JPH0958858A - Pallet conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transfer a pallet between both conveying paths without interfering with endless roller chains by a lifter provided between the right and left endless roller chains in a conveyor forming the upper and lower conveying paths by the right and left endless roller chains circulated within vertical planes. SOLUTION: A pallet P is provided with a center base plate 6 and wing plates 8 pivotally supported on both lateral side edges of the base plate 6 so as to be freely oscillated. At the time of elevating the pallet P by supporting it on an elevating table 37 elevated by a cylinder 31, the wing plates 8 are pushed up and folded by cylinders 40 provided at the elevating table 37, and the pallet P is elevated without interfering with endless roller chains 4 and transferred between both conveying paths CU, CL.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention forms a conveyor having upper and lower conveying paths in two upper and lower stages by left and right endless conveying members that circulate in a vertical plane. The present invention relates to a pallet transfer device in which a lifter for transferring a pallet between an upper transfer path and a lower transfer path is provided in each part.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A forward conveyor that conveys a pallet on which a work is placed and a backward conveyer that conveys an empty pallet in the opposite direction are arranged in two stages, that is, at the end of the forward conveyer and the backward conveyer. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a pallet transporting device for transferring pallets by providing lifters between the start ends and between the end of the backward conveyer and the start of the forward conveyer.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional pallet conveyor, since the forward conveyor and the backward conveyor each have an independent endless conveyor member and a drive source, the structure becomes complicated and the cost increases. is there. Therefore, a pair of left and right endless conveying members that circulate in the vertical plane forms a conveyor having an upper conveying path on the forward side and a lower conveying path on the backward side in two upper and lower stages to reduce the number of parts and the drive source. It is possible. However, in such a case, when the lifter is arranged on the extension line of the upper transport path and the lower transport path, the pallet is delivered between the lifter and the lower transport path with the endless transport member extending vertically between the both transport paths. It becomes impossible due to interference with the pallet. In order to avoid the interference between the pallet and the endless transport member, if the lifters are arranged on the sides of the upper transport path and the lower transport path, a special pallet for moving the pallet laterally between both transport paths and the lifter is provided. There is a problem that a device is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a lifter for transferring a pallet between an upper transport path and a lower transport path formed by left and right endless transport members is provided between the left and right endless transport members. The purpose is to be able to place.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention described in claim 1 is such that upper and lower conveying paths are vertically arranged in two stages by left and right endless conveying members circulating in a vertical plane. In the pallet transporting device, a lifter for transferring a pallet between an upper transport path and a lower transport path is provided at each of a starting end portion and a terminating end portion in the transporting direction of the conveyor, wherein the pallet is at the center. Of the pallet, and the width of the pallet in the left-right direction is the width between the left and right endless conveying members when the wing plate is horizontally deployed. And a width smaller than the width between the left and right endless conveying members when the wing plate is swung upward and folded, and the lifter supports the pallet and extends over the upper conveying path. And vertically movable lifting table between lower transport path, characterized in that a wing plate folding means for folding the provided elevating table pallet wing plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, the wing plate folding means is provided on the lifting table and pushes up the wing plate of the pallet from below to swing it upward. It is characterized by being a cylinder.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the structure of the first aspect, in the pallet, a wing plate is pivotally supported so that a lower surface of the pallet can come into contact with an upper surface of a base plate, and It is characterized in that a work supporting portion for supporting the work is provided on the outer side in the left-right direction of the contact portion with the endless conveying member.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 11 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a pallet carrier, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 4 in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lifter, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pallet, and FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a conveyor C for conveying a plurality of pallets P ... A pair of left and right upper parts erected between the upper parts and the lower parts of a large number of columns 1 ... Standing on the floor. The upper frame 2 and the lower frame 3 on the right side are provided with the frames 2 and 2 and a pair of left and right lower frames 3 and 3.
The right endless roller chain 4 is supported along the left endless roller chain 4, and the left endless roller chain 4 is supported along the left upper frame 2 and the lower frame 3. The endless roller chains 4 and 4 are formed by connecting a large number of rollers endlessly with links and pins. The endless roller chains 4 and 4 running along the upper frames 2 and 2 place the works W on the pallets P and direct them from the pallet raising station S ₁ to the pallet lowering station S ₂ in the right direction in FIG. The upper transport path C _U for transporting to the
The endless roller chains 4 and 4 traveling along 3 constitute a lower conveying path C _L for conveying the empty pallets P ... From the pallet lowering station S ₂ to the pallet raising station S ₁ and then to the left in FIG. To do. The floor of the pallet elevated station S ₁ and the pallet lowering station S ₂ is the pits 5, 5 are Ho設, there empty pallets P ... to shift between upper transport path C _U and the lower conveyance path C _L Lifters L, L for mounting are provided.

As is apparent from FIG. 6, the pallet P is pivotally supported so that it can be swung upward via a central base plate 6 and left and right side edges of the base plate 6 via a pair of front and rear hinges 7 ,. And a pair of wing plates 8 and 8. When the wing plates 8 and 8 are deployed in the horizontal direction, the lower surface of the wing plates 8 and 8 overlaps with the upper surface of the base plate 6, so that
The downward swinging of 8 is restricted. Work support parts 9 supporting the four corners of the work W are provided at the front and rear ends of the outer edges of the wing plates 8, 8. Also in the front and rear ends of the base plate 6 has a pair of stopper projections ₆₁ and 62 ₁ projecting, when the pallet P ... are storage on the lower conveying path C _L of the conveyor C, the adjacent pallet P stops Protrusion 6 ₁ , 6
₁ Contact each other.

Returning to FIG. 2, free rollers 12 are supported by stays 11 on the upper surfaces of a plurality of cross members 10 connecting the left and right upper frames 2 and 2 and the left and right lower frames 3 and 3. To be done. The free rollers 12 are arranged in two rows along the conveying direction of the conveyor C, and the lower surface of the base plate 6 of the pallet P is supported on the upper surface thereof. The left and right endless roller chains 4, 4 are the upper frames 2, 2
And the guide rails 13, 13 laid on the upper surfaces of the lower frames 3, 3 to support the lower surfaces of the wing plates 8, 8 of the pallet P on the upper surfaces thereof. Further, guide members 14 that guide the left and right edges of the base plate 6 of the pallet P are provided on the upper surfaces of the cross members 10.

Since the work supporting portions 9 ... Of the pallet P are located outside the endless roller chains 4 and 4 in the left-right direction,
The load of the work W urges the wing plates 8, 8 downward around the hinges 7 ... As a result, the lower surfaces of the wing plates 8 and 8 are pressed against the upper surface of the base plate 6, and the pallet P is maintained in a flat plate shape. Moreover, the wing plates 8 of the pallet P are pressed against the endless roller chains 4 and 4,
As a result, the driving force of the endless roller chains 4 and 4 is reliably transmitted to the pallet P.

A plurality of work stations are provided along the upper conveyance path C _U of the conveyor C, and the cylinders 15 and 1 are arranged to stop the pallet P at each work station.
The cross member 10 is provided with stoppers 16 and 16 which can be raised by 5 and come into contact with the front edge of the base plate 6 of the pallet P. The pallet P is conveyed by a frictional force acting between the pallet P and the endless roller chains 4 and 4, and when the movement of the pallet P is forcibly stopped by the stoppers 16 and 16, the endless roller chains 4 and 4 move to the bottom surface of the pallet P. Slip.

As is apparent from FIGS. 1, 3 and 4,
At the end of the conveyor C, an upper rotary shaft 18 having upper sprockets 17 and 17, a lower rotary shaft 20 having lower sprockets 19 and 19 and auxiliary sprockets 21 and 21.
Is supported by the auxiliary rotary shaft 22 and the endless roller chains 4, 4 are connected to the upper sprocket 17, 17,
Lower sprockets 19, 19 and auxiliary sprockets 2
It is wrapped around 1,21. The driven sprocket 23 provided on one end of the upper rotary shaft 18 on the pallet lowering station S ₂ side and the drive sprocket 25 provided on the motor 24 are connected by the endless chain 26, whereby the endless roller chains 4 and 4 are driven. To be done.

Next, the structure of the lifter L will be described with reference to FIGS.

A long-stroke cylinder 31 and two guide cylinders 32, 32 are erected in a pit 5 dug on the floor, and an output rod 31 ₁ of the cylinder 31 and a guide are provided on the lower surface of a lower lift table 33. Guide rods 34, 34 slidably fitted in the cylinders 32, 32 are connected. Furthermore,
The lower lifting table 33 is provided with a short stroke cylinder 35 and two guide tubes 36, 36, and the output rod 35 of the cylinder 35 is provided on the lower surface of the upper lifting table 37.
₁ and guide cylinders 38, 38 slidably fitted to the guide rods 36, 36 are connected.

Brackets 39, 39 provided on both left and right sides of the upper lifting table 37 have output rods 40 ₁ ,
A cylinder 4 having roller-shaped pressing members 41, 41 for pressing the wing plates 8, 8 of the pallet P on the upper end of 40 _1.
0, 40 are provided. Further, on the upper surface of the upper lift table 37, two rows of free rollers 42, which are connected to the two rows of free rollers 12, are provided. Further, on the upper surface of the upper lifting table 37, a pair of fixed stoppers 43, 43 that can contact the front edge of the pallet P are provided.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

The pallet P which supports the work W on the work supporting portions 9 is conveyed from the pallet raising station S ₁ to the pallet lowering station S ₂ on the upper conveyance path C _U of the conveyor C. The pallet P has stoppers 1 at a plurality of work stations provided in the middle of the conveyor C.
It is stopped at 6 and 16, where work such as attachment of parts to the work W is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pallet P is a pallet.
Descending station S₂When the base plate 6 reaches
Free roller 12 of conveyor C ... Elevating table from above
The free roller 42 of the le 37 enters above. Next, FIG.
After removing the work W from the pallet P as shown in
Then, the short stroke cylinder 35 is extended to drive the cylinder upward.
Raise the descending table 37 slightly, and then proceed as shown in FIG.
Drive the cylinders 40, 40
Press the wing plates 8 and 8 of the pallet P with the pressure members 41 and 41.
Change 7 ... Fold it up by rocking upwards. as a result,
Width L of pallet P ₁Are endless rollers on the left and right of conveyor C
Width L between 4 and 4₂Smaller than that (see Figure 9)
See).

From this state, the long stroke cylinder 31
9 is contracted, the pallet P supported by the upper lifting table 37 passes between the left and right endless roller chains 4 and 4 and descends as shown in FIG. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the cylinders 40, 40 are contracted to drive the wing plates 8, 8 of the pallet P again, and the short stroke cylinder 35 is contracted as shown in FIG. 8, 8 are placed on the upper surface of the endless roller chain 4,4, pallet P is sent from the upper lifting table 37 to the lower transport path C _L of the conveyor C. In this way, when the empty pallet P is transferred from the upper transfer path C _U to the lower transfer path C _L , the lifter L moves up to its original position in preparation for the transfer of the subsequent pallet P.

Empty pallets P ... are conveyed under the conveyor C
Road C_LStopper projection 6 on top₁The state where the abutting on each other ...
Stored in the pallet lift station S₁In
Then, the lifter L sequentially carries the upper part from the downstream end in the carrying direction.
Route C_UWill be transferred to Transfer the pallet P to the upper transport path C_UTo
The procedure for transferring the pallet P is as follows. _L
It is the reverse of the procedure of transferring to wing, and swings the wing plate 8 upward.
The pallet P, which is moved and folded, is moved to the lower conveyance path C._LAbove
Part conveyance path C_UThe wing plate 8 again with water.
It is done by unfolding flat. And the upper transport path
C_UA new work W is placed on the pallet P returned to
And is transported to each work station.

As described above, since the pallets P ... Can be folded to reduce the width in the left-right direction, the lifters L, L are provided between the left and right endless roller chains 4, 4.
Even if the
Upper transport path C _U and lower transport path C without interfering with
It can be transferred between _L. This allows the conveyor C
Since a means for transferring the pallet P between the lifter and the lifter L, L is unnecessary, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the lifters L, L are provided with the long stroke cylinder 31 and the short stroke cylinder 34, it is possible to drive both cylinders 31, 34 with a constant stroke, which facilitates control.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the endless conveying member is not limited to the endless roller chains 4 and 4, but may be an endless chain.

[0028]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1, the wing plate is swung upward with respect to the base plate to fold the pallet so that the width of the pallet in the left-right direction is endless. Since it is smaller than the width between the transport members,
It is possible to prevent interference between the pallet and the endless transfer member when the pallet is supported on the lift table of the lifter arranged between the left and right endless transfer members and is transferred between both transfer paths.

According to the invention described in claim 2,
Since the wing plate folding means is composed of the cylinder provided on the lifting table and pushing up the wing plate of the pallet from below and swinging it upward, the wing plate can be surely folded.

According to the invention described in claim 3,
The wing plate, which is urged in the horizontal direction by the load acting on the work support part, is held in the horizontal state by contact with the base plate, so not only the shape of the pallet on which the work is placed is stable, but also the pallet A sufficient load can be applied between the endless conveyance member and the endless conveyance member to stabilize the conveyance of the pallet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a pallet transfer device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a four-direction arrow view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lifter.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pallet

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of operation

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the operation

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of operation

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an operation.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Roller chain (endless transfer member) 6 Base plate 8 Wing plate 9 Work support part 37 Upper lift table (lift table) 40 Cylinder (wing plate folding means) C conveyor C _U Upper transfer path C _L Lower transfer path L Lifter P pallet W work

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A conveyor (C) having upper and lower conveying paths ( _CU ) and lower conveying paths ( _CL ) in two upper and lower stages is formed by left and right endless conveying members (4) circulating in a vertical plane,
Upper transport path to the respective transport direction starting end and the terminal end of the conveyor (C) (C _U) and a lower conveying path (C _L) between pallet (P) formed by providing a lifter for transferring (L) of the pallet A carrier device, wherein the pallet (P) includes a central base plate (6) and wing plates (8) pivotally supported on both left and right edges of the base plate (6).
The width of the pallet (P) in the left-right direction is larger than the width between the left and right endless transport members (4) when the wing plate (8) is horizontally expanded, and the wing plate (8) is It is configured to be smaller than the width between the left and right endless transport members (4) when folded by swinging upward, and the lifter (L) supports the pallet (P) and the upper transport path ( _CU ). and lower transport path and (C _L) between the vertically movable lifting table (37), the wing plate folding means is provided on the elevating table (37) folding the pallet wing plate (P) (8) and (40) A pallet transfer device comprising: 2. The wing plate folding means (40)
Is a pallet (P) provided on the lifting table (37).
2. The pallet transporter according to claim 1, wherein the wing plate (8) is a cylinder that pushes up from below and swings up. 3. The pallet (P) has a wing plate (8) pivotally supported so that its lower surface can abut against an upper surface of a base plate (6), and an endless transfer member (4) for the wing plate (8).
The work supporting part (9) for supporting the work (W) is provided on the outer side in the left-right direction of the contacting part with.
The pallet transfer device described.