装置２０におけるシリンダー装置２２を伸展動させてストッパ体２３を搬送面１０ａの上方に位置させておくことで、搬入させたパレット１を受け止めて、自動的に位置修正した状態で、定位置に停止し得る。以上の１１〜２３などにより搬送手段１０の一例が構成される。
【００３３】
前記搬送手段１０の搬送面１０ａに対して、その物品受け体支持面３０ａが上下方向に出退動可能な物品受け体昇降手段２５が設けられている。すなわち物品受け体昇降手段２５は、前記搬送手段１０の中央部分に位置されるもので、そのベース枠体２６が前記脚部材１２側に連結されている。そして前記ベース枠体２６の上方に昇降体２８が、パンタグラフ形式の昇降動装置２７を介して配設されている。
【００３４】
前記物品受け体昇降手段２５の物品受け体支持面３０ａを横方向のコンベヤ装置３０により形成している。すなわち、コンベヤ装置３０は搬送経路１９の方向で一対のコンベヤフレーム３１を有し、これらコンベヤフレーム３１は連結部材３２により前記昇降体２８側に支持されている。
【００３５】
両コンベヤフレーム３１の一方間には共通の駆動軸３３が配設され、この駆動軸３３には回転駆動装置（モータや減速機などからなる。）３４が連動連結されている。両コンベヤフレーム３１の一方部分において、前記駆動軸３３にはそれぞれ駆動歯輪３５が取り付けられ、また両コンベヤフレーム３１の他方部分には、それぞれ従動軸３６が遊転可能に設けられるとともに、これら従動軸３６には従動歯輪３７が取り付けられている。
【００３６】
そして相対向される駆動歯輪３５と従動歯輪３７との間に無端チェーン３８が巻回されている。ここで両無端チェーン３８は、上位の移動部分においてコンベヤフレーム３１側のガイド体に支持案内され、以て両無端チェーン３８の上面間に安定した物品受け体支持面３０ａが形成されるとともに、その上方に、搬送方向が前記搬送経路１９の方向に対して直交状の横方向である横送り搬送経路３９が形成される。
【００３７】
したがって、回転駆動装置３４を駆動することで、駆動軸３３、駆動歯輪３５などを介して両無端チェーン３８を同期して回動し得、以て両無端チェーン３８間に形成した物品受け体支持面３０ａで支持しているパレット１を、横送り搬送経路３９上で横送り搬送し得る。以上の３１〜３９などによりコンベヤ装置３０の一例が構成される。
【００３８】
さらに、昇降装置２７の正逆駆動により、昇降体２８を昇降させることで、コンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａを、搬送手段１０の搬送面１０ａに対して上下方向に出退動可能とし得る。その際に昇降停止位置が、上昇限位置、中間位置、下降限位置の３箇所（いずれも詳細は後述する。）となるように制御される。以上の２６〜３９などにより物品受け体昇降手段２５の一例が構成される。
【００３９】
前記搬送経路１９の上方に位置したパレット１のうち、最下段のパレット１に係脱可能な物品受け体保持手段４０が設けられている。すなわち、搬送手段１０の両側方において前後に振り分けて合計４本の支柱４１が立設され、これら支柱４１の上部間は、前記搬送経路１９の上方を横切る状態の連結材４２により連結されるとともに、両連結材４２の相対向される面側には、連結材４２に沿った保持材４３が設けられている。
【００４０】
そして両保持材４３における長さ方向の両端部には、それぞれブラケット４４を介して電動機４５が設けられ、その下向きの出力軸４６には係脱体４７が取り付けられている。ここで係脱体４７は、離脱姿勢において搬送経路１９に対して直角状で外側に向く腕部４７ａと、腕部４７ａの遊端から搬送経路１９に沿って内側に向く係止部４７ｂとからなり、係合姿勢において係止部４７ｂが、パレット１のフォーク挿入空間２に係合するように構成されている。
【００４１】
また、両保持材４３における長さ方向の中間２箇所からは、縦材４８が上方へと連設され、これら縦材４８における上端間が搬送経路１９に沿った横材４９により連結されている。なお、縦材４８の上部間には満量検出器５０が設けられるとともに、その下部には１枚前検出器５１が設けられている。
【００４２】
したがって、電動機４５群を正逆に同期運転させることで、出力軸４６に一体状の係脱体４７を正逆に回動させ、以て上昇限位置または中間位置で停止させたコンベヤ装置３０で直接に支持しているパレット（搬送面１０ａの上方で段積みされているパレットのうち、最下段のパレット）１に係脱可能となる。以上の４１〜５１などにより物品受け体保持手段４０の一例が構成される。
【００４３】
なお、搬送手段１０の両端側部分には、それぞれパレット１の在荷検出手段５３が設けられ、さらにコンベヤ装置３０の部分にはパレット１の支持検出手段５４が設けられている。
【００４４】
前記搬送手段１０の前後両側には、その搬入方向が搬送経路１９と同方向とされた搬入手段５６がそれぞれ配設され、そして搬送手段１０の他方（他側）側には、その搬出方向が搬送経路１９に対して直交状方向とされた搬出手段５７が配設されている。これら搬入手段５６や搬出手段５７は、搬送手段１０と同様の構成とされている。
【００４５】
前記搬出手段５７の終端外方には、たとえば自走式の運搬台車６０が走行可能な運搬経路６２が形成されている。ここで運搬台車６０には、搬出手段５７との間で段積みパレット１Ａを受け渡し可能な受け渡し装置（チェーンコンベヤやフォーク装置など）６１が設けられている。
【００４６】
以下に、上記した実施の形態における作用を説明する。
上記構成の物品受け体処理設備でパレット１の段積みを行うに、物品受け体昇降手段２５では、図１、図２の仮想線や図８の（ａ）に示すように、昇降体２８を下降限位置で停止させて、そのコンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａを搬送面１０ａに対して下方に退入動させるとともに、搬送手段１０では、搬入側のストッパ装置２０におけるストッパ体２３を搬送面１０ａの下方に位置させている。また物品受け体保持手段４０では、腕部４７ａが搬送経路１９に対して直交状として、係脱体４７を離脱姿勢にしている。
【００４７】
この状態で１枚目の空のパレット１が、そのフォーク挿入空間２を左右向きとして、搬入手段５６から搬送手段１０へと搬入される。そしてパレット１は、図１、図２の仮想線や図８の（ｂ）に示すように、搬送面１０ａ上に突出位置しているストッパ体２３に当接されることで、自動的に姿勢修正された状態で、コンベヤ装置３０の上方に停止し得る。
【００４８】
この停止させたパレット１を一対の在荷検出手段５３により検出した状態で、まず物品受け体昇降手段２５を上昇動させる。これにより、昇降体２８を介してコンベヤ装置３０が上昇動して、その物品受け体支持面３０ａが搬送面１０ａに対して上方に突出動し、以て搬送面１０ａ上で支持していたパレット１を持ち上げることになる。
【００４９】
この持ち上げは上昇限位置で停止され、以て図８の（ｃ）に示すように、パレット１のフォーク挿入空間２を係脱体４７のレベルに位置させる。この状態で、物品受け体保持手段４０を作動させ、腕部４７ａが搬送経路１９内に突入するように係脱体４７を回動させ、以て図１、図２の実線や図３、図６や図８の（ｄ）に示すように、係止部４７ｂをフォーク挿入空間２内に位置させた係合姿勢にし得る。
【００５０】
その後に物品受け体昇降手段２５を下降動させる。これにより図８の（ｅ）に示すように、コンベヤ装置３０とともにパレット１を下降させて係脱体４７に係合させ、以て物品受け体保持手段４０により保持し得る。このコンベヤ装置３０の下降動は下降限位置で停止され、以てコンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａを搬送面１０ａに対して下方に退入動させた最初の状態に戻す。
【００５１】
この状態で、次の（２枚目の）パレット１が、搬入手段５６から搬送手段１０へと搬入され、搬送経路１９上で搬送される。この次のパレット１は、上述と同様にして、ストッパ体２３に当接されることで、図８の（ｆ）に示すように、自動的に姿勢修正された状態でコンベヤ装置３０の上方に停止し、そして、物品受け体昇降手段２５を上昇動させることにより、コンベヤ装置３０を介して持ち上げられる。その際に、持ち上げの途中において上昇するパレット１が１枚目（最下段）のパレット１に当接し、以て以降は両パレット１を一体状に持ち上げる。
【００５２】
この持ち上げは、図４や図８の（ｇ）に示すように、係脱体４７に対して１枚目のパレット１が少し浮いた（係止が開放された）状態での中間位置で停止される。そして、物品受け体保持手段４０を逆作動させ、腕部４７ａが搬送経路１９の外に退出するように係脱体４７を逆回動させ、以て図８の（ｈ）に示すように、係止部４７ｂをフォーク挿入空間２の外に位置させた解除姿勢にし得る。
【００５３】
次いで物品受け体昇降手段２５を再び上昇動させることにより、図８の（ｉ）に示すように、両パレット１を持ち上げることになる。この持ち上げは上昇限位置で停止され、以て２枚目のパレット１のフォーク挿入空間２を係脱体４７のレベルに位置させる。この状態で、物品受け体保持手段４０を作動させ、以て図８の（ｊ）に示すように、係止部４７ｂを２枚目のパレット１におけるフォーク挿入空間２内に位置させた係合姿勢にし得る。
【００５４】
その後に物品受け体昇降手段２５を下降動させることにより、コンベヤ装置３０とともに両パレット１を下降させて、２枚目のパレット１を係脱体４７に係合させ、以て図８の（ｋ）に示すように、物品受け体保持手段４０により段積みされた２枚のパレット１を保持し得る。以上の作用の繰り返し、すなわち、図８の（ｆ）〜図８の（ｋ）の繰り返しによって、パレット１を順次段積みしながら物品受け体保持手段４０により保持し得る。
【００５５】
その際に、所定枚数よりも１枚前のパレット１を、段積みするために上昇限位置で停止させたとき、最上段のパレット１を１枚前検出器５１が検出し、これにより、たとえば搬出手段５７の終端外方に運搬台車６０を停止させるなど、段積みパレット１Ａを搬出するための準備に入る。
【００５６】
そして所定枚数目のパレット１を、段積みするために中間位置で停止させたとき、図５や図７や図８の（ｌ）に示すように、最上段のパレット１を満了検出器５０が検出し、これにより、まず物品受け体保持手段４０を逆作動させて、図８の（ｍ）に示すように、係止部４７ｂをフォーク挿入空間２の外に位置させた解除姿勢にする。
【００５７】
このとき、コンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａと搬出手段５７の搬出面と運搬台車６０受け渡し面とは同一状のレベルに位置されており、したがって、コンベヤ装置３０と搬出手段５７と受け渡し装置６１とを同期状に駆動させることによって、段積みパレット１Ａを、コンベヤ装置３０から搬出手段５７を介して受け渡し装置６１へと搬送し得る。
【００５８】
すなわち、コンベヤ装置３０の駆動によって、その物品受け体支持面３０ａで支持している段積みパレット１Ａを、搬送経路１９に対して直交状の横方向に搬送し、引き続いて搬出手段５７により搬送したのち、受け渡し装置６１により受け取らせる。そして、段積みパレット１Ａを受け取った運搬台車６０を運搬経路６２で走行させることで、目的とする場所へ運搬し得る。
【００５９】
以上により、コンベヤ装置３０の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段４０による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置３０の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、パレット１の段積み作業と、段積みパレット１Ａの搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段２５の昇降機能を兼用して行え、以てスペースの効率化、コストダウンを可能とし得る。
【００６０】
なお上記した実施の形態では、パレット１の搬入を、一端側の搬入手段５６のみを使用して行っているが、これは両ストッパ装置２０を逆作用させることによって、他端側の搬入手段５６のみを使用して同様に行えるものである。また、両ストッパ装置２０を任意に正逆作用させることによって、両側の搬入手段５６から任意に（または交互に）パレット１の搬入を行えるものである。
【００６１】
次に、本発明の別の実施の形態を、パレットの段ばらしに採用した状態として、図９〜図１２に基づいて説明する。なお、この別の実施の形態においては、コンベヤ装置３０における物品受け体支持面３０ａの昇降停止位置が、上昇限位置、上部中間位置、下部中間位置、下降限位置の４箇所となるように制御される。
【００６２】
すなわち、上記構成の物品受け体処理設備で段積みパレット１Ａの段ばらしを行うに、物品受け体昇降手段２５では、図１２の（ａ）に示すように、昇降体２８を下降限位置で停止させて、そのコンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａを搬送面１０ａに対して下方に退入動させるとともに、搬入側のストッパ装置２０におけるストッパ体２３を搬送面１０ａの下方に位置させている。また物品受け体保持手段４０では、腕部４７ａが搬送経路１９に対して直交状となるように、係脱体４７を離脱姿勢にしている。
【００６３】
この状態で段積みパレット１Ａが、そのフォーク挿入空間２を左右向きとして、搬入手段５６から搬送手段１０へと搬入され、この搬送手段１０により搬送経路１９上で搬送される。そして段積みパレット１Ａは、図９や図１０、図１２の（ｂ）に示すように、搬送面１０ａ上に突出位置しているストッパ体２３に最下段のパレット１が当接することで、自動的に姿勢修正された状態で、コンベヤ装置３０の上方に停止し得る。
【００６４】
このように停止させた状態で、まず物品受け体昇降手段２５を上昇動させる。これにより、コンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａが搬送面１０ａに対して上方に突出動し、以て搬送面１０ａ上で支持していた段積みパレット１Ａを持ち上げることになる。この持ち上げは上部中間位置で停止され、以て図１２の（ｃ）に示すように、下から２段目のパレット１のフォーク挿入空間２を係脱体４７のレベルに位置させる。
【００６５】
この状態で、物品受け体保持手段４０を作動させ、腕部４７ａが搬送経路１９内に突入するように係脱体４７を回動させ、以て図１２の（ｄ）に示すように、下から２段目のパレット１のフォーク挿入空間２内に係止部４７ｂを位置させた係合姿勢にし得る。
【００６６】
その後に物品受け体昇降手段２５を下降動させる。これにより図１１や図１２の（ｅ）に示すように、コンベヤ装置３０とともに段積みパレット１Ａを下降（持ち下げ）させて、下から２段目のパレット１を係脱体４７に係合させ、以て物品受け体保持手段４０により保持し得る。そして、コンベヤ装置３０の下降動は、最下段のパレット１のみを支持した状態で、引き続いて下部中間位置まで行われ、以てコンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａを搬送面１０ａに対して少し上方の位置として、搬出手段５７の搬出面と同一状のレベルに位置させる。
【００６７】
これにより、最下段のパレット１を段ばらししたのち、コンベヤ装置３０から搬出手段５７へと搬送し得る。すなわち図１２の（ｆ）に示すように、コンベヤ装置３０の駆動によって、その物品受け体支持面３０ａで支持している最下段のパレット１を、搬送経路１９に対して直交状の横方向に搬送し、引き続いて搬出手段５７により搬送し得る。
【００６８】
前述したように最下段のパレット１を搬出させたのち、物品受け体昇降手段２５を上昇動させる。これにより、コンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａを、段積みパレット１Ａにおける現在の最下段のパレット１に当接させて、段積みパレット１Ａを持ち上げることになる。この持ち上げは上昇限位置で停止され、以て図１２の（ｇ）に示すように、最下段のパレット１を係止部４６ｂに対して浮かせた位置にし得る。
【００６９】
そして、物品受け体保持手段４０を逆作動させ、腕部４７ａが搬送経路１９の外に退出するように係脱体４７を逆回動させ、以て図１２の（ｈ）に示すように、係止部４７ｂをフォーク挿入空間２の外に位置させた解除姿勢にし得る。次いで物品受け体昇降手段２５を下降動させることにより、図１２の（ｉ）に示すように、段積みパレット１Ａを下降させることになる。この下降は上部中間位置で停止され、以て下から２枚目のパレット１のフォーク挿入空間２を係脱体４７のレベルに位置させる。この状態で、物品受け体保持手段４０を作動させ、以て図１２の（ｊ）に示すように、係止部４７ｂを２枚目のパレット１におけるフォーク挿入空間２内に位置させた係合姿勢にし得る。
【００７０】
その後に物品受け体昇降手段２５を下降動させる。これにより図１２の（ｋ）に示すように、コンベヤ装置３０とともに段積みパレット１Ａを下降させて、下から２段目のパレット１を係脱体４７に係合させ、以て物品受け体保持手段４０により保持し得る。
【００７１】
そして、コンベヤ装置３０の下降動は引き続いて下部中間位置まで行われ、以てコンベヤ装置３０の物品受け体支持面３０ａを搬出手段５７の搬出面と同一状のレベルに位置させる。これにより図１２の（ｌ）に示すように、最下段のパレット１を段ばらししたのち、コンベヤ装置３０から搬出手段５７へと搬送し得る。
【００７２】
以上の作用の繰り返し、すなわち、図１２の（ｇ）〜図１２の（ｌ）の繰り返しによって、段積みパレット１Ａを順次段ばらししながら、コンベヤ装置３０から搬出手段５７へと搬出し得、以てパレット１の段ばらし作業を終える。
【００７３】
以上により、コンベヤ装置３０の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段４０による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置３０の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、段積みパレット１Ａの段ばらし作業と、段ばらししたパレット１の搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段２５の昇降機能を兼用して行え、以てスペースの効率化、コストダウンを可能とし得る。
【００７４】
上記した実施の形態では、パレット１の段積みや段ばらしについて述べたが、物品受け体としては、コンテナ、カートン、矩形板状物などであってもよい。
上記した実施の形態では、搬送経路１９を形成する搬送手段１０としてチェーンコンベヤ形式が示されているが、これは物品受け体昇降手段２５などの昇降に支障のない構成で、ローラコンベヤ形式やベルトコンベヤ形式などであってもよい。
【００７５】
上記した実施の形態では、コンベヤ装置３０としてチェーンコンベヤ形式が示されているが、これはローラコンベヤ形式やベルトコンベヤ形式などであってもよい。
【００７６】
上記した実施の形態では、コンベヤ装置３０の搬送方向を、搬送経路１９の方向に対して直交状の横方向とした形式が示されているが、これは搬送経路１９の方向に対して傾斜状の横方向とした形式などであってもよい。
【００７７】
上記した実施の形態では、物品受け体昇降手段２５や物品受け体保持手段４０の駆動源としてモータを使用した形式が示されているが、これは油圧シリンダーや空圧シリンダーなどを使用した形式などであってもよい。
【００７８】
上記した実施の形態では、段積みや段ばらしを行う物品受け体処理設備が示されているが、これは１個の物品受け体を物品受け体昇降手段２５により持ち上げたのち、物品受け体保持手段４０により常に正確な姿勢で保持し、そして物品受け体側の物品に対して、たとえばロボツト作業を施工したのち、この物品受け体をコンベヤ装置３０側に戻す物品受け体処理設備などであってもよい。
【００７９】
【発明の効果】
上記した本発明の請求項１によると、コンベヤ装置の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、物品受け体の持ち上げや持ち下げと、物品受け体の搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段の昇降機能を兼用して行うことができ、以てスペースの効率化、コストダウンを可能にできる。
【００８０】
また上記した本発明の請求項２によると、コンベヤ装置の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、物品受け体の段積み作業と、段積み物品受け体の搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段の昇降機能を兼用して行うことができ、以てスペースの効率化、コストダウンを可能にできる。
【００８１】
そして上記した本発明の請求項３によると、コンベヤ装置の昇降制御と、物品受け体保持手段による保持姿勢、解除姿勢との切り換え制御と、コンベヤ装置の駆動、駆動停止制御との組み合わせ制御を好適に行うことによって、段積み物品受け体の段ばらし作業と、段ばらしした物品受け体の搬出とを、物品受け体昇降手段の昇降機能を兼用して行うことができ、以てスペースの効率化、コストダウンを可能にできる。
【００８２】
しかも上記した本発明の請求項４によると、コンベヤ装置の駆動によって、その物品受け体支持面で支持している単体の物品受け体や段積み物品受け体を、搬送経路に対して直交状の横方向に、迅速かつ安定して搬送できる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の実施の形態の一例を示し、物品受け体処理設備の平面図である。
【図２】同物品受け体処理設備の要部の一部切り欠き平面図である。
【図３】同物品受け体処理設備における上昇限位置での要部の縦断側面図である。
【図４】同物品受け体処理設備における段積み中の中間位置での要部の縦断側面図である。
【図５】同物品受け体処理設備における段積み終了時の中間位置での縦断正面図である。
【図６】同物品受け体処理設備における上昇限位置での縦断正面図である。
【図７】同物品受け体処理設備における段積み終了時の中間位置での縦断正面図である。
【図８】同物品受け体処理設備における段積み作業を説明する概略側面図である。
【図９】本発明の別の実施の形態を示し、物品受け体処理設備における段積み物品受け体の搬入時での要部の縦断側面図である。
【図１０】同物品受け体処理設備における段積み物品受け体の搬入時での縦断正面図である。
【図１１】同物品受け体処理設備における段積み物品受け体の段ばらし時での縦断正面図である。
【図１２】同物品受け体処理設備における段ばらし作業を説明する概略側面図である。
【符号の説明】
１　　パレット（物品受け体）
１Ａ　段積みパレット（段積み物品受け体）
２　　フォーク挿入空間
１０　　搬送手段
１０ａ　搬送面
１４　　回転駆動装置
１８　　無端チェーン
１９　　搬送経路
２０　　ストッパ装置
２３　　ストッパ体
２５　　物品受け体昇降手段
２７　　昇降装置
２８　　昇降体
３０　　コンベヤ装置
３０ａ　物品受け体支持面
３１　　コンベヤフレーム
３４　　回転駆動装置
３８　　無端チェーン
３９　　横送り搬送経路
４０　　物品受け体保持手段
４５　　電動機
４７　　係脱体
４７ａ　腕部
４７ｂ　係止部
５０　　満量検出器
５１　　１枚前検出器
５３　　在荷検出手段
５４　　支持検出手段
５６　　搬入手段
５７　　搬出手段
６０　　運搬台車
６２　　運搬経路[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, for example, after stacking article receivers (pallets, containers, cartons, etc.) conveyed on a conveyance path, the stacked article receivers are conveyed on another conveyance path, or on the conveyance path. The present invention relates to an article receiving body processing facility used to transport an article receiving body on another conveying path after the stacked article receiving bodies transported by the method have been separated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of equipment, for example, empty pallets conveyed on a conveying path are stacked by a stacking device, and the stacked pallets are returned on the conveying path and conveyed. Is transferred to a transfer device (elevating conveyor device), and then the transfer device is lowered to be transferred to another transport path, so that the transfer device is laterally unloaded.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the above-described conventional configuration, both the stacking device and the transfer device have the elevating function, so that the respective devices are equipped with the elevating device. As a result, there are problems such as overlapping functions, wasting space, and increasing costs.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an article receiver processing facility that can also serve as a lifting and lowering function, thereby enabling space efficiency and cost reduction.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an article receiving apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention provides an article receiving apparatus in which an article receiving support surface can move up and down with respect to a transport path of the article receiving section. Body elevating means, among the article receivers located above the transport path, an article receiver holding means capable of being disengaged from the lowermost article receiver, and having the article receiver support surface in the lateral direction. It is characterized by being formed by a conveyor device.
[0006]
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the article receiver conveyed on the conveying path is moved by moving the article receiver supporting surface downward with respect to the conveying surface by the operation of the article receiver elevating means. , May stop above the conveyor device. Next, by moving up and down the article receiver elevating means, the article receiver support surface can be protruded upward with respect to the transport surface to lift the article receiver supported on the transport surface. By operating the article receiver holding means in this state, the article receiver can be held.
[0007]
In a state in which the article receiver is lifted by moving the article receiver elevating means up and down, the article receiver holding means is reversely operated to be in the release position, and then the article receiver elevating means is moved down, thereby conveying the conveyor. The article receiver can be lowered (held) with the device. Then, after the article receiver supporting surface is stopped at a predetermined level above the transport surface, the article receiver can be transported in the lateral direction by driving the conveyor device.
[0008]
As described above, by appropriately performing the combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device, the switching control between the holding posture and the release posture by the article receiving member holding means, and the driving and the driving stop control of the conveyor device, the article receiving member is appropriately controlled. Lifting and lowering, and unloading of the article receiver can be performed using the lifting function of the article receiver lifting means.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article receiver processing facility for stacking article receivers according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the article receiver on the transport path is provided. It is characterized in that the article receivers held by the article receiver holding means by being lifted through the conveyor device and the stacked article receivers are laterally carried out via the conveyor device.
[0010]
Therefore, according to the invention of claim 2, in the article receiver elevating means, the conveyor device is stopped at the lower limit position, and the article receiver support surface is moved downward with respect to the transport surface, and the article receiver is moved downward. The holding means has a detached posture. In this state, the first article receiver is transported on the transport path and stopped above the conveyor device. Next, by moving the article receiver elevating means up and down, the article receiver support surface is protruded upward with respect to the transport surface, and the article receiver supported on the transport surface is lifted. The lifting is stopped at the ascending limit position, and the article receiver is positioned at the disengagement level.
[0011]
In this state, the article receiver holding means is operated to be in the engagement posture with respect to the article receiver, and then the article receiver elevating means is moved down, thereby lowering and engaging the article receiver together with the conveyor device, Thus, the article receiver can be held by the article receiver holding means. By stopping the lowering movement of the conveyor device at the lower limit position, it is possible to return to the initial state in which the article support surface has been moved downward with respect to the transport surface.
[0012]
The next article receiver conveyed on the conveyance path is similarly stopped above the conveyor device, and lifted up via the conveyor device by moving up and down the article receiver elevating means. During this lifting, the next rising article receiver comes into contact with the first (lowest) article receiver, and thereafter, both article receivers can be lifted together. This lifting is stopped at an intermediate position in a state where the first engagement of the article receiver with respect to the article receiver holding means is released. Then, the article receiver holding means can be reversely operated to be in the release position.
[0013]
Next, the article receiver elevating means is moved up again to lift both article receivers. This lifting is stopped at the ascending limit position, and the next article receiver is positioned at the disengagement level. In this state, the article receiving body holding means is operated to bring the article receiving body into the engagement posture with the next article receiving body, and then the article receiving body lifting / lowering means is moved down, thereby lowering the article receiving body together with the conveyor device to engage. Then, the two stacked article receivers can be held by the article receiver holding means. By repeating the above operation, the article receivers can be held by the article receiver holding means while being sequentially stacked.
[0014]
Then, when a predetermined number of article receivers are stacked, first, the article receiver holding means is reversely operated to be in the release position. Then, by driving the conveyor device, the stacked article receivers supported by the article receiver support surface can be laterally unloaded.
[0015]
As described above, by appropriately performing the combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device, the switching control between the holding posture and the release posture by the article receiving member holding means, and the driving and the driving stop control of the conveyor device, the article receiving member is appropriately controlled. And the unloading of the stacked article receivers can be performed by using the lifting function of the article receiver lifting means.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article receiving apparatus for processing articles according to the first aspect of the present invention. The article receivers are held by the article receiver holding means by lifting them through the conveyor apparatus, and the stacked article receivers are separated from the lowermost article receiver and then traversed through the conveyor apparatus. It is characterized by being carried out in the direction.
[0017]
Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the article receiver elevating means, the conveyor device is stopped at the lower limit position, and the article receiver supporting surface is moved downward with respect to the transport surface, and the article receiver is moved downward. The holding means has a detached posture. In this state, the stacked article receiver can be transported on the transport path and stopped above the conveyor device. Next, the article receiver supporting surface is protruded upward with respect to the transport surface by raising and lowering the article receiver elevating means, thereby lifting the stacked article receiver supported on the transport surface. This lifting is stopped at the upper intermediate position, and the second-stage article receiver from the bottom is positioned at the disengagement level.
[0018]
In this state, the article receiver holding means is operated to bring it into the engaging position with respect to the second-level article receiver from the bottom, and then the article receiver elevating means is moved down, so that the stacked article receiver together with the conveyor device is moved. Is lowered (held down), and the second-stage article receiver from the bottom is engaged, so that the stacked article receivers at the second or higher level from the bottom can be held by the article-receiving body holding means. Then, the lowering movement of the conveyor device is performed to the lower intermediate position, and the article receiver supporting surface of the conveyor device is positioned at the same level as the unloading surface of the transport means.
[0019]
Then, by driving the conveyor device, the article receiver supported by the article receiver support surface can be laterally unloaded. Thus, the lowermost article receiver can be taken out by the transport means after being separated.
[0020]
After unloading the lowermost article receiver in this way, by moving the article receiver elevating means up and down, the conveyor device can be brought into contact with the current lowermost article receiver in the stacked article receiver, Thus, the stacked article receiver can be lifted. By stopping the lifting at the upper limit position, the lowermost article receiver can be set at a position floating with respect to the article receiver holding means.
[0021]
Then, the article receiver holding means is reversely operated to be in the release position, and then the article receiver elevating means is lowered again, whereby the stacked article receivers are lowered together with the conveyor device. This lowering is stopped at the lower intermediate position, and the second article receiver from the bottom is positioned at the disengagement level.
[0022]
In this state, the article receiver holding means is operated to bring it into the engaging position with respect to the article receiver at the second level from the bottom, and then the article receiver elevating means is moved down, so that the stacked article receiver together with the conveyor device is moved. By lowering (holding) the body, the second-stage article receiver from the bottom is engaged, and the second-stage or higher stacked article receiver from the bottom can be held by the article-receiving body holding means. Then, the conveyor device is moved down to the lower intermediate position, and the article receiving member support surface of the conveyor device is positioned at the same level as the unloading surface of the transporting means, and can be unloaded. By repeating the above-described operation, the stacked article receivers can be carried out by the transport means while being sequentially stepped down.
[0023]
As described above, by suitably performing the combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device, the control of switching between the holding posture and the release posture by the article receiver holding means, and the driving and the driving stop control of the conveyor device, the stacked articles are stacked. The step of unloading the receiver and the step of unloading the article receiver can be performed by using the lifting function of the article receiver lifting means.
[0024]
Further, in the article receiver processing equipment according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3 described above, the transport direction of the conveyor device is a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of the transport path. It is characterized by being a direction.
[0025]
Therefore, according to the invention of claim 4, by driving the conveyor device, a single article receiver or a stacked article receiver supported by the article receiver support surface is moved in a transverse direction orthogonal to the transport path. Can be transported.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 as a state adopted for stacking pallets.
[0027]
1 to 3 and 6, a pallet (an example of an article receiver) 1 is a type having a fork insertion space 2, and a conveying means 10 is, for example, a chain conveyor type. The fork insertion space 2 is configured to be transportable in a direction (left-right direction) orthogonal to the transport direction.
[0028]
That is, the conveying means 10 has a pair of left and right conveyor frames 11, and these conveyor frames 11 are supported on the floor side by the leg members 12. A common drive shaft 13 is provided between one end of both conveyor frames 11, and a rotational drive device (including a motor and a speed reducer) 14 that can be driven forward and reverse is interlocked to the drive shaft 13. . At one end of both conveyor frames 11, a driving tooth wheel 15 is attached to the drive shaft 13, and at the other end of both conveyor frames 11, a driven shaft 16 is provided so as to be freely rotatable. A driven tooth wheel 17 is attached to the driven shaft 16.
[0029]
An endless chain 18 is wound between a driving tooth wheel 15 and a driven tooth wheel 17 facing each other. Here, the both endless chains 18 are supported and guided by the guide body on the side of the conveyor frame 11 in the upper moving part, so that a stable transport surface 10a is formed between the upper surfaces of the both endless chains 18 and the upper end thereof is positive. A reverse transport path 19 is formed.
[0030]
A stopper device 20 is provided at each of the start and end portions of the transport path 19. That is, left and right connecting frames 21 are provided between both ends of the conveyor frame 11, and stopper bodies 23 are provided on these connecting frames 21 via a cylinder device (elevating device) 22. . Here, the two stopper bodies 23 are disposed with their stopper surfaces facing each other. An example of the stopper device 20 is configured by the above 21 to 23 and the like.
[0031]
Therefore, by driving the rotary drive device 14 in the forward and reverse directions, the two endless chains 18 can be synchronously rotated in the forward and reverse directions via the drive shaft 13, the drive tooth wheel 15, and the like. The pallet 1 supported on the formed transfer surface 10a can be transferred on the transfer path 19 in the forward and reverse directions.
[0032]
At this time, the cylinder device 22 in the stopper device 20 on the loading side is contracted to move the stopper body 23 below the transport surface 10a, so that the loading of the pallet 1 can be performed without any trouble. By extending the cylinder device 22 of the stopper device 20 and positioning the stopper body 23 above the transport surface 10a, the loaded pallet 1 is received, and the position of the pallet 1 is automatically corrected. Can stop. An example of the transport unit 10 is configured by the above 11 to 23 and the like.
[0033]
An article receiver elevating means 25 capable of vertically moving the article receiver support surface 30a up and down with respect to the transport surface 10a of the transport means 10 is provided. That is, the article receiver elevating means 25 is located at the center of the transport means 10, and its base frame 26 is connected to the leg member 12 side. An elevating body 28 is disposed above the base frame 26 via a pantograph type elevating device 27.
[0034]
The article receiver support surface 30a of the article receiver elevating means 25 is formed by a horizontal conveyor device 30. That is, the conveyor device 30 has a pair of conveyor frames 31 in the direction of the transport path 19, and the conveyor frames 31 are supported on the lifting body 28 side by the connecting members 32.
[0035]
A common drive shaft 33 is provided between one of the two conveyor frames 31, and a rotational drive device (including a motor and a speed reducer) 34 is interlocked to the drive shaft 33. In one portion of the two conveyor frames 31, a drive tooth wheel 35 is attached to the drive shaft 33, and in the other portion of the two conveyor frames 31, a driven shaft 36 is provided so as to be freely rotatable. A driven tooth wheel 37 is attached to the shaft 36.
[0036]
An endless chain 38 is wound between the opposing driving tooth wheel 35 and driven tooth wheel 37. Here, the both endless chains 38 are supported and guided by the guide body on the conveyor frame 31 side in the upper moving part, so that a stable article receiver supporting surface 30a is formed between the upper surfaces of the both endless chains 38, and Above, a lateral transport path 39 whose transport direction is a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of the transport path 19 is formed.
[0037]
Therefore, by driving the rotary driving device 34, the both endless chains 38 can be synchronously rotated via the driving shaft 33, the driving tooth wheel 35, and the like, so that the article receiver formed between the both endless chains 38 The pallet 1 supported by the support surface 30a can be transported laterally on the lateral transport path 39. An example of the conveyor device 30 is configured by the above 31 to 39 and the like.
[0038]
Further, by raising and lowering the elevating body 28 by forward and reverse driving of the elevating device 27, the article receiver supporting surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 can be moved up and down with respect to the transport surface 10a of the transport means 10. obtain. At this time, control is performed so that the ascending and descending stop positions are three places of the ascending limit position, the intermediate position, and the descending limit position (all will be described later in detail). An example of the article receiver elevating means 25 is constituted by the above 26 to 39 and the like.
[0039]
Of the pallets 1 located above the transport path 19, there is provided an article receiver holding means 40 which can be disengaged from the lowermost pallet 1. That is, a total of four pillars 41 are erected on both sides of the transporting means 10 so as to be laid back and forth, and the upper portions of the pillars 41 are connected by a connecting member 42 crossing over the transport path 19 and at the same time. The holding members 43 are provided along the connecting members 42 on the surfaces of the connecting members 42 facing each other.
[0040]
An electric motor 45 is provided at both ends in the length direction of both holding members 43 via brackets 44, respectively, and an engagement / disengagement body 47 is attached to its downward output shaft 46. Here, the disengagement body 47 is composed of an arm portion 47a that is perpendicular to the transport path 19 and faces outward in the detaching posture, and a locking section 47b that faces inward along the transport path 19 from the free end of the arm section 47a. That is, the engaging portion 47b is configured to engage with the fork insertion space 2 of the pallet 1 in the engaging posture.
[0041]
A vertical member 48 is connected upward from two intermediate portions in the length direction of both holding members 43, and upper ends of the vertical members 48 are connected by a horizontal member 49 along the transport path 19. . A full detector 50 is provided between the upper portions of the vertical members 48, and an immediately preceding detector 51 is provided below the full detector 50.
[0042]
Therefore, by synchronously operating the motors 45 in the forward and reverse directions, the engaging and disengaging body 47 integrated with the output shaft 46 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, and thus the conveyor device 30 stopped at the ascent limit position or the intermediate position. The pallet 1 directly supported (the lowest pallet of pallets stacked above the transport surface 10a) 1 can be disengaged. An example of the article receiver holding means 40 is constituted by the above 41 to 51 and the like.
[0043]
Note that, at both ends of the transporting means 10, loading detection means 53 of the pallet 1 is provided, and at the portion of the conveyor device 30, support detecting means 54 of the pallet 1 is provided.
[0044]
On both front and rear sides of the transporting means 10, loading means 56 whose loading direction is the same as that of the transporting path 19 are arranged, and on the other (other side) side of the transporting means 10, the loading direction is set. An unloading means 57 that is orthogonal to the transport path 19 is provided. The carrying-in means 56 and the carrying-out means 57 have the same configuration as the carrying means 10.
[0045]
Outside the terminal end of the unloading means 57, a transport route 62 through which a self-propelled transport vehicle 60 can travel, for example, is formed. Here, a delivery device (a chain conveyor, a fork device, or the like) 61 that can transfer the stacked pallets 1A to and from the carrying-out means 57 is provided on the transport vehicle 60.
[0046]
The operation of the above embodiment will be described below.
In order to stack the pallets 1 in the article receiver processing equipment having the above-described structure, the article receiver lifting / lowering means 25 moves the lifting / lowering body 28 as shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. The conveyor device 30 is stopped at the lower limit position, and the article receiving member support surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 is moved downward with respect to the transport surface 10a. In the transport means 10, the stopper body 23 of the stopper device 20 on the loading side is moved. It is located below the transport surface 10a. Further, in the article receiver holding means 40, the arm 47a is orthogonal to the transport path 19, and the engaging / disengaging body 47 is in the detached posture.
[0047]
In this state, the first empty pallet 1 is carried from the carrying means 56 to the carrying means 10 with the fork insertion space 2 facing left and right. The pallet 1 is automatically brought into contact with the stopper 23 projecting above the transport surface 10a as shown in the phantom lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in FIG. In the modified state, it may stop above the conveyor device 30.
[0048]
In a state where the stopped pallet 1 is detected by the pair of presence detecting means 53, first, the article receiver elevating means 25 is moved up. As a result, the conveyor device 30 moves up and down via the elevating body 28, and the article receiver supporting surface 30a protrudes upward with respect to the transport surface 10a, thereby supporting the pallet supported on the transport surface 10a. 1 will be lifted.
[0049]
This lifting is stopped at the ascending limit position, and as shown in FIG. 8C, the fork insertion space 2 of the pallet 1 is positioned at the level of the engaging and disengaging body 47. In this state, the article receiver holding means 40 is operated, and the engagement / disengagement body 47 is rotated so that the arm portion 47a enters the transport path 19, whereby the solid line in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6 or (d) of FIG. 8, the engaging portion 47b can be set in the engaging posture in which it is located in the fork insertion space 2.
[0050]
Thereafter, the article receiver elevating means 25 is moved down. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8E, the pallet 1 is lowered together with the conveyor device 30 to be engaged with the engagement / disengagement body 47, whereby the pallet 1 can be held by the article receiver holding means 40. The downward movement of the conveyor device 30 is stopped at the lower limit position, thereby returning the article receiver supporting surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 to the initial state in which it is moved downward with respect to the transport surface 10a.
[0051]
In this state, the next (second) pallet 1 is carried in from the carrying-in means 56 to the carrying means 10 and is carried on the carrying path 19. The next pallet 1 is brought into contact with the stopper body 23 in the same manner as described above, and as shown in FIG. By stopping and moving the article receiver lifting / lowering means 25 upward, it is lifted via the conveyor device 30. At this time, the pallet 1 rising during the lifting comes into contact with the first (lowest) pallet 1, and thereafter, the pallets 1 are lifted integrally.
[0052]
This lifting is stopped at an intermediate position in a state where the first pallet 1 is slightly lifted (releasing is released) with respect to the disengagement body 47 as shown in FIG. Is done. Then, the article receiver holding means 40 is reversely operated, and the engaging and disengaging body 47 is reversely rotated so that the arm portion 47a retreats out of the transport path 19, as shown in FIG. 8 (h). The locking portion 47b can be in a release position in which the locking portion 47b is positioned outside the fork insertion space 2.
[0053]
Next, the pallets 1 are lifted as shown in FIG. 8 (i) by moving the article receiver elevating means 25 up again. This lifting is stopped at the ascending limit position, so that the fork insertion space 2 of the second pallet 1 is positioned at the level of the disengagement body 47. In this state, the article receiver holding means 40 is operated, and as shown in FIG. 8 (j), the engaging portion 47b is positioned within the fork insertion space 2 of the second pallet 1. Can be in posture.
[0054]
Thereafter, by lowering the article receiver elevating means 25, both pallets 1 are lowered together with the conveyor device 30, and the second pallet 1 is engaged with the disengagement body 47. 2), the two pallets 1 stacked one on another can be held by the article receiver holding means 40. By repeating the above operation, that is, by repeating (f) to (k) of FIG. 8, the pallets 1 can be held by the article receiver holding means 40 while being sequentially stacked.
[0055]
At this time, when the pallets 1 one sheet earlier than the predetermined number are stopped at the ascending limit position for stacking, the one-sheet preceding detector 51 detects the pallet 1 at the uppermost stage. Preparations for unloading the stacked pallets 1A, such as stopping the transport trolley 60 outside the end of the unloading means 57, are started.
[0056]
When the predetermined number of pallets 1 are stopped at the intermediate position for stacking, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG. Then, the article receiving member holding means 40 is firstly reversely operated to bring the locking portion 47b to the release position in which the locking portion 47b is positioned outside the fork insertion space 2, as shown in FIG.
[0057]
At this time, the article receiver supporting surface 30a of the conveyor device 30, the unloading surface of the unloading means 57, and the delivery surface of the transport trolley 60 are located at the same level. By driving the stacked pallets 1A in synchronization with each other, the stacked pallets 1A can be transported from the conveyor device 30 to the transfer device 61 via the unloading means 57.
[0058]
That is, by driving the conveyor device 30, the stacked pallets 1A supported on the article receiver supporting surface 30a are transported in a transverse direction orthogonal to the transport path 19, and subsequently transported by the unloading means 57. After that, it is received by the delivery device 61. Then, by transporting the transport trolley 60 having received the stacked pallets 1A along the transport route 62, it can be transported to a target place.
[0059]
As described above, the combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device 30, the switching control between the holding posture and the release posture by the article receiving member holding means 40, and the driving control and the driving stop control of the conveyor device 30 is suitably performed, and thus the pallet is provided. The first stacking operation and the unloading of the stacking pallet 1A can be performed by also using the elevating function of the article receiver elevating / lowering means 25, so that the space can be made more efficient and the cost can be reduced.
[0060]
In the above-described embodiment, the loading of the pallet 1 is performed by using only the loading means 56 on one end side. The same can be done using only In addition, the pallet 1 can be arbitrarily (or alternately) loaded from the loading means 56 on both sides by arbitrarily making the two stopper devices 20 act forward and backward.
[0061]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this alternative embodiment, control is performed so that the lifting and lowering stop positions of the article receiver support surface 30a in the conveyor device 30 are four positions: an upper limit position, an upper intermediate position, a lower intermediate position, and a lower limit position. Is done.
[0062]
In other words, when the stacking pallet 1A is to be unloaded in the article receiver processing equipment having the above configuration, the article receiver lifting / lowering means 25 stops the elevator 28 at the lower limit position as shown in FIG. Then, the article receiving body support surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 is retreated downward with respect to the transport surface 10a, and the stopper body 23 of the stopper device 20 on the loading side is positioned below the transport surface 10a. . Further, in the article receiving body holding means 40, the engaging and disengaging body 47 is set in a detached posture such that the arm portion 47a is orthogonal to the transport path 19.
[0063]
In this state, the stacked pallets 1A are carried from the carrying means 56 to the carrying means 10 with the fork insertion space 2 facing left and right, and are carried on the carrying path 19 by the carrying means 10. As shown in FIGS. 9, 10, and 12B, the lowermost pallet 1 comes into contact with the stopper body 23 protruding above the transport surface 10a, thereby automatically stacking the pallets 1A. It may stop above the conveyor device 30 in a state where the posture is corrected.
[0064]
In such a stopped state, first, the article receiver elevating means 25 is moved up. As a result, the article receiver support surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 moves upwardly with respect to the transport surface 10a, thereby lifting the stacked pallets 1A supported on the transport surface 10a. This lifting is stopped at the upper intermediate position, and as shown in FIG. 12C, the fork insertion space 2 of the second pallet 1 from the bottom is positioned at the level of the engaging and disengaging body 47.
[0065]
In this state, the article receiver holding means 40 is operated, and the engaging and disengaging body 47 is rotated so that the arm portion 47a enters the transport path 19, and as shown in FIG. Thus, the engaging position can be set such that the locking portion 47b is located in the fork insertion space 2 of the second-stage pallet 1.
[0066]
Thereafter, the article receiver elevating means 25 is moved down. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 (e), the stacking pallets 1A are lowered (held) together with the conveyor device 30, and the second-stage pallets 1 from the bottom are engaged with the disengagement body 47. Thus, it can be held by the article receiver holding means 40. Then, the downward movement of the conveyor device 30 is continuously performed to the lower intermediate position in a state where only the lowermost pallet 1 is supported, so that the article receiver supporting surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 moves relative to the transport surface 10a. As a position slightly above, it is positioned at the same level as the unloading surface of the unloading means 57.
[0067]
As a result, the lowermost pallet 1 can be transported from the conveyor device 30 to the carrying-out means 57 after the pallet 1 at the lowermost stage is separated. That is, as shown in FIG. 12F, the lowermost pallet 1 supported by the article receiver support surface 30a is moved in the transverse direction orthogonal to the transport path 19 by driving the conveyor device 30. It can be transported and subsequently transported by the unloading means 57.
[0068]
After the lowermost pallet 1 is carried out as described above, the article receiver elevating means 25 is moved up. As a result, the article receiving member support surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 is brought into contact with the current lowest pallet 1 of the stacked pallets 1A, and the stacked pallets 1A are lifted. This lifting is stopped at the ascending limit position, and as shown in FIG. 12 (g), the lowermost pallet 1 can be brought to a position floating with respect to the locking portion 46b.
[0069]
Then, the article receiver holding means 40 is reversely operated, and the engaging and disengaging body 47 is reversely rotated so that the arm portion 47a retreats out of the transport path 19, and as shown in FIG. The locking portion 47b can be in a release position in which the locking portion 47b is positioned outside the fork insertion space 2. Next, by lowering the article receiver elevating means 25, the stacking pallet 1A is lowered as shown in FIG. 12 (i). This lowering is stopped at the upper intermediate position, whereby the fork insertion space 2 of the second pallet 1 from the bottom is positioned at the level of the engaging and disengaging body 47. In this state, the article receiver holding means 40 is operated, and as shown in FIG. 12 (j), the engaging portion 47b is positioned in the fork insertion space 2 of the second pallet 1. Can be in posture.
[0070]
Thereafter, the article receiver elevating means 25 is moved down. Thus, as shown in FIG. 12 (k), the stacking pallet 1A is lowered together with the conveyor device 30, and the second-stage pallet 1 is engaged with the disengagement body 47, thereby holding the article receiving body. It can be held by means 40.
[0071]
Then, the downward movement of the conveyor device 30 is continued to the lower intermediate position, so that the article receiver supporting surface 30a of the conveyor device 30 is positioned at the same level as the unloading surface of the unloading means 57. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12 (l), the lowermost pallet 1 can be transported from the conveyor device 30 to the unloading means 57 after the pallet 1 is lowered.
[0072]
By repeating the above operation, that is, by repeating (g) of FIG. 12 to (l) of FIG. 12, the stacking pallets 1A can be unloaded from the conveyor device 30 to the unloading means 57 while being successively separated. To finish the work of unloading the pallet 1.
[0073]
As described above, by appropriately performing the combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device 30, the switching control between the holding posture and the release posture by the article receiver holding means 40, and the driving and the driving stop control of the conveyor device 30, The unloading operation of the stacked pallets 1A and the unloading of the unstacked pallets 1 can be performed by also using the lifting function of the article receiving unit lifting and lowering means 25, thereby enabling space efficiency and cost reduction.
[0074]
In the above embodiment, the stacking and unstacking of the pallets 1 have been described, but the article receiver may be a container, a carton, a rectangular plate, or the like.
In the above-described embodiment, the chain conveyor type is shown as the transporting means 10 forming the transporting path 19, but this is a configuration that does not hinder the lifting and lowering of the article receiver elevating means 25 and the like. It may be a conveyor type or the like.
[0075]
In the above-described embodiment, a chain conveyor type is shown as the conveyor device 30, but this may be a roller conveyor type, a belt conveyor type, or the like.
[0076]
In the above-described embodiment, the transport direction of the conveyor device 30 is shown as a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of the transport path 19, but this is inclined with respect to the direction of the transport path 19. The horizontal direction may be used.
[0077]
In the above-described embodiment, a type using a motor as a drive source of the article receiver lifting / lowering means 25 and the article receiver holding means 40 is shown. However, this is a form using a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or the like. It may be.
[0078]
In the above-described embodiment, the article receiver processing equipment for stacking and unstacking is shown. However, this apparatus lifts one article receiver by the article receiver elevating means 25 and then holds the article receiver. Even if it is an article receiver processing facility or the like, which always holds the article in the correct posture by the means 40, and performs, for example, a robot operation on the article on the article receiver side, and returns the article receiver to the conveyor device 30 side. Good.
[0079]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable to perform a combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device, the control of switching between the holding posture and the release posture by the article receiver holding means, the driving of the conveyor device, and the driving stop control. By doing so, the lifting and lowering of the article receiver and the unloading of the article receiver can be performed by also using the lifting function of the article receiver lifting means, thereby enabling space efficiency and cost reduction. Can be.
[0080]
According to the above-described second aspect of the present invention, the combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device, the switching control between the holding posture and the release posture by the article receiving member holding means, and the driving and the driving stop control of the conveyor device is preferable. In this way, the stacking operation of the article receivers and the unloading of the stacked article receivers can be performed by also using the lifting function of the article receiver elevating means, thereby increasing space efficiency and reducing costs. Can be made possible.
[0081]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the combination control of the elevation control of the conveyor device, the control of switching between the holding posture and the releasing posture by the article receiving member holding means, and the driving and driving stop control of the conveyor device is preferable. In this way, the work of unloading the stacked article receivers and the unloading of the stacked article receivers can be performed by also using the lifting function of the article receiver lifting means, thereby increasing space efficiency. , And can reduce costs.
[0082]
Moreover, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by driving the conveyor device, a single article receiver or a stacked article receiver supported by the article receiver support surface is formed in a direction perpendicular to the transport path. Fast and stable transport in the horizontal direction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view of an article receiver processing facility.
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of a main part of the article receiver processing equipment.
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part at an ascending limit position in the article receiver processing equipment.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part at an intermediate position during stacking in the article receiver processing equipment.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional front view at an intermediate position at the end of stacking in the article receiver processing facility.
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional front view at an ascending limit position in the article receiver processing equipment.
FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional front view at an intermediate position at the end of stacking in the article receiver processing facility.
FIG. 8 is a schematic side view illustrating a stacking operation in the article receiver processing facility.
FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional side view of a main part when a stacked article receiver is loaded in the article receiver processing equipment.
FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional front view when the stacked article receiver is carried in the article receiver processing facility.
FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional front view of the stacked article receiver in the article receiver processing facility when the stacked article receiver is unloaded.
FIG. 12 is a schematic side view for explaining a separating operation in the article receiver processing equipment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 pallet (article receiver)
1A Stacked pallets (stacked goods receiver)
2 Fork insertion space
10 Conveying means
10a Transfer surface
14 Rotary drive
18 Endless chain
19 Transport route
20 Stopper device
23 Stopper body
25 Means for lifting and lowering article receivers
27 Lifting device
28 lifting body
30 Conveyor device
30a Support surface for article receiver
31 Conveyor frame
34 rotary drive
38 Endless chain
39 Horizontal feed path
40 Article receiver holding means
45 electric motor
47 Engagement
47a arm
47b Locking part
50 full detector
51 1 detector before
53 Means for detecting cargo presence
54 Support detection means
56 Loading means
57 Unloading means
60 transport trolley
62 Transportation Route

Claims

An article receiver elevating means capable of moving the article receiver support surface up and down with respect to the transport path of the article receiver; and a lowermost article receiver among the article receivers located above the transport path. An article receiver processing facility, comprising: an article receiver holding means capable of engaging and disengaging from a body, wherein the article receiver supporting surface is formed by a horizontal conveyor device.

An article receiver processing facility for stacking article receivers, wherein the article receivers on the transport path are held by the article receiver holding means by lifting through a conveyor device, and the stacked article receivers are 2. The article receiver processing facility according to claim 1, wherein the article is unloaded in a horizontal direction via a conveyor device.

An article receiver processing facility for unloading article receivers, wherein the stacked article receivers on the transport path are held by article receiver holding means by lifting through a conveyor device, and are stacked. 2. The article receiving body processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein said article receiving body is separated from the lowermost article receiving body and then carried out laterally via a conveyor device.

The article receiving body processing equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conveying direction of the conveyor device is a horizontal direction orthogonal to the direction of the conveying path.