JPH0436982B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a method for storing arbitrary products in trays in various factories and transporting them between various manufacturing and processing lines.
Related to linked product conveyance devices.

In order to automate the manufacturing and processing of small products in various factories, etc., it is necessary to transport the products between the various manufacturing and processing lines in an automatically organized and regulated state.

This transportation system generally stores and transports small products in trays, which are flat containers, and these trays are transferred to the product loading and unloading sections of each manufacturing and processing department using automated systems such as conveyors. However, automated systems such as conveyors have the disadvantage that the equipment is large and cannot be easily installed, and they also require accurate positioning of each tray to the product loading/unloading area. The drawback was that it was difficult. Moreover, even when the large number of trays loaded and unloaded with the products are to be sorted and transported next time, there is a drawback that the products cannot be automatically transported unless the large conveyor system is used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and in product transportation using trays, a large number of trays are stored in a stacked body in a device body, and the trays are placed between each stacked body in the body. By installing a working device that can circulate and transfer the products in the product loading/unloading section for manufacturing and processing of various products, it is possible to easily continuously supply trays to the product loading/unloading section with a simple device. At the same time, it is possible to feed each tray with accurate positioning to the product loading/unloading section, and each tray that has been loaded/unloaded with products is maintained in a stacked state so that it can be fed to the next conveyance. To provide a product conveyance device that allows work to be carried out in an organized manner.

Embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described in detail below. FIG. 1 is an overall conceptual diagram of the apparatus of the present invention.

In the figure, the present invention includes a working unit 50 that manufactures or processes arbitrary products in various factories, etc.
A, 50B, the mounting part 4 and the transfer device 5 are attached to the device main body 3.
A stacked body 1 of trays 2 is installed between these working devices 10 and 10.
This laminated body 1 is made up of a large number of trays 2, 2 stacked in the vertical direction, and is removably attached to the attachment part 4 of the working device 10 in two adjacent trays. The robot 40 takes products in and out of each tray 2, and at this time, the stacked body 1 is transferred and circulated between adjacent stacked sections by the transfer machine 5, and The work robot 40 is configured to always load and unload products onto and from the upper tray 2 of the stacked body 1 at a predetermined position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tray stack. In the embodiment, the stacked bodies 1, 1 each having two adjacent trays 2 are each stacked with seven trays 2, but the number of stacked trays can be arbitrarily selected in proportion to the size of the working device 10. Each tray 2 is conveyed and connected as the laminate 1 between the respective working sections 50A and 50B. Each laminate 1, 1 is positioned and mounted on an arbitrary base 22. It is sufficient for the working section 50A to have at least one location, and the working section 50A may be connected to a general working section or a subcontracted factory outside the same factory using the laminate 1.

The above-described tray 2 is formed as a flat rectangular container with an open top surface, and has a stepped portion 15 on the bottom surface so that the stepped portion 15 fits into the lower tray 2 so that the stacked layers do not shift in position. It is made to be strong. In place of the stepped portion 15, projections may be provided at the corners of the bottom surface or on the upper surfaces of the four peripheral walls, and the bottom surface may be made flat if necessary. Further, on both side surfaces of each tray 2, there are recesses 1 for receiving the tray 2 with a locking tool to be described later.
6 and 16 are provided. Note that the external shape and depth of the tray can be freely selected, and any tray such as a general pallet or a commercially available plastic container can be used. Also, inside the tray, there is a product fitting part 1 as shown in FIG.
The work robot 40 is placed in such a way that the formwork 17 having the shape 8 is housed so that the product itself can be positioned.
The work can be done more automatically. Further, the mold 17 and the tray 2 themselves can be integrally molded with any material.

Next, a description will be given of the working device 10, which includes the device main body 3, the tray mounting section 4, and the tray transfer device 5.

The working device 10 is a working unit 50 of various factories, etc.
As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the main body 3 of the device is a rectangular box.
A tray mounting section 4 consisting of a space in which the tray stacks 1, 1 are housed and a pedestal 21 provided at the bottom of the space is provided in this box-shaped device main body 3, and A transfer device 5 is provided in the apparatus main body 3 facing the section 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stacked body 1 of the tray 2 is normally placed on a base 22, and is moved and placed on the pedestal 21 of the working device 10 from this base 22. On the other hand, the laminates 1, 1 are mounted on a base 22
It may also be moved and placed on the pedestal 21, or it may be transported by an automatic machine such as a fork without using the pedestal 22.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the tray mounting section 4 has a space in which the stacked body 1 of the tray 2 is detachably mounted, and this space is open at the front. The laminates 1, 1 are attached by sliding them from the front.

The laminated bodies 1, 1 are placed on a pedestal 21 in the mounting section 4, and are moved up and down together with the pedestal 21 at minute intervals by an elevator 8.

The transfer machine 5 provided in the apparatus main body 3 basically consists of an upper feeder 6 for the tray 2, a lower feeder 7, and an elevator 8. Furthermore, a locking tool 1 that operates in conjunction with the transfer machine 5 is provided on the main body 3 of the device.
1 and 12 are provided. These locking tools 11, 12
First, the front stopper 11 at the lower part of the mounting part 4 is
and is attached as a rear stopper 12. Each of the locking tools 11 and 12 has a claw that protrudes inwardly from both side walls of the main body 3 of the apparatus so that the claw can be inserted into the recess 16 on both sides of each tray 2 to support each tray 2. It becomes. The above-mentioned transfer device 5 and each of the locking tools 11 and 12 operate according to commands from the control section 30, respectively.

The elevator 8 described above is configured by providing an air spring on the lower surface of the pedestal 21, and this is installed on the lower surface of the mounting portion 4. Therefore, the rear laminated body 1 is placed on the pedestal 21.
and the front stacked body 1 are placed in order, the elevator 8
is raised to lift each of the stacked bodies 1, 1, and position the uppermost tray 2 of the front stacked body 1 at the product entrance/exit section 14, and the work robot 40 performs the work of loading and unloading the products. Next, with the rear stacked body 1 being locked and supported by the rear locking tool 12, the elevator 8 is
The elevator 8 is lowered by one tray, and the second and higher stacked bodies 1 from the bottom of the front stacked body 1 are supported by the front locking tool 11, and the elevator 8 is further lowered slightly.
Only the bottom tray 2 of the front stacked body 1 is placed on the pedestal 21.
The elevator 8 descends to the lowest stage while being placed on top.

Next, the upper feeder 6 that constitutes the transfer machine 5 is configured to have vertical and longitudinal movement functions and a clamping function.
By holding the uppermost tray 2 of the rear stacked body 1 and slightly lifting it, the second tray 2 from the top is removed.
Then, the tray 2 is transversely conveyed to the product entrance/exit section 14 and placed on the upper surface of the front stacked body 1, and then the tray 2 is engaged and stacked with the next tray 2. The product entrance/exit section 14 is constructed by opening its upper surface at the upper front end of the mounting section 4, so that the working tip of the work robot 40 faces therethrough.

Further, the work robot 40 loads and unloads the products from the tray 2 positioned at the product entrance/exit section 14, that is, takes out or takes in the products.

Next, the lower feeder 7 is constituted by a cylinder having a stroke capable of transversely feeding one tray 2, and is provided at the front of the lower end of the mounting section 4 so as to face the mounting section 4. Therefore, the above-mentioned pedestal 21
The lower feeder 7 cross-feeds the tray 2 placed on the front of the tray to the rear. Next, the elevator 8 rises again, and the rear locking tool 12 is moved to stack the tray 2 located at the rear of the pedestal 21 on the lowest level of the rear stack 1.
Lock it in place. That is, as mentioned above, the elevator 8
When the tray 2 on the pedestal 21 comes into contact with the lower surface of the tray 2 locked on the rear locking tool 12, the locking of the locking tool 12 is released, and then the elevator 8 further rises. By this, the rear laminate 1
The elevator 8 lifts the whole thing, and the pedestal 2
The tray 2 on the tray 1 is locked with the rear locking device 12, and the elevator 8 is lowered to the lower end. By the above operation,
One cycle of transfer circulation between adjacent stacks 1, 1 of the tray 2 is performed. The lower feeder 7 is designed to move laterally as shown in FIG. 3 when mounting the laminates 1, 1 on the mounting section 4 so as not to interfere with the mounting operation.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned working device 10 will be explained.

First, the work device 1 installed in a specific work section 50
0, a laminate 1, 1 in which trays 2, 2 for loading and unloading of products are stacked is adapted to be transported, and the laminate 1, 1 is pushed into the mounting section 4 and mounted. Next, each operating section operates as follows based on commands from the control section 30. That is, the rear laminated body 1 and the front laminated body 1 are placed on the pedestal 21 of the elevator 8,
The elevator 8 moves up to position the uppermost tray 2 of the front stack 1 at the product entrance/exit section 14, where the work robot 40 loads and unloads products onto the tray 2, and then the rear stack 1 is supported by the rear stopper 12, the front stack 1 is lowered by the elevator 8, and the front stack 1 other than the lowest tray 2 is supported by the front stopper 11, and the lowermost tray 1 is supported by the front stopper 11. The tray 2 is sent to the rear by the lower feeder 7,
Next, the uppermost tray 2 of the rear stack 1 is placed on the top of the front stack 1 by the upper feeder 6 and positioned at the product entrance/exit section 14, where the tray 2 is placed on the top of the front stack 1. The work robot 40 loads and unloads the products, and at the same time, the rear locking device 12 is used to stack the trays 2 located at the rear of the pedestal 21 by lifting the elevator 8 onto the lower surface of the rear stack 1. Lock it in place. The above work is performed on the laminate 1, 1.
By repeating this process for the number of trays 2, the loading and unloading work of products is completed for all the trays 2 mounted on the mounting section 4. In other words, when seven empty box-like trays are installed in each tray, by circulating and transferring all the empty boxes between adjacent stacking sections, each tray is loaded with products to form a stacked state of seven stages. On the other hand, tray 2 loaded with products
The work is completed by stacking the empty box-shaped trays 2, 2 on which the products are removed from each tray 2. After the above-mentioned work is completed, the laminates 1, 1 are taken out from the mounting section 4, and then a new laminate 1, 1 is mounted on the mounting section 4.

Note that the loading and unloading work of products can also be performed manually without using the work robot 40. Further, the circulation of the tray 2 can also be carried out in a reverse direction. In this case, the lower feeder 7
are configured to either lock or attract the tray 2 from the same position, or to press the tray 2 from the opposite side of the embodiment. Further, the elevator 8 may be of any type as long as it has the function of substantially raising and lowering the tray 2, and may be configured by, for example, a combination of a cylinder and a base. Furthermore, a stepped portion 15 is added to tray 2.
If the upper tray 2 is not provided, the upper tray 2 is slid and fed horizontally without being lifted by the upper feeder 6.

Next, FIGS. 6 to 8 show other embodiments.

In FIG. 6 above, the upper feeder 6 is the tray 2
The tray 2 is configured with a cylinder having a stroke to horizontally feed one tray, and the tray 2 is held and supported by the upper rear stopper 13b so that the tray 2 is held and supported by the upper front stopper 13a. Press and slide to feed horizontally.

Next, in FIG. 7, an insertion hole 19 is formed in the upper front of each tray 2, and the tip of the upper feeder 6 is inserted into the insertion hole 19 to slightly lift the upper tray 2. The structure is such that the engagement and stacking with the second tray 2 is released, and then the lifted tray 2 is moved laterally to the entrance section 14 with the product.

Furthermore, in FIG. 8, the lower feeder 7 is formed by a belt conveyor. This lower feeder 7
The upper surface portion is configured as a substitute for the pedestal 21, and the lowermost tray 2 of the front and rear stacked bodies 1, 1 is transported laterally. Also, inside this lower feeder 7,
An elevator 8 is provided above this to move up and down.

Next, FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the locking device. The locking tool 20 in the same figure is composed of a spring and a wedge, and once it is locked in the recess 16 of the tray 2, when the next tray 2 rises from below, the locking tool 20 is activated by the wedge action. It is automatically removed from the upper tray 2, and the lower tray 2 is automatically received. However, according to the locking tool 20 of this example, the release/
The trays 2 can be sequentially received from below without issuing a receiving operation command, thereby improving work efficiency. Further, as a locking tool, an angle member can be moved into and out of the recess, and as a locking mechanism, the recess can be secured by receiving the bottom surface of the tray or crimping and clamping the sides of the tray. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which this is not used.

As described above, the product conveyance device of the present invention has a working device in which a laminated body of a large number of trays is removably attached, and is installed in the product loading/unloading section. By transferring the trays one after another to the product entrance/exit section, it is possible to easily continuously supply trays to the product loading/unloading section with a simple device, and each tray can be transferred to the product loading/unloading section by a working device. Since the trays are transferred by a transfer machine, it is possible to supply trays with accurate positioning.Furthermore, each tray loaded and unloaded with products is transferred to multiple trays in the main body of the equipment by the transfer machine. Since they are stacked in a layered manner, the next conveyance operation can be carried out in an organized manner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall conceptual diagram of the device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a stack of trays, Fig. 3 is a front view of the working device, Figs. 4 and 5 are side views of the working device, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tray stack.
8 to 8 are side views of another embodiment of the working device, and FIG. 9 is a diagram of another embodiment of the locking tool. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Tray stack, 2...Tray, 3...Device main body, 4...Mounting section, 5...Transfer machine, 6...Upper feeder, 7...Lower feeder, 8...Elevator, 1
0... Working device, 11-13... Locking tool, 30...
...Control unit, 40...Work robot, 50...Working part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A product transport device characterized by having the following requirements for transporting products using a tray for storing arbitrary products. (a) At least two stacked bodies made of a plurality of stacked trays are provided adjacent to each other, and a mounting portion for attaching and detaching these stacked bodies is provided on the main body of the apparatus. (b) The main body of the apparatus is provided with a product entrance/exit section for transversely transporting the stacked trays, and a transfer machine for circularly transporting each tray between the stacks through the product entrance/exit section. (c) The above-mentioned transfer machine includes an upper feeder that cross-feeds the uppermost tray between each tray stack, a lower feeder that cross-feeds the lowermost tray, a locking device that locks the tray, and an elevator. I have it. (d) The elevator is capable of lifting the entire tray of the tray stack, and the locking portion supports the entire other tray so as to form a space for transferring the lowermost tray to the other tray stack; The lower feeder is capable of transporting the lowermost tray through the space to the other stack of trays.