JP2988037B2 - 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 transport device for transporting a transport body holding an article such as a work cloth to a work station for performing an operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sewing factory or the like, various types of transfer devices have been proposed which automatically transfer a transfer body holding a work-in-process material such as a sewing product to a work station arranged along a transfer rail. Have been.

For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2-129 filed by the present applicant.
No. 691 stores the transport order for each transporter number of each transporter, reads the transporter number assigned to the transported transporter for each work station, and corresponds to the transporter number. In accordance with the transfer order, the work station next to the work station is designated as the destination of the transfer body of the transfer body number, and the transfer body transports the transfer body from the work station that has finished the work to the next work station by the transfer control means. Transport devices have been proposed.

[0004]

However, in the above-described transfer apparatus, the work at each work station is completed, and the order in which the work holding the completed sewn articles or the like is advanced to the completion station is in the order in which the work is completed. Therefore, it is impossible to advance the carrier holding the finished product of a certain lot to the completion station first due to inspection or packing, or due to an unexpected situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and provides a transfer apparatus capable of moving a desired transfer body to a completion station in accordance with the convenience of product inspection and packing. The purpose is to do.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 has the following features.
A transport mechanism that can transport the transport body to a completion station via a work station that performs work according to a predetermined transport path, and data indicating the predetermined transport path for each unique number assigned to the transport body. Path storage means, which is provided for each work station, number reading means for reading a unique carrier number attached to the carrier,
Based on the number read by the number reading means,
A transport device comprising: a transport control unit that controls the transport mechanism and transports the transported body from a work station that has completed work to the next work station according to the transport route data stored in the route storage unit. Completion order designation means for designating the completion order of the carrier, and the transport control means for moving the transportable body to the completion station to the completion station in an order designated by the completion order designation means. And a completion instructing means for issuing an instruction to the conveying device.

The invention according to claim 2 has a plurality of transfer rules for defining a method of transferring the transfer body to the completion station, and the completion order designation by the completion order designation means is performed by the plurality of transfer orders. It is characterized by comprising a selecting means for selecting from rules.

[0008]

In the transport apparatus of the present invention having the above structure, the route storage means stores data indicating a predetermined transport route for each unique number assigned to the transport body, and reads a number provided for each work station. Means for reading a unique carrier number assigned to the carrier, and transport control means for controlling the transport mechanism based on the number read by the number reading means, and for transport route data stored in the route storage means. According to the above, the carrier is transported from the work station that has completed the work to the next work station.

[0009] When the completion order of the carrier is designated by the completion order designating means, the completion instructing means sends the transportable bodies which can be conveyed to the completion station in the order specified by the completion order designating means. Is instructed to the transfer control means to be moved to

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an overall schematic layout view of the transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram illustrating the layout of the distribution mechanism, the transport rails, and the like of the transport device of the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial front view of the transport device of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sewing line in a sewing factory or the like includes a plurality of work stations ST. The work station ST is classified into an input station STa for inputting a workpiece to be sewn, a sewing station STb for performing various sewing operations, and a completion station STc for unloading a completed product, based on the type of the operation.

The hanger conveyor 1 is a conveyor for interconnecting these work stations ST and transferring a hanger from which a sewing product is hung from one work station to another work station, and is arranged near each work station ST. And a set of two bridge rails 3 provided between the distribution mechanisms 2 and a station rail 4 branched from each distribution mechanism 2 toward each work station ST. The hanger is conveyed along the bridge rail 3 and the station rail 4 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. Downstream of each station rail 4, a station exit stopper mechanism 5 for preventing the hanger from exiting the station during operation is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, each sorting mechanism 2 is provided with a column 7 standing on a floor 6. A support shaft 8 shown in FIG. 3 is erected at the upper end of the column 7 via a mount 9, and a support plate 10 is fixed to the upper end.
As shown in FIG. 3, a station rail support frame 11 for supporting the station rail 4 is provided on the upper surface of the support plate 10.
Are supported and fixed at an intermediate portion thereof. Further, a pair of parallel bridge rail support frames 12 that support the bridge rails 3 are supported and fixed across the support plates 10 of the adjacent distribution mechanism 2. The pair of parallel bridge rails 3 is suspended and supported by a suspension bracket 13 on a bridge rail support frame 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ends 3a and 3b of the bridge rail 3 and the ends 4a and
4b are arranged at predetermined heights (45 degrees in the present embodiment) at the same height around the distribution mechanism 2. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS.
, A rotating body 14 is rotatably supported. Then, a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) distribution arms 15 are radially projected and fixed at predetermined angles (45 degrees in this embodiment) so as to be able to face the ends 3a, 4a, 3b and 4b. I have.

As shown in FIG. 4, a servo motor 16 for rotating the arm, which can be rotated forward and backward, is mounted on the support plate 10. By rotating the servo motor 16 in the forward or reverse direction, the rotating body 14 is rotated, and the distribution arm 15 holding the transport body 17 is arranged at a position facing the predetermined bridge rail 3 or the station rail 4. It is configured to be able to.

Furthermore, an endless bridge rail chain 1
8 is stretched along the bridge rail 3 by a plurality of chain guides 19 provided on each hanging bracket 13, and is an endless station rail chain (not shown).
Are stretched along the station rails 4 by a plurality of chain guides (not shown) provided on each hanging bracket 13.

When the chain drive motor 20 mounted on the support plate 10 of the distribution mechanism 2 is rotated, the bridge rail chain 18
3 and the station rail chain is moved in the same direction along the station rail 4 with the rotation of the rotation shaft 21 driven by the motor 20. .

Thus, the carrier 17 on the bridge rail 3 or the station rail 4 moves along the bridge rail 3 or the station rail 4 with the engaging wheel 22 engaged with the bridge rail chain 18 or the station rail chain. And is conveyed and moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the carrier 17 is formed in a hanger shape so that articles such as sewn articles can be hung. In the transport body 17, the rollers that roll each rail are rotatably supported, and a pair of engagement wheels 22 having a plurality of engagement protrusions on the outer circumference rotate in a state where a friction brake is always applied. 3 so as to be conveyed along the bridge rail 3 or the station rail 4 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 in a state where the engagement wheel 22 is engaged with the bridge rail chain 18 or the station rail chain. Have been.

A station exit stopper mechanism 5 shown in FIG. 2 is provided at the downstream end 4a of the station rail 4. Downstream end 3a of bridge rail 3
Also, a similar stopper mechanism 23 is provided. The stopper mechanisms 5 and 23 are provided with a number reading device 24, a cylinder (not shown), and a stopper driven by the cylinder.

When the transport body 17 is transported along the bridge rail 3 or the station rail 4 to a position corresponding to the number reading device 24, the movement of the transport body 17 is temporarily stopped by contact with the stopper. Then, the engagement wheel 2
2 starts rotating and the number reading device 24
It is configured to read a code mark (transporter number) for transporter identification (not shown) attached to the side surface of.

The loading station STa is provided with a loading switch 25 which is turned on when the sewing material is loaded.
The sewing station STb is provided with a work end switch 26 which is turned on at the end of the work in the station, and the completion station STc is provided with a completion switch 27 which is turned on at the end of the processing of the finished product.

Next, the electrical configuration of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. The above devices are driven and controlled by the electronic control circuit 30 to carry the carrier 17. The electronic control circuit 30 is configured by mutually connecting a CPU 31, a ROM 32, and a RAM 33, which are the core of a logical operation circuit, and an input / output circuit 34 for performing input / output with an external device via a common bus 35. It is.

The electronic control circuit 30 includes a number reading device 24
Also, a signal from various switch groups 40 such as a closing switch 25 operated at the time of closing to generate a closing signal is input. On the other hand, the electronic control circuit 30 sends the servo motor 16 based on these signals and the data in the ROM and RAM.
And a drive signal for driving the motor 20 for driving the chain.

One electronic control circuit 30 is provided for each distributing mechanism 2. The plurality of electronic control circuits 30 are connected to the host computer 100, and the host computer 100 controls the entire system. Is to be done. The host computer 100 has a keyboard 110 and a mouse 12 for data input.
0, a display 130 for data output, and a printer 140 are connected to each other.

The RA of the host computer 100
A route table as a route storage unit shown in FIG. 6 and an input plan data table shown in FIG. 7 are stored in M101. First, the route table shown in FIG. 6 will be described. In each work station ST, various operations are performed on the carrier 17, and the path table stores the carriers 17 in accordance with the order of the operation steps performed on the sewing workpiece.
Are sequentially input and stored as a transport path.

The work process of the sewn product held by the carrier 17 is different depending on the color and design of the sewn product, so different path numbers are assigned to distinguish the transfer paths. The number of the work station ST is written corresponding to each path number. FIG. 6 shows a state in which four types of path numbers are input and stored.

Further, in the loading plan data table shown in FIG. 7, a loading plan of what kind of workpiece to be sewn and how much is to be loaded is previously input and stored. FIG.
As shown in (1), a plurality of transport bodies 17 having the same work content are grouped together, and each of them is assigned an input unit number.

For example, in the case shown in FIG. 7, a predetermined design having a design code "A0101", a size "9" and a color code "50" is assumed to correspond to the input unit numbers "1" to "4". A plan is set in which five transfer bodies 17 each holding a workpiece to be sewn having a color of? In addition, the design codes corresponding to the input unit numbers "5" and "6" are the same as those of the input unit numbers "1" to "4", but are different in color code "60". A plan is set in which five transport bodies 17 each holding a product are charged.
In addition, the data of "order of completion" of the input plan data table
It is input and stored according to the procedure described below.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this embodiment. Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In step S1, the operator specifies the completion order for each input unit from the keyboard 110 of the host computer 100 with reference to the input plan table shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the completion order is the input unit number “1”.
Is the first, and the one with the input unit number “5” is the second
The input unit number “2” is the third, the input unit number “3” is the fourth, the input unit number “4” is the fifth, and the input unit number “ "6" is designated as the sixth.

In step S2, the host computer 1
00 indicates the specified completion order in the host computer 10.
0 is stored in the RAM 101. In step S3, it is determined whether the designation of the completion order has been completed. Keyboard 1
If the end button of No. 10 is pressed, step S4
If the end button has not been pressed, the process returns to step S1.

At step S4, the charging station STa
Is turned on by the operator,
The number reader 24 provided in the station exit stopper mechanism 5 of the station reads the carrier number of the carrier 17 holding the sewing product. Step S5
Then, the CPU 31 of the electronic control circuit 30 provided in the station sets the read carrier number of the carrier 17 to R.
Store it in AM33.

In step S6, a cylinder (not shown) of the stopper mechanism 5 is operated, and the transport body 17 is loaded into the transport path. In steps S7 and S8, the loaded transport body 17 is transported to the sorting mechanism 2 by the bridge rail chain 18, and is sorted to the work station STb on a preset transport path.

If the transfer destination work station STb is not adjacent, the sorting and transfer are repeated until the work station STb is transferred to the target work station STb. Carrier 17
Is transported to the target work station STb, the process proceeds to step S9, and the work is started at the target work station STb.

In step S10, when the work is finished and the work end switch 26 is turned on by the operator, the process proceeds to step S11, where the carrier number of the carrier 17 is provided in the station exit stopper mechanism 5 of the station STb. The read number reading device 24 reads the information, and proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the CPU 3 of the electronic control unit 30 provided in the work station STb
1 determines whether or not all operations have been completed, and if not, returns to step S7 and conveys the transport body 17 to the next work station STb. If all the operations have been completed, the process proceeds to step S13, and the transport body 17 is made to wait in the transport path until a transport instruction to the completion station STc is issued. This is achieved by each sorting mechanism 2
The transport is carried out from the end 3a of the bridge rail 3 to the end 3b of the bridge rail 3 forming a pair, and the transport 17 is circulated between the sorting mechanisms 2.

Further, the host computer 100 periodically exchanges signals with the electronic control circuit 30 via the input / output circuit 34, and in step S14, sets the state in which it can be transported to the completion station STc according to the specified completion order. It is checked whether there is a certain carrier 17.

If there is a transportable transport 17, the process proceeds to step S 15. If no transportable transport 17 is present, the process ends. In step S15, the host computer 100 sends a transportable body 17 to the electronic control circuit 30 to the completion station ST.
Give an instruction to go to c.

The carrier 17 moves to the completion station STc in the designated order. For example, if the order of completion is specified as shown in FIG. 7, the carriers are input numbers “1”, “5”, “2”, “3”, “4”,
They are transported to the completion station STc in the order of “6”.

The processing in steps S7 to S13 functions as a conveyance control means, the processing in steps S1 to S3 functions as a completion order specifying means, and the processing in steps S14 to S15 functions as a completion instruction means. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the carrier holding the sewn product or the like can be moved to the completion station in accordance with the specified completion order, so that the production can be performed according to the convenience of the product inspection and the packing operation. Can be performed.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in detail above, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in this embodiment,
Although the order of completion has been specified in advance, it is also possible to transport to the completion station in the order of input.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, it may be possible to select from a plurality of transport rules that the transported bodies are directed to the completion station in a designated completion order. Next, the processing shown in FIG. 9 will be described. In step S21, the operator operates the keyboard 110 of the host computer 100 to select one of the three transfer rules “input order”, “end order”, and “designation order” that define the order in which the transfer objects are transferred to the completion station. Select one.

Here, the “loading order” means moving to the completion station in the order of loading on the transport path.
"End order" means moving to the completion station in the order in which the work was completed. In a step S22, it is determined whether or not the "order of input" is selected. In a step S24, it is determined whether or not the "end order" is selected. In a step S26, it is determined whether or not the "order of designation" is selected. Is determined.

Here, if the "input order" is selected, the process proceeds to step S23, where the host computer 100
Sets the completion order selection flag stored in the RAM 101 to 1. If “end order” is selected, the process proceeds to step S25, where the host computer 100
The completion order selection flag stored in 101 is set to 2. If “order of designation” is selected, step S27
The host computer 100 sets the completion order selection flag stored in the RAM 101 to "3".

In step S28, the operator specifies the order of completion for each input unit. In step S29, the host computer 100 stores the specified order of completion in the RAM 101.
To memorize. Note that when "order of input" or "order of end" is selected, the order of completion is automatically determined, so that it is not necessary to specify the order for each input unit.

Thereafter, when the operator turns on the input switch 25, the transport of the transport body 17 is started. The transport body 17 is transported to the target work station STb,
Work is performed. When all the operations have been completed, the transport unit 1 is kept until a transport instruction to the completion station STc is issued.
7 is made to wait while circulating in the transport path.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process for giving a completion instruction. Next, this processing will be described. In step S31, the host computer 100
Checks the value of the completion order selection flag to find out which transport rule is selected. In step S32, the host computer 100 exchanges signals with the electronic control circuit 30 via the input / output circuit 34, and determines whether or not there is a transport body 17 that can be transported to the completion station STc according to the selected transport rule. Find out. If there is no transportable transport body 17, the process ends. However, if there is a transportable transport body 17, the process proceeds to step S 33, and the host computer 100 instructs the electronic control circuit 30 A transfer instruction is issued to move the transferable transfer body 17 to the completion station STc, and the process ends.

According to the above embodiment, one of the three transfer rules “order of input”, “order of end”, and “order of designation” can be selected, so that the usability is good.

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a carrier holding an article such as a sewn product can be moved to a completion station in accordance with a designated completion order, so that product inspection is performed. Production can be performed in accordance with the convenience of packing and packing work, and work efficiency in the entire production line can be improved.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select, from a plurality of transport rules, to transport the transport bodies to the completion station in a designated order. As a result, a desired transport rule can be selected according to the convenience of production, and the usability is good.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a transport device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall schematic layout view of a transfer device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a distribution mechanism of a transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a layout diagram for explaining the layout of transfer rails and the like.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial front view of the transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a route table.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an input plan data table.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting a desired one from a plurality of transport rules.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process of giving a completion instruction.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... hanger conveyor 3 ... bridge rail 4 ...
Station rail 17 ... Conveyor 24 ... Number reading device 30 ... Electronic control circuit 31 ... CPU 100 ... Host computer 101 ... RAM

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI B65G 47/70 B65G 47/70 (72) Inventor Yoshihisa Kanaka 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Pref. Brother Industries, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-61-142058 (JP, A) JP-A-50-32384 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B23Q 41/02 B65G 43 / 00 B65G 47/46 B65G 47/49 B65G 47/70

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transport mechanism capable of transporting a transport body to a completion station via a work station for performing an operation in accordance with a predetermined transport path, and a predetermined number assigned to each of the transport bodies. Path storage means for storing data indicating a transfer path; number reading means provided for each work station for reading a unique transfer body number attached to the transfer body; and a number read by the number read means. On the basis of,
A transport device comprising: a transport control unit that controls the transport mechanism and transports the transported body from a work station that has completed work to the next work station according to the transport route data stored in the route storage unit. Completion order designating means for designating the completion order of the carrier, and the transport control so as to move the transportable body transportable to the completion station to the completion station in the order designated by the completion order designating means. And a completion instructing means for issuing an instruction to the means. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of transfer rules defining a method of transferring said transfer body to said completion station, wherein designation of a completion order by said completion order designation means is selected from said plurality of transfer rules. The transport device according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit.