JP6465935B1 - Tray transport device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily position a tray by transferring it from the upper side to a support table without increasing the size and causing time loss.
SOLUTION: A support table 1 capable of supporting a tray T at a receiving position X of a product supplied from a product supply machine is provided, and an intermediate table 2 for temporarily supporting an empty tray T is provided at the rear in the horizontal direction. Is provided with a transfer air nozzle 40 for transferring the empty tray T on the intermediate table 2 to the support table 1, and a front stopper 43 for stopping the transferred tray T at a predetermined position in the transfer direction on the support table 1. A side air nozzle 50 is provided for injecting air from one side of the table 1 toward the other side to push the tray T on the support table 1 to the other side, thereby supporting the tray T pressed by the air. A side stopper 53 that stops at a predetermined position in the width direction on the table 1 is provided.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a tray transport device that transports a tray that receives and stores a product molded by, for example, an injection molding machine as a product supply machine.

  Conventionally, as this type of tray conveying apparatus, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-137433 is known. This transports a tray that receives and stores a product that is molded and supplied by an injection molding machine as a product supply machine. A stack is formed by stacking empty trays. A mounting plate having a vacuum suction function is raised with respect to the lower tray by the lifting cylinder device, and in this state, the lowermost tray of the laminated body is sucked and taken out by the mounting plate, and then the lifting cylinder device is used to remove the tray. Lower the mounting plate.

  Further, referring to FIG. 24, the mounting plate 201 is moved together with the elevating cylinder device 200 to the lower side of the receiving position 202 for receiving the product supplied from the injection molding machine by the conveying means 203. At this position, the mounting plate 201 is raised by the lifting cylinder device 200, and the tray T attracted to the mounting plate 201 is positioned at the receiving position 202. At the receiving position 202, the tray T is held between a pair of left and right holding cylinder devices 204. A product supplied from an injection molding machine (not shown) is received and stored in the empty tray T at the receiving position 202. Thereafter, the tray T in which the product is stored is held by a chuck of another transport unit 205 and transported to a stacking position (not shown), and the tray T is released from the chuck of the transport unit 205 and sequentially stacked, and the required number of trays are stacked. Are stacked, the stacked tray group is moved and discharged.

JP 2003-137433 A

  By the way, in this conventional tray transport device Sa, since the tray T is held by the left and right holding cylinder devices 204 at the receiving position 202 of the tray T, the setting of the stroke of the holding cylinder device 204 is complicated. There is a problem that holding is difficult and positioning adjustment is complicated. In particular, when changing to a tray having a different size or shape, it becomes complicated.

  In order to solve this, for example, it is conceivable that the tray is placed and supported on the support table from above to facilitate the positioning adjustment. However, in this conventional tray transport device Sa, the tray T is transferred from the lower side by the transport means 203, so that it is substantially difficult to realize. For this reason, it is conceivable to use a mechanism for transferring the tray from the upper side. However, when the transfer mechanism advances above the receiving position during transfer of the tray, the product from the injection molding machine is transferred to the tray at the receiving position. Since the tray transfer mechanism must be retracted when supplying the product, the apparatus will be increased in size and time loss due to the advancement and retraction. Impair the receiving efficiency.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and allows the tray to be transferred from the upper side and supported and supported by the support table without increasing the size as much as possible without causing time loss. An object of the present invention is to provide a tray transport device that simplifies the tray positioning adjustment.

In order to achieve such an object, the tray transport apparatus of the present invention transfers the empty tray to a receiving position where the product supplied from the product feeder is received and stored in the empty tray, and the tray is moved to the receiving position. In the tray transport device that stays at the receiving position until the product is stored in the tray, and then discharges the tray in which the product is stored.
A support table capable of supporting the tray at the receiving position is provided, and an intermediate table for temporarily supporting the empty tray to be transferred is provided at the rear in the horizontal direction of the receiving position, and the receiving from the rear to the front of the intermediate table is provided. A transfer air nozzle is provided for injecting air toward the support table at a position and transferring an empty tray on the intermediate table to the support table by the injected air, and the tray transferred by the air injected from the transfer air nozzle is provided. A front stopper for stopping at a predetermined position in the transfer direction on the support table is provided.

  Thereby, when the product is stored in the tray, first, the empty tray is transferred to the intermediate table. In this state, air is jetted from the transfer air nozzle, and an empty tray on the intermediate table is pushed by the jetted air and transferred to the support table. Since the transferred tray is stopped by the front stopper, it is positioned at a predetermined position in the transfer direction on the support table. In this state, for example, a product is supplied from a product supply machine such as an injection molding machine, and the product is received and stored in an empty tray on the support table.

  In this case, since the tray is transferred from the intermediate table to the support table by the air injection of the transfer air nozzle, there is no need to advance the tray transfer mechanism above the receiving position and then retract it, so that the apparatus becomes larger accordingly. Can be prevented. In addition, since the tray is transferred by air injection, it is possible to prevent a time loss due to the advancement and retraction of the transfer mechanism, and it is possible to prevent a situation where the product receiving efficiency is impaired.

  Further, since the tray can be positioned by stopping by the front stopper, it is not necessary to hold the tray with the holding cylinder device as in the conventional case, and thus positioning becomes easy. In particular, there are various types of trays with different sizes and shapes depending on the size and number of products, and the tray may be changed depending on the type of product to be supplied. Since positioning can be performed by stopping, it is not necessary to perform complicated position adjustment for each tray, and workability can be greatly improved.

  Furthermore, at the receiving position, the product supplied from the product supply machine is received and stored in an empty tray. During this time, the next tray can be transferred to the intermediate table. Therefore, immediately after discharging the tray in which the product is stored, the next tray can be transferred from the intermediate table to the support table by air injection from the transfer air nozzle. Therefore, the product storage interval can be extremely shortened, and storage efficiency can be improved.

  Then, if necessary, air is ejected from one side of the support table at the receiving position to the other side, and the ejected air pushes the tray on the support table toward the other side. A side stopper provided with a side air nozzle for stopping a tray pushed by air injected from the side air nozzle on the other side of the support table at the receiving position at a predetermined position in the width direction on the support table. It is set as the structure which provided.

  As a result, air is ejected from the side air nozzle to the tray stopped by the front stopper on the support table, and the empty tray is pushed on the support table by the ejected air and stopped by the side stopper. The side stoppers position the tray at a predetermined position in the width direction on the support table. Therefore, since the tray is positioned in the width direction in addition to the positioning in the transfer direction by the front stopper, positioning of the tray can be ensured. Also, in this positioning in the width direction, the tray can be positioned by stopping by the side stopper, so that positioning becomes easy, and complex position adjustment according to the tray is performed one by one when changing the tray. This is not necessary, and the workability can be greatly improved.

  If necessary, the intermediate table can be rotated around an axis orthogonal to the table surface, and the direction of the tray on the intermediate table along the transfer direction from the intermediate table to the support table is reversed by 180 °. Thus, a rotation mechanism for rotating the intermediate table is provided.

  Accordingly, the direction of the tray can be reversed by 180 °, so that, for example, the upper tray can be stored in the lower tray when stacking in the same direction, and the lower tray and the upper tray can be stored when stacking in the reverse direction. This is useful in the case of a so-called nested tray that can form a product storage space therebetween. For example, if the nested trays stacked in the same direction are taken out from the top in order and transferred to the support table, and the products are stored, then when these trays are to be stacked alternately in the reverse direction, the removed empty trays Inverting each other by 180 ° with the rotation mechanism on the intermediate table makes it possible to easily stack the trays alternately in the reverse direction after the product is stored.

  Furthermore, a stacker for stacking and stacking empty trays as needed, and a take-out transfer unit for taking out the uppermost tray stocked on the stacker and transferring it to the intermediate table are provided. . Since empty trays stocked and stacked in the stacker are taken out and taken out by the transfer unit, space saving can be achieved.

In this configuration, the stacker is provided with a stock table that can be supported by stacking empty trays, the stock table can be moved up and down, and the uppermost tray on the stock table can be moved up and down. It is equipped with a vertical movement mechanism that is positioned at the take-out position by the take-out transfer unit,
A gripping hand for gripping the uppermost tray on the stock table at the removal position at the gripping position and releasing the gripping at a predetermined gripping release position facing the intermediate table; and a gripping position of the gripping hand. And a gripping hand moving mechanism for moving to two positions of the grip release position.

  Also, in this case, a pair of the stock tables are provided side by side so that the trays are supported on the respective stock tables, and the take-out transfer unit is used to take out the top pair of trays on the pair of stock tables at the same time. It is effective that the intermediate table and the support table are formed in such a size that a pair of trays can be juxtaposed. Since a pair of trays are conveyed simultaneously, the number of products received at the receiving position can be increased, and in particular, when there are a plurality of products supplied from the product supply machine at the same time, the product receiving efficiency can be improved. . Further, when a plurality of types of products supplied from the product supply machine are supplied simultaneously, they can be sorted and stored for each pair of trays, and in this respect also the product receiving efficiency can be improved. For example, when the product supply machine is an injection molding machine and two types of products are molded with one mold, they can be sorted and stored for each pair of trays.

  Furthermore, if necessary, the support table can be moved to two positions: a support position for supporting the tray, and a retract position in which the tray is stopped by the front stopper and the tray is dropped from the support position. And a support table moving mechanism for moving the support table to two positions, ie, a support position and a retracted position, and discharging the tray by dropping the tray downward with the support table in the retracted position.

  As a result, when the empty tray is supported and the product supplied from the product feeder is received and stored in the empty tray, the support table is moved to the support position by the support table moving mechanism, and the product is stored in the tray. When finished, the support table is moved to the retracted position by the support table moving mechanism. In this retracted position, the tray loses the support of the support table, so it falls down and is discharged. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold and move the tray storing the products from the receiving position with a conventional chuck or the like, and the mechanism can be simplified accordingly.

  In this case, a discharge portion that receives and discharges the tray falling at the discharge position of the support table is provided, and the discharge portion includes a tray table that can receive and stack and support the tray that has dropped below, The stacking table can be moved up and down, and the stacking table is moved up and down so that the uppermost tray on the stacking table is positioned as close to the support table as possible. It is valid.

  As a result, when the product has been stored in the tray, the support table is positioned at the withdrawal position and the tray is dropped and discharged, but the lifting mechanism of the discharge unit moves the stacking table up and down. Since the top tray on the stacking table is positioned as close to the support table as possible, the falling distance of the dropped trays is extremely small, so the trays can be stacked and ejected without giving a large impact. Can be made.

  In this case, when the trays on the stacking table are stacked in a predetermined number, a transfer mechanism that pushes and transfers the stack of trays on the stacking table from the stacking table can be provided. Since the stack of the predetermined number of trays can be sequentially transferred by the transfer mechanism, the transport of the trays after discharge can be facilitated.

  According to the present invention, since the empty tray is transferred by the air injection of the transfer air nozzle, there is no need to advance the tray transfer mechanism above the receiving position and then retract it. Can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a time loss corresponding to the advancement and withdrawal of the transfer mechanism occurs, and to prevent the situation in which the product receiving efficiency is impaired.

  Further, since the tray can be positioned on the support table by air jetting, it is not necessary to hold the tray by the holding cylinder device as in the conventional case, so that the positioning adjustment is facilitated. In particular, there are various types of trays with different sizes and shapes depending on the size and number of products, and the trays may be changed depending on the types of products to be supplied. Since positioning can be performed on the support table, it is not necessary to perform complicated position adjustment for each tray, and workability can be greatly improved. Moreover, when it is set as the structure which takes out and transfers a pair of tray simultaneously, there exists an effect that it can sort and load, without mixing 2 types of products simultaneously.

It is a perspective view which shows the conveying apparatus of the tray which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 1 shows an example of a tray handled by a tray transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) and (b) are a plan view and a front view showing a state of same direction lamination, and (c) and (d) are inversion direction lamination. It is the top view and front view which show the state. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the conveying apparatus of the tray which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is another principal part perspective view which shows the conveying apparatus of the tray which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the transfer air nozzle (side air nozzle) of the conveying apparatus of the tray which concerns on embodiment of this invention with the attachment state, (a) is a side view, (b) is a front view. In the tray conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the take-out and transfer unit takes out the tray from the stacker, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a front view. In the tray conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the take-out and transfer unit takes out the tray from the stacker and transfers it, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a front view. In the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the gripping hand of the take-out transfer unit shows the state when the tray is supported by the intermediate table, and (a) is a front view of the main part when the gripping hand is released. (B) is a principal part front view after the holding | grip cancellation | release of a holding hand. In the tray conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, the state in which the tray was supported by the intermediate table is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state when the tray is supported by the intermediate table and rotated in the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the tray conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the tray is transferred from the intermediate table to the support table by the air jetted from the transfer air nozzle, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a front view. It is. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the tray transferred to the support table is pushed by the air ejected from the side air nozzle in the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the state by which the product was supplied and accommodated in the tray conveyed to the support table in the tray conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In the tray conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the support table is shown moved from the support position to the retracted position, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a front view. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which the support table is moved from the retracted position to the support position in the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which the trays are stacked on the stacking table in the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which shows the state which the laminated body of the tray laminated | stacked on the stacking table falls in the tray conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. In the tray conveying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, a state in which the stack of trays stacked on the stacking table is transferred by the transfer mechanism is shown, (a) is a plan view of the main part, (b). These are the principal part front views. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation process of a stacker in the tray transport apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of removing and transferring a tray from a stacker by a take-out and transfer unit in the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of an intermediate table in the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation process of a stacking table in the tray transport apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a transfer mechanism in the tray transport device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the conveying apparatus of the conventional tray.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a tray transport device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 18, the tray transport device S according to the embodiment of the present invention is attached to an injection molding machine (not shown) as a product supply machine, and is molded by the injection molding machine. For example, the tray T for storing the plastic product W (FIGS. 2, 13 to 15, and 18) for electronic components is conveyed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tray T applied to the tray transport device S according to the present embodiment is higher in the lower tray T when stacked in the same direction, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, a so-called nested type can form a storage space for the product W between the lower tray T and the upper tray T when stacked in the reverse direction. Tray T. Specifically, the tray T includes upper-open cells Ta in which a plurality of products W are stored in a matrix (3 × 5 in the figure), and is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. When the trays T are stacked, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the lower tray T are mutually opposite to one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the upper tray T. When stacking in the same direction so that the positional relationship is the same, the cells of the upper tray T are stored with respect to the cells of the lower tray T, and as shown in FIGS. The upper tray T is placed in the lower tray T so that a storage space is formed in the cell Ta of the lower tray T when the other ends are stacked in the reverse direction so that the positional relationship of the upper tray T is opposite to that of the upper tray T. It is formed to be supported by. On the opening side of the tray T, a step portion Tb is formed on which a part of the bottom of the upper tray T is supported in the case of stacking in the reverse direction.

  The tray transport device S according to the embodiment transfers the empty tray T to the receiving position X where the product W supplied from the injection molding machine is received and stored in the empty tray T, and the tray T is transferred to the receiving position X. The product W is kept at the receiving position X until the product W is stored, and then the tray T storing the product W is discharged. At the receiving position X, the injection molding machine takes out the molded product W by a product take-out mechanism (not shown) and sequentially stores it in the cells of the empty tray T. The transport device S is provided with a support table 1 that can support the tray T at the receiving position X, and an intermediate table 2 that temporarily supports the empty tray T to be transferred behind the receiving position X in the horizontal direction. It is configured.

  Specifically, the tray transport device S according to the embodiment includes a machine base 3. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the machine base 3 includes a rectangular lower base portion 4, a plurality of columns 5 erected from at least four corners of the lower base portion 4, and upper ends of the columns 5. And a rectangular upper base portion 6 provided. A rectangular frame-like support frame 7 is projected in front of the upper base portion 6 of the machine base 3, and a portion adjacent to the upper base portion 6 of the support frame 7 is configured as a receiving position X. A support table 1 capable of supporting the tray T at the receiving position X is provided on the support frame 7. An intermediate table 2 is provided on the upper base portion 6 in the horizontal direction behind the receiving position X.

  Further, the stacker 10 for stacking and stocking empty trays T on the machine base 3, and the uppermost tray T provided at the top of the stacker 10 is taken out and transferred to the intermediate table 2. And are provided. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the stacker 10 includes a rectangular lower frame 11 continuously provided behind the lower base portion 4, and a plurality of support columns erected from at least four corner portions of the lower frame 11. 12 and a rectangular upper frame 13 provided at the upper end of the support column 12. The support column 5 at the corner of the rear part of the machine base 3 is also used as the support column 12 of the stacker 10. In addition, the stacker 10 includes a stock table 14 that can support a stack of empty trays T. The stock table 14 is supported so as to be movable up and down via a slider 15 with respect to pillars of four corner portions. A pair of stock tables 14 are provided side by side, and each stock table 14 supports a tray T. The trays T are stacked in the same direction and supported by the stock table 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, the stacker 10 is provided for each stock table 14, and moves the stock table 14 up and down to take out the uppermost tray T on the stock table 14. 20 is provided with a vertical movement mechanism 16 positioned at an extraction position E (FIG. 6). The vertical movement mechanism 16 includes a pulley body 17a (FIG. 6) having one end bonded to the stock table 14, a pulley mechanism 17 including a plurality of pulleys 17b (FIG. 6) supported by each portion, and the other end of the rope body 17a. And an electric motor 18 having a pulley 18a that winds and unwinds the side. The electric motor 18 is supported by the lower base portion 4. The vertical movement mechanism 16 is controlled by a control unit 80 described later.

  The take-out transfer unit 20 holds the uppermost tray T on the stock table 14 at the take-out position E at the hold position Ha (FIG. 6B) as shown in FIGS. In addition, the gripping hand 21 that cancels gripping at a predetermined gripping release position Hb (FIG. 8A) facing the intermediate table 2 and the gripping hand that moves the gripping hand 21 to two positions of the gripping position Ha and the gripping release position Hb. The moving mechanism 22 is provided. A pair of gripping hands 21 are provided corresponding to each pair of trays T. A pair of gripping hands 21 that grip one tray T are disposed in the front-rear direction, and a pair of gripping hands 21 that grip the other tray T are disposed in the front-rear direction, and are attached to an attachment body 23 that can move up and down. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, the gripping hand moving mechanism 22 includes an air cylinder device 24 that moves the attachment body 23 up and down, and a moving body 25 that supports the air cylinder device 24 and is movable in the front-rear direction. The movable body 25 is movably supported via the slider 26, the support rail 27 is supported by the stacker 10 via the leg portion, and the slider 26 provided on the side of the support rail 27 is moved back and forth. A rodless air cylinder 28 is provided. The rodless air cylinder 28 positions the gripping hand 21 via the slider 26 and the moving body 25 so as to face the stock table 14 of the stacker 10 (FIG. 6B) and the position facing the intermediate table 2 (FIG. 7B). )). By the operation of the air cylinder device 24 and the rodless air cylinder 28 of the gripping hand moving mechanism 22 and the opening and closing of the gripping hand 21, the take-out transfer unit 20 simultaneously takes out the top pair of trays T on the pair of stock tables 14. It is configured to be transportable. The gripping hand moving mechanism 22 is controlled by a control unit 80 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate table 2 is sized to be stocked in the stacker 10, taken out from the take-out transfer unit 20, transferred, and juxtaposed with a pair of trays T. A side wall 2a is provided to prevent the fall. A slide plate 30 that slidably supports a tray T that moves from the intermediate table 2 toward the support table 1 is provided at the front portion of the upper base portion 6. The support surface of the slide plate 30 is set at a position slightly lower than the intermediate table 2. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the intermediate table 2 is rotatable around an axis orthogonal to the table surface, and is provided on the upper base portion 6 via a rotation mechanism 31. The rotation mechanism 31 is composed of an air rotary actuator 32 having a shaft for rotating the intermediate table 2, and this air rotary actuator 32 is transferred from the intermediate table 2 of the tray T on the intermediate table 2 to the support table 1. The intermediate table 2 is rotated so that the direction along the transfer direction is reversed by 180 °. The pneumatic rotary actuator 32 that constitutes the rotation mechanism 31 is controlled by a control unit 80 described later, and rotates the intermediate table 2 by 180 ° every time the tray T is transferred and placed. The control unit 80 counts the removal of the tray T from the stacker 10, and when the count value is an even number, the air rotary actuator 32 of the rotating mechanism 31 is driven to invert the intermediate table 2 by 180 °. As will be described later, the trays T are stacked in the same direction on the stacker 10, but are stacked in the reverse direction when discharged by the rotation of the rotating mechanism 31.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 14, 15, and the like, the support table 1 retreats from the support position Ya in a state where the support position Ya for supporting the tray T and the tray T are stopped by a front stopper 43 described later. The tray T is supported by the support frame 7 so as to be movable to two positions, ie, an exit position Yb (FIG. 14) for dropping the tray T downward. The support table 1 is formed in a net shape and is sized so that a pair of trays T can be juxtaposed, and both sides have sliders 33 so that the support surface is lower than the intermediate table 2 and the slide plate 30. The both sides of the support frame 7 are slidably supported by the rails 34. Further, a support table moving mechanism 35 that moves the support table 1 to two positions of a support position Ya and a withdrawal position Yb is provided on the outside of one rail 34. The support table moving mechanism 35 includes a known rodless air cylinder 36 that moves the slider 33 back and forth. Accordingly, the support table 1 is moved to the withdrawal position Yb, and the tray T is dropped downward to be discharged.

  In the apparatus S, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, 5, 9 and 11, air is supplied from the rear of the intermediate table 2 toward the support table 1 at the front receiving position X. A transfer air nozzle 40 is provided for injecting and transferring an empty tray T on the intermediate table 2 to the support table 1 by the injected air. A pair of transfer air nozzles 40 is provided corresponding to each of the pair of trays T juxtaposed to the intermediate table 2, and faces the end surface of the tray T at the rear end of the upper base portion 6 as shown in FIG. The plate 41 is erected so as to be fixed by screw means 42. The air sprayed from the transfer air nozzle 40 spreads from the surface of the plate body 41 and pushes the end surface of the tray T to move the tray T to the receiving position X side.

  Further, a front stopper 43 is provided above the support frame 7 to stop the tray T transferred by the air sprayed from the transfer air nozzle 40 at a predetermined position in the transfer direction on the support table 1. As shown in FIG. 4, on one side of the support frame 7 on the side of the machine base 3, one side bar 44 having a length corresponding to the length of the front and back of the support table 1 along both sides of the support frame 7. And the other side part rod-shaped body 45 is provided. The one side bar-shaped body 44 and the other side bar-shaped body 45 are respectively supported by standing ribs 46 erected on the front end of the upper base portion 6 of the machine base 3. Further, a front bar 47 is installed between the front ends of the one side bar 44 and the other side bar 45. The front stopper 43 includes a front bar 47 and a hanging plate 48 that hangs from the front bar 47.

  Furthermore, in this apparatus S, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 to 5, 5, 9 and 11, the air is moved from one side of the support table 1 at the receiving position X toward the other side. The side air nozzle 50 is provided to push the tray T on the support table 1 to the other side by the jetted air. The side air nozzles 50 are provided corresponding to the trays T on one side juxtaposed on the support table 1, and as shown in FIG. It is fixed to the plate body 51 suspended so as to face each other by screw means 52. The air sprayed from the side air nozzle 50 expands from the surface of the plate body 51 and pushes the side surface of the tray T to move the tray T to the other side of the receiving position X.

  Furthermore, in this device S, as shown in FIGS. 4, 11 and 12, etc., the device S was pushed by the air injected from the side air nozzle 50 on the other side of the support table 1 at the receiving position X. A side stopper 53 for stopping the tray T at a predetermined position in the width direction on the support table 1 is provided. The side stopper 53 includes an other side bar 45 and a hanging plate 49 depending on the other side bar 45.

  Further, in the present apparatus S, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 14, and 18, a discharge unit 60 that receives and discharges the tray T falling at the retracted position Yb of the support table 1 is provided. The discharge unit 60 includes a stacking table 61 that receives the tray T dropped downward and can be stacked and supported. The stacking table 61 is formed in a size that allows the trays T to be juxtaposed. The stacking table 61 is provided on a frame 62 that extends between the columns 5 on the front side of the machine base 3, and the frame 62 is supported by the columns 5 through a slider 63 so as to be vertically movable.

  The discharge unit 60 includes a lifting mechanism 64 that moves the stacking table 61 up and down so that the uppermost tray T on the stacking table 61 is positioned as close to the support table 1 as possible. Specifically, the elevating mechanism 64 passes the stacking table 61 from the upper end position Za (FIG. 14B) for supporting the first tray T to the intermediate position Zb (FIG. 16) where a predetermined number of trays T are stacked. It is moved up and down between the lower end position Zc (FIGS. 17 and 18). That is, a slight gap is provided between the support table 1 and the stacking table 61 at the upper end position Za, which is directly below the support table 1, and is located immediately below the support table 1 and on the stacking table 61. The trays T are stacked one by one between the upper end position Za and the intermediate position Zb of the stacking table 61 so that a slight gap is provided between the upper tray T and the lower surface of the support table 1. Can be lowered in stages. The elevating mechanism 64 includes a pulley 65 that includes a rope 65a having one end bonded to the frame 62 and a plurality of pulleys 65b supported by each portion, and a pulley that winds and unwinds the other end of the rope 65a. And an electric motor 66 having 66a. The electric motor 66 is supported by the lower base portion 4. The electric motor 66 of the lifting mechanism 64 is controlled by a control unit 80 described later.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 17 and 18, the apparatus S stacks the trays T on the stacking table 61 when the trays T on the stacking table 61 are stacked in a predetermined number. A transfer mechanism 70 that pushes the body and transfers it to the discharge stage 74 is provided. The transfer mechanism 70 is provided so that the upper surface of the stacking table 61 can be moved back and forth in the front-rear direction. The rodless air cylinder 72 moves the push-out plate 71 forward and backward.

  Further, the apparatus S includes a control unit 80. The control unit 80 includes an electric motor 18 of the vertical movement 3 structure 16 of the stacker 10, an air cylinder device 24 of the gripping hand moving mechanism 22 in the take-out transfer unit 20, a rodless air cylinder 28 and gripping hand 21, and a rotation mechanism of the intermediate table 2. 31, air rotary actuator 32, rodless air cylinder 36 of support table moving mechanism 35, air injection of transfer air nozzle 40, air injection of side air nozzle 50, electric motor 66 of lifting mechanism 64 of discharge unit 60, transfer mechanism 70 rodless air cylinders 72 and the like are controlled. The control unit 80 performs control based on detection of various sensors or based on various signals such as a product supply end signal of the injection molding machine.

  As the sensors, although not shown in the stacker 10, there are one upper limit sensor K1 that detects the upper end of one stock table 14, and the other upper limit sensor K2 that detects the upper end of the other stock table 14. Further, in the take-out and transfer unit 20, one tray upper sensor K3 that detects the upper end of the tray T on one stock table 14 and the other tray upper sensor K4 that detects the upper end of the tray T on the other stock table 14 are listed. It is done. In the intermediate table 2, there is a tray presence / absence detection sensor K5 that detects whether or not the tray T is on the intermediate table 2. In the discharge unit 60, there is a direct tray presence / absence detection sensor K6 that detects the presence or absence of the tray T directly below the support table 1. Further, in the transfer mechanism 70, an upper end position limit sensor K7 for detecting the upper end position Za of the stacked product table 61 and a lower end position limit sensor K8 for detecting the lower end of the stacked product table 61 are exemplified. In addition, various sensors and switches are used.

Next, the operation of the tray transport device S according to the present embodiment will be described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
First, as shown in FIG. 6, in the stacker 10, empty trays T are stacked and stocked on a pair of stock tables 14 in advance by hand. In this case, the tray T is stacked in the same direction. Therefore, a large number of trays T can be stacked. When the start button of the apparatus is pressed in this state using the flowchart shown in FIG. 19 (S101), in the case of one stock table 14, one stock table 14 is raised by the vertical movement mechanism 16 (S102). While the upper end limit sensor K1 does not detect the upper end of the stock table 14 (S103 NO), when the one tray upper end sensor K3 detects the upper end of the tray T on the one stock table 14 (S104 YES), the stock table 14 Is stopped (S105). In this state, a tray T described later is taken out and transferred. When the tray upper end sensor K3 is no longer detected (NO in S106), the same process as described above is repeated (S102 → S103NO → S104YES → S105 (tray T extraction) → S106NO), assuming that the tray T has been removed. When the tray T stacked on the one stock table 14 is exhausted, the one upper end limit sensor K1 detects the upper end of the stock table 14 (S103 YES). On the other hand, the stock table 14 is automatically lowered by the vertical movement mechanism 16 and the tray T T replenishment processing is performed.

  This operation is performed in the same manner for the other stock table 14 (S107 → S108NO → S109YES → S110 (tray T removal) → S111NO). When the tray T stacked on the other stock table 14 is exhausted, the other upper end limit sensor K2 detects the upper end of the stock table 14 (YES in S108), so the other stock table 14 is automatically lowered to perform the replenishment processing of the tray T. Do.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the operation in the take-out transfer unit 20 will be described. The rodless air cylinder 28 of the gripping hand moving mechanism 22 positions the gripping hand 21 at a position facing the stock table 14 of the stacker 10 via the slider 26 and the moving body 25 as shown in FIG. Using the flowchart shown in FIG. 20, one tray upper end sensor K3 detects the upper end of the tray T in one stock table 14 (S201 YES), and the other tray upper end sensor K4 detects the upper end of the tray T in the other stock table 14. When detected (YES in S202), the air cylinder device 24 of the gripping hand moving mechanism 22 lowers the gripping hand 21 via the attachment body 23 to position the gripping hand 21 at the gripping position Ha (S203). The uppermost pair of trays T on the stock table 14 are simultaneously gripped (S204), and the air cylinder device 24 raises the gripping hand 21 again through the attachment body 23 (S205).

  Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the rodless air cylinder 28 moves the gripping hand 21 gripping the pair of trays T via the movable body 25 to a position facing the intermediate table 2 (YES in S206, S207). At this position, as shown in FIG. 8, the air cylinder device 24 of the gripping hand moving mechanism 22 lowers the gripping hand 21 via the attachment body 23 to be positioned at the gripping release position Hb (S208). The holding of the tray T is released and the tray T is placed on the intermediate table 2 (S209). Thereafter, again, the air cylinder device 24 raises the gripping hand 21 via the mounting body 23 (S210), and the rodless air cylinder 28 moves the gripping hand 21 via the slider 26 and the moving body 25 as shown in FIG. Is moved to a position facing the stock table 14 of the stacker 10 (YES in S211 and S212), and then prepared.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the operation in the intermediate table 2 will be described. Using the flowchart shown in FIG. 21, it is confirmed by the tray presence / absence detection sensor K5 that there is a tray T on the intermediate table 2 (S301 YES), and when the lifting of the gripping hand 21 by the air cylinder device 24 is completed (S302 YES), The control unit 80 counts the removal of the tray T from the stacker 10 and determines whether or not the count value is an even number (S303). If the count value is determined to be an even number (S303 YES), as shown in FIG. The pneumatic rotary actuator 32 of the mechanism 31 is driven to invert the intermediate table 2 by 180 ° (S304), and the process proceeds to the next. On the other hand, when it is determined that the count value is not an even number (NO in S303), the process proceeds to the next. In this state, the presence or absence of the tray T on the support table 1 is detected by a sensor (not shown) (S305). When the absence of the tray T is detected (305NO), air is ejected from the transfer air nozzle 40 (S306). .

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the empty tray T on the intermediate table 2 is pushed and transferred to the support table 1 by the air jetted from the transfer air nozzle 40, and the transferred tray T is moved by the front stopper 43. It is stopped and positioned at a predetermined position in the transfer direction on the support table 1. In this case, since the tray T is transferred by the air injection of the transfer air nozzle 40, it is not necessary to advance the tray transfer mechanism assumed in the prior art to the upper side of the receiving position X and then retreat from it. Can be prevented. In addition, since the tray T is transferred by air injection, it is possible to prevent a situation in which time loss is caused by the advancement and retraction of the previously assumed transfer mechanism, and to prevent a situation in which the receiving efficiency of the product W is impaired. Can do.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 12, air is injected from the side air nozzle 50 onto the tray T stopped by the front stopper 43 on the support table 1 (S307). As a result, the empty tray T is pushed on the support table 1 by the jetted air and is stopped by the side stopper 53, and the tray T is fixed in the width direction on the support table 1 by the side stopper 53. Positioned. Therefore, since the tray T is positioned in the width direction in addition to the positioning in the transfer direction by the front stopper 43, the positioning of the tray T can be ensured. Also in this positioning in the width direction, the tray T can be positioned by the stop by the side stopper 53, so that positioning becomes easy.

  Further, since the tray T can be positioned by the stop by the front stopper 43 and the stop by the side stopper 53, it is not necessary to hold the tray T by the holding cylinder device as in the conventional case, so that the positioning becomes easy. In particular, the tray T includes various trays T having different sizes and shapes depending on the size and number of the products W, and the tray T may be changed depending on the type of the product W to be supplied. Since the tray T can be positioned by stopping by the front stopper 43, it is not necessary to perform complicated position adjustment for each tray T, and workability can be greatly improved.

  Next, the operation in the support table 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, the product W is supplied from the injection molding machine to the tray T on the support table 1 at the support position Ya at a predetermined timing, and is sequentially stored in the cells of the tray T. At this time, the stacking table 61 of the discharge unit 60 is positioned at the upper end position Za. Then, using the flowchart shown in FIG. 22, when the storage of the product W in the tray T on the support table 1 is completed, a storage completion signal is sent. The control unit 80 determines whether or not this storage completion signal is sent. Watching (S401). When the storage completion signal is present (S401 YES), the support table 1 is moved from the support position Ya to the retreat position Yb by the rodless air cylinder 36 of the support table moving mechanism 35 (S402).

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, at the receiving position X, the product W supplied from the injection molding machine is received and stored in an empty tray T. During this time, the next tray T is placed in the intermediate table 2. Can be transported. Therefore, immediately after the tray T in which the products W are stored is discharged, the next tray T can be transferred from the intermediate table 2 to the support table 1 by air injection from the transfer air nozzle 40. Therefore, the product storage interval can be extremely shortened, and storage efficiency can be improved.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, the support table 1 retreats from the support position Ya while the tray T is stopped by the front stopper 43, so that the tray T loses the support of the support table 1 and falls downward. Then discharged. Therefore, it is not necessary to hold and move the tray T storing the products W from the receiving position X with a conventional chuck or the like, and the mechanism can be simplified accordingly.

  When the support table 1 is moved from the support position Ya to the withdrawal position Yb, the elevating mechanism 64 lowers the stacked product table 61 (S403). In the discharge unit 60, the immediately below tray presence / absence detection sensor K6 detects the presence / absence of the tray T directly below the support table 1. When the immediately below tray presence / absence detection sensor K6 detects presence / absence due to the drop of the tray T, (S404 YES), the stacking table 61 is stopped (S405), and the support table 1 is again moved from the retracted position Yb to the support position Ya by the rodless air cylinder 36 of the support table moving mechanism 35 as shown in FIG. (S405), ready for the next. The trays T stacked on the stacking table 61 are counted by a counter (S406), and the above is repeated (S401 → S402 → S403 → S404 → S405 → until a set number (a predetermined number of stacks) is reached (YES in S407). S406 → S407 NO). As a result, the stacking table 61 is located at the intermediate position Zb.

  In this case, the lifting mechanism 64 of the discharge unit 60 moves the stacking table 61 up and down so that the uppermost tray T on the stacking table 61 is positioned as close to the support table 1 as possible. Thus, the falling distance of the tray T is extremely reduced, and therefore the trays T can be stacked and discharged without giving a large impact. Then, every other direction of the tray T is reversed by 180 ° by the rotation mechanism 31 of the intermediate table 2, so that the trays T are alternately stacked in the reverse direction. As shown in FIG. 16, in this way, the tray T in which the products W are stored is stacked until the tray T reaches the set number (predetermined number of stacks) and the stacking table 61 is positioned at the intermediate position Zb. Is done.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the operation of the transfer mechanism 70 will be described. When the set number (predetermined number of layers) is reached using the flowchart shown in FIG. 23, the stacking table 61 is lowered from the intermediate position Zb to the lower end position by the elevating mechanism 64 (S501, S502 YES, S503). In this state, the push-out plate 71 is advanced by the rodless air cylinder 72 of the transfer mechanism 70 (S504, S505). Thereby, the stacked body of the trays T is pushed out by the pusher plate 71 and transferred to the discharge stage 74. When the pushing plate 71 reaches the advancing end (YES in S505), the pushing plate 71 is retracted by the rodless air cylinder 72 (S506, S507). When the extrusion plate 71 reaches the retracted end (YES in S507), the retracting is stopped, and the stacking table 61 is raised again to be positioned at the upper end position Za (S508, S509 YES). . In this case, since the transfer mechanism 70 can sequentially transfer a stack of a predetermined number of trays T, the transport of the trays T after discharge can be facilitated.

  Further, in the tray transport device S according to the embodiment, a pair of stock tables 14 are provided in parallel, the tray T is supported on each stock table 14, and the take-out transfer unit 20 is connected to a pair of stocks. Since the pair of uppermost trays T on the table 14 is taken out and transferred at the same time, the intermediate table 2 and the support table 1 are formed in such a size that the pair of trays T can be juxtaposed. Thus, the number of products received at the receiving position X can be increased. Therefore, in an injection molding machine as a product supply machine, when two types of products W are molded with one mold and are supplied at the same time, they can be stored separately for each pair of trays T, In this respect as well, the product receiving efficiency can be improved.

  In the tray transport device S according to the above embodiment, the shape and size of the tray T to be handled are not limited to those described above, and may be changed as appropriate. Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the product shape | molded with the injection molding machine was accommodated in tray T, it is not necessarily limited to this, It supplies from another product supply machines other than an injection molding machine. The present invention may be applied to products to be manufactured, and may be changed as appropriate. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will make many modifications to these illustrative embodiments without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. And many of these modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

S tray transport device W product T tray Ta cell Tb step X receiving position 1 support table 2 intermediate table 2a side wall 3 machine base 4 lower base part 5 support 6 upper base part 7 support frame 10 stacker 14 stock table E takeout position 16 Vertical movement mechanism 17 Pulley mechanism 18 Electric motor 20 Take-out transfer part Ha Gripping position Hb Gripping release position 21 Gripping hand 22 Gripping hand moving mechanism 24 Air cylinder device 25 Moving body 28 Rodless air cylinder 30 Slide plate 31 Rotating mechanism 32 Air type rotary Actuator 34 Rail Ya Support position Yb Retraction position 35 Support table moving mechanism 36 Rodless air cylinder 40 Transfer air nozzle 41 Plate body 42 Screw means 43 Front stopper 44 One side bar 45 Other side bar 46 Front bar 47 Body 48 Lower plate 49 Drooping plate 50 Side air nozzle 51 Plate body 52 Screw means 53 Side stopper 60 Discharge portion 61 Stacking table 64 Lifting mechanism Za Upper position Zb Middle position Zc Lower position 65 Pulley mechanism 66 Electric motor 70 Transfer mechanism 71 Extrusion Plate 72 Rodless air cylinder 74 Discharge stage 80 Control unit K1 One upper limit sensor K2 Other upper limit sensor K3 One tray upper sensor K4 Other tray upper sensor K5 Tray presence / absence detection sensor K6 Directly lower tray presence / absence detection sensor K7 Upper end position limit sensor K8 Lower end Position limit sensor

Claims (9)

The empty tray is transported to a receiving position where the product supplied from the product feeder is received and stored in the empty tray, and the tray is allowed to stay in the receiving position until the product is stored in the tray. In the tray transfer device for discharging the tray in which is stored,
A support table capable of supporting the tray at the receiving position is provided, and an intermediate table for temporarily supporting the empty tray to be transferred is provided at the rear in the horizontal direction of the receiving position, and the receiving from the rear to the front of the intermediate table is provided. A transfer air nozzle is provided for injecting air toward the support table at a position and transferring an empty tray on the intermediate table to the support table by the injected air, and the tray transferred by the air injected from the transfer air nozzle is provided. A tray transporting device comprising a front stopper for stopping at a predetermined position in the transport direction on the support table.   A side air nozzle is provided for injecting air from one side of the support table at the receiving position toward the other side and pushing the tray on the support table to the other side by the injected air; A side stopper is provided on the other side of the support table at the receiving position to stop the tray pushed by the air jetted from the side air nozzle at a predetermined position in the width direction on the support table. The tray transport apparatus according to claim 1.   The intermediate table is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the table surface, and the intermediate table is rotated so that the direction of the tray on the intermediate table along the transfer direction from the intermediate table to the support table is reversed by 180 °. 3. A tray conveying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating mechanism for rotating the table.   2. A stacker for stacking and stacking empty trays, and a take-out transfer unit for taking out and transferring the uppermost tray that is provided at the top of the stacker to the intermediate table. 3. The tray conveying apparatus according to any one of 3 above. The stacker is provided with a stock table that can be supported by stacking empty trays, the stock table can be moved up and down, the stock table is moved up and down, and the uppermost tray on the stock table is taken out and taken out by the transfer unit Comprising a vertical movement mechanism to be positioned
A gripping hand for gripping the uppermost tray on the stock table at the removal position at the gripping position and releasing the gripping at a predetermined gripping release position facing the intermediate table; and a gripping position of the gripping hand. 5. A tray conveying apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a gripping hand moving mechanism that moves to two positions of the grip release position. A pair of the above-mentioned stock tables are provided side by side, the trays are respectively supported on the respective stock tables, and the above-mentioned take-out transfer unit is configured to take out and transfer the uppermost pair of trays on the pair of stock tables simultaneously. 6. The tray transport apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the intermediate table and the support table are formed in a size that allows a pair of trays to be juxtaposed.
  The support table can be moved to two positions: a support position for supporting the tray and a retract position in which the tray is stopped by the front stopper, and the tray is dropped from the support position. 7. A support table moving mechanism for moving the support table to two positions of a support position and a withdrawal position, and discharging the tray by moving the support table to the withdrawal position and dropping the tray downward. A tray conveying device according to claim 1.   A tray for receiving and discharging the tray falling at the discharge position of the support table is provided, and the tray is provided with a stacking table capable of receiving and stacking and supporting the tray that has dropped below. And a vertically moving mechanism for moving the stacking table up and down so that the uppermost tray on the stacking table is positioned as close to the support table as possible. The tray conveying apparatus according to claim 7.   9. The transfer mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising: a transfer mechanism that pushes and transfers a stack of trays on the stacking table when the trays on the stacking table are stacked in a predetermined number. Tray transport device.

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