JP4380876B2 - Rotary rack - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotary rack in which a large number of trays are connected and run endlessly in an oval shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A large number of trays for receiving or placing loads are connected in an annular form by endless chain-like links, and horizontally moved along oval rails laid in multiple stages in the upper and lower sides of the base frame, so that stations at predetermined positions The rotary rack which loads and unloads a desired tray is well known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-155631).
[0003]
In such a rotary rack, in order to stop a desired tray at a station position and perform loading and unloading, one of a large number of trays is defined as an origin tray, and the other trays are defined based on the origin tray. In general, a detecting means is provided for indexing the address.
[0004]
The detection means in the conventional rotary rack comprises an origin tray and address counting dogs (detected pieces) attached to each tray, and two photosensors having a U-shape in side view for detecting the passage. It was.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the dog described above is made of a thin iron piece and attached to the end surface of the tray so that it is easily deformed during storage and transportation of the tray or during assembly work, and is out of the detection area of the photoelectric sensor. In some cases, it is necessary to correct the bending of the dog or adjust the detection sensitivity, which is complicated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems.By eliminating the dogs and the like, the projections for detection are eliminated from the tray, and correction and adjustment operations are not required. The purpose is to provide a rotary rack that can be reduced.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the rotary rack according to the present invention has an inner and outer shape having a plurality of trays connected in a row at predetermined intervals and one origin tray, which are formed in an elliptical shape in which a base frame is provided in multiple upper and lower stages. In a rotary rack comprising a detecting means for detecting the origin tray at the time of turning and detecting the passage of other trays based on the origin tray while being supported by the rails of the rail and horizontally running endlessly. ,
The detection means is formed in two places on the inner side surface of the origin tray, and two non-contact sensors arranged in parallel so as to face the traveling locus of the inner side surface of the tray at appropriate positions on the base frame or the inner rail. Further, the opening dimension in the running direction is made up of detection holes different from the gaps between the adjacent trays, and the gaps and detection holes between the trays are detected by the two non-contact sensors, and according to their different operation timings. , The origin tray and the passage of each tray are detected.
According to the rotary rack having the above-described configuration, the passage of each tray is counted when the two non-contact sensors detect the gaps between the adjacent trays, and the non-contact sensor detects the detection hole, thereby Since the tray is detected, it is not necessary to attach a conventional dog to each tray, and it is not necessary to correct or adjust the bending, thereby improving the work efficiency at the site.
[0008]
In the rotary rack, it is preferable that the detection hole is formed by bulging the bottom plate and the side plate on the non-contact sensor side of the origin tray downward and perforating the side plate of the bulging portion.
If it does in this way, a non-contact sensor will not detect the load on a tray accidentally, and a malfunctioning is prevented.
[0009]
In the rotary rack, the dimension of the detection hole in the tray running direction is shorter than the gap between adjacent trays, and the detection width between both non-contact sensors is longer than the detection hole and adjacent to the detection hole. The length is preferably shorter than the gap between the trays.
In this way, it is possible to reliably detect the origin tray and each tray by changing the operation timing of the non-contact sensor with a simple configuration.
[0010]
In the rotary rack, it is preferable that both non-contact sensors are attached to the base frame or the inner rail so that the position thereof can be adjusted in the traveling direction.
In this way, the detection position and sensitivity of the non-contact sensor can be optimally adjusted even if a dimensional error or the like occurs in the components of the rotary rack.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
In FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, an oval inner rail 3 and an outer rail 4 are attached to a large number of support columns 2 in the base frame 1 in upper and lower stages, respectively. An upward U-shaped guide rail 5 is provided in parallel with the entire circumference.
[0013]
The guide rail 5 is supported on an arm 6 installed on the column 2.
[0014]
7 is a tray for storing the load W. The rollers 8 rotate around the horizontal axis respectively in front and rear in the running direction on the inner side and in front and rear in the running direction of the hanging piece 7a provided on the outer side. 9 is pivotally attached.
[0015]
A guide roller 11 is pivotally attached to a lower end of the connecting pin 10 before and after depending on the inner side surface of each tray 7 with a predetermined space between the tray 7. The inner and outer rollers 8 and 9 are respectively supported by the inner and outer rails 3 and 4 of each stage, and the guide roller 11 is fitted to the guide rail 5. As a result, a large number of trays 7 can run on the inner and outer rails 3 and 4.
[0016]
The adjacent connecting pins 10 and 10 of the trays 7 adjacent to each other in the front and rear are sequentially connected by a plurality of equal-length links 12. The links 12 form an endless chain, and the plurality of trays 7 are long at predetermined intervals. It is connected in a circle.
[0017]
As described above, the connecting pin 10 serves to connect the adjacent links 12 and also connects the tray 7.
[0018]
The connecting pins 10 of each tray 7 in the semicircular portions at both ends of the row of the trays 7 arranged in an oval shape along the rails 3 and 4 are pivotally attached to the base plates 13 at the semicircular portions at both ends of the base frame 1. The engagement grooves 14 a and 15 a formed on the peripheral surfaces of the large-diameter disk-shaped drive sprocket 14 and the driven sprocket 15 are fitted below the link 12.
[0019]
The drive sprocket 14 is rotated by a reduction motor 18 mounted on one base plate 13 via a transmission sprocket 16 and a chain 17 that are coaxial with the drive sprocket 14, whereby the row of trays 7 is placed on the inner and outer rails 3 and 4. Can be run endlessly.
[0020]
In the rotary rack, the loading / unloading of the load W into / from the tray 7 is performed by, for example, human power or a lift at a station (not shown) provided in a semicircular portion.
[0021]
As shown in enlarged views in FIGS. 4 and 5, a downward U-shaped support member 19 adjusts the position in the longitudinal direction at an appropriate position of the straight portion of the upper piece 3 a of the right inner rail 3. It is fitted from above as possible and is fixed by a bolt 20. Two non-contact sensors arranged in the running direction of the tray 7, that is, a diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor 22, are arranged on the upper surface of the distal end portion of the outward L-shaped sensor bracket 21 whose upper end portion is fixed to the support member 19. It is installed inside and outside as adjustable position.
[0022]
The light from the two photoelectric sensors 22 is irradiated toward the traveling locus of the lower end portion of the inner surface of the tray 7, and the dimensions between the optical axes are adjacent to each other as shown in FIG. It is slightly smaller than the gap S formed between the trays 7.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 6, a detection hole 23 facing the running direction is formed in one of the multiple trays 7 in the lower center of the inner side surface on the inner rail 3 side, and the tray having the detection hole 23 is provided. Is defined as the origin tray 7 ′.
[0024]
The detection hole 23 bulges the bottom surface on the inner side of the origin tray 7 ′ downward, and is drilled on the inner side surface of the bulging portion 24 so as to be lower than the placement surface 25 of the load W. (See FIG. 5).
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 5, when the origin tray 7 ′ rotates, the light from both the photoelectric sensors 22 is also radiated to the detection holes 23.
[0026]
The opening dimension of the detection hole 23 in the traveling direction is smaller than the dimension between the optical axes of the photoelectric sensors 22, that is, the gap S between the adjacent trays 7. As shown in FIG. The photoelectric sensor 22 does not irradiate the detection hole 23 at the same time.
[0027]
The reason why the position of the detection hole 23 is lower than the placement surface 25 of the load W is to eliminate malfunction due to the presence or absence of the load W when the photoelectric sensor 22 irradiates the detection hole 23.
[0028]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 8, for example, with reference to the origin tray 7 ′, all the trays 7 are assigned addresses from 01 to n in the running direction of the arrow, and are rotated in the direction of the arrow from the illustrated stop state. 9, when the tray 7 at address 04 passes through both photoelectric sensors 22 (for convenience, R is assigned to the right and L is attached to the left), the photoelectric sensor 22 on the right side is passed. When the gap S between the trays 7 at addresses 04 and 03 passes through both photoelectric sensors 22, the dimension between the optical axes of both photoelectric sensors 22 is made smaller than the gap S. Therefore, an overlap region is formed in which both the left and right photoelectric sensors 22 are off (or on), and the tray 7 starts counting.
[0030]
When the origin tray 7 ′ at address 01 passes through both photoelectric sensors 22, since the dimension between the optical axes of both sensors 22 is smaller than the detection hole 23, the right photoelectric sensor 22 is turned off (or On), the left photoelectric sensor 22 is on (or off) and the two do not operate simultaneously.
[0031]
Thereby, it is detected that the origin tray 7 ′ has passed. Therefore, by starting counting the other trays 7 based on the origin tray 7 ', the counting error is eliminated, and the tray 7 at the desired address indicated on the control panel or the like is surely stopped at the loading / unloading station. Can be made.
[0032]
In addition, when it makes it run in the direction opposite to the above, only the left photoelectric sensor 22 act | operates first, and the effect | action similar to the above is acquired.
[0033]
In the above embodiment, the diffuse reflection type photoelectric sensor 22 is used, but a proximity sensor can also be used.
【The invention's effect】
The present invention has the following effects.
[0034]
(A) According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a dog as in the prior art is not required, the number of man-hours required for manufacturing and mounting thereof is reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
Further, since there are no protrusions from the tray, there is no need to correct or adjust the bending, and the work efficiency at the site is improved.
[0035]
(B) According to the invention described in claim 2, the non-contact sensor does not erroneously detect the load on the tray, and malfunction is prevented.
[0036]
(C) According to the invention described in claim 3, it is possible to reliably detect the origin tray and each tray by changing the operation timing of the non-contact sensor with a simple configuration.
[0037]
(D) According to the invention described in claim 4, the detection position and sensitivity of the non-contact sensor can be optimally adjusted even if a dimensional error occurs in each member constituting the rotary rack.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a schematic sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
3 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a photoelectric sensor mounting portion.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main parts of the photoelectric sensor mounting portion and the origin tray, similarly.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the origin tray as seen from the inside.
FIG. 7 is a side view showing the positional relationship between the detection hole and the photoelectric sensor in the origin tray.
FIG. 8 is also an explanatory diagram showing how to detect the origin tray and each tray by the photoelectric sensor.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the comparison between the on and off states of two photoelectric sensors.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base frame 2 Support | pillar 3 Inner rail 4 Outer rail 5 Guide rail 6 Arm 7 Tray 7 'Origin tray 8, 9 Roller 10 Connecting pin 11 Guide roller 12 Link 13 Base plate 14 Drive sprocket 15 Drive sprocket 16 Drive sprocket 17 Chain 18 Deceleration Monitor 19 Support member 20 Bolt 21 Sensor bracket 22 Photoelectric sensor 23 Detection hole 24 Swelling portion 25 Mounting surface S Clearance W Load

Claims (4)

A number of trays connected in a row at predetermined intervals and one origin tray are supported by inner and outer rails that are formed in an oval shape in multiple stages on the base frame, and run horizontally and endlessly. In addition, in the rotary rack comprising a detecting means for detecting the origin tray at the time of running and detecting the passage of other trays based on it,
The detection means is formed in two places on the inner side surface of the origin tray, and two non-contact sensors arranged in parallel so as to face the traveling locus of the inner side surface of the tray at appropriate positions on the base frame or the inner rail. Further, the opening dimension in the running direction is made up of detection holes different from the gaps between the adjacent trays, and the gaps and detection holes between the trays are detected by the two non-contact sensors, and according to their different operation timings. A rotary rack characterized by detecting the passage of the origin tray and each tray. The rotary rack according to claim 1, wherein the detection hole is formed by bulging the bottom plate and the side plate on the non-contact sensor side of the origin tray downward and perforating the side plate of the bulging portion. The dimension of the detection hole in the tray running direction is shorter than the gap between adjacent trays, and the detection width between both non-contact sensors is longer than the detection hole and the gap between adjacent trays. The rotary rack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotary rack is shorter. The rotary rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein both non-contact sensors are attached to a base frame or an inner rail so that the position thereof can be adjusted in the traveling direction.

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