JP5787346B2 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that transports a pallet on which a workpiece is placed.

  For example, in the assembly process of the engine, as shown in FIG. 9, the parts P may be assembled to the workpiece while the pallet P on which the engine block (not shown) serving as the workpiece is placed is conveyed by the conveyor C. In this case, if one pallet P shifts from the normal position (indicated by a dotted line in the drawing) to the upstream side in the transport direction, the pitch L1 with the subsequent pallet P becomes shorter than the normal pitch L. The work time for the workpiece placed on the pallet P is shortened. Each work area is provided with an ID reader for reading the information of the ID tag attached to the work, but if the pallet P is not conveyed at a predetermined pitch, the positions of the ID tag and the ID reader are shifted and read. Defects may occur. Therefore, when assembling while conveying the workpiece, it is important to convey the pallet at an equal pitch.

  The above-mentioned work conveyance is performed by, for example, a free flow conveyor. A free-flow conveyor places a pallet on a roller, belt, chain, or the like (hereinafter referred to as a roller), and conveys the pallet forward by rotating the roller with a drive motor. When assembling parts to a workpiece on a pallet transported by such a free flow conveyor, if a strong pressure is applied to the workpiece, the pallet is pressed against the roller with a strong force and a large load is applied to the drive motor. The drive motor may be damaged. Therefore, in general, a free flow conveyor has a mechanism in which a roller or the like idles when a load exceeding a predetermined value is applied in order to avoid damage to the drive motor. Therefore, in the assembly process in which a strong pressure is applied, the work and the pallet are stopped for a moment (or the speed is reduced) due to the idle rotation of the roller or the like, so that the pitch between the pallets may be shifted.

  For example, the conveying apparatus of Patent Document 1 forms a tooth mold on the lower surface of the pallet, and a belt intermittent drive mechanism having a tooth mold engaged with the tooth mold is provided in a part of the free flow conveyor. While being conveyed by the belt gap driving mechanism, the pallet tooth shape and the tooth gap of the belt gap driving mechanism are engaged with each other, so that the pallet can be prevented from being displaced.

JP 2001-97516 A

  However, in order to arrange a plurality of pallets at a predetermined pitch by the conveying device of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to mesh the tooth mold of the belt intermittent drive mechanism and the tooth mold of the pallet at a predetermined position. Further, when the gears mesh with each other at a location different from the normal position, the pallet is positioned with respect to the belt intermittent drive mechanism at that location, so that a plurality of pallets are conveyed at an incorrect pitch. In order to avoid such problems, it is necessary to control the pallet loading speed and timing with high accuracy so that the gears of the belt intermittent drive device and the pallet gears are accurately meshed at predetermined positions. High-precision control results in high costs.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a transport device that can hold a plurality of pallets at a constant pitch with a simple mechanism.

  The present invention made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems is a transport device comprising a free flow conveyor for transporting a plurality of pallets and a pitch holding conveyor provided on the transport path of the free flow conveyor, the pitch holding A conveyor is provided at equal intervals in the transport direction, and a plurality of first locking portions that come into contact with a plurality of pallets from the downstream side, and a feeding means that sends the plurality of first locking portions in the same direction as the transport direction of the free flow conveyor The feed speed of the feed means is slower than the transport speed of the pallet by the free flow conveyor.

  Thus, in the transport apparatus of the present invention, the feed speed of the feed means of the pitch holding conveyor is made slower than the pallet transport speed by the free flow conveyor. Therefore, the pallet conveyed by the free flow conveyor approaches the first locking portion of the pitch holding conveyor from the upstream side. Then, when the first locking portion comes into contact with the pallet from the downstream side, the pallet is positioned with respect to the pitch holding conveyor, and the pitch of the plurality of pallets becomes equal to the pitch of the first locking portion. Therefore, a plurality of pallets can be held at an equal pitch by providing the first locking portions at equal intervals in the transport direction.

  Moreover, this invention is a conveying apparatus provided with the free flow conveyor which conveys several pallets, and the pitch holding conveyor provided on the conveyance path | route of the free flow conveyor, Comprising: A pitch holding conveyor is equal intervals in a conveyance direction A plurality of first locking portions that can contact the plurality of pallets from the upstream side, and a feeding means that sends the plurality of first locking portions in the same direction as the transport direction of the free flow conveyor, It can also be characterized as a conveying device characterized in that the feeding speed of the feeding means is higher than the conveying speed of the pallet by the free flow conveyor.

  In this case, the 1st latching | locking part of a pitch holding conveyor approaches the pallet conveyed with a free flow conveyor from an upstream side. And a 1st latching | locking part contact | abuts a pallet from an upstream, and a pallet is positioned with respect to a pitch holding conveyor, and a some pallet is hold | maintained at equal pitch.

  If the transport device is provided with a second locking portion that contacts the pallet from the side where the first locking portion contacts and the opposite side in the transport direction, the pallet can be positioned from both sides in the transport direction. The pallet can be reliably held at an equal pitch.

  When the pallet is brought into contact with the first locking part using the difference between the pallet transport speed by the free flow conveyor and the feed speed of the pitch holding conveyor as described above, the pallet and the second locking part May interfere. Therefore, if the second locking portion can be moved upward and downward from the transfer surface of the free flow conveyor, the second locking portion is disposed below the transfer surface of the free flow conveyor, so that the pallet and the second engagement portion are arranged. Interference with the stop can be avoided. And if a pallet contact | abuts to a 1st latching | locking part, a pallet can be positioned by protruding a 2nd latching | locking part upwards from the conveyance surface of a free flow conveyor.

  In this case, an elastic member is provided to hold the second locking portion in a state of protruding upward from the conveying surface of the free flow conveyor, and the second locking portion is moved from the conveying surface of the free flow conveyor by compressing the elastic member. If the lower part can be arranged, the second locking part can be moved up and down with a simple mechanism.

  As described above, according to the transport device of the present invention, a plurality of pallets can be held at an equal pitch with a simple mechanism.

It is a top view of the conveying apparatus concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which expands and shows the said conveying apparatus. It is sectional drawing in the movement assembly | attachment area A1 of the said conveying apparatus. It is a side view of the pitch holding conveyor of the said conveying apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the state which pushed down the (a) sectional view which shows the latching | locking part of the said pitch holding conveyor, (b) top view, and (c) latching member. (A)-(c) is a side view which shows the conveying method by the said conveying apparatus. It is the fragmentary sectional view seen from the side of the conveyance device concerning other embodiments. (A)-(c) is a side view which shows the conveying method by the conveying apparatus which concerns on other embodiment. It is a top view which shows a mode that a some pallet is conveyed with a conveyor.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a transfer apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The transport device 1 includes a free flow conveyor 10 that transports a plurality of pallets P on which workpieces (not shown) are placed, and a pitch holding conveyor 20 provided on the transport path of the free flow conveyor 10. In the illustrated example, the moving assembly area A1 for assembling parts to the workpiece while conveying the pallet P, and the upstream side (left side in the figure) and the downstream side (right side in the figure) of the moving assembly area A1. A stop assembling area A2 is provided in which parts are assembled to the workpiece while the pallet P is stopped by the stopper 30. The plurality of pallets P conveyed in the moving assembly area A2 are held at an equal pitch by the pitch holding conveyor 20. In the following, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the pallet P (left-right direction in FIG. 1) is referred to as the width direction (up-down direction in FIG. 1).

  The free flow conveyor 10 conveys a plurality of placed pallets P. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of pallets P that support both ends in the width direction are viewed from below. The roller 11 constitutes a free flow conveyor 10. Each roller 11 has a rotation axis in the width direction and is arranged at equal intervals in the conveyance direction. The roller 11 is driven by a drive motor (not shown), and all the rollers 11 are driven to rotate synchronously via, for example, a belt and a pulley (not shown). Note that the free flow conveyor 10 is not limited to the roller 11, and may be configured by an endless belt or chain.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pitch holding conveyor 20 includes a plurality of first locking portions 21A that can contact the pallet P from the downstream side and a plurality of second locking portions that can contact the pallet P from the upstream side. 21B and feeding means 23 for sending the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 4, the feeding means 23 of the present embodiment includes a pair of pulleys 24 that are spaced apart from each other in the conveying direction, and a pair of endless chains 25 that are stretched across the pair of pulleys 24 in the width direction. And a drive motor 26 that rotationally drives one pulley 24. The feeding speed of the feeding means 23 (that is, the moving speed of the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B) is set slower than the conveying speed of the pallet P by the free flow conveyor 10.

  The plurality of first locking portions 21A and second locking portions 21B are arranged at equal pitches in the transport direction (see FIG. 2). The pair of first locking portions 21A and second locking portions 21B are arranged at an interval equal to the dimension in the conveyance direction of the pallet P, the first locking portions 21A on the downstream side, and the second locking portions 21B on the upstream side. Is placed. The first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B have the same configuration, and specifically, are fixed between a pair of endless chains 25 as shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). The base 21a, the locking member 21c rotatably fixed to the base 21a via the pin 21b, and the elastic member that is arranged between the base 21a and the locking member 21c and biases the locking member 21c upward. 21d (a spring in the illustrated example). As shown in FIG. 5A, the one end 21c1 (right end in the illustrated example) of the locking member 21c is always higher than the lower surface of the pallet P (that is, the conveying surface of the free flow conveyor 10). Projects upward. Further, the upper surface 21c2 of the locking member 21c has an inclined surface whose one end 21c1 side is higher than the lower surface of the pallet P and whose other end 21c3 side is lower than the lower surface of the pallet P. As shown in FIG. 5C, when one end 21c1 of the locking member 21c is pressed downward, the elastic member 21d is compressed, and the one end 21c1 of the locking member 21c is lower than the lower surface of the pallet P. Arranged below. 21 A of 1st latching | locking parts are distribute | arranged so that the one end part 21c1 which can be moved up and down of the locking member 21c becomes an upstream, and the 2nd locking part 21B is one side which can move up and down of the locking member 21c. The end portion 21c1 is arranged on the downstream side.

  Next, a state where the pallet P that has entered the moving assembly area A2 is positioned by the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 6A, before the pallet P enters the moving assembly area A2, the locking members 21c of the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B are both free-flowing. It protrudes upward from the conveying surface of conveyor 10 (the height of the lower surface of pallet P).

  And the pallet P is conveyed with the free flow conveyor 10, and the pallet P is carried in to movement assembly | attachment area A1. At this time, since the transport speed of the pallet P by the free flow conveyor 10 is faster than the feed speed of the feed means 23 of the pitch holding conveyor 20, the pallet transported by the free flow conveyor 10 as shown in FIG. P catches up with the second locking portion 21B and rides on the locking member 21c of the second locking portion 21B. At this time, since the upper surface 21c2 of the locking member 21c of the second locking portion 21B is an inclined surface whose upstream side is lower than the lower surface of the pallet P, the pallet P rides smoothly on the upper surface 21c2 of the locking member 21c. It is done. As a result, the locking member 21c is pushed downward while compressing the elastic member 21d, and the second locking portion 21B enters under the pallet P.

  When the pallet P is further conveyed to the downstream side, the pallet P gets over the second locking portion 21B as shown in FIG. 6C, and is arranged between the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B. Is done. As a result, the locking member 21c of the second locking portion 21B protrudes upward from the transport surface of the free flow conveyor 10 by the elastic reaction force of the elastic member 21d, and becomes a height capable of contacting the pallet P. At this time, the pallet P tries to advance to the downstream side by the conveying force of the free flow conveyor 10, but the locking member 21c of the first locking portion 21A comes into contact with the first locking portion 21A from the downstream side. I can't go forward. In this way, the plurality of pallets P are held at the same pitch by conveying the plurality of pallets P at the same speed as the first locking portion 21A while being pressed against the first locking portions 21A arranged at the same pitch. As described above, when the conveyance of the pallet P by the free flow conveyor 10 is restricted by the first locking portion 21A, the roller 11 is idled to prevent an excessive load from being transmitted to the drive motor, and the drive motor is damaged. Can be prevented.

  Further, even when a high pressing force is applied by assembling parts to the workpiece placed on the pallet P, the locking member 21c of the second locking portion 21B abuts from the upstream side of the pallet P, so that the pallet P does not retreat upstream from the second locking portion 21B. Thereby, the pallet P can be reliably held at an equal pitch.

  As described above, the feed speed of the pitch holding conveyor 20 is made slower than the transport speed of the free flow conveyor 10, and the pallet P is positioned in contact with the first locking portion 21A, so that the pallet P can be moved. Even when the timing of carrying into the attachment area A1 is slightly shifted, the pallets P catch up and come into contact with the first locking portions 21A, so that the plurality of pallets P can be arranged at equal pitches. In particular, when the pallet P is positioned from both sides in the transport direction by the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B, it is necessary to arrange the pallet P between them, as described above. P is arranged between the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B over the second locking portion 21B, so that it is easy without strictly controlling the timing of conveying the pallet P. It can be arranged at a predetermined position by a simple mechanism.

  Thereafter, when the pallet P reaches the downstream end of the moving assembly area A2, the first locking portion 21A rotates downward along the pulley 24 on the downstream side, whereby the pallet P by the first locking portion 21A. Are released (not shown). Then, the pallet P is discharged from the moving assembly area A2 by the free flow conveyor 10.

  In the step of holding the plurality of pallets P at the same pitch by the pitch holding conveyor 20 (see FIG. 6), since the pallet P does not ride on the first locking portion 21A, the locking of the first locking portion 21A is not necessarily performed. Although it is not necessary for the member 21c to be configured to move up and down, this configuration allows the pallet P to be easily moved during maintenance or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the location which has the same function as said embodiment, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B that contact from both sides in the conveyance direction of the pallet P are shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the second locking portion 21B is omitted. (Not shown). In this case, since the movement of the pallet P to the upstream side with respect to the pitch holding conveyor 20 is not regulated, the pallet P moves backward with respect to the pitch holding conveyor 20 when the assembling is performed in the moving assembling area A2. The first locking portion 21A and the pallet P may be separated. Even in this case, after the high pressure applied to the work is released, the pallet P is conveyed forward at a relatively high speed by the free flow conveyor 10, so that the pallet P again hits the first locking portion 21A. The pallet P returns to the predetermined position. Thereby, the plurality of pallets P are held at an equal pitch.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the feed speed of the pitch holding conveyor 20 is made slower than the conveyance speed of the free flow conveyor 10, on the contrary, the feed speed of the pitch holding conveyor 20 is conveyed by the free flow conveyor 10. It may be faster than the speed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the first locking portion 21A is arranged so that one end portion 21c1 of the locking member 21c that can move up and down is on the downstream side. Then, the locking member 21c having a relatively high feed rate is brought into contact with the pallet P from the upstream side, thereby pressing the plurality of pallets P against the first locking portions 21A arranged at equal pitches. It is transported at the same speed as the locking portion 21A, whereby the plurality of pallets P are held at an equal pitch.

  Moreover, you may provide the 2nd latching | locking part 21B which contact | abuts the pallet P from the downstream further in the conveying apparatus of a structure shown in FIG. 7 (refer FIG. 8). In this case, the 2nd latching | locking part 21B is distribute | arranged so that one edge part 21c1 which can be moved up and down will become an upstream. In this transport device, first, as shown in FIG. 8A, the second locking portion 21B approaches from the upstream side of the pallet P carried into the moving assembly area A2. 8B, the pallet P rides on the upper surface 21c2 of the locking member 21c of the second locking portion 21B, and the second locking portion 21B is below the pallet P while compressing the elastic member 21d. Dive into. Thereafter, when the second locking portion 21B passes the pallet P, the locking member 21c protrudes upward from the conveying surface of the free flow conveyor 10 by the elastic reaction force of the elastic member 21d, and becomes a height that can contact the pallet P. . As described above, the pallet P is disposed between the first locking portion 21A and the second locking portion 21B, and the plurality of pallets P are held at an equal pitch.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance apparatus 10 Free flow conveyor 11 Roller 20 Pitch holding conveyor 21A 1st latching | locking part 21B 2nd latching | locking part 21a Base 21b Pin 21c Locking member 21d Elastic member 23 Feed means 24 Pulley 25 Endless chain 26 Drive motor 30 Stopper A1 Moving assembly area A2 Moving assembly area P Pallet

Claims (1)

A free flow conveyor that conveys a plurality of pallets, and a pitch holding conveyor provided on a conveying path of the free flow conveyor, and among the free flow conveyors, in a conveying direction area where the pitch holding conveyor is provided, A transport device provided with a moving assembly area for performing assembly work on a work on the pallet while transporting the pallet ,
The pitch holding conveyors are provided at equal intervals in the transport direction, and can protrude upward and downward from a plurality of first locking portions that can contact the plurality of pallets from the downstream side, and a transport surface of the free flow conveyor, The plurality of second locking portions that can contact the plurality of pallets from the upstream side, the plurality of first locking portions, and the plurality of second locking portions in the same direction as the conveying direction of the free flow conveyor. Sending means,
The feed speed of the feed means is slower than the pallet transport speed by the free flow conveyor ,
Each pallet is conveyed to the downstream side by the free flow conveyor, passes over while pushing down the second locking portion, and is arranged between the first locking portion and the second locking portion. A conveying apparatus characterized by doing so .

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