JPH04223926A - Stopper releasing device of station in carrier system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To manufacture a stopper releasing device easily and at low cost by regulating the movement of load in a simple structure, and by ensuring releasing of the stopper. CONSTITUTION:A stopper arm 16 is provided on the front side of a conveyer 13 provided on a station 1, and the arm is supported in such a way that it is moved vertically, and also is protruded upward from the conveyer 13 by a coil spring 18. A dog 26 is provided in the side of the station 1, and is rotated by the extension of a push-pull arm 8 of a moving device 5 of a vehicle. A lever 21 follows the rotation of the dog 26, and the stopper arm 16 is lowered to a level lower than the conveyer 13, against the elastic force of the coil spring 18, and the stopper arm 16 and the dog 6 are connected with each other thereby.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for releasing a stopper provided at a station in a transport system equipped with a push-pull transfer device.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-8915, an automatic guided vehicle equipped with a push-pull transfer device is stopped at a station, and a guide arm member provided on the transfer device is connected to a conveyor provided at the station. An automatic guided vehicle transport system has been proposed that includes a push-pull type transfer device that extends the load and transfers the load between the station and the transfer device. In the station-side stopper mechanism in this conveyance system, a stopper device including a stopper member that prevents movement of a load and an operated member that moves the stopper member is provided at a station (support stand). On the other hand, the transfer device of the carrier is provided with a drive device that operates the operated member to move the stopper member.

In other words, when the drive device of the push-pull type transfer device slides toward the station, the drive device provided in the push-pull type transfer device electrically operates the operated member to move the stopper member. is configured to move downward. By adopting such a configuration,
Compared to the case where each station is provided with a drive device, the effect of reducing equipment costs to some extent has been achieved.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, even if such a system is adopted, the drive device provided in the push-pull type transfer device is electrically operated, so it is not possible to significantly reduce equipment costs. Not only is it still not possible, but the entire device has become complicated.
When designing a push-pull type transfer device, there were many problems such as a reduced degree of freedom.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a stopper release device that can regulate the movement of a load with a simple configuration, can reliably bring the stopper into the released state, and can be manufactured easily and at low cost. It's about doing.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stops a conveyance vehicle equipped with a transfer device at a station, and a guide arm member provided on the transfer device is attached to a conveyor provided at the station. In a conveyance system that extends up to
a stopper member made of an elastic member and protruding upward from the conveyor; a detection member provided on the station side and rotated by extension of the guide arm member of the transfer device; A connecting means is provided for connecting the stopper member and the detection member to lower the stopper member downward from the conveyor against the elastic force of the elastic member.

[0007]

[Operation] When the guide arm member extends from the transfer device,
The detection member rotates in one direction. As the detection member rotates, the connecting member moves the stopper member downward from the conveyor against the elastic force of the elastic member. As a result, cargo can be transferred between the station and the transfer device of the transport vehicle via the guide arm member.

[0008]

[Example] An example embodying the present invention is shown below in Figure 1.
This will be explained based on 4. In this embodiment, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a stopper release device 2 provided in a station 1, FIGS. 2 and 3 are side sectional views of the stopper release device 2, and FIG. 4 is an unmanned transport vehicle. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between a transport vehicle 3 and a station 1. FIG.

In FIG. 4, the automatic guided vehicle 3 travels along a guide line (not shown) laid on the ground or on the floor using a known travel control method. This automatic guided vehicle 3 has a vehicle body 4
and an on-vehicle transfer device 5, and moves between a plurality of stations 1 (FIG. 1 shows only one station) to transport a workpiece 6 as a predetermined load. The on-vehicle transfer device 5 is a push-pull type transfer device, and is equipped with a plurality of left and right pairs of rollers 7, and between the rollers 7 is a guide arm member for transferring the workpiece 6. A push-pull arm 8 is stored. The push-pull arm 8 is housed so as to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction by rotation of a motor (not shown). In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the push-pull arm 8 has a tapered surface 9 on the lower surface of its tip, and the upper portion of the tip is engaged with the workpiece 6 on the station 1 side, making it unattended. A known engagement protrusion 10 for transferring to the transport vehicle 3 side is buried so as to be movable up and down. Note that the push-pull arm 8 is also provided with a known engagement protrusion (not shown) at the other end, so that the workpiece 6 on the automatic guided vehicle 3 side can be transferred to the station 1 side. It has become.

On the other hand, a pair of left and right roller frames 11 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 2) of the station 1 have roller frames 11 that are rotatable around shafts provided in the left-right direction in FIG. A plurality of free rollers 12 are provided to form a conveyor 13. Said station 1
As shown in FIG. 1, a stopper release device 2 is provided on the front side (left side in FIG. 2) of the vehicle, and this stopper release device 2 will be described below.

A pair of brackets 14 having a U-shaped cross section are disposed between the main body frames 1a via side frames 1b. A stopper arm 16 serving as a stopper member having a roller 15 rotatably attached to the tip thereof is fitted into the pair of brackets 14 so as to be movable up and down. The stopper arm 16 is provided with a locking flange 17 within the bracket 14, which engages with the bracket 14 to restrict the upward movement range of the stopper arm 16. In addition, the stopper arm 16
In this case, a coil spring 18 as an elastic member is disposed between the locking flange 17 and the bracket 14, and urges the stopper arm 16 upward. The tip of the stopper arm 16 protrudes from the free roller 12 of the conveyor 13, and when the stopper arm 16 descends against the elastic force of the coil spring 18, it descends below the free roller 12. Furthermore, engagement pins 19 are formed at the lower ends of the pair of stopper arms 16, each facing toward the other side.

A locking piece 14 is provided on the pair of brackets 14.
A is formed to extend downward, and the shaft 20 is rotatably supported between the locking pieces 14a. As shown in Figure 2,
A lever 21 as a connecting member extending horizontally rearward is fixed to both ends of the shaft 20, and the engagement pin 1 of the stopper arm 16 is inserted into a long hole 22 formed in the lever 21.
9 are slidably engaged. And the same lever 21
However, as will be described later, when rotating clockwise in FIG. 2, the engagement pin 19 engaged with the elongated hole 22 is guided downward, and the stopper arm 16 descends against the elastic force of the coil spring 18. .

A support pipe 23 is attached and fixed to the shaft 20 between the pair of locking pieces 14a, and a pair of left and right dog arms 2 extend upwardly on the support pipe 23.
4 is fixed. A dog shaft 25 is attached between the distal ends of the pair of dog arms 24, and a rubber dog 26 serving as a cylindrical detection member is rotatably attached to the dog shaft 25.

The position of the dog 26 is as shown in FIG. 2 when the push-pull arm 8 slides.
It is provided at a position where it engages with the tapered surface 9 at its tip. Therefore, as the push-pull arm 8 slides further, it rolls on its tapered surface 9 as shown in FIG.
Rotates clockwise around shaft 20, and rotates clockwise around shaft 20.
0 to rotate the lever 21.

Next, the operation of the stopper release device 2 having the above structure will be explained. The workpiece 6 scheduled to be transferred to the automatic guided vehicle 3 is placed on the free roller 1 at the front end of the station 1 (left side in the figure) as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
It is placed on 2. On the other hand, the automatic guided vehicle 3 that has traveled toward station 1 along a guide line (not shown) (in the direction perpendicular to the drawing in FIG. 4) approaches station 1 and confirms that it has arrived, as shown in FIG. , slide the push-pull arm 8 stored inside toward station 1 (to the right in FIG. 2). Eventually, the tip of the push-pull arm 8 comes into contact with the dog 26 on the station 1 side, but the push-pull arm 8 continues to slide toward the back of the station 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the lever 21 and dog arm 24 that are integrally formed with the shaft 20
rotates around the shaft 20 (clockwise in the figure)
do. At this time, the engagement pin 19 protruding from the lower end of the stopper arm 16 is engaged in the elongated hole 22 of the lever 21, so as the lever 21 rotates, the engagement pin 19 and the engagement pin 19 The stopper arm 16, which is integrally formed with the dowel pin 19, moves down against the biasing force of the coil spring 18.

In this way, when the push-pull arm 8 slides sufficiently into the back of the station 1, the tip of the stopper arm 16 descends below the free roller 12 on the conveyor 13, so that the station 1 is unattended. The workpiece 6 can now be transferred to the transport vehicle 3. The automatic guided vehicle 3 causes the engagement protrusion 10 of the push-pull arm 8 to protrude to engage with the rear end of the work 6 or an engagement portion (not shown) formed on the work 6. Next, the automatic guided vehicle 3 slides the push-pull arm 8 toward the automatic guided vehicle 3 (left side in FIG. 2), and stores the push-pull arm 8 in the on-vehicle transfer device 5 of the automatic guided vehicle 3. At the same time, the engaging protrusion 10 is accommodated within the push-pull arm 8. At this time, the workpiece 6 that has been engaged with the engagement protrusion 10 of the push-pull arm 8 is slid in the direction of the automatic guided vehicle 3 along with the sliding of the push-pull arm 8, and is finally placed on the automatic guided vehicle 3. placed. In this way, the transfer of the workpiece 6 is completed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the stopper arm 16 can be moved up and down simply by rotating the dog 26 based on the sliding movement of the push-pull arm 8, so the workpiece 6 can be moved up and down with a simple configuration. Movement can be regulated as well as movement restrictions can be lifted. Moreover, since the push-pull arm 8 has a tapered surface 9, it smoothly contacts the dog 26. Furthermore, the dog 26 is made of rubber and is rotatable with respect to the dog shaft 25. Therefore, the impact when it comes into contact with the station 1 is reduced, and the life of the station 1 can be extended.

Further, since the roller 15 is disposed at the upper end of the stopper arm 8, even when the workpiece 6 comes into contact with the roller 15 during transfer, especially when the workpiece 6 passes over the roller 15, the roller 15 The rotation allows the workpiece 6 to be moved smoothly. Furthermore, since the stopper arm 16 is biased by a coil spring 18 within the bracket 14, after the workpiece 6 has passed, the stopper arm 16 rises due to the biasing force of the coil spring 18 without applying any external force. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce costs.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be configured as follows, for example, without departing from the spirit of the invention. That is, although the dog 26 rotatable with respect to the dog shaft 25 was used as the detection member in the above embodiment, a rod-shaped or plate-shaped member that does not rotate may also be used. Further, although the dog 26 is made of rubber, it may be made of resin or metal. In this case, it is preferable that a cushioning material such as rubber or urethane resin be attached to the contact surfaces of the ends of the opposing push-pull arms 16.

[0020]

[Effects of the Invention] The stopper release device of the present invention can regulate the movement of a load with a simple configuration, can reliably bring the stopper into the released state, and can be easily and inexpensively manufactured. be effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a stopper release device of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side sectional view of the stopper release device.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken side sectional view showing the action of the stopper release device.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the automatic guided vehicle and the state of work being transferred between stations.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Station, 2...Stopper release device, 3...Automated guided vehicle as a guided vehicle, 5...Vehicle transfer device as a transfer device, 6...Work as a load, 8...Push-pull arm as a guide arm member , 13... Conveyor, 16... Stopper arm as a stopper member, 18... Coil spring as an elastic member, 21... Lever as a connecting member, 26
...Dog as a detection member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A transport vehicle equipped with a transfer device is stopped at a station, a guide arm member provided on the transfer device is extended to a conveyor provided at the station, and a transfer vehicle is moved between the station and the transfer device. In a conveyance system configured to deliver and receive items, a stopper member is provided on the front side of a conveyor provided at a station, is supported to be movable up and down, and protrudes upward from the conveyor by an elastic member, and a stopper member provided on the station side. a detection member which is rotated by the extension of the guide arm member of the transfer device; and a detection member that moves the stopper member downward from the conveyor against the elastic force of the elastic member in conjunction with the rotation of the detection member. A stopper release device comprising a connecting means that connects the stopper member and the detection member.