JP2006160469A - Tray storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device, in which the storage number of trays is increased, and prescribed trays can be freely carried in/out in a desired order. <P>SOLUTION: This tray storage device 1 is disposed in the middle of a carrying passage 3 for carrying a piece of liquid crystal glass 2 on each tray 20. It is provided with a storage device 5 comprising a plurality of rack parts 50 (an upstream side rack part 50a, intermediate rack parts 50b/50b, and a downstream side rack part 50c) each comprising a plurality of vertical stages of racks 51 on which the trays 20 can be placed, a carrying-in device 4 to deliver the tray 20 from the carrying passage 3 to the storage device 5 that is liftable, and a carrying-out device 6 to deliver the tray 20 from the storage device 5 to the carrying passage 3 that is liftable. The storage device 5, the carrying-in device 4, and the carrying-out device 6 are provided on the same line along the carrying passage 3. A tray forward feeding mechanism 53 is provided on the storage device 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a tray storage device, and more particularly to a structure of a storage unit that stores a plurality of trays.

  An automatic warehouse in which a large number of shelves are arranged in a rack shape and trays are loaded and unloaded by a transport device such as a stacker crane is known. With respect to such an automatic warehouse, several techniques have already been proposed for a tray storage device that is arranged in the middle of the transport path and temporarily stores the transported tray. Since the conventional tray storage device is configured such that the stacker crane automatically travels along the traveling path attached to the floor / ceiling surface of the inter-shelf passage, and the tray is loaded into and unloaded from the predetermined shelf. The area occupied by the entire device, including the layout space for cranes and other travel routes, has increased.

From this point of view, for example, in Patent Document 1, a storage unit in which a plurality of shelves are provided in a plurality of upper and lower stages is provided with a storage device and a storage device provided in a vertically movable manner, and the storage unit and the storage device. , And a tray storage device in which the unloading device is positioned on the same straight line along the transport path is disclosed. With such a configuration, a large number of trays can be stored at one time, and random access to articles can be performed regardless of the order of transport of the trays transported to the storage unit by the storage device. In addition, the occupied area in the width direction of the apparatus can be suppressed as much as possible as compared with the conventional tray storage apparatus (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-168469 A

  However, as described in Patent Document 1, the number of trays that can be stored is limited only by providing a plurality of shelves in the vertical direction, and the number of trays that can be stored is limited. In addition, when a plurality of shelves are provided in units of racks along the longitudinal direction of the transport path, the tray stored in the rear rack can be transported ahead of the tray stored in the front rack. There wasn't. Therefore, simply providing a plurality of tray storage devices described in Patent Document 1 makes it difficult to randomly access articles, and the order of the trays in the storage unit cannot be changed, so that a predetermined tray can be freely used. I could not go in and out.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tray storage device that solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides an apparatus that can increase the number of trays stored and freely enter and exit predetermined trays in a desired order. And

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

  In other words, in claim 1, the tray storage device is arranged in the middle of the transport path for transporting the plate-like workpieces placed on the tray one by one, and the shelf on which the tray can be placed is arranged vertically. A storage unit provided with a plurality of racks provided in a plurality of stages in the transport direction, a raising and lowering storage means for passing a tray from the transport path to the storage unit, and a liftable unit for passing a tray from the storage part to the transport path The storage unit, the storage unit, and the storage unit are provided on the same straight line along the transport path, and the tray is further provided with a tray advancement unit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the advance means is provided with a lifter that forms a conveyor on the shelf and lifts the tray on the conveyor to allow the subsequent tray to be conveyed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, an ID tag is attached to the tray, and reading means for the ID tag is provided in the warehousing means and the leaving means.

  As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  Since it is set as the structure shown in Claim 1, while being able to store many trays by a simple structure, it becomes possible to change the order of the trays in the storage unit, and the trays can be easily loaded and unloaded in a desired order. Can do.

  Since it was set as the structure shown in Claim 2, a storage part can be made compact in a transversal direction, and the occupation area of a tray storage apparatus can be suppressed.

  Since it is set as the structure shown in Claim 3, when storing a tray in a predetermined shelf irrespective of the order of storage, or when accessing a predetermined shelf at random and issuing a tray, it is mistaken for the tray to store and issue. In addition, it is possible to prevent unsatisfactory control such as double storage, empty storage, setting abnormality, etc., and to reliably store and unload predetermined trays.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a side view showing an overall configuration of a tray storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a storage device, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a delivery device. FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a side view showing a forward feeding mechanism when the tray is loaded into the tray storage device, FIG. 6 is a side view showing the forward feeding mechanism when the tray is delivered from the tray storage device, and FIG. 7 is another embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the tray conveyance control device, and FIG. 9 is a storage device, a storage device, and a storage provided with each reader and sensor. It is a perspective view of an apparatus.

<Overall configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, the tray storage device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided in the middle part of the conveyance path 3 that continuously conveys the tray 20 on which the plate-like workpieces are placed in one direction, and the storage device 4. And a storage device 5, a delivery device 6 and the like. Hereinafter, the transport direction of the tray 20 in the longitudinal direction of the tray storage device 1 is defined as the X direction (right direction in FIG. 1).

  Examples of the plate-like work that is placed on the tray 20 and conveyed / stored include a glass substrate used for an electronic display such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, and an organic EL (Electro Luminescence). The liquid crystal glass 2 which is a glass substrate for a liquid crystal display is a glass substrate alone, an array manufacturing process for arraying a glass substrate, a color filter manufacturing process for laminating a color filter on the glass substrate, and the like, A general term for glass substrates and the like that are combined. Hereinafter, although the case where this liquid crystal glass 2 is used as a plate-shaped workpiece is described, the plate-shaped workpiece is not particularly limited thereto.

  The liquid crystal glass 2 is conveyed in a state where it is placed one by one on a tray 20 formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view (sheet-fed conveyance). The tray 20 is provided with a smoothing portion 21 on the upper surface of the center where the liquid crystal glass 2 can be horizontally placed. The smoothing portion 21 is separated at equal intervals and protrudes upwardly with the same length. ... Are arranged in plural, and the lower surface of the liquid crystal glass 2 is placed on the projection 22 in contact therewith. By setting it as such a shape, it can prevent that the liquid crystal glass 2 bends substantially center part below with dead weight, and can prevent damaging during conveyance.

  A conveyor 30 is provided on the transport path 3 to place the tray 20 and continuously transport the tray 20 in a certain direction. The conveyor 30 in this embodiment is a roller conveyor, and each roller is rotationally driven in one direction (right direction in FIG. 1) by a driving device 31 (see FIG. 8) such as a motor, and the tray 20 is in one direction (X direction). ). In addition to the roller conveyor, the conveyor 30 may be a belt conveyor and a chain conveyor, a gravity conveyor using gravity, a pneumatic conveyor using air as a medium, or the like. Further, the conveyor 30 may be configured to fix the position of the tray 20 and continuously convey it.

  The tray storage device 1 is disposed in the middle of the transport path 3, and the warehousing device 4, the storage device 5, and the unloading device 6 constituting the tray storage device 1 are directed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction. In order, they are provided on the same straight line. The transport path 3 and each of the tray storage device 1 (the warehousing device 4, the storage device 5, and the warehousing device 6) are configured so that the widths thereof substantially match, and the tray 20 is connected via the tray storage device 1. It is configured to be continuously conveyed in the X direction. As described above, the tray storage device 1 has the upstream end of the transport path 3 connected to the warehousing device 4 and the downstream end connected to the unloading device 6 so that the tray 20 is continuously transported. It is configured to be.

<Receiving device 4>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the warehousing device 4 is configured as warehousing means for continuously transporting the tray 20 transported to the upstream end of the transport path 3 to the subsequent storage device 5. Has been. Specifically, an elevating table 40 is provided for placing the tray 20 conveyed from the conveying path 3 on the upper surface and elevating it up and down, and an elevating mechanism for freely elevating the elevating table 40 is configured. The elevating mechanism includes a pulley 44 arranged on both the upper, lower, front, rear, left and right sides of the frame, a wire 43 as an elevating means wound around the pulley 44, and an elevating platform 40 engaged (or fixed) to the wire 43, It comprises a drive device 46 (see FIG. 8) that drives the pulley 44 to rotate forward and backward. In this lifting mechanism, when the driving device 46 is driven, the wire 43 is moved up and down via the pulley 44, and the lifting platform 40 is moved up and down in conjunction with the vertical movement of the wire 43.

  When the tray 20 is transported from the transport path 3 to the storage device 5, first, the lifting platform 40 is lifted and lowered to a position that is substantially horizontal (same height) with the placement surface of the tray 20 in the transport path 3. (This position is set as the storage position P1 of the tray 20). When the tray 20 is placed on the lifting platform 40, the tray 20 is raised and stopped to a position that is substantially horizontal to the placement surface of the predetermined shelf 51 disposed in the storage device 5 (upstream rack portion 50a). (This position is set as the delivery position P2 of the tray 20).

  The lifting platform 40 is provided with a conveyor 45 on the mounting surface of the tray 20, and this conveyor 45 is configured as a roller conveyor, and is independent of the conveyor 30 in the conveyance path 3 by a driving device 47 (see FIG. 8). It is configured to be controlled. That is, when storing the tray 20 in the storage device 5, the conveyor 45 is driven in a state in which the lifting platform 40 is moved to the storage position P <b> 1 and is transported to the upstream end of the transport path 3. Is completely placed on the lifting platform 40, it is stopped. When raising / lowering the raising / lowering stand 40, it stops in either the state in which the tray 20 is mounted, or the state which is not mounted. Then, the elevator 40 is driven in a state where it is moved to the delivery position P <b> 2, and the tray 20 is delivered from the storage device 4 to the shelf 51 of the storage device 5. The configuration of the conveyor 45 may be formed as the above-described belt conveyor or the like.

  In addition, the structure of this warehousing apparatus 4 is not limited to the structure mentioned above, It is good also as a transfer apparatus which mounts a horizontal articulated manipulator which can be moved up and down, and a slide fork which can be moved up and down. Further, the wire 43, pulley 44, etc. constituting the lifting mechanism may be configured by combining a belt and a pulley, a chain and a sprocket, and a lifting guide (mast) is erected in the vertical direction. You may comprise so that the tray 20 may be raised / lowered along.

<Storage device 5>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the storage device 5 is configured to store a plurality of trays 20 on which the liquid crystal glass 2 is placed in a state where the liquid crystal glass 2 is still placed. Specifically, racks 50, 50,... Are provided in which shelves 51, 51,... On which the tray 20 can be placed are provided in a plurality of stages (four stages in FIG. 1) at substantially equal intervals in the vertical direction. .. Are provided in a plurality of stations (three stations in FIG. 1) in the transport direction of the tray 20, that is, in the X direction. That is, in the storage device 5, a plurality of shelves 51, 51,... Are provided in the vertical direction in the rack units 50, 50,. It is continuously arranged in the X direction so as to be located on the same straight line.

  Each of the rack portions 50, 50,... Is configured substantially the same, and is surrounded by a frame or the like, and a connection portion with each rack portion 50, 50,. It is configured to be freely transportable in the direction. Further, the number of stations of the rack portions 50, 50... Is not particularly limited, and the number of trays 20 that can be stored at a time can be increased as the number of stations increases.

  The transport path of the tray 20 to the storage device 5 will be described. First, the tray 20 is transported to the upstream rack portion 50a connected to the warehousing device 4 on the most upstream side in the transport direction. The tray 20 is transported to the intermediate rack portions 50b, 50b,... Provided in a plurality of downstream positions in the transport direction via the upstream rack portion 50a, and is finally discharged at the most downstream side with respect to the transport direction. It is conveyed from the downstream rack part 50 c connected to the device 6 to the unloading device 6. When the tray 20 is stored in the storage device 5, the shelves 51, 51,... Arranged in the upstream rack portion 50a, the intermediate rack portions 50b, 50b,. Stored in

  As described above, the racks 50a, 50b, and 50c are provided with a plurality of shelves 51, 51,... On which the tray 20 can be placed in the vertical direction. The size is substantially the same as or slightly larger. The separation of the respective shelves 51, 51... In the vertical direction is at least a height at which the tray 20 on which the liquid crystal glass 2 is placed can be conveyed in the X direction, and preferably at least two trays 20 in the height direction. Any space that can be arranged as described above may be used. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to configure the advance feed mechanism of the tray 20 while suppressing the occupied area of the tray storage device 1.

  The shelf 51 is configured so that the tray 20 can be placed on the upper surface, and the shelf 51 itself is different from the conveyance path 3 and the warehousing device 4 and can carry the tray 20 and can be conveyed in the X direction. The conveyor 52 is configured. The conveyor 52 is formed as a roller conveyor, and is configured such that both ends are supported substantially horizontally on a frame constituting the rack unit 50 and driven by a driving device 55 (see FIG. 8) such as a motor. At that time, the conveyor 52 may be configured to be individually controlled for each shelf 51, and there are a plurality of shelves 51, 51,. It may be configured to be driven in conjunction. Moreover, the structure of the conveyor 52 may be formed as a belt conveyor etc. which were mentioned above.

  By configuring the shelf 51 as the conveyor 52 in this way, the conveyor 52 can reliably receive the tray 20 conveyed from the warehousing device 4 into the storage device 5, and the tray 20 can be placed in the subsequent rack unit 50. It can be reliably transported and delivered to the unloading device 6 connected to the storage device 5. In addition, since the rack portions 50a, 50b, and 50c are provided with a plurality of shelves 51, 51,... In the vertical direction, the racks 50a, 50b, and 50c can be formed vertically by configuring the shelves 51 themselves as conveyors 52. The space in the direction can be used, and the storage device 5 can be made compact.

  The storage device 5 includes a tray 20 advance mechanism 53 that allows the subsequent tray 20 to be transported between the rack portions 50a, 50b, and 50c. In addition to the conveyor 52 described above, the advance feed mechanism 53 includes a lifter 54 that lifts and lowers the tray 20 placed on the conveyor 52 (shelf 51). The lifter 54 is a pair of substantially rod-shaped support arms 54a and 54a orthogonal to the transport direction (X direction) of the tray 20 (parallel to the rollers of the conveyor 52), and for simultaneously raising and lowering the support arms 54a and 54a. It is comprised with drive devices 54b (refer FIG. 8), such as a motor. The support arms 54a and 54a are formed so as to be substantially the same as or slightly shorter than the width of the shelf 51. The support arms 54a and 54a are arranged substantially horizontally so that the tray 20 can be placed and lifted on the upper surface, and are separated at a predetermined interval. ing. That is, the support arms 54a and 54a are positioned between the rollers, and the width of the support arm 54a is configured to be narrower than the interval between the rollers so as to pass between them.

  In a state where the tray 20 is not placed on the shelf 51, the support arms 54a and 54a are supported at positions that do not protrude from the upper surface of the shelf 51 (conveyor 52) in a side view. When the tray 20 is placed on the shelf 51, the tray 20 of the shelf 51 is driven by the drive device 54 b and passes between the rollers of the conveyor 52 and is raised from the placement surface of the shelf 51 (conveyor 52). The tray 20 is lifted and supported up to a predetermined height from the mounting surface (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The predetermined height is a height at which the rear tray 20 can pass forward through the shelf 51 to the downstream side in the transport direction when the tray 20 is lifted by the lifter 54.

  In this way, by providing the storage device 5 with the conveyor 52 and the lifter 54 as the advance feeding mechanism 53, the tray 20 that is loaded into and unloaded from the storage device 5 is conveyed without causing the previously stored tray 20 to become an obstacle. can do. That is, the support arms 54a and 54a of the lifter 54 are normally positioned below the conveyor 52 and are moved upward from the conveyor 52 even when the tray 20 is stored, and therefore do not hinder the conveyance of the tray 20. By configuring in this way, it is possible to carry forward in the transport of the tray 20, and random access can be made regardless of the order of the trays 20 stored in the storage device 5, and storage can be performed.

  As the configuration of the advance feed mechanism 53, not only the shelf 51 itself may be configured as the conveyor 52, but the shelf 51 and the conveyor 52 may be separated and the conveyor 51 may be provided on the shelf 51. Further, the tray 20 may be stored while being placed on the upper surface of the shelf 51. In such a case, the lifter 54 is driven and the tray 20 is driven when the subsequent tray 20 is conveyed. Is lifted. Further, the support arm 54a constituting the lifter 54 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and raises and lowers the tray 20 placed on the shelf 15 in the vertical direction and supports the tray 20 at a predetermined height from the shelf 51. A known structure can be used as long as it can advance the tray 20 to be subsequently conveyed. However, as shown in the present embodiment, the storage device 5 can be made compact by configuring the support arms 54a and 54a to move up and down through the conveyor 52 in the vertical direction.

<Shipping device 6>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the unloading device 6 is configured as unloading means for continuously conveying the tray 20 conveyed from the storage device 5 to the downstream end of the conveying path 3. Yes. Specifically, it has substantially the same configuration as the warehousing device 4. That is, a lifting / lowering table 60 is provided for placing the tray 20 conveyed from the storage device 5 on the upper surface and moving it up and down, and a lifting mechanism for freely lifting and lowering the lifting table 60 is configured. The elevating mechanism is pivotally supported in the vertical direction of the frame, and is engaged with the elevating table 60 and interlocked with the elevating means for elevating and lowering, and a pulley 64 for winding the wire 63 at the upper and lower ends. And a drive device 66 (see FIG. 8) that drives the pulley 44 to rotate forward and backward. In this lifting mechanism, when the driving device 66 is driven, the wire 63 is moved up and down via the pulley 64, and the lifting platform 60 is moved up and down in conjunction with the vertical movement of the wire 63.

  When the tray 20 is transported from the storage device 5, first, the lifting platform 60 is positioned so as to be substantially horizontal with the mounting surface of the predetermined shelf 51 disposed in the storage device 5 (downstream rack portion 50 c). (The position is referred to as a delivery position P3 of the tray 20). When the tray 20 is placed on the lifting platform 60, the tray 20 is raised and lowered to a position that is substantially horizontal with the placement surface of the tray 20 in the transport path 3 (this position is referred to as the unloading position P4 of the tray 20). And).

  The lifting platform 60 is provided with a conveyor 65 on the mounting surface of the tray 20, and this conveyor 65 is configured as a roller conveyor and is configured to be independently controlled by a driving device 67 (see FIG. 8). Yes. That is, the conveyor 65 is driven in a state where the tray 20 is moved from the storage device 5 to the delivery position P3 when the tray 20 is output from the storage device 5, and the tray 20 is moved from the shelf 51 of the storage device 5 to the output device 6. Passed. When raising / lowering the raising / lowering stand 60, it stops in any state of the state in which the tray 20 was mounted, or the state in which it is not mounted. Then, the elevator 40 is driven in a state where the elevator 40 is moved to the delivery position P4, and the tray 20 placed on the elevator 60 is stopped when it is completely placed on the downstream end of the transport path 3. . The configuration of the conveyor 65 may be formed as the belt conveyor described above.

  In addition, the structure of this warehousing apparatus 6 is not limited to the structure mentioned above, It is good also as a transfer apparatus which mounts a horizontal articulated manipulator which can be moved up and down, and a slide fork which can be moved up and down. Furthermore, the wire 63 and the pulley 64 that constitute the lifting mechanism may be configured by combining a belt and a pulley, a chain, and a sprocket, and a lifting guide (mast) is erected in the vertical direction. You may comprise so that the tray 20 may be raised / lowered along.

<Forward feed mechanism 53>
In the tray storage device 1 configured as described above, a transport mechanism for the tray 20 that is loaded into and unloaded from the storage device 5 will be described in detail below. In the following embodiment, the storage device 5 includes three rack portions 50, that is, an upstream rack portion 50a, an intermediate rack portion 50b, and a downstream rack portion 50c, and is located on the same straight line. Let the shelf 51 be the shelf 51a, the shelf 51b, and the shelf 51c, respectively (refer FIG.5 and FIG.6). The same applies even when the number of stations of the rack unit 50 (intermediate rack unit 50b) is increased or decreased, or when the number of shelves 51 formed in the rack unit 50 is increased or decreased.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the tray 20 is stored in the shelf 51 b of the intermediate rack unit 50 b, first, the tray 20 conveyed to the upstream end of the conveyance path 3 is transferred to the conveyor 30 and the conveyor 45. It is driven and placed on the upper surface of the conveyor 45 of the lifting platform 40 that is waiting at the storage position P1. The lifting / lowering table 40 on which the tray 20 is placed is moved to a predetermined stage in the storage device 5 by the lifting / lowering mechanism and stopped at the delivery position P2, and the conveyor 45 and the conveyor 52 are driven, so that the shelf of the upstream rack portion 50a. The tray 20 is placed on the upper surface of 51a. At this time, the previous tray 20 is already stored in the shelf 51a, but since the tray 20 is lifted by the lifter 54, it does not become an obstacle to the conveyance of the tray 20 stored in the shelf 51b. Therefore, the conveyor 52 is continuously driven and the tray 20 is conveyed to the shelf 51b of the intermediate rack portion 50b (see FIG. 5A). Then, the support arms 54a and 54a of the lifter 54 of the shelf 51b are raised, and the tray 20 is stored in the lifted state (see FIG. 5B).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the tray 20 stored in the shelf 51b of the intermediate rack portion 50b is delivered from the storage device 5, first, the support arms 54a and 54a of the lifter 54 are lowered and the shelf 51b. A tray 20 is placed on the upper surface of the sheet. Then, the conveyor 52 is driven and transported in the transport direction (X direction) by the shelf 51b (conveyor 52), the conveyor 52 and the conveyor 65 are driven, and the conveyor 65 of the lifting platform 60 waiting at the delivery position P3 is moved. Placed on top. At this time, another tray 20 is already stored in the shelf 51c. However, since the tray 20 is lifted by the lifter 54, it does not hinder the transport of the tray 20 to be delivered (FIG. 6A). reference). The lifting platform 60 on which the tray 20 is placed is moved to the downstream end of the transport path 3 by the lifting mechanism, stopped at the delivery position P4, the conveyor 65 and the conveyor 30 are driven, and the transport path 3 The tray 20 is conveyed to the upper surface of the conveyor 30 (see FIG. 6B).

  As described above, when the tray 20 is stored in the tray storage device 1, the tray 20 is transported to the predetermined shelf 51 by the storage device 4 and the storage device 5 and stored in a state where it is lifted from the shelf 51 by the lifter 54. Therefore, regardless of the order of storage in the storage device 5, any shelf 51 formed in any rack unit 50 can be easily transported and stored. Similarly, when the tray 20 is delivered from the tray storage device 1, the predetermined tray 20 can be delivered regardless of the order of storage in the storage device 5. Therefore, regardless of the order of storage in the storage device 5, the tray 20 stored in any shelf 51 can be accessed with random access.

  As described above, the tray storage device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the warehousing device 4, the storage device 5 in which a plurality of rack portions 50 including the plurality of shelves 51 are provided, and the warehousing device 6. In addition, since the storage device 5 is provided with the advance mechanism 53 for the tray 20, it is possible to store a large number of trays 20 with a simple configuration and to easily change the order of the trays 20 in the storage device 5. Thus, the tray 20 can be loaded and unloaded in a desired order. In other words, according to the tray storage device 1, when the tray 20 is stored, the tray 20 that is stored by the advance-feed mechanism 53 without being obstructed is stored in the predetermined shelf 51. In addition, when leaving the tray storage device 1, the tray 20 can be delivered from the predetermined shelf 51 regardless of the order of the stored trays 20. Therefore, in the storing operation of the tray 20, first-in / out-out and random access can be freely switched, and the working efficiency is improved.

  Further, as the advance feed mechanism 53, the shelf 51 is used as the conveyor 52, and the lifter 54 for lifting the tray 20 placed on the shelf 51 is provided, so that the tray 20 can be easily and continuously conveyed along the conveyance path. In particular, when the tray 20 is moved forward, the tray 20 previously received is lifted by the lifter 54, so that the storage device 5 can be made compact in the short direction, and the occupied area of the tray storage device 1 is reduced. be able to.

  Note that the tray 20 may not be supported upward by the lifter 54 but may be stored while being placed on the upper surface of the shelf 51. In such a case, when the tray 20 is transported from the upstream side, the tray 20 once placed on the shelf 51 is lifted by the lifter 54, and the subsequent tray 20 is advanced, and then lowered by the lifter 54. You may comprise so that it may be mounted in the upper surface of the shelf 51 which is an original position again. Further, once lifted by the lifter 54, it may be configured to support the state as it is.

<Tray transport control device 7>
Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the tray storage device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a tray conveyance control device 7 for storing a predetermined tray 20 on a predetermined shelf 51 or loading / unloading it. Has been. Specifically, the ID tag 70 is attached to the tray 20 that is loaded and unloaded into the tray storage device 1 and ID information is recorded, and the ID tag 70 is provided in the loading device 4 and the unloading device 6 of the tray storage device 1. 70, a warehousing reader 71 and a warehousing reader 72 as reading means for transmitting and receiving information to and from the position sensor 73, a position sensor 73 for detecting the storage state of the tray 20 provided on each shelf 51, the readers 71, 72 and the position sensor 73. The control unit 74 is configured to drive and control each drive unit 31 and the like based on the information from.

  The ID tag 70 is fixed to the front surface or the back surface of the tray 20 by adhesion or the like, or is housed inside (see FIG. 9). The ID tag 70 in the present embodiment is formed in a non-contact type (RF-ID tag) configured to be able to communicate ID information between the warehousing reader 71 and the warehousing reader 72 by a wireless method. The ID tag 70 is formed with an antenna and a processing circuit that perform wireless communication with a warehousing reader 71 and a warehousing reader 72 (not shown), and various information (ID information) of the liquid crystal glass 2 to be placed is recorded. A non-volatile memory 70a and the like are formed. The identification information of the ID tag 70 recorded in the nonvolatile memory 70a is, for example, the manufacturing number of the liquid crystal glass 2, the number of the storage position, the number of the product to be assembled, the inspection result, or the like.

  The warehousing reader 71 and the warehousing reader 72 are for electrically reading the ID information of the ID tag 70 in a wireless manner. Each of the warehousing reader 71 and the warehousing reader 72 is formed with an antenna that performs wireless communication with an ID tag (not shown), a processor unit that performs control and data processing, and the like. The warehousing side reader 71 is provided in the vicinity of the mounting surface of the tray 20 of the lifting platform 40 disposed in the warehousing device 4 (see FIGS. 7 and 9A), and the tray 20 is located on the downstream side of the transport path 3. When transported from the end to the lifting platform 40, the ID information of the ID tag 70 attached to the tray 20 is electrically read. The unloading-side reader 72 is provided in the vicinity of the mounting surface of the tray 20 of the lifting platform 60 disposed in the unloading device 6 (see FIGS. 7 and 9B), and the tray 20 is lifted and lowered from the downstream rack portion 50c. When transported to the table 60, the ID information of the ID tag 70 is electrically read. The warehousing reader 71 and the warehousing reader 72 are connected to the control unit 74, and the read ID information is sent to the memory unit 74 a of the control unit 74. In addition, although the warehousing side reader 71 and the warehousing side reader 72 in this embodiment are configured by an electromagnetic dielectric type, they may be configured by an IC card reader, a barcode reader, or the like.

  The position sensor 73 is for optically detecting and reading the position information of the tray 20 stored in each shelf 51. The position sensors 73 are respectively arranged on the shelves 51, 51... Specifically, the position sensors 73 are located above the shelves 51 and of the lifters 54 (support arms 54a, 54a) that are driven to the top. It is arranged in the vicinity (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 9C), and the presence or absence (storage information) of the tray 20 is detected. The position sensor 73 uses an optical switch (photo interrupter or the like) as a non-contact sensor, and is configured to be turned on when the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are blocked by the tray 20. The switches disposed in the position sensor 73 are not limited to optical switches, and may be reflective switches, proximity sensors such as electromagnetic type or electrostatic type, and the like. The position sensor 73 is connected to the control unit 74, and the detected information is sent to the control unit 74.

  The position sensor 73 only needs to detect whether or not the tray 20 is stored in the shelf 51 as the storage information of the tray 20, but it is more detailed whether the predetermined tray 20 is stored in the predetermined shelf 51. It may be configured to detect. In such a case, the position sensor 73 is connected to an ID tag (not shown) so that the ID information of the ID tag 70 can be electrically read in a wireless manner, similar to the warehousing reader 71 and the warehousing reader 72 described above. It comprises an antenna that performs wireless communication, a processor unit that performs control and data processing, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 74 includes a memory unit 74 a that temporarily stores information sent from the readers 71 and 72 and the position sensor 73 and processing of the driving device, and identification information of the ID tag 70. An information management unit 74b provided with a database, processing information for transporting the tray 20 to the predetermined shelf 51 based on the identification information, a database of storage information of the tray 20 stored in the storage device 5, and the like It consists of The information accumulated in the information management unit 74b is subjected to accumulation control processing such as new registration, additional registration, and correction registration, update of the identification information database of the ID tag 70, and the like. In particular, the identification information database of the ID tag 70 is constantly updated when the tray 20 is loaded into and unloaded from the tray storage device 1. Thereby, it is comprised so that the tray 20 stored in the tray storage apparatus 1 can be managed reliably.

  In the control unit 74, the storage information of the tray 20 to which the ID tag 70 of the predetermined ID information is attached can be quickly grasped by the database of identification information of the ID tag 70 constructed in the information management unit 74b. The tray 20 (liquid crystal glass 2) to be stored can be easily transported and managed. Further, the storage information of the tray 20 in the predetermined shelf 51 is managed by the database of the position information of the tray 20 stored in the storage device 5 constructed in the information management unit 74b, and similarly, the tray 20 can be easily transported and managed. It becomes.

  The control unit 74 includes a driving device 31 that drives the conveyor 30 in the conveyance path 3 described above, a driving device 46 that raises and lowers the lifting platform 40 of the storage device 4, and a driving device 47 that drives the conveyor 45 of the lifting platform 40. A drive device 55 that drives the conveyor 52 of the storage device 5, a drive device 54 b that raises and lowers the support arm 54 a of the lifter 54, a drive device 66 that raises and lowers the lift 60 of the unloading device 6, It is connected to a driving device 67 that drives the conveyor 65. Then, each drive unit 31 and the like is driven based on the information of the information management unit 74b, and the tray 20 is stored in the predetermined shelf 51, and the tray 20 stored in the predetermined shelf 51 is controlled.

  In addition, an external connection unit 75 is connected to the control unit 74, and information is input / output from / to an operator or other work devices disposed in the transport path 3. For example, the operator operates a keyboard or a touch panel to deliver a predetermined tray 20, or information on conveying the predetermined tray 20 is transmitted from another working device and exits.

  Note that the ID tag 70, the warehousing reader 71, the warehousing reader 72, the position sensor 73, and the like described above are not limited to the structures described above, and known ID tags and sensors can be used.

An example of the transport control of the tray 20 by the tray transport control device 7 will be described below.
The ID tag 70 affixed to the tray 20 records the serial number of the liquid crystal glass 2 in advance. When the tray 20 is stored in the tray storage device 1 from the transport path 3, it is disposed in the storage device 4. The ID information of the ID tag 70 is read by the received warehousing reader 71. After the information read by the warehousing side reader 71 is sent to the control unit 74 and processed by the information management unit 74b, the control unit 74 drives each drive device 31 and the like so that the tray 20 becomes the predetermined shelf 51. It is controlled to be conveyed and stored.

  The database of identification information of the ID tag 70 is updated in the information management unit 74b of the control unit 74 based on the information read by the warehousing reader 71. When the tray 20 is stored in the predetermined shelf 51, the storage information of the tray 20 is detected by the position sensor 73, recorded in the information management unit 74b of the control unit 74, and the position information database of the tray 20 is updated. The Information in the information management unit 74b is transmitted to the display device, other work devices, and the like via the external connection unit 75.

  On the other hand, when the tray 20 is delivered from the tray storage device 1, the control unit 74 is controlled so that the predetermined tray 20 is delivered from the predetermined shelf 51 in response to a signal from the external connection unit 75. Each drive device 31 etc. is driven and the tray 20 is delivered from the storage device 5 and the delivery device 6. When the tray 20 is transported from the shelf 51, the position sensor 73 is turned off and the storage information of the tray 20 is sent to the information management unit 74b. When the tray 20 is transported from the unloading device 6, the unloading side reader 72 Thus, the ID information of the ID tag 70 is read, and the information read by the warehousing reader 71 is sent to the control unit 74. At this time, the information management unit 74b updates the identification information database of the ID tag 70 and the storage information database based on the tray 20 to be delivered again.

  In this way, by providing the tray transport control device 7 in the tray storage device 1, the tray 20 stored in the predetermined shelf 51 regardless of the order, or the tray 20 discharged at random from the predetermined shelf 51. The ID information can be easily managed in the database by the control unit 74. For this reason, the tray 20 to be stored / shipped is mistaken, double-stored (when another tray 20 is already stored in the shelf 51 when the tray 20 or the like is stored), or empty (shelf 51) If the tray 20 is not stored in the tray 51 but the tray 20 is to be ejected from the shelf 51), the setting is abnormal (when the address of the shelf 51 that does not physically exist is to be ejected) It is possible to prevent the control failure that causes the above-described problem, and to reliably store and unload the predetermined tray 20.

  By this control unit 74, for example, for each ID information such as a manufacturing number of the liquid crystal glass 2 and an inspection result by other working devices, the tray 20 is grouped into the adjacent shelves 51 or different rack units 50 to receive the tray 20. By controlling, the management of the tray 20 is further facilitated, and the carrying work can be performed quickly. Further, for example, control is performed so that the tray 20 on which the liquid crystal glass 2 having a good inspection result is placed is preferentially discharged based on the ID information regardless of the front and rear of the tray 20 that has been received. The desired liquid crystal glass 2 can be quickly delivered without being rearranged in the storage device 5, and the working efficiency is improved.

The side view which showed the whole structure of the tray storage apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. The perspective view of a warehousing apparatus. The perspective view of a storage apparatus. The perspective view of a delivery apparatus. The side view which showed the advance mechanism at the time of making a tray store in a tray storage apparatus. The side view which showed the advance mechanism at the time of taking out a tray from a tray storage apparatus. The side view which showed the whole structure of the tray storage apparatus which concerns on another Example. The block diagram which shows the whole structure of a tray conveyance control apparatus. The perspective view of the warehousing apparatus which provided each reader | leader and sensor, the warehousing apparatus, and the storage apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Tray storage device 2 Liquid crystal glass (plate work)
3 Transport route 4 Warehousing device (warehousing means)
5. Storage device (storage unit)
6 Unloading device (shipping means)
20 tray 50 rack part 50a upstream rack part 50b intermediate rack part 50c downstream rack part 51 shelves 53 advance mechanism (advance means)

Claims (3)

  A tray storage device that is placed in the middle of a transport path for transporting plate-like workpieces placed one by one on a tray, and transports a rack section in which a plurality of shelves on which the tray can be placed are provided in the vertical direction. A plurality of storage units provided in the direction; a storage unit that can move up and down to transfer the tray from the transport path to the storage unit; and a storage unit that can move up and down to transfer the tray from the storage unit to the transport path. The tray storage device is characterized in that the storage unit, the storage unit, and the storage unit are provided on the same straight line along the transport path, and the storage unit is provided with a tray advancement unit.   The tray storage device according to claim 1, wherein a conveyor is formed on the shelf, and the lifter is provided with a lifter that lifts a tray on the conveyor and allows a subsequent tray to be conveyed.   The tray storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an ID tag is attached to the tray, and reading means for the ID tag is provided in the warehousing means and the warehousing means.

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