JP2017209775A - Pallet transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pallet transfer device with which a pallet moved by a pallet moving part from one pallet transfer unit to the other pallet transfer unit is reliably conveyed on this other pallet transfer unit.SOLUTION: A pallet transfer device includes: a lifting/lowering rotary body 32 on which a pallet moving part 31 for moving a pallet 11 loaded on a first pallet transfer unit 21 to a second pallet transfer unit 22, is freely rotatable around a vertical axis O in one direction and also freely liftable along the vertical axis O; (360/α)*n pieces (n is a natural number) of pallet holding parts 34 which are disposed on the lifting/lowering rotary body 32 at equal intervals in a circumferential direction around the vertical axis O, and which are respectively capable of holding the pallet 11; and a driving part 33 with which the lifting/lowering rotary body 32 in a state of holding the pallet 11 using the pallet holding parts 34, is lifted along the vertical axis O, and then lowered along the vertical axis O after being rotated by α/n degrees around the vertical axis O.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pallet carrying device that carries a work on a pallet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a production line for various products, in order to move a workpiece in order among a plurality of processes constituting the production line, a pallet conveyance device that conveys the workpiece while mounted on a pallet is generally used. (Patent Document 1).

  Further, in Patent Document 2, as such a pallet conveying device, a pair of linear pallet rails arranged so that their conveying directions are parallel to each other and pallets arranged along the corresponding pallet rails are palletized. A pair of pallet transport parts that transport along the rails, and each pivots in a semicircular arc from one pallet rail end to the other pallet rail end to move from one pallet rail to the other pallet rail A circulation-type pallet conveying apparatus including a pallet moving unit that moves a pallet is described. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a pallet that moves a pallet from one pallet rail to the other pallet rail by horizontally moving between a pair of pallet rails arranged in parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the pallet rail. A pallet transport device having a moving part is described.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-264229 JP 2011-93032 A JP 2007-21629 A

  In the conventional pallet transport device, the pallet transport section includes an endless belt having a concavo-convex portion on which a pallet is mounted and a concavo-convex portion provided on the pallet can be engaged, and circulating the endless belt. In this configuration, the pallet is conveyed. Therefore, when the pallet transported to the end of one pallet rail by the pallet transport unit is moved toward the other pallet rail in the transport direction by the pallet moving unit, the pallet is moved at the end of the pallet transport unit. It is necessary to move to a position where the engagement between the uneven portion and the uneven portion is released.

  However, in such a configuration, after the pallet moving unit moves the pallet to the other pallet conveying unit, the concavo-convex portion of the pallet after the movement is surely placed on the concavo-convex portion of the endless belt of the other pallet conveying unit. It was difficult to engage. For this reason, in some cases, there has been a problem in that the pallet moved to the other pallet rail cannot be resumed by the destination pallet transfer unit.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and the object thereof is to ensure that the pallet moved by the pallet moving unit from one pallet conveying unit to the other pallet conveying unit is reliably used in the other pallet conveying unit. An object of the present invention is to provide a pallet transport device that can be transported.

  The pallet transport device of the present invention includes a pallet on which a workpiece is mounted, and a ring-shaped circulation body having a concavo-convex portion on which the pallet is mounted and an uneven portion provided on the pallet can be engaged. A ring-shaped circulation body having a first pallet conveyance section that conveys the pallet linearly by a circulation operation of the body, and an uneven portion on which the pallet is mounted and an uneven portion provided on the pallet can be engaged. A pallet mounted on the first pallet transport unit, and a second pallet transport unit that transports the pallet linearly in a transport direction different from that of the first pallet transport unit. A pallet moving unit that moves the pallet moving unit to the second pallet conveying unit, the conveying direction of the first pallet conveying unit and the conveying direction of the second pallet conveying unit Forms an angle α, and the pallet moving part is rotatable in one direction around a vertical axis on a center line between the first pallet transfer part and the second pallet transfer part, and the vertical axis (360 / α) × n pieces (360 / α) which are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with the vertical axis as the center, and can hold the pallet. n is a natural number) pallet holding part, and the ascending / descending rotary body in a state where the pallet mounted on the first pallet carrying part is held by the pallet holding part is raised along the vertical axis, and then the vertical And a drive unit that is rotated about the axis by α / n degrees and then lowered along the vertical axis.

  In the pallet conveying apparatus of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the angle α is larger than 0 degree and smaller than 180 degrees.

  In the above configuration, the pallet transport device according to the present invention has a first rail portion that extends along the first pallet transport portion and movably supports the pallet, and extends along the second pallet transport portion. A second rail part that movably supports the pallet holding part, and the pallet holding part is connected to the first rail part or the second rail part when the elevating rotary body is lowered. It is preferable to have a holding rail capable of movably supporting the pallet and a stopper piece that engages with an engaging protrusion of the pallet supported by the holding rail and prevents the pallet from moving along the holding rail. .

  In the pallet conveying apparatus of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the first pallet conveying unit and the second pallet conveying unit are configured by a belt conveyor using the circulating member as an endless belt.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the pallet conveying apparatus which can convey reliably the pallet moved to the other pallet conveying part from one pallet conveying part by the pallet moving part can be provided.

It is a top view which shows roughly the pallet conveying apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the engagement state of the uneven | corrugated | grooved part of a circulation body, and the uneven | corrugated | grooved part of a pallet. It is a top view which shows the state which hold | maintained the pallet to the raising / lowering rotary body by the pallet holding part. It is sectional drawing which follows the BB line in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the lifting and lowering rotator holding the pallet is moved upward by the drive unit from the state shown in FIG. 5. It is a top view which shows the state which rotated the raising / lowering rotary body and moved the pallet from the 1st pallet conveyance part to the 2nd pallet conveyance part.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

  A pallet conveyance device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 conveys a workpiece W (see FIG. 2) mounted on a pallet 11 together with the pallet 11. In this Embodiment, the case where this pallet conveyance apparatus 1 is used for the use which moves the workpiece | work W in order among several processes, such as a process process and an assembly process which comprise the said production line in the production line of various products. Show. In this case, the pallet 11 on which the workpiece W is mounted can be sequentially stopped at the position corresponding to each step on the transport path, and the work on the workpiece W can be performed in that state. It can also be set as the structure which performs the operation | work with respect to the workpiece | work W in each process with the state moved to low speed. Further, a plurality or a large number of pallets 11 can be sequentially conveyed. In FIG. 1, the work W is not shown.

  The pallet 11 on which the workpiece W is mounted is formed in a plate shape and is conveyed in a horizontal posture. The pallet 11 includes a through hole 11a, and can be mounted in a state where the workpiece W is held by the through hole 11a. The shape of the pallet 11 can be variously changed according to the type and shape of the workpiece W, the work content in each process, and the like.

  The pallet conveying device 1 includes a first rail portion 12 and a second rail portion 13 in order to movably support the pallet 11 and define a conveying path (conveying direction) of the pallet 11. Each of the first rail portion 12 and the second rail portion 13 has a uniform cross section and has a shape that extends straight in the longitudinal direction, and constitutes a so-called guide rail. On the other hand, a pair of sliders 14 are fixed to the lower surface of the pallet 11. Each of the sliders 14 includes a guide groove 14 a having a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes of the first rail portion 12 and the second rail portion 13. The pallet 11 moves linearly along the first rail portion 12 or the second rail portion 13 when each slider 14 is engaged with the first rail portion 12 or the second rail portion 13 in the guide groove 14a. can do.

  The first rail portion 12 and the second rail portion 13 are arranged with their extending directions (longitudinal directions) different from each other in plan view, and are respectively fixed to a gantry or the like (not shown). In the present embodiment, the first rail portion 12 and the second rail portion 13 are arranged with their extending directions (longitudinal directions) shifted from each other by 90 degrees in plan view.

  On the side of the first rail portion 12, a first pallet transport portion 21 is provided along the first rail portion 12. Similarly, on the side of the second rail portion 13, a second pallet transport portion 22 is provided along the second rail portion 13.

  The first pallet transport unit 21 includes at least a pair of pulleys 21a (only one is shown in FIG. 1) and a ring-shaped circulation body 21b spanned around the pulleys 21a so as to surround the pulleys 21a. I have. In the present embodiment, the circulating member 21b is an endless belt made of synthetic rubber, and will be described later from one end of the first rail portion 12 along the first rail portion 12 on the side of the first rail portion 12. It is arranged to extend to the other end of the holding rail 34a. One of the pulleys 21a is a drive pulley connected to a drive source (not shown). When the drive source is activated, the circulating body 21b is moved along the first rail portion 12 so that the plurality of pulleys 21a are moved. It is designed to circulate around.

  The circulating body 21b is a toothed belt having an uneven portion 21c integrally formed on the surface thereof. In the case shown in the drawing, the concavo-convex portion 21c is provided over the entire circumference of the surface of the circulator 21b by providing convex portions extending in the width direction of the circulator 21b at equal intervals in the circulatory direction. ing. On the other hand, a pair of uneven portions 15 is fixed to the lower surface of the pallet 11. These uneven portions 15 are provided with uneven portions having a shape corresponding to the uneven portions 21c on the lower surface, and can be engaged with the uneven portions 21c.

  The pallet 11 is mounted on the circulator 21b at the uneven portion 15 portion. When the pallet 11 is mounted on the circulation body 21b, the uneven portion 15 engages with the uneven portion 21c, and relative movement of the pallet 11 with respect to the circulation body 21b in the circulation direction is restricted. Accordingly, when the driving source is activated and the circulating body 21b is circulated around the plurality of pulleys 21a, the pallet 11 is linearly moved along the first rail portion 12 or the first pallet conveying portion 21 by the circulating operation of the circulating body 21b. It is conveyed to the shape.

  Similarly, the second pallet transport unit 22 includes at least a pair of pulleys 22a, and a ring-shaped circulation body 22b that spans the pulleys 22a so as to surround the pulleys 22a. The circulation body 22b is an endless belt made of synthetic rubber, similar to the circulation body 21b. From the one end portion of the second rail portion 13 along the second rail portion 13 on the side of the second rail portion 13. It arrange | positions so that it may extend to the other end part of the holding rail 34a mentioned later. One pulley 22a is a drive pulley connected to a drive source (not shown). When the drive source is operated, the circulating body 22b moves along the second rail portion 13 so that the plurality of pulleys 22a move. It is designed to circulate around.

  The circulator 22b is a toothed belt in which an uneven portion 22c formed in the same shape as the uneven portion 21c of the circulator 21b is integrally provided on the surface thereof.

  The pallet 11 is mounted on the circulation body 22b in the portion of the uneven portion 15. When the pallet 11 is mounted on the circulation body 22b, the uneven portion 15 is engaged with the uneven portion 22c, and relative movement of the pallet 11 with respect to the circulation body 22b in the circulation direction is restricted. Accordingly, when the driving source is activated and the circulation body 22b is circulated around the plurality of pulleys 22a, the pallet 11 is linearly moved along the second rail portion 13 or the second pallet conveyance portion 22 by the circulation operation of the circulation body 22b. It is conveyed to the shape.

  Thus, in this Embodiment, the 1st pallet conveyance part 21 and the 2nd pallet conveyance part 22 are comprised by the belt conveyor which conveys the pallet 11 in a linear direction, respectively.

  In the present embodiment, the circulators 21b and 22b are endless belts each integrally provided with an uneven portion 21c on the surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the uneven portion 21c is fixed to the surface of the endless belt. It is also possible to have the structure as described above. Moreover, if the circulation bodies 21b and 22b are provided with the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 21c which can engage with the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 15 of the pallet 11 and the relative movement of the pallet 11 on the surface, for example, an endless chain etc. Other members can also be used.

  As the extending direction of the first rail part 12 and the extending direction of the second rail part 13 are different from each other, the conveying direction D1 of the first pallet conveying part 21 and the second pallet conveying part 22 The transport direction D2 is also different from each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance direction D1 of the first pallet conveyance unit 21 and the conveyance direction D2 of the second pallet conveyance unit 22 form an angle α. The angle α can be set to an arbitrary angle, but is preferably larger than 0 degree and smaller than 180 degrees. In the present embodiment, the angle α formed by the transport direction D1 of the first pallet transport unit 21 and the transport direction D2 of the second pallet transport unit 22 is 90 degrees. That is, the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22 are arranged on the target with their end portions sandwiching the center line L between the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22. In addition, the conveying directions D1 and D2 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other. Note that the angle α formed by the transport direction D1 of the first pallet transport unit 21 and the transport direction D2 of the second pallet transport unit 22 is the second pallet transport unit 22, and the transport direction D2 is that of the first pallet transport unit 21. This is an angle corresponding to the rotation angle when it is assumed that the rotation direction is rotated by a certain rotation angle from the posture coincident with the transport direction D1. For example, when the second pallet transport unit 22 is arranged in a posture rotated by 30 degrees from the posture in which the transport directions D1 and D2 coincide with each other, the angle α becomes 30 degrees and the posture in which the transport directions D1 and D2 coincide with each other. When arranged in a posture rotated 180 degrees, the angle α is 180 degrees, and the transport directions D1 and D2 are parallel to each other and opposite to each other.

  A pallet moving unit 31 is provided between the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22 in order to move the pallet 11 from the first pallet transport unit 21 to the second pallet transport unit 22. . The pallet 11 that has been transported along the linear transport direction D1 by the first pallet transport unit 21 is moved to the second pallet transport unit 22 by the pallet moving unit 31, whereby the pallet 11 is transported to the second pallet. The part 22 can continue to be transported in the transport direction D2 different from the first pallet transport part 21.

  The pallet moving unit 31 includes an up-and-down rotating body 32. In the case shown in the drawing, the lifting / lowering rotating body 32 is formed in a plate shape having a substantially cross shape in a plan view, and is adjacent to these end portions between the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22. Has been placed. The raising / lowering rotary body 32 has one axis (a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1) centered on the vertical axis O on the center line L between the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22. ) And freely move up and down along the vertical axis O.

  A drive unit 33 is provided in the pallet moving unit 31 in order to drive the lifting and lowering rotating body 32 in the rotational direction and the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 33 includes a main body unit 33 a configured to include devices (not shown) such as an electric motor for rotation drive and an actuator for elevating drive, and an upper surface of the main body unit 33 a. And a projecting drive rod 33b. The axis of the drive rod 33b coincides with the vertical axis O, and the elevating rotary body 32 is fixed to the drive rod 33b in a horizontal posture at the axis. With such a configuration, the drive unit 33 can move the elevating rotator 32 up and down along the vertical axis O and can rotate the predetermined angle α / n around the vertical axis O. Since n = 1 in the present embodiment, the lifting rotary body 32 is rotated by a predetermined angle 90 about the vertical axis O by the drive unit 33.

  As will be described in detail later, the drive unit 33 raises the ascending / descending rotator 32 to a predetermined position along the vertical axis O, then rotates the vertical axis O about a predetermined angle, and then vertically Control is performed so as to be lowered along the axis O to the original position.

  In order to hold the pallet 11 on the lifting rotator 32, the lifting rotator 32 includes (360 / α) × n (n is a natural number) pallets at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the axis. A holding part 34 is provided. In the present embodiment, the angle α formed by the transport direction D1 of the first pallet transport unit 21 and the transport direction D2 of the second pallet transport unit 22 is 90 degrees, and n = 1. Four pallet holding portions 34 are provided at 32.

  These four pallet holding parts 34 have the same cross-sectional shape as the first rail part 12 or the second rail part 13 respectively, and have such a length that the entire pair of sliders 14 of the pallet 11 can be engaged simultaneously. In the state where the formed holding rail 34 a and the pallet 11 are supported by the holding rail 34 a, the holding rail 34 a engages with the columnar engaging protrusion 16 provided on the upper surface of the pallet 11 and follows the holding rail 34 a of the pallet 11. And a stopper piece 34b for preventing the movement.

  The four holding rails 34a are arranged at positions where the distances from the vertical axis O are equal to each other, and when the elevating rotary body 32 is at the predetermined rotational position shown in FIG. 1, one holding rail 34a is the first. The rail portion 12 is continuous in the longitudinal direction with a slight gap, and the other holding rail 34a is continuous with the second rail portion 13 in the longitudinal direction with a slight gap. In this state, the pallet 11 can move from the first rail portion 12 to the holding rail 34 a and can move from the holding rail 34 a to the second rail portion 13.

  Each stopper piece 34b is movable forward and backward from the vertical axis O toward the corresponding holding rail 34a, and is urged by the spring member 35 toward the advanced position where it can be engaged with the engaging protrusion 16. Yes. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a pair of cylinders 36 is provided below the elevating rotary body 32 adjacent to the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22, respectively. The stopper piece 34b can be held in the retracted position where the engagement with the engagement protrusion 16 is released.

  When the pallet 11 is supported by the holding rail 34a, the holding by the cylinder 36 is released, the stopper piece 34b moves toward the advanced position, and engages with the engaging protrusion 16 at the notch portion at the tip. Thereby, the movement along the holding rail 34 a of the pallet 11 can be prevented, and the pallet 11 can be held by the lifting rotary body 32. On the other hand, by operating the cylinder 36 from this state, the stopper piece 34b is moved backward and the engagement of the stopper piece 34b with the engaging projection 16 is released, so that the pallet 11 can be moved along the holding rail 34a. Can be.

  Next, a procedure for transporting the pallet 11 on which the workpiece W is mounted by the pallet transport apparatus 1 having such a configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pallet 11 on which the workpiece W is mounted is conveyed linearly along the conveyance direction D <b> 1 by the first pallet conveyance unit 21. At this time, when a plurality of processes are set to the side of the first pallet transport unit 21, the pallet 11 is stopped in each process and transported to the next process after the work is completed. The conveyance timing and the like can be set as appropriate.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, when the pallet 11 that has been conveyed linearly along the conveyance direction D <b> 1 by the first pallet conveyance unit 21 reaches the end of the first pallet conveyance unit 21, the pallet 11. Is held by the elevating rotary body 32 of the pallet moving unit 31. That is, when the lifting rotary body 32 is in the lowered position (position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5), the holding rail 34 a is connected to the first rail portion 12, so that the pallet 11 is at the end of the first pallet transport portion 21. When reaching the part, the pallet 11 is in a state in which the pair of sliders 14 is supported by the holding rail 34a in the entire range. In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the stopper piece 34 b is released and engaged with the engaging protrusion 16 by releasing the holding of the stopper piece 34 b by the cylinder 36. As a result, the pallet 11 can be held in the ascending / descending rotator 32. At this time, the pallet 11 is still mounted on the circulating member 21b of the first pallet transport unit 21, and the uneven portion 15 remains engaged with the uneven portion 21c of the circulating member 21b.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the lifting / lowering rotator 32 in a state where the pallet 11 is held by the pallet holding part 34 is raised to a predetermined position along the vertical axis O by the driving part 33. When the ascending / descending rotator 32 rises to a predetermined position, the engagement between the uneven portion 15 and the uneven portion 21c of the circulating member 21b is released.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, while the engagement between the uneven portion 15 and the uneven portion 21 c of the circulating body 21 b is released, the drive unit 33 moves the lifting rotary body 32 to the drive rod 33 b or the vertical axis O. It is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise as the center, and moved to above the second pallet transport unit 22. At this time, since the engagement between the uneven portion 15 and the uneven portion 21c of the circulating body 21b is released, the rotation of the lifting and lowering rotating body 32 is caused by the engagement between the uneven portion 15 and the uneven portion 21c of the circulating body 21b. There is no hindrance.

  Next, the elevating rotary body 32 is lowered along the vertical axis O to the original position (position shown in FIG. 5) by the drive unit 33. As a result, the lifting / lowering rotating body 32 holding the pallet 11 is mounted on the circulating body 22b of the second pallet conveying section 22. When the pallet 11 is mounted on the circulating member 22b, the uneven portion 15 is engaged with the uneven portion 22c of the circulating member 22b, and the pallet 11 can be transported by the circulating member 22b. Accordingly, the cylinder 36 releases the engagement of the stopper piece 34b with the engaging projection 16 and causes the circulating member 22b of the second pallet transport unit 22 to circulate, so that the pallet 11 is moved by the second pallet transport unit 22. It is possible to continue the conveyance along the conveyance direction D2 different from the conveyance direction D1 of the one pallet conveyance unit 21. Also in the transport path by the second pallet transport unit 22, the transport timing of the pallet 11 can be set as appropriate.

  Thus, according to this invention, the 1st pallet conveyance part 21 and the 2nd pallet conveyance part 22 which convey the pallet 11 are the uneven | corrugated | grooved part 15 of the pallet 11 by the uneven | corrugated | grooved parts 21c and 22c of the circulation bodies 21b and 22b, respectively. In the configuration in which the pallet moving unit 31 moves the pallet 11 from the first pallet conveying unit 21 to the second pallet conveying unit 22, the elevating rotary body 32 is raised to raise the uneven portion 15. In this state, the pallet 11 is rotationally moved from the first pallet transport unit 21 to the second pallet transport unit 22, and then the pallet 11 is lowered and the second pallet transport unit 22. Since the concavo-convex portion 15 of the pallet 11 moved from the first pallet transport unit 21 to the second pallet transport unit 22 is mounted on the second pallet transport unit 2. It can be securely engaged to the concave-convex portion 22c. Therefore, the transport of the pallet 11 moved to the second pallet transport unit 22 by the pallet moving unit 31 can be reliably restarted in the second pallet transport unit 22.

  It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22 are arranged so that the angle α formed by the transport direction D1 and the transport direction D2 is 90 degrees. However, the arrangement is not limited to this, and the arrangement can be variously changed if the conveyance directions D1 and D2 are different from each other. In this case, the number of the pallet holding units 34 that satisfy (360 / α) × n (n is a natural number) may be provided in accordance with the arrangement of the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22. The rotation angle of the lifting and lowering rotating body 32 may be set to an angle satisfying α / n degrees. For example, in the present embodiment, n = 1 and four pallet holders 34 are provided on the lifting rotary body 32 and the lifting rotary body 32 is rotated by 90 degrees. In addition to providing eight pallet holders 34 on the lift rotary body 32, the lift rotary body 32 may be rotated 45 degrees.

  The first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22 may be arranged in parallel to each other such that an angle α formed by the transport direction D1 and the transport direction D2 is 180 degrees. In this case, the pallet moving unit 31 is not limited to the configuration in which the pallet moving unit 31 is disposed at the end portions of the first pallet conveying unit 21 and the second pallet conveying unit 22, but the pallet moving unit 31 is not limited to the first pallet conveying unit 21 and the second pallet conveying unit. It can also be set as the structure arrange | positioned in the intermediate part of the part 22, etc.

  The pallet transport unit 1 having the same configuration as the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22 is further combined with the pallet transport device 1 having an annular transport path such as a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, and other polygonal shapes. It can also be configured. In this case, since the pallet 11 can be circulated through the conveyance path, the pallet 11 can be efficiently conveyed without the trouble of returning the pallet 11 that has reached the final process to the first process.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22 are arranged so that the angle α formed by the transport direction D1 and the transport direction D2 is 90 degrees. However, the angle α may be 180 degrees or more. In this case, the height of the first pallet transport unit 21 and the second pallet transport unit 22 can be made different so that the first pallet transport unit 21 intersects the second pallet transport unit 22 three-dimensionally. . When the first pallet transport unit 21 is arranged so as to cross three-dimensionally with respect to the second pallet transport unit 22, the pallet moving unit 31, for example, the lowering and rotating body 32 is lowered corresponding to the first pallet transport unit 21. Corresponding to this configuration, such as a configuration in which it is raised from the position to above the second pallet transport unit 22, rotated there by a predetermined angle, and then lowered to a position corresponding to the second pallet transport unit 22. Can be made.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pallet conveying apparatus 11 Pallet 11a Through-hole 12 1st rail part 13 2nd rail part 14 Slider 15 Uneven part 16 Engagement protrusion 21 First pallet conveying part 21a Pulley 21b Circulating body 21c Uneven part 22 Second pallet conveying part 22a Pulley 22b Circulating body 22c Concavity and convexity part 31 Pallet moving part 32 Lifting and rotating body 33 Drive part 33a Body part 33b Drive rod 34 Pallet holding part 34a Holding rail 34b Stopper piece 35 Spring member 36 Cylinder W Work D1 Transport direction of the first pallet transport part D2 Transport direction α angle L Center line O Vertical axis of the second pallet transport unit

Claims (4)

A pallet on which the workpiece is mounted,
A first pallet having a ring-shaped circulation body on which the pallet is mounted and having an uneven portion engageable with an uneven portion provided on the pallet, and conveying the pallet in a straight line by the circulation operation of the circulation body A transport section;
The pallet is mounted and provided with a ring-shaped circulator having a concavo-convex portion with which a concavo-convex portion provided on the pallet can be engaged. A second pallet transport unit that transports linearly in different transport directions;
A pallet moving device comprising: a pallet moving unit that moves the pallet mounted on the first pallet conveying unit to the second pallet conveying unit;
The conveyance direction of the first pallet conveyance unit and the conveyance direction of the second pallet conveyance unit form an angle α,
The pallet moving unit is rotatable in one direction about a vertical axis on a center line between the first pallet conveying unit and the second pallet conveying unit, and can be moved up and down along the vertical axis. (360 / α) × n (n is a natural number) pallet holders that are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the vertical axis on the rotating body and the elevating rotating body. And the ascending / descending rotator in a state in which the pallet mounted on the first pallet transport unit is held by the pallet holding unit is raised along the vertical axis, and then α / n around the vertical axis. A pallet conveying apparatus comprising: a driving unit that rotates the actuator by a predetermined degree and then descends along the vertical axis.   The pallet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the angle α is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees. A first rail portion extending along the first pallet transport portion and supporting the pallet movably; a second rail portion extending along the second pallet transport portion and movably supporting the pallet; Further comprising
The pallet holding part is supported by the holding rail, the holding rail capable of movably supporting the pallet continuously with the first rail part or the second rail part when the lifting rotary body is lowered. The pallet conveying device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper piece that engages with an engaging protrusion of the pallet and prevents movement of the pallet along the holding rail.   The pallet conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first pallet conveyance unit and the second pallet conveyance unit are configured by a belt conveyor using the circulation body as an endless belt.

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