JPH11199054A - Sheet material sucking and carrying device and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To take out a top sheet material surely by providing an elevatable absorbing device for vacuum sucking a fiered top sheet material and the mechanism for side shifting and pressing the top sheet material relative to the next and following sheet material. SOLUTION: It is detected by a proximity sensor 31 for position detection that an elevating mechanism 8 of sucking device is lowered. After a side shift mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder is projected to move and about two second is elapsed, an engagingly locking claw 28 shift the top fist sheet material 1 by about 150 mm in a lateral direction in relation to the second sheet and following sheet material 1. Thereafter, the top first sheet material 1 is lifted by the sucking device 10 such as a vacuum sucking pad and meantime a second sheet pressing mechanism 29 such as a pressing cylinder presses the sheet material 1 simultaneously. When the first sheet material 1 is lifted safely, the second sheet pressing mechanism 29 such as pressing cylinder is pulled in form the pressed position and returned to an original state. The sheet material 1 can be lifted, even if it has rough density.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for adsorbing and transporting a sheet material, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for adsorbing and transporting a sheet material that can reliably take out one sheet at a time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of home building and the like, plate materials used for floorboards and the like are handled in a distribution form in units of about 30 sheets. However, in an intermediate process or a final process of building, it is necessary to take out one plate at a time from a set of substantially horizontal plate members stacked about 30 in the vertical direction and transport them to a predetermined place.

Conventionally, a vacuum suction type handling apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-157177 has been known as a typical means for taking out and transporting a stack of plate materials one by one automatically or semi-automatically. ing.

A device which is semi-automatic and is known as a device for taking out and transporting stacked plate materials one by one, by operating a switch at a position immediately adjacent to the plate material,
There is a floor-standing or ceiling-mounted device that lifts and transports a plate material.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a conventional fully automatic apparatus for taking out and transporting plate materials one by one.

That is, a roller conveyor 3 for carrying in a set 2 of horizontal plate members 1 stacked about 30 in the vertical direction;
A next-step conveyor 4 for unloading the sheet materials 1 one by one is arranged adjacently, and a sheet-material sucking and conveying device 5 is provided between the roller conveyor 3 and the next-step conveyor 4.

The plate material sucking and conveying device 5 includes a rail 6 extending upward between the roller conveyor 3 and the next process conveyor 4, and a suspension type reciprocatingly provided along the rail 6. And a suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad attached to the travel device 7 via a suction device lifting mechanism 8 and a horizontal suction device mounting member 9.

The rail 6 is mounted on a ceiling 11 of a building or the like (not shown) via a rail mounting member 12.

The traveling device 7 includes a traveling device main body 13.
Is transmitted to the drive wheels 19 via the gear 15, the chain 16, the gear 17, and the drive shaft 18 so that the vehicle can travel. Incidentally, pinion teeth may be formed on the outer periphery of the drive wheel 19 and a rack may be formed on a corresponding portion of the rail 6 so that the traveling device 7 can be moved with high positional accuracy.

Further, a total of eight suction devices 10 such as vacuum suction pads are mounted on the suction device mounting member 9 in two rows of four, for example. An elevating position detector 20 such as an elevating position detecting spring-type rod is attached to the section.

In the drawings, reference numerals 21 and 22 denote the rails 6.
A guide roller for sandwiching the flange portion 23 from above and below and guiding the traveling device main body 13 along the flange portion 23, 24 is a movable power supply cable connected to the traveling device body 13, and 25 is a vacuum suction pad. Adsorption device 10 such as
Is a vacuum suction blower for performing vacuum suction connected to the blower.

According to such a configuration, when a set 2 of approximately horizontal plate materials 1 stacked vertically in a stack of about 30 sheets is carried in by the roller conveyor 3, the plate material suction / conveyance device 5 moves the plate materials 1 carried in. The uppermost plate materials 1 are taken out from the set 2 one by one and sequentially conveyed to the next process conveyor 4, and the next process conveyor 4 directs the plate materials 1 conveyed by the plate material suction conveyance device 5 one by one to the next process. Out.

At this time, the plate material sucking and conveying device 5 conveys the uppermost sheet material 1 from the set 2 of the plate materials 1 on the roller conveyor 3 to the next process conveyor 4 as follows.

That is, from a state in which the traveling device 7 of the plate material suction / transport device 5 is positioned above the roller conveyor 3, the suction device lifting mechanism 8 is driven to move the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad together with the suction device mounting member 9 together. Then, the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad is brought into contact with the upper surface of the first plate 1 at the top of the set 2 of the plate 1. Whether the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad is in contact with the uppermost first plate member 1 is determined by a spring-type rod for elevating and lowering position detection attached to the end of the suction device mounting member 9. Is detected by the ascending / descending position detector 20.

When the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad is brought into contact with the first uppermost sheet material 1 in this manner, the vacuum suction blower 25 is driven to evacuate the inside of the suction device 10 such as the vacuum suction pad. Then, the uppermost plate 1 is vacuum-adsorbed.

When the plate material 1 is vacuum-sucked, the suction device elevating mechanism 8 is driven to raise the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad together with the suction-device mounting member 9 and is vacuum-sucked by the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad. Lift only the first plate 1 at the top.

Next, the driving force of the motor 14 attached to the traveling device body 13 is transmitted to the gear 15, the chain 16, the gear 1
7. By transmitting to the drive wheels 19 via the drive shaft 18, the traveling device 7 travels along the rail 6, and the traveling device 7 is positioned above the next process conveyor 4.

In this state, the suction device lifting mechanism 8 is driven to lower the plate 1 together with the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad, and the driving of the vacuum suction blower 25 is stopped. The suction of the plate material 1 by 10 is released, and the plate material 1 is placed on the next process conveyor 4.

Finally, the suction device lifting mechanism 8 is driven to drive the suction device 1 such as a vacuum suction pad together with the suction device mounting member 9.
0, and the traveling device 7 is moved to the roller conveyor 3 side.

Thereafter, by repeating the above, the plate members 1 are sequentially taken out one by one from a set 2 of substantially horizontal plate members 1 stacked in a vertical direction of about 30 sheets.

[0021]

However, the above-mentioned conventional plate material sucking and conveying apparatus and method have the following problems.

That is, when the plate material 1 used for a floor plate or the like has a low density, the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad is used.
The vacuum suction action of the first sheet material 1 passes through the first sheet material 1 at the top and reaches the second sheet, the third sheet, etc., and the two sheet materials 1 are sucked, or conversely, the sheet material 1 becomes unable to be sucked. Or there was a risk.

Therefore, in such a case, an operator manually inserts a cutout or the like between the plate 1 to be sucked and the plate 1 therebelow to physically cut off the space therebetween. Thus, only the first sheet material 1 at the top is adsorbed.

[0024] However, since such an artificial assisting operation requires a full-time worker, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases accordingly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a plate material sucking / transporting apparatus and a method capable of surely taking out plate materials one by one.

[0026]

According to the present invention, there is provided an adsorbing apparatus capable of vertically lifting and lowering the uppermost first plate member among substantially horizontal plate members stacked vertically. A plate member comprising: a horizontal shift mechanism for shifting the topmost first plate material in a lateral direction with respect to the second and lower plate materials; and a second presser mechanism for pressing the second plate material. This is related to the suction conveyance device.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the horizontal shifting mechanism shifts the uppermost first plate material in the horizontal direction with respect to the second and lower plate materials, and the second pressing mechanism shifts the second plate material. While holding down, the suction device lifts the uppermost first plate material.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate material sucking and conveying method in which substantially horizontal plate materials stacked vertically are taken out one by one by vacuum suction. The present invention relates to a plate material sucking / transporting method characterized in that the plate material is shifted laterally with respect to a plate material below the first and the second plate material is held down, and only the uppermost first plate material is lifted. .

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, even if the plate material has a coarse density, the uppermost 1
Only the second plate can be lifted, and the plate
It is possible to prevent the sheets from being attracted or, conversely, the plate material from being unable to be attracted.

This eliminates the need for a manual assisting operation for adsorbing only one plate member, and eliminates the need for a dedicated worker, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

[0031]

Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described together with the illustrated example.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show an example of an embodiment of the present invention. The basic structure of a plate material suctioning and conveying apparatus and method is the same as in FIGS. Are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the present invention, the suction device mounting member 9 supporting the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad is preferably moved in the surface direction (substantially horizontal direction) of the plate 1 via a pusher lifting mechanism 26 such as a lifting cylinder. Is mounted with a lateral displacement mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder that can expand and contract in the plane direction of the plate material 1 and in the side direction of the plate material 1. Locking claw 28 that can be locked to the end surface of the first plate 1
Install.

The suction device 1 such as the vacuum suction pad
A second presser mechanism 29 such as a presser cylinder is attached to the suction device mounting member 9 that supports the second presser member 9 in the vertical direction.
A pressing member 30 for partially pressing the upper surface that appears when the first plate 1 of the second plate 1 is displaced to the tip of the rod facing downward of the second holding mechanism 29 such as the holding cylinder. Attach.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 31 denotes a proximity sensor for detecting a position of a pusher elevating mechanism 26 such as an elevating cylinder, and 32 denotes an electromagnetic valve manifold for accommodating electromagnetic valves 35 to 37 to be described later. 32.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pusher elevating mechanism 26 such as an elevating cylinder, a lateral displacement mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder, and a second presser mechanism 29 such as a presser cylinder are each provided from a sequencer 33. The corresponding electromagnetic valves 35 to 37 are switched by the command signal 34 to supply and discharge a working fluid such as air, so that the valve can expand and contract.

Reference numeral 38 denotes a pusher elevating mechanism 26 such as an elevating cylinder, a lateral displacement mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder, and a second presser mechanism 29 such as a presser cylinder. A speed controller 39 for finely adjusting the operation time is a pressure reducing valve 39 provided in the middle of the fluid pressure supply / discharge path on the head side of the lateral displacement mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder for performing the extension operation at a low speed. .

Next, the operation will be described.

The basic operation of the plate material sucking and conveying apparatus and method is the same as that of the conventional case shown in FIGS.

As shown in the time chart of FIG. 4, when a suction device lowering command is issued from a control device (not shown), the suction device raising / lowering mechanism 8 starts lowering from the raising position. Pusher lifting mechanism 2
6 starts descending from the raised position, which is the retracted position for avoiding interference with other mechanisms.

When the position detecting proximity sensor 31 detects that the suction device lifting mechanism 8 has been lowered, the horizontal displacement mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder protrudes from the retracted position, and the horizontal displacement mechanism 27 such as the pusher cylinder moves. The locking claw 28 attached to the tip of the rod is
The plate is locked to the end face of the first plate material 1 and, in this state, the timer T
After an elapse of one hour (set to about 2 seconds), the lateral displacement mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder performs a retraction operation from the projecting position. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the locking claw portion 28 shifts the uppermost first plate 1 laterally by a required amount (about 150 mm) with respect to the second and lower plate 1.

After the elapse of the timer T2 (set to about 3 seconds) after the position detecting proximity sensor 31 detects that the suction device elevating mechanism 8 has been lowered, the pusher elevating mechanism 26 such as an elevating cylinder is moved to the lowered position. Ascend from and evacuate.

Thereafter, the suction device 1 such as a vacuum suction pad
At 0, the suction operation on the plate 1 is performed.

When the suction operation of the plate material 1 by the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad is completed and a suction device lifting command is issued, the suction device lifting / lowering mechanism 8 starts to rise from the lowered position, and the uppermost sheet is moved. At the same time, the second sheet pressing mechanism 29 such as a pressing cylinder protrudes from the retracted position and presses the second sheet 1. And
When the suction device lifting / lowering mechanism 8 reaches the ascending position and the first sheet material 1 is successfully lifted, the second pressing mechanism 29 such as a pressing cylinder contracts from the pressing position and returns to the retracted position, and returns to the original position. Returns to the state.

As described above, the uppermost first sheet material 1 is shifted laterally with respect to the second and lower sheet materials 1 by the lateral shifting mechanism 27 such as a pusher cylinder, and the second sheet pressing mechanism such as a presser cylinder. The uppermost first plate 1 is lifted by the suction device 10 such as a vacuum suction pad while holding down the second plate 1 at 29, so that even if the plate 1 has a coarse density. Therefore, it is possible to reliably lift only the first sheet material 1 at the uppermost portion, and to attract two sheet materials 1,
Conversely, it is possible to prevent the plate material 1 from becoming unable to be attracted.

As a result, there is no need for an artificial assisting operation for adsorbing only one plate 1, and a dedicated worker is not required, thereby making it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiment, and that the plate material to be adsorbed is not limited to a floor material for a house, and that the present invention is not limited thereto. It goes without saying that various changes can be made in.

[0048]

As described above, according to the plate material sucking and conveying apparatus according to the first aspect and the sheet material sucking and conveying method according to the second aspect, it is possible to reliably take out the sheet materials one by one. This eliminates the need for a full-time worker for the artificial assisting work, so that an excellent effect that the manufacturing cost can be reduced can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a fluid pressure system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation diagram similar to FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plate material 10 Suction device 27 Lateral shift mechanism 29 Second sheet holding mechanism

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A suction device capable of vacuum-sucking the uppermost first plate material of substantially horizontal plate materials stacked vertically and moving up and down, and two uppermost first plate materials. A plate material suction / conveying device comprising: a horizontal shift mechanism for shifting a plate material below a width in a horizontal direction; and a second presser mechanism for pressing a second plate material. 2. A method of sucking and transporting substantially horizontal plate materials stacked vertically in a vertical direction, wherein the uppermost first plate material is horizontally moved with respect to the second and lower plate materials. A plate material sucking / conveying method characterized by lifting only the uppermost first plate material while holding down the second plate material in the direction.