JPH09255153A - Loading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a loading device capable of improving work efficiency by automatically loading articles to be loaded such as metal plates. SOLUTION: A roller conveyor 10 transfers a metal plate M to the upper side of a traverse cylinder 12. The transferred metal plate M is raised by the traverse cylinder 12. The metal plate M on the traverse cylinder 12 is pressed by a press cylinder 20 and transferred to a table lifter 30. The table lifter 30 is lowered until the upper surface of the metal plate M coincides with the transfer surface A of the traverse cylinder 12. Then, the roller conveyor 10 transfers a new metal plate M and the plate M is transferred to the table lifter 30 by the press cylinder 20. Thus the metal plate M is loaded. A moving cylinder 40 pushes the loaded metal plate M and transfers the same to the rear side of the table lifter 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a loading device for automatically loading cut boards and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been no apparatus for automatically loading cut boards when the boards are cut by a cutting device. Therefore, the board materials cut by hand were put together and moved to the next process using a conveyor or a crane.

However, in the past, since the plate materials were put together manually, it was necessary for the operator to constantly monitor the plate materials to be cut. Therefore, even if the cutting can be performed automatically, human labor is required in the end, and there is a problem that work efficiency is poor.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to automatically load a load such as a plate material to improve work efficiency. To provide a loading device.

[0005]

A loading device according to the present invention has a transfer means for transferring an object to be loaded and a transfer means which is disposed adjacent to the transfer means and can be moved up and down. An elevating means for lowering and loading the loaded object, and a pressing means for transferring the loaded object from the transfer means to the elevating means by pushing the loaded object transferred by the moving means toward the elevating means. It is a thing.

Further, the loading apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the transfer number detecting means for detecting the number of the loaded objects transferred by the transfer means, and the pressing means and the elevating means respond to the detection signal from the transfer number detecting means. Each may operate.

Further, a loading height detecting means for detecting the height of the loaded object loaded by the lifting means is provided, and the pressing means and the lifting means operate according to the detection signals from the loading height detecting means. You may

[0008] In addition, storage means for temporarily storing the load loaded on the elevating means and moving means for moving the load from the elevating means to this storage means may be provided.

In the loading apparatus according to the present invention, the loading means sequentially transfers the objects to be loaded. The load is sequentially transferred to the elevating means by the pressing means. The elevating means lowers the loaded object transferred first from the transfer means, and sequentially loads the loaded object transferred next.

In some cases, the number of transferred objects is detected by the transfer number detecting means and the operations of the pressing means and the elevating means are controlled respectively. Further, there are also cases where the stacking height detection means detects the height of the load on the elevating means and controls the operations of the pressing means and the elevating means.
In addition, the load may be moved to the storage means by the moving means and temporarily stored by the storage means.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of a loading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the loading device shown in FIG.

This stacking device is equipped with an accumulator roller conveyor 10 as a transfer means, and is designed to transfer an object to be loaded from one end 10a to the other end 10b. In the present embodiment, one end 10a of the roller conveyor 10 is adjacent to a cutting device (not shown), and the plate materials M cut by the cutting device are sequentially transferred.

On the roller conveyor 10, a transfer number detecting section 11 is arranged as a transfer number detecting means. The transfer number detection unit 11 has a transmissive photoelectric sensor and utilizes the fact that the transmitted light is blocked when the plate material M passes in front of the transfer number detection unit 11, so It is designed to count. In addition, the transfer number detection unit 11
The transfer number of the plate material M is set to 1 in accordance with the arbitrarily set number n.
Repeatedly counts up to n.

The set number means the number of copies of the plate materials M which are lined up in the length direction of the roller conveyor 10 and stacked at the same time. That is, if the set number is 1, the plate materials M can be stacked one by one as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, and if it is 2, the plate material M can be loaded as shown by the broken line in FIG. It is possible to load two copies at a time.

As shown in FIG. 4, a traverse cylinder 12 is arranged between the rollers 10c near the other end 10b of the roller conveyor 10. As shown by the broken line in FIG. 4, the traverse cylinder 12 lifts the plate material M transferred by the roller conveyor 10 to the transfer surface A and separates it from the roller 10c. This is to prevent wear of the rollers 10c and the like when the plate material M is transferred onto the table lifter 30 described later.

Although not shown, the traverse cylinder 12 has an auto switch therein which is turned on when the traverse cylinder 12 descends so that the operation of the traverse cylinder 12 can be confirmed.

A transfer end detection sensor 13 is provided near the traverse cylinder 12. The transfer end detection sensor 13 is composed of a proximity sensor, and the plate material M
Is detected to detect that the plate material M has been transferred to above the traverse cylinder 12.

Above the traverse cylinder 12, a pressing cylinder 30 as a pressing means is arranged. At the tip of the piston of the pressing cylinder 20, a pressing plate 21 whose lower end is aligned with the transfer surface A of the traverse cylinder 12 is provided, and as shown by the broken line in FIG.
The plate material M on the traverse cylinder 12 can be pushed toward the above-mentioned table lifter 30.

Although not shown, the pressing cylinder 20 has an auto switch which is turned on when it is extended and an auto switch which is turned on when it is contracted, and operates the pressing cylinder 20. You can check it.

Next to the traverse cylinder 12, a table lifter 30 as an elevating means is disposed adjacent to the roller conveyor 10 so as to face the pressing cylinder 20. The table lifter 30 descends when the plate material M is transferred by the pressing cylinder 20, and moves to the next plate material M.
Can be loaded on top of it. The table lifter 30 also serves as a storage unit, and has a size large enough to temporarily hold the plurality of ridges of the loaded plate material M.

A plurality of rows of rollers 30a composed of a plurality of rollers 30a are arranged on the mounting surface of the table lifter 30, so that the stacked plate materials M can be easily moved. There is. Roller 30
The direction of a is parallel to the length direction of the roller conveyor 10. At the end of the table lifter 30 on the side opposite to the roller conveyor 10 (that is, at the rear), a plurality of fall prevention members 31 for preventing the plate material M moving on the table lifter 30 from falling from the table lifter 30 are provided. It is arranged.

A loading surface detection sensor 32 is arranged near the roller conveyor 10 along the transfer surface A of the traverse cylinder 12 above the table lifter 30.
The stacking surface detection sensor 32 is composed of a transmissive photoelectric sensor, and the mounting surface of the table lifter 30 or the upper surface of the plate material M is the transfer surface A of the traverse cylinder 12.
By using the fact that the transmitted light is blocked when it is above the above, it is detected whether or not the mounting surface of the table lifter 30 or the upper surface of the plate material M coincides with the transfer surface A.

Above the table lifter 30, again,
A stop plate 33 whose lower end extends to the stacking surface A is provided, and the plate material M pushed by the pressing cylinder 20.
Is stopped so that the plate material M can be accurately loaded. The stop plate 33 is movable in the pressing direction of the pressing cylinder 20 according to the width of the plate material M. As shown in FIG. 5, unevenness is formed on the lower end portion of the stop plate 33 in accordance with the row of the rollers 30 a of the table lifter 30. This is to prevent the plate material M from protruding from the roller 30a when the plate material M is transferred onto the roller 30a of the table lifter 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, a support member 34 is provided to extend above the roller conveyor 10 near the roller conveyor 10 of the table lifter 30, and a loading height is detected at the tip of the support member 34. A height detection sensor 35 as a means is provided. This height detection sensor 35
Is composed of a reflection type photoelectric sensor, and emits light toward the traverse cylinder 12 in parallel with the transfer surface A and detects the reflected light. That is, the height detection sensor 35 utilizes the fact that light is reflected by the plate material M on the traverse cylinder 12 when it descends together with the table lifter 30, and thus the loading height ih (of the plate material M loaded on the table lifter 30 is used. When i is the number of stacked plate materials M and h is the thickness of the plate material M, it is detected that the height has reached a predetermined height.

Therefore, the plate material M is, as shown in equation 1,
The table lifter 30 can be loaded at a set loading height H or less from the roller 30a to the height detection sensor 35. The set stacking height H is appropriately determined within the range of the distance from the roller 30 to the transfer surface A of the traverse cylinder 12 when the table lifter 30 is lowered to the maximum.

[0027]

[Formula 1] H ≧ ih

Next to the table lifter 30, an upper limit switch 3 is provided so as to come into contact with the table lifter 30.
6 and a lower limit switch 37 are provided. These limit switches 36 and 37 are used for the table lifter 3
When 0 touches, it turns on and the table lifter 30
It is possible to control the elevation of the. The upper limit switch 36 is used for the table lifter 3
This is for notifying the danger limit when increasing 0.

Beside the table lifter 30, a moving cylinder 40 as a moving means is also provided.
It is arranged below 0. A pressing plate 41 is arranged at the tip of the piston of the moving cylinder 40, so that the plate material M loaded on the table lifter 30 can be pressed to move it toward the rear of the table lifter 30. ing.

Although not shown, the moving cylinder 40 has an internal auto switch that is turned on when it is extended and an automatic switch that is turned on when it is contracted. You can check it.

FIG. 7 shows a control circuit of the stacking apparatus according to this embodiment. As described above, each component such as the roller conveyor 10 is connected to the control device 50. The control device 50 includes the transfer number detection unit 11
Based on signals from the sensors (transfer end detection sensor 13, loading surface detection sensor 32, height detection sensor 35) and upper and lower limit switches 36 and 37, the roller conveyor 10, the traverse cylinder 12, the pressing cylinder 2
0, the table lifter 30 and the moving cylinder 40 are controlled respectively.

The control device 50 is also adapted to confirm the operation of each of the cylinders 12 and 2040 based on the signals from the respective auto switches of the traverse cylinder 12, the pressing cylinder 20 and the moving cylinder 40. Occurrence and end of work are detected. The control device 50 further includes a notification buzzer 51 and a notification lamp 5
2 is connected so that the operator can be notified when an abnormality occurs or the work is completed.

The loading device having such a structure is used as follows.

First, according to the size of the plate material M to be loaded, the set number n of the transfer number detecting section 11 (that is, the number of plate materials M to be loaded at the same time side by side in the length direction of the roller conveyor 10).
Set. For example, when the length of the plate material M is long, it can be partially loaded if the set number is 1, and when it is short, 2 or 3, etc., 2 or 3 in the length direction of the roller conveyor 10. They can be arranged side by side and loaded together at the same time.

The position of the stop plate 33 is adjusted according to the width of the plate material M. The set stacking height H may be set for each work, but is set in advance in the present embodiment.

After the setting number n is set in this way, the supply of the plate material M onto the roller conveyor 10 is started from the cutting device (not shown). When the control device 50 detects the supply of the plate material M by a signal from the cutting device or the like, the traverse cylinder 12 is lowered and the table lifter 30 is moved.
Is rising, and after confirming that both the pressing cylinder 20 and the moving cylinder 40 are contracted, the roller conveyor 10 is rotated for a predetermined time to transfer the plate material M by a predetermined amount. The controller 50 rotates the roller conveyor 10 every time the plate material M is supplied from the cutting device, and sequentially transfers the plate material M toward the other end 10b.

At this time, the transfer number detecting section 11 detects the number of passing plate materials M, and outputs a signal to the control device 50 when the number reaches the set number n. Further, the transfer end detection sensor 13 is
The plate material M comes close to a predetermined distance and the traverse cylinder 12
When it detects that it has been transferred to the upper part of the above, it outputs a signal to the control device 50. The control device 50 stops the rotation of the roller conveyor 10 and raises the traverse cylinder 12 when the signals are respectively input from the transfer number detection unit 11 and the transfer end detection sensor 13. As a result, the n sheet materials M are lifted and separated from the roller 10c.

When the traverse cylinder 12 moves up, the controller 50 extends the pressing cylinder 20. As a result, the n plates M are pushed toward the table lifter 30 by the pressing plates 21 and transferred from the traverse cylinder 12 onto the table lifter 30. N plate materials M transferred to the table lifter 30
Respectively come into contact with the stop plates 33 and stop at predetermined positions. After that, the pressing cylinder 20 is contracted and the traverse cylinder 12 is lowered.

When the plate material M is transferred, the control device 50
Start lowering the table lifter 30. At this time, in the loading surface detection sensor 32, the upper surface of the plate material M transferred to the table lifter 30 is the transfer surface A of the traverse cylinder 12.
When it is detected that the above condition is matched, the signal is output to the control device 50. When a signal is input from the loading surface detection sensor 32, the control device 50 stops the lowering of the table lifter 30.

After that, the control device 50 again sequentially rotates the roller conveyor 10 until signals are respectively input from the transfer number detection unit 11 and the transfer end detection sensor 13, and when the signals are input, the traverse cylinder 12 and the pressing unit are pressed. The cylinder 20 is operated. As a result, the n plate members M are transferred onto the n plate members M previously placed on the table lifter 30. By repeating this in sequence, the plate materials M are stacked at a time, n parts at a time.

At this time, the height detection sensor 35 determines that the stacking height ih of the plate material M stacked on the table lifter 30 exceeds a predetermined value (ie, the difference between the stacking height ih and the set stacking height H). Is smaller than the thickness h of the plate material M), a signal is output to the control device 50. When a signal is input from the height detection sensor 35, the control device 50 sets the table lifter 30 to the lower limit switch 37.
Lower until is on.

When an ON signal is input from the lower limit switch 37, the control device 50 extends the moving cylinder 40 to move the piles of the n sheets of the plate material M stacked to the rear of the table lifter 30. After that, the moving cylinder 4
0 is contracted, and the table lifter 30 is raised until a signal is input from the loading surface detection sensor 32 or an ON signal is input from the upper limit switch 36.

After that, the above operation is repeated again,
The plate material M is newly loaded for every n copies. When the operation is repeated in this way and the mounting surface of the table lifter 30 is filled with the plate material M and the moving cylinder 40 cannot be extended, the control device 50 tries to extend the moving cylinder 40. Since the ON signal is not input from the auto switch, the end of work is detected. Then, while stopping all the operations, the operator is notified of the end of the work by the notification buzzer 51, the notification lamp 52 and the like.

The operator confirms the peaks of the plurality of plate materials M held on the mounting surface of the table lifter 30 and moves them to other locations by using a crane or the like.

As described above, according to the stacking apparatus of the present embodiment, the plate material M is sequentially transferred by the roller conveyor 10, and the plate cylinder M is transferred to the table lifter 30 by the pressing cylinder 20 while lowering the table lifter 30. With this configuration, the plate materials can be automatically loaded, and the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, since the number of plates transferred by the roller conveyor 10 is counted by the transfer number detector 11, a plurality of plates can be loaded at the same time according to the size of the plate M and the number of copies can be changed. The work efficiency can be further improved.

Further, since the height detection sensor 35 detects the height of the plate material M loaded on the table lifter 30, the loading limit can be detected before the table lifter 30 contacts the lower limit switch 37. You can
It is possible to prevent unreasonable force from being applied to the device depending on the thickness of the plate material M.

In addition, since the rollers 30a are arranged on the mounting surface of the table lifter 30, the loaded plate materials M can be easily moved. Further, by using the gap between the rollers 30, a rope or the like can be easily hung on the stacked plate materials M.

Further, since the extension state of the moving cylinder 40 is confirmed by the auto switch, the auto switch is not turned on, so that the mounting surface of the table lifter 30 has a pile of a plurality of plate materials M stacked thereon. You can detect when it is full. That is,
There is no need for human monitoring until the mounting surface of the table lifter 30 is full, and work efficiency can be further improved.

In addition, since the roller conveyor 10 is of the accumulation type, it is possible to reduce the load caused by the idle rotation when the plate material M is supplied.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the number of plates M to be loaded side by side at the same time is set and counted by the transfer number detection unit 11 according to the length of the plates M, but the length of the plates M is detected by the sensor. It is also possible to detect and automatically set the number of copies based on the detection.

Further, in the above embodiment, the plate material M is lifted from the roller 10a by the traverse cylinder 12, but if the wear of the apparatus is not a problem, a lifting member such as the traverse cylinder 12 is not necessary,
Can be deleted.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the lifting means and the holding means are constituted by the table lifter 30, but as shown in FIG.
The holding means may be constituted by a conveyor (a roller conveyor in FIG. 8). Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the elevating means may be constituted by the elevator 60, and the holding means may be constituted by the carriage 80 in which the roller 80a is arranged on the mounting surface.

In addition, the loading device of the present invention can be widely applied not only when it is installed in the cutting device and used, but also when it is desired to automatically load loaded objects. The object to be loaded is not limited to the plate material M, and can be widely applied as long as it can be loaded.

[0056]

As described above, according to the loading apparatus of the present invention, the loaded objects are sequentially transferred by the transfer means,
Since the load is sequentially transferred to the elevating means by the pressing means while lowering the elevating means, the load can be automatically loaded and the working efficiency can be improved. .

Further, since the number of loaded objects transferred by the transfer means is detected by the transfer number detecting means, it is possible to change the number of copies to be loaded side by side according to the size of the loaded objects, and further work efficiency There is an effect that can improve.

Further, since the height of the object loaded on the elevating means is detected by the stacking height detecting means, the stacking limit can be detected before the elevating means reaches the lower limit. An effect that it is possible to prevent an unreasonable force from being applied is exerted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a stacking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a front view of the loading device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is an explanatory diagram of a set number in the stacking device shown in FIG.

4 is an explanatory view of a traverse cylinder in the loading device shown in FIG.

5 is an explanatory view of a stop plate in the stacking device shown in FIG.

6 is an explanatory view of a height detection sensor in the stacking device shown in FIG.

7 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the loading device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a front view for explaining another loading device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view for explaining another loading device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Roller conveyor (transfer means), 11 ... Transfer number detection unit (transfer number detection means), 12 ... Traverse cylinder,
13 ... Transfer end detection sensor, 20 ... Pressing cylinder (pressing means), 30 ... Table lifter (elevating means, holding means), 30a ... Roller, 31 ... Fall prevention member, 32 ...
Loading surface detection sensor, 33 ... Stop plate, 34 ... Support member, 3
5 ... Height detection sensor (loading height detection means), 36 ... Upper limit switch, 37 ... Lower limit switch, 40
... moving cylinder (moving means), 50 ... control device, 51 ...
Notification buzzer, 52 ... Notification lamp, 60 ... Elevator (elevating means), 70 ... Conveyor (holding means), 80 ... Cart (holding means), 80a ... Roller, A ... Transfer surface, M ... Plate material (loading object)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A transfer unit for transferring an object to be loaded, and an elevating unit which is disposed adjacent to the transfer unit and can be moved up and down, and lowers and loads the object transferred by the transfer unit. Means and pressing means for transferring the loaded object from the transfer means to the lifting means by pushing the loaded object transferred by the moving means toward the lifting means. Loading device. 2. A transfer number detecting means for detecting the number of loaded objects transferred by the transferring means is provided, and the pressing means and the elevating means respectively operate according to a detection signal from the transfer number detecting means. The loading device according to claim 1, wherein the loading device is configured as described above. 3. A loading height detecting means for detecting the height of a loaded object loaded by the lifting means is provided, and the pressing means and the lifting means are provided with a detection signal from the loading height detecting means. The loading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the loading device is adapted to operate respectively. 4. A storage means for temporarily storing a load loaded on the elevating means, and a moving means for moving the load from the elevating means to the storage means. 4. The loading device according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The elevating means is a table lifter, and a plurality of rollers are arranged on a mounting surface thereof, and the table lifter also serves as the storage means. 4. The loading device according to item 4. 6. The stacking device according to claim 4, wherein the storage means is a conveyor. 7. The loading device according to claim 4, wherein the storage means is a trolley in which a plurality of rollers are arranged on a mounting surface.