JPH11310324A - Product sorting and storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a product sorting and storing device capable of highly efficiently sorting with little restrictions for a machined hole or weight to be sorted and stored, causing no damage. SOLUTION: A product positioning table 3 and a plurality of storage stations 5A and 5B are linearly arranged, a replaceable pallet 21 is placed on a lifting table 17 provided in each of the plurality of storage stations, a sliding table 19 having a product carrying supporting surface is provided so as to be freely movable to any position in the upper position of each pallet, the level the table 19 being identical to that of a product carrying supporting surface, a product carrying means 7 is vertically movably provided the means 7 having a product sucking means 25 for freely sucking a product W on the product positioning table and a product clamp 26 for freely gripping the end of the product, and the product carrying means 7 is provided so as to be moved and positioned to the optional position of the pallet side of each of the plurality of storage stations.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a product unloading and sorting apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional product unloading and sorting apparatus is as follows.
They can be categorized into types.

[0003] 1. Conveyor system Conveyor system is provided with a conveyor that receives products or scraps processed by a plate material processing machine, and a plurality of collection boxes for storing products or scraps falling from the conveyor are provided so as to be movable and positionable below the conveyor. Sorting method has simple structure and quick sorting time.

As an example of this type, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
There is a scrap sorting device disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-61.

[0005] 2. Loader method The loader method is a type in which the surface of a plate-shaped product is suctioned by suction means such as a vacuum cup or an electromagnet, transported to a predetermined loading position, and then dropped and sorted. It can be aligned and collected.

[0006] 3. Support roller method With the support roller method, the end of the product is clamped with a clamp, conveyed to a predetermined position while dragging on the slat conveyor, and then the slat conveyor is moved and placed on a lift table provided below the slat conveyor. This method sorts and loads products.

According to this method, it is possible to carry the sheet-shaped product without being affected by the machined hole, and also to carry out a heavy thing by sorting and collecting it. As an example of this type, there is a sorting and integrating device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-41029.

In FIG. 10 of the above publication, a vertically movable lifter (19) for loading a plate-shaped product on the upper surface is provided, and the lifter (19) travels on a product transport surface above the lifter (19). ) Is provided with a slat conveyor (27) wound endlessly, and the slat conveyor (2)
An integrated device (11) is disclosed which is provided with a clamp (193) which is movable slightly above 7) in the running direction of the slat conveyor (27) and up and down.

[0009]

In the above-mentioned conveyor-type product sorting and accumulating apparatus, the products collide with each other due to the fall and damage the products. In addition, there is a problem that the same product cannot be aligned and integrated.

[0010] In the loader system, the arrangement of the processing holes of the product is various, and it is difficult to prevent the suction means from being coincident with the processing hole of the product. In addition, since the plate-shaped product is conveyed while being sucked, there is a danger of falling and is not suitable for conveying a heavy plate-shaped product.

The support roller method has a problem that the sorting time becomes longer because the slat conveyor needs to be opened and closed every time one sheet product is stacked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a processing hole to be subjected to sorting and accumulation, which does not cause scratches at the time of product sorting and which can be sorted and accumulated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a product sorting and accumulating apparatus which has less limitation on weight and the like and has high sorting efficiency.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product sorting and accumulating apparatus, wherein a product from a sheet material processing machine is carried out and sorted and accumulated. A product positioning table for positioning a product from a processing machine at a transport reference position, and a plurality of accumulation stations for sorting and accumulating products on the product positioning table are linearly arranged, and provided at each of the plurality of accumulation stations. A replaceable pallet is placed on a vertically movable lift table, and a slide table having a product transfer support surface at the same level as the product transfer support surface of the product positioning table is moved to a position above each of the pallets. A product suction means for adsorbing a product on the product positioning table, and a product clamp capable of gripping the end of the product. The invention is characterized in that a product transfer means having: is provided so as to be movable up and down, and the product transfer means is provided so as to be movable to an arbitrary position above the pallets of the plurality of accumulation stations and is movable up and down. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product sorting and accumulating apparatus,
2. The product sorting and accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a chain conveyor that supports both ends of the lower surface of the pallet at a lower position of the lift table is transported to a side of a lift table provided at the plurality of accumulation stations. The gist of the present invention extends to a pallet replacement position provided in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the means.

Therefore, according to the product sorting and accumulating apparatus of the first aspect, since the product conveying means is provided with the product suction means and the product clamp, it is possible to securely hold a large or heavy plate product. Can be.

Further, large-sized or heavy plate-like products can be sorted and collected at an arbitrary position on a pallet of a collecting station via a slide table reliably and safely. Small-sized products can be efficiently sorted and accumulated at an arbitrary position on a pallet by transporting at high speed in the air above the product transport support surface without using a slide table.

According to the product sorting and accumulating apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the functions and effects of the first aspect, the pallet of the accumulating station can be carried out to the pallet changing position.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a product sorting and accumulating apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the product sorting and accumulating apparatus 1 linearly arranges a product positioning table 3, a first accumulating station 5A and a second accumulating station 5B, and reciprocates above them. It is composed of a product transfer means 7 which can be positioned freely.

The product positioning table 3 is provided with a plurality of transport rollers 9 for supporting a plate-shaped product W transported from a plate processing machine such as a punch press in a previous process on a product transport support surface TL.
Is placed on the top of the table frame 11 in the X-axis direction (FIGS.
In the right direction). The plurality of transport rollers 9 are simultaneously and in the same direction (clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2) by known driving means (not shown).
Is rotatably driven.

At the right end (right end in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the product positioning table 3, a plate-like stopper 13 extending in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) is provided with respect to the product transfer support surface TL. It is provided so that it can come and go. The stopper 13 is provided so as to be vertically movable by a stopper raising / lowering actuator (for example, a fluid pressure cylinder, a feed screw mechanism, etc.) (not shown) provided below the stopper 13.

At a position above the transport roller 9 of the product positioning table 3, a pusher 15 for determining a transport reference position of the product W in the Y-axis direction is provided so as to be movable and positioned in the Y-axis direction. In addition, as a driving means of the pusher 15, for example, a driving mechanism such as a pusher (169) disclosed in FIGS. 7 to 9 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-41029 filed by the present applicant may be adopted. it can.

With the above configuration, if the stopper 13 is made to protrude from the product transport support surface TL, the product W transported from the plate processing machine onto the product positioning table is driven by rotating the transport roller 9 to rotate. 1 and 2, the sheet is conveyed in the right X-axis direction, collides with the stopper 13 and stops, and is positioned at that position.

Further, as described above, the product W is
If the pusher 15 is moved to an appropriate position in the upward direction in FIG. 2 in a state where the product W is positioned in contact with the product W, the product W is further positioned at an appropriate position in the Y-axis direction. .

The first accumulation station 5A for sorting the products W adjacent to the product positioning table 3
And a second accumulation station 5B.

A known lift table 17 is provided at each of the first and second accumulation stations 5A and 5B so as to be vertically movable, and a slide table 19 is moved above the lift table 17 in the X-axis direction. It is provided so that it can be positioned freely.

The slide table 19 is provided on a rail 20 laid on a frame 18 having a lift table 17 straddling the X-axis direction so as to be movable in the X-axis direction.
Further, a plurality of free bearings for supporting the product W on the product transport support surface TL are provided on the upper surface of the slide table.

The number of accumulation stations is not limited to two, and three or more stations can be provided.

At the lower position of the table 17, the chain conveyor 23 supporting both ends of the pallet 21 is connected to the first accumulation station 5A and the second accumulation station 5B.
Y on the floor FL on both sides of each lift table 17
It is provided extending in the axial direction.

The space above the product positioning table 3 and the first and second accumulation stations 5 (A, B) is X
A plurality of product suction means 25 such as a vacuum cup or an electromagnet, and a product clamp 26 for clamping an end of the product W are provided on the product transfer means 7 which is movable in the axial direction.
Is provided.

The product positioning table 3 and the first,
In the space above the second accumulation station 5 (A, B), X
A traveling rail 29 extending horizontally in the axial direction is provided,
An X carriage 31 is provided on the running rail 29 so as to be movable and positionable.

A pair of Y-axis rails 33 are provided below the X-carriage 31 in the Y-axis direction (a direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction). It is provided so that it can be moved and positioned. And
The Y carriage 35 is provided with a plurality of guide rods 37 for suspending and supporting the loader 27 and lifting means 39 for lifting and lowering the loader 27.

The X carriage 31 and the Y carriage 35 are provided so that they can be moved and positioned at appropriate positions by a servo motor (not shown).

With the above configuration, the X carriage 31 and the Y carriage 35 are appropriately driven and controlled at a position above the product W aligned with a predetermined sorting reference position in the Y-axis direction in the product positioning table 3, and the loader 27 is controlled. Can be positioned.

The above-described product sorting and accumulating apparatus 1 efficiently uses the high-speed sorting mode or the normal sorting mode according to the size or weight of the product W to be transported.
Products can be sorted and collected. Next, the product sorting and accumulating apparatus 1
The operation in the high-speed sorting mode or the normal sorting mode will be described.

1. High-speed sorting mode (small size products)

(A) The loader 27 is moved to and positioned at an upper position of the product aligned with the transport reference position on the product positioning table 3, the loader 27 is lowered, and the product is sucked using the product suction means 25 and the product clamp 26. Hold W.

In the case of a small-sized and stiff product, it is possible to omit the use of the product suction means 25 only with the product clamp 26.

(B) While raising the loader 27,
The slide table 19 is moved and retracted onto the pallet 21 of the second accumulation station 5B (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

(C) The loader 27 is moved and positioned at a predetermined position (XY coordinates) on the pallet 21 of the first accumulation station 5A (see FIGS. 3 and 4, the product is transported in the air).

(D) The loader 27 is lowered to release the product W from the loader 27 and place the product W at a predetermined position on the pallet 21.

(E) Return the loader 27 to the standby position on the product positioning table 3.

Thereafter, by repeating the above-described steps (a) to (e), the products W can be accumulated at predetermined positions on the pallet 21.

2. Normal sorting mode (1) (an example in which a large or heavy product is accumulated in the first accumulation station 5A)

(A) The loader 27 is moved and positioned at an upper position of the product aligned with the transport reference position on the product positioning table 3, and the loader 27 is lowered. Hold W.

(B) Pallet 2 with slide table 19
1, the loader 27 is moved and positioned at a predetermined (XY coordinate) position on the pallet 21 of the first accumulation station 5A (the product travels on the product transport support surface TL on the slide table 19).

(C) The slide table 19 is moved onto the pallet 21 of the second accumulation station 5B.

(D) The loader 27 is lowered to release the product W from the loader 27, and is placed at a predetermined position on the pallet 21.

(E) Return the loader 27 to the standby position on the product positioning table 3.

Thereafter, by repeating the above (a) to (e), the products W can be accumulated at a predetermined position on the pallet 21 of the first accumulation station 5A.

3. Normal sorting mode (2) (example in which a large or heavy product is accumulated in the second accumulation station 5B)

(A) The loader 27 is moved and positioned at an upper position of the product aligned with the transport reference position on the product positioning table 3, the loader 27 is lowered, and the product is sucked using the product suction means 25 and the product clamp 26. Hold W.

(B) The slide table 19 is put on standby on the pallet 21 of the first accumulation station 5A, and the loader 27 is moved and positioned at a predetermined (XY coordinate) position on the pallet 21 of the first accumulation station 5A (product). Travels on the product transport support surface TL on the slide table 19).

(C) The slide table 19 is moved onto the pallet 21 of the second accumulation station 5B, and at the same time, the loader 27 is moved and positioned at a predetermined (XY coordinate) position on the pallet 21 of the second accumulation station 5B ( The product is the product transport support surface TL on the slide table 19
Traveling).

(D) The slide table 19 is moved onto the pallet 21 of the first accumulation station 5A.

(E) The loader 27 is lowered to release the product W from the loader 27 and place the product W at a predetermined position on the pallet 21 of the second accumulation station 5B.

Thereafter, by repeating the above (a) to (e), the products W can be accumulated at predetermined positions on the pallet 21 of the second accumulation station 5B.

In the above-described high-speed sorting mode and the normal sorting mode (a, b), the height of the lift table 17 is maintained at a constant level by appropriately lowering the product W each time the product W is loaded on the pallet 21. Is controlled.

For the products W aligned and accumulated on the pallets 21 for transporting the products, the lift table 17 is lowered to the lowest position, the pallets 21 are placed on the chain conveyor 23, and the chain conveyor 23 is properly turned forward and backward. By driving in the direction, the pallet can be transferred from the transfer line to the pallet changing position and replaced with an empty pallet.

[0061]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, by simultaneously using the product suction means and the product clamp of the product transport means, it is possible to securely and reliably hold a product having a large size or a large weight. it can.

Large-size or heavy-weight products are conveyed while being dragged on the product conveyance support surface via the slide table, so that they can be conveyed safely and reliably.

Small-sized products can be efficiently sorted and accumulated at an arbitrary position on a pallet by transporting them at high speed in the air above the product transport support surface without using a slide table.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the pallets can be automatically carried out and exchanged at the pallet exchange position, so that unmanned operation can be performed for a long time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a product sorting and accumulating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a position state of a loader and a slide table in a high-speed sorting mode in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Product sorting accumulating device 3 Product positioning table 5A 1st accumulating station 5B 2nd accumulating station 7 Product conveying means 9 Conveying roller 9 11 Table frame 13 Stopper 15 Pusher 17 Lift table 18 Frame 19 Slide table 20 Rail 21 Pallet 23 Chain conveyor 25 Product suction means 26 Product clamp 27 Loader 29 Travel rail 31 X carriage 33 Y axis rail 35 Y carriage 37 Guide rod 39 Lifting means W Product

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A product sorting and accumulating apparatus for unloading and sorting products from a sheet material processing machine, a product positioning table for positioning a product from the sheet material processing machine at a transport reference position, and a product on the product positioning table. A plurality of collecting stations for sorting and collecting are arranged linearly,
A replaceable pallet is placed on a vertically movable lift table provided in each of the plurality of accumulation stations, and a slide table having a product transfer support surface at the same level as the product transfer support surface of the product positioning table is provided. A product transfer means provided with a product suction means capable of adsorbing the product on the product positioning table and a product clamp capable of gripping the end of the product is provided so as to be movable and positioned above each pallet. A product sorting and accumulating apparatus, wherein said product conveying means is provided so as to be movable and positionable at any position above the pallets of said plurality of accumulating stations, and is provided so as to be able to move up and down. 2. A chain conveyor that supports both ends of a lower surface of the pallet at a lower position of the lift table at a side of the lift table provided at the plurality of accumulation stations, and crosses in a transport direction of the product transport unit. 2. The product sorting and accumulating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is extended to a pallet replacement position provided in the direction.