JP3339261B2 - Goods transport system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article conveying system which is conveyed on a chain conveyor and has a carrier having an article mounting surface and a fork insertion space formed thereunder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an article transport system including a chain conveyor and a carrier having an article mounting surface and a fork insertion space formed below the article carrier, the carrier is conveyed on the chain conveyor. Is provided with a detection roller, and the detection roller swings due to the conveyed object placed on the article placement surface to detect the load. Then, the control and the like of the chain conveyor are controlled by the control device on the ground side according to the result of the load detection.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional article transport system, in order to send the result of the load detection detected on the carrier to the controller on the ground side,
The detection roller and the control device were wired and connected, or a transmitter was provided on the loading platform side, and a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter in a non-contact state was provided on the ground side. Wiring between the sides is difficult, and transmitters and receivers for transmitting and receiving signals in a non-contact state are expensive. Further, depending on the surrounding conditions, there is a possibility that the signal from the transmitter cannot be accurately received by the receiver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article transport system capable of detecting a load on a carrier with a simple wiring structure.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a chain conveyor, an article mounting surface conveyed on the chain conveyor, and a fork insertion space formed below the article mounting surface. Conveying goods having a carrier
System, so that the optical axis crosses the article loading surface
The front and rear ends on the ground side.
A reflector is installed on the loading side,
The detection means for detecting the detected part of the loading platform at the position is the front end
And on the ground side of the rear end, the front end
Detection result by the detection means at the
Based on the load detection by the light receiving sensor, at least the chain
An article transport system provided with a control device for controlling the driving of the conveyor.

[0006]

[0007]

The present invention has the following functions. If the carried object to the load platform of the article placing on face is placed, the light emitting and receiving sensor by being shielded optical axis by the conveying object can no longer receive the reflected light from the reflector.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In this specification, the front means the upper side of FIG. 1, the rear means the lower side of FIG. 1, the left means the left side of FIG.
The right means the right side in the figure. Further, in this specification, the inside of the article transport system 1 is the side facing the center line in the left-right direction of the chain conveyor 2, and the outside is the opposite side.

The system shown in this embodiment is an automatic warehouse having a stacker crane 61 having a slide fork and capable of traveling in the front-rear direction, and a pair of left and right racks 62 provided on both sides of the traveling passage. A system 60;
It comprises a pair of left and right article transport systems 1, 1 provided adjacent to the automatic warehouse system 60. still,
The following description is made for the article transport system 1 on the right side,
Since the left side is symmetrical, the description is omitted.

In the automatic warehouse system 60, a safety fence 63 and a control panel 64 are provided further behind the rear end of the traveling path of the stacker crane 61. This safety fence 63
And the control panel 64 is continuously U-shaped in plan view,
An operator cannot enter the travel passage from behind.

The article transport system 1 has a chain conveyor 2 provided so as to be continuous with a rack 62 with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction, and a carrier 30 transported on the chain conveyor 2. The front end of the chain conveyor 2 is adjacent to the rear end of the rack 62 and serves as a loading / unloading station of the automatic warehouse system 60. The rear end of the chain conveyor 2 serves as a delivery station using a forklift or the like.

The chain conveyor 2 has a pair of left and right conveyor units 3, 3 arranged side by side. The conveyor unit 3 includes a side frame 4 whose longitudinal direction is directed in the front-rear direction.
A drive unit 5 provided at the front end of the side frame 4 and a driven unit 1 provided at the rear end of the side frame 4
2 and a chain 20 spanned between a driving sprocket 10 and a driven sprocket 17 described below. A plurality of connecting bars 22 are passed to the left and right conveyor units 3 and 3 at predetermined intervals in the front and rear by using a T-shaped groove 4a described later formed in the side frame 4.

The side frame 4 is made of a metal extruded material such as aluminum and has a length corresponding to the installation location and the size of the object to be conveyed.
a. In the present specification, the T-shaped groove 4a
A groove in which mutually opposed overhanging edges are formed at the opening edge, including those having mutually opposed overhanging edges formed at the opening edge even if the cross-sectional shape is other than T-shaped. The drive unit 5, the driven unit 7, the connecting bar 22 and the like are attached to the side frame 4 by using the T-shaped groove 4a and the bolts and nuts.

Next, the support structure of the side frame 4 will be described. The side frame 4 is supported by a first support member 23 and a second support member 24. The first support member 23 is
It has an inner surface supporting portion 23a that contacts the inner surface of the side frame 4 and supports the side frame 4 from inside, and a lower surface supporting portion 23b that contacts the lower surface of the side frame 4 and supports the side frame 4 from below. are doing. A bolt insertion hole 25 is formed in the inner surface support portion 23a.
An adjustment bolt 26 fixed to a horizontal piece 24b of a second support member 24, which will be described later, is inserted. Adjustment bolt 26
A pair of upper and lower nuts 27, 27 sandwiching an insertion portion into the bolt insertion hole 25 are screwed into the nuts 27, 2.
7 is screwed to adjust the first bolt against the adjusting bolt 26.
The support member 23 can be moved up and down. On the upper surface of the lower surface support portion 23b, a T formed on the lower surface of the side frame 4 is provided.
Protrusions that engage with the shape grooves 4a are provided so that the side frame 4 and the first support member 23 are not relatively shifted left and right. The first support member 23 is attached to the side frame 4 by screwing a bolt into a nut piece inserted into the T-shaped groove 4a through a through hole formed in the inner surface support portion 23a.

The second support member 24 is in contact with the outer side surface of the side frame 4 and supports the side frame 4 from the outside, and a horizontal piece bent inward at the lower end of the outer side support portion 24a. 24b. A vertically long hole 28 is formed in the outer side support portion 24a. A bolt is screwed into a nut piece inserted into the T-shaped groove 4a through the long hole 28, whereby the second support member 2 is formed.
4 is attached to the side frame 4. In the horizontal piece 24b, the adjustment bolt 2 is provided on the upper surface just below the inner surface support portion 23a of the first support member 23 with the axis being in the vertical direction.
6 is fixed by welding. The anchor bolt 2 is located slightly inside the fixing position of the adjustment bolt 26.
9, the horizontal piece 24b is fixed to the ground, so that the fixing work by the anchor bolt 29 can be easily performed without being disturbed by the first support member 23 and the like, and the horizontal piece 24b is pulled upward by the adjustment bolt 26. It is prevented from being lifted or bent upward.

With such a configuration, the adjustment bolt 26
The height of the side frame 4 can be easily adjusted by the height adjusting mechanism having the nut 27 and the nut 27. That is, when the chain conveyor 2 is installed, after the side frame 4 is supported by the first support member 23 and the second support member 24, the nuts 27, 27 are screwed to adjust the side frame 4 to a predetermined height. Then, both support members may be attached to the side frame 4.

In this embodiment, since the adjustment bolt 26 is located not on the side of the side frame 4 but on the side thereof,
When the height of the side frame 4 cannot be increased too much, the adjustment bolt 26 can be arranged, and the height of the side frame 4 can be easily adjusted without the need for a liner. Further, the first support member 23 and the second support member 24 are connected by welding the adjustment bolt 26 to the upper surface of the horizontal piece 24a of the second support member 24, and the side frame 4 is connected to the two support members. As a result, it is supported from both left and right sides and from below, so that it is firmly supported while being prevented from rolling and falling.

The drive unit 5 includes a sprocket opening 6.
And a rotating shaft 8 attached to the casing 7.
Forward and reverse rotatable motor 9 having a speed reducer and a brake device mounted so that the axis of
And a drive sprocket 10 fitted on the rotating shaft 8 such that the upper part is exposed from the sprocket opening 6;
And a cover 11 that covers a required portion of the casing 7. By screwing a bolt into a nut piece inserted into the T-shaped groove 4a through a through hole formed in the casing 7 and the cover 11, the drive unit 5
Mounted on

The driven unit 12 has a casing 1 having a sprocket opening 13 and a long hole 14 elongated in the front-rear direction.
5 and a sprocket shaft 16 fitted in the long hole 14 of the casing 15 so as to be able to move back and forth,
The sprocket shaft 16 has a sprocket opening 13
It has a driven sprocket 17 rotatably fitted via a bearing such that an upper part is exposed from the cover, and a cover 18 covering a required portion of the casing 15. The driven unit 12 is attached to the side frame 4 at the casing 15 and the cover 18 by the same means as the casing 7 and the cover 11. Note that the driven unit 12 has a tension device 19 for moving the sprocket shaft 16 back and forth in the elongated hole 14. Can be adjusted.

The upper and lower linear portions 20 of the chain 20 spanned over the driving sprocket 10 and the driven sprocket 17
a is mounted on a chain guide rail 21 made of synthetic resin and having a convex cross section. The chain guide rail 21 is fitted in the T-shaped groove 4a of the side frame 4 so as not to come out upward, and its front and rear ends abut a part of the casings 7, 15, so that it does not move in the front and rear direction. ing.

On the chain conveyor 2 configured as described above, a carrier 30 having an article mounting surface and a fork insertion space 36 formed below the article mounting surface is mounted. Since this carrier 30 is not attached to the chain 20,
When a pallet or the like is directly conveyed on the chain 20, the carrier 30 can be easily removed to cope with it.

The loading platform 30 comprises a pair of left and right connecting bars 31 arranged at substantially equal intervals to the conveyor units 3 and 3 arranged side by side, and a lower left and right connecting bar 32 provided between the ends of the front and rear connecting bars 31. And a vertical bar 33 erected at a connecting portion of the connecting bars (at each vertex position of a rectangle formed by both connecting bars).
And upper and left and right connecting bars 34 passed between the upper ends of the vertical bars 33 so as to be parallel to the lower left and right connecting bars 32. A horizontal plane including the upper surface of the upper and lower connecting bars 34 serves as an article mounting surface, and a falling prevention member 35 inclined upward and outward is provided at the upper end of the vertical bar 33. The transferred object such as a pallet placed on the article placing surface is prevented from falling by the horizontal movement being regulated by the fall prevention member 35. The height of the upper end of the fall prevention member 35 is lower on the side where the transfer is performed between the fall prevention member 35 and the stacker crane 61, so that the transferred article does not easily collide with the fall prevention member 35 during the transfer operation. ing.

The vertical bar 33 has a length allowing insertion of a fork such as a stacker crane 61 or a forklift. The vertical bar 33 is surrounded by four vertical bars 33 above the front and rear connecting bars 31 below the article mounting surface. The space becomes a fork insertion space 36.

Next, the means for preventing the lateral displacement of the carrier 30 will be described. The carrier 30 is placed on the chain 20 on the lower surface (chain mounting surface) of the front and rear connecting bars 31. On the lower surface of the right and left connecting bar 31, the front end and the rear end have projecting portions 37 projecting downward so as to sandwich the chain 20 from both left and right sides. The protrusion 37 is
, It is possible to prevent lateral displacement (lateral displacement) and horizontal rotation of the loading platform 30, and also prevent the loading platform 30 from dropping on the chain 20. The protrusion 37 may be provided at the right front end and the left rear end, or at the left front end and the right rear end.

Next, the means for preventing the carrier 30 from rising will be described. On the lower surface of the front and rear lower left and right connecting bars 32,
A first lifting prevention member 39 having a first horizontal protruding piece 38 that protrudes horizontally outward is provided at the left end and the right end. On the outer surfaces of the left and right front and rear connecting bars 31, a convex portion 41 having a screw hole penetrating in the front-rear direction is provided at a front end portion and a rear end portion. Is screwed.

By using the T-shaped groove 4a on the inner surface of the side frame 4 of the chain conveyor 2, when the loading platform 30 is at the front end or the rear end (transfer position), two rears or two fronts are provided. A second lifting prevention member 44 is attached so as to face the first lifting prevention member 39. The second lifting prevention member 44 has a second horizontal protruding piece 43 horizontally projecting inward, and when the first lifting prevention member 39 and the second lifting prevention member 44 are opposed to each other, the first lifting prevention member 44 is in the first position. The second horizontal projecting piece 43 is located just above the horizontal projecting piece 38 of FIG.

A box-shaped cover bracket 45 having a top wall 46, a side wall 47, a bottom wall 48, and a back wall 49 is formed on the outermost surfaces of the front end and the rearmost end of the side frame 4 by using T-shaped grooves 4a. Installed. Above the inner surface of the inner wall 49 of the cover bracket 45, an elastic resin cushioning member 50 is provided.

With such a configuration, the tip (head) of the stop bolt 42 collides with the buffer member 50 and
0 is stopped at the transfer position. Since the impact at the time of the collision is absorbed by the elasticity of the cushioning member 50, the collision does not damage the carrier 30 or the cover bracket 45. Further, fine adjustment of the stop position of the carrier 30 can be easily performed by turning the stop bolt 42 forward and backward by turning the screw.

When the carrier 30 is at the transfer position, the first
The upper surface of the horizontal projecting piece 38 contacts the lower surface of the second horizontal projecting piece 43, and the upper surface of the projection 40 contacts the inner surface of the top wall 46 of the cover bracket 45. The lift of the loading platform 30 is regulated, and the loading platform 30 from the transport surface of the chain conveyor 2 during transfer is transferred.
Is prevented from rising.

Next, detection of arrival of the loading platform 30 will be described. On the lower surface of the front and rear lower and left and right connecting bars 32, a plate-like striker 40 whose front and rear ends are bent upward slightly inside the left first lifting prevention member 39 (detected portion).
Is provided. A detection roller 51 (detection means) that is swingable at a position where the striker 40 is located when the loading platform 30 is at the transfer position is attached to the inner side surface of the left side frame 4. The detection roller 51 is attached to the side frame 4 by using a T-shaped groove 4a via a necessary bracket.
With such a configuration, when the detection roller 51 is swung by the striker 40, it is detected that the carrier 30 has arrived at the transfer position.

Next, detection of a load on the article mounting surface of the loading platform 30 will be described. A reflector 53 is attached to the outer side surfaces of the two right-hand vertical bars 33 via necessary brackets. When a pallet is placed on the article placement surface, the reflector 53 is installed so as to be located slightly outside (to the left of) the pallet and slightly above the article placement surface. Note that the upper end of the reflector 53 is lower than the upper end of the fall prevention member 35 so that articles do not collide with the reflector 53 during transfer. On the inner side surface of the left side frame 4, when the loading platform 30 is at the transfer position, light can be transmitted to and received from the reflector 53.
That is, a light emitting / receiving sensor 54 capable of projecting light in a direction in which the optical axis is directed toward the reflector 53 (obliquely upward to the left) and receiving the reflected light is attached. The light emitting / receiving sensor 54 is attached to the side frame 4 by utilizing the T-shaped groove 4a via a necessary bracket. With such a configuration, when the carrier 30 is at the transfer position,
The load is detected by the light between the light emitting and receiving sensor 54 and the reflector 53 being shielded by the conveyed object on the article mounting surface of the loading platform 30.

The front and rear two light transmitting / receiving sensors 54 and the detecting roller 51 are connected by wiring to a control device (not shown) in a control box 52 attached to the foremost left and right connecting bars 22. The control device performs drive control of the chain conveyor 2 (movement control of the loading platform 30) and the like according to the detection results of the above-described load detection and arrival detection. The load detection by the light emitting / receiving sensor 54 is performed by the detection roller 51.
This is performed only when it is detected that the carrier 30 is at the transfer position.

As described above, in the present embodiment, only the striker 40 and the reflector 53 are provided on the loading platform 30 side, and the detection roller 51 and the light emitting / receiving sensor 54 attached to the side frame 4 (ground side). Since the arrival detection and the load detection are performed, wiring to the moving carrier 30 can be eliminated.

The control device in the control box 52 is connected to the control device of the stacker crane 61, and the chain conveyor 2 is provided with a photoelectric sensor serving as an optical axis 55 crossing the longitudinal direction (front-back direction). Have been. When the optical axis 55 is blocked, the drive of the chain conveyor 2 and the stacker crane 61 is stopped, so that it is safe even if an operator enters.
It goes without saying that the optical axis 55 is not shielded by the connecting bar 22 or the control box 52. The optical axis 55 is inclined from the front end to the rear end of the chain conveyor 2 in a direction toward an extension of the traveling path of the stacker crane 61, and thus is shown by A in FIG.
Even if the worker at the point or the point B tries to enter the traveling passage, it can be reliably detected. That is,
As described above, by inclining the optical axis 55 according to the surrounding situation, it is possible to efficiently detect the intrusion of the worker with a small number of photoelectric sensors.

[0036]

[0037]

The present invention is configured as described above.
The following effects are obtained. Light projecting and receiving sensor 1 land upper side with a simple configuration of providing a reflector on the loading platform side, without performing a complicated wiring, it is possible to reliably bed of loading detection. Since second loading stage is not fixed to the chain, even when conveying a direct pallets by the chain conveyor,
The carrier can be easily removed to deal with it. Since 3 transfer detecting means for detecting the detected portion of the loading platform in position is provided on the ground side, can be the loading platform on the ground side is detected to be in the transfer position, performing wire more easily be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the article transport system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the article transport system of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a simplified sectional view of a supporting portion of a side frame as viewed from the front.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a simplified front view of the loading platform as viewed from the front.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a conveyor unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing arrival detection.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Article conveyance system 2 Chain conveyor 3 Conveyor unit 20 Chain 30 Loading platform 40 Striker 51 Detection roller 52 Control box 53 Reflector 54 Light emitting / receiving sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/00 501 B65G 1/00 511 B65G 43/08

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An article transporter having a chain conveyor and a carrier having an article mounting surface and a fork insertion space formed therebelow, which is transported on the chain conveyor.
System, so that the optical axis crosses the article loading surface
The front and rear ends on the ground side.
A reflector is installed on the loading side,
The detection means for detecting the detected part of the loading platform at the position is the front end
And on the ground side of the rear end, the front end
Detection result by the detection means at the
Based on the load detection by the light receiving sensor, at least the chain
An article transport system provided with a control device for controlling the drive of the conveyor.