JPH107252A - Tray supply and recovery method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save manpower in work by storing parts to be worked which are placed on trays of the first tray group at a tray of the second tray group after transferring them onto a station and working them, and moving empty trays of the first tray group to the third stacker, and trays filled with the worked parts of the second tray group to the fourth stacker. SOLUTION: The first tray train 510 where parts to be worked are placed is set at the first stacker 51 under such a condition as they are stacked, and the second tray group 610 which stores the worked parts is set at the second stacker 61 under such a condition as they are stacked. After a plurality of parts to be worked which are placed on the trays 510a of the first tray group 510 are transferred onto a station 70 and worked, they are stored at the tray 610b of the second tray group 610. When the trays 510a of the first tray group 510 are empty, they are transferred onto the third stacker 52, and when the trays 610b of the second tray group 610 are filled with the worked parts, they are transferred onto the fourth stacker 62. It is thus possible to reduce the load of a worker.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for supplying and collecting trays, and more particularly to a method for supplying and collecting trays used in an automated line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique for stacking a plurality of pallets on a stacker and supplying parts on the pallets to an automation line is disclosed in JP-A-63-247221.
There is a part storage pallet transfer method.

FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are a top view and a side view showing an example of the prior art. In the component storage pallet transfer method shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a plurality of stacked pallets 3 are raised to a predetermined position via a first pallet transfer means 20a, and a pallet 3 disposed above the pallet 3 is disposed above the pallet 3. All the pallets 3 except the lowermost pallet 3 are held at the predetermined position by the one pallet holding means 10a, and the lowermost pallet 3 is successively lowered to the predetermined position and placed on the pallet horizontal transfer means 30. The pallet horizontal transfer means 30
Then, the pallet 3 is transferred in a predetermined horizontal direction. When the work is performed at a predetermined position and the parts of the pallet 3 become empty, the empty pallet 3 is further transferred in the horizontal direction and becomes empty. The pallet 3 is raised via a second pallet transfer means 20b arranged at a position facing the first pallet transfer means 20a, and the pallet 3 is held by an upper second pallet holding means 10b. A procedure for repeating this series of operations in accordance with the number of pallets 3 is included.

This technique can be applied to a case where components are supplied upstream of an automation line and processed products are taken out by another means far downstream. When it is necessary to take out the line once near the upstream of the automation line, or when the processing is completed and the product is completed only at that station, the empty supply pallet 3 is collected and
This may be diverted to a storage pallet to mount products or the like.

[0005]

In the prior art described above, the pallet for supplying parts is also used as a pallet for storing products and the like. Therefore, when considering an automated assembly line, the supply side depends on the receiving form or pallet shape. Not only must it be changed up to the collecting side. Further, when the collecting side is changed, the work for refilling the pallet in the next process is required, and an operator for that is required. Furthermore, if parts are supplied by a robot or a handler, if they are picked up, parts that have not been processed in this process will enter a pallet for storage, or they will need to be removed at the discretion of the operator. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that it is disadvantageous in terms of labor saving or production tact.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tray supply / recovery method comprising: a first step of setting a first group of trays on which components to be processed are stacked in a stacked state in a first stacker; A second step of setting the second tray group for storing the processed parts in a stacked state in the second stacker, and mounting the second tray group on the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the first tray group. A third step of transferring the plurality of workpieces to a processing station and processing them, and then storing the processed parts in the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the second tray group; When the lowermost (or uppermost) tray becomes empty, a fourth step of transferring the tray to a third stacker, and processing of the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the second tray group is performed. When full of completed parts A fifth step of transferring the laser to the fourth stacker configured to include a.

[0007] A method of supplying and collecting a tray according to a second invention is as follows.
In the third step, the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the first tray group and the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the second tray group are connected to the first stacker and the second tray. 2 is picked up and placed on the table from the stacker No. 2 on the table.

[0008]

Next, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing an embodiment of the present invention. The stackers 51, 5 on the supply side are placed on the table 80.
2 and the stackers 61 and 62 on the collection side.
, Processed, and transferred to the tray 610a.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. The tray supply and collection method shown in FIG. 2 includes a first step S1 of setting the first tray group 510 on which components to be processed are stacked in the first stacker 51 in a stacked state, and storing processed components. Second tray group 61
A second step S2 of setting the stacked components 0 on the second stacker 61, and processing a plurality of the workpieces mounted on the lowermost (or uppermost) tray 510a of the first tray group 510. After being transferred to the station 70 and processed, a third step S <b> 3 of storing the lower tray (or uppermost tray) 610 a of the second tray group 610.
When the lowermost (or uppermost) tray 510a of the first tray group 510 becomes empty, a fourth step S4 of transferring this tray to the third stacker 52, and a second tray group 610 Lowermost (or uppermost) tray 61
If No. 0a is full of machined parts, a fifth step S5 of transferring this tray to the fourth stacker 62;
It is comprised including.

A tray group 510 stacked on the stacker 51
One of the trays 510a is pulled out onto the table 80, and the parts are supplied to the processing station 70. When the tray 510a becomes empty, it is drawn into the stacker 51.

The processed part is stored in the tray 610a from the processing station 70, and is drawn into the stacker 61 when the tray 610a is full.

[0013]

According to the tray supply / recovery method of the present invention, a stacker is added to separate and separate the component supply side tray and the component storage side tray, so that the burden on the operator can be reduced. is there.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are a top view and a side view showing an example of the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 51, 52, 61, 62 Stacker 70 Processing station 80 Table 510, 520, 610, 620 Tray group

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Agency reference number FI Technical display location B65G 59/06 B65G 59/06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first step of setting a first tray group on which components to be processed are stacked in a first stacker in a stacked state, and a second tray group storing processed parts in a stacked state. A second step of setting the plurality of workpieces mounted on a lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the first tray group to a processing station, A third step of storing in the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the second tray group; and a case where the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the first tray group becomes empty. A fourth step of transferring the tray to a third stacker; and, if the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the second tray group is full of processed parts, the fourth tray is moved to the fourth stacker.
And a fifth step of transporting the tray to a stacker. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the third step, the first
Pulling out the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the tray group and the lowermost (or uppermost) tray of the second tray group from the first stacker and the second stacker onto a table, 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a pick and place operation is performed on the processing station.