JPH079268A - Pallet rotation device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To enable the pallet member to rotate reliably and automatically by an arbitrary angle by using the conveying force of the conveyor without using any power source. [Structure] A stopper means 23 for making a pallet member 22 a non-rotatable fixed state and a rotatably released state, and a stopper releasing means 30 for making a pallet member rotatable by the transfer of the pallet member by a conveying force of a conveyor 10.
A pallet rotating means 40 for rotating the pallet member in the released state of the stopper means, an inlet side width adjusting means 51 for moving the pallet closer to the pallet rotating means, and a direction for separating the pallet from the pallet rotating means. The pallet rotating device is composed of the output side width adjusting means 52 for performing width adjustment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotating device for a pallet conveyed by a conveyor installed in an automobile assembly line or the like. The present invention relates to a pallet rotating device that can rotate a predetermined amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a conventional automobile engine assembly line, as shown in FIG. 5, a pallet member 2 rotatably mounted on a base 1 is conveyed by a conveyor (not shown), Depending on the mounting position and shape, the pallet member 2 is rotated by 90 ° or any angle to perform the mounting work.

Specifically, the pallet is, as shown in the figure,
A pallet member 2 is rotatably attached via a shaft 3 to a base 1 that is conveyed on a conveyor. On the bottom of the pallet member 2, a rotary plate 4 having fitting grooves formed at 90 ° intervals or at arbitrary angles is provided so as to be rotatable integrally with the pallet member 2. The stopper member 5 provided on the base 1 is fitted in the fitting groove of the rotary plate 4 to fix the pallet member 2 so that it cannot be rotated. The handle 6 of the stopper member 5 is operated to fit the pallet member 2. By releasing the fitting state with the groove, the pallet member 2 can be rotated. The operator manually pushes the pallet member 2 while rotating the pallet member 2 while pressing the handle 6 downward, fits the stopper member 5 into the fitting groove again to fix the pallet member 2, and rotates the pallet member 2 in the next step. It is transported in the closed state.

[0004]

However, since the conventional rotating work is manually performed by the operator, the rotating operation of the pallet member is troublesome and troublesome, and the operator is often required to fold the busy work. Sometimes forgot to turn. As a result, there was a problem that the assembly work in the next process was hindered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and makes it possible to reliably and automatically rotate a pallet member at an arbitrary angle by utilizing the conveying force of a conveyor without using any power source. An object is to provide a pallet rotating device.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a pallet member that is rotatably provided on a table base that is conveyed on a conveyor, and a fixed state and a rotation state in which the pallet member is not rotatable. Stopper means provided on the table base to bring the movable base into a released state, and provided on the conveyor side that engages with the stopper means by the progress of the pallet member due to the conveying force of the conveyor to rotate the pallet member. Stopper releasing means, pallet rotating means provided on the conveyor side for rotating the pallet member by engaging the pallet member in the released state of the stopper means, and the pallet rotating means for engaging the pallet member with the pallet member. The platform base is moved closer to the pallet rotating means on the conveyor. The pallet rotating means for narrowing the platform side on the conveyor in the direction to separate the platform base from the pallet rotating means in order to release the engagement between the pallet rotating means and the pallet rotating means. The pallet rotating device is composed of an exit side width adjusting means provided on the conveyor side behind the means.

[0007]

According to the pallet rotating apparatus of the present invention, when the pallet member rotatably provided on the base is conveyed on the conveyor and advances, the stopper means of the base is engaged with the stopper releasing means on the conveyor side. Then, the pallet member is changed from the fixed state in which it cannot rotate to the state in which the rotatable stopper is released. When the pallet member is engaged with the pallet rotating means on the conveyor side in this state, the pallet member on the base is rotated by a predetermined amount by being restricted by this. Before reaching the pallet rotating means, the platform side is moved closer to the pallet rotating means by the inlet side width adjusting means on the conveyor side, thereby ensuring the engagement relationship between the pallet member and the pallet rotating means. .

When the pallet member further advances and the rotation of the pallet member by a predetermined amount is completed, the engagement between the stopper means and the stopper releasing means, which are in the engagement relationship, is released, and the pallet member can be rotated. Change the stopper release state to the non-rotatable fixed state. Before the pallet rotating means and the pallet member are disengaged from each other, the conveyor-side output side width adjusting means moves the platform base in a direction away from the pallet rotating means in the engaging relationship. so,
The engagement relationship between the pallet member and the pallet rotating means is released.

As described above, by the pallet rotating device, the pallet member conveyed on the conveyor can be surely and automatically rotated by a predetermined amount or leftward or rightward by utilizing only the conveying force of the conveyor.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view showing a pallet having a pallet rotating device and a conveyor, FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and 2 (c) are explanatory views showing an operating state of a pallet member by the pallet rotating device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the stopper mechanism and the stopper releasing member, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the stopper mechanism and the stopper auxiliary member.

First, the pallet will be described. The pallet is a platform base 21 that is conveyed on a conveyor 10 on which rollers 11 are laid, a pallet member 22 that is rotatably provided on the platform base 21, a fixed state in which the pallet member 22 is non-rotatable, and a rotatable state. It is composed of a stopper mechanism 23 that brings the stopper to a released state.

The base 21 is made of a plane H-shaped thin plate, and a predetermined distance can be obtained with respect to the width of the convey path of the conveyor 10 due to the relationship between the entrance side width adjusting roller 51 and the output side width adjusting roller 52 which will be described later. It is formed to the size. The pallet member 22 is provided with mounting plates 22c at four corners of the bottom plate 22a with columns 22b interposed therebetween, and is rotatably provided with respect to the base 21 by a vertically provided pivot shaft 22d.

On the other hand, the stopper mechanism 23 includes a stopper member 23b pivotally mounted on a support shaft 23a and a lever body 23c thereof.
And a return spring 23d (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and a rotary plate 23e that is rotatable integrally with the pallet member 22 and is in a disengaged relationship with the stopper member 23b. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rotary plate 23e is provided below the bottom plate 22a of the pallet member, and has a tapered fitting groove 23e 'into which a locking portion 23b' of the stopper member described later fits. Are formed every 90 °.

The stopper member 23b is pivotally attached to a mounting block 23f (see FIG. 1) provided on the base 21 so as to be vertically swingable through a support shaft 23a, and a stopper is provided at a rear end portion of the stopper member 23b. In order to operate the mechanism 23, an L-shaped lever body 23c in a plan view, which is bent upward at an intermediate position, is fixed. In addition, the stopper portion 23b has a tip end portion with a locking portion 23 that can be fitted into the fitting groove 23e 'of the rotary plate 23e.
b'is formed and at the intermediate position between the support shaft 23a and the lever body 23c, a return is made of a coil spring which is urged in a direction in which the locking portion 23b 'is always fitted in the fitting groove 23e'. The spring 23d is provided in a retracted state between the stopper member 23b and the base 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper mechanism 23 has its lever body 23c pushed down,
The tip is lifted around the support shaft 23a, and the locking portion 2
The fitting relationship between 3b 'and the fitting groove 23e' of the rotary plate is released. As a result, the pallet member 22 is moved from the non-rotatable fixed state to the rotatable stopper released state. When the pallet member 22 is rotated and the pressing force of the lever body 22c is released, the urging force of the return spring 23d acts,
As shown in FIG. 4, the engaging portion 23b 'that has slid on the upper surface of the rotary plate 23e arrives in the fitting groove 23e' having a tapered shape.
Is forcibly pushed down to fit. As a result, the pallet member 22 is again fixed in a non-rotatable state.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor 10 is provided with a pallet rotating device.
The pallet rotating device engages a stopper mechanism 23 of a pallet conveyed on the conveyor 10 to rotate the pallet member 22, and a stopper releasing member 30 that contacts the pallet member 22 after the stopper mechanism 23 operates. Rotating member 40 for rotating the pallet member 22
In order to engage the pallet rotating member 40 with the pallet rotating member 40, the pallet rotating roller 51 is moved toward the pallet rotating member 40 and the entrance side narrowing roller 51 is moved by a predetermined amount. In order to release the engagement between the pallet rotating member 40 and the pallet rotating member 22 after the rotation of, the delivery side width-adjusting roller 52 that moves the platform base 21 away from the pallet rotating member 40 on the conveyor 10 is formed. ing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stopper releasing member 30 has an engaging plate 31 having a downward slope formed by bending a plate material.
And its mounting plate 32 and is provided above the conveyor side 10 '. In order to operate the stopper mechanism 23 to bring the pallet member 22 into the rotatable stopper release state, the tip end portion of the lever body 23c is brought into contact with the back surface of the descending slope portion of the engagement plate 32 to allow it to dive in, as shown in FIG. The lever body 23c is pushed down as the pallet advances. The horizontal portion on the rear side has an appropriate length that is sufficient for the locking portion 23b 'of the stopper member to be pulled out from the fitting groove 23e' of the rotary plate and to slide reliably on the upper surface of the rotary plate 23e. Is formed. And conveyor 1
The mounting plate 32 erected from the 0 side surface and the horizontal portion of the engagement plate 31 are mounted by welding or the like.

Next, the pallet rotating member 40 is provided with a restricting body 41 which comes into contact with the column 22b of the pallet member above the conveyor side portion 10 'via a supporting member 42. The restricting body 41 has its axis projecting in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveyor 10, and the stopper mechanism 23
After the operation of, that is, after the pallet member 22 is in the rotatable state, the pallet member 22 is brought into contact with the support column 22b,
Regulated by this, the pallet member 22 is rotated around the rotation support shaft 22d. As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, in order to rotate the pallet member 22 in the clockwise direction, the regulating body 41 is provided on the right side of the conveyor 10 in the conveying direction.

In this embodiment, the stopper releasing member 30 and the pallet rotating member 40 are provided on the opposite side of the conveyor 10. However, if the tip end side of the lever body 23c of the stopper mechanism is directed in the opposite direction, the stopper is released. Member 30
Can be provided on the same side as the pallet rotating member 40.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (a), the entrance-side width-approaching roller 51 is composed of two rollers which are rotatably axially fitted to a vertical support shaft. ,
The conveyor side portion 10 ′ at a position before the pallet rotating member 40 and on the side opposite to the pallet rotating member 40.
Is provided on the side of the transport path. Entry side width adjustment roller 51
Of the pallet traveling on the conveyor 10 are interfered with by the base 21 of the pallet traveling on the conveyor 10, and the entire pallet is moved toward the pallet rotating member 40 on the opposite side. . As a result, the support column 22b of the pallet member surely contacts the pallet rotating member 40.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (b) and (c), the exit side width-approaching roller 52, like the entrance side width-approaching roller 51, is rotatably supported by a vertical support shaft. The pallet rotating member 40 is composed of two rollers to be fitted.
It is provided at a more forward position and on the side of the conveyor path 10 'on the same side as the pallet rotating member 40. Since the exit side width-approaching roller 52 is also provided such that the peripheral surface thereof projects into the transport path, the conveyor 10
The platform base 21 of the pallet traveling upward interferes with the pallet and moves the entire pallet in a direction away from the pallet rotating member 40. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B, the pallet member 22 acts from the middle of rotation, and immediately before the end of rotation, as shown in FIG. 2C, the restricting body 41 and the support 22b of the pallet member come into contact with each other. The restricting body 41 does not interfere with the pallet member 22 after a predetermined amount of rotation by breaking the contact relationship.

In this embodiment, the rollers 51 and 52 are used as the width adjusting means on the entry side and the exit side of the pallet, but a fluid pressure device such as a hydraulic cylinder may be adopted.

Further, in front of the stopper releasing member 30, a stopper assisting member 60 for detecting the non-rotatable fixed state of the pallet member 22 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the stopper assisting member 60 is composed of an engaging plate 61 having an upslope portion formed by bending a plate material and a mounting plate (not shown) for the engaging plate 61, and a conveyor side portion on the same side as the stopper releasing mechanism 23. It is provided at 10 '. For some reason, the stopper portion 23b 'of the stopper member may not fit into the fitting groove 23 of the rotary plate.
When the pallet is advanced with the lever body 23c being pushed down without being fitted in the e ', the lever body 23c
This is to bring the tip of the above into contact with the surface of the upslope of the engaging plate 61 to prevent the progress beyond that position. And
The stall pallet is detected by a detection device such as a discharge tube (not shown) to notify the abnormality.

The operation of the pallet by the pallet rotating device constructed as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 2A, the pallet conveyed on the conveyor 10 is moved in advance by the entrance-side width-approaching roller 51 to move the pallet rotating member 40 in advance.
The base 21 is moved to the side. The lever body 23c of the stopper mechanism that has reached the stopper release member 30 is gradually pushed down, and the locking portion 23b 'of the stopper member.
Is removed from the fitting groove 23e 'of the rotary plate. In this state, the pallet member 22 is changed from the non-rotatable fixed state to the rotatable stopper released state.

Subsequently, the struts 22b of the pallet member come into contact with the regulating body 41 of the pallet rotating member. As shown in FIG. 2B, due to the presence of the restricting body 41, the pallet member 22
Rotates clockwise about the rotation support shaft 22d. During this rotation, the lever body 23c of the stopper mechanism passes through the stopper release member 30 and the engagement relationship is released.
The locking portion 23b 'of the stopper member slides on the upper surface of the rotary plate 23e. In addition, during the rotation of the pallet member 22, the platform width 21 is gradually moved by the exit-side width-applying roller 52 in the direction in which the base 21 is separated from the regulating body 41.

When the tapered fitting groove 23e 'of the rotary plate 23e which has been rotating together with the pallet member 22 arrives near the engaging portion 23b' of the stopper member, the rotary plate 23e shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the return spring 23d of the stopper member
The engaging portion 23b 'is forcibly forced by the urging force of
e'is fitted. As a result, the pallet member 23 has finished rotating by 90 ° and is in a non-rotatable fixed state.

At about the same time as this state, the pallet width-shifting roller 52 completes the pallet width-shifting operation, and the contacting relationship between the regulating member 41 and the pallet member column 22b is not released and does not interfere. . As the pallet continues to move, the lever body 23c of the stopper mechanism moves the stopper auxiliary member 60.
Even if it arrives at the locking portion 23b 'of the stopper member 23b.
If is fitted in the fitting groove 23e 'of the rotary plate, the lever body 23c passes above the engaging plate 61 of the stopper auxiliary member without any trouble and moves to the next step.

In the unlikely event, the locking portion 23 of the stopper member 23b
If c advances without being fitted into the fitting groove 23e 'of the rotary plate, the lever member 23c of the stopper member is in a depressed state, so that it abuts on the locking portion 61 of the stopper auxiliary member. The pallet is stopped by the locking portion 61 of the stopper auxiliary member, and its state can be detected by an unillustrated discharge tube to recognize an abnormality.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but various applications and embodiments can be taken in accordance with the gist of the present invention. For example, it is possible to reverse the pallet member by providing a lever member of the pallet member in the left-right direction and providing a stopper releasing member, a pallet rotating member and a delivery side width-adjusting roller at positions symmetrical to the above embodiment in the next step. It is possible. In addition, by adopting a hydraulic cylinder instead of the inlet side and outlet side width-adjusting rollers and adjusting the extension amount, the pallet member can be rotated even if the fitting groove formed on the rotary plate is within 90 °. Is possible.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pallet member can be reliably and automatically turned by an arbitrary angle by utilizing the carrying force of the conveyor without using any other power source. The operation of rotating the pallet member after the assembling work does not bother the operator, and the rotating operation can be omitted to reduce the work. Further, since it is composed of simple members and can be applied to existing equipment, it can be provided at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pallet and a conveyor provided with a pallet rotating device according to the present invention.

2 (a), (b), and (c) are explanatory views showing an operating state of a pallet member by a pallet rotating device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a stopper mechanism and a stopper release member.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a stopper mechanism and a stopper auxiliary member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a conventional pallet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Conveyor 10 ': Conveyor side part 21: Platform base 22: Pallet member 22b: Pallet member support 22d: Rotating support shaft 23: Stopper mechanism 23b: Stopper member 23b': Stopper member locking portion 23c: Stopper member Lever body 23e: Rotating plate 23e ': Fitting groove of rotating plate 30: Stopper releasing member 31: Engaging plate of stopper releasing member 40: Pallet rotating member 41: Restricting member 51: Entry side narrowing roller 52: Exit side Width-shifting roller 60: Stopper auxiliary member

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Mamoru Urabayashi 1907 Hirata-cho, Suzuka-shi, Mie Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Suzuka Factory (72) Inventor Kazutaka Miyazaki 1907, Hirata-machi, Suzuka-shi, Mie Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Suzuka Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pallet member rotatably provided on a table base conveyed on a conveyor, and a pallet member provided on the table base to bring the pallet member into a non-rotatable fixed state and a rotatable release state. Stopper means, stopper releasing means provided on the conveyor side that engages with the stopper means by the advance of the pallet member due to the conveying force of the conveyor and allows the pallet member to rotate, and the pallet member in the released state of the stopper means. Pallet rotating means provided on the conveyor side for engaging with the pallet and rotating the pallet member, and for engaging the pallet member with the pallet rotating means, the stand base is moved closer to the pallet rotating means on the conveyor. The entrance side width adjusting means provided on the conveyor side before the pallet rotating means, To move the pallet rotating means and the pallet member out of engagement, the platform base is moved closer to the conveyor in a direction away from the pallet rotating means. And a pallet rotating device.