JPH0733234A - Goods carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lighten the labor of handling a carrying jig to a carrying line by forming a buffer area on a return passage, and housing the carrying jig automatically and sending it out. CONSTITUTION:At the stoppage of a line consisting of a first process, the middle process 2, and the final process 3, many carrying jigs on a return course 5 are housed in a buffer area 6 by controlling a sending-in conveyor 8. Moreover, at start of the line, many carrying jigs housed in the back area 6 are sent out onto a return course 5 course 5 by controlling the sending-out conveyor 9. Even in the case that many carrying jigs are flowing on the line, the carrying jigs automatically housed in the buffer area 6 at stoppage of the line and conversely housed in the buffer area 6 at restart of the line are sent out automatically to the line. This obviates the removal work of the carrying jig on the line by the manual work of a worker or the return of the carrying jigs onto the line.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article carrying device for continuously feeding a large number of article carrying jigs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an article is placed on each of a large number of article conveying jigs and continuously flowed on a conveyor from the first step to the final step, the article is subjected to predetermined processing in each step, and the article is processed in the final step. The article transporting device of the automated line, in which the transporting jig is removed and only the transporting jig is sent back to the first step through the return path, has a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the first step 1, the intermediate steps 2, 2, ..., And the final step 3 are connected by the transport conveyor 4, and the return path from the final step 3 to the first step 1 is also connected by the return conveyor 5. Then, the article is placed on each of a large number of transport jigs, and the first step 1 sequentially flows through the transport conveyor 4 to the respective steps 2 and 3, and the article for which a series of operations is completed is the final step 3.
Then, the carrier jig is taken out from the carrier jig, and only the carrier jig is placed on the return conveyor 5 and returned to the first step 1 again.
Then, an article is newly placed on the conveyor 2 and is sequentially sent to the steps 2 and 3.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional article conveying apparatus, the number of conveying jigs required between the first step and the last step is taken into consideration in consideration of the state during line operation. At the same time, since it is necessary to return the products from the final process to the first process on the return conveyor, and to load the articles again and continuously send them to the transfer line, it is always necessary to circulate in the transfer line. When there are a large number of conveyed articles to be flowed, it is impossible to store such a number of conveying jigs only on the return conveyor when the operation of the line is stopped. The worker takes out the transfer jig in the final process and stores it on the floor or other specified storage place, and at the beginning of the line, on the contrary, takes out the transfer jig from the storage place and puts it on the first process. Work has been forced to, in particular, when the conveying jig rise to a large number, there is a problem that labor burden of the operator increases.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and a buffer area is formed on the return path so that the transfer jig is automatically stored in the buffer area at the end of operation of the line. Further, at the start of the line, the transfer jig housed in the buffer area is automatically sent out onto the line to reduce the labor burden on the operator for handling the transfer jig. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to flow an article through a series of steps, the article is placed on each of a required number of conveying jigs and conveyed on a conveyor, and the articles are conveyed in the final step. In the article transporting device that removes from the jig and puts only the transport jig on the conveyor of the return route and sends it back to the first process, provide a buffer area with a space for storing the required number of transport jigs along the return route, Sending means for sending the carrying jig on the conveyor on the return path to the buffer area, sending means for sending the carrying jig stored in the buffer area on the return path, and controlling the sending means when the line is stopped, And a control means for controlling the sending means when the line is activated.

[0006]

In the article conveying apparatus of the present invention, when the line is stopped, the feeding means is controlled by the control means so that a large number of conveying jigs on the return path are accommodated in the buffer area. By controlling the sending means by means of the above, a large number of transfer jigs housed in the buffer area are sent out on the return path.

Thus, even when a large number of transfer jigs are flown on the line, the transfer jigs are automatically stored in the buffer area when the line is stopped, and conversely when the line is restarted. Is automatically sent to the line, which eliminates the work of removing the carrying jig on the line and the work of returning the carrying jig to the line, thus reducing the labor burden on the operator.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a transfer line according to an embodiment of the present invention. As in the case of the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, a first step 1, an intermediate step 2, 2, ... The transfer jigs are returned by connecting the final process 3 and the first process 1 with the return conveyor 5.

As a feature of this embodiment, as shown in detail in FIGS. 1 and 2, a buffer area 6 is formed at an intermediate position with respect to the return conveyor 5,
A buffer area conveyor 7 is installed here, a guide conveyor 8 for sending from the return conveyor 5 to the buffer area 6, and a conveyor 9 for sending out from the buffer area 6 to the return conveyor 5.

The buffer area conveyor 7 is capable of switching between a continuous carrying operation and an intermittent carrying operation in the direction of arrow a. Then, in order to push the transfer jig fed by the feed conveyor 8 onto the buffer area conveyor 7, the buffer area 6 moves down from the upper retracted position and moves horizontally toward the buffer area conveyor 7. In order to push out the push-in pusher 10 and the transport jig on the buffer area conveyor 7 onto the delivery conveyor 9, it comes down from the upper retracted position and moves from the buffer area conveyor 7 in the direction of the delivery conveyor 9. A dispensing pusher 11 that moves horizontally is provided.

Further, in the buffer area 6, an openable shutter 12 is provided on the feeding conveyor 8 to block the transport jig from entering the buffer area 6. Further, a partition plate 14 is provided on the inner portion 13 of the buffer area conveyor 7 so as to leave a width capable of returning and transporting the transport jigs one by one.

Further, an article sensor 15 is installed near the entrance of the sending conveyor 8 to the buffer area 6, and an article sensor 16 is installed near the exit of the sending conveyor 9 from the buffer area 6, An article sensor 17 for detecting the presence / absence of a stored item is installed above the buffer area conveyor 7.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device showing the control function of such a transfer line, and is a general control section 21 which is generally constituted by a CPU and integrally controls the whole device.
And inputs the detection signals of the sensors 15, 16 and 17, and controls the operation of each of the push-in pusher 10, the push-out pusher 11, the shutter 12, and the buffer area conveyor 7, the push-in pusher controller 22, the push-out pusher controller 23. The shutter opening / closing control unit 24 and the continuous feeding / intermittent feeding method switching control unit 25 are each controlled, and the conveyor driving unit 26 for driving the conveyor is also controlled.

Next, the operation of the article conveying apparatus having the above-mentioned structure will be described.

(A) Normal Transfer Operation Normally, at the start of work, the transfer jig 27 is stored on the buffer area conveyor 7 in the buffer area 6, and all of the transfer jig 27 is delivered by the delivery pusher 11 through the delivery conveyor 9 to the return conveyor 5. , And then to the first step 1.

Then, in the first step 1, each transfer jig 27
Items for processing are stored on top, and intermediate steps 2, 2, ...
The sheet is conveyed by the conveyer conveyor 4 to be subjected to predetermined processing and treatment and reaches the final step 3. And the processing in the final step 3,
When the processing is completed, the article is taken out of the transfer jig 27,
Only the transfer jig 27 is sequentially returned by the return conveyor 5.

With respect to each of the transfer jigs 27 returned on the return conveyor 5, the buffer area conveyor 7, the feeding conveyor 8 and the feeding conveyor 9 are as follows in the buffer area 6. Return operation.

At normal times, the feeding method switching control unit 25 sets the buffer area conveyor 7 to the continuous conveying operation side, and the shutter 12 is closed. Therefore, each conveying jig returned on the return conveyor 5 hits the shutter 12 while being conveyed on the feeding conveyor 8 as shown by the arrow b, and here the partition plate 14 of the buffer area conveyor 7 is reached. Passed to the inner part 13 partitioned by
The inner portion 13 of the buffer area conveyor 7 is conveyed and reaches the delivery conveyor 9. Then, it is placed on the sending-out conveyor 9, and then the return conveyor 5 again.
And will be returned to the first process 1.

In this way, the transport jigs sequentially transported from the first step 1 to the final step 3 are returned from the final step 3 to the buffer area 6 by the return conveyor 5, and further, as shown by the arrow b, the buffer area conveyor. It is conveyed through the return path by 7 and is again passed to the return conveyor 5, where it is returned to the first step 1 and is circulated and conveyed.

(B) Transfer jig storing operation When the transfer line is stopped, the transfer jig is operated as follows.
A large number of transfer jigs are automatically stored in the buffer area 6. That is, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the transport jig 27 transported to the final step 3 is sequentially returned to the buffer area 6 by the return conveyor 5, but is transported on the infeed conveyor 8. When the article sensor 15 detects the presence of the transport jig 27 (step S1) while the shutter 12 is open,
The carrying jig 27 on the feeding conveyor 8 is fed to the inner side A of the buffer area 6 as indicated by the arrow c (step S2). When the transport jigs 27 are fully lined up on the feeding line of the feeding conveyor 8 (step S3), the pushing pusher 10 is activated, and
The transfer jigs 27 arranged in a line are pushed into the receiving side B on the buffer area conveyor 7 as indicated by an arrow d (step S4), and then the buffer area conveyor 7 is intermittently moved by the width e of the transfer jig 27. Feed drive (step S
5).

All of the transfer jigs 27 transferred on the infeed conveyor 8 are the buffer area conveyor 7.
The above-described transfer jig storing operation is repeated until the transfer jig 27 is filled with the transfer jig 27 or the buffer area conveyor 7 is filled with the transfer jig 27.

In this way, when the operation of the transfer line is stopped, the transfer jig 27 that has been transferred on the line is automatically stored on the buffer area conveyor 7.

(C) Transfer Jig Discharging Operation The operation of automatically transferring the transfer jig 27 stored on the buffer area conveyor 7 to the line when the transfer line is restarted will be described. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, when the transfer line is activated, it is determined whether or not the transfer jig 27 is present on the buffer area conveyor 7 by the signal of the article sensor 17 (step S11), and the buffer area conveyor 7 is operated. If the carrying jig 27 exists above, the buffer area conveyor 7 is intermittently fed by the width e of the carrying jig (step S1).
2) Subsequently, the payout pusher 11 operates and the transport jigs 27 arranged in a line on the payout side C on the buffer area conveyor 7 are pushed out onto the feeding conveyor 9 (step S13).

As a result, as shown by the arrow f, the conveying jig 27 is moved by the sending conveyor 9 to the return conveyor 5.
It is conveyed to the connection point with and is transferred to the return conveyor 5, and is sequentially supplied to the first step 1.

If the article sensor 17 on the buffer area conveyor 7 no longer detects the carrying jig 27, it is assumed that all the carrying jigs 27 on the buffer area conveyor 7 have been delivered to the carrying line, and the sending operation is performed. Complete.

In this way, all of the large number of transfer jigs 27 stored on the buffer area conveyor 7 are automatically sent out to the transfer line, and thereafter, the normal transfer operation of (a) described above is started. become.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and means for feeding the carrying jig 27 into the buffer area 6 and means for feeding the carrying jig 27 from the buffer area 6 are appropriately used. For example, a buffer area is provided in parallel with the return conveyor, and a fixed number of transfer jigs that are arranged in a row on the continuously operated return conveyor are moved in a direction perpendicular to the return conveyor. The pusher pushes it directly into the buffer area for storage operation, and conversely moves the transfer jigs stored in the buffer area in an aligned state onto the return conveyor that is continuously operated for each row in a direction perpendicular to this. It is also possible to push out with a delivery pusher.

In the above embodiment, the buffer area is set to 1
However, if the buffer areas are provided in multiple layers, buffer area conveyors and other necessary equipment are provided in the buffer areas of each layer, and there are multiple types of transport jigs to handle, the buffers of different layers It can be stored in the area and sent from there.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the line is stopped, the feeding means is controlled by the control means so that a large number of transfer jigs on the return path are accommodated in the buffer area and the line is started. At times, the control means controls the sending means to send out a large number of transfer jigs stored in the buffer area onto the return path, so that a large number of transfer jigs are flowed on the line. Even if the line is stopped, the transfer jig is automatically stored in the buffer area when the line is stopped, and conversely, the transfer jig stored in the buffer area can be automatically sent to the line when the line is restarted. There is no need to manually remove the transfer jig from the line when the line is stopped, and also when the line is started, many transfer jigs need to be returned to the line. Work is also no longer necessary, it is possible to reduce the labor burden on the operator.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the structure of a buffer area of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an automatic carrying jig storing operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an automatic feeding operation of the carrying jig of the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a line configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 First Process 2 Intermediate Process 3 Final Process 4 Conveyor 5 Return Conveyor 6 Buffer Area 7 Buffer Area Conveyor 8 Feeding Conveyor 9 Sending Conveyor 10 Push Pusher 11 Discharge Pusher 12 Shutter 13 Inner Part 14 Partition Plate 15 (Inlet Side) ) Article sensor 16 (exit side) article sensor 17 (for buffer area) article sensor 21 Overall control section 22 Push-in pusher control section 23 Discharge pusher control section 24 Shutter opening / closing control section 25 Feeding method switching control section 26 Conveyor conveyor drive section 27 Conveyance jig

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In order to flow articles in a series of steps, the articles are placed on a required number of conveyance jigs and conveyed on a conveyor, and in the final step, the articles are removed from the conveyance jigs to convey the articles. In the article transporting device that returns only the first step on the conveyor of the return route, along the return route, a buffer area having a space for storing the required number of transport jigs is provided, and on the conveyor of the return route Sending means for sending the carrying jig to the buffer area, sending means for sending the carrying jig stored in the buffer area onto the return path, and controlling the sending means when the line is stopped to start the line And a control means for controlling the delivery means.