JPS6087124A - Tray distributing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate time loss of product handling operation between trays by storing a plurality of trays in layers in an apparatus body, sequentially supplying and discharging each tray and connecting a plurality of trays to each other to be continuously supplied. CONSTITUTION:Stacked trays 20 are respectively stored through an entry portion 18 to a supply portion 2, and one tray 21 of the trays 20 is supported on a transfer guide 8, the other trays 21 being supported by engaging means 7. The tray 21 on the guide 8 is transferred to a product in-and-out portion 3A by a transfer machine 5A, and a work robot 40 conducts unloading operation for the tray 21 on the in-and-out portion 3A. After operation, the tray 21 is returned to the transfer guide 8 by the transfer machine 5A, and during replacement of trays 21, the robot 40 starts product handling operation for the tray 21 on the next in-and- out portion 3B. After operation, the tray 21 is loaded on an elevator 6 by a transfer machine 5B and connecting and transfer machines 15 and 5A. When a fixed number of trays are loaded, a carry in-and-out machine 10 discharges the trays from the supply portion 2 to the outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tray delivery device that automatically supplies trays to a product working section in a conveyance system that transports a large number of products around trays.

In order to automate the manufacturing and processing of small products in various factories, etc., products are transported between various manufacturing and processing lines by storing them in trays, which are flat containers. It is now possible to transport large quantities of products. However, in order to supply trays to a product work department that loads and unloads multiple products onto trays, conventionally the trays have been delivered using a large automatic conveyor system, or work robots have been used to move the trays between the automatic conveyor and the product work department. Conventional devices have complex mechanisms that make it difficult to install them easily, and they also lack proper tray feeding and tray discharge control after work. He had the disadvantage of being drunk. Moreover, since it is difficult to properly supply and discharge trays in the product work department, loading and unloading products onto each tray is difficult.
After loading and unloading work, there is a large time loss between moving to the next tray, which seriously impedes the automation of product conveyance using trays.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and in product transportation using trays, a plurality of trays are stored in a stacked manner in the main body of the device, and each tray of the stacked trays is sequentially supplied to and discharged from a product working section. In this way, it is possible to properly supply and discharge trays to and from the product working section with an extremely simple structure, and it is also possible to continuously supply a plurality of trays to the product working section by linking them. This will surely eliminate time loss in product handling work (loading and unloading work) between each tray, and further promote automation of product transport by trays.

An embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described in detail below. 1 is a perspective view of the tray delivery device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation.

In each of the above figures, the tray delivery device of the present invention is constructed by dumping snow onto an arbitrary product working section, and includes a tray supply section 2 that stores stacked trays 20, and a plurality of trays corresponding to the tray supply section 2. The product take-out sections 3 and 3 are connected to the device main body 1, respectively.
Each product take-out/take-out section 3.3 is provided with a transfer machine 5.5 for transferring and returning the trays 21 from the tray supply section 2, and the tray supply section 2 is loaded with stacked trays 20 and each tray is 21 facing each of the transfer machines 5.5 is provided.

The apparatus main body 1 is formed into a box shape, and is provided with a tray supply section 2 and a plurality of product take-out sections 3, 3 corresponding to the trays.

The tray supply section 2 is provided with a carry-in section 18 for stacked trays 20 on the upper front of the apparatus main body 1, and a carry-in section 19 for stacked trays 20 on the lower front of the apparatus main body 1. Here, the stacked tray 20 is formed by stacking trays 21, which will be described later, in a plurality of stages. In the embodiment, the tray supply unit 2 is configured by providing a rectangular cylindrical space for storing the laminated trays 20 in communication with the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 and the inside thereof, and the upper surface has four circumferences. On the front side, the left and right frames are openable and closable to form the loading section 18, and the laminated trays 20 are stored in the tray supply section 2 from the loading section 18. That is, the carrying-in section 18 has gate frames 12 on both sides.
12 is configured to be openable and closable by a base hinge, and is opened when storing the laminated tray 20 and closed after being stored.

An elevator 6 is provided inside the tray supply section 2 so as to be able to move up and down, and the laminated trays 20 carried into the interior from the carrying section 18 are loaded on the elevator 6. In the stacked trays 20 on the elevator 6, the second tray 21 from the bottom is supported by the locking tool 7 in the tray supply section 2, and the elevator 6 is lowered there, so that the stacked trays 20 are stacked on the first and second trays from the bottom. The overlapping engagement of each of the trays 21.21 is released, the second and higher trays 21.21 are supported by the locking device 7, and the first tray 21 is positioned on the elevator 6 and transferred. The elevator 6 is supported by the guide 8 and releases the tray 21 by further lowering.

As shown in FIG. 3, the locking tool 7 has a rotatably provided claw member inside the tray supply section 2, and the collar portion 22 of the tray 21 is supported by the claw member.

Instead of this claw member, the tray 2 can be supported by a small cylinder rond that can be freely extended and retracted, and various mechanisms can be used as the locking tool 7.

An opening 4 through which the tray 21 enters and exits is provided on the back surface of the tray supply section 2 facing the tray 21 supported by the transfer guide 8. As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer guide 8 is provided with a plate piece that rotates in and out of the horizontal direction below the locking tool 7 that is hooked into the tray supply section 2 having a rectangular cylindrical cross section. The two plate pieces protrude from both sides to support the tray 2 via its collar 22,
Laminated tray 2 is created by rotating the folded pieces outwardly and drawing
By releasing the lift path 0, the tray 21 on the transfer guide 8 is placed again on the lower elevator 6. As the transfer guide 8, a rod of a small cylinder may be provided so as to be able to move inwardly from both sides.

The tray 21 supported by the transfer guide 8 is transported by the transfer machine 5.
The product is then laterally transferred through the opening 4 to the product take-out/take-out section 3. The two transfer machines 5A and 5B each have a product take-out section 3A and 3.
A slider 5 is provided corresponding to B, and parallel guides 5a and 5d are provided from the tray supply section 2 to the product take-out section 3, and the parallel guides 5a and 5d are provided with clamping claws 5c and 5f.
b, 5e are slidably provided. In the one transfer device 5A, the gripping claws 5c are connected to the tray 22 on the transfer guide 8.
The slider 5b slides on the parallel guide 5a to move the tray 21 back and forth between the tray supply section 2 and the product take-out section 3A.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the other transfer machine 5B is arranged in parallel with the above-mentioned one transfer machine 5A, and is also provided with a parallel guide 5d, a slider 5e, and a clamping claw 5f, but The parallel guide 5d is not directly connected to the tray supply section 2, but is connected to the intermediate portion of one of the parallel guides 5a through a link transfer device 15. Therefore, one transfer machine 5 is used for the other product take-out section 3B.
The tray 21 is transferred by the linked transfer device 15 and the transfer device 5B. The above linked transfer machine 15
As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 21 is configured to be laterally transferred at the lower part of the guide groove 16 through which the tray 21 is transferred.

The clamping claws 5c and 5f can also be configured to clamp the tray 21 on the elevator 6 and lift it slightly to release the overlapping engagement with the next tray 21. The sliders 5b and 5e can be self-propelled by a motor, or can be pulled and driven by a chain wire or the like.

Alternatively, a cylinder may be provided and a suction cup may be provided at the tip of the rod to suction and pull each tray 21.

The product take-out sections 3A and 3B are provided in parallel on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1 in correspondence with the tray supply section 2, and when the tray 21 is transferred and set, as shown in FIG. The work robot 4° carries out the work of loading a product into the tray 21 or taking out a product from the tray 21. The tray 21 in each product take-out section 3A, 3B is
In addition to positioning in the advancing direction by the transfer machines 5A and 5B, proper positioning in the lateral direction is also performed by receiving pressure from the positioning tool 9 provided on the side, and product handling by the work robot 40 is performed. Work can be done accurately in a predetermined position.

In the product work section, workers can directly handle products on the tray 21 without relying on the work robot 40 mentioned above.

As shown in FIG. 8, the tray 21 has a flat container shape with an open top surface, and has a flange 22 around the four circumferences of the top surface, recesses 23 and 23 in the squares of the flange 22, and a bottom surface. A stepped portion 24 is provided at the top and bottom to enable overlapping engagement between the upper and lower layers during stacking, thereby maintaining a stable stacked state. Inside each tray 21, a product fitting portion 25a formed of styrofoam or the like adapted to the outer shape of the transported product 50 is provided.
A formwork 25 having a shape is housed therein, and this formwork 25 applies pressure to position each transported product 50, thereby further promoting automation of work by the work robot 40. The mold 25 can be integrally molded with the tray 21. Note that the external shape, depth, etc. of the above-mentioned tray can be freely selected, and any material such as a general pallet or a metal or plastic container can be used.

Next, the trays 21 that have undergone product handling work in the product take-out/take-out sections 3A and 3B 171 are pushed back into the tray supply section 2 by the transfer machines 5A and 5B, respectively, and placed on the elevator 6. The remaining trays 21 supported by the work robot 40 receive product handling work in turn and are moved to the elevator 6! It is stacked in layers. After all the trays 21 have completed the above work, they are stacked again as stacked trays 2θ.
When loaded onto the elevator 6 as a tray, the laminated tray 20 is sent out from the unloading section 19 via the sliding guide 11 by the loading/unloading machine 10. The stacked trays 20 sent out to the outside are transferred to the next working section by a truck, a conveyor, or the like.

In the embodiment described above, the upper front surface of the tray supply section 2 is used as the tray loading section 18, but the upper surface of the tray supply section 2 may be used as the loading section and stacked trays 20 are loaded in the vertical direction. Further, the unloading section 19 can also serve as the loading section. In this case, the laminated trays 20 are pulled into the elevator 6 from the outside by the loading/unloading machine 10, and are subjected to product handling work in order from the upper tray 21. The trays 21 that have been worked on are successively pushed up from below to the top of the tray supply section 2 to be supported by the locking tools 7, and when all the trays 21 have finished working, the locking of the locking tools 7 is released and the work begins. The completed stacked trays 20 are loaded onto the elevator 6 again and sent out to the outside. Alternatively, the carry-in section and the carry-out section may be provided at the front and rear of the apparatus main body 1 in the longitudinal direction.

The above-mentioned tray supply unit 2 stores one or two spare trays 21 in addition to the stacked trays 20 with a predetermined number of trays, and when replacing the stacked trays 20 that have been worked on, The above spare tray 21 is placed in the product take-out section 3A,
By transferring the trays to 3B, the time loss in replacing the stacked trays can be significantly reduced.

After completing the work on one of the product loading and unloading sections 3A, the tray 21
While the transfer machine 5A is performing the replacement work, the tray 2 is transferred to the other product take-out section 3B by the other transfer machine 5B.
Since the work robot 40 always works on the two product loading/unloading sections 3A and 3B in sequence, it is possible to load and unload products without leaving a trace.

Transfer machine 5 mentioned above. Elevator 6. Locking tool 7. Transfer guide 8
The loading/unloading machine 10 and the like operate continuously in conjunction with each other according to commands from the control unit 30.

Next, the effect on the wood flow side will be explained. Laminated tray 20
are respectively stored in the tray forming feeder 2 from the loading section 18, one tray 21 of the stacked trays 20 is supported by the transfer guide 8, the remaining trays 21 are supported by the locking tool 7, and the transfer guide 8 The upper tray 21 is transferred to the product loading/unloading section 3A by the transfer machine 5A, and the work robot 40 performs loading/unloading work of products on the tray 21 on the product loading/unloading section 3A. 5A
The work robot 40 returns the tray 21 to the transfer guide 8, and while the tray 21 is being replaced with the other tray 21, the work robot 40 starts product handling work on the tray 21 on the other product take-out section 3B. 5 B.

A predetermined number of trays 2 are loaded onto the elevator 6 by the linked transfer machine 15 and the transfer machine 5A; once loaded on the elevator 6, the stacked trays 20 are transferred to the tray supply unit 2 by the loading/unloading machine 10). The cedar is poured outside.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned stacked tray 20 can be arranged not only by simply stacking the trays 21 as in the embodiment, but also by storing it in a stacking frame 17 and storing it together with the stacking frame 17 in the tray supply unit 2 as shown in FIG. You can also do this. In this case, the laminated frame 17
An elevator 6 enters the interior of the tray and controls the elevation and descent of the stacked trays 20 inside.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 are operation explanatory diagrams of other embodiments. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, openings 4a and 4b are provided at two locations on the side surface of the tray supply section 2, and trays 21 are taken in and out from one of the openings 4a by a transfer device 5A as in the first embodiment. From the other opening 4b, the tray 21 is taken in and taken out by the linked transfer device 15 and the transfer device 5B of the first embodiment, so that the two product take-out sections 3A, 3 are always available.
This allows trays 21 to be supplied to BK. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, two transfer machines 5A and 5B can directly take out and take out trays 21 from two openings 4a and 4b of the tray supply section 2.

In any of the above-mentioned embodiments 1c>, the work robot 40 alternately takes out and takes out the products 50 from the trays 21 of the two product take-out sections 3A and 3B. In this case, a tray 21 is always placed on at least one of the trays by the transfer device 5.

As described above, the present invention has a structure in which a plurality of trays are stored in a stacked manner in the main body of the apparatus, and each tray is sequentially supplied to and discharged from a product working section by a transfer machine, so that it has a simple structure and is automatically In addition, it is possible to control the supply of trays to the product work section and the tray discharge after work, and it is possible to easily install an automated system. Moreover, since the trays mentioned above are fed to the product working section via transfer machines that are individually provided from the tray supply section to the plurality of product take-out/take-out sections, it is possible to feed trays with great force without leaving any traces. It is possible to reliably eliminate time loss in product handling work and further promote automation of product transport using trays. Furthermore, since the product working section for feeding the tray is provided in the main body of the apparatus, the tray can be positioned accurately and the product handling work can be carried out properly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tray delivery device of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tray delivery device of the present invention.
3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the second factor, FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation, and FIGS. FIG. 8 is a perspective sectional view of the tray, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the laminated tray. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Apparatus main body 2... Tray supply part 3... Product take-out part 4... Opening part 5... Transfer machine 6... Elevator 7... Locking tool 8... Transfer guide 9... Positioning tool 10... Loading/unloading machine 20... Laminated tray
21... Tray 30... Control unit 40... Work robot applicant Motoda Electronics Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A tray delivery device that is applicable to any product work area and is characterized by having the following requirements. (a) A tray supply unit is provided in the main body of the apparatus to accommodate a stacked tray formed by stacking a plurality of trays. (b) A plurality of product loading and unloading units are provided in the main body of the device, where trays transferred from the tray supply unit are placed. (c) A transfer machine is provided corresponding to each product take-out/take-out unit to transfer trays from the tray supply unit to a plurality of corresponding product take-out/take-out units and to return the trays to the tray supply unit. B) The tray supply section is provided with an elevator for loading and lowering stacked trays and for sequentially linking each tray to the transfer machine.