JP5213365B2 - Alignment device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an aligning device for aligning a game board group including one or a plurality of game boards in a game machine production line.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the gaming machine manufacturing line, as a means for rationally storing the gaming board A in the middle of manufacturing, the gaming board A is automatically loaded from the manufacturing line and automatically transferred to the next manufacturing line. A systemized automatic warehouse 100 for carrying out the system is employed (for example, see Patent Document 1). For example, in the automatic warehouse 100, unfinished game boards A in which game nails are driven into a plywood board are loaded one by one by the first transfer conveyor 102, which is a roller conveyor, from the previous process. Stacking is performed by a stacking device 104 provided at the transfer terminal portion of the transfer conveyor 102 to form a game board group A ′ for each model or predetermined number of sheets. The game board group A ′ is transferred to the storage area R and stored in a stacked state. In the automatic warehouse 100, the game board group A ′ is taken out from the storage area R in units of model or predetermined number of sheets, and is transferred to the second transport conveyor 106, which is a roller conveyor connected to the next production line. The sheet is conveyed to the spreader 108 while maintaining the stacked state of A ′.
JP 2006-332261 A

  As described above, when handling as the gaming board group A ′ in the gaming machine production line, the stacked gaming board groups A ′ are aligned so that the side surfaces of the upper and lower gaming boards A are aligned to prevent the collapse of the load. It must be aligned to match each other.

  For example, in a gaming machine manufacturing line, an alignment device 110 shown in FIG. 12 can be considered as means for aligning the game board group A ′. The aligning device 110 is arranged to face each other across the game board group A ′, and a pair of holding plates 112 and 112 set to a size corresponding to the maximum stacking height of the game board group A ′. The fluid pressure cylinder 114 is configured to reciprocate the fluid pressure cylinder 114 and support members 116 and 116 provided above and below the fluid pressure cylinder 114. The aligning device 110 moves both sandwiching plates 112, 112 in directions close to each other by the fluid pressure cylinders 114, 114, so that both sandwiching plates 112 extending vertically on both side surfaces of the stacked game boards A are arranged. , 112 are aligned (see FIG. 12B).

  However, the game board group A 'is not necessarily conveyed to the aligning device 110 in a state of being stacked up to the maximum stacking height. That is, in the aligning device 110, when the number of stacked game boards is small, as shown in FIG. 13, the game board A is held between the lower parts of the both holding plates 112, 112, but both holding plates 112, 112 Since the game board A does not exist between the upper parts of the two parts, the upper part may move too much with the lower part of the holding plate 112 in contact with the gaming board A as a fulcrum, and the holding plate 112 may be inclined. As described above, in the aligning device 110, if the sandwiching plate 112 is inclined obliquely from an appropriate vertical posture, not only the stacked game boards A cannot be aligned, but the stacked rows of the game boards A are disturbed. There is a problem.

  That is, the present invention has been proposed to solve these problems in view of the above-described problems. In the gaming machine manufacturing line, the gaming board group is appropriately set regardless of the number of stacked gaming board groups. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alignment device capable of alignment.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended object, an alignment apparatus of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application includes:
In the gaming machine production line, an alignment place (S) provided in a transport path (106) for transporting a single game board (A) or a group of game boards (A ') consisting of a plurality of stacked game boards (A). A pair of alignment members (24, 24/54, 54) that are arranged opposite to each other across the alignment place (S) and are composed of a plurality of plates (26/56) arranged above and below,
A retreat position (P1) that is provided for each plate (26/56) of each stage and is separated from the group of game boards (A ′) received in the alignment place (S), and the game board of the alignment place (S) The plate (26) between the abutting position (P2) that abuts the side portion of the group (A ') and sandwiches the gaming board group (A') by the opposing plate (26/56). Driving means (28) for moving / 56),
Detection means (30, 40) for detecting the height of the game board group (A '),
Select and drive the drive means (28) provided on the plate (26/56) of the step corresponding to the height of the game board group (A ') detected by the detection means (30, 40) or less. Drive control means (CS) for performing a sandwiching operation of the game board group (A ') by the opposing plates (26, 26/56, 56),
Each alignment member (24) has an upper portion (27a) in the lower plate (26) at least at the retracted position (P1), and the lower portion (27b) in the upper plate (26) adjacent to the upper portion (S) side. The contact surface (26a) that contacts the game board group (A ') in the upper and lower plates (26) is formed so as to be aligned vertically at the contact position (P2). ,
The pair of alignment members (24, 24) are formed such that the upper and lower edges of the contact surfaces (26a, 26a) of the plates (26, 26) at the opposite stages are positioned at the same height. It is characterized by being.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the alignment member is constituted by a plurality of plates arranged in a vertical relationship, and the height of the game board group is detected by the detection means according to the height of the stacked game board group. Only the plate of the step is clamped and the plate of the plate corresponding to the area where the game board group does not exist is not clamped. That is, in the plate that has moved toward the contact position, the difference between the portion that contacts the game board group and is loaded and the portion that does not contact the game board group and is not loaded can be reduced. Therefore, since the plate can be moved toward the contact position while maintaining an appropriate posture, the game board group can be aligned at an appropriate position by the contact surface of the plate. In addition, the upper part of the lower plate is arranged so that the upper part of the lower plate overlaps the lower part of the upper plate in the retracted position, so that the upper plate moves to the upper part of the lower plate. This prevents the upper plate from moving alone to the contact position. As described above, since the upper plate moves on the condition that the lower plate moves toward the alignment place, it is possible to avoid poor alignment of the game board group.

In the invention according to claim 2, the detecting means (40) is provided at the lower end portion of the contact surface (26a) of the plate (26) of each step in the one alignment member (24), and has a certain strength. A light projecting section (44) for irradiating light, and the other alignment member (24) provided at the lower end portion of the contact surface (26a) of the plate (26) at each step so as to face the light projecting section (44). And a light receiving part (46) for receiving light emitted from the light projecting part (44),
The plate (26) at the stage where the amount of received light is determined to be less than or equal to the specified value by the determination means (48) for determining whether or not the amount of light received by each light receiving unit (46) is less than or equal to the preset specified value. The drive means (28) provided on the plate is controlled to be positively driven by the drive control means (CS) , so that the plate (26) is moved from the retracted position (P1) to the contact position (P2). After that, the driving means (28) is controlled to reversely drive, so that the clamping operation of moving the plate (26) from the contact position (P2) toward the retracted position (P1) is performed. The summary is as follows.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, even when the detection unit of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit in the detection unit is arranged in a minimum number, the plate of the stage to be clamped can be appropriately determined and aligned. The entire game board group that has arrived at the place can be reliably aligned.

  According to the aligning device according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately align the game board groups regardless of the number of stacked game board groups.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the alignment apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of explanation, the same components as those of the gaming machine production line shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the alignment apparatus 10 of the embodiment includes a game board group A ′ composed of one game board A or a plurality of stacked game boards A conveyed from the previous process by the first conveyor 102. A gaming machine equipped with an automatic warehouse 100 that receives and temporarily stores it in the storage area R and delivers the game board group A ′ stored in the storage area R to the subsequent process by the second conveyor 106 as necessary. It is provided in the production line.

  Here, prior to the description of the alignment apparatus 10 of the embodiment, a gaming machine manufacturing line provided with the alignment apparatus 10 will be briefly described. In the gaming machine production line of the embodiment, in the pre-process of the automatic warehouse 100, with respect to the substantially regular quadrilateral plywood plate 60 formed so that the opposing sides are parallel and the angle between adjacent sides is 90 °, (a) A cell serving as a game board surface is mounted on the front side, (b) holes 62 for various game parts are drilled in the game board surface, (c) a gauge press for mounting a guide rail is performed, and (d) a game nail 64, the game board A is manufactured until the board decoration 66 and the guide rail 68 are mounted (see FIG. 2). Note that the game nails 64, the board decoration 66, and the guide rails 68 mounted on the surface of the plywood board 60 have approximately the same protruding dimensions from the surface of the plywood board 60.

  A roller conveyor type first transport conveyor 102 is provided between the automatic warehouse 100 and the preceding process, and the surface on which the game board A is mounted with the game nail 64, the guide rail 68, and the like is provided by the first transport conveyor 102. It is conveyed one by one in a laid posture with the side facing up. In addition, a stacking device 104 for stacking the game boards A for each model or required number is provided at the transfer end portion of the first transfer conveyor 102. The stacking device 104 accepts the next game board A in a state where the game board A that has been transported by the first conveyor 102 is raised and held, and places the previous game board A on the next game board A. As a result, they are stacked in a state where the back surface on the flat plywood board 60 side is overlaid on the surface on which the game nail 64 and the guide rail 68 are mounted. Then, the game board group A ′ stacked in the required number unit (up to 20 in the embodiment) in the stacking device 104 is directly stored in the storage area R of the automatic warehouse 100 by the transporting device 105 that can arbitrarily travel. Stored in state.

  A roller conveyor type second transport conveyor 106 is provided between the automatic warehouse 100 and the subsequent process, and the game board group A ′ is transferred from the storage area R to the second transport conveyor 106 by the transport device 105. The second transport conveyor 106 is provided with an aligning device 10 according to the embodiment and a leveling device 108 that is provided downstream in the transport direction of the aligning device 10 and makes the game board group A ′ one by one game board A. It has been. The leveling device 108 keeps the lower game board A in the received game board group A ′, holds the other game board A up, and sends the lower game board A to the downstream side in the transport direction in this state. By repeating this, the game board A is handed over to the subsequent process one by one. In the subsequent process, necessary game parts (a symbol display device, a large pitching device, a decorative part, etc.) are attached according to the specifications of each model.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the gaming machine production line, the first transport conveyor 102, the stacking device 104, the transport device 105, the second transport conveyor 106, the aligning device 10 and the stacking device 108 are electrically connected to the main control means C. Connected. In the gaming machine production line, each device is operated by the main control means C based on information (model, specifications, etc.) set on the gaming board A itself, production information, and the like. That is, the gaming machine production line uses the stacking device 104 for each model and required number of pieces based on the information set on the game board A itself that has been transported by the first transport conveyor 102 from the previous process and production information. The stacked game board group A ′ is stored in an appropriate storage area R in the automatic warehouse 100 by the transport device 105. In addition, the gaming machine production line requires the necessary game board group A ′ to be taken out from the appropriate storage area R of the automatic warehouse 100 by the transport device 105 to the second transport conveyor 106 based on the production information. A required number of game boards A such as models are supplied to the subsequent process. Here, the production information refers to the type and number of game boards A manufactured in the previous process, the type and number of game boards A required in the subsequent process, and the game board A stored in the automatic warehouse 100. Various types of information related to production such as model and number.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the aligning device 10 is provided at an alignment place S set in the middle of the second transfer conveyor 106 as a transfer path of the game board group A ′, and the game board group received at the alignment place S. The side portions of A ′ are vertically aligned by the aligning device 10, and the game board group A ′ is aligned with the transfer line L of the second transfer conveyor 106 (see the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3). Here, the transfer line L is a path on which the game board group A ′ should be placed and transferred on the transfer surface of the second transfer conveyor 106, and in the embodiment, the transfer on the transfer surface of the second transfer conveyor 106. The game board group A ′ is set to the center along the direction, and is transported to the subsequent process while the center is aligned with the transport line L by the aligning device 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the aligning device 10 includes a rotation conveying means 12 that is rotatably provided at the alignment place S, a regulating member 20 that restricts the movement of the game board group A ′ at the alignment place S, and an alignment. A pair of alignment members 24, 24 that are arranged to face each other across the place S and are composed of a plurality of upper and lower plates 26, and driving means that is provided for each plate 26 and reciprocates the plate 26. 28. The aligning device 10 includes a first detecting means (detecting means) 30 that detects the height and number of stacked game boards A ′ before reaching the alignment place S, and a gaming board group A that has arrived at the alignment place S. Second detection means (detection means) 40 for detecting the height of '. Further, the aligning apparatus 10 includes drive control means CS electrically connected to the main control means C, and the detection results of the first detection means 30 and the second detection means 40 are input to the drive control means CS. At the same time, the rotary control unit 12 and the elevating unit 22 for elevating and lowering the regulating member 20 and the driving unit 28 are appropriately driven by the drive control unit CS.

  The rotary conveying means 12 is spaced apart in parallel with the inside of the circular frame 14, and a plurality of roller portions 16 that are rotationally driven around a horizontal axis constitute a placement surface 12a of the game board group A ′. The game board group A ′ is received from the second transport conveyor 106 on the upstream side or the game board group A ′ is delivered to the second transport conveyor 106 on the downstream side by the rotational drive of the roller portion 16. Further, the rotary conveying means 12 is configured to be rotated in the horizontal direction by the rotating portion 18 (see FIG. 6), and the delivery direction of the game board group A ′ by the plurality of roller portions 16 is the conveying direction of the second conveying conveyor 106. Can be displaced in a first direction (see FIG. 7A) to be aligned with the second direction rotated by 90 ° from the first direction (see FIG. 7C). In the rotary conveying means 12 of the embodiment, the circular frame 14 supported rotatably with respect to the apparatus main body frame 10a is rotated in an appropriate direction by a rotating portion 18 composed of a speed change mechanism combining a motor and a gear. Here, the rotary transport means 12 is set to the first direction when receiving the game board group A ′ from the second transport conveyor 106 on the upstream side, and is rotated by 90 ° in an appropriate direction (clockwise in the embodiment) to be second. When the game board group A ′ is transferred to the second transport conveyor 106 on the downstream side, it is rotated in an appropriate direction (counterclockwise) and is again set in the first direction. Further, the rotary conveyance means 12 is arranged so that the rotation center is located on the conveyance line L. Note that the placement surface 12a of the rotary conveying means 12 is set to be larger than the interval (width) between opposing sides of the game board A.

  The restricting member 20 is a plate-like body extending in the vertical direction, and is disposed at the end edge on the front side in the sending direction on the placement surface 12a of the rotary carrying means 12 in the first direction, more specifically. The regulating member 20 is configured to appear and disappear in the gap between the roller portion 16 adjacent to the second transport conveyor 106 on the downstream side and the circular frame 14. The restricting member 20 protrudes above the placement surface 12a by the lifting means 22 such as a cylinder, and is in a raised position for restricting the movement of the game board group A ′ located at the alignment place S to the front side in the sending direction (FIG. 5). (Refer to FIG. 8 (a)), retreating below the placement surface 12a, and allowing the game board group A ′ positioned at the alignment place S to move forward in the sending direction and to allow the rotary conveying means 12 to rotate horizontally. The position is displaced between the positions (see FIG. 8C). Here, the restricting member 20 is arranged at a distance of half the width of the game board A from the rotation center of the rotation conveying means 12 and passes through the center of the game board group A ′ restricted by the restricting member 20 (transmission). The direction (orthogonal to the direction) line coincides with the rotation center of the rotary conveying means 12.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the alignment member 24 is provided on each side of the alignment place S orthogonal to the delivery direction of the game board group A ′ in the rotary conveying means 12, and a pair of alignment members 24 sandwiching the alignment place S. , 24 are opposed to each other. The pair of alignment members 24, 24 is set to have a vertical dimension equal to or slightly larger than the height of the gaming board group A ′ having the maximum number of stacks (20 in the embodiment) (see FIG. 4) and rotated. It extends parallel to the sending direction of the game board group A ′ in the transport means 12 and is arranged in a symmetrical positional relationship across the transport line L (see FIG. 3). Each alignment member 24 is composed of a plurality of stages (three stages in the embodiment) of plates 26, 26, 26 arranged in a vertical relationship, and a surface (abutment surface) 26 a facing the alignment place S in each plate 26 is formed. It is formed to be flat and extend vertically. Each plate 26 is moved away from the game board group A ′ received in the alignment place S by the driving means 28 provided for each plate 26, and the game board group A in the alignment place S is separated from the retreat position P1 (solid line in FIG. 3). The abutting surface 26a is brought into contact with the side portion of 'and moved between the abutting position P2 (two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) sandwiching the game board group A' by the opposing plate 26. .

  In the paired alignment members 24, 24, the contact surfaces 26a of the plates 26 at each step are set to have the same vertical dimension, and the contact surfaces 26a, 26a of the plates 26, 26 at the opposite steps are The end edges are formed at the same height. Further, the opposed plates 26 and 26 are formed in the same symmetrical shape with the conveyance line L in between. In the alignment member 24 of the embodiment, a contact surface 26a of a plate 26 (hereinafter referred to as a lower plate in the case of distinction) at the lowest level with respect to the gaming board group A ′ having the maximum number of stacks is the lowest level. The game board A is in contact with the game boards A up to the seventh stage at the contact position P2, and the contact surface 26a of the plate 26 (middle stage plate) located in the middle stage is the 14th stage from the game board A in the eighth stage from the bottom. The contact surface 26a of the uppermost plate 26 (upper plate) is in contact with the remaining game board A at the contact position P2. Each alignment member 24 is arranged such that the center of each plate 26 in the direction along the delivery direction of the rotary conveyance means 12 coincides with the left and right lines passing through the rotation center of the rotary conveyance means 12. In the alignment member 24 of the embodiment, the width of the plate 26 in the direction along the feeding direction of the rotary conveying means 12 is set to be the same in the upper and lower stages and is set to be narrower than the width of the game board A.

  In each alignment member 24, the plates 26, 26 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction are arranged such that the contact surfaces 26a, 26a are aligned vertically at the contact position P2 to form one vertical surface (FIG. 8 ( b)). In the alignment member 24 of the embodiment, the contact surfaces 26a, 26a of the plates 26, 26 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction are also aligned vertically in the retracted position P1 to form one vertical surface (FIG. 4). reference).

  As shown in FIG. 4, in each alignment member 24, the upper part 27 a of the lower plate 26 is arranged so as to overlap the alignment place S side of the lower part 27 b of the plate 26 adjacent to the upper stage, and the lower plate 26 is arranged in the alignment place. On the condition of moving to the S side, the plate 26 adjacent to the upper stage is allowed to move to the alignment place S side. More specifically, in the alignment member 24, the lower plate 26 that is the lower step of the other plate 26 and the upper portion 27a of the middle plate 26 have an edge on the contact surface 26a side opposite to the contact surface 26a (back surface). It is formed in a staircase shape protruding upward from the side edge. On the other hand, the middle plate 26 that is the upper stage of the other plate 26 and the lower part 27b of the upper plate 26 have a rear edge protruding downward from an edge on the contact surface 26a side and are adjacent to the lower stage. It is formed in a stepped shape that matches the upper portion 27 a of the plate 26. That is, each alignment member 24 is aligned with the lower portion 27b of the plate 26 adjacent to the lower stage on the side of the alignment place S of the lower portion 27b protruding downward from the lower edge of the contact surface 26a of the upper plate 26 at the retracted position P1. The upper part 27a formed by fitting is configured to fit together.

  The drive means 28 has a body portion fixed to a frame body (not shown) with the rod 28a moving forward and backward in the left-right direction facing the alignment place S, and corresponds to the upper and lower plates 26 in each alignment member 24. Thus, a plurality of plates are arranged on the back side of the plate 26 in the vertical relationship. The rod 28a of the driving means 28 is connected to a position corresponding to the center of the contact surface 26a on the back surface of the plate 26, and the driving means 28 moves the rod 28a forward and backward to move the corresponding plate 26 supported by the rod 28a. The linearly reciprocating movement is maintained while maintaining the posture with respect to the alignment place S. The driving means 28, 28 at the opposite stages are driven with a time difference (in the embodiment) or synchronously, and the plates 26, 26 at the opposite stages are brought close to each other from the retracted position P1 to the contact position P2. The game board group A ′ is clamped and separated from each other, and a series of clamping operations for moving from the contact position P2 to the retracted position P1 is performed. As the driving means 28, a fluid pressure cylinder using air, oil or the like is employed.

  The retreat position P1 of the plate 26 is separated from the movement trajectory of the game board group A ′ when the game board group A ′ rotates with the entry / exit of the game board group A ′ with respect to the alignment place S and the rotation of the rotary conveying means 12. The position is set. On the other hand, the contact position P2 of the plate 26 is set to a position where the distance between the contact surfaces 26a of the opposing plates 26, 26 coincides with the width of the game board A in the holding direction (left and right direction in the embodiment). Is done. That is, in the embodiment, the positions separated by half the width of the game board A from the transfer line L (the rotation center of the rotary transfer means 12) are the contact positions P2 and P2, and the holding direction of the plates 26 and 26 in the game board A The abutting positions P2 and P2 are appropriately adjusted in accordance with the width of.

  As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5, the first detection means 30 is arranged at a part connected to the upstream second transport conveyor 106 in the alignment device 10, and is received by the rotary transport means 12 from the second transport conveyor 106. It is configured to detect the height and number of stacked game boards A ′. The first detection means 30 is provided on a pair of columnar bodies 32 and 32 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction across the conveyance line L with respect to the apparatus main body frame 10a. A light projecting unit 34 is disposed, and a first light receiving unit 36 that is spaced apart from the other columnar body 32 in the vertical direction and faces the plurality of first light projecting units 34 is disposed. Specifically, the first detection means 30 corresponds to the thickness of the game board A including the veneer board 60 and the game nails 64 and the guide rails 68 mounted on the surface of the veneer board 60. Detection sets (20 sets in the embodiment) including the first light projecting unit 34 and the first light receiving unit 36 are respectively arranged at the height of the board A, and the game boards A in the game board group A ′ are respectively arranged by the detection sets. It can be detected for each stage.

  The first detection unit 30 includes first determination unit 38 that determines whether or not the amount of light received by the first light receiving unit 36 is equal to or less than a preset specified value (see FIG. 6). Then, in the first detection means 30, when light of a certain intensity is emitted from the first light projecting unit 34 in each detection group, the corresponding first light receiving unit 36 cannot sense the received light amount of the predetermined value set in advance. In addition, the first determination means 38 detects the presence of the game board A at the level corresponding to the height of the detection group. That is, the first detection means 30 can detect the number of stacks of the game board group A ′ from the number of detection groups detecting the game board A, and detect the game board A at the uppermost detection group. Thus, the height of the game board group A ′ can be detected.

  The first detection means 30 is provided on a pair of columnar bodies 32 and 32 fixed to the apparatus main body frame 10a, but the second detection means 40 is provided on each plate 26 that reciprocally moves in the pair of alignment members 24 and 24. Is provided. The second detection means 40 is provided at the lower end portion of the contact surface 26a of the plate 26 of each step in the one alignment member 24, the second light projecting portion 44 for irradiating light of a certain intensity, and the other alignment member. 24, a second light receiving portion 46 that is provided at the lower end portion of the contact surface 26a of the plate 26 of each step so as to face the second light projecting portion 44 and receives the light emitted from the second light projecting portion 44. ing. As described above, each of the opposing plates 26 and 26 is provided with a detection set including the second light projecting unit 44 and the second light receiving unit 46. Here, the second light projecting unit 44 and the second light receiving unit 46 are provided in the range of the thickness of the game board A from the lower edge of the contact surface 26a of the plate 26 and on the side of the front side of the plate 26 in the sending direction. Is set to detect the presence or absence of the game board A located at the lowest stage among the game boards A with which the plate 26 abuts. The second detection means 40 includes second determination means 48 for determining whether or not the amount of light received by the second light receiving unit 46 is equal to or less than a preset specified value (see FIG. 6). Then, the second detection unit 40 is irradiated with light of a certain intensity from the second light projecting unit 44 in each detection group, and the corresponding second light receiving unit 46 cannot detect a light reception amount of a predetermined value set in advance. In addition, it is detected by the second determination means 48 that there is at least a gaming board group A ′ having a height of a detection group in which the received light amount of the specified value cannot be detected.

  The drive control means CS is configured to detect the height of the game board group A ′ by the first detection means 30 and the second detection means 40, or based on the preset operation information of the component equipment, the rotary conveyance means 12 and the regulating member 20. The elevator means 22 and the drive means 28 are controlled. The drive control means CS is supplied with production information from the main control means C, specifically the number of stacked game board groups A ′ delivered from the storage area R of the automatic warehouse 100 to the second transport conveyor 106. Then, the drive control means CS compares the number of stacked game board groups A ′ input from the first detecting means 30 with the number of stacked game board groups A ′ input from the main control means C. When the two are different, the abnormality is notified and the alignment device 10 is stopped.

  The drive control means CS determines whether the height detection result of the game board group A ′ by the first detection means 30 is different from the height detection result of the game board group A ′ by the second detection means 40, that is, the first detection. When the plate 26 selected by the detection result of the means 30 is different from the plate 26 selected by the detection result of the second detection means 40, an abnormality is notified. Further, the drive control means CS may detect that the second detection means 40 does not detect the game board group A ′ even if a predetermined time elapses even though the game board group A ′ is detected by the first detection means 30. In addition, it is configured to notify the abnormality. Note that the drive control means CS is configured such that the first detection means 30 and the second detection means 40 detect that the lower detection group is the game board A regardless of whether the upper detection group detects the game board A. Even when no detection is detected, the abnormality of the detection means 30, 40 is notified.

  The drive control means CS selects and drives the drive means 28 provided on the stage plate 26 corresponding to the height of the game board group A ′ detected by the first detection means 30 and the second detection means 40. Thus, the holding operation of the game board group A ′ by the opposing plates 26, 26 is performed in the first direction and the second direction of the rotary conveying means 12, respectively. Further, the drive control means CS controls the rotation conveyance means 12 so as to horizontally rotate in a preset timing and direction by shifting from the timing of the clamping operation of the opposed plates 26, 26, and the first in the rotation conveyance means 12. A rotation operation between the direction and the second direction is performed.

(Effects of Example)
Next, the operation of the alignment apparatus 10 according to the embodiment will be described. In accordance with the production information set in the main control means C based on the production plan, the automatic warehouse 100 takes out the type and number of game board groups A ′ required in the subsequent process from the storage area R by the transport device 105. , And delivered to the conveyance start end of the second conveyance conveyor 106. The game board group A ′ is transported by the second transport conveyor 106 and passes between the detection groups of the first detection means 30 provided on the entrance side of the aligning device 10 and from the second transport conveyor 106 in the first direction. To the rotary conveying means 12. In the first detection means 30, the light emitted from the first light projecting unit 34 is blocked by the passage of the game board group A ′, and the amount of light received by the corresponding first light receiving unit 36 is less than the specified value. By determining with the 1 determination means 38, presence of the game board A of the stage corresponding to the installation height of the said detection group is detected, and this detection result is input into the drive control means CS. The drive control means CS obtains the number of stacks of the game board group A ′ from the number of detection groups that have detected the game board A and also determines the game board group A from the installation height of the uppermost detection group that has detected the game board A. Also ask for 'height. In the aligning device 10, the number of stacked game board groups A ′ in the production information input from the main control means C in the drive control means CS and the actual game board group A ′ detected by the first detection means 30. If the number of stacks is compared with the number of stacks, the alignment work proceeds. On the other hand, if the number of stacks is different, the abnormality is reported by auditory means such as voice or alarm sound or visual means such as lighting of a warning lamp or screen display, and the alignment operation is stopped.

  The game board group A ′ received by the aligning device 10 is transported toward the aligning place S by the roller section 16 that is rotationally driven by the rotational transport means 12. The movement of the game board group A ′ is restricted by a regulating member 20 held at the raised position protruding from the placement surface 12a at the sending edge of the rotary conveying means 12, and in this state the rotation of the roller part 16 is prevented. By stopping, it stops between the pair of alignment members 24, 24 retracted to the retracted position P1 in the alignment place S. In the aligning device 10, the presence of the game board group A ′ is detected by the second detection means 40, or the required time has elapsed since the first detection means 30 detects the passage of the game board group A ′. On the condition that the sensor provided on the regulating member 20 detects the game board group A ′, the rotational drive of the roller portion 16 of the rotary conveying means 12 is stopped.

  The height of the game board group A ′ arriving at the alignment place S is detected by the second detection means 40. In the second detection means 40, it is confirmed that the light emitted from the second light projecting unit 44 is blocked by the arrival of the game board group A ′, and the amount of light received by the corresponding second light receiving unit 46 is less than the specified value. By determining with the 2 determination means 48, presence of game board group A 'corresponding to the installation height of the said detection group is detected, and a detection result is input into the drive control means CS. Further, in the aligning device 10, since the second light projecting portion 44 and the second light receiving portion 46 of each detection group in the second detection means 40 are provided on the side portion on the front side in the sending direction of the plate 26, the game board group A ′ is provided. It can be confirmed that it is placed on the mounting surface 12a of the rotary conveying means 12.

  The drive control means CS determines to which plate 26 the height of the game board group A ′ has reached from the detection group of the second detection means 40 that has detected the game board A. That is, when only the detection groups provided on the opposed lower plates 26 and 26 detect the game board group A ′, the game board group A ′ is located at the alignment place S and the game board group A ′ It can be seen that the uppermost stage is located in the upper and lower range of the contact surface 26 a of the lower plate 26. In the drive control means CS, the detection set provided on the opposed lower plates 26, 26 and the middle plate 26, 26 detects the game board A, and the detection set provided on the opposed upper plates 26, 26 serves as the game board. When A is not detected, it can be seen that the uppermost stage of the game board group A ′ is at least the lower plate 26 or more and is located in the upper and lower range of the contact surface 26a in the middle plate 26. Further, in the drive control means CS, when all detection groups detect the game board A, the uppermost stage of the game board group A ′ is at least the middle plate 26 or more, and the contact surface 26a of the upper plate 26 is It can be seen that it is located in the vertical range. Then, the aligning device 10 includes the plate 26 in the stage where the uppermost stage of the game board group A ′ calculated from the number of stacked game board groups A ′ in the production information in the drive control means CS, and the second detection means 40. The plate 26 of the stage in which the uppermost stage of the game board group A ′ detected in (2) is compared, and if these pieces of information match, the alignment operation proceeds. On the other hand, if these pieces of information are different, the alignment apparatus 10 notifies the abnormality as in the case where the detection result of the game board group A 'by the first detection means 30 and the production information do not match, and stops the alignment operation.

  The alignment apparatus 10 moves to the alignment operation by the pair of alignment members 24 and 24 after completing the step of confirming the game board group A ′ based on the detection results of the first detection means 30 and the second detection means 40. In the aligning device 10, the first detection means 30 and the second detection means 40 are provided on the plate 26 of the step corresponding to the height of the game board group A ′ or less according to the height detection result of the game board group A ′. The drive means 28 is selectively driven by the drive control means CS, and performs a holding operation of the game board group A ′ by the opposing plates 26 and 26. For example, in the case of a gaming board group A ′ having 12 stacks (see FIG. 8), the uppermost stage of the gaming board group A ′ is located in the vertical range of the abutting surface 26a of the middle stage plate 26. The driving means 28 connected to the middle plate 26 and the driving means 28 connected to the lower plate 26 are selected by the control means CS. In the aligning device 10, when a plurality of upper and lower drive means 28 are selected, the upper and lower drive means 28 are driven synchronously by the drive control means CS for each of the alignment members 24 on one side. In the example, the positive drive timings of the opposing drive means 28 and 28 are shifted for each alignment member 24.

  In the clamping operation by the opposing alignment members 24, 24, first, one or a plurality of driving means 28 selected in one alignment member 24 is positively driven. As a result, the plate 26 connected to the positively driven drive means 28 is moved forward from the retracted position P1 toward the contact position P2 (see FIG. 7A or FIG. 8A), and the plate 26 is contacted. When the contact surface 26a reaches the contact position P2, the driving means 28 is stopped. One plate 26, in the process of moving forward from the retracted position P1 to the contact position P2, pushes the side portion of the game board A protruding from the contact position P2 toward the one alignment member 24 with the contact surface 26a, Align to the contact position P2.

  Next, when one or a plurality of driving means 28 selected in the other alignment member 24 is positively driven, the plate 26 connected to the driving means 28 moves forward from the retracted position P1 to the contact position P2. When the contact surface 26a of the plate 26 reaches the contact position P2, the drive means 28 is stopped (see FIG. 7B or FIG. 8B). While the other plate 26 moves forward from the retracted position P1 to the contact position P2, the side surface of the game board A protruding from the contact position P2 toward the other alignment member 24 is pushed by the contact surface 26a. Align to the contact position P2. When the other plate 26 reaches the contact position P2, the distance from the one plate 26 stopped at the contact position P2 becomes the same as the width in the left-right direction of the game board A. Between the contact surface 26a and the contact surface 26a of the other plate 26, both side portions facing the left and right direction in the game board group A ′ are sandwiched. The alignment apparatus 10 holds the opposite sides of the game board group A ′ between the opposing plates 26 and 26, and then reversely drives the driving means 28, thereby moving the opposing plates 26 and 26 away from each other. Then, the first clamping operation is completed by waiting at the retreat position P1 (see FIG. 8C).

  In the aligning device 10, the contact surfaces 26a, 26a of the opposing plates 26, 26 extend parallel to the delivery direction, and the contact surfaces 26a of the upper and lower plates 26 on each side are at the contact position P2. Since the vertical plane is formed in alignment, it faces one direction of the game board group A ′ sandwiched between the opposing plates 26 and 26 (the direction intersecting the sending direction of the game board group A ′ at the time of delivery to the subsequent process). Both sides of the game board are parallel to the delivery direction and are aligned in a state where the side surfaces of the game boards A of each stage are vertically aligned. Moreover, in the aligning device 10, since the contact positions P2 are set at intervals from the transfer line L that is the transfer center of the game board group A ′, the left and right positions of the game board group A ′ in the alignment place S are also set. The center in the left-right direction in the game board group A ′ is aligned with the transport line L.

  When the first clamping operation is completed, the aligning device 10 performs a rotation operation in which the rotary conveying means 12 is rotated horizontally from the first direction at an angle of 90 ° clockwise to the second direction. The direction of the game board group A ′ placed on the surface 12a is changed by 90 ° horizontally (see FIG. 7C). The regulating member 20 is retracted to a lowered position that is lowered from the raised position to the lower side of the placement surface 12a prior to the rotating operation of the rotary conveying means 12.

  In the aligning device 10, a second clamping operation is performed by the facing alignment members 26 and 26. The second clamping operation is the same as the first clamping operation described above, and will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. In the aligning device 10, the first detection means 30 detects the 12 game board groups A ′, and the second detection means 40 detects only the game board group A ′ below the middle plate 26. Suppose you are.

  In the aligning device 10, since the uppermost stage of the game board group A 'is at a position corresponding to the middle stage plate 26, the middle and lower stage drive means 28, 28 are selected by the drive control means CS. In the aligning device 10, first, the middle and lower drive means 28, 28 are positively driven synchronously on one (left side in FIG. 3 or FIG. 7) of the alignment member 24, so that the left middle plate 26 and lower plate 26. 26 is moved forward from the retracted position P1 toward the contact position P2 with the contact surfaces 26a, 26a aligned vertically (see FIG. 7D or FIG. 8A). At this time, the opposed upper drive means 28, 28 are not driven, and the opposed upper plates 26, 26 stand by at the retracted positions P1, P1, respectively. In the process of the left middle plate 26 and the lower plate 26 moving forward from the retreat position P1 to the contact position P2, the abutment surfaces 26a and 26a of the left middle plate 26 and the lower plate 26 are used in the game board group A ′. By pushing the side of the game board A protruding to the left from the contact position P2, the protruding game board A is aligned with the contact position P2.

  Next, in the other alignment member 24 (on the right side in FIG. 3 or FIG. 7), the middle and lower drive means 28 and 28 are positively driven in synchronization, so that the right middle plate 26 and lower plate 26 are The abutting surfaces 26a, 26a are moved forward from the retracted position P1 toward the abutting position P2 in a state where the abutting surfaces 26a, 26a are aligned vertically (see FIG. 7E or FIG. 8B). In the process of the right middle plate 26 and the lower plate 26 moving forward from the retreat position P1 to the contact position P2, the contact surfaces 26a and 26a of the right middle plate 26 and the lower plate 26 are used in the game board group A ′. By pushing the side portion of the game board A protruding to the right side from the contact position P2, the game board A at the protruding stage is aligned with the contact position P2. When the right middle plate 26 and the lower plate 26 reach the contact positions P2 and P2, the distance between the opposite plate 26 stopped at the contact position P2 is the width in the horizontal direction of the game board A. The opposite-side plates 26 and 26 sandwich the opposite sides of the game board group A ′ facing in the other direction (the direction along the delivery direction of the game board group A ′ during delivery to the subsequent process). The alignment apparatus 10 holds the opposing plates 26, 26 away from each other by reversely driving the driving means 28 after sandwiching both sides facing the other direction of the game board group A ′ by the opposing plates 26, 26. It moves back in the direction and waits at the retracted position P1 to finish the second clamping operation (see FIG. 8C).

  Due to the second clamping operation, the opposite sides of the game board group A ′ held between the opposing plates 26 and 26 in the other direction are parallel to the delivery direction and perpendicular to the side surfaces of the game boards A at each stage. Aligned to the state aligned with. Here, the size of the game board A may differ depending on the model, specifications, etc., but the contact positions P2, P2 of the aligning device 10 are based on information such as the model that can be acquired from the main control means C. The drive control means CS adjusts appropriately by changing the timing at which the drive means 28 is stopped. For example, when the game board A is not square but rectangular, the contact position P2 is changed between the first clamping operation and the second clamping operation.

  When the second clamping operation is completed, the aligning device 10 performs a rotation operation in which the rotary conveying unit 12 is rotated horizontally from the second direction by a 90 ° angle counterclockwise to the first direction. The direction of the game board group A ′ placed on the placement surface 12a is changed by 90 ° horizontally (see FIG. 7F). Then, by rotating and driving the roller portion 16 of the rotary conveyance means 12, the grouped game boards A ′ are delivered to the second conveyance conveyor 106 on the downstream side and directed to the subsequent process by the second conveyance conveyor 106. Are transported.

  The aligning device 10 aligns one direction of the game board group A ′ by the first clamping operation, rotates the rotary conveying means 90 °, and then performs the second clamping operation, thereby allowing the gaming board group A 'The other direction is aligned. As described above, since the game board group A ′ at the alignment place S is rotated by the rotation conveying means 12, the alignment place S can be provided without providing the alignment members 24 corresponding to the four sides of the game board group A ′. The four sides of the game board group A ′ can be easily aligned by simply providing the alignment members 24, 24 that form a pair on the side. Moreover, the paired alignment members 24, 24 are provided on the side of the rotary conveying means 12 in a direction intersecting with the delivery direction of the game board group A ′ and retracted from the movement trajectory of the game board group A ′. Since the plate 26 is moved forward toward the alignment position S during the clamping operation, it does not interfere with the delivery and rotation of the game board group A ′.

  The game board group A ′ supplied to the post-process through the aligning device 10 has its four sides aligned vertically, so that it is transported by the second transport conveyor 106 or when the stacking operation is performed by the leveling device 108. There is little risk of collapse. That is, the second transport conveyor 106 does not need to be provided with a guide for supporting the side of the game board group A ′, can simplify the equipment, and can increase the transport speed of the second transport conveyor 106, It leads to the production efficiency improvement. In addition, by aligning the four sides of the game board group A ′, it is not necessary to align the game board A when performing the leveling work by the leveling device 108 or handling in the subsequent process, thereby improving work efficiency. Can be planned. Moreover, the game board group A ′ is not only aligned on the four sides, but also has the center of the game board A aligned with the transport line L. Further efficiency in work can be achieved during handling.

  In the game board group A ′, other game boards A facing the flat plywood board 60 side are stacked on the surface side of the game board A on which the game nails 64, the board decoration 66 and the guide rail 68 are mounted. The contact area between the lower game board A and the upper game board A is small, and the game nails 64 of the lower game board A and the plywood board 60 of the upper game board A are not caught. That is, in the aligning device 10, by pushing the board 26 of each stage of the game board group A ′ with the plate 26 from the side, the game board A of each stage is appropriately loaded without applying a load to the game board A itself. You can move to a position.

  As described above, the aligning device 10 includes the aligning member 24 composed of a plurality of stages of plates 26 arranged in a vertical relationship, and the height detection of the game board group A ′ by the first detecting means 30 and the second detecting means 40. Accordingly, only the plate 26 corresponding to the height of the stacked game board group A ′ is clamped, and the plate 26 corresponding to the area where the game board A does not exist is not clamped. In other words, in the clamping operation, the number of stages of the game board A in charge of pushing up to the contact position P2 per one plate 26 can be reduced, and the game board in each plate 26 moved toward the contact position P2. It is possible to reduce a difference between a portion that is in contact with the group A ′ and is loaded and a portion that is not in contact with the game board group A ′ and is not loaded. Accordingly, each plate 26 can be moved toward the contact position P2 while maintaining an appropriate posture, so that the game board A of the game board group A ′ is brought to an appropriate position by the contact surface 26a of each plate 26. Can be aligned. Thus, according to the aligning device 10, the game board group A 'can be appropriately aligned regardless of the number of stacks of the game board group A'.

  The alignment members are arranged such that the stepped upper portion 27a of the lower plate 26 is overlapped with the alignment place S side of the stepped lower portion 27b of the upper plate 26 at the retracted position P1. That is, the upper plate 26 is restricted by the lower portion 27b from being moved from the retracted position P1 to the contact position P2 by being blocked by the upper portion 27a of the lower plate 26 positioned on the alignment place S side. On the other hand, the plate 26 at each stage is allowed to move from the contact position P2 to the retracted position P1 regardless of the plate 26 at the other stage. Even if the drive control means CS issues a command to perform the clamping operation only on the middle plate 26, the middle plate 26 is restricted in movement by the lower plate 26, so that the clamping operation is performed only by the middle plate 26. This does not cause misalignment of the game board group A ′.

  The alignment device 10 is configured so that the upper and lower driving means 28 and 28 are positively driven in synchronization when the plates 26 and 26 adjacent to each other in the vertical direction perform a clamping operation. As a result, the upper and lower plates 26 and 26 are simultaneously moved forward in the fitted state in which the abutting surface 26a side of the lower portion 27b of the upper plate 26 and the rear surface side of the upper portion 27a of the lower plate 26 are brought into contact with each other. (See FIG. 7 (a) or (b)). That is, when the upper and lower plates 26 and 26 move forward, the upper portion 27 a of the lower plate 26 can be supported by the lower portion 27 b of the upper plate 26. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the middle plate 26 and the lower plate 26 are sandwiched, the lower plate 26 comes into contact with the corresponding number of game boards A, and compared to the middle plate 26, A heavy load is assumed. However, with the alignment apparatus 10 of the embodiment, the lower portion 27b of the middle plate 26 supports the upper portion 27a of the lower plate 26, and the contact load of the game board A can be distributed to the upper and lower plates 26, 26. The plate 26 can be brought into contact with the side portion of the game board group A ′ while maintaining an appropriate posture.

  The first detection means 30 is provided on the entrance side of the game board group A ′ in the alignment device 10 and can detect the height of the game board group A ′ before reaching the alignment place S. At this point, the corresponding plate 26 can be operated immediately, and the game board group A ′ can be quickly aligned. Further, since the first light projecting unit 34 and the first light receiving unit 36 of the first detection means 30 are respectively installed on the columnar body 32 provided on the non-operating apparatus body frame 10a, the second light emitting unit 34 provided on the operating plate 26 is provided. The detection accuracy is higher than that of the detection means 40.

  According to the second detection means 40, even if a minimum number of detection pairs of the second light projecting unit 44 and the second light receiving unit 46 are arranged, the plate 26 at the stage to be clamped can be appropriately determined. Thus, the entire game board group A ′ arriving at the alignment place S can be reliably aligned.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an alignment apparatus 50 according to another embodiment. In another embodiment, the aligning device 50 includes a pair of aligning members 54 and 54 that are sent from the aligning place S to the subsequent process of the game board group A ′ by the second transport conveyor 106 (the transport direction of the second transport conveyor 106). ) Are spaced apart in an obliquely intersecting direction with respect to the alignment place S. Each alignment member 54 is composed of a plurality of plates 56 arranged vertically, and each plate 56 is formed in an L shape in plan view having a surface along the delivery direction and a surface perpendicular to the delivery direction. Yes. The pair of alignment members 54, 54 are arranged such that the bent portion of the plate 56 is positioned on the diagonal line of the game board A in the game board group A ′ arriving at the alignment place S, and the alignment place along the diagonal line. The retracted position retracted to the side of S (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9) and the contact position that contacts the side of the game board group A ′ and sandwiches the opposing plate 56 and the game board group A ′ ( Each plate 56 is reciprocated by the driving means 28 between the two lines (see the solid line in FIG. 9).

  According to the aligning device 50 of another embodiment, both sides facing in one direction in the game board group A ′ are moved in the sending direction of the facing plates 56, 56 by the facing plate 56 moved forward to the contact position. At the same time, both sides of the game board group A ′ facing each other in the other direction are sandwiched by the faces orthogonal to the sending direction of the opposing plates 56, 56. In other words, the aligning device 50 has a configuration in which the rotary conveying means 12 is omitted from the aligning device 10 of the embodiment, but the game board group A received in the aligning place S by the single clamping operation of the opposing plates 56 and 56. The four sides of 'can be aligned. In addition, in the alignment apparatus 50 of another Example, the structure similar to the component of the alignment apparatus 10 of the Example mentioned above attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits description. Further, in another embodiment, the height detection of the game board group A ′ and the combined structure of the upper and lower portions of the adjacent plates 26 and 26 are the same as in the embodiment, and the sandwiching operation flow in the other embodiment is the same as that of the embodiment. This is the same as the first clamping operation.

(Change example)
The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments and other embodiments, and can be modified as follows.
(1) In the embodiment and another embodiment, the alignment device is provided in the middle of the second transfer conveyor constituting the transfer path, but may be provided at the transfer start end or transfer end of the second transfer conveyor.
(2) In the embodiment and another embodiment, the aligning device is provided in the transport path for transporting the game board from the automatic warehouse in the gaming machine production line to the subsequent process, but the transport path for transporting the game board from the previous process to the automatic warehouse. In addition, the alignment apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to any conveyance path provided in a storage area of an automatic warehouse or any other conveyance path in which game boards are stacked and conveyed.
(3) The game board to be aligned may be an incomplete product in which game nails and guide rails are mounted on a plywood board, or may be completed as a game board.
(4) In the configuration of the embodiment, the rotary conveying means may be omitted. In this case, only the opposite sides in one direction in the game board group are aligned.
(5) In the embodiment, the placement surface of the rotary conveying means is set larger than the width of the game board, but may be smaller than the width of the game board. In this case, the restricting member is disposed outside the circular frame of the rotary conveying means.
(6) Although the rotation conveyance means of the embodiment is configured to rotate forward and reverse within a range of 90 °, it may be configured to rotate only in one direction.
(7) By providing a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the game board group on the regulating member, the detection group of the first detection means or the second detection means for detecting the game board corresponding to the lowermost plate can be omitted. .
(8) In the embodiment and another embodiment, two units of the first detection unit and the second detection unit are provided as the unit for detecting the height of the game board group, but either one may be omitted.
(9) Although the alignment device of the embodiment and another embodiment has a pair of alignment members, a plurality of pairs may be provided. For example, a configuration in which a plurality of alignment members are arranged on both sides of the alignment location in the delivery direction, or a pair of alignment members are arranged with the alignment location spaced apart in the direction orthogonal to the delivery direction and another pair is formed. The arrangement may be such that the alignment members are spaced apart from each other in the delivery direction and sandwich the alignment location.
(10) In the embodiment and another embodiment, the plate linearly reciprocates between the retracted position and the contact position, but the plate can be rotated about an arbitrary axis, or the upper retracted The plate that has been retracted to the position is lowered to face the side of the game board group, and then moved forward toward the contact position, and then moved up from the contact position and then moved back to the retract position. May be.
(11) In the embodiment and another embodiment, a game board group in which a plurality of game boards are stacked is taken as an example, but there may be only one game board, and even in this case, the game board is transported. Can be aligned with the line.

(12) FIG. 10 is a side view showing a modified example of the combined structure of the upper and lower plates 26, 26 adjacent to each other in the alignment member 24. In FIG. 10, the same components as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the modification shown in FIG. 10A, the upper portion 27a of the lower plate 26 is formed so as to incline downward as it goes away from the alignment location S side. On the other hand, the lower portion 27b of the upper plate 26 is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the side away from the alignment location S side in accordance with the upper portion 27a of the lower plate 26. In the modification shown in FIG. 10 (b), a lower portion 27b is formed projecting on the back surface side of the upper plate 26, and the back surface of the upper portion 27a of the plate 26 located on the lower step is formed on the surface of the lower portion 27b on the alignment place S side. It comes to contact. Thus, also in the modified example, each alignment member 24 is adjacent to the lower position on the alignment place S side of the lower portion 27b protruding downward from the lower edge of the contact surface 26a of the upper plate 26 at least at the retracted position P1. An upper portion 27a formed in accordance with the shape of the lower portion 27b of the mating plate 26 is fitted.

It is a top view which shows the game machine manufacturing line provided with the aligning apparatus which concerns on the suitable Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows an example of a game board. It is a top view which shows the alignment apparatus of an Example. It is the XX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the YY sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a control block diagram of the gaming machine manufacturing line and the alignment device of the embodiment. It is a top view which shows the alignment operation | work in the alignment apparatus of an Example, Comprising: (a) shows the state which one alignment member moved forward in 1st clamping operation | movement, (b) is 1st clamping operation | movement. FIG. 5C shows a state in which the other alignment member moves forward and the game board group is sandwiched between the opposing plates, and (c) returns the alignment member to the retracted position and moves the rotary conveying means from the first direction to the second position. (D) shows a state in which one alignment member moves forward in the second clamping operation, and (e) shows a state in which the other alignment member moves in the second clamping operation. (F) shows the state in which the game board group is sandwiched between the plates that are moved and opposed, and the aligned members are moved back from the second direction to the first direction by moving the aligning member back to the retracted position, and are aligned. Indicates the state of sending a group of boards. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. 3 showing alignment work in the alignment apparatus of the embodiment, where (a) shows a state in which one alignment member has moved forward, and (b) shows that the other alignment member is A state in which the game board group is sandwiched between plates that are moved forward and opposed to each other is shown, and (c) shows a state in which the alignment member is moved back to the retracted position. It is a top view which shows the alignment apparatus which concerns on another Example. It is a side view which shows the alignment member which concerns on the example of a change. It is a top view which shows an example of the game machine manufacturing line provided with the automatic warehouse. It is a side view which shows an example of an aligning apparatus, Comprising: (a) shows the state before alignment of a game board group, (b) shows the state after alignment of a game board group. FIG. 13 is a side view showing an alignment state when the number of stacked game board groups is small in the alignment apparatus shown in FIG. 12.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Rotation conveyance means 12a Mounting surface 20 Restriction member 24 Alignment member 26 Plate 26a Contact surface 27a Upper part 27b Lower part 28 Driving means 30 1st detection means 40 2nd detection means 44 2nd light projection part (light projection part)
46 Second light receiving part (light receiving part)
48 Second determination means (determination means)
54 Alignment member 56 Plate 106 Second conveyor (conveyance path)
A game board A 'game board group CS drive control means P1 retreat position P2 contact position S alignment place

Claims (2)

In a gaming machine production line, a single gaming board or a group of gaming boards consisting of a plurality of stacked gaming boards are arranged opposite to each other on the side of an alignment place provided on a conveyance path for conveying the board. A pair of alignment members composed of a plurality of arranged plates;
A game board provided by a retreat position provided for each plate at each stage and separated from the group of game boards received at the alignment place, and a plate at the opposite stage while contacting a side portion of the game board group at the alignment place. Drive means for moving the plate between the contact positions for clamping the group;
Detecting means for detecting the height of the game board group;
Drive control means for selecting and driving the driving means provided on the plate of the stage corresponding to the height of the gaming board group detected by the detecting means to perform the clamping operation of the gaming board group by the opposing plates. And
Each of the alignment members is disposed so that the upper part of the lower plate overlaps with the alignment position side of the lower part of the plate adjacent to the upper stage at least in the retracted position, and abuts against the game board group on the upper and lower plates. The contact surface is formed so as to line up and down at the contact position,
The aligning device is characterized in that the pair of aligning members are formed such that upper and lower end edges of the abutting surfaces of the plates at the opposite stages are positioned at the same height. The detecting means is provided at a lower end portion of the contact surface of the plate of each step in one alignment member, and a light projecting portion for irradiating light of a certain intensity, and a contact of each plate in the other alignment member. A light receiving portion provided at a lower end portion of the contact surface facing the light projecting portion and receiving light emitted from the light projecting portion;
The drive means provided on the plate at the stage where the received light amount is determined to be equal to or less than the predetermined value by the determination means for determining whether the received light amount at each light receiving unit is equal to or less than the predetermined value set in advance By controlling the control means to forward drive, the plate is moved from the contact position by controlling the drive means to reverse drive after the plate is moved from the retracted position to the contact position. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clamping apparatus is configured to perform the clamping operation that moves toward the retracted position .

Images