JPH0724683A - Pallet carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lessen the arrangement space and the necessary number of a pallet of a pallet carrying device for a transfer machine. CONSTITUTION:Carrying paths 12, 13, and 14 for working, feeding, and returning are arranged in a triangle shape. A guiding block 22 having the plain shape of a hexagon is fitted to a pallet P for loading work. The pallet P can be circulated between working stations 15, 16, and 17 and a preparation station 18 without rotating the pallet P by moving engaging claws 26, 27, and 28 engaged with the guiding block 22 by ball screws 29, 30, and 31 to guide three parallel sets of guiding surfaces of the side surface of the guiding block 22 by carrying rails 19, 20, and 21 successively to be moved. The triangle shape of a carrying line shortens a full length, and lessens the necessary number of a pallet and also a installation space. The nonrotation of the pallet P and the unnecessariness of direction change can smooth carrying without a facility such as a turn table.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pallet transfer device for circulating a pallet carrying a work between a processing station and a preparation station.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a pallet transfer device used for a pallet type transfer machine generally has a rectangular transfer by connecting a start end and an end of a transfer path having a plurality of processing stations in a loop with a transfer path having a preparation station. A line is formed, a large number of pallets are arranged over the entire circumference of the transfer line, and these are palletized at an equal pitch to circulate between the processing station and the preparation station. Then, the work is mounted on the pallet at the preparation station, sequentially moved to the processing station side, the pallet is fixed at each processing station to perform the predetermined processing on the work, and the pallet returned to the preparation station is processed after the processing. Machining is completed by removing the work. However, since the pallets have to be fed at equal pitches, a large number of pallets are required, and there is a problem that not only the device becomes large-scale but also the cost burden is large.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3, a processing conveyance path 2 having a plurality of processing stations 1 and a preparation conveyance path 4 having a preparation station 3 are arranged in parallel to each other. The end is connected to the start end of the processing transfer path 2 by the feed transfer path 5, and the end of the processing transfer path 2 is connected to the start end of the preparation transfer path 4 by the return transfer path 6 to form a rectangular transfer line as a whole. A pallet transporting device having idle stations 7 and 8 at the beginning and the end of the preparatory transporting path has been proposed and partly put to practical use. In FIG. 3, 9 is a hydraulic motor which is a drive source of the transfer line, and 10 is a pusher which is a pallet dispensing means. According to such a pallet transfer device, while a plurality of pallets p having works mounted thereon are fixed to the processing station, the remaining pallets are moved and made to stand by in the idle stations 7 and 8 to process the works. The pallets can be delivered to the processing and conveying path 2 at an appropriate timing according to the progress of the process, so that the pallets can be conveyed in a short time, the time lag can be reduced, and smooth circulation can be performed with a small number of pallets. it can. Incidentally, a similar pallet conveying device is described in JP-A-60-161052.

[0004]

However, in the conventional pallet transfer device shown in FIG. 3, the required number of pallets can be relatively reduced, but four transfer paths are arranged in a rectangle and an idle station is provided. Therefore, there is a problem in that the entire length of the transfer line becomes long and a wasteful space is generated in the central portion, so that the installation space cannot be expanded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pallet transfer device which can reduce the number of required pallets as well as the installation space.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a pallet transfer device for circulating a pallet carrying a work between a processing station and a preparation station. Arranged in a shape, the pallet is provided with a guide block having at least three guide surfaces that are guided along the transfer lines of the three transfer paths, and the guide blocks are provided on each of the three transfer paths. It is characterized in that a moving means is provided which is provided with engaging claws for engagement and disengagement, and which moves along the transfer line of each of the transfer paths.

[0007]

With this structure, when the engaging claw is engaged with the guide block of the pallet on the conveying path to move the moving means, the guide surface of the guide block is guided along the conveying line of the conveying path. The pallet is transported. Then, when the guide block is sent to the transport path of the next stage, the corresponding guide surfaces are sequentially guided along the transport line of the transport path, without rotating the pallet, that is, with the work posture on the pallet being constant, It can be circulated along the transportation lines of the three transportation paths.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the pallet conveying device 11 of the present embodiment, the feed conveying path is provided at the start end of the processing conveying path 12.
The end of 13 is connected and returned to the end of the processing transfer path 12
The start end of 14 is connected, and the end of the return conveyance path 14 is connected to the start end of the feed conveyance path 13 to form a triangular conveyance line as a whole. Here, four pallets P on which works (not shown) are mounted are prepared, and each pallet P is designed to move along the transfer line. In addition, a plurality of (3 in the illustrated example
Processing stations 15, 16 and 17 are installed.
In addition, a preparation station 18 is provided at a connecting portion between the feed transport path 13 and the return transport path 14.

The processing transport path 12, the feed transport path 13, and the return transport path 14 are provided with transport rails 19, 20, and 21 which are a pair of rails extending along the respective transport lines. At the bottom of the pallet P, a guide block 22
Is installed. The guide block 22 has a hexagonal planar shape, and has three sets of two guide surfaces on the side surface thereof, which are parallel to the conveyance lines of the processing conveyance path 12, the feed conveyance path 13 and the return conveyance path 14, respectively. Then, on each of the processing transport path 12, the feed transport path 13, and the return transport path 14, three different sets of guide surfaces are guided by the transport rails 19, 20, 21 so that they can move along the transport line. It has become.

Moving means 23, 24, 25 as moving means for moving the guide blocks 22 on the respective conveying paths along the conveying lines are provided on the processing conveying path 12, the feeding conveying path 13 and the returning conveying path 14, respectively. Has been. Mobile devices 23, 24, 25
Is an engaging claw 26, 27, 28 that can be engaged with and disengaged from one of the corners of the hexagonal side wall of the guide block 22, and the engaging claws 26, 27, 28 at the start end of each conveying path along the conveying line. And a ball screw mechanism 29, 30 and 31 for moving between the end and the end. And
The engaging claws 26, 27, 28 are the operating rods of the cylinders 32, 33, 34.
The guide block is rotated by the expansion and contraction of 32a, 33a and 34a.
It can be engaged with or disengaged from the corners of 22, and can be moved along the transfer line by driving the ball screw mechanisms 29, 30, 31 with hydraulic motors 35, 36, 37.

As shown in FIG. 2, the working transfer path 12 is provided with a pair of reference rails 38 and 39 extending along the transfer line and guiding both side surfaces of the pallet P. Then, the pawls 38a and 39a of the reference rails 38 and 39 are attached to the pallet P.
The pallet P is guided by being inserted into grooves provided on both sides of the pallet. In addition, each processing station 15,
Positioning mechanisms 40, 41, 42 for fixing the pallet P on which the work is mounted at predetermined processing positions are provided at 16, 17. The positioning mechanisms 40, 41, 42 are provided in the guide block 22.
It is composed of tapered reference pins 44, 45, 46 arranged to face the tapered positioning hole 43 provided at the bottom of the cylinder, and cylinders 47, 48, 49 for moving the reference pins up and down. . Then, the reference pins 44, 45, 46 have positioning holes.
It is provided so as to be slightly eccentric to the reference rail 38 side with respect to 43, and when it is lifted up by the cylinders 46, 47, 48 and inserted into the positioning hole 43, the pallet P is pressed against the reference rail 38 side to a predetermined position. It is designed to be fixed at the processing position.

The operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described below.

The pallets P on the respective conveying paths of the processing conveying path 12, the feeding conveying path 13 and the returning conveying path 14 are moved by the moving devices 23, 24,
By rotating the engagement claws 26, 27, 28 of 25 to engage with the guide block 22 and moving them by the ball screw mechanisms 29, 30, 31, the two guide surfaces of the guide block 22 are moved to the transport rail 19, Guided by 20, 21, it moves along the transfer line. At the connecting portions of the respective transport paths (processing stations 15 and 17 and preparation station 18), the engaging claws 26 of the previous transport path,
One of the guide surfaces of the guide block 22 that moves by engaging with 27 and 28
By abutting against the transport rails 19, 20, 21 on the outside of the transport path of the next stage, the engaging claws 26, 27, 28 of the front stage and the transport rails 19, 20, 21 of the next stage are sandwiched and fixed. It And
Engage the next step engagement claws 26, 27, 28 with the guide block 22,
The engaging claws 26, 27, 28 in the previous stage are disengaged, and the engaging claws 26, 27 in the next stage are separated.
By moving 27 and 28, the two guide surfaces of the guide block 22 are guided and moved by the transport rails 19, 20 and 21 of the next stage. In this way, the pallet P is sent to the next transport path without rotating at the junction of the transport paths.

The pallet P which has been conveyed to the preparation station 18 along the conveying rail 21 of the return conveying path 14 is fixed by the engaging claw 28 with the guide surface of the guide block 23 abutting on one side of the conveying rail 20. ing. Preparation station 18
Then, the processed work is removed from the pallet P and a new work is mounted. After that, the engaging claw 27 of the moving device 24 located at the start end of the feed conveyance path 13 is rotated to engage the guide block 22, and the engaging claw 28 is moved to the guide block.
It is separated from 22 and moved to the starting end side of the return conveyance path 14. Then, the engaging claw 27 is fed by the ball screw mechanism 30 to the feeding and conveying path.
When it is moved to the terminal end side of 13, the two guide surfaces of the guide block 22 are guided by the transport rail 20 and the pallet P is moved to the feed transport path.
Move along 13 transport lines. And pallet P
Of the preceding pallet from the processing station 15, and then the processing station
It is moved to 15 and brought into contact with the transport rail 19 to be fixed.

At the processing station 15, the reference pin 44 is raised by the cylinder 47, inserted into the positioning hole 43 of the guide block 22 fixed by the conveying rail 19 and the engaging claw 27, and the pallet P is pressed against the reference rail 38 side. And fix it in place. In this state, the work mounted on the pallet P is processed. Then, after the preceding pallet is dispensed from the processing station 16 of the next stage, the reference pin 44 is lowered, the engaging claw 26 is engaged with the guide block 22, and the ball screw mechanism 29 moves the guide block 22. Is guided by the transport rail 19, the pallet P is guided by the reference rails 38 and 39, and the pallet P moves and is discharged from the processing station 15. Then, the pallet P is moved to the processing station 16.

Similarly, in the processing station 16, the pallet P is fixed by the reference pin 45 to process the work, the preceding pallet is discharged from the processing station 17 of the next stage, and then the reference pin 45 is lowered and engaged. The pawl 26 is engaged with the guide block 22 and the pallet P is discharged from the processing station 16 and sent to the processing station 17.

Similarly, at the processing station 16, the reference pin 46 is inserted into the positioning hole 43 of the guide block 22 fixed by the conveying rail 21 and the engaging claw 26 to fix the pallet P at a predetermined processing position. Process. After that, the reference pin 46 is lowered, the engaging claw 28 is engaged with the guide block 22 and moved by the ball screw mechanism 31, and the pallet P is discharged from the processing station 17. The pallet P delivered from the processing station 17 is moved along the conveyance line of the return conveyance path 14 with the two guide surfaces of the guide block 22 being guided by the conveyance rail 21. Then, the pallet P is made to stand by in the middle of the return conveyance path 14, the pallet of the preparation station 18 of the next stage is discharged, and then it is sent to the preparation station 18.

As described above, the four pallets on the processing and conveying path 12, the feeding and conveying path 13 and the returning and conveying path 14 are sequentially circulated along the conveying line to the processing stations 15, 16, 17 and the preparation station 18, Workpieces can be attached / detached and processed.

According to the pallet transfer device 11, since the processing transfer path 12, the feed transfer path 13 and the return transfer path 14 are arranged in a triangle, the total length of the transfer line is short, the required number of pallets is small, and the installation space is small. Also becomes smaller. Further, since an idle station for waiting the pallet P on the conveyance path is unnecessary, the facility cost is not required. Since the guide block 22 has a guide surface parallel to each of the transport rails 19, 20, and 21, the corresponding guide surface is sequentially provided at the connecting portion of each transport path without rotating the pallet P. Can be guided by the transfer rails 19, 20, and 21, and the pallet can be always delivered to the processing transfer path 12 in a predetermined direction. Therefore, since it is not necessary to change the direction of the pallet P during transportation, it is possible to smoothly transport the pallet,
Further, equipment for changing the direction of the pallet such as a turntable is unnecessary.

In particular, in the pallet transfer device 11 of this embodiment, the guide block 22 has a hexagonal shape and the engaging claws 26, 27,
Since the 28 is engaged with the corner between the two sides guided by the transport rails 19, 20, 21, it is possible to move the guide block 22 in a stable manner and to connect the respective transport paths. The part can be positioned reliably.

In this embodiment, the guide block has a hexagonal plane shape and three sets of two guide surfaces guided by the pair of conveying rails are provided. However, in addition to this, the plane shape of the guide block is a triangle. As three guide surfaces,
It is also possible to guide each guide surface with one transport rail.

[0023]

As described in detail above, the pallet carrier according to the present invention has three carrier paths arranged in a triangular shape, and has at least three pallets guided along the carrier lines of the three carrier paths. Providing a guide block with a guide surface, 3
By providing the moving means for moving the guide block in each of the two transport paths, the pallet can be circulated along the transport lines of the triangular transport path without rotating, and as a result, The overall length is short, the number of pallets required is small, and the installation space is significantly reduced. Furthermore, since there is no need for equipment such as a turntable for changing the direction of the pallet and an idle station for waiting the pallet on the transport path, the excellent effect of being able to reduce the equipment cost is achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a processing conveyance path in a processing station of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional pallet transfer device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Pallet transfer device 12 Processing transfer path (transfer path) 13 Feed transfer path (transfer path) 14 Return transfer path (transfer path) 15,16,17 Processing station 18 Preparation station 22 Guide block 26,27,28 Engaging claw 23 , 24,25 Moving device (moving means) P pallet

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshio Kira 98-50 Sakae, Kisosaki-cho, Kuwana-gun, Mie Prefecture

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pallet transfer device for circulating a pallet carrying a work between a processing station and a preparation station, wherein three transfer paths are arranged in a triangular shape,
The pallet is provided with a guide block having at least three guide surfaces that are guided along the transfer lines of the three transfer paths, and further, in each of the three transfer paths,
A pallet conveying device comprising: an engaging claw that engages with and disengages from the guide block; and a moving unit that moves along a conveying line of each of the conveying paths.