JPS6265823A - Storage device for article to be conveyed - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the efficiency of conveyance, by providing such an arrangement that carriers such as, for example, trays containing therein articles are received from an upper introduction port and are delivered from a lower delivery port while the carriers are successively reserved in a passage between the introduction port and the delivery port when a downstream conveyer or the like is stopped. CONSTITUTION:When a tray 31 having been conveyed on an introduction roller conveyer 3 comes to a position in the front of an introduction port 2 of a longitudinal frame 1, the tray 2 is shifted from the introduction port 2 onto a roller receiving member 11 through the intermediary of a roller receiver 6 which is set in a horizontal condition by operating an air cylinder 10. Then, when a dog 23 is slightly elevated in association with the reverse rotation of a motor 18, the tray 31 is received by the dog 23, and when the motor 18 is normally rotated after the roller receiving member 11 is retracted, the tray 31 is lowered together with the dog 23 and is then shifted onto a delivery conveyer 30. At this time if the conveyer 30 comes to a stop and another tray 31 is located at its starting end, the dog 23 is lowered down to a position above another tray 31 to reserve the tray 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is designed to receive, for example, a tray containing a large number of small items through an upper loading port, normally transport the tray downward, and transport it downward from the lower side. The present invention relates to a transported object storage device that efficiently transports trays and the like by reliably transferring them to a conveyor or the like and temporarily storing the trays and the like inside when the conveyor stops.

(Prior art and its problems) Such devices have already been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publications No. 57-38487 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-41421.

These devices have support members fixed at predetermined intervals on an endless chain that is stretched in a vertical frame and faces in the vertical direction, and supports and lowers the conveyed items that are sent in from the loading port at the top. , and are transferred onto the conveyor below.

However, with conventional devices, if the conveyor temporarily stops for some reason and the conveyed material accumulates at the exit of the storage device,
The supporting material of the rotating endless chain collides with the conveyed object below, crushing it or causing equipment failure.

To prevent this, if the endless chain stops running and the feeding of the conveyed object into the device is stopped until the conveyed object is completely removed from the device, a void will be created inside the device. The storage efficiency of conveyed objects is poor, and even if the conveyor is restarted, the flowing conveyed objects become discontinuous, resulting in poor conveyance efficiency.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a conveyance object storage device with an entrance for conveyance objects at the upper part.
A vertical frame has a passage for conveyed goods in the center and an outlet for conveyed goods at the bottom, an endless chain is installed on both sides of the passage of the vertical frame and runs vertically, and each endless chain has a passage for conveyed goods. Receiving members for conveyed objects are arranged with a vertical interval equal to or larger than the vertical width and can freely appear in and out of the passage; and a supporting member for the conveyed object that substantially forms a shelf when protruding into the passageway, a conveyed object that is installed at key points of the vertical frame and stays at each of the above-mentioned shelves or an exit, and the supporting member. a detection device for detecting the relative position of the receiving member with respect to the receiving member;
When there is no object to be transported within the vertical frame, the object is passed through the loading port to the exit, and when there is an object at the lower shelf or exit, the upper support member is protruded and the receiving member is moved. When the transported objects supported by the storage device are transferred, and there are no more transported objects on the lower shelf or outlet, the transported objects on the upper shelf are transferred to the lower shelf, and the problem mentioned above can be solved. This is an attempt to resolve the issue.

(Function) In the device of the present invention, the article detection device detects whether or not an article is staying in the path of the article, and automatically links the endless chain, the article receiving member, and the article supporting member. - When there is no article in the vertical frame, the article is quickly passed through, and when the article is accumulated at the exit, subsequent articles are stored in the vertical frame until the article is exhausted. do.

(Example) Figures 1 and 2 show a conveyed object storage device according to the present invention, in which a conveyed object loading port (2 ), and an input roller conveyor (3) facing left and right is installed in front of the lower end thereof.

A chain transfer (5) is installed between the rollers (4) in front of the entrance (2) in the roller conveyor (3).
is installed.

A rectangular plate-shaped front roller receiving material (
6) is pivotally supported on the vertical frame (1) with a pivot (7) fixed to the center and facing in the left-right direction, and a large-diameter rotating roller ( 8) is installed.

The pivot (7) is linked via a link (9) to an upward air cylinder (10) mounted on the vertical frame (1), and the front roller receiver (6) is connected to the air cylinder (10) by the air cylinder (10).
It rotates from a horizontal position at the same height as the roller conveyor (3) to a vertical position.

Behind the front roller support (6), an inverted-shaped rear roller support (11) is pivotally supported by the vertical frame (1) with a pivot (12) fixed to its upper end and facing in the left-right direction. ing.

The pivot (12), with the link (13), connects the vertical frame (1)
linked to the downward air cylinder (14) attached to the
The rear roller support material (11) is moved back by the air cylinder (14) from a horizontal position on the extended surface of the front roller support material (6) when the bottom edge is horizontal, so that the tip of the bottom edge is aligned with the tip of the top edge. Rotate until it is in the lower position.

A pair of front and rear sprockets (16) is fitted into each of the four sprocket shafts (15) facing in the front-rear direction, which are pivoted near the four corners of the vertical frame (1). ), an endless chain (17) is wound around each.

Each endless chain (17) is operated by a deceleration motor (18) installed at the top of the vertical frame (1) and capable of rotating in both directions.
They rotate simultaneously at the same speed and in opposite directions via the intermediate sprocket (19).

A large number of mounting brackets (20) are fixed to the right front and rear endless chains (17) at predetermined intervals, and between the front and rear mounting brackets (20) of equal height, there are connecting plates (21) facing in the front and rear direction.
) is installed, and a dog shaft (22) is pivotally installed.

Each dog @ (22) has a pair of plate-shaped dogs (front and rear).
23) is fixed to one end of the dog (23).

When the dog (23) is on the inner side of the endless chain (17), it comes into contact with the lower edge of the connecting plate (21) and the dog (23)
) is provided with a protruding stopper (24) that holds the plate horizontally.

The dog (23) is attached to the connecting plate (21) with an endless chain (
17), a leaf spring (25) is attached to provide a slight bias so as to be oriented in a direction perpendicular to 17).

Therefore, when the dog (23) moves from the upper end of the endless chain (17) to the inner side, it becomes reliably horizontal due to the bias of the leaf spring (25) and its own weight, and can also be swung upward. , when it is on the outer edge of the endless chain (17), it hangs down due to its own weight.

The left front and rear endless chains (F) are configured symmetrically with the right front and rear endless chains (17) described above.

The above-mentioned rear roller receiving material (1) is installed at the front and rear part of the vertical frame (1).
3 with a structure similar to 1) arranged vertically with a predetermined interval
The pivot shaft (
27) are pivotally connected at both ends.

The pivot 11i1 (27), with a link (28), is attached to an air cylinder (2) mounted on the vertical frame (1) and facing in the vertical direction.
9), each swinging roller receiving member (26) is connected to the tip of the
The air cylinder (29) rotates from a position where the lower side is horizontal until the tip of the lower side is located below the tip of the upper side and is inclined.

An output roller conveyor (30) is installed between the lower ends of the left and right endless chains (17), facing in a direction perpendicular to the input roller conveyor (3).

(31) in the figure is a tray that stores many small items.
S is a photoelectric sensor for detecting the tray (31) as described later.

Next, the operation of this apparatus having the above configuration will be explained.

When the start switch of the control device (not shown) is turned on, trays (
31), the chain transfer (5) is
The front roller receiving material (6) is vertical, the rear roller receiving material (11) is inclined, and the dog (23) on the inner side of the endless chain (I7) is inserted into the carry-in roller conveyor (3). Unless otherwise specified, the dog (23) is an endless chain (17).
) is the inlet roller conveyor (
3) located slightly above each swinging roller receiving material (26)
is sloping.

As shown in Fig. 5a, when the tray (31) is conveyed on the carry-in roller conveyor (3) and comes in front of the carry-in entrance (2) of the vertical frame (1), the sensor SL detects this. hand,
The chain transfer (5) rises and the tray (31)
).

At the same time, the air cylinders (10) and (14) extend, and both roller receiving materials (6) and (11) become horizontal.
The dog (23) rotates forward with the deceleration motor (18), and the dog (23) starts descending, and both roller receiving materials (15) and (11) become horizontal.
When the vehicle descends to LoomPm, sensor S2 detects this.

The motor (18) stops and preparations for receiving the tray (31) are completed.

Then, as shown in Fig. 5b, the chain transfer (5) rotates and the autorotating roller (8) rotates, and the tray (31) is carried into the entrance (2), and then as shown in Fig. 5c. The front roller support (6) is vertical, the tray (31) is pushed in, and the rear roller support (6) is vertical.
11).

When sensors S, S4 detect this, the motor (18) reverses, the dog (23) rises, and the tray (31)
When the sensor S5 detects the raised dog (23), the motor (18) stops, and the rear roller receiving material (11) swings backward to avoid the dog (23) from below the tray (31). Retire.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5d, the sensors 5illS,...
When S,, S, detects that there is no tray (31) below, the motor (18) rotates in the normal direction, and the tray (31) on the dog (23) is transferred to the stopped unloading roller conveyor (
30) The upper dog (
23) is detected by the sensor S4, and the motor (18
) will stop.

The sensor S1° is connected to the unloading roller conveyor (30).
When detecting that there is no tray (31) on top, the sensor S
9 has detected the tray (3I), the unloading roller conveyor (30) starts operating and unloads the tray (31).

Note that while the discharge roller conveyor (30) is in operation, until the sensor S1□ detects the passage of the tray (31).

Also, even if the unloading roller conveyor (30) is stopped.

Front and rear roller bearings (6) (11) and swinging roller bearings (2)
6) is in operation, the motor (18) does not rotate in either the forward or reverse direction.

In this way, this device uses the sensor S while the tray (31) is smoothly flowing on the unloading roller conveyor (30).
Each time it detects the passage of a tray (31), it moves the next tray (31) on the chain transfer (5) onto the unloading roller conveyor (30), while the oscillating roller receiving material (
26) does not operate, and the number of stops and reverse rotations of the motor (18) is small, so the transfer efficiency is good.

In FIG. 5e, if the carry-out roller conveyor (30) stops for some reason and there is a tray (31a) at the starting end, the next tray (31b) is moved by the chain transfer (
5) When it reaches the top, it is transferred to the dog (23) of the endless chain (17) and lowered inside the device as described above.

Then, when the tray (31b) descends to a predetermined height above the tray (31a) and is detected by the sensor S6,
Since the tray (31a) has already been detected by the sensor S, the motor (18) stops and the air cylinder (29) moves the swinging roller receiving material (26) at the lower end.
The lower side becomes horizontal and protrudes directly below the tray (31b), then the motor (18) rotates forward, the dog (23) descends, and the tray (31b) is transferred to the swinging roller receiver (26). It will be posted.

Then, the subsequent tray (31c) that has been waiting on the chain transfer (5) during this time is transferred to the swinging roller receiver (26) above the tray (31b) in the same manner as described above.

In this way, there are additionally (31d) and (3
1e) are continuously stored, the trays (3-1f) wait on the chain transfer (5), and the carry-in roller conveyor (3) stops.

In addition, the uppermost tray (31e) is the rear roller receiving material (
11).

During the tray storage operation described above, for example, after the tray (31b) is transferred to the swinging roller receiver (26), the tray (31c) is
), the motor (18) rotates forward and the horizontal dog (23) descends, naturally colliding with the top of the lower tray (31a), but as mentioned above, the horizontal dog (23) ) can swing upward, so it passes along the side of the tray (31a) as shown in Figure 4, without crushing the tray (31a) or damaging the device. When it goes around the outer side of the endless chain (17) and rises, it hangs down due to its own weight, so it does not catch the clothes of passersby, and the device can be made smaller.

As shown in FIG. 5e, the stored trays (31a) to (
31e), the unloading roller conveyor (30) resumes operation, the lowest tray (31a) is unloaded, and the sensor S
, detects this, the motor (18) reverses, and each dog (23) rises until the upper dog (23) is detected by the sensor S, and each tray (31b) to (31
e), the motor (18) stops, and each swinging roller support (26) and rear roller support (11)
will be evacuated.

Then, the motor (18) rotates forward and each tray (31b
) to (31e) descend step by step until the lowest tray (
31b) is carried out by a carry-out roller conveyor (30).

In addition, this device is equipped with two roller conveyors (3) (3) for loading and unloading.
0) is, for example, a belt conveyor, and the tray (31
) can also be effectively used in an article conveying device using an air cylinder or the like as a device for inserting the material into the loading port (2).

(Effects of the present invention) As described above, when the carry-out conveyor is operating smoothly, the apparatus of the present invention quickly transfers a large number of trays sent to the carry-in conveyor to the m-out conveyor at a constant pitch. However, when the carry-out conveyor stops for some reason, the trays sent by the carry-in conveyor are automatically stored, and as soon as the carry-out conveyor resumes operation, the trays are automatically stored. Since the trays are sequentially discharged onto the conveyor,
No empty space is created on the unloading conveyor, and conveyance efficiency is significantly improved.

In addition, in the tray lowering device of this device, the dog that is located on the inner side of the endless chain and supports the tray horizontally can swing upward, so the empty dog that descends collides with the tray below. The empty dog that rises at the outer edge of the endless chain will hang down due to its own weight, so even if it is exposed, it will not crush the dog or cause the device to malfunction. No more catching passersby's clothes.

Moreover, this device can be manufactured in a small size.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical front view, FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional plan view, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the vertical tray conveying device. Figure 5 is
The operation of the device of the present invention is shown in Fig. 5a, which shows the state when the tray is located just before the entrance of the device of the invention, and Fig. 5b, which shows the state when the tray is inserted into the entrance. Fifth
Figure c shows the state when the tray is pushed to the back of the entrance, Figure 5d shows the state where the tray is being lowered, and Figure 5e shows the state when the tray is stored in the device of the present invention. This shows that. (1) Vertical frame (2) Loading entrance (3)
Incoming roller conveyor (4) Roller (5) Chain transfer (6) Front roller receiving material (force axis
(8) Rotating roller (9) Link (10) Air cylinder (11)
) Rear roller support material (12) Pivot (13) Link (14) Air cylinder (15)
) Sprocket shaft (16) Sprocket (1
7) Endless chain (18) Deceleration motor (
19) Intermediate sprocket (2 mounting bracket (21)
) Connecting plate (22) Dog shaft (23
) Dog (24) Stopper (25
) Leaf spring (26) Swinging roller receiving material (
27) Axis (28) Link (29)
) Air cylinder (30) Unloading roller conveyor Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A vertical frame that has an inlet for conveyed goods at the top, a passage for conveyed goods in the center, and an outlet for conveyed goods at the bottom, and an endless chain that is installed on both sides of the passage of the vertical frame and runs vertically. , each endless chain is provided with a receiving member for the transported object, which is arranged with a vertical interval equal to or larger than the vertical width of the transported object, and is retractable into the passage, and a receiving member for the transported object, which is arranged on both sides of the passage, and whose vertical interval is equal to the interval between the receiving members. A support member for conveyed objects that substantially forms a shelf when it appears in the aisle and protrudes into the aisle, and a support member that is installed at key points of the vertical frame and is attached to each of the shelves or the exit. It consists of a detection device that detects the relative position of the receiving member with respect to the accumulated conveyed object and the supporting member, and when there is no conveyed object within the vertical frame,
The conveyed object is passed from the loading inlet to the unloading outlet, and when the conveyed object is on the lower shelf or the unloading outlet, the upper support member is protruded and the conveyed object supported by the receiving member is transferred. , a transported object storage device that transfers the transported objects on the upper shelf to the lower tier when the transported objects on the lower shelf or the carry-out port run out.