JP2782652B2 - Pallet transfer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pallet conveying device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an automobile assembly line, small parts around a door as an object to be conveyed are placed on a dedicated pallet at a loading position, and the pallet is lowered from the loading position by a forward-only transport device to a working position. To the lower pallet at the lower working position,
A cycle of lowering an empty pallet and transporting it from a work position to a stacking work position is repeated.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the above.
Denotes a transport device dedicated to forward movement, and reference numeral 2 denotes a transport device dedicated to backward movement. The transfer device 1 and the transfer device 2 have a two-tiered structure in which the transfer device 1 is located above the transfer device 2 in the vertical direction.

[0004] The transport device 1 and the transport device 2 are supported on gantry 3 and 4 respectively. By appropriately setting the heights of the gantry 3 and 4, the transport devices 1 and 2 are arranged irrespective of the existence of various obstacles 5 and 6 provided on the floor of the factory due to the two-stage structure. As a result, a pallet transfer cycle can be realized.

The transfer device 1 has many rollers C driven by a motor M1, and the transfer device 2 also has many rollers C driven by a motor M2. The transported object is placed on a pallet (not shown) and transported.

At the stacking operation position A, an operation is performed in which an empty pallet is received from the transfer device 2 and an object is placed on the empty pallet. The pallet on which the object is placed is transported by the transport device 1 from the work position A to the work position B.

[0007] At the work position B, a work of lowering the transferred object from the pallet is performed. The pallet from which the transported object has been lowered is transported by the transport device 2 toward the stacking operation position A. The movement of the pallet moving according to such a cycle is as shown by the arrow in FIG.

[0008]

In the conventional reciprocating transfer device in which the transfer device 1 and the transfer device 2 are supported by a gantry and are vertically overlapped with each other, an obstacle 5 on the floor is required.
Can be conveyed without regard to the presence of

[0009] However, in the configuration of the conventional transfer device in which the transfer device has a two-stage structure, the transfer device cannot be formed when there is a height restriction such as an obstacle 6 from the ceiling in the factory. .

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the existence of obstacles on the floor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet transfer device that can be installed even when there are restrictions on the pallet and height.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured as follows.

(1). A pallet transfer device that circulates and transfers the pallet between a loading operation position for loading an object to be transported on the pallet and a lowering operation position that is provided at a position separated from the loading operation position and unloads the object from the pallet. In one, the one end side is located above the stacking work position, the other end side is located above the unloading work position, and the forward path for conveying the actual pallet loaded with the conveyed goods from the one end side to the other end side. A reciprocating transport device in which a return path for returning an empty pallet from the other end side to the one end side is provided in the horizontal direction, and the stacking operation position, and the reciprocating transport device transfers the actual pallet from the stacking operation position. The actual pallet lifting drip lifter and the actual pallet lifting drop lifter are lifted up and down in opposite directions. A first drop lifter device comprising an empty pallet lowering drop lifter for receiving an empty pallet from the return path of the reciprocating transport device and lowering the empty pallet to the stacking operation position; and a reciprocating transport device provided at the lowering operation position. The drop pallet for lowering the actual pallet and receiving the actual pallet from the outward path to the lowering work position, and the drop pallet lifter for lowering the actual pallet are moved up and down in opposite directions to move the empty pallet from the lowering work position. And a second drop lifter device including a drop lifter for raising an empty pallet to be passed to the return path of the reciprocating transport device, and a drop lifter provided at the stacking position and lowered by the empty pallet lowering lifter. An empty pallet is loaded, and the actual pallet loaded with the conveyed goods is loaded onto the empty pallet. A first conveyor that is carried out to a drop lifter for raising a pallet, and a real pallet provided at the lowering work position and lowered by the drop lifter for lowering the real pallet are carried in; A second conveyor for unloading the empty pallet from which the pallets have been lowered to the drop lifter for raising the empty pallet; A first stopper for sending out to the lowering drop lifter and a second stopper provided near the end of the return path in the transport direction and sending out an empty pallet to the empty pallet lowering lifter are provided. ).

(2). (1) In the pallet transport device described in (1), for each of the first drop lifter device and the second drop lifter device, an ascending drop lifter and a descending drop lifter are suspended via pulleys, and a single drive source is used. It is configured to move up and down in opposite directions (claim 2).

[0014]

[0015]

[Function] The two transfer devices have no spread in the height direction ,
In addition, in the height direction, it is possible to avoid obstacles on the floor.
Even if the height is set to the desired height, the loading work position
Appropriate working position without affecting working position
Level can be secured .

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Configuration A configuration example of a pallet transport device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the drawing, reference numeral 7 denotes a forward movement transport device which constitutes a forward path for transporting an actual pallet on which a load is placed, and reference numeral 8 denotes a return path which transports an empty pallet on which no load is loaded. FIG. These transporting devices 7 and 8 are both supported by a gantry 9 having the same height, and have the same height and are provided in a horizontal direction to constitute a reciprocating transporting device .

By arranging them in the horizontal direction in this manner, a space is not required in the height direction as compared with the conventional two-stage structure, so that it is possible to install the apparatus even when the height is limited.

Each transport device is provided with a large number of rollers C at regular intervals. These rollers C are rotated by the motor M3 for the transfer device 7 and by the motor M4 for the transfer device 8 in such a direction as to transfer the pallets in directions indicated by arrows 10 and 11, respectively.

In the vicinity of the terminal end of each of the conveying devices 7 and 8 in the feed direction, a slit-shaped opening 7 is provided in order from the terminal side.
1 and 72 and openings 81 and 82 are formed, and the L-shaped stopper member 12 is located inside each of these openings, for example, the opening 71 shown in FIG. 3. The dimension between the opening 71 and the opening 72 is equal to the dimension between the opening 81 and the opening 82. Here, the stopper member 12 provided in the openings 71 and 72 is referred to as a first stopper, and the stopper member (having the same configuration as the stopper member 12) provided in the openings 81 and 82 is referred to as a second stopper.

The stopper member 12 is provided integrally with a cylinder 13 fixed to a stationary member. When the cylinder is driven by an electric signal, the upper end of the stopper member is moved to the top of the roller C. The position can be changed well above or to a level below the top of the rollers.

At the stacking operation position A, a position on the boundary line of each transfer device and deviated from the end of the transfer device is:
As shown in FIG. 2, a column 14 is provided. A plate-shaped pedestal 15 is provided at the upper end of the support 14.

Pulleys 16 and 17 fixed on shafts pivotally attached to a bracket 20 are provided on the pedestal 15, and the shafts of the pulleys are connected to an elevator motor M18. Is to be rotated.

Each pulley 16, 17 has a wire W16,
W17 is wound around the wire, and both ends of each wire are respectively connected to a first drop lifter 23 (hereinafter simply referred to as a drop lifter).
It is called a lid. ), The second drop lifter 22 (hereinafter simply referred to as
Is called a drop lifter. ) . Also,
Each of the drop lifters 22 and 23 is guided by a guide groove formed in the column 14 and is slidable in the vertical direction.

Therefore, when the pulleys 16 and 17 are rotated by driving the elevator motor M18,
Accordingly, the first drop lifter 23 and the second
The pre-cover 22 can be moved along the guide groove formed in the support column 14 in the opposite direction like a seesaw by utilizing its own weight.

Drop Lifter 22 and Drop Lifter 23
As shown in FIG. 1, one drop lifter 2
When 2 is at the same level as the transport device 11, the other drop lifter 23 is at a predetermined lower limit position indicated by a two-dot chain line.

Similarly, when the other drop lifter 23 is at the same level as the transport device 10, the one drop lifter 22 is at a predetermined lower limit position indicated by a two-dot chain line.

Each of the drop lifters 22 and 23 is provided with a plurality of rollers C. These rollers C are fed by a drive means (not shown) in the same feed direction as the transport direction of the transport device corresponding to each drop lifter. It is designed to be rotated to feed in the direction.

A floor conveyor 24 is provided at the same height and level when each of the drop lifters 22 and 23 is at the lower limit position and over a common area. This floor conveyor 24 is also provided with a roller C having a driving force.

A chain conveyor 25 is provided so as to surround the floor conveyor 24. The chain conveyor 25 is controlled to move at a constant stroke in the vertical direction. When the chain conveyor 25 is at the upper limit, it can be positioned above the roller C of the floor conveyor 24 to feed the pallet in the direction of the arrow 26. When it is at the lower limit, it is positioned below the roller C and does not hinder the feeding by the roller C.

An attachment member exactly the same as the attachment member outside the transfer device at the stacking operation position A is also provided at the lowering operation position B. Regarding such a configuration, in order to avoid complexity, members corresponding to the members at the stacking operation position A in FIGS.

In the above configuration, the drop lifter 2
2, 22 ', 23, 23', floor conveyors 24, 2
4 ', the chain conveyors 25 and 25', etc., constitute a connecting and conveying means for connecting the respective conveying devices and transferring the pallets to the adjacent conveying device. Where the drop lifter
22 is a drop lifter for dropping empty pallets,
The lid 23 is a drop lifter for raising the actual pallet.
Then, these drop lifters 22 and 23 are collectively referred to as a first door.
It is called a “rop lifter device”. Similarly, drop lifter 2
2 'is a drop lifter for dropping empty pallets,
The lid 23 'is a drop lifter for lowering the actual pallet.
These drop lifters 22 'and 23' are
This is referred to as a two-drop lifter device. With floor conveyor 24
The chain conveyor 25 is provided at the stacking position,
Empty pallets lowered by the lifter 23 are carried in.
Here, the actual pallet loaded with the conveyed goods on the empty pallet is
The first conveyor that transports the let to the drop lifter 22
Configure. Similarly, the floor conveyor 24 'and the chain
The conveyor 25 'is provided at the lowering work position,
The actual pallet lowered by the lid 23 'is carried in, and
An empty pallet where the conveyed object was lowered from the same pallet
Conveyor that unloads to the drop lifter 22 '
I do.

2. Operation pallet is sized to fall between the opening 71 and the opening 72, on the conveyor device 7 is aligned real palette is substantially continuously, substantially continuously empty palettes on the conveying device 8 Lined up.

The rollers C of the transfer devices 7 and 8 are in a driving state, and the stopper members of the openings 71 and 72 and the openings 81 and 82 are located above the tops of the rollers C. One pallet is secured between the stopper members regardless of the driving of the roller C.

(1). The step of lowering the transferred object from the pallet at the lowering operation position B will be described. When the elevator motor M18 'is driven and the drop lifter 23' reaches the same level as the transfer device 7, the drive of the elevator motor M18 'is stopped by the signal from the limit switch detecting this, and at the same time, The driving of the drop lifter 23 'with respect to the roller C is started.

When the stopper member of the opening 71 is lowered, the actual pallet located between the opening 71 and the opening 72 is fed onto the drop lifter 23 '. When the drop lifter is fed to a predetermined position, the driving of the roller of the drop lifter is stopped by a signal from the limit switch that detects the feed.

On the other hand, the stop member 12 of the opening 71 rises after sending out the actual pallet . Thereafter, the stopper member of the opening 72 is lowered, and when one actual pallet is fed between the openings 71 and 72, the stopper member is raised by the operation of the limit switch. Thereby, the opening 71 and the opening 7
One actual pallet is taken in between the two.

When the actual pallet is placed on the drop lifter 23 ', the elevator motor M18' is driven by the signal from the limit switch which detects this, and the drop lifter 23 'is lowered to the lower limit position.

When the limit switch detects that the drop lifter 23 'has moved down to the lower limit position, the roller C of the drop lifter 23' and the roller C of the floor conveyor 24 'start receiving the signal, and the actual operation starts. The pallet changes its position from above the drop lifter 23 'to above the floor conveyor 24'.

When the actual pallet moves on the floor conveyor 24 ' , the roller of the floor conveyor 24' stops driving, and the operator takes out the transported object in the actual pallet.
After taking out the transported object, the operator presses the work completion button. Then, the chain conveyor 25 'moves from the lowered position to the raised position, and sends the empty pallet in the lateral direction, that is, from the position corresponding to the transfer device 7 to the position corresponding to the transfer device 8 by the transfer function.

When the empty pallet reaches the position corresponding to the conveying device 8, the chain conveyor 25 'stops driving and descends in response to a signal from the limit switch. As a result, the empty pallet is placed on the rollers C on the floor conveyor 24 '.

Since the drop lifter 22 'has moved to the lower limit before the chain conveyor 25' has reached the lower limit, the empty pallets are dropped by driving the rollers C of the floor conveyor 24 'and the drop lifter 22'. Lifter 2
Transferred to 2 '.

When the empty pallet reaches a predetermined position on the drop lifter 22 ', the driving of the roller C of the drop lifter 22' is stopped, the elevator motor M18 is driven, and the drop lifter 22 'places the empty pallet. While being moved, it is moved to the level of the transport device 8 and stopped.

The empty pallet on the drop lifter 22 '
At the loading position A, the empty pallet between the opening 81 and the opening 82 is sent out onto the drop lifter 22, and the timing between the opening 81 and the opening 82. It can be synchronized with the operation of sending an empty pallet.

(2). At the loading operation position A, the step of loading the transported objects onto the empty pallets is performed as follows in accordance with the operation at the unloading operation position B.

When the drop lifter 22 reaches the rising end, the rollers are driven. The stopper member of the opening 82 descends, then the stopper member of the opening 81 descends, and
And is sent out onto the drop lifter 22.

The drop lifter 22 descends and stops descending at the same level as the floor conveyor 24. Here, the empty pallet on the drop lifter 22 is transferred onto the floor conveyor 24.

Here, an operator loads an object to be transported on an empty pallet on the floor conveyor to obtain an actual pallet. When the operator presses the work completion button, the chain conveyor 25 moves up and the actual pallet is transferred by the transfer device 8 by the transfer function.
Is transferred from the position corresponding to the position to the position corresponding to the transfer device 7.

When the chain conveyor 25 reaches the movement limit, it descends and lowers the actual pallet on the floor conveyor 24.
By this time, the drop lifter 23 has moved to the same lower limit as the floor conveyor 25, and the actual pallets on the floor conveyor 25 are sent out onto the drop lifter 23.

A drop lifter 23 on which an actual pallet is placed
Rises to the upper limit of the same level as the transport device 7 and stops. The actual pallet on the drop lifter 23 is sent out onto the transfer device 7 in synchronization with the actual pallet being sent out to the drop lifter 23 'at the lowering operation position B.

As described above, the actual pallet is sent on the transfer device 7 and the empty pallet is sent on the transfer device 8. The transport device 7 and the transport device 8 are at the same height,
Since it has a spread in the horizontal direction, it can be installed even in a place where the height is restricted.

[0051]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a pallet transfer device which can be installed even when the height is limited without giving any problem to the existence of obstacles on the floor.
As possible out to configure the operating mechanism of the drop lifter easily by the second aspect of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a reciprocating transfer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the reciprocating transfer device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an opening and a stopper member provided in the transport device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional reciprocating transport device.

[Explanation of symbols]

7 transport device 8 transport device 12 stopper member 22 drop lifter 22 '(for lowering empty pallet as first drop lifter device) drop lifter 22' (for raising empty pallet as second drop lifter device) 23 (first drop lifter Drop lifter 23 '(for raising the actual pallet as a device) Drop lifter 24 (for lowering the actual pallet as a second drop lifter device) 24 Floor conveyor (as a first conveyor) 24' (as a second conveyor) 25 Chain conveyor (as first conveyor) 25 'Chain conveyor (as second conveyor)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. The pallet is transported by circulating between a loading operation position for loading an object to be loaded onto a pallet and a lowering operation position provided at a position separated from the loading operation position for unloading the object from the pallet. A pallet transfer device, wherein one end side is located above the stacking work position, and the other end side is located above the unloading work position, and the actual pallet loaded with articles to be conveyed from the one end side is placed on the other end side. A reciprocating transport device in which a forward path for transporting the empty pallet to the one end side and a return path for returning the empty pallet from the other end side to the one end side are provided at the stacking operation position; Is lifted up to the reciprocating transport device and the actual pallet is lifted and the drip lifter for passing the actual pallet on the outward path is opposite to the drop lifter for raising the actual pallet. A first drop lifter device comprising an empty pallet lowering drop lifter that receives an empty pallet from the return path of the reciprocating transport device and lowers the empty pallet to the stacking operation position, and is provided at the lowering operation position. The drop lifter for lowering the actual pallet, which receives the actual pallet from the forward path of the reciprocating transport device and descends to the lowering work position, and the drop lifter for lowering the actual pallet, are moved up and down in opposite directions to be lowered. A second drop lifter device comprising a drop lifter for raising an empty pallet from a work position and passing the empty pallet to the return path of the reciprocating transport device; a drop lifter provided at the stacking work position for lowering the empty pallet The empty pallet that has been lowered in the pallet is carried in, and the actual A first conveyor for carrying out the pallet to the drop pallet for raising the real pallet; and a real pallet provided at the lowering work position and lowered by the drop pallet for lowering the real pallet. A second conveyor for unloading an empty pallet from which pallets have been conveyed down to the drop pallet for raising the empty pallet; and A first stopper for sending out to the corresponding dropper for lowering the actual pallet; and a second stopper provided near the end of the return path in the conveying direction, for sending out an empty pallet to the dropper for lowering the empty pallet.
A pallet transfer device, comprising: a stopper. 2. The pallet transport device according to claim 1, wherein the first drop lifter device and the second drop lifter device each have an ascending drop lifter and a descending drop lifter suspended via pulleys, and A pallet transport device characterized in that it is moved up and down in opposite directions by one drive source.