JPH07260641A - Pallet carrying method in automatic mechanical test of thin plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate jamming on the line between a temporary storage shelf and a test machine in the automatic mechanical test of thin plate. CONSTITUTION:A test piece of a thin plate is contained in a pallet and carried to a palletize shelf or a stacker shelf where the test piece is stored temporarily and then it is carried by an automatically guided vehicle to an automatic test machine or a manual test machine performing specified mechanical tests. In such automatic mechanical test facility for thin plate, a palletized pallet is set in a stacker. The end-of-tact time is predicted based on a request for carrying in a pallet from a finishing machine. A pallet, for which the management of test schedule is strict, is then extracted based on the predicted time and a command for carrying the extracted pallet preferentially is outputted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic thin plate mechanical test system for automatically testing a test piece taken from a thin plate product, which efficiently transports pallets on a line from a stack shelf to a testing machine. The present invention relates to a pallet conveying method in an automatic thin plate mechanical test for performing a continuous operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an iron mill, a test piece is sampled in order to determine whether or not a manufactured product (such as a thin plate) meets specifications. A system for automating the collection of the test piece and the subsequent test to save labor has been put into practical use. For example, the present inventors use a process computer (hereinafter, referred to as “pro computer”) as a host computer to control a plurality of FA (factory automation) devices (for example, punching press device, pallet stacker, various conveyors, testing machines, etc.). However, an automatic thin plate mechanical test system that automatically cuts out a test piece and subsequently performs a test has already been put into practical use.

[0003]

However, in the thin plate automatic mechanical test equipment as described above, the pallet (the unprocessed test piece) which has been palletized (to generate one work unit having the same test type) has been completed. Or, when transferring one type of container that stores processed test pieces) from the stack shelf to the testing machine, because the pallet is packed in front of the line,
If there is a troublesome pallet for the test, there is a problem that this causes congestion on the line.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pallet conveying method in an automatic thin plate mechanical test capable of eliminating the congestion of a line from a temporary storage shelf to a testing machine.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stores test pieces cut out from a thin plate in a pallet, carries them into a palletizing shelf or a stacker shelf, and temporarily stores them. In a thin plate automatic mechanical testing facility that carries in an automatic testing machine or a manual testing machine using a conveyor and a self-propelled carrier, and carries out a predetermined mechanical test, each of the pallets arranged in a path leading to the testing machine. Predict the completion time of the tact under work in the equipment, extract the pallet with strict control of the test construction period based on this, and output the instruction to prioritize the extracted pallet and convey it to the testing machine side ing.

In this case, the pallet to be extracted can be instructed to be stopped or conveyed depending on whether or not there is congestion on the conveyance route.

Further, the above-mentioned object is to store the test pieces cut out from the thin plate in a pallet, carry them into a palletizing shelf or a stacker shelf, and temporarily store them, and then use an automatic tester or a conveyor or a self-propelled carrier. Achieved by using multiple commands for this self-propelled transport vehicle when the number of the self-propelled transport vehicles operating is one in the thin plate automatic mechanical test facility that carries in a prescribed mechanical test by carrying it into a manual testing machine. To be done.

[0008]

According to the above-mentioned means, the pallets are transported in the priority order based on the test construction period based on the prediction of the completion time during the work of each equipment in addition to the test equipment, and the temporary storage shelves are transferred to the test equipment. Avoid traffic congestion on all lines. As a result, the congestion of the pallets on the line can be eliminated and the test machine with a slow control tact can be effectively used. Also, it becomes possible to strictly adhere to the test period.

Then, by adjusting the shipment of the extracted pallets according to the congestion state of the line, it becomes possible to avoid the congestion.

Further, in a system having a plurality of stations for loading and unloading pallets with respect to the testing machine, when only one station is operating, it is possible to improve work efficiency by giving a composite command to operate.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a processing example of a pallet conveying method in an automatic thin plate mechanical test of the present invention.
Further, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a thin plate automatic mechanical test facility to which the present invention is applied (the arrow in the figure indicates a pallet conveying direction).

As shown in FIG. 2, in the thin plate automatic mechanical test equipment, the test material carried in by a vehicle (a thin plate used as a material for preparing a sample) is carried in through a loader device, and the carried in test material. A punching press device 1 is provided to cut out a test piece from the test piece. The palletizing shelf 2, the stacker shelf 3, the stacker 4, and the stacker shelf 5 are arranged as one block adjacent to the punching press device 1. Further, a palletizing robot 6 is provided to carry the test pieces into the palletizing shelf 2.

Further, a pallet transfer conveyor 7 (delivery point: PT) is installed adjacent to the stacker shelf 3, and a pallet transfer conveyor 8 (unloading station: ST) is installed adjacent to the pallet transfer conveyor 7 to provide a stacker. A pallet transport conveyor 9 (storage point) is installed adjacent to the shelf 5. Further, a pallet transport conveyor 10 (carry-out waiting buffer) is installed in connection with the pallet transport conveyor 8, and a pallet transport conveyor 11 (branch point), a processing conveyor 12a (processing point) and a processing conveyor 12b (processing) are installed on an extension line thereof. A waiting buffer) is provided.

A transfer conveyor 13 (consisting of a recovery station, a first recovery buffer and a second recovery buffer) is provided in parallel with the pallet transfer conveyors 8 and 9. Further, the processing machine 14 is installed at a position adjacent to the stacker shelf 5 and facing the processing conveyors 12a and 12b. The processing machine 14 is used to perform a predetermined processing on a test piece, and includes an aligning device 15, a processing robot 16, and a machining device 17.

A fully-automatic testing machine 18 is provided adjacent to the carrying conveyor 13, and various mechanical tests are automatically carried out on the test pieces carried from the stacker rack or the processing machine 14. The fully automatic testing machine 18 is a tensile testing machine 19,
Tester station 20, tester loader 21, tensile tester 22, tester station 23, tester loader 24,
It is configured with a Rankford tester 25 and the like.
Further, a tester station 26 and a tester loader 27 are installed adjacent to the pallet conveyor 10.

At the front of the fully automatic testing machine 18, an L-shaped carrier path 30 is laid so that the self-propelled carrier vehicles (AGV) 28, 29 can circulate. A unit automatic tester 31 is installed at a position facing the fully automatic tester 18 with the transport path 30 in between. This single unit automatic testing machine 31
Erichsen tester 32, roughness tester 33, hardness tester 3
4 and a storage station 35 provided for each testing machine
And a delivery station 36.
A storage station 37, a delivery station 38, and a manual testing machine 39 are provided adjacent to the single unit automatic testing machine 31.

In the thin plate automatic mechanical test equipment as described above, the general flow of the test piece will be explained. The test piece produced by the punching press device 1 is transferred to the palletizing shelf 2 by the palletizing robot 6, and further processed conveyor 12b. After being transferred to the processing machine 14 and processed into a predetermined test piece shape by the aligning device 15, it is transferred to the processing conveyor 12a. After this, the pallet transport conveyors 11, 10, and 8 are sequentially carried in to the self-propelled transport vehicle 28 (or the self-propelled transport vehicle 29). This self-propelled carrier 1
0 is sent to the fully-automatic tester 18 via the tester station 13 and the test piece is automatically tested.

Next, the pallet conveying method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, "S" in each figure represents a step.

First, the process of transporting pallets from the stacker rack to the processing machine will be described with reference to FIG.

When the palletized pallet is stored in the stacker (S101), it is determined whether there is a pallet carry-in request from the processing machine 14 (S102). The standard of this request is [processing instruction output time to the machining device 17 + machining processing time−processing time of the aligning device 15−α].
(However, α is whether or not the time defined by the transfer time from the stack shelf to the processing conveyor 12b) has been reached, and the presence of this time is used to determine “present”. With this, a pallet having a severe test construction period (time until completion of the test, which is obtained from the time when the test material is sampled in a predetermined factory as a base point) in the actual pallet in the stack shelf 5 is extracted (S103).

Then, the congestion state of the route of the destination testing machine for this extraction pallet is determined (S104). Judgment of the traffic jam condition is made based on whether or not an actual pallet exists in the tester, the tester loader, the tester station, the 6 self-propelled transport vehicle, the pallet transport conveyor, or the like. However,
When there is only one pallet in the tester and the test of this pallet is likely to end soon, it is not considered as a traffic jam condition (Note that the end time of the test is predicted for each pallet and the time Is a fixed time (= pallet unit test instruction output time + number of test pieces x test time [seconds / sheet])
Judge as soon as possible). When it is determined that the route is empty, the transfer from the stacker shelf 5 to the processing conveyor 12b is instructed (S105). However, when work occurs simultaneously on the pallet conveyor 8 and the conveyor 13 for the purpose of avoiding congestion in the upstream process, this is prioritized, and then the process of step 105 is executed.

As described above, the congestion of the line is avoided as much as possible based on the prediction of the completion time during the work in progress of the equipment, that is, the area that can be the buffer is made as free as possible, and the transportation is always carried out in the priority order based on the test construction period. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the disadvantage that the pallet cannot be pulled out by the forward packing as in the conventional case, and the flow of the line can be smoothed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the process of delivering from the stacker rack to the pallet conveyor will be described.

First, it is judged whether or not there is a request for a manual from the operator (S301), and if "requested", the requested pallet in the stacker shelf is extracted (S30).
2) After that, from the stacker shelf 3 to the pallet conveyor 7
It is instructed to leave the warehouse (S303). On the other hand, if there is no request for the manual, it is determined whether or not the test machine congestion cancellation has been performed (S304). In the case of "with cancellation", it is judged whether the cancellation tester is a dedicated machine or a common machine (S3).
05). When it is determined that the dedicated machine is used, the pallet with a severe test construction period is extracted from the actual pallets in the stacker rack for the test machine (S306).

When extracting this pallet, it is necessary to exceed "the test construction time of the pallet having the strictest test construction time among the pallets for each test machine + the remaining test time of the pallet in the work of each dedicated test machine". judge. When the dedicated testing machine is out of order, the remaining test time is determined by using the maximum time for one pallet test (maximum number of pallet test pieces, maximum test time for test type test). Then, the stacker shelf 3 issues a delivery instruction to the pallet conveyor 7 (S303).

If the common machine is determined, the pallets with a severe test construction period are extracted from the actual pallets in each of the puller and Rankford stacker shelves (S30).
7). When extracting this pallet, compare t [= test construction time of the pallet for which the test construction period is the strictest among the pallets for each test machine + remaining test time of each dedicated pallet in-process pallet] for each pallet. Then, a unloading instruction is given to the pallet on the side of the severe testing machine (the one with a large time t) (S303).

Next, the pallet processing at the branch point of the pallet transport conveyor will be described with reference to FIG.

In this process, the processing machine 14 is stopped at the branch point until no play occurs, the congestion state of the test machine due to the congestion at the branch point is judged, and the test construction period with the pallet in the stacker shelf is compared. , Perform branch point control. This processing is started when the traffic jam of the testing machine is released (S401) or when the pallet arrives at the branch point (pallet transport conveyor 11).

Then, the congestion of the route for the pallet arriving at the branch point is determined (S402). If it is determined that there is no congestion (empty), the test periods of the pallets for the same test in the stacker rack are compared (S40).
3). As a result of the comparison, if it is determined that the pallets in the stacker rack are severe, the branch point non-stop instruction is executed (S
404). This process is also executed when congestion is determined in step 402. When it is determined in step 403 that the branch point pallet is severe, the pallet transport conveyor 11 issues a transport instruction to the pallet transport conveyor 10 (S405).

The timing "= branch arrival time + processing pallet processing time-stacker" at which the pallet transfer conveyor 11 (branch point) must move to another position (pallet transfer conveyor 9 or pallet transfer conveyor 10) In the “processing time”, the transfer from the pallet transfer conveyor 11 to the pallet transfer conveyor 9 is instructed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the pallet processing at the carry-out waiting buffer (pallet transport conveyor 10) and the delivery point (pallet transport conveyor 9) of the pallet transport conveyor will be described.

First, the pallet is the pallet conveyor 1
When it is confirmed that the number 0 or the pallet transport conveyor 7 has arrived (S501), it is determined whether the pallet transport conveyor 8 (unloading station) is empty (S50).
2). When the empty state is determined, the test construction period of the carry-out waiting buffer (pallet transport conveyor 10) and the pallet transport conveyor 9 (shipping point) is compared, and a strict pallet is extracted from this (however, the pallet at the shipping point is In case of manual, this is prioritized and processed.) Then, the pallet conveyor 10 or 7
From the machine to the pallet conveyor 8 (S5)
05). On the other hand, if the congestion is determined in step 502, the non-stop instruction is executed (S503), and the process in this flow ends.

Next, the process of collecting empty pallets will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is determined whether or not a pallet has arrived at the pallet transport conveyor 10 (waiting buffer) (S601). When the arrival is determined, it is checked whether or not there is a space in the pallet transport conveyor 9 (S6).
02). If there is an empty space, the pallet transfer conveyor 9
It is determined whether the (reception point) is empty or jammed (S60
3). If there is "vacancy", pallet transfer conveyor 9
The presence / absence of a pallet conveyance instruction at the (branch point) is checked (S604). If there is no transfer instruction, the transfer conveyor 13
Outputs an instruction to transfer to the pallet transfer conveyor 9 (S605). If it is determined in step 603 that "traffic jam" or "instruction is present" is determined in step 604, the non-stop instruction is executed (S606).

Next, referring to FIG. 7, a self-propelled transport vehicle (AG
The movement instruction output process for V) will be described.

This process considers the attribute of the pallet (actual pallet / empty pallet) and the priority of transportation depending on the loading station, and when only one self-propelled carrier is operating, a composite command (for example, maximum 3 The work amount) is output and processing for improving work efficiency is performed. Also,
When the self-propelled carrier arrives at the communication point, it issues a carrier instruction.

The activation timing of the process of FIG. 7 is as follows: when the vehicle is loaded in the carry-out station (S701), when the vehicle arrives at the communication point of the self-propelled carrier (S702), and the fully automatic testing machine 18 is used.
When there is a vacancy in the station (S703), when there is a load in the shipping station 36 of the single automatic testing machine 31 (S70).
4) When each condition is satisfied when the manual testing machine 39 is in the delivery station 38 (S705) or when the punching press device 1 is in the cutting delivery station (S706). When one of these is established, it is determined how many self-propelled guided vehicles (AGVs) are operating (up to two in this embodiment).

When only one of the self-propelled transport vehicles 28 or 29 is in operation, the transport priority order of the loaded pallets at each station is determined according to the following rule, and one work of the self-propelled transport vehicle is divided into three works. To extract the palette.

[Collection of empty pallets from the ST of the single unit automatic tester shipment> Transfer of the actual pallet from the shipment ST of the manual tester> Transfer of the actual pallet to the arrival ST of the manual tester> Real pallet to the ST of the fully automatic tester Conveying> Actual pallet conveyance to ST of single unit testing machine> Empty pallet collection from ST of fully automatic testing machine> Empty pallet collection from shipping ST of manual testing machine] To do. Then, a movement instruction is output from the pallet conveyor 8 or all stations to the self-propelled carrier (S70).
9).

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 707 that the two self-propelled transport vehicles are operating, the transport priority order of the loaded pallets of each station is determined according to the above rules, and the self-propelled transport vehicle After extracting a pallet for one work for each (S710), a movement instruction is output from the pallet conveyor 8 or all stations to the self-propelled carrier (S709).

[0041]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

According to the pallet conveying method in the automatic thin plate mechanical test of claim 1, the test pieces cut out from the thin plate are stored in a pallet and carried into a palletizing shelf or a stacker shelf for temporary storage, and then the conveyor and self-propelled. In a thin plate automatic mechanical testing facility that carries in a prescribed mechanical test by carrying it into an automatic testing machine or a manual testing machine using a carrier,
Predict the completion time of the tact under work in each facility where the pallet is arranged in the path leading to the testing machine, extract the pallet under strict control of the test construction period based on this, and extract this extracted pallet Since the instruction to convey to the tester side is given priority, the congestion of the pallets on the line can be eliminated and the tester with a slow control tact can be effectively used. Also, it becomes possible to strictly adhere to the test period.

In the pallet conveying method in the automatic thin plate mechanical test according to the second aspect, the pallet to be extracted is instructed to be stopped or conveyed in accordance with the presence or absence of traffic jam on the conveying route. Avoiding traffic congestion is possible.

In the pallet conveying method in the automatic thin plate mechanical test of claim 3, the test pieces cut out from the thin plate are stored in a pallet and carried into a palletizing shelf or a stacker shelf for temporary storage, and then the conveyor and self-propelled. In a thin plate automatic mechanical testing facility that carries in a prescribed mechanical test by carrying it into an automatic testing machine or a manual testing machine using a carrier,
When the number of operating self-propelled transport vehicles is one, since there are a plurality of commands for the self-propelled transport vehicles, work efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a processing example of a pallet conveying method in an automatic thin plate mechanical test of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of an automatic thin plate mechanical test equipment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of the present invention when a pallet is unloaded from a stacker shelf to a pallet conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing pallet processing of the present invention at a branch point of a pallet transport conveyor.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing pallet processing of the present invention at a carry-out waiting buffer and a delivery point of a pallet conveyor.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of collecting empty pallets according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a movement instruction output process of the present invention for an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Punching Press Device 2 Palletizing Rack 3 Stacker Rack 4 Stacker 5 Stacker Rack 6 Palletizing Robot 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Pallet Transport Conveyor 12 Processing Conveyor 13 Transport Conveyor 14 Processing Machine 15 Aligning Device 16 Processing Robot 17 Machining Device 18 Fully automatic testing machine 19 Tensile testing machine 20 Testing machine station 21 Testing machine loader 22 Tensile testing machine 23 Testing machine station 24 Testing machine loader 25 Rankford testing machine 26 Testing machine station 27 Testing machine loader 28,29 Self-propelled guided vehicle 30 Transport Road 31 Single unit automatic tester 32 Erichsen tester 33 Roughness tester 34 Hardness tester 35 Storage station 36 Delivery station 37 Storage station 38 Delivery station 39 Manual tester

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A test piece cut out from a thin plate is stored in a pallet, carried into a palletizing shelf or stacker shelf and temporarily stored, and then transferred to an automatic testing machine or a manual testing machine using a conveyor and a self-propelled carrier. In a thin plate automatic mechanical test facility that carries in and performs a predetermined mechanical test, predicts the completion time of the tact under work in each facility where the pallet is arranged in the route to the testing machine, and based on this, A pallet transportation method in an automatic thin plate mechanical test, characterized in that a pallet for which the test construction period is strictly controlled is extracted, and an instruction to prioritize the extracted pallet to be transported to the testing machine side is output. 2. The pallet transportation method in the automatic thin plate mechanical test according to claim 1, wherein the pallet to be extracted is instructed to stop or to be transported depending on the presence or absence of congestion on the transportation route. . 3. A test piece cut out from a thin plate is stored in a pallet, carried into a palletizing shelf or stacker shelf and temporarily stored, and then transferred to an automatic testing machine or a manual testing machine using a conveyor and a self-propelled carrier. In an automatic thin plate mechanical test facility for carrying in and performing a predetermined mechanical test, when the number of operating self-propelled transport vehicles is one, there is provided a plurality of commands for the self-propelled transport vehicles. Pallet transportation method in test.