JPH0784261B2 - Two-stage pallet transfer device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pallet conveying device for storing articles,
In particular, the present invention relates to a two-stage pallet transfer device in which the pallet is composed of two steps and the pallet is transferred between the processing machine and the accommodating section.

[Prior Art] In recent years, in the processing of metal plates and the like, there is an automatic line from the loading and unloading of articles to the unloading.

The work material as an article and the processed material after processing are stocked in a storage part such as a shelf, and a pallet that can be taken out from each shelf is provided, so that the articles stored in the pallet are not dropped and a transport mechanism is provided. It can be conveyed between the accommodation unit and the processing machine via the.

If the storage portion can store both the material to be processed and the processed material, it does not take up space, and the worker only needs to arrange the storage portion for carrying in and carrying out the article, which improves work efficiency. Can be improved.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the pallet transport mechanism configured as described above, it is necessary to transport each pallet between the storage unit and the processing machine each time an article is loaded or unloaded, This operation takes time, and the production efficiency of the automatic line cannot be improved.

In other words, when automating the transportation of the pallets, it is necessary to minimize the loss time of the idle pallets caused by the loading and unloading operations which are the reverse operations.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to efficiently carry in and out a pallet in which articles are stored between a storage unit and a processing machine, and improve automation efficiency. It is an object of the present invention to provide a two-stage pallet transfer device.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first aspect of the present invention is to store a large number or a large number of types of workpieces, to carry out the workpieces to a processing machine, and to perform processing. A two-stage pallet conveying device provided in a device for loading a processed product into which a processed product is loaded from a machine, and a pallet for storing the processed product and a pallet for storing the processed product are stacked vertically in a pair. A separating mechanism for separating the stacked pallets and temporarily holding one of the pallets, a carrying-in mechanism for carrying the pallets up to a place where the separating mechanism is provided, and a process for processing the separated pallets. And a carry-out mechanism for carrying out in the machine direction.

Further, in claim 2, a lock mechanism for holding the stacked state on the pallet is provided, and a release mechanism for releasing the stacked state of the pallet is provided on the separating mechanism.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, a control unit is provided that controls the separation mechanism and the carry-out mechanism in cooperation with each other in order to store the workpiece on the pallet or store the workpiece.

[Operation] According to claim 1, the pallet is composed of upper and lower two stages, the workpiece and the workpiece in different states can be accommodated at the same time, and can be separated by the separating mechanism, and one pallet is held. Since the other pallet can be carried out while the pallet is being carried out, the operation of the carry-in mechanism and the carry-out mechanism constituting the carry-out mechanism can be performed simultaneously or separately, and the time required for the carrying process can be shortened.

Further, according to the second aspect, the carrying process can be ensured without separating the pallet during the carrying operation of the pallet.

Further, according to the third aspect, in the carrying process, the control unit can increase the efficiency of the operation of the carry-in mechanism and the carry-out mechanism when performing continuous machining on the workpieces stored in the same pallet. It becomes (SP in operation flow
High efficiency can be achieved for continuous processing between 2 and SP9).

[Embodiment] First, the exploded perspective view of FIG. 2 shows a pallet 20 for storing articles P1 and P2.

The pallet 20 is composed of a lower pallet 21 that stores the work material P2 before processing, and an upper pallet 25 that stores the work material P1 after processing the work material P2. A pair of frame plates 22 are erected at a predetermined distance, and the upper pallet is
Support 25.

In addition, a protrusion 22a is provided on the upper portion of the frame plate 22,
The upper pallet 25 is provided with an engagement hole 25a at a position corresponding to the protrusion 22a so that the upper pallet 25 and the lower pallet 21 are engaged and fixed at a predetermined position. Then, on the lower pallet 21 and the upper pallet 25, projecting pieces 21a, 25b are erected on the side portions to prevent the articles P2, P1 from falling off.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A lock lever 26 is provided which is rotatable about 26a and is always biased in the direction A in the figure.
The lower protrusion 26b is engageable with the roller 23 provided on the upper side plate 22 of the lower pallet 21, and these lock levers
A lock mechanism is constituted by the roller 26 and the roller 23, and has a function of further firmly fixing and holding the above-mentioned engaged state.
Even when the lock lever 26 is in the free state, the third
It will not rotate in the A direction beyond the position shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 (a) is a front view showing an embodiment of a two-stage type pallet carrying device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) is a side view of the same.

When viewed in a side view, a carrying-in mechanism 10 movable in the B and B ′ directions is provided. This carrying-in mechanism 10 includes a drive motor (not shown) and a transmission system including belts and gears, etc. Move in and out.

Then, the base of the column 2 is provided with a temporary storage shelf 13 as a separating mechanism which is arranged with a frontage equal to the lateral width of the upper pallet 25 and has a horizontal locking piece 13b.
The upper pallet 25 is supported between 13 and 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the temporary storage rack 13 is provided with a lock releasing hydraulic cylinder 13a as a releasing mechanism for rotating the lock lever 6 in the A direction to release the locked state.

Further, a carry-out mechanism 15 is provided below the separating mechanism.
In the carry-out mechanism 15, the pulley 16a provided on the base 16 is connected to the rail 17
The rail 17 has a structure that is movable above, and the rail 17 extends to a position where the rail 17 is carried out to a processing machine (not shown). Therefore, the pallet 20 is delivered between the carry-out mechanism 15 and the carry-in mechanism 10. The carry-out mechanism 15 is moved by using the carriage loading / unloading hydraulic cylinder 18 as a drive source. Further, the carry-out mechanism 15 is provided with an elevating part 19 which is vertically movable by a carriage lifting hydraulic cylinder 19a on the base part 16 and elevates the pallet 20.

Here, the storage rack 1 shown in FIG. 4 (a) may be used as an example of the storage section. The storage shelf 1 is provided on the upper part of the transport mechanism. The support columns 2 are provided long upward, and five shelf plates 3 are provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction of the support columns 2.
And a frame body 4, and the shelf numbers 1 to 5 are sequentially allocated from the upper shelf 3.

Further, the shelf board 3 is arranged with a dimension not larger than the width of the lower pallet 21.

Then, the carry-in mechanism 10 carries the pallet 20 between the shelf board 3 and the carry-out mechanism 15. That is, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 4 (b), the carry-in mechanism 10 is configured to be movable in the B, B'directions by the traverser loading / unloading electric motor 11 and the transmission system 12 such as a gear. A side portion 6a of a lifter 6 formed in a U shape for moving up and down the carry-in mechanism 10 is located on a side portion of the shelf board 3, and a rail 7 provided on the storage shelf 1 and a side portion 6a of the lifter 6 and a guide. The lifter 6 is vertically movable by the roller 8. The lifter 6 has a pair of left and right lifter lifting hydraulic cylinders 9 as drive sources.

Next, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the above-mentioned transfer device.

The control unit 32 is provided in a state electrically connected to each pump drive electric motor 30 and the hydraulic solenoids 18a, 19b, 9a, 13c of the storage rack 1 by a signal system and a power system. Also, the control unit 32
Is a “material preparation command”, “material 1 shipping information”, “material shipping completion command”, “material shelf board” with the production information processing device 35 which may be an external personal computer or more computers. "Instruction", "material plate thickness, vertical and horizontal dimension information" various information commands can be input and output interface 32a, each actuator is automatically controlled by the above information command, and the specified pallet 20 is specified from the storage shelf 1. It is put out to the position and put in the storage rack 1.

Further, the control unit 32 is provided with an interface 32b capable of inputting / outputting between a material-requiring machine (processing machine) and a "loading preparation signal", a "loading preparation signal", a "loading completion signal", and a "loading completion signal", and the upper pallet. 25, automatically control the preparation of the lower pallet 21.

It also has an interlock function for safety confirmation of whether the operation based on the above information and signals is operating normally.

Then, the control unit 32 issues an operation command (operation described later) to each hydraulic solenoid in a predetermined procedure, and various commands for this operation are input from the operation unit 33 and displayed on the display terminal 34. It has become.

Next, the operation of the transport mechanism having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on the operation diagram of (i) and the operation flowchart of FIG.

Then, a case will be described below in which an operation command to the operation unit 3 or a control command from the production information processing device 35 carries out the work material P2 of the lower pallet 21 accommodated in the shelf number 3. The drive system is omitted in FIGS. 6 and 7.

First, as shown in FIG. 6A, the traverser loading / unloading motor 11 is driven to move the loading mechanism 10 in the B direction.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the lifter lifting hydraulic cylinder 9 is moved.
The lifter 6 is lifted to near the height of the shelf number 3 (position slightly lower than the shelf plate 3 of the shelf number 3), and the transporter loading / unloading electric motor 11 moves the loading mechanism 10 in the B'direction.

In this state, the carry-in mechanism 10 is located below the pallet 20. Therefore, by lifting the lifter 6 by the lifter lifting hydraulic cylinder 9, as shown in FIG.
Is separated from the shelf board 3 and placed on the carry-in mechanism 10.

Then, by moving the carry-in mechanism 10 in the B direction,
As shown in FIG. 3D, the pallet 20 is in a state of being pulled out from the shelf plate 3 portion.

Next, the lifter 6 is lowered by the lifter lifting hydraulic cylinder 9 as shown in FIG. At this time, the upper pallet 25
Lowers it to the center position of the temporary storage shelf 13.

The above process is the unloading operation (SP1).

By moving the carry-in mechanism 10 in the B'direction as shown in FIG. 3 (f), the upper pallet is moved as shown in FIG. 3 (a).
25 enters the 13 part of the temporary storage shelf.

Therefore, when the lifter 6 descends, only the upper pallet 25 is locked and held by the temporary storage shelf 13 and the lower pallet 21 is placed on the carry-out mechanism 15 as shown in FIG. 6 (g) (FIG. 3). (B) state). At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the lock releasing hydraulic cylinder 13a is operated to rotate the lock lever 26 in the direction A to release the engagement between the upper pallet 25 and the lower pallet 21. The lowering of the carry-out mechanism 15 causes the engagement hole 25a of the upper pallet 25 and the projection 2 of the lower pallet 21 to
The engagement state with 2a will be released (SP2).

Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (h), after the lower pallet 21 is placed on the carry-out mechanism 15, the carry-in mechanism 10 moves in the B direction.

After that, as shown in FIG. 9 (i), the unloading mechanism 15 is unloaded to the transport position on the rail 17 by the dolly loading / unloading hydraulic cylinder 18 (SP3). As a result, the work material P2 stored in the lower pallet 21 is ready to be conveyed to the turret punch press in the next process (SP4).

Next, FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d) will explain a case where the work P2 is processed and then carried into the upper pallet 25 of the rack number 3 as the work P1.

First, after the workpiece P2 is conveyed in the state shown in FIG. 7 (a), the unloading mechanism 15 on which the lower pallet 21 is placed is again stored (SP5), and the state of FIG. 7 (b) is obtained. Becomes

Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (c), in the carry-out mechanism 15, the elevating part 19 is moved up by the operation of the trolley lifting hydraulic cylinder 19a. As a result, the lower pallet 21 is stacked on the upper pallet 25, and the projection 22a engages with the engagement hole 25a to position and hold the stacked state of the upper pallet 25 and the lower pallet 21. Furthermore, the locked state is further ensured by the lock lever 26 and the roller 23 (SP
6). The operation diagram until this stacking is shown in FIG.
The state is shown as (a).

After being stacked in this way, the upper pallet 25 rises to the state where the upper pallet 25 is separated from the temporary storage shelf 13 (the state shown in FIG. 3A).
19 rises.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7 (2), the carry-out mechanism 15 again carries out the goods on the rail 17 to the carry position (SP7),
The processed material P1 can be loaded onto the upper pallet 25 (SP8).

By the series of operations shown in FIG. 6 described above, the workpiece P2 stored in the lower pallet 21 can be delivered to the transfer position, and the series of operations shown in FIG.
Can be stored.

Then, the pallet 20 is loaded by the unloading mechanism 15 (SP
9) The production information processor 35 determines whether or not the same pallet 20 is continuously unloaded (SP1
0) If it is the same pallet 20, temporary storage shelf 1 again
The upper and lower pallets are separated by 3 (moved to SP2).

On the other hand, when processing a workpiece stored in another pallet 20 different from the pallet 20, since the pallet 20 is stored again in the shelf number 3 portion, the carry-in mechanism 10 performs the reverse operation of the above operation ( Transition to SP1 after SP11). In this case, it is desirable to shift from the state of FIG. 7 (d) to the state of FIG. 6 (g) to (a), and the temporary storage state of the upper pallet 25 at the temporary storage shelf 13 portion (see FIG. h), (i), 7 (a)-
The state (c)) can be omitted.

In this way, the pallet 20 is flexed as a separating mechanism for temporary storage.
Since the structure is divided into 13 parts vertically, when carrying out continuous processing on the same pallet 20, the transfer between the shelf part and the carry-out mechanism by the carry-in mechanism 10 which was conventionally required by the operation of SP2 to SP9. Can be omitted, and high speed processing can be performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the storage rack 1 having vertical shelves is used as the storage unit, but other storage racks having horizontal racks or a plurality of storage racks may be provided. In this case, the specification of the carry-in mechanism 10 needs to be changed, but even in this case, the effect of continuous processing for the same pallet, which is the gist of the present invention, is not reduced.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the two-stage type pallet transfer device of claim 1, since the pallet unit is composed of two-stage pallets, when the articles stored in the pallet are loaded and unloaded, the separating mechanism is used. It is possible to store articles in different states at the same time within the pallet unit simply by separating them.

According to the second aspect, since the plurality of pallets that form the pallet unit are fixed to each other, there is no positional deviation when loading and unloading the pallets, and automation can be easily achieved.

According to the third aspect, the operation of the carry-in mechanism for carrying the pallets containing the articles, the carry-out mechanism, and the separation mechanism for separating the pallets between the top and the bottom can be performed in a predetermined procedure, and the work efficiency is improved. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a front view showing a two-stage pallet carrying device of the present invention, FIG. 1 (b) is a side view of the same, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the pallet. (A), (b),
FIG. 4C is a front view showing the separated state of the pallets, FIG. 4A is a side view of a partial cross section showing a storage shelf as a storage unit, and FIG. 4B is the same. FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system, and FIGS. 6A to 6I are operation diagrams up to the delivery of the articles stored in the lower pallets. FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d) are operation diagrams until the articles are stored in the upper pallets, and FIG.
It is a flow chart which shows the operating procedure of the above-mentioned device. 1 ... storage shelf, 3 ... shelf plate, 6 ... lifter, 10 ... loading mechanism, 13 ... separation mechanism, 15 ... unloading mechanism, 20 ... pallet, 21 ... lower pallet, 23 ... roller , 25 …… upper pallet, 26 …… lock lever, 32 …… control section.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A large amount or a large number of types of workpieces are stored, the workpieces are carried out to a processing machine, and the apparatus for processing the processed workpieces from the processing machine is provided in the apparatus. A two-stage pallet transfer device, in which a pallet for storing a workpiece and a pallet for storing a workpiece are stacked vertically in a pair, the stacked pallets are separated, and one pallet is held. A two-stage pallet, comprising: a separating mechanism, a carrying-in mechanism for carrying in the pallet to a location where the separating mechanism is provided, and a carrying-out mechanism for carrying out the separated pallet in the processing machine direction. Transport device. 2. The two-stage pallet according to claim 1, wherein the pallet is provided with a lock mechanism for holding the stacked state, and the separating mechanism is provided with a release mechanism for releasing the stacked state of the pallets. Transport device. 3. A two-stage pallet according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit for controlling the separation mechanism and the unloading mechanism in interlock with each other in order to unload the work piece from the pallet or store the work piece in the pallet. Transport device.