JP2019099285A - Palette processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a palette processing device capable of simplifying a constitution of a fork device and stably supporting a palette.SOLUTION: A palette processing device includes a pallet housing part 12, a fork device 40 and a fork tip side support part 42; the pallet housing part 12 houses a pallet P; the fork device 40 includes a fork 44 having such a length as penetrating the pallet P and a fork moving mechanism 45 for supporting a base end side of the fork 44; the fork moving mechanism 45 advances/retreats the fork 44 to or from the pallet P between a palette support position A1 where a tip side of the fork 44 penetrates the pallet P and a retreat position A2 where it retreats from the pallet P; and the fork tip side support part 42 supports the tip side of the fork 44 supporting the pallet P in the palette support position A1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pallet processing apparatus for supporting a pallet with a fork.

  Conventionally, for example, a pallet processing device (pallet supply device) described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

  This conventional pallet processing device is provided with a fork device for supporting the pallet. The fork device includes a fork to be inserted into the pallet, and a fork moving mechanism that supports the proximal end side of the fork and causes the distal end side to advance and retract relative to the pallet. And, the fork device supports the pallet with a fork which is a cantilever structure.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-144578

  However, since the fork device supports the pallet with a cantilevered fork, it is necessary to secure the strength of the fork device including the fork and fork moving mechanism that receives the load of the pallet, which complicates the configuration of the fork device. Also, the support of the pallet may be unstable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a pallet processing apparatus which can simplify the structure of a fork apparatus and can stably support a pallet.

  The pallet processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pallet storage portion for storing a pallet, a fork having a length penetrating the pallet, and a fork moving mechanism for supporting the base end side of the fork, the fork moving mechanism comprising A fork device for moving the fork forward and backward with respect to the pallet between a pallet support position where the fork tip end penetrates the pallet and a retreat position where the fork retracts from the pallet; and supporting the pallet at the pallet support position And a fork tip side supporting portion for supporting the tip side of the fork.

  According to the present invention, the fork device can be simplified and the pallet can be stably supported.

It is sectional drawing of the pallet support part of the pallet processing apparatus which shows one embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of a pallet support part same as the above. It is a perspective view of a part of the same pallet processing apparatus. It is a front view of a pallet processing apparatus same as the above. It is a top view of a pallet processing apparatus same as the above. It is a side view of the same above-mentioned pallet processing device. It is a side view which shows the operation | movement of the above same pallet processing apparatus to (a)-(j). It is a side view which shows each example of the space | interval adjustment mechanism of a pallet processing apparatus same as the above to (a) and (b).

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  4 to 6 show the overall configuration of the pallet processing apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. The pallet processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is a pallet dispenser (pallet staggering apparatus) that cuts out pallets (empty pallets) P stacked in a plurality of stages one by one in order from the lowermost pallet P and supplies them to the outside. is there.

  There are a plurality of types of pallets P having different width dimensions, length dimensions, height dimensions, shapes, and the like. The pallet processing device 10 can handle a plurality of types of pallets P. The drawing shows two types of a plurality of types of pallets P, a pallet P1 having a relatively small width and a pallet P2 having a relatively large width. Also, the pallet P has a loading surface that is a square such as a square or a rectangle, and the insertion port through which the fork of the forklift is inserted through one of the mutually opposing side surfaces or the mutually opposing two side surfaces. It is provided.

  The pallet processing apparatus 10 includes a base 11, a pallet storage unit 12 for storing pallets P in a stacked state on the base 11, a pallet support unit 13 for supporting the pallets P of the pallet storage unit 12, The elevating unit 14 for raising and lowering the pallet P of the pallet storage unit 12 and the transport unit 15 for unloading the lowermost pallet P cut out from the pallet storage unit 12 are provided.

  The base 11 is installed on the floor surface. The pallet storage unit 12, the pallet support unit 13, the elevating unit 14, and the transport unit 15 are disposed on the base 11.

  In addition, the pallet storage unit 12 is located on the base 11, and stores a plurality of pallets P in a stacked state. An opening 20 is provided on one of four side surfaces around the pallet storage unit 12, and a pallet guide 21 is provided to surround the remaining three side surfaces.

  The opening 20 functions as a pallet receiving port for collectively receiving the stacked pallets P transported by the forklift into the pallet storage unit 12.

  The pallet guide 21 is erected on the base 11. The pallet guide 21 includes a guide plate 22 located on both sides of the opening 20 and a plurality of guide portions 23 located on the opposite side to the opening 20. The plurality of guide portions 23 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction, and are connected to the plurality of horizontal frames 24. Further, the plurality of horizontal frames 24 are supported by the guide plates 22 on both sides. In addition, the fork 44 mentioned later can advance / retract the space | interval between the guide parts 23. FIG.

  Both end portions of the pallet guide 21 on the opening 20 side, that is, both end positions of the guide plates 22 on both sides are held by the holding portion 25. The holding portion 25 is located below the opening 20 and is shared with a part of the base 11.

  In the pallet storage unit 12, a pair of movable guides 27 for positioning the pallet P stored in the pallet storage unit 12 at a predetermined position is disposed. The pair of movable guides 27 are attached to the holding portion 25, and the attachment position to the holding portion 25 can be adjusted in accordance with the width dimension of the pallet P. The holding portion 25 is provided with a plurality of position adjustment holes 28 at symmetrical positions on both end sides of the holding portion 25 based on the central portion in the width direction (width direction corresponding to the width direction of the opening 20) of the holding portion 25. It is done. Then, the movable guide 27 is disposed at the attachment position corresponding to the pallet P to be processed, and the positioning pin 29 (see FIG. 3) provided on the movable guide 27 is inserted into the position adjustment hole 28 of the holding portion 25 The guide 27 is attached to the holder 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the movable guide 27 is detachably attached to the holding unit 25 from above and fitted in the holding unit 25 to prevent the rotation of the movable guide 27, and a pallet facing the opening 20. A first positioning surface portion 31 for positioning the side surface of P and a second positioning surface portion 32 for positioning the side surface of the pallet P orthogonal to the side surface to the opening 20 side are provided. The fitting portion 30 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section having an opposing surface facing the upright side surface of the holding portion 25. Then, when the stacked pallets P supported by the fork of the forklift are stored in the pallet storage unit 12 from the opening 20, the lower pallet P is disposed between the second positioning surface portions 32 of the pair of movable guides 27. At the same time, the pallet P is positioned at a predetermined position by the pair of movable guides 27 by removing the fork 44 from the pallet P so that the pallet P on the lower side contacts the first positioning surface portions 31 of the pair of movable guides 27.

  The pair of movable guides 27 uses the center of the width direction W of the pallet storage portion 12 (the width direction corresponding to the width direction of the opening 20) as a reference, and the first positioning surface 31 of the pair of movable guides 27 as a reference , Position a plurality of types of pallets P at predetermined positions. Hereinafter, the direction of each component of the pallet processing device 10 corresponding to the width direction W of the pallet storage unit 12 will be referred to as the width direction W.

  Moreover, the pallet support part 13 is shown in FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. The pallet support portion 13 is used to support the pallet P in the second or higher tier from the bottom when the lowermost pallet P in the pallet storage portion 12 is cut out. The pallet support portion 13 includes a fork device 40, a support roller 41, a fork tip side support portion 42, and the like. Further, the fork device 40 includes a pair of forks 44 and a fork moving mechanism 45 for moving the forks 44 with respect to the pallet P.

  The fork 44 of the fork device 40 has a length that penetrates the pallet P of the largest dimension that can be stored in the pallet storage 12, that is, has a length that penetrates the pallet storage 12. The base end side of the fork 44 is supported by the pallet moving mechanism 45, and the front end is inserted into the insertion port of the second stage pallet P from the bottom of the pallet storage 12 and penetrates the pallet P.

  The fork 44 is hollow and elongated in a rectangular shape in cross section, and has a tapered tip portion 47 at the tip end to facilitate insertion of the pallet P into the insertion port. Reinforcing plates 48 are fixed to both side surfaces of the fork 44. The fork 44 may be formed in a hollow shape by combining U-shaped members and joining the members.

  The pair of forks 44 is supported by the fork moving mechanism 45 at an interval in the width direction W. The distance between the pair of forks 44 can be inserted into the insertion opening of any of the plurality of types of pallets P stored at a predetermined position of the pallet storage portion 12 and stably support any of the plurality of types of pallets P It is set to be able to.

  The fork moving mechanism 45 of the fork device 40 is installed at one side of the base 11 and at one side of the pallet storage unit 12 opposite to the opening 20. The fork moving mechanism 45 includes a frame 49, a moving unit 50 movably provided in a fork advancing / retracting direction F along the frame 49, and a driving unit 51 for moving the moving unit 50.

  The frame 49 has side frames 52 on both sides. Guide rails 53 are attached to the mutually opposing inner surfaces of the side frames 52 along the fork advancing and retracting direction F.

  The moving unit 50 includes a moving member 54 that supports the proximal end side of the fork 44. A plurality of guide rollers 55 in contact with the upper and lower surfaces of the guide rail 53 are rotatably attached to both ends in the width direction W of the moving member 54 and a plurality of guide rollers 56 in contact with the inner side surface of the guide rail 53. Is rotatably mounted. Therefore, the moving unit 50 supporting the fork 44 is movable in the fork advancing / retracting direction F along the guide rail 53. In addition, you may use for the movement of the movement part 50 the other member which can guide the movement of the straight advance direction, such as a linear guide. In addition, the movement of the moving unit 50 may be performed by a mechanism that extends by drawing out and meshing the left and right chains, and expands and contracts by releasing the meshing while rewinding the left and right chains.

  The driving portion 51 is located below the moving region of the moving member 54, and is provided with sprockets 57, 58 rotatably disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the frame 49, and a chain 59 wound around these sprockets 57, 58. , And a motor 60 for driving the sprocket 57 in forward and reverse directions. The moving member 54 is connected to the chain 59, and the moving unit 50 moves in the fork advancing / retracting direction F along with forward and reverse rotation of the chain 59 by driving of the motor 60.

  Then, the fork moving mechanism 45 advances and retracts the tip side of the fork 44 with respect to the lower area of the pallet storage unit 12 above the base 11. That is, the fork moving mechanism 45 is located between a pallet support position (pallet penetration position) A1 in which the tip of the fork 44 penetrates the pallet P and a retraction position (standby position) A2 in which the tip of the fork 44 retracts from the pallet P. , Fork 44 is moved to and from the pallet P.

  A pallet support position detection unit S1 that detects that the fork 44 has moved to the pallet support position A1 and a retraction position detection unit S2 that detects that the fork 44 has moved to the retraction position A2 are attached to the frame 49 . The pallet support position detection unit S1 and the retraction position detection unit S2 detect the movement of the fork 44 by detecting the movement unit 50. Specifically, the control device of the pallet processing apparatus 10 drives the motor 60 until either of the pallet support position detection unit S1 and the retraction position detection unit S2 detects the moving unit 50, and the motor 60 is detected by the detection of the moving unit 50. Brake.

  The support roller 41 is rotatably supported by the bracket 62, and is attached to the base 11 by the bracket 62. The support roller 41 is rotatable corresponding to the fork advancing / retracting direction F, and supports the lower surface of the fork 44 moving in the fork advancing / retracting direction F. The support roller 41 supports the base end side of the fork 44 with the fork 44 moved to the pallet support position A1, and supports the tip side of the fork 44 with the fork 44 moved to the retracted position A2.

  Further, the fork tip side support portion 42 is installed on the holding portion 25 at a lower position on the tip side of each fork 44 which has moved through the pallet P to the pallet support position A1. The fork tip side support portion 42 is formed in a block shape of, for example, a hard resin material. A receiving surface 64 for receiving the lower surface of the fork 44 is formed on the upper surface of the fork tip side support portion 42. The receiving surface 64 is formed in a planar shape parallel to the planar lower surface of the fork 44. The fork tip side supporting portion 42 is provided with a plurality of embedding holes 65, and the embedding screw 66 inserted through the embedding hole 65 is screwed to the holding portion 25 and the fork tip side supporting portion 42 is detachable to the holding portion 25 It is fixed to Since the fork tip side support portion 42 is removable, it can be replaced when the fork tip side support portion 42 is worn or damaged.

  The upper surface of the support roller 41 and the upper surface of the fork tip side support portion 42 are positioned at the same height, and the fork 44 supporting the pallet P is supported in parallel by the support roller 41 and the fork tip side support portion 42 It is configured.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the elevating unit 14 is installed below the pallet storage unit 12 in the base 11. The elevating unit 14 includes an elevating body 70 that supports the lower surface of the lowermost pallet P to be able to ascend and descend, and a lift mechanism 71 that raises and lowers the elevating body 70.

  The elevating body 70 includes an elevating base 72 and a plurality of elevating arms 73 erected on the upper surface of the elevating base 72. The elevating arms 73 are provided on both side regions excluding the central region of the elevating base 72 in the width direction W, and are provided at predetermined intervals in the width direction W so as not to interfere with the transport unit 15.

  The lift mechanism 71 is, for example, a pantograph type vertical lift mechanism, and lifts and lowers the lift 70 by driving a drive source such as a cylinder or a motor.

  The base 11 is provided with a plurality of elevation detection units S11 that detect a plurality of predetermined height positions of the elevation body 70 in order to stop the elevation body 70 at a plurality of predetermined height positions. In these elevation detection units S11, while the upper end of the elevation body 70 is lowered to the lowermost position than the conveyance surface of the conveyance unit 15 (height position of L1 shown in FIG. 7) The pallet P is supported by the elevator 70 at a position higher than the middle and low position where the fork 44 can advance and retract with respect to the second stage pallet P (height position L2 shown in FIG. 7) Middle and high positions (height position L3 shown in FIG. 7) at which the fork 44 can advance and retract with respect to the lowermost pallet P, and a highest position which is a pallet receiving position for receiving pallets P from the forklift. The height position of L4 shown in FIG. 7 is detected.

  At the highest elevation position of the elevator 70 (the height position of L4 shown in FIG. 7), the upper end of the elevator 70 is elevated above the fork tip side support portion 42.

  The transport unit 15 also receives the lowermost pallet P cut out from the pallet storage unit 12 and carries it out. A roller conveyor is used for the transport unit 15. The transport unit 15 includes a conveyor frame 80 and a plurality of rollers 81 rotatably supported by the conveyor frame 80.

  The plurality of rollers 81 are disposed at predetermined intervals in the transport direction. A lift arm 73 of the lift 70 is positioned between the rollers 81, and the lift arm 73 can be moved up and down through the rollers 81.

  A sprocket 82 is attached to one end of each roller 81, and a chain 83 is wound around the sprockets 82 of these rollers 81. Then, when the chain 83 is rotationally driven by the motor, the plurality of rollers 81 are rotated, and the pallet P placed on the rollers 81 is unloaded from the lower position of the pallet storage unit 12 to the outside.

  The transport unit 15 checks whether or not the pallet presence sensor S21 on the pallet and the fork 44 check whether the pallet P exists on the transport unit 15 at a position below the pallet storage unit 12 or not. A fork presence check sensor S22 and a carry-out check sensor S23 for checking whether the pallet P has been carried out from the lower position of the pallet storage unit 12 by the transport unit 15 are installed.

  Next, the operation and the like of the pallet processing device 10 will be described.

  First, the operation (pallet separating operation) of the pallet processing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the positions of the pair of movable guides 27 are adjusted in accordance with the type (width dimension) of the pallet P to be processed. The elevator 70 is raised to the highest position (height position L4 shown in FIG. 7), and waits for the pallet P to be received.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (b), while receiving the stacked pallets P supported by the forks 90 of a forklift into the pallet storage unit 12, the lower pallet P is placed between a pair of movable guides 27 (a pair of movable guides 27 between the second positioning surface 32).

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the fork 90 of the forklift is removed from the pallet P, whereby the pallet P is received on the lift 70. At this time, the pallet P moves to the opening 20 side of the pallet guide 21 by friction with the fork 90 to be pulled out, and the side surface of the pallet P facing the opening 20 abuts on the first positioning surface 31 of the movable guide 27. It is positioned. Therefore, the horizontal position of the pallet P is positioned at a predetermined position of the pallet storage unit 12 by the pair of movable guides 27.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (d), the lift 70 along with the pallet P is lowered to the middle low position (the height position of L2 shown in FIG. 7), and stands by for the pallet separating operation.

  Then, when the pallet disassembling operation is started, as shown in FIG. 7E, the fork 44 is inserted into the second pallet P from the bottom (the fork 44 is moved to the pallet supporting position A1).

  As shown in FIG. 7F, the elevating body 70 is lowered to the lowermost position (the height position of L1 shown in FIG. 7), and the lowermost pallet P is transferred to the transport unit 15. The remaining pallets P in the second or higher tier from the bottom are supported by the forks 44.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (g), the pallet P that has been cut out is unloaded by the transport unit 15.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (h), after unloading the cut-out pallet P, the elevator 70 ascends to a middle high position (height position L3 shown in FIG. 7), receives the pallet P on the fork 44 and supports it Do.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (i), the fork 44 is removed from the pallet P (the fork 44 is moved to the retracted position A2).

  As shown in FIG. 7 (j), the elevator 70 is lowered to the middle low position (the height position of L2 shown in FIG. 7), and waits for the next pallet separating operation.

  Therefore, the pallet disassembling operation is repeated until the pallet P disappears in the order of FIGS. 7 (e) to 7 (j).

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, when the fork 44 moves to the pallet support position A1 (state shown in (e) and (f) in FIG. 7), the tip side of the fork 44 penetrates the pallet P to fork tip It is disposed on the side support 42.

  At this time, when the lower surface on the tip side of the fork 44 is at a position higher than the upper surface of the fork tip side support portion 42, the tip side of the fork 44 does not contact the fork tip side support portion 42. It is arranged on the part 42. In this case, a slight gap is generated between the tip side of the fork 44 and the fork tip side support portion 42. If the lower surface of the fork 44 on the tip side (excluding the lower surface of the tip portion 47) is at the same or lower height position as the upper surface of the fork tip side support portion 42, the tapered tip portion of the fork 44 Reference numeral 47 runs on the fork tip side support portion 42, and the tip side of the fork 44 slides on the fork tip side support portion 42 and is disposed on the fork tip side support portion 42. In this case, the tip side of the fork 44 is in contact with the fork tip side support portion 42.

  Then, when the pallet P is supported on the fork 44 at the pallet support position A1 (the state shown in FIG. 7F), the load of the pallet P is applied to the fork 44. It supports by the side support part 42. FIG. If there is a gap between the tip of fork 44 and the fork tip side support portion 42, the tip of fork 44 descends the gap by a slight inclination of fork 44 to which the load of pallet P is applied. And mount on the fork tip side support portion 42.

  Therefore, the fork 44 is supported at its base end side by the fork moving mechanism 45 and supported at its front end by the fork tip side support portion 42 and supports the pallet P with a double-supported structure in which both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fork 44 are supported. Do.

  Therefore, since the load applied to fork 44 and fork moving mechanism 45 can be reduced as compared with the case of the cantilever structure, the configuration of fork device 40 including fork 44 and fork moving mechanism 45 can be simplified. . For example, it is possible to reduce the weight of the fork 44 so as to be hollow and to simplify the fork moving mechanism 45 by reducing the weight of the fork 44.

  Furthermore, since the fork tip side supporting portion 42 receives the flat lower surface of the fork 44 by the flat receiving surface 64, the fork 44 can be prevented from being inclined or shifted, and the fork 44 can be stably supported.

  In addition, since the pallet P is supported by the double-supported structure in which both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fork 44 are supported, the pallet P can be stably supported by the fork 44, and positional deviation, fall, etc. of the pallet P in a stacked state are prevented. it can.

  Further, since the support roller 41 supports the base end side of the fork 44 in a state where the fork 44 is moved to the pallet support position A1, the support roller 41 receives the load of the pallet P applied to the base end side of the fork 44 The load applied to the moving mechanism 45 can be reduced. Also in this respect, the structure of the fork device 40 including the fork 44 and the fork moving mechanism 45 can be simplified, and the pallet P can be stably supported by the fork 44.

  Further, since the fork 44 is movably supported by the support roller 41, the vertical fluctuation of the fork 44 moving between the pallet support position A1 and the retracted position A2 can be suppressed. Moreover, in the standby state in which the fork 44 has moved to the retracted position A2, the support roller 41 supports the tip of the fork 44 with the support roller 41, so that the fork 44 is maintained at both ends and the load applied to the fork 44 and the fork moving mechanism 45 It can be reduced.

  In addition, when the elevator 70 is raised to the highest position (the height position of L4 shown in FIG. 7) to receive the pallet P in the stepped state from the forklift (FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C) Since the upper end of the elevating body 70 is raised above the fork tip side support portion 42, interference of the fork 90 of the forklift with the fork tip side support portion 42 can be prevented. Therefore, even if the fork tip side support portion 42 is provided, it is possible to receive the pallet P in a stepped state from the forklift and to prevent the fork tip side support portion 42 from being damaged by the interference with the fork 90.

  Moreover, since the holding part 25 holding the both ends position by the side of the opening part 20 of the pallet guide 21 is provided, the pallet guide 21 can be reinforced.

  In addition, since the fork tip side supporting portion 42 and the movable guide 27 can be attached to the holding portion 25, a special structure for attaching the fork tip side supporting portion 42 and the movable guide 27 is unnecessary, and the configuration can be simplified. . That is, the holding portion 25 can be shared for the reinforcement of the pallet guide 21 and the attachment of the fork tip side supporting portion 42 and the movable guide 27, and the configuration can be simplified.

  The fork tip side support portion 42 is not limited to the block shape, but may be, for example, a roller that is rotatable in the fork advancing / retracting direction F similarly to the support roller 41.

  Furthermore, the fork tip side support portion 42 may be provided with a guide portion that guides both side surfaces of the fork 44. The forks 44 can be reliably positioned on the fork tip side support portion 42 by the guide portions that guide both side surfaces of the fork 44, and the fork 44 is a fork tip side support portion when a load of the pallet P is applied. It is possible to regulate the position shift or dropout from above. Such a guide portion may be provided integrally with or separately from the fork tip side support portion 42.

  Further, the distance between the pair of forks 44 may be configured to be manually adjustable, and the distance between one or both of the movable guide 27 and the pair of forks 44 may be controlled by the control device of the pallet processing apparatus 10. The automatic adjustment may be made based on the identification information of the pallet P to be acquired.

  In the case of such automatic adjustment, for example, a reader capable of communicating with the control device reads an ID tag as an identification body attached to a pallet P carried into the pallet storage unit 12 to acquire identification information. The control device includes a storage unit, in which the identification information and the shape (type or the like) of the pallet P are stored in association with each other. Then, in the control device, the acquired identification information and the information stored in the storage unit are collated, and the format of the pallet P is specified.

  As shown in FIG. 8 (a) or 8 (b), a space adjusting mechanism 100 is used which automatically adjusts the space between the pair of movable guides 27 or forks 44. Then, when the type of the pallet P is specified, the control device operates the interval adjusting mechanism 100 so as to provide the distance between the pair of movable guides 27 or forks 44 corresponding to the pallet P.

  The space adjusting mechanism 100 shown in FIG. 8A includes a guide rail 101, a screw shaft 102 disposed parallel to the guide rail 101 and provided with screw portions having opposite spiral directions on both ends. And a motor 103 for driving the screw shaft 102 in forward and reverse directions. The slide block 104 is screwed to the screw portion on each end of the screw shaft 102, and the slide member 105 such as a roller slidably supports the slide block 104 along the guide rail 101. The block 104 is provided with a movable guide 27 (or fork 44). Then, for example, the pair of movable guides 27 (or forks 44) move closer to each other in normal rotation of the motor 103, for example, and the pair of movable guides 27 (or forks 44) move apart from each other, for example in reverse. Or automatically adjust the distance between forks 44).

  8B, the guide rail 106 slidably supporting the forks 44 (or the movable guides 27) and the respective forks 44 (or the movable guides 27) along the guide rails 106. A cylinder 107 for moving is provided. Furthermore, the slide block 108 is slidable along the guide rail 106 and connected to a rod for advancing and retracting the cylinder 107, and each slide block 108 is provided with a fork 44 (or a movable guide 27). In FIG. 8B, only the left cylinder 107 for moving the left fork 44 (or the movable guide 27) is illustrated, and the right cylinder for moving the right fork 44 (or the movable guide 27) is illustrated. Is disposed at the back of the left cylinder 107 and is not shown. Then, the pair of forks 44 (or the movable guides 27) are moved close to or away from each other by the cylinder for the right side of the cylinder 107 for the left side, and the distance between the pair of forks 44 (or the movable guides 27) is automatically adjusted.

  In the storage unit, operation information of the adjustment mechanism of the movable guide 27 or the fork 44 corresponding to each pallet P is stored. The storage unit may store operation information of the elevation unit 14 according to the height of each pallet P.

  Furthermore, in the case of manual adjustment, for example, the drive source may be changed manually, such as changing the motor 103 in FIG. 8A to a handle.

  Further, as the fork 44 and the fork moving mechanism 45, an expandable fork and a moving mechanism for moving the fork by causing the fork to expand and contract may be adopted.

  Further, the configuration of the pallet processing apparatus 10 is not limited to the application to the above-described pallet dispenser (pallet leveling apparatus), and can be used for a pallet stacking apparatus that stacks pallets P carried in from the outside in multiple stages.

  When the pallet processing device 10 is used in a pallet stacking device, the movement of the pallet P in the pallet stepped operation is opposite to the movement of the pallet P in the pallet distracting operation described above.

  Here, FIG. 7 shows the pallet unstacking operation, and the pallet stacking operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in the order of FIGS. 7 (g) and 7 (f), the elevating body 70 is lowered to the lowermost position (the height position of L1 shown in FIG. 7), and the pallet Bring in to the 12 predetermined positions. At this time, it is assumed that several pallets P have already been stacked in the pallet storage unit 12 and that the stacked pallets P are supported by forks 44 inserted into the lowermost pallet P. Do.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7 (e), the elevator 70 is raised to the middle low position (height position L2 shown in FIG. 7), and the pallet P on the elevator 70 is moved to the pallet P on the fork 44. , And the elevator 70 supports all the pallets P.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7 (j), the fork 44 is removed from the pallet P and removed.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7 (i) (h), the elevator 70 ascends to the middle high position (height position L3 shown in FIG. 7), and the fork 44 is inserted into the lowermost pallet P. .

  Thereafter, the state returns to the state shown in FIG. 7 (g), and shifts to the stacking operation of the pallet P to be carried in next.

  Therefore, the pallet stacking operation is repeatedly performed in the order of FIGS. 7 (g) (f) (e) (j) (i) (h).

  Then, after stacking of a predetermined number of pallets P is completed, as shown in the order of FIGS. 7 (c), 7 (b) and 7 (c), the elevator 70 is at the highest elevation position (L4 height shown in FIG. Lift it up) and take it out with the fork 90 of the pallet P in a stacked state. Alternatively, the stacked pallets P may be transferred onto the transport unit 15 and transported to a desired location.

  And when using the pallet processing apparatus 10 for pallet stacking apparatus, the effect mentioned above is acquired.

10 pallet processing unit
12 Pallet storage unit
14 Lifting part
20 opening
21 Pallet Guide
25 Holder
27 Movable Guide
40 fork device
41 Support roller
42 Fork end support
44 fork
45 Fork movement mechanism
70 Lifting body
A1 Pallet support position
A2 Evacuation position P pallet

Claims (5)

A pallet storage unit for storing pallets,
The fork having a length penetrating the pallet, and a fork moving mechanism for supporting the base end side of the fork, the fork moving mechanism is configured such that a tip end of the fork penetrates the pallet and a pallet supporting position and the pallet A fork device for advancing and retracting the fork with respect to the pallet between a retracted position at which it is retracted;
And a fork tip side support portion for supporting the tip side of the fork for supporting the pallet at the pallet support position. The pallet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a support roller movably supporting the fork and supporting a proximal end side of the fork supporting the pallet at the pallet support position. It has an elevator which supports the lower surface of the pallet of the pallet storage unit and raises and lowers the pallet, and when the elevator moves up, the upper end of the elevator can rise upward above the fork tip side support. The pallet processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lifting unit. Pallet guides surrounding one of the four sides of the pallet storage portion with the other as an opening;
And a holding unit disposed below the opening and holding positions of both ends of the pallet guide on the opening side,
The pallet processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fork tip side support portion is provided in the holding portion. The pallet processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a movable guide which is provided on the holding portion so as to be adjustable in position in accordance with the width dimension of the pallet, and which positions the pallet at a predetermined position of the pallet storage portion.

Images