JPS61295906A - Method and device for delivering and storing work - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operating efficiency by circulating a receiving side endless stocker and translocating a work to an empty holding part next to the lastly received holding part of a send-out side stocker, in a work delivering buffer stocker between automatic machining devices. CONSTITUTION:When there is no work W on a work send-out side endless stocker 22, a work W is translocated from the work carry-out part 11a of a first machining device 11 onto the work holding shelf 38 at the level L1 of the send-out stocker 22 via the holding part 30 of the level L1 of a work receiving side endless stocker 21 and a work transfer device 45. And, the work W is carried out to a second machining device 12 by means of a send-out device 39. When a work W exists at the level L1 of the send-out side stocker 22, the receiving side stocker 21 is circulated to translocate works to the following shelves 38 of the send-out side stocker 22 in order. The send-out side stocker 22 is moved one pitch at every sending out. Thus, the operating efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Overview] A work receiving and storing device, that is, a buffer storage, includes a work receiving endless stocker and a work sending endless stocker that are arranged in parallel with each other. Workpieces can be moved one pitch at a time in opposite directions within the endless stocker on the workpiece receiving side and the endless stocker on the workpiece sending side. Since the workpieces are discharged from the endless stocker on the workpiece sending side in the order in which they are supplied to the endless stocker on the workpiece receiving side, different types of workpieces can be continuously transferred and stored without any problem.

Workpieces can be stored in both the endless stocker on the workpiece receiving side and the endless stocker on the workpiece sending side.
Work storage capacity is increased.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to improvements in buffer storage for transferring and storing workpieces between automatic processing devices.

[Prior Art] When processing each workpiece using separate automatic processing equipment, in order to increase work efficiency, these automatic processing equipment are connected in series, and the processing equipment for the previous process and the processing equipment for the subsequent process are connected in series. It is desirable to automatically transfer the workpiece to and from the device. However, when one of these directly connected processing devices is to be stopped for maintenance or adjustment, the series of processing devices must be stopped. In order to avoid such inefficiency and to stop only one processing device that requires maintenance adjustment while operating other processing devices, each processing device should be equipped with a workpiece storage function. delivery device,
That is, they may be connected using buffer storage.

For example, as shown in the configuration diagram of the processing equipment group shown in Fig. 5, processing equipment M1 that mounts a DIP type IC on a printed circuit board and processing equipment M2 that mounts radial type terminal components for the next process are connected via a buffer storage S1. The processing apparatus M2 is connected to the processing apparatus M3, which carries the parts connected and stored in a chain with a tape for the next process, through a buffer storage S2.

By providing buffer storage between processing devices in this way, even if processing device M3 breaks down, the printed circuit boards on which components are mounted in processing device M and processing device M2 can be temporarily stored in buffer storage S2. Since it can be stored, the processing apparatuses M1 and M2 can continue to operate even if the processing apparatus M3 stops operating.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As shown in FIG. 6, conventional buffer storage includes a workpiece storage body 3 that is vertically movably provided between a workpiece unloading section 1a of a first processing device 1 and a workpiece receiving section 2a of a second processing device 2. It is equipped with

The workpiece storage body 3 has a plurality of workpiece holding shelves 4 provided at equal intervals in the vertical direction. The vertical drive device 5 can move the work storage body 3 vertically one step at a time. In this buffer storage, the workpieces sent out from the workpiece unloading section 1a of the first processing device 1 are received on the uppermost workpiece holding shelf 4 of the workpiece storage body 3, and then the workpieces sent out from the workpiece unloading section 1a of the first processing device 1 are held on the uppermost workpiece holding shelf 4 by the workpiece sending out device (not shown). Workpiece receiving section 2 of second processing device 2 from shelf 4
．． , I. When the second processing device 2 stops, after receiving the workpiece on the uppermost workpiece holding shelf 4, the workpiece storage body 3 moves upward by one step and places the workpiece on the second workpiece holding shelf 4 from the top. 1 Receives a workpiece from processing device 1. In Figure 6, four workpieces are held on the workpiece holding shelf 4.
This shows the state in which it was stored. Now, when the second processing device 2 resumes operation, the workpiece received in the fourth workpiece holding shelf 4 from the top will be transferred to the workpiece receiving section 2 of the second processing device 2.
It is sent out onto a. When the supply of workpieces from the first processing device 1 is interrupted or finished, the workpiece storage section 3 is lowered by one step, and the third workpiece holding shelf 4 from the top is moved.
The workpiece received in the second processing device 2 is delivered onto the workpiece receiving portion 2a of the second processing device 2.

As is clear from the above explanation, in conventional buffer storage, when a plurality of workpieces are once stored in the workpiece storage unit 3, the workpieces received later in the workpiece holding shelf 4 are placed first. When changing the type of workpiece, the processing equipment in the previous process must be stopped until all the lowering steps of the processing equipment group are completed. therefore,
When conventional bread storage is used, a problem arises in that the operating rate of processing equipment decreases.

[Means for solving problems]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an endless stocker on the work receiving side and an endless stocker on the work sending side, each including a plurality of work holding parts arranged in parallel and capable of circulating in opposite directions. After transferring the work supplied from the outside to the work holding section of the endless stocker on the work receiving side at a predetermined work receiving position using the A soak delivery and storage method that sends out a workpiece to the outside from the workpiece holding part of the endless stocker on the workpiece sending side at the workpiece sending position, and when no workpiece is stored in the endless stocker on the workpiece sending side, the workpiece is transferred to the endless stocker on the workpiece receiving side. Transfer the work supplied to the work holding section at the work receiving position to the work holding section at the work sending position of the endless stocker on the work sending side, and if the work is stored in the endless stocker on the work sending side, move the endless stocker on the work receiving side. The workpiece at the head of the endless stocker on the workpiece receiving side in the circulation direction is moved to the empty workholding section next to the workholding section of the endless stocker on the workpiece sending side that last received the workpiece in the circulation direction, and the workpiece is sent out. Workpiece delivery position W of the side endless stocker
To provide a workpiece delivery and storage method characterized in that after a workpiece is sent out from a workpiece holding part, a workpiece delivery side endless stocker is moved in the circulation direction to position the next workpiece holding part at a workpiece delivery position. .

In addition, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an endless stocker on the work receiving side, each of which is provided with 4M workpiece holding sections arranged in parallel and capable of circulating in opposite directions. and a work sending-out endless stocker; a work transfer device for transferring a work supplied from the outside to the work holding part of the work receiving endless stocker at a predetermined work receiving position to the work holding part of the work sending-out endless stocker; a work sending device that sends out the work to the outside from a work holding part of the work sending endless stocker at a predetermined work sending position adjacent to the work receiving position; When the workpiece is stored, the workpiece holding section at the workpiece receiving position moves forward by one step in the circulation direction of the endless heald each time it receives the workpiece, and the workpiece transfer device transfers the workpiece to the endless stocker on the workpiece delivery side. In the case where the workpiece is not stored, the workpiece supplied to the workpiece holding section at the workpiece receiving position of the endless stocker on the workpiece receiving side is transferred to the workpiece holding section at the workpiece sending position of the endless stocker on the workpiece sending side. If a workpiece is stored in the stocker, move the workpiece at the head of the endless stocker on the work receiving side in the circulation direction to the empty work holding section next to the work holding section of the endless stocker on the work sending side that last received the soak. The endless stocker on the work sending side moves one step in the circulation direction after the work is sent out from the work holding part at the work sending position to position the next work holding part at the work sending position. To provide a workpiece delivery and storage device characterized by being formed as follows.

[For production]

According to the above means according to the present invention, it becomes possible to always send out the workpieces from the workpiece delivery side endless stocker in the order in which they are supplied to the workpiece receiving side endless stocker. Therefore, even when handling different types of workpieces, there is no need to interrupt the supply of workpieces to the endless stocker on the workpiece receiving side. Therefore, a decrease in the operating rate is prevented.

Moreover, according to the above means, since the work can be temporarily stored in both the endless stocker on the work sending side and the endless stocker on the work receiving side, the storage capacity is increased.

〔Example〕

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

1 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to these figures, the first automatic processing device 11
A workpiece delivery and storage device, that is, a buffer storage 20 is provided between the workpiece unloading section 11a and the workpiece receiving section of the second automatic processing device 12. The pamphlet storage 20 includes a work receiving side endless stocker 21 and a work sending side endless stocker 2 arranged in parallel.
2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endless stocker 21 on the workpiece receiving side includes a pair of endless belts 23 and 24. The endless belt 23 is held by a lower driving pulley 25 and a driven pulley 26 directly above it, and the endless belt 24 is held by a lower driving pulley 27 and a driven pulley 28 directly above it.

A plurality of work holding shelves 29 and 30 are arranged around the outer peripheries of the endless healds 23 and 24, respectively.
4 are consecutively arranged at equal pinch intervals in the circulation direction. Endless Hell) 23.24 (7) In the inner facing portion, the work holding shelf 29 and the work holding shelf 30 face each other and cooperate with each other to hold the work W such as the print 1 to the substrate. An endless belt 23, 24 is driven by a not-shown stem motor connected to the drive pulleys 25, 27.
The inner facing belt parts are parallel to each other on the work holding shelf 2.
It is circularly driven to step downward by an amount corresponding to an arrangement pitch interval of 9.30.

In the illustrated embodiment, a level L1 is placed from above on the belt portion facing the inside of the endless stocker 21 on the work receiving side.
Since there are nine work holding shelves 29 and 30 from L9 to L9, the work receiving side entrance rack 21 can temporarily store a maximum of nine works W. The endless stocker 21 on the work receiving side is located at the highest position (level L) where the work holding shelf 29 and the work holding shelf 30 face each other.
, ) receives the workpiece W delivered from the workpiece unloading section 11a of the first processing device 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the endless stocker 22 on the workpiece delivery side includes a pair of endless belts 31 and 32. The endless belt 31 is held by a lower drive pulley 33 and a driven boob I734 directly above it, and the endless belt 32 is held by a lower drive pulley IJ35 and a driven pulley 36 directly above it. A plurality of work holding shelves 37 and 38 are arranged around the outer circumference of the endless belt 1-31.32, respectively.
They are arranged consecutively at equal pitches in the two circulation directions. The arrangement pitch of the work holding shelves 37, 38 is equal to the arrangement pinch of the work holding shelves 29, 30.

The work holding shelf 37 and the work holding shelf 38 face each other in the inner facing portion of the endless bell 1-31.32,
1 each other. It works well to hold the workpiece W.

By means of step motors (not shown) connected to drive pulleys 33 and 35, the inner heald portions of the endless healds 31 and 32 move upward in parallel steps by an amount corresponding to the arrangement pitch interval of the work holding shelves 37 and 38. It is driven in a circular manner.

There are nine work holding shelves 37 and 38 at levels L and L9 corresponding to the work holding shelves 29 and 30 in the heald portion facing the inside of the work sending endless stocker 22. can temporarily store up to nine workpieces W.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, a workpiece delivery device 39 is provided above the endless stocker 22 on the workpiece delivery side. The workpiece delivery device 39 sends out the workpieces W held on the workpiece holding shelves 37 and 38 at the highest position, ie, level L, of the workpiece delivery side endless stocker 22 to the workpiece receiving section 12a of the second processing device 12. .

In this case, the workpiece sending device 39 includes a pair of pulleys 40.4.
The endless belt 42 is provided with an endless belt 42 that is held at a position 1, and a claw is provided on the outside of the endless heald 42 to horizontally send out the workpiece W on the workpiece holding shelf 37 and 38 at the workpiece delivery position (level L (W)) to the outside. 43 are provided.

The endless belt 42 is driven by a motor 44 connected to one pulley 40.

The buffer storage 20 transfers the work W held in the work holding JIII29.30 of the endless stocker 21 on the work receiving side to the endless stocker 22 on the work sending side.
A work transfer device 45 for transferring the work to the work holding shelves 37, 38 is provided. The workpiece transfer device 45 has a pair of boots I
It is equipped with an endless belt 48 held by J46, 47, and on the outside of the endless heald 48, the work W on the work holding shelves 29 and 30 of the endless stocker 21 on the work receiving side is transferred to the work holding shelf of the endless stocker 22 on the work sending side. A transfer pawl 49 is provided on 37 and 38. The endless belt 48 is connected to one pulley 46,
It is driven by a motor 50 connected to the motor. Pulley 46.4
．． 7 is guided by a guide member 52 extending in the vertical direction so as to move only in the vertical direction. A feed nut 53 is fixed to the frame 51, and the feed nut 53 is screwed into a feed screw 55 connected to a step motor 54.

The buffer storage 20 includes sensors (not shown) for detecting the presence or absence of a work W on the work holding shelves 29, 30 and work holding shelves 37, 38 at levels L, -L9, respectively.

A work transfer and storage method using the buffer storage 20 having the above configuration will be described below.

When the workpiece W is not stored in the endless stocker 22 on the workpiece delivery side, the workpiece W is supplied from the workpiece delivery part 11a of the first processing device 11 onto the workpiece holding shelf 29°30 of the endless stocker 21 on the workpiece reception side at level L. The workpiece W is transferred onto the workpiece holding shelf 37.3B at the same level L1 by the workpiece transfer device 45, and then the workpiece W on the workpiece holding shelf 37.38 at the level L1 is transferred to the second processing device 12 by the workpiece sending device 39. The workpiece is sent onto the workpiece receiving section 12a.

When the work W is temporarily stored on the work holding shelves 37 and 38 at the level L1 due to the stoppage of the second processing device 12, etc., the work holding shelves 29 and 38 at the level L1 of the work receiving endless stocker 21. After the work W is supplied to the workpiece W, the work receiving endless stocker 21 performs a step operation by one pinch, and the work holding shelves 29 and 30 holding the work W are lowered to the level L2. In this state, if the workpiece W is not stored on the workpiece holding shelf 37.38 of the level L2 of the endless stocker 22 on the work sending side, the workpiece holding shelf 29.3 of the level L2
The work W on the top is transferred by the work transfer device 45 onto the work holding shelves 37 and 38 at the same level. On the other hand, when the work W is stored in the work holding shelves 37 and 38 at level L2 of the endless stocker 22 on the work sending side,
The endless stocker 21 on the work receiving side receives the next work W on the new work holding shelf 29.30 that has reached the level L, and then performs a step operation by one pitch. Therefore, the workpiece holding shelves 29 and 30 holding the first workpiece W are lowered to level L3. First work W
is lowered to level L3. In this state, if there is no workpiece W on the workpiece holding shelf 37.38 at level L3 of the endless stocker 22 on the work sending side, the workpiece transfer device 45 transfers the workpiece W on the workpiece holding shelf 29.30 at level L3 to the same workpiece. Transfer to level work holding shelf 37.38. On the other hand, when the work W is stored on the work holding shelf 37.38 at level L3, the work receiving side endless stocker 21 stores the next work W on the new work holding shelf 29.30 that has reached level L1. After receiving, the step operation is performed for one more pitch and three pieces of work are stored. By repeating the above operations, the work W is stored in the endless stockers 21 and 22.

On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG.
When the processing device 12 resumes operation, the work holding shelf 3 at level L1 of the endless stocker 22 on the work sending side
7.38 After the workpiece W at the center of gravity position is delivered to the center of gravity position of the workpiece receiving section 122 of the second processing device 12 by the workpiece delivery device 39, the workpiece W at the center of gravity position is transferred to the workpiece delivery side endless stocker 22.
performs a step operation by one pitch, and the level L2 to L9
The work holding shelves 37 and 38 up to this point rise by one pitch. As a result, the next work holding shelf 37, 38 reaches level L9, so the work transfer device 45 moves to level L9.
The work W on the work holding shelf 29.30 is moved onto the empty work holding shelf 37.38 at the same level.

In this way, the workpieces W are transferred to the endless stocker 22 on the workpiece delivery side in the order in which they are supplied from the first processing device 11 to the endless stocker 21 on the workpiece receiving side, and are then supplied from the endless stocker 22 on the workpiece delivery side to the second processing device 12. Ru.

The work transfer device 45 moves up and down based on the signal from the sensor as the level of the first work W in the endless stocker 21 on the work receiving side changes.

Although the illustrated embodiments have been described above, the method and apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

For example, in the embodiment described above, the endless stockers on the work receiving side and the work sending side each include a pair of endless belts, but a structure in which a work holding shelf is provided on a sub-endless belt may also be used. Further, the endless stocker on the work receiving side and the endless stocker on the work sending side may be arranged so as to accumulate the works in the horizontal direction. In this case, since the work can be held on the endless belt, the work holding shelf can be omitted. Further, in this case, the workpiece transfer device may be arranged so as to be horizontally movable along the storage direction of the workpieces. Further, the workpiece delivery device and the workpiece transfer device may be configured to eject or transfer the workpieces using an air cylinder device. Additionally, the dimensions of the Entress I-taker can be set so that it can store any number of workpieces as required. Furthermore, the puffer storage according to the invention can be provided between each processing device to be connected in series.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to always send out the workpieces from the workpiece delivery side endless stocker in the order in which they are supplied to the workpiece reception side endless stocker, and it is possible to Even when handling workpieces, there is no need to interrupt the supply of workpieces to the endless stopper on the workpiece receiving side. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent a decrease in the operating rate.

In particular, according to the method and apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to temporarily store works in both the endless stocker on the work sending side and the endless stocker on the work receiving side, so that the storage capacity can be increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the apparatus for carrying out the method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line nn of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing main parts of the equipment shown in Figure 1 in detail; Figure 5 is a group of processing equipment connected via buffer storage. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a buffer storage illustrating a conventional work transfer and storage method. 20...Buffer storage, 21...Work receiving side endless stocker, 22...
・Work sending side endless stocker, 29.30...
Work holding shelf (work holding part), 37. 38... Work holding shelf (work holding part), 39... Work sending device, 45... Work transferring device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A work receiving endless stocker (21) each including a plurality of work holding sections (29, 30, 37, 38) arranged in parallel and capable of circulating in opposite directions.
Then, the workpiece (W) supplied from the outside to the workpiece holder (29, 30) of the workpiece receiving endless stocker (21) at a predetermined workpiece receiving position is transferred to the workpiece sending side endless stocker (22) using the workpiece sending side endless stocker (22). After the work is transferred to the work holding section (37, 38) of the stocker (22), the work is transferred to the outside from the work holding section (37, 38) of the endless stocker (22) on the work sending side at a predetermined work sending position adjacent to the work receiving position. A workpiece delivery and storage method for sending out a workpiece (W), the workpiece (W) being transferred to an endless stocker (22) on the workpiece sending side.
) is not stored, the work holding part (2) at the work receiving position of the endless stocker (21) on the work receiving side
9, 30) is transferred to the workpiece holder (37, 38) at the work delivery position of the work delivery side endless stocker (22), and the workpiece (W) is transferred to the work delivery side endless stocker (22). is stored, the work receiving endless stocker (21) is moved in the circulation direction and the work holding parts (37, 3) of the work sending endless stocker (22) that finally received the work are moved.
The workpiece (W) at the head of the work receiving side endless stocker (21) in the circulation direction is transferred to the next empty work holding section (37, 38) of step 8), and the workpiece is transferred from the workpiece sending side endless stocker (22). Work holding part in position (
37, 38), the workpiece delivery side endless stocker (22) is moved in the circulation direction to position the next workpiece holder (37, 38) at the workpiece delivery position. delivery and storage methods. 2. A work-receiving endless stocker (21) each equipped with a plurality of work-holding parts (29, 30, 37, 38) arranged in parallel and capable of circulating in opposite directions.
and a work sending-out endless stocker (22), and a workpiece (W) supplied from the outside to the work holding parts (29, 30) of the work receiving endless stocker (21) at a predetermined work receiving position. (
22), and a workpiece transfer device (45) for transferring the workpieces to the workpiece holding sections (37, 38) of the workpiece receiving position (22); , 38), and a work sending device (39) for sending out the work (W) to the outside. If there is a workpiece receiving position, the endless stocker (20
), and when the workpiece (W) is not stored in the endless stocker (22) on the workpiece sending side, the workpiece transfer device (45) moves forward by one step in the circulation direction of the endless stocker (22) on the workpiece receiving side. Stocker (21
) is transferred to the workpiece holder (37, 3) at the workpiece delivery position of the endless stocker (22) on the workpiece delivery side.
8), and transfer the workpiece to the endless stocker (
22), the next empty work holding part ( 37, 38) to transfer the workpiece (W) at the head of the workpiece reception side endless stocker (21) in the circulation direction, and the workpiece delivery side endless stocker (22) is a workpiece holding section at the workpiece delivery position. (
After the workpiece (W) is sent out from the workpiece holding section (37, 38), it is moved by one step in the circulation direction and transferred to the next workpiece holding section (37, 38).
7, 38) is formed so as to be located at a work delivery position.