JPH0423721A - Carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the working efficiency of a directing and carrying device of the material for sewing work by carrying multiple material to be carried to directing mechanisms simultaneously, and when the material to be carried are detected on multiple carrying rails, by carrying all of them to directing arms respectively. CONSTITUTION:Multiple carrying rails 8, 10 are provided in directing mechanisms 1a, 1b so that they can be connected to each other with a movement of the directing arms 44. In the case that the material to be carried are carryied to each carrying rails 8, 10 and multiple material to be carried exist in positions corresponding to each number reading device 39, all of the material to be carried is carried to each directing arm 44 simultaneously. With this structure, work time is shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a conveyance device that distributes conveyance bodies to conveyance rails corresponding to their destinations and conveys them.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a conveyance device for conveying a conveyor holding work-in-progress materials such as sewing products in a garment factory etc. (for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 193129 filed by the present applicant). It is known that a sorting mechanism connected to a plurality of conveyor rails for conveying conveyed bodies is controlled by a sorting control means, and each conveyed body is conveyed by being distributed to a conveying rail corresponding to its destination. Agriculture Place the sorting arm opposite the conveyor rail, load the conveyed objects carried by the conveyor rail onto the sorting arm, move the sorting arm oppositely to one of the conveyor rails corresponding to the destination of the conveyed object, and transfer. The bodies are transported to their respective destinations.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in these conventional devices, the conveyance objects that have been conveyed by the conveyance rail are sequentially carried onto the distribution arm, and then moved oppositely to the conveyance rail corresponding to the destination of the conveyance object. This operation was repeated in sequence for each transport object that was transported. Therefore, when multiple transport objects were transported from multiple transport rails, the loading and unloading operations were repeated for each transport object. Therefore, there is a problem in that the time taken to transport the transport body becomes long.

Therefore, the present invention aims to solve the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveying device capable of improving work efficiency by shortening the time required to set up a conveying body.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration as a means for solving the problem. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, there is provided a plurality of distribution arms that are connected to a plurality of conveyance rails that convey conveyance bodies and hold the conveyance bodies carried in from the conveyance rails, and each distribution arm is connected to the conveyance rails. a sorting mechanism M1 capable of transporting the conveyed bodies to the conveyance rails by moving them in a direction opposite to each other; In the conveying device for conveying the conveyance body, the conveyance device has a distribution control means M2 in which arms are opposed to each other and is distributed to the plurality of conveyance rails, wherein the distribution mechanism M is such that the plurality of distribution arms are configured to control the distribution to the plurality of conveyance rails. The carriers are configured to be able to face each other at the same time and carry the carriers from a plurality of the carrier rails at the same time, and the carriers are present on each of the carrier rails that carry the carriers into the sorting mechanism M. a detection means M3 for detecting a plurality of conveyance bodies, and a simultaneous carry-in setting means M4 for setting the sorting control means M2 to cause all of the detected conveyance bodies to be conveyed to the sorting arm, respectively; A conveying device characterized by comprising:

[Operation] The conveyance device of the present invention having the above configuration (i detection means M3
However, it is detected that the conveyance bodies are present on the conveyance rails that are long enough to be carried into the conveyance body distribution mechanism M]. and,
When a plurality of conveyance bodies are detected, the simultaneous carry-in setting means M4 sets the distribution control means M2 so that all the conveyance bodies are conveyed to the respective distribution arms.

Then, the distribution control means M2 controls the distribution mechanism M to carry all of the plurality of conveyance bodies into the distribution arm, and distributes each carried conveyance body by holding it on the conveyance rail corresponding to its destination. With the arms facing each other,
Sort them onto transport rails and transport them.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration mainly of rails and the like of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of the same. The plurality of sorting mechanisms 1a,]b... are installed at intervals in a sewing factory etc., and since they have the same structure,
Hereinafter, one distribution mechanism 1a will be mainly explained. Sorting Mechanism] A is provided with a support 3 that stands up on the floor 2.

The support shaft 4 is erected at the upper end of the support column 3 via a mounting base 5,
A support plate 6 is fixed to its upper end.

The station rail support frame 7a in the form of a rectangular frame is supported and fixed to the upper surface of the support plate 6 at its intermediate portion. A pair of parallel bridge rail support frames 7b are supported and fixed across the support plates 6 of adjacent distribution mechanisms 1a, 1b, . . . .

A bridge rail 8.101, which serves as a transport rail for transporting a transport body 36 to be described later, is suspended and supported by a bridge rail support frame 7b by a plurality of hanging fittings 9, and is connected to a cage and a sorting mechanism 1a. In this embodiment, the sorting mechanisms 1a and 1b are connected to each other by a pair of parallel bridge rails 8, 0.
]O, the station rail 11 serving as a transport rail for transporting the transport body 36 is connected to the sorting mechanisms 1a, 1b,
- Work stations ST1, S arranged around...
It is provided in a horseshoe shape so that the transport body 36 is transported via r2, Sr3, Sr1, .

At one end of the bridge rail 8 and at one end of the station rail 11, there are carrying-in parts 8a and lla, and at one end of the bridge rail]O and at the other end of the station rail, there is a carrying-out part 10.
b,]]b are respectively formed, and these loading/unloading sections 8. a, lla,]Ob, llb is the distribution mechanism]a
at a predetermined angle (45 degrees in the example) at the same height around the
They are placed at intervals. In this embodiment, the unloading section 1
Since there are four locations of 0b and 11b, the bridge rail for transporting the carrier 36] O or station rail 1
In order to distinguish between the numbers 1 and 1, numbers from ■ to ■ are predetermined as shown in FIG. Furthermore, in this embodiment, four loading sections 8a, lla, and four loading sections 10b, 1b are alternately arranged so as to be adjacent to each other.

Furthermore, at the other end of the bridge rail 8, a carry-out section 8b,
At the other end of the bridge rail 10, a carry-in section 10a is connected to an adjacent sorting mechanism 1b. Note that the work stations STI, Sr2, Sr3, S
r1 . . . is formed by a sewing device such as a sewing machine disposed below the station rail.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotary shaft 12 is rotatably penetrated through the support plate 6 of the distribution mechanism]a via a fixed bracket 13. At its lower end is a drive sprocket 14.
is fixed. The driven sprocket 15 is attached to the support shaft 4
It is rotatably and positionally adjustable via a movable bracket 6 on the lower surface of the other side of the support plate 6 so as to be located on the opposite side of the drive sprocket 4. A pair of interlocking shafts] 7 is a movable bracket attached to the support plate 6 so as to be located between the two sprockets] 4 and 15. ]9 is fixed.

The endless first chain 20 is hung across the driving sprocket 4 of the adjacent distribution mechanism [b] and the driven sprocket 15, and is connected to a plurality of guiding sprockets 21 and 21 provided on the lower surface of the support plate 6. The bridge rail 8.
It is stretched along 10. Endless second chain 2
3 is a plurality of guiding sprockets 2 which are respectively hung on each interlocking sprocket] 9 and provided on the lower surface of the support plate 6.
4 and a plurality of chain guides (paths shown) provided on each hanging metal fitting 9, the station rail is stretched along the station rail]1.

A motor 26 for driving the chain is mounted on the support plate 6 of the distribution mechanism [a] via support legs 27.A drive pulley 28 is fixed to the motor shaft 26a. The driven pulley 29 is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 2, and a timing belt 30 is hung between the driven pulley 29 and the driving pulley 28. The three interlocking pulleys 31 are fixed to the intermediate portion of the rotating shaft 12 and the upper end of the interlocking shaft 17, respectively, and a timing belt 32 is hung around these interlocking pulleys 3. A pair of tension pulleys 3 that apply tension to the timing belt 32 are mounted on the support plate 6 (see table).
3 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and 7, the conveyor 36 is movably connected to the bridge rail 8,]0 or the station rail 11 via a pair of rolling rollers 37,
It is shaped like a hanger so that items such as sewn products can be hung thereon. A pair of engagement shafts 38 having a plurality of engagement protrusions 38a on their outer peripheries are rotatably supported by the carrier 36, and the rotation of the engagement shafts 38 is normally regulated by friction means (not shown). Then, the engagement protrusion 38a of the engagement shaft 38
is connected to the first or second chain 20.23,
By the movement of the chains 20, 23, the transport body 36 is transported along the bridge rail 8,]0 or the station rail]1.

A number reading device 39 is attached to the hanging fitting 9 on the loading section 8a, 1]a of one of the bridge rails 8 and the station rail 11 (as shown in FIG.
When the transport body 36 is transported along the carry-in bridge rail 8 or the station rail 11 to a position corresponding to the number reading device 39, the movement of the transport body 36 is temporarily stopped by contact with a stopper (not shown). , this number reading device 39
The number is read by a code mark (not shown) attached to the carrier 36 for identifying the carrier.

The chain 20.23 continues to move even when the conveyor 36 is stopped, but in this case, the engagement shaft 38 is made to idle as the chain moves against the action of the friction means.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, a rotating body 4 is rotatably supported on the spindle 4 of the sorting mechanism]a via a radial bearing 42, A thrust bearing 43 is interposed between the lower end edge and the mounting base 5 (2), and a plurality of distribution arms 44 (eight in this embodiment) are arranged at a predetermined angle on the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 41. (in this example, 45 degrees) and are fixedly protruding radially.

The eight distribution arms (bridge rails 8 arranged at 45-degree intervals as described above), the loading section 8a, lla, or the loading section 10b of the station rail 11,
The first chain 20 is configured such that the carrier 36 can be carried in at the same time from the rail 8, ]1, and simultaneously faces the first chain 20.
Alternatively, it extends to a position corresponding to the movement range of the second chain 23.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, detection objects 54 are attached to the lower surface of the rotating body 4 at positions corresponding to the respective distribution arms 44. A detector 57 is mounted on the support plate 52 corresponding to the detected object 54. When this detector 57 detects the end of the detected object 54, the origin position of the rotating body 4 is detected. It is configured to

A holding rail 45 for holding the front transport body 36 is swingably attached to the tip of each sorting arm 44 by a shaft 46. An engaging protrusion 45a is formed at the inner end of the holding rail 45. As shown in FIG.
is held in an inclined state with the engagement protrusion 45a lowered by its own weight, and the second conveyor 36 is connected to the first or second chain 20.2.
3, when the transport body 36 is carried onto the sorting arm 44 from the carrying-in portions 8a, lla of one of the bridge rails 8 or station rails 11, the carrier 36 engages with the engagement protrusion 45a along the holding rail 45. lowered to the position,
The engagement shaft 38 is configured to be disengaged from the first or second chain 20.23.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a servo motor 47 for rotating the arm that can rotate in forward and reverse directions is mounted on the support plate 6.
A drive pulley 48 is fixed to the motor shaft 47a. A driven pulley 49 is attached to the upper surface of the rotating body 4, and a driven pulley 49 is attached to the support shaft 4. A timing belt 50 is hung between the driven pulley 49 and the driving pulley 48. By rotating the servo motor 47 in the forward or reverse direction, the rotating body 41 is rotated in the forward or reverse direction (by a predetermined angle of 45 degrees or an integral multiple thereof) via the drive pulley 48, timing belt 50, and driven pulley 49. , the distribution arm 44 holding the carrier 36 is placed on a predetermined bridge rail 8, ]0 or station rail]1
It can be rotated to a position facing the .

The servo motor 47 is feedback-controlled based on the detection signal of the detected object 54 from the detector 57 described above, and an encoder 72 is installed inside the servo motor 47 to control the servo motor 47. motor 47
It is configured to detect the rotation amount of the distribution arm 44, that is, the rotation angle of the distribution arm 44.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, below each distribution arm 44, a push-up cylinder 51 is connected to a support plate 52.
The piston rod 51 is mounted on the mounting base 5 by
A push-up body 53 that can be engaged with the holding lever 45 on the distribution arm 44 is provided at the upper end of the distributing arm 44. When the piston rod 51a, which is normally in the retracted state, is moved as shown in FIG. The engagement shaft 3 on the conveyor 36 is rotated to the state
8 is configured to be engaged with the first or second chain 20.23.

Next, the electrical system of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. Each of the devices described above is driven and controlled by an electronic control circuit 60 to transport the transport body 36. This electronic control circuit 601 includes the well-known CPU 62, ROM 64, and RA.
An input/output circuit 68 for inputting/outputting data to/from external equipment is connected to each other via a common bus 7o.

Signals from the CPU 621, the number reading device 39, the detector 57, the encoder 72, a keyboard 74 (described later), etc. are inputted via the input/output circuit 68.

On the other hand, based on these signals and the data in the ROM 64 and RAM 66, the CPU 621ull outputs a drive signal for driving the servo motor 47 via the input/output circuit 68, and also outputs a drive signal for driving the servo motor 47 via the input/output circuit 68. The operation of the push-up cylinder 5 is controlled by outputting a drive signal for the cylinder 5 to a control valve (not shown).

In addition, the electronic control circuit 60 (upper each distribution mechanism 1a, 1b
, -..., and these plurality of electronic control circuits 60 are connected to a host computer 75,
A host computer 75 provides overall control. The host computer 75 uses a keyboard 74 to determine the order in which each conveyance body 36 is to be conveyed to each work station ST1, etc. according to the work process of sewing products, etc. body 3
It is input every 6. Then, the host computer 75 outputs to each electronic control circuit 60, for each carrier 36, a destination instruction indicating to which work station STI, . . . the carrier 36 should go next. . Each electronic control circuit 60 (table) stores destination instructions from a host computer 75 as in the contents of a destination instruction table 76 shown in FIG.

Incidentally, the above withdrawal order may be inputted into each electronic control circuit 60, and destination instructions for each carrier 36 may be stored in each electronic control circuit 60. When the carrier 36 arrives at the designated work station ST1, . . . is output from each electronic control circuit 601-m, and the destination instruction table 76 is rewritten.

Next, the operation of the conveying device of this embodiment and the processing performed in the electronic control circuit 60 described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the chain drive motor 26 provided in the distribution mechanism [a] is rotated, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first chain 20 is is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 along the bridge rail 8,]0, and as the rotating shaft 12 rotates, the second chain 23 is moved to the station via the interlocking pulley 31, timing belt 32, etc. It is moved around in the same direction along the rail 11.

As a result, when the carrier 36 on the bridge rail 8, ] 0 or the station rail] 1 (the engagement shaft 38 is engaged with the first or second chain 20.23), the bridge rail 8.10 or the station rail 11 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

Then, the conveyor 36 is conveyed along the bridge rail 8 or the station rail 11 to a position corresponding to the number reading device 39, and is temporarily stopped by a stopper (not shown). At this time, it is determined whether or not there is a conveyance body 36 to be carried into the sorting mechanism]a based on whether or not the number reading device 39 reads the conveyance body identification number attached to the conveyance body 36. When the determination is made, the following distribution control process is executed (step 100, hereinafter simply referred to as 5100, and the same applies hereinafter). Next, for each distribution arm 44, the distribution arm 44 is
The presence or absence of the transport body 36 to be carried in is stored (S110
). In this embodiment, each sorting arm 44 is assigned an arm number 1 to 8 to distinguish each other, and the carrier 36 of which number is carried into the carrying-in portion 8a, lla located opposite to the sorting arm 44 of a certain arm number. number reader 39
The conveyor distribution table 7 shown in FIG.
As shown in 8, presence "1" and absence "0" are stored. Second
In the case shown in the figure, the carrying-in section 8a of the bridge rail 8 connected to (the upper-adjacent sorting mechanism) b and the work station ST
2 is placed in the loading section 11a of the station rail 11.
At about the same time, carriers 36 with carrier numbers 36-2 and 36-4 are being transported. At the same time, the number 36-2, 36-4 was read by the number reading device 39.
At that time, as shown in FIG. 12, "1" is stored as "1" for the sorting arm numbers] and 3 of the sorting arms 44 facing each of the carrying-in sections 8a and lla. For other photographic arm numbers 2.4 to 8 (since there is no carrier 36 that can be carried in, no OJ is stored. In this embodiment, the carrier 36 is positioned simultaneously on each of the four rails 8, 1). Therefore, up to four carriers 36 may be carried in at the same time.

Next l: Refer to the outgoing light instruction table 76 in FIG. 11,
Based on the number read by the number reading device 39, the carrier 3
6 to the rail 10.11 (: how many times should the numbered distribution arm 44 be rotated in order to distribute it? Then, the rotation angle is calculated. As shown in table 78 (2. For each distribution arm 44, its rotation angle and destination rail number are stored and a distribution command is set (S120).
] When there are a plurality of conveyance bodies 36 whose existence was confirmed in step 10, the rotation angle and destination rail number are memorized for each number of the distributing arm 44 for which the processing of 5120 is repeated. and sets a distribution command (S130).

In the case of this embodiment (first, since the destination of the carrier number 36-74 is the work station ST2, the sorting arm 44 with the sorting arm number 1 is rotated clockwise (twice) to the work station ST2. ST
2]] b
The rotation angle of -135° and its destination rail number (■) are memorized. Then, the processes of 5120 and 5130 are repeated to store the rotation angle of 45 degrees and the destination rail number (■) for the carrier number 36-2 as well.

After the necessary distribution commands are stored in the carrier sorting table 78 in this way, the stoppers of the carry-in sections 8a and lla where the carriers 36 are present are retracted, and the carriers 36 are
As shown in FIG. 5, all the carriers 361 whose presence was detected in the process of step 5100 are loaded onto the distribution arm 44 from the loading sections 8a, lla (S140). Then, the holding rail 4 in the downwardly inclined state
5 to the position where it engages with the engagement protrusion 45a, the engagement shaft 38 is released from engagement with the first or second chain 20.23, and the second conveyor 36 is placed on the holding rail 45. held still.

In this state, based on the carrier distribution table 78,
The servo motor 47 for arm rotation is rotated by a predetermined angle to rotate the rotating body 4 in the forward or reverse direction via the drive pulley 48, etc., and in the case of this embodiment, the distribution arm of (translation arm number) 44 is rotated to a position opposite to the unloading section of the destination rail number []]b (S150
). At the 20-rotation position, each push-up body 53 is raised by the push-up cylinder 5 corresponding to the sorting arm 44 with sorting arm number 1, and the holding lever 45 is rotated from the downwardly inclined state to the horizontal state. by moving each conveyor 36 upward, and engage the engagement shaft 38 with the first or second chain 20.23. Then, as the first or second chain 20.23 moves, the carrier 36 is carried out from the distribution arm 44 to the carrying-out sections 10b, 11b (S160).

The processes of 5150 and 5160 are repeated until all the carriers 36 are carried out based on the carrier sorting table 78 (S170), and the sorting arm 44 with the sorting arm number 3 is transferred to the carrying out section 10 with the destination rail number ■.
The carrier 36 with carrier number 36-2 is arranged opposite to b.
is carried out to the carrying-out section 10b, and the process returns to 5100 to repeatedly execute the following processing.

When the carrier 36 reaches the position corresponding to the work stations STI, . A worker such as a sewing manufacturer removes an article such as a sewn product from the conveyor 36 in this state, performs sewing or other work on the article, and returns the article to the conveyor 36, after which the stopper After being evacuated, the transport of the transport body 36 is resumed.

Note that the execution of the processes 5140 to 5170 functions as the distribution control means M2, and the execution of the processes of the number reading device 39 and 5100 functions as the detection means M3. Also, 5IIO
The execution of the process of -8130 functions as the simultaneous import setting means M4.

In this way, the conveyance device of the present invention is capable of moving these conveyance bodies 36 when there are a plurality of conveyance bodies 36 being conveyed to the position corresponding to the number reading device 39 on the rail 8.1]. They are all carried into the sorting arm 44 at the same time.Therefore, there is no need to repeat the carrying-in operation for the number of conveyors 36.
By shortening the time that the conveyor 36 waits at a position where m people can be carried out, the time required to complete the transfer to the destination rail [O11] is shortened, and the time required for the conveyor 36 to be carried out is shortened, improving work efficiency. As long as it is possible to do so, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments in any way, and may be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the above embodiment, eight distributing arms 44 are arranged radially every 45 degrees, but the distributing arms 44 may be
The number of 4 may be increased, for example, to 10 at every 36 degrees.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, when a plurality of conveyance bodies are present on the conveyance rail to be carried into the sorting mechanism (all the conveyance bodies are carried into the sorting mechanism at the same time), Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time required to set up the conveyor and improve work efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration mainly of rails, etc. of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the drive configuration of the distribution mechanism of this embodiment, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 5, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical system of this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the distribution control process performed in the control circuit, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the forwarding light instruction table for the carrier of this embodiment, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the carrier distribution table of this embodiment. . Ml la,]b・-・Distribution mechanism M2・・Distribution control means M3・Detection means M4・simultaneous import setting means 8.10・−・Bridge rail (=conveyance rail)]・
...Station rail (=conveyance rail) 36...Transportation body 39...Number reading device 44...Distribution arm 60...Electronic control circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A plurality of distribution arms are connected to a plurality of conveyance rails for conveying conveyance bodies and hold the conveyance bodies carried in from the conveyance rails, and each distribution arm is moved opposite to the conveyance rails. a sorting mechanism capable of transporting the conveyed bodies to the conveyance rails; and controlling the sorting mechanism to make a sorting arm face the conveyance rail corresponding to the destination of each held conveyance body; In the conveyance apparatus which has a distribution control means for distributing the conveyance bodies to conveyance rails, the distribution mechanism includes a plurality of distribution arms that can simultaneously face a plurality of the conveyance rails, and a conveyance device that conveys the conveyance bodies. a detecting means that is configured to be able to be carried in simultaneously from a plurality of the conveyance rails, and detects that the conveyance bodies are present on each of the conveyance rails that carry the conveyance bodies into the sorting mechanism; and the detected conveyance bodies. If there are a plurality of conveyance bodies, a simultaneous carry-in setting means is provided for setting the sorting control means so that all of the conveyed bodies are carried into the sorting arm, respectively.