JPH0737287B2 - Article transfer device in moving object for article transfer - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an article-conveying moving body, which is provided with a conveyor capable of transferring articles in the lateral width direction of the moving body. Regarding the transfer device.

[Conventional technology]

As an article transfer device in such an article transporting mobile body, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-183622, one belt conveyor is wound over the width direction on the upper part of the article transporting mobile body. In general, this belt conveyor is configured to be driven in the carry-in direction to place the article on the moving body when carrying in the article and to be carried out in the carry-out direction to discharge the article when carrying the article. Is.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

By the way, in the case of transferring an article in the article transporting moving body, in order to allow the article to be quickly carried out from the article transfer device to either the left or right side, or to prevent the article from falling during the transfer, Articles must be centered. That is, it is necessary to place the article on the central portion of the conveyor. However, the amount of movement of the conveyor at the time of loading differs depending on the size of the article. For example, a smaller article has a larger amount of conveyor movement than a large article.
Therefore, in order to center the article, the movement amount of the conveyor must be appropriately adjusted according to the size of the article.

Therefore, in the article transfer device for carrying in and carrying out articles by changing the driving direction of the conveyor as in the conventional case, in order to accurately perform the centering of the article, it is necessary to detect the size of the article. A sensor and a control device for adjusting the movement amount of the conveyor based on the detection result from the sensor must be provided, which is expensive and complicated.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such an actual situation, and an object thereof is to make it possible to perform centering easily while being relatively inexpensive and having a simple structure.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following characteristic configurations.

(1) In the first aspect of the invention, the conveyor includes a left conveyor portion and a right conveyor portion, drives the left and right conveyor portions in opposite directions toward the center side when the article is carried in, and when the article is carried out. At times, it is characterized in that conveyor drive control means for driving the left and right conveyor portions in the carry-out direction is provided.

(2) In the second invention, the conveyor is configured to have a central conveyor portion between the left and right conveyor portions, and the conveyor drive control means idles the central conveyor portion at the time of carrying in an article. In addition, the central conveyor portion is configured to be driven in the unloading direction when unloading the article.

[Action]

(1) According to the first aspect of the invention, when carrying in an article, the conveyor drive control means drives the left and right conveyor parts in opposite directions toward the center side. As a result, the article carried into the article transfer device from the carry-in side is carried to the center side by the carrying action of the left or right conveyor section. When the center position of the conveyor, which corresponds to the conveyance end position of the left or right conveyor portion, is reached, the right or left conveyor portion on the opposite side is subjected to the conveyance action toward the center side and is about to be returned. And finally, it stops at the central part of the conveyor where the conveying forces of the left and right conveyor parts are balanced. In short, in this case, the conveyor part on the opposite side functions as a stopper.

When unloading an article, the conveyor drive control means drives the left and right conveyor parts in the same direction toward the unloading side. As a result, the items placed in the center of the conveyor are
The left and right conveyor portions are first placed on one of the left and right conveyor portions in the carry-out direction by the carrying action of the left and right conveyor portions, and then carried in the carry-out direction by the left and right conveyor portions.

(2) According to the second aspect of the invention, when the article is carried in, the central conveyor portion is in an idle state by the conveyor drive control means. As a result, the article carried into the article transfer device from the carry-in side is carried to the center side by the carrying action of the left or right conveyor section. Then, it is conveyed from the conveyance end position of the left or right conveyor portion to the upper part of the central conveyor portion. And finally, it stops above the central conveyor part where the conveying force of the left or right conveyor part ceases to work or diminishes, ie at the central part of the conveyor.

When unloading an article, all the conveyor parts are driven in the unloading direction by the conveyor drive control means. As a result, the articles conveyed from the central conveyor section are conveyed in the carry-out direction by the left or right conveyor section.

〔The invention's effect〕

(1) According to the first aspect of the invention, it is not necessary to use a sensor or a control device, so that the structure can be made inexpensive and simple.

(2) According to the second invention, the following effects are obtained in addition to the effects of the first invention. In other words, when carrying in and carrying out articles, the carrying forces of the left and right conveyor parts do not act on the articles at the same time, or even if they act at the same time, the carrying forces can be made small, which is effective in avoiding damage to the articles.

First Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of transport units (A), which are an example of a moving body for transporting articles, are mounted on a guide means (1) (see FIG. 2) laid in a loop so that they can travel. Chute (2) for sorting is arranged on both sides of the traveling route of the plurality of transport units (A). Then, after the articles (4) supplied from the roller conveyor type loader (3) are carried into each transport unit (A), they are carried out to a designated chute (2) according to a sorting instruction by the computer, and sorting work is performed. It is configured to do.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer unit (A) is provided with a transfer device (A2) for loading and unloading the article (4) on the upper part of the transport platform (A1).

The transport platform (A1) is provided with wheels (5) for supporting the entire unit at the left and right four positions. All of these wheels (5) run on track rails (6) installed on the floor. Further, a locked tool (15) for use in towing is provided on the bottom surface of the carrier (A1).

The guide means (1) comprises the track rail (6) and a propulsion guide portion of the transport unit (A). The supporting frame (1A) of the propulsion guide portion is provided upright at appropriate intervals along the traveling route of the transport unit (A). Next, the propulsion guide unit will be described.

A single drive chain (10) is looped through the bottom of the recess (1a) of the support frame (1A). Locking frames (7) are fixed to the drive chain (10) at predetermined intervals. The upper end of the frame (7) is engaged with the recess of the locked tool (15), and the drive chain (1
The carrier bed (A1) is propelled with the rotation of (0). Further, guide wheels (8) are provided on both left and right sides of the frame (7), and these guide wheels (8) are paired with a pair of left and right rails (9) provided in a recess (1a) of the guide rail (1). ) Is fitted from the inside. This allows the drive chain to rotate smoothly without contacting the guide rail (1).

The transfer device (A2) includes a belt type conveyor (1) including a left conveyor portion (11L) and a right conveyor portion (11R).
1) It is composed of two electric motors (M1) and (M2), a conveyor drive control device (12), and a current collector (13).

The left and right conveyor parts (11L) and (11R) are individually driven by electric motors (M1) and (M2), and the electric motors (M1) and (M2) are conveyor drive control devices (12). Further, the control signal to the conveyor drive control device (12) and the electric power to the electric motors (M1) and (M2) are supplied from the outside through the current collector (13). .

The current collector (13) is in contact with the power supply rail (15) provided on the outer surface of the guide rail (1) so that current can be collected regardless of the position of the transport unit (A). There is. Further, although not described in detail, the conveyor drive control device (12) has information on the position where the transport unit (A) is currently traveling and conveyor drive information corresponding to the article (4) on the power supply rail ( 15) or by another communication means.

Next, a method of sorting the articles (4) using such a transport unit (A) will be described.

When the article (4) is loaded from the loader (3), when the traveling transport unit (A) reaches the loader (3), a command is given to the conveyor drive control device (12) and
The electric motors (M1) and (M2) are driven simultaneously. As a result, both the left and right conveyor parts (11L) and (11R) are driven in the opposite direction toward the center side (Fig. 1 (a)).
reference). Then, when the article (4) is carried in from the supply conveyor (3), it is placed on the left conveyor section (11L) and conveyed to the center side. And when the center position of the conveyor (11) is reached, this time the right conveyor part (11R) on the opposite side
It tries to be returned by receiving the transport action toward the center side. Then, it stops at the central part of the conveyor part (11) where the conveyance forces of both the left and right conveyor parts (11L) and (11R) are balanced. When goods stop, left and right conveyors (11L),
(11R) will also stop.

For example, when the goods (4) are carried out to the right sorting chute (2), when the traveling transport unit (A) reaches the target sorting chute (2), the conveyor drive control device ( A command is given to 12) and the two electric motors (M1) and (M2) are driven simultaneously. As a result, both the left and right conveyor parts (11L) and (11R) are driven to the right (see Fig. 1 (b)). Thereby, the conveyor (1
The article (4) placed in the center of 1) is placed on the right conveyor part (11R) by the conveying action of both left and right conveyor parts (11L) and (11R), and then the right conveyor part (11R). ), The target chute (2) is discharged. The left and right conveyor parts (11L) and (11R) where the unloading is completed are also stopped.

In the above, the case of carrying out to the right sorting chute (2) has been described, but the left sorting chute (2) is used.
It can be carried out in the same manner when it is carried out.

[Second Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 4, left and right conveyor portions (11L), (1L)
A roller type central conveyor section (14) is provided between 1R). The electric motor (M3) interlockingly connected to the central conveyor part (14) is set in an idle state by the conveyor drive control device (12) when the article (4) is loaded.
Further, it is configured so as to be driven in a predetermined direction when being carried out. The members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

Next, a method of sorting the articles (4) using the transport unit (A) will be described.

When the article (4) is carried in from the loader (3), when the traveling transport unit (A) reaches the loader (3), a command is given to the conveyor drive control device (12) to output both electric motors. (M1) and (M2) are driven, and the central conveyor section (14) becomes idle. (Fig. 4 (a)
reference).

For example, when the goods (4) are carried out to the right sorting chute (2), when the traveling transport unit (A) reaches the target sorting chute (2), the conveyor drive control device ( A command is given to 12) and the two electric motors (M2) and (M3) are driven. Then, the central conveyor portion (14) and the right conveyor portion (11R) are driven to the right (see FIG. 4B). As a result, the articles (4) placed on the central conveyor section (14) are transferred to the right conveyor section (11).
After being placed on R), it is transported to the outside and discharged to the target sorting chute (2). The central conveyor part (14) and the right conveyor part (11R) stop at the same time when the unloading is completed.

In the above, the case of carrying out to the right sorting chute (2) has been described, but the left sorting chute (2) is used.
It can be carried out in the same manner when it is carried out.

[Other Examples]

The present invention can also be implemented as follows.

The transport unit may be configured to be self-propelled, and the sorting work may be performed while traveling alone along the guide rails.
Alternatively, a linear motor may be used to drive the transport unit. Further, a wheel body that contacts a guide rail or the like may be provided on the transport unit side, and the left and right conveyor portions or the central conveyor portion may be driven by the rotation of the wheel body due to the traveling of the transport unit. Further, the left and right conveyor parts may be roller type, or the central conveyor part may be belt type. Alternatively, the guide rail may not be looped, and the transport unit may reciprocate along the guide rail.

In the claims of utility model registration, reference numerals are given for convenience of the drawing, but the present invention is not limited to the structure of the attached drawings by this entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of an article transfer device in an article transporting movable body according to the present invention. Fig. 1 (a) is a rear sectional view of the article transporting / moving body in a loading state, and Fig. 1 (b) is unloading. 2 is a vertical sectional rear view of the article transporting movable body in the state of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the article transporting mobile body, FIG. 3 is a view showing a state of sorting work, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the article transporting mobile body. Is. (4) …… Goods, (11) …… Conveyor, (11L) …… Left conveyor, (11R) …… Right conveyor, (12)…
… Conveyor drive control means (14) …… Central conveyor part (A1) …… Mobile unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An article transfer device for an article transporting mobile body, comprising a conveyor (11) capable of transporting articles to the article transporting mobile body (A) in the lateral direction of the mobile body (A). The conveyor (11) is the left conveyor (11L).
And the right conveyor part (11R), and when carrying in the article (4), the left and right conveyor parts (11L),
(11R) is driven in the opposite direction toward the center side, and at the time of carrying out the article (4), the left and right conveyor parts (11
L), (11R) is an article transfer device in an article transporting moving body, which is provided with a conveyor drive control means (12) for driving in an unloading direction. 2. The article transfer device in the article transporting moving body according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor (11) is provided between the left and right conveyor sections (11L) and (11R). 14), the conveyor drive control means (12) puts the central conveyor portion (14) into an idle state when loading an article, and unloads the central conveyor portion (14) when unloading an article. An article transfer device in an article transporting movable body configured to be driven in a direction.