JPH0217639B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a processing object conveying device that sequentially transports processing objects along a processing line.

(Prior Art) This type of device is used, for example, in a plating factory to sequentially transport objects to be plated (workpieces). As is well known, the plating process is performed by repeating various processing steps, so the processing line is configured by arranging, for example, a large number of dedicated processing tanks for each processing step. Therefore, the objects to be plated are sequentially transferred into and out of each processing tank from above by the transfer device. As a specific example of this processing object conveyance device, there is a device called a batch transfer device or an elevator system, which will be described below.

In this system, the objects to be plated are suspended from a number of carrier bars, and each carrier bar is supported by a carrier bar support, so that one object to be plated is stored in each processing tank. . On the other hand, an elevator frame is provided along the processing line so as to be movable up and down, and is designed to move up and down at predetermined intervals. When the elevator frame goes up, the carrier bar is lifted and all the objects to be plated in the area where the elevator frame is installed are simultaneously pulled up from the processing tank, and when the elevator frame descends, all the objects to be plated are stored in the processing tank. In addition, this elevator frame is configured to be able to reciprocate in the direction along the processing line, and when the object to be plated is pulled up from the processing tank, it is moved toward the next processing tank at the arrangement pitch of the processing tank (according to the mutual spacing of the objects to be plated). The object to be plated is moved horizontally by a feed pitch corresponding to Move away from it and move back to the side to return to the original position. In this one cycle of "ascending → lateral movement → descending → return movement", the object to be plated is conveyed one by one in the feeding direction, and by repeating this cycle at predetermined intervals, the object to be plated is sequentially transferred to the next process. It is transported to be stored in a tank.

In the above-mentioned batch transfer device, when the elevator frame operates just one cycle of "ascending → lateral movement → descending → return movement", all the objects to be plowed in the placement area are simultaneously transferred at once. , has high transfer efficiency (number of items transferred per operation of one machine), can improve processing efficiency or productivity (number of items processed per hour) with one relatively simple equipment, and is particularly suitable for mass production. do.

However, it also has the following drawbacks. This is because the object to be plated is fed by a fixed feed pitch every predetermined time, so the processing tank for a processing step that requires a long processing time must be lengthened in proportion to the processing time. For this reason, there is a problem in that the entire line becomes extremely long in a plating process line that includes a plating process that generally requires a long processing time. For example, if electrolytic degreasing takes 10 seconds, pickling takes 20 seconds, and plating takes 10 minutes (600 seconds), then if the length of the electrolytic degreasing tank in the feeding direction is, for example, 50 cm, then Since the material is fed 50 cm in one second of immersion, the length of the pickling tank is 1 m, and the length of the plating tank is 30 m.

Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to omit some of the processing steps depending on the type of object to be plated. For example, in a specific processing tank, this could be done by adding a mechanism that supports the object to be plated so that it does not fall into the processing tank even when the elevator frame is lowered, and advances the object to be plated only in the feeding direction. Even if it were, all the objects to be plated would still be transferred at a fixed cycle and feed pitch, so there is no hope of shortening the production time by omitting some of the processing steps.

On the other hand, there are also conveyance devices called unit transfer devices or carrier systems that are completely different from such bulk transfer devices (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-9491).
(see issue). This is a structure in which a running rail that runs along the processing line is arranged on the ceiling of the building, and a running body that can run at any position along the running rail is provided. This traveling body can lift the number of objects to be plated from the processing tank as one unit (generally one to several pieces) that can be stored in the smallest processing tank, and in the lifted state, the traveling body performs the next processing. By traveling over the tank and lowering the objects to be plated into the processing tank, the objects to be plated can be transported in small quantities.

According to this unit transfer device, a part of the object to be plated can be transferred to an arbitrary processing tank and immersed in the processing tank for an arbitrary period of time, so that it is suitable for high-mix, low-volume production. In addition, in a processing process that requires a long processing time, the transferred object to be plated can be immersed in the processing tank as it is without making the processing tank longer. Since it is only necessary to transfer the materials, there is no need to decide the length of the processing tank according to the processing time as in the case of a batch transfer device, which has the advantage that the length of the entire processing line can be shortened after all.

However, on the other hand, this method is inferior in transfer efficiency (number of objects transferred per operation of one machine) because it can only transfer a small number of objects to be plated, one unit at a time, in one operation. Therefore, in order to improve processing efficiency or productivity (number of items processed per hour), it is necessary to install a large number of moving bodies and operate them simultaneously, but in reality, due to space constraints and operational issues. Due to these problems, it is extremely difficult to transport a large amount of objects to be plated using a large number of moving bodies. For this reason, in reality, with this unit transfer device, the processing efficiency cannot be sufficiently improved due to constraints such as the number of installed traveling bodies. In addition, since the traveling body of the unit transfer device requires complex movements, it has a structure that can be called a computer-controlled transfer robot.
Another drawback is that it is extremely expensive compared to the bulk transfer device described above.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, while the conventional so-called batch transfer type processing material conveyance device has excellent transfer efficiency, it leads to an increase in the length of the processing line and a combination of processing steps. The disadvantage is that it lacks flexibility,
Furthermore, although the unit transfer method is excellent in shortening the processing line and providing flexibility in combining processing steps, it has the drawbacks of poor processing efficiency and considerably high equipment costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a processing material conveying device that can ensure a certain degree of processing efficiency and requires low equipment costs, while also shortening the processing line and providing excellent flexibility in combining processing steps. be.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The processing object conveying device of the present invention includes a traveling rail provided along a processing line, and a processing object disposed so as to be able to run on the traveling rail. The number of objects that can be stored in the smallest processing tank among the plurality of processing tanks is taken as one unit, and each unit is lifted from one processing tank and moved to any other processing tank, and the object to be processed is placed in the processing tank. a unit transfer device that lowers the objects to be processed, and a unit transfer device installed along the processing line that simultaneously raises the objects to be processed located in processing tanks within a predetermined area, and sends them to the next processing tank before processing them. The present invention is characterized in that a batch transfer device for lowering into the tank is provided, and a transfer area of the batch transfer device and a transfer area of the unit transfer device overlap in at least a part of the processing line.

(Function) Since the transfer area of the batch transfer device and the transfer area of the unit transfer device are provided overlapping each other, it is possible to select one of the transfer devices depending on the required processing process in the overlapping area. Can be done. For example, when a predetermined processing step is omitted depending on the type of the object to be processed, the object to be processed may be transferred by a unit transfer device past the processing tank corresponding to the omitted step.

Therefore, unlike the case where all areas are transported by a batch transport device, desired steps can be freely omitted, resulting in increased flexibility in process combinations. In addition, when a workpiece is transferred by omitting a predetermined processing step using a unit transfer device in this way, the omitted sections can be transferred at a higher speed than when all sections are transferred by a batch transfer device. This allows the entire processing time to be shortened to the extent that the step is omitted, which in turn makes it possible to improve processing efficiency. In addition, for processes that require longer processing times than others, using a unit transfer device to transfer the materials into and out of the processing tank will reduce the processing time, unlike when using a batch transfer device. Accordingly, there is no need to increase the length of the processing tank, and the entire processing line can be shortened.

Incidentally, flexibility in process combinations can be obtained even when all areas are transported by a unit transport device, but compared to this, the above method increases the overall processing efficiency (per hour) with relatively low equipment costs. It is possible to increase the number of processing steps). In other words, unit transfer devices have lower transfer efficiency (the number of items transferred per unit per operation) than bulk transfer devices, so the processing efficiency (processing per time) is lower when the entire area of the processing line is transferred by unit transfer devices. In order to increase the number of moving bodies, it is necessary to install a large number of running bodies and operate them simultaneously. However, this not only significantly increases equipment costs, but also poses problems in terms of installation space and operation, so in reality there is a limit to the number of running bodies that can be installed, and this impedes improvement in processing efficiency. On the other hand, if only a part of the processing line, rather than the entire area, is transported by the unit transfer device and the rest is transferred by the batch transfer device, as in the above method, the entire area can be transferred. The number of traveling bodies required to achieve a certain level of processing efficiency is smaller than when conveying by a unit conveying device. This is because the number of traveling bodies required to obtain a certain processing efficiency in a unit transfer device is approximately inversely proportional to the number of processing tanks arranged in series. Therefore, in a configuration in which only a part of the area is transported by a unit transfer device and the rest is transferred by a batch transfer device, even if the number of traveling bodies is small, that is, the equipment cost is relatively low, it is possible to The processing efficiency can be ensured, and the overall processing efficiency can be improved compared to the case where all areas are transported by a unit transport device.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a conveying device for objects to be plated in a plating factory will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

(1) Outline of the processing line First, Fig. 1 shows a part of the processing line 1 of this embodiment, where 2 to 14 are processing tanks;
Electrolytic degreasing, water washing, water washing, water washing, pickling, water washing, water washing, soft etching, spray washing,
It is for spray washing, pickling, water washing and water washing treatments. In reality, treatment tanks for plating and washing are sequentially provided following the last washing tank 14 shown in the figure, and all of these processing tanks complete the processing line 1.
is configured, but the parts below the plating process are omitted from illustration.

(2) Support mode of the object to be processed On the other hand, the object to be plated 15 corresponding to the object to be processed
is suspended from a carrier bar 16 extending between both side edges of the processing tank, as shown in FIG. Both ends of this carrier bar 16 are connected to receiving grooves 17 of carrier bar insulators 17 fixedly provided along both sides of the entire processing tank.
a (shown only in FIG. 5), and in this state, the objects 15 to be plated are positioned in each processing tank. In this state, three objects 15 to be plated are stored in each tank.

(3) Unit transfer device <Structure> Traveling rails 18 are a pair of traveling rails, which are provided in an elevated manner along and above the processing line 1.

The traveling body 19 is a traveling body, which is equipped with wheels 20 that roll on the traveling rail 18 and a self-propelled device (not shown), and moves to a desired position programmed in advance within the range where the traveling rail 18 is constructed. It is now ready to run. Reference numeral 21 denotes an elevating body, which is suspended from the traveling body 18 via a chain 22, and is lifted up and down by operating a lifting device (not shown) provided in the traveling body 19.
It moves up and down between the upper limit position shown by the solid line and the lower limit position shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure. Incidentally, the elevating body 21 can be guided in vertical movement by providing elevating guide rails on both sides of the traveling body 19. On both sides of this elevating body 21,
For example, three pairs of hook arms 23 are provided protrudingly,
A carrier bar hook 24 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided inside the lower end. Although not shown, a hanging pitch changing device is provided inside the elevating body 21, and the hook arm 23
Furthermore, the pitch between the objects 15 to be plated can be changed.

The above-described traveling body 19, elevating body 21, and related mechanisms constitute the unit transfer device 25 according to the present invention, and a plurality of them are provided on the same traveling rail 18 (only one is shown). .

<Operation> This unit transfer device 25 moves the carrier bar 16 by moving the traveling body 19 to a predetermined treatment tank position with the elevating body 21 lowered to the lower limit position, and then raising it to the upper limit position. The objects 15 to be plated can be lifted out of the processing tank by hooking both ends of the objects to the carrier bar hook 24 and making three objects into one unit. Here, 1 unit means the smallest treatment tank (processing tank 3 for washing, etc.)
This refers to the maximum number of units that can be stored in the unit transfer device 2.
5 transfers the objects 15 to be plated one unit (three pieces) at a time. Object 1 to be plated with one unit of elevating body 21
5 is lifted, the traveling body 19 travels in that state to the upper part of the treatment tank where the next treatment process is performed,
Then, the elevating body 21 is lowered to the lower limit position. This causes both ends of the carrier bar 16 to
As shown in the figure, the object 15 to be plated is received by the carrier bar insulator 17 and stored in the processing tank. After this, running body 1
9 travels above the processing tank in which the object to be plated 15 to be transferred next is stored, with the elevating body 21 lowered to the lower limit position.

In this embodiment, the transfer area of the unit transfer device 25, ie, the area where the running rails 18 are laid in the processing line 1, covers the entire area of the processing line 1.

(4) Bulk transfer device <Configuration> Elevator frame 26 is an elevator frame, which is installed on both sides of a predetermined processing tank outside the carrier bar insulator 17 so as to be movable up and down, as shown in FIG. It is being

Elevator frame elevating device 27 is an elevator frame elevating device located above the plating processing device 1 and attached to the running rail 18, which suspends the elevator frame 26 via wires 27a. This elevator frame lifting device 2
7 is operated at predetermined intervals to raise the elevator frame 26 from the lower limit position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 to the upper limit position shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure by winding up the wire 27a, and after a predetermined time, the wire 27a is unwound. Then, the elevator frame 26 can be lowered again to the lower limit position shown by the solid line in FIG.

The slide blocks and bar receivers 28 are a plurality of horizontally elongated slide blocks, and a pair of two slide blocks for each processing tank are provided on the upper surface of each of the left and right elevator frames 26 shown in FIG. 2. This slide block 28 has an arrangement pitch A ₁ between the processing tank in which it is installed and the next processing tank,
It is provided so that it can reciprocate by the feed pitch corresponding to A ₂ and A ₃ . Incidentally, the arrangement pitches A ₁ , A ₂ , and A ₃ between the processing tanks are determined according to the arrangement pitches B ₁ , B ₂ , and B ₃ of the objects to be plated in each processing tank.

Reference numeral 29 denotes three bar receivers provided on the top surface of each slide block 28, and a receiving groove 29a into which the end of the carrier bar 16 can enter is provided on the top surface. Among these three bar receivers 29, the center one is fixed to the center on the slide block 28, while the two on the left and right are fixed to the elevator frame 28.
It is possible to reciprocate on the slide block 28 along the direction of extension of the slide block 28.

Slide block drive device A fourth drive unit is provided on the lower surface of the slide block 28.
As shown in the figure, a rack portion 28a is formed,
On the other hand, the elevator frame 26 is provided with drive pinions 30 corresponding to each slide block 28 and meshing with the rack portions 28a thereof. And each drive pinion 3
0 has two coaxial driven sprockets 31
(Only one sprocket appears per shaft in Fig. 4), and a chain 32 is stretched between each driven sprocket 31 provided on each adjacent drive pinion 30, and each driven sprocket is driven by a drive source (not shown). By simultaneously rotating the sprocket 31 and the driving pinion 30 in the forward or reverse direction, the slide block 28 can be reciprocated in the lateral direction using the rack portion 28a. Therefore, this drive source, chain 32, driven sprocket 31,
The drive pinion 30 and the rack portion 28a constitute a slide block drive device 33.

The drive source of this slide block drive device 33 is the elevator frame lifting device 2.
After the elevator frame 26 is raised to the upper limit position by the lever 7, it is driven in the forward rotation direction, thereby moving the slide block 28 in the feeding direction. Further, after the elevator frame 26 is lowered to the lower limit position by the elevator frame lifting device 27, it is driven in the opposite direction, thereby moving the slide block 28 back in the opposite direction to the feeding direction.

In this case, the moving distance of the slide block 28 depends on the diameter of the drive pinion 30 that meshes with the rack portion 28a, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The slide block 28 is different depending on the arrangement pitch between the processed tank and the next processing tank, and regardless of the size of each processing tank in the feeding direction,
is located in the center of the next treatment tank.

Arrangement pitch changing device Also, in order to make the drawings easier to understand,
Although not shown in the drawings and FIG. 4, the slide block 28 provided on the elevator frame 26 is provided with an arrangement pitch changing device 34 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. To explain this in detail based on the same figure, as mentioned above, among the three bar receivers 29 provided on the slide block 28, the one located in the center is fixed to the slide block 28, and the two bar receivers located on both sides are fixed to the slide block 28. The bar receivers 29 are movable along the slide block 28, and in particular, the bar receivers 29 on both sides are always urged away from the central bar receiver 29 by springs (not shown). Reference numeral 35 denotes two flexible wires, one tip of which passes through the bar receivers 29 on the left side and the center in the figure and is fixed to the bar receiver 29 on the right side, and the other tip end passes through the bar receivers 29 on the right side and the center in the figure. It passes through the bar receiver 29 and is fixed to the left bar receiver 29. and,
The other end of each flexible wire 35 is guided into the slide block 28 by a guide pulley 36 and wound around a winding drum 37 provided therein. This winding drum 37 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) when the slide block 28 moves, and winds up the flexible wire 35. When the flexible wire 35 is wound up in this way, the bars on both sides are rotated. Receptor 29
moves close to the center bar receiver 29, and conversely, when the winding drum 37 reverses, the bar receivers 29 on both sides move away from the center bar receiver 29 due to the spring force. The amount of rotation of the winding drum 37 varies depending on the difference between the distance between the objects 15 to be plated in the processing tank in which the slide block 28 is installed and the distance between the objects 15 to be plated in the next processing tank. As a result, for the slide block 28 that moves between processing tanks with a large mutual gap difference, the winding drum 37
The amount of rotation of the slide block 2 is large, and conversely, the slide block 2 moves between processing tanks with a small difference in mutual spacing.
8, the amount of rotation of the winding drum 37 is reduced.

The elevator frame 26, slide block 28, bar receiver 29, elevator frame elevating device 27, slide block drive device 33, and arrangement pitch changing device 34 described above constitute a batch transfer device 38 according to the present invention.

<Operation> Step The elevator frame elevating device 27 operates at predetermined intervals, and first, by winding up the wire 27a, the elevator frame 26 is raised from the lower limit position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 to the upper limit position shown by the two-dot chain line in the same figure. In this process, when the elevator frame 26 rises a little from the lower limit position, both ends of all the carrier bars 16 supported by the carrier bar insulators 17 enter the receiving grooves 29a of each bar receiver 29, and the carrier bars 16 will be lifted to separate it from the carrier bar insulator 17. Then, when the elevator frame 26 further rises, the objects to be plated 15 suspended from all the carrier bars 16 are lifted up from all the processing tanks, and in this state, the elevator frame 26 is raised to the upper limit position.

Step When the elevator frame 26 reaches the upper limit position, the slide block drive device 33 is activated, and first all driven sprockets 31 are rotated via the chain 32 by its drive source. At the same time, all the drive pinions 30 rotate in the forward direction, so that the slide block 28 having the rack portion 28a that meshes therewith moves in the sending direction with respect to the elevator frame 26. Each slide block 28
is provided with a bar receiver 29 that supports each carrier bar 16. Therefore, as each slide block 28 moves, all the carrier bars 16 and, by extension, all the objects to be plated 15 are moved in the feeding direction while being pulled up from the processing tank. Moving. At this time, the diameter dimension of the drive pinion 30 is determined by the arrangement pitch A ₁ between the processing tank in which the slide block 28 is installed and the next processing tank,
Since A ₂ and A ₃ are made different, the feed pitch of each slide block 28 is equal to its arrangement pitch, and each slide block 28 is eventually located above the center of each processing tank.

Furthermore, such a slide block 28
When feeding and moving, the motor of the arrangement pitch changing device 34 is energized as necessary to cause the winding drum 37 to adjust the object to be plated 15 to the arrangement pitch B ₁ , B ₂ , B ₃ in each processing tank. It is rotated by the amount. As a result, the three bar receivers 2 disposed on each slide block 28
9 does not change for the slide blocks 28 in the part where the feed direction dimensions of both processing tanks are equal, and widens after the movement for the slide blocks 28 in the part where the feed direction of the next processing tank is large, and then Slide block 2 of the part where the feed size of the processing tank is small
8 becomes narrower after moving.

In this way, each bar receiver 29 is placed at the next plating object arrangement pitch B ₁ , B ₂ ,
Since the mutual spacing is expanded or contracted in accordance with B ₃ and the carrier bars 16 are supported on each bar receiver 29, the objects 15 to be plated can be used in processing tanks where the mutual spacing should be widened, for example, for spray washing. In the tanks 10 and 11, the mutual interval is widened and the water is sent, for example, a processing tank 12 for pickling and water washing,
In step 13, the mutual spacing between them is narrowed and they are sent to the center of each processing tank.

Step Next, the elevator frame elevating device 27 is activated, and by rewinding the wire 27a, the elevator frame 26 is lowered from the upper limit position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 to the lower limit position shown by the solid line in the same figure. In this process, when the elevator frame 26 passes by the carrier bar insulator 17, all the carrier bars 16 are inserted into the receiving grooves 29 of each bar receiver 29.
a and comes to be supported by the carrier bar insulator 17, after which the elevator frame 26 reaches the lower limit position.

In this state where each carrier bar 16 is supported by the carrier bar insulator 17, the object to be plated 15 suspended from each carrier bar 16 is stored in the processing tank.

Step This is the exact opposite of the step. That is, the slide block drive device 33 operates first, and all driven sprockets 3
1 is reversed so that each slide block 28 moves relative to the elevator frame 26 in a direction opposite to its feeding direction. At this time, the diameter of the drive pinion 30 is the same as that of the slide block 2.
Since the pitch of each slide block 28 in the return direction is different depending on the pitch between the processing tank in which the slide block 8 is provided and the next processing tank, the pitch of the return direction of each slide block 28 also corresponds to the pitch between the processing tanks.
Each slide block 28 is moved back so that it is always positioned approximately at the center of the processing tank in which it is installed. This returns the step to its original state.

Thereafter, the cycle from step to step described above is repeated at a predetermined period, and based on this, three objects 15 to be plated are sequentially conveyed in the feeding direction in each cycle.

Now, in this embodiment, the transfer area of the bulk transfer device 38, that is, the arrangement area of the elevator frame 26 in the processing line 1, is the area from the processing tank 6 where the first pickling process is carried out to the water washing process immediately before the plating process. The section up to the processing tank 14 to be carried out,
This is the section from the washing tank (not shown) after the plating process to the unloading point. In FIG. 7, the transfer area of the batch transfer device 38 and the transfer area of the unit transfer device 25 are indicated by arrows. The section from the processing tank 6 to the processing tank 14 for washing before plating overlaps with the section from the processing tank for washing after plating to the unloading point.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

(1) Case in which all treatments are performed Depending on the type of the object to be plated 15, all the treatment steps shown in FIG. 7 may be required, even if it is rare. Object to be plated 15 in this case
The transfer method is shown in FIG. 7A. Note that the numbers in parentheses in the processing step column indicate the processing time of the processing.
In addition, in the same figure, the processes to be executed are indicated by white circles, and the section in which the objects 15 to be plated are transferred by the unit transfer device 25 is shown by a broken line, and the section in which the objects to be plated 15 are transferred by the batch transfer device 38 is shown by a solid line. It is shown in

The object to be plated 15 is first sent from the loading point to the processing tank 2 for electrolytic degreasing by the unit transfer device 25, and then sequentially sent by the unit transfer device 25 to the processing tank 6 for pickling. For conveyance in this area, two traveling bodies 19 can be inserted into the unit transfer device 25 of this embodiment, and in order to avoid mutual interference in operation, one is placed on the left side of the loading point, and the other is placed on the bulk transfer device 38. An evacuation zone (not shown) is set at the left end of the installation area, and the two traveling bodies 19 work together to remove the object 1
Transfer 5.

After this, the objects 15 to be plated are transferred to the bulk transfer device 38.
The process is sequentially transferred from the pickling treatment tank 6 to the washing treatment tank 14.
From there, it is supplied to a processing tank for plating processing by a unit transfer device 25. After being immersed in this processing tank for plating processing for 15 minutes, it is transferred by unit transfer device 25 to a processing tank for washing treatment, and from there, it is transferred by batch transfer device 38 until it is unloaded.

By the way, when different types of transfer devices are combined in series, the processing efficiency of the entire line (number of transferred items per hour) is controlled by the transfer device with lower processing efficiency. In the above example, since the transfer from the loading point to the pickling treatment tank 6 is carried out by the unit transfer device 25, which has a lower transfer efficiency than the batch transfer device 38, the processing efficiency of the entire line is It is equal to processing efficiency. However, if a part of the processing line 1 is configured to be transferred by the batch transfer device 38 as in the above example, the unit transfer device The area covered by 25 becomes shorter.

The number of traveling bodies required to obtain a certain processing efficiency in a unit transfer device is approximately inversely proportional to the number of processing tanks arranged in series, so if the area to be transferred becomes shorter, the number of processing units arranged in series will be reduced. The number of tanks is reduced, and a certain degree of processing efficiency can be achieved with a small number of moving bodies. By the way,
In this embodiment, if all processing tanks 2 to 14 are transferred by a unit transfer device, there will be a total of 13 processing tanks lined up in series between them, so theoretically a considerable number of traveling bodies will not be installed. Therefore, the object to be plated cannot be transported within the soaking time shown in FIG. However, in reality, due to installation space and operational issues, it is impossible to install a sufficient number of moving bodies to transport the object to be plated within the immersion time shown in Figure 7. The processing efficiency is inevitably lowered considerably compared to a configuration in which the entire area is transferred by a batch transfer device.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the unit transfer device 25
Since there are only five tanks in the area to be transferred by the two moving bodies 19, a certain degree of processing efficiency is ensured by the two traveling bodies 19 (although it is small compared to a configuration in which the entire area is transferred by a batch transfer device). Moreover, since the number of running bodies 19 to be installed is small, the equipment cost can be reduced.

Although this embodiment shows an example of application in a factory where electrolytic degreasing is rarely performed, if electrolytic degreasing is frequently performed, the batch transfer device 38 may be moved to the treatment tank 2 for electrolytic degreasing. The processing efficiency of the entire line can be further improved by extending the processing tank 2 to the region of 1 and making it possible to transfer from the processing tank 2 to the processing tank 14 by the batch transfer device 38.

(2) When electrolytic degreasing is not performed In this factory, many objects 15 to be plated are not subjected to electrolytic degreasing. FIG. 7B shows a method of transporting the object to be plated 15 in a process combination in which electrolytic degreasing is not performed.

In this case, the object to be plated 15 is immediately transferred from the loading point by the unit transfer device 25 to the processing tank 6 for pickling, passing over the processing tank 2 for electrolytic degreasing and the processing tanks 3 to 5 for washing with water. After that, a bulk transfer device 38 is carried out from the processing tank 6 for pickling to the processing tank 14 for washing with water before plating processing.
From the processing tank 14, it is supplied to a processing tank for plating processing by a unit transfer device 25. Then, in the processing tank for this plating process, 15
After being immersed in portions, they are transferred by unit transfer device 25 to a processing tank for washing with water, and from there, they are transferred by batch transfer device 38 until unloaded.

If the object to be plated 15 is transferred from the loading point to the processing tank 6 immediately after passing over the processing tanks 2 to 5 by the unit transfer device 25, the entire line can be transferred by the batch transfer device. Compared to the above, the omitted section (processing tanks 2 to 5)
can be passed through at high speed, the overall processing time can be shortened by the amount of the omitted step, and it is possible to improve processing efficiency. Of course,
In this way, it is possible to omit only a specific processing step by using a conventional configuration in which the entire line is transferred using a unit transfer device, but as already mentioned, this results in a significant drop in processing efficiency. I can't escape it. On the other hand, if the entire line is transferred by a batch transfer device in order to ensure the highest processing efficiency possible, it would be difficult to omit specific steps as in this embodiment. In other words, flexibility in process combinations as in this embodiment can be achieved only by providing two types of transfer devices 25 and 38 so as to partially overlap while ensuring a certain degree of processing efficiency. It is possible.

(3) When the first pickling treatment and soft etching treatment are not performed.
Shown in Figure C. The object to be plated 15 is transferred from the loading point by the unit transfer device 25 while being immersed in the processing tanks 2 to 5 in order, and then passed above the processing tanks 6 to 11 by the unit transfer device 25 for pickling treatment. The processing tank 12 for pickling processing and the processing tanks 13 and 14 for water washing processing are transferred to a bulk transfer device 38.
Then, it passes through the processing tank for plating processing while being sent by the unit transfer device 25, and then passes through the processing tank for water washing processing and is transferred by the batch transfer device 38 until it is unloaded. .

This example is shown for reference to show that such a process combination is also possible. Since the processing efficiency in this case is determined by the transfer efficiency of the unit transfer device 25 between the processing tanks 2 to 12, it is not very high as in the case of FIG. 7A. However, since a part of the area is transferred by the batch transfer device 38, the processing efficiency is higher and the equipment cost can be kept low compared to a configuration in which the entire area is transferred by the unit transfer device. However, in a factory that frequently performs such process combinations, it is preferable to install the batch transfer device 38 so as to extend from the processing tank 2 to the processing tank 14. According to this, since it becomes possible to transfer between the processing tanks 2 to 5 by the batch transfer device 38,
This is because the transfer efficiency is dramatically improved.

In this way, according to this embodiment, as is clear from the above explanation of the operation, the transfer area of the unit transfer device 25 and the batch transfer device 3 are separated in a part of the processing line 1.
Since the transfer areas 8 and 8 are provided so as to overlap with each other, the object 15 to be plated can be transferred rationally even when all processes are performed in series or when some processes are omitted. Since there is flexibility in the combination of processing steps, it is possible to mix and transport various objects 15 that require different treatments through the processing line 1, which allows for high-mix, low-volume production. Also suitable for production.

In addition, although there is flexibility in process combinations, the unit transfer device 25 is allowed to transfer only the necessary areas, so the unit transfer device 2
The load on the unit transfer device 25 is lighter, and the overall transfer efficiency can be improved compared to transferring the entire line using a unit transfer device 25, which is expensive.
Since the number of running bodies 19 can be reduced to a small number, equipment costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the unit transfer device 2 is used in the processing tank for plating processing which takes a long processing time.
Since the object to be plated 15 is transported by the plating device 5, there is no need to increase the length of the processing tank for plating according to the processing time, and the processing line can be shortened.

In the above embodiment, a section where the transfer area of the unit transfer device 25 and the transfer area of the batch transfer device 38 overlap is provided across a plurality of processing tanks, but the present invention is not limited to this. Depending on the configuration of the line, the overlapping section of the transfer area may be provided only in a single processing tank. Further, in this embodiment, the unit transfer device 25 includes three carrier bars 1.
6 is transferred as one unit, but the number of carrier bars 16 constituting one unit is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the number of carrier bars 16 constituting one unit may be one or another number. One unit may be the number that can be stored in the smallest processing tank among the tanks.
Furthermore, the running rails do not necessarily need to be provided over the entire processing line; it is sufficient to provide them in the necessary portions. Furthermore, the running rail does not necessarily need to be provided above the processing tank, but may be provided on the side or below the processing tank.

Further, in particular, in the slide block drive device 33 of this embodiment, the feed pitch of the slide block 28 is varied by varying the diameter of the drive sprocket 30 provided on the elevator frame 26, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. Not limited to. For example, even in the slide block drive device 40 constructed as shown in FIG. 8, the feeding pitch of the slide block 41 can be varied.

To explain a modification of the slide block drive device based on the same figure, a support plate 42 is fixed to the lower part of the elevator frame 26 in correspondence with each slide block 41, and a drive lever 4 is attached to this support plate 42.
3 is rotatably supported. Each drive lever 4
The upper end of the elevator shaft 3 is connected to the slide block 41 through a pin 41a protruding through a long hole 43a, and the lower end is connected to a drive shaft 44 provided along the elevator frame 26 through a long hole 43b. . Each drive lever 43 is connected to the support plate 4.
The fulcrum position of the drive lever 43 is varied depending on the required feed pitch, and by reciprocating the drive shaft 44 using, for example, a cylinder device (not shown), each slide is moved by an amount corresponding to the fulcrum position of the drive lever 43. Block 41 begins to move. Even with this configuration, it is possible to vary the feed pitch in the batch transfer device 38 depending on the location, similar to the configuration shown in FIG.

Further, the arrangement pitch changing device 34 does not necessarily have to change the bar receiver 29 biased by a spring to the flexible wire 3.
The structure is not limited to the one in which it is pulled by 5, but it is also possible to use a hydraulic drive system, a cam drive system, or a screw shaft drive system. Further, the arrangement pitch changing device 34 does not necessarily have to be provided on the slide block 28, but may be provided exclusively on the outside of the elevator frame 26, for example.

Furthermore, if it is not necessary to vary the feed pitch in the batch transfer device 38, as shown in FIG. 45 may be moved by a predetermined amount. Alternatively, if the feed pitch is to be constant in this way, a bar receiver (not shown) is integrated into the elevator frame and moved by one feed pitch when the elevator frame rises, and the carrier bar 16 is machined.
The elevator frame may be configured to be returned to its original position after being received by the carrier bar insulator 17. In addition, with this configuration, the elevator frame can be directly driven, or the elevator lifting device 27 that suspends the frame can be moved together.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can of course be used, for example, when transporting objects to be treated for alumite treatment or electrostatic coating.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention is characterized in that the transfer area of the unit transfer device and the transfer area of the batch transfer device are provided so as to overlap, and as a result, the combination of processing steps can be improved. It has excellent flexibility and can also shorten the processing line, while still ensuring a certain level of processing efficiency and requiring low equipment costs, which is an excellent industrial effect. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 show one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a partial side view of the processing line, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hook arm, and FIG.
The figure is a partially enlarged side view of the batch transfer device, Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the slide block portion of the batch transfer device, Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of the same, and Figure 7 shows the relationship between processing steps and transfer method. It is a process diagram. 8th
This figure is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a modification of the arrangement pitch changing device in the batch transfer device, and FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view showing still another modification of the batch transfer device. In the drawing, 1 is a processing line, 2 to 14 are processing tanks (processing section), 15 is an object to be plated (an object to be processed), and 18
25 is a traveling rail, 25 is a unit transfer device, 34 is an arrangement pitch changing device, and 38 is a batch transfer device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device for sequentially transporting objects to be processed along a processing line consisting of a plurality of processing tanks arranged in a row, comprising: a traveling rail provided along the processing line; The objects to be processed are provided so as to be able to travel on a running rail, and the number of objects to be processed that can be stored in the smallest processing tank among the plurality of processing tanks is taken as one unit, and each unit is lifted from one processing tank and subjected to other arbitrary processing. a unit transfer device that travels to the tank and lowers the objects to be processed into the processing tank; and a unit transfer device that is installed along the processing line and simultaneously raises the objects to be processed located in the processing tank within a predetermined area. and a batch transfer device that sends these to the next processing tank and then lowers them into the processing tank, and the transfer area of the batch transfer device and the transfer area of the unit transfer device are at least part of the processing line. A processing object conveying device characterized in that the objects to be processed are overlapped with each other. 2. The processing object transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the feed pitch in the batch transfer device is configured differently depending on the processing tank. 3. Processing object conveyance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the batch transfer device is provided with an arrangement pitch changing device for changing the arrangement pitch of the processing objects. Device.