JP2650977B2 - Pallet transfer device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pallet transfer device for multi-product small-quantity production.

[Prior Art] As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional pallet transport device includes a supply transport path 20, a work take-out section 21, an empty pallet transport path.
22 formed a series of lines. That is, a large number of stacked pallets 5 containing works are transported by the supply transport 20 as shown by the arrow in FIG. Position by clamping only the pallets of
The work is taken out from the pallet 5 by the robot at the work take-out unit 21 and the empty pallet is positioned and the empty pallet transfer path 22
It is received by the lift portion 22a at the end, and is lowered by lowering the lift portion 22a.
When a certain number of empty pallets 5 are stacked on the lift portion 22a, the empty pallets 5 are carried out by the empty pallet conveyance path 22.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-described conventional example, in switching the type, a new pallet 5 is supplied after discharging the pallet 5 in the pallet transport device 23. For this reason, there is a loss time at the time of product type switching, and it was not possible to cope with a small number of product types.

For this reason, conventionally, in order to eliminate a loss time and to cope with many kinds of small quantities using one robot 24,
As shown in FIG. 9, two pallet transfer devices 23 as described above are arranged, and the first pallet transfer device 23 is used.
The work was taken out by using. Then, at this time, the second pallet transfer device 23 is stopped, and the supply transfer path 20 of the stopped pallet transfer device 23 is put on standby with the pallet 5 containing another type loaded thereinto,
When the type is changed, the first pallet transfer device 23 is stopped and the second pallet transfer device 23 is operated. However, in this conventional example, two pallet transfer devices 23 each including a supply transfer path 20, a work take-out section 21, and an empty pallet transfer path 22 are required. Also, a large space was needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to be able to cope with many kinds of small quantities, to have no loss time at the time of changing kinds, and to eliminate the need for two devices. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pallet transfer device that requires a small space.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The pallet transport device of the present invention arranges the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3, and arranges the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2 A work take-out unit 4 is provided at a position where each end of the three transport paths with the third transport path 3 is located.
A pallet 5 containing a work by a combination of any two of the second transport path 2 and the third transport path 3
Is formed and a plurality of sets of lines for carrying out the empty pallet 5 from which the work has been taken out by the work take-out section are formed, and the plurality of sets of lines can be switched. The transport path is a standby transport path in which a pallet 5 containing works of different types is loaded and is on standby. By adopting such a configuration, the above-described configuration of the present invention is achieved. The purpose has been achieved.

[Operation] Then, a pallet 5 containing a work is carried by a combination of any two of the first conveyance path 1, the second conveyance path 2, and the third conveyance path 3, and the work is taken out by the work take-out section 4. Since a plurality of sets of a series of lines for carrying out the empty pallet 5 from which the work has been taken out are formed, one line combining two transport paths among the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3 is formed. While the pallet is being driven, a pallet containing a work of another type is put on the other one of the transport paths and put on standby. When switching the type, the transport path that has been waiting is driven and this transport is performed. The line can be easily switched by driving one of the paths and one of the other two, and stopping the remaining one of the paths.

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3 are arranged in a three-row plane.
A frame 6 is formed in a portion where each end of the three transport paths of the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3 is located,
The work take-out section 4 is provided on the frame 6. The work take-out section 4 is just the operating range of the robot. In the frame 6, the ends of the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3 are lift portions 1a, 2a, and 3a that are vertically movable. The transport direction of the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3 can be switched between forward and reverse. Thus, for example, the first transport path 1 and the second transport path 2 are combined and driven to form one line, and a plurality of pallets 5 are transported from the first transport path 1 in a stacked state. When the pallet 5 reaches the end of the first transport path 1, the pallets 5 in a plurality of stages are supported by the lift 1a and intermittently lifted. Then, it is positioned by clamping or the like with a clamper on the frame 6 located above the end of the first conveyance path 1, and in this state, the frame 6 is conveyed to a position above the end of the second conveyance path 2. I do. Since this part is the work take-out part 4, the work is taken out by the robot from the pallet 5 carried to this part. Then, the pallet 5 from which the work is taken out and emptied is released from being clamped or the like while being positioned, and is placed on the lift portion 2a and lowered by the lift being lowered one step. Similarly, the lift section 1a at the end of the first transport path 1 rises one step at a time, and the pallet 5
Is sent to the work take-out section 4, where the work is taken out, and the empty pallets are lowered one by one at the lift section 2a at the end of the second transport path 2 to be stacked and placed on the lift section 2a. Go. When a certain amount of pallets are placed on the lift 2a at the end of the second transport path 2 and reach the same level as the second transport path 2, empty pallets 5 stacked in multiple stages are transported by the second transport path 2. You carry it out. On the other hand, when one line is formed by the first transport path 1 and the second transport path 2, the third transport path 3 is stopped,
Pallets 5 containing works of different types are stacked on the entrance side of the third transport path 3. That is, in this case, the third transport path 3 is a standby transport path in which pallets 5 containing works of different types are stacked and are on standby. When the type is changed, by stopping the first transport path 1 and driving the third transport path 3,
The second transport path 2 and the third transport path 3 form another line, and the pallet 5 transported by the third transport path 3 is lifted at the end of the third transport path 3 by the lift 3a. ,
Positioning is performed by a clamp or the like at the frame 6 above the end of the third conveyance path 3, carried to the frame 6 above the end of the second conveyance path 2, and the work is taken out by the robot at the work take-out section 4. The pallet 5 that has been taken out and emptied is lifted by the lift 2a located at the rear end of the second transport path 2 in the same manner as described above.
When a certain amount of empty pallets are stacked on the lift section 2a, the pallets are transferred from the lift section 2a to the second transport path 2 and carried out by the second transport path 2. In other words, in the above-mentioned usage mode, the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3 are combined to form a solid arrow line B and an imaginary arrow line C in FIG. Although an example in which the line is formed is shown, another line may be formed. FIG. 3 shows another example of a combination of lines. In this embodiment, a line indicated by an arrow D indicated by a solid line and a line indicated by an arrow E indicated by an imaginary line are switched. Of course, other combinations may be used. The pallet 5 is held and positioned on the frame 6 by, for example, a clamp device. To move the pallet 5 on the frame 6, the pallet 5 is moved by moving the clamp device. Or by any other means of movement.

4 to 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first transport path 1 and the second transport path 2 are arranged side by side in parallel, and the third transport path 3 is
It is arranged above. Here, the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3 are all switchable in forward and reverse transport directions. In this embodiment, a common lift 2b is provided at the end of the second conveyance path 2 and the end of the third conveyance path 3. An end of the second transport path 2 on the opposite side to the side where the lift section 2b is provided is an auxiliary lift section 2c. At the other end of the third conveying path 3, there is provided a lower extracting device 10 for extracting only the lowermost pallet of the stacked pallets 5 and sending out the same to the third conveying path 3. Then
The first transport path 1 and the second transport path 2 are combined and driven to form one line, and a plurality of pallets 5 are transported from the first transport path 1 in a stacked state. Of the pallet 5 in a plurality of stages,
And it is raised intermittently. Then, the pallet 5 is laterally fed by a lateral feeder 15 provided on the frame 6 in such a state that the pallet 5 is clamped with a clamper or the like on the frame 6 located on the end of the first transport path 1. Frame 6
Is transported to a position above the end of the second transport path 2. And since this part is the work take-out part 4,
The work is taken out by a robot from the pallet 5 carried to this portion. The pallet 5 from which the work is taken out and emptied is released from being clamped or the like while being positioned, and is placed on the lift portion 2b and lowered by the lift being lowered by one step. Similarly, the lift section 1a at the end of the first transfer path 1 moves up one step at a time, and successively sends pallets 5 to the work take-out section 4, where the work is taken out and the empty pallets are transferred to the second transfer path. When the lift 2b at the end of the road 2 is lowered one step at a time, the lift 2b is stacked and placed on the lift 2b. And the second transport path 2
When a certain amount of pallets ride on the lift section 22b at the end of the pallet and reaches the same level as the second transport path 2, empty pallets 5 stacked in multiple stages are unloaded from the auxiliary lift section 2c via the second transport path 2. Is what you do. This line is the line shown in FIG. 5 (b). The flow operation of the pallet 5 at this time is shown in FIG.

When a line is formed by a combination of the second transport path 2 and the third transport path 3, the auxiliary lift
The pallet 5 containing the work is positioned in a multi-tiered state at the rear end of the third transport path 3 using 2c (here, the auxiliary lift 2c moves the pallet 5 to the third transport path 3 side). After that, the lower pallet 5 is extracted by the lower extraction device 10 and conveyed by the third conveyance path 3 by the lower extraction device 10, and the position of the frame 6 at the end of the third conveyance path 3 (that is, the work The work is taken out by a clamp device or the like in the take-out section 4), and the work is taken out by a robot because this part is the work take-out section 4, and the empty pallet 5 is taken out.
Is released by being lifted and received by the lift 2b, and similarly, empty pallets 5 are stacked one after another on the lift 2b. When a certain amount of empty pallets 5 are stacked, the pallets 5 are unloaded from the lift section 2b via the second transport path 2 and the auxiliary lift 2c. This line is shown in FIG. 6 (b). The flow operation of the pallet 5 at this time is shown in FIG. 6 (a).

When switching from the line in FIG. 5 to the line in FIG. 6, when one line is formed by the first transport path 1 and the second transport path 2, Although the three transport paths 3 are stopped, the pallet 5 containing work of another type is picked up in multiple stages in the auxiliary lift portion 2c, and the auxiliary lift portion 2c
And the pallets 5 stacked in multiple stages are moved to the end of the third transport path 3 and kept in a standby state. After the pallets 5 are transferred to the third transport path 3, the auxiliary transport path 2c is to be lowered. That is, when one line is formed by the first transport path 1 and the second transport path 2, the third transport path 3, which is the remaining one transport path, operates the pallet 5 in which different types of workpieces are placed during operation. It is a standby transport path that is stacked and waiting. In the case of product type switching, the third transport path 3 is driven, the first transport path 1 is driven in the reverse direction, and the second transport path 2 is stopped, so that the third transport path 3 and the first transport path 3 are stopped. A pallet 5 is sent to the work take-out section 4 by the third transport path 3 and forms a line with the path 1.
At this point, the work is taken out by the robot, and the
As a result, the empty pallets 5 are placed under the lift unit 1a and lowered, and when a certain amount of empty pallets 5 is loaded on the lift unit 1a, the empty pallets 5 are unloaded from the first transport path 1. The switching of the lines described above is shown in FIG. 7 (b). Also,
FIG. 7A shows the flow operation of the pallet 5 at this time.

Also in this embodiment, when a line is formed by combining any two of the first transport path 1, the second transport path 2, and the third transport path 3, the line is formed by a combination other than the above-described combination. Thus, these lines may be switched. Also in this embodiment, the remaining one transport path that is stopped when an arbitrary line is operated becomes a standby transport path in which a pallet 5 containing works of different types is loaded and waits.

In the attached drawings, A indicates the operation range of the robot.

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, as described above, the first transport path, the second transport path, and the third transport path are arranged, and the first transport path, the second transport path, and the third transport path are A work take-out portion is provided at a portion where each end of the three transport paths is located, and a pallet in which a workpiece is put by a combination of any two transport paths among the first transport path, the second transport path, and the third transport path is provided. Forming a plurality of sets of lines that carry the empty pallet from which the work was taken out and taken out by the work take-out section, and made it possible to switch between the plurality of sets of lines. Is a standby transport path where pallets containing different types of workpieces are loaded and waiting, so one line combining the two transport paths of the first transport path, the second transport path, and the third transport path The other one while driving When a pallet containing works of different types is put on the conveyance path and put on standby, and when changing the type, the pallet 5 containing works of different types is loaded and the standby conveyance path on standby is driven. In addition, the line can be easily switched by driving this conveyance path and one of the other two conveyance paths, and stopping the other one of the conveyance paths.
As a result, it is possible to cope with many kinds of small quantities, there is no loss time at the time of changing kinds, and two devices are not required, and the space can be narrowed. The remaining one transport path is a standby transport path in which pallets containing different types of workpieces are loaded and waiting, so that by switching lines, different types of workpieces are immediately transported by the switched line. The work can be taken out by the take-out section and an empty pallet can be transported.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow operation diagram of the pallet of the above, FIG. 3 is another flow operation diagram of the pallet of the same, and FIG. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are schematic perspective views showing a flow operation of a pallet according to the embodiment, and line diagrams thereof, and FIG. 6 (a).
7B is a schematic perspective view showing another flow operation of the same pallet and a line diagram of the same, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are a perspective view and a line showing the flow operation of the pallet before the line is switched. FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional example, and FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of a state in which two pallet conveyance devices are arranged side by side, where 1 is a first conveyance path, 2 is a second conveyance path, Reference numeral 3 denotes a third conveyance path, 4 denotes a work take-out section, and 5 denotes a pallet.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location B65G 60/00 B65G 60/00 AE

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, and a third conveyance path are arranged, and each end of three conveyance paths of a first conveyance path, a second conveyance path, and a third conveyance path is located. A work take-out section is provided in the portion, and a pallet containing a work is carried by a combination of any two of the first, second, and third transfer paths, and the work is taken out by the work take-out section. Pallets with different types of workpieces in which one set of lines that carry out empty pallets is formed and a plurality of sets of lines can be switched. A pallet transport device, wherein the pallet transport device is a standby transport path in which a pallet is loaded and waits.