JPS638024B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention is a method for processing plate materials from a pre-process to a post-process between two processes in the field of processing plate materials of regular length or irregular length with a constant width, including metals and non-metals. The present invention relates to a plate material stocker for transferring, and particularly to a stocker having a buffer function for plate materials. In this specification, the buffer function refers to a buffer function that temporarily stores a plurality of plates in the stock section in order to smoothly receive and dispense plates in response to the difference in processing capacity between front and rear processing equipment. (Stock) refers to the buffer transfer function of the plate material between the two processes before and after the process.

For example, processing of board materials (workpieces) such as printed boards generally requires multiple processes, and processing equipment such as processing machines and inspection equipment are arranged for each process to form a processing line. The plate materials are sequentially transferred to the processing equipment and processed. In each process processing apparatus, the processing time for each plate material often varies due to variations in the length, thickness, etc. of the plate material, or differences in processing capacity of the apparatuses themselves. Therefore, it is important for this type of plate material stocker to have a buffer function for the plate material in order to smoothly transfer the plate material in response to such fluctuations in the processing time of the pre- and post-process equipment.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view for explaining a conventional plate stocker. In the figure, an endless conveyor chain 3 is stretched between two pulleys 1 and 2 that are spaced apart. A large number of plate holders 4 are fixedly arranged on the conveyor chain 3 at predetermined intervals. The plate material holder 4 has a plate material (for example,
A receiving groove 4a for receiving and holding a printed board 7 is formed. Conveyor chain 3 is
When the pulley 2 is rotationally driven by the motor 5, it is driven to revolve between the pulleys 1 and 2 together with the holder 4 in the directions of arrows A and B. The plate material 7 is transported in the direction of arrow _A1 to the receiving section 6 by a carry-in path 9-1 consisting of rollers, and then continues into the receiving groove 4 of the waiting plate material holder 4 in the receiving section 6.
The leading end side is fitted into the inside a and held by the plate material holder 4, and is transferred by the conveyor chain 3 to the dispensing section 8 side (in the direction of arrow A). Then, the plate material 7 is transferred to the dispensing section 8 through a discharging path 9-- which consists of rollers.
2, placed in a horizontal state, and transferred to the unloading path 9.
-2, it is carried out in _{the two} directions of arrow A. and,
The plate material holder 4, which is now empty after the plate material 7 has been delivered, is once again conveyed to the receiving section 6 side (in the direction of arrow B) by the conveyor chain 3, and the plate material transfer as described above is repeated.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the case of the above structure, since all of the large number of plate holders 4 are fixedly attached to the conveyor chain 3 and always move together with the conveyor chain 3, the receiving section 6
The problem is that the unloading section 8 and the unloading section 8 can only operate synchronously at all times, and that it is not possible to temporarily stock the plate material 7 and transfer the plate material 7 smoothly in response to fluctuations in the processing time of the pre- and post-process processing equipment. be. That is,
The above conventional example can only be used as a device exclusively for receiving or dispensing plate materials.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a plate material stocker having a buffer function that solves the above-mentioned problems, and as a means thereof, according to the present invention, there is provided an input part having a plate receiving mechanism, and a plate material transferred from the input part. A sheet material stocker comprising a stocking section for stocking a sheet material, and an output section having a dispensing mechanism for discharging sheet materials from the stock, wherein the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism are connected to the stock section to form a loop. A large number of plate material holders that can run around freely and an endless belt that runs close to the holders to transfer the holders are provided, and an endless belt is provided on the upstream side of the holder transfer between the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism. Each stopper mechanism is provided, and the stopper mechanism is configured to stop and temporarily reserve the holder, and to independently send out the holder one by one to the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism, respectively, as necessary. A plate material stocker having a buffer function is provided.

[Effect]

The above-mentioned stocker is provided with a stopper mechanism on the upstream side of the sheet material holder transfer between the sheet material receiving mechanism and the sheet material dispensing mechanism, and the stopper mechanism stops the sheet material holder and temporarily stocks it, and also allows the holder to be moved as needed. Since the plates can be sent out one by one independently to the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism, the plates can be transferred smoothly in response to fluctuations in processing time in the front and rear processes. That is, the stocker has a board buffering function.

〔Example〕

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

1 to 4 are diagrams for explaining embodiments of the present invention. In these figures, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention (however,
(shown with the base and side plates removed), Figure 2 shows the first
3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the stopper mechanisms 46 and 47 shown in FIGS _. 1 and ₂ , and FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a plate material stocker equipped with an embodiment of the present invention. be. 1, the front side will be referred to as the front side (pre-process side) of this embodiment and each part, the rear side will be referred to as the rear side, the left hand side will be referred to as the left side, and the right hand side will be referred to as the right side.

First, the overall structure and operation of the plate material stocker provided with this embodiment will be briefly explained with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 10 indicates the entire stocker. The stocker 10 basically includes an input section 11 of a plate material (for example, a printed board) 15, a stock section 12, and an output section 13.
The input section 11 is composed of a carry-in path 11-1 for the plate material 15 and a receiving mechanism 11-2. Stock part 12
As will be described later, has a board buffering function according to the present invention, and includes a receiving mechanism 11-2,
Holds a large number of plate materials that can freely run around rails 25-1 and 25-2 (however, 25-2 is not shown) arranged in a loop between the output unit 13 and the dispensing mechanism 13-2. Tools (hereinafter referred to as hangers)
14 and an endless belt 2 for circulating it
6, and stopper mechanisms 46, 47 (see FIG. 1). The output section 13 includes a payout mechanism 13-2 for the plate material 15 and a carry-out path 13-1. Then, the plate material 15 is carried in horizontally from the direction of arrow D through the carry-in path 11-1, and the plate material 15 is carried into the receiving mechanism 1.
1-2, it is received and held by the hanger 14 on standby, and then transferred to the stock part 12 in an upright state while being held by the hanger 14 by the receiving mechanism 11-2. The plate material 15 transferred to the stock section 12 is held by the hanger 14 and sent to the output section 13.
transferred to the side and temporarily stocked. The plates 15 thus stocked in the stock section 12 via the hanger 14 are horizontally transferred one by one onto the carry-out path 13-1 by the pay-out mechanism 13-2 of the output section 13. -1, it is carried out horizontally in the direction of arrow E. In addition, in FIG. 4, symbols 16-1 and 16-2 indicate the loading path 11-1.
Endless belt for carrying out, 17-1, 17
-2 is a rotating shaft that fixedly supports the pulleys 18-1 and 18-2, respectively; 19 is a belt 16-1 and 16-
2, 20A is a plate entry detection sensor, 20B is a plate reception detection sensor,
Reference numerals 22-1 and 22-2 denote left and right side plates, 23 a support shaft for supporting the receiving mechanism, and 24-1 a 90° index mechanism for indexing and rotating the support shaft 23. Reference numeral 27 denotes magnets 28 attached to the belt 26 at predetermined intervals.
is a motor for driving the belt 26, 29 is a driving belt hooked on a pulley (not shown) of the motor 28, and 30-1 and 30-2 are hangers 14.
The guide rails for preventing skew when traveling are shown. Furthermore, reference numeral 33 is a support shaft that supports the dispensing mechanism, 24-2 is a 90° index mechanism for indexing and rotating the support shaft 33, 36-1,
Reference numeral 36-2 denotes an endless conveying belt constituting the unloading path 13-1, 39 a motor for rotationally driving the belts 36-1 and 36-2, 40 a pair of left and right unloading auxiliary belts, and 41 a plurality of conveyor auxiliary belts. A plate length detector having a sensor 41a, 42 is a plurality of sensors 42a
54 is a plate turning stopper having a retractable rod 54a, 55 is a full sensor, and 56 is a control panel.

Now, this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Support shafts 2 are attached to left and right side plates 22-1, 22-1 erected on the base 21 (Fig. 2).
3 and 33 are rotatably supported. The support shafts 23 and 33 are 90° index mechanisms 24-1 and 24-2.
are connected to each other and driven to index and rotate. A receiving mechanism 11-2 is supported on the support shaft 23, and a dispensing mechanism 13-2 is supported on the support shaft 33. The receiving mechanism 11-2 and the dispensing mechanism 13-2 are constructed as the same mechanism, and are arranged in a state in which they are reversed by 180 degrees in the front-back direction. A loop-shaped rail 2 connects the receiving mechanism 11-2 and the dispensing mechanism 13-2.
5-1, 25-2 are left and right side plates 22-1, 22-
2, respectively. This rail 25-
A large number of hangers 14 are arranged on the hangers 1 and 25-2, which can freely move around. The hanger 14 is formed into an H-shape by a horizontal member 14a and vertical members 14b, 14b at both left and right ends, and four running rollers 14c are provided at both ends corresponding to the horizontal member 14a, and these four rollers The rails 14c are arranged in pairs, two on the top and two on the bottom, so as to sandwich the rails 25-1 and 25-2, respectively. The hanger 14 also has plate material receiving grooves 14 inside the vertical members 14b at both ends.
d are formed respectively, and a magnetic material (or magnet) 14e is attached to the center of the lower surface of the horizontal member 14a, and a guide rail 3 is attached to the lower surface of the horizontal member 14a.
Guide grooves 30-1 for each of 0-1 and 30-2
Two guide rollers 14f are provided which rotatably fit into either one of the guide rollers 30-2a and 30-2a and are arranged in pairs in the front and rear. The guide roller 14f serves to prevent the hanger 14 from skewing during transportation, and it
(For example, the guide roller 14f is arranged on the right side of the front hanger 14-1 and the left side of the rear hanger 14-2 shown in FIG. 1). Now, an endless belt (flat belt or timing belt) 26 for transferring the hanger 14 facing the magnetic material 14e of the hanger 14 is connected to the receiving mechanism 11-2 and the dispensing mechanism 13.
-2 by four pulleys 45. The four pulleys 45 are arranged in pairs at the front end (receiving mechanism 11-2 section) and rear end (dispensing mechanism 13-2 section) of the stock section 12, respectively, and one of them is disposed on the belt 29 (the receiving mechanism 11-2 section). 2, 4)
It is rotationally driven by a motor 28 (FIG. 4) via a pulley and the like. As a result, the belt 26 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction (in the direction of arrows J and K). A plurality of magnets 27 are attached to the outer surface of the belt 26 at predetermined intervals so as to face the magnetic material 14e of the hanger 14. Therefore, the belt 26 is arranged so that the magnet 27 moves close to the magnetic material 14e of the hanger 14 in a free state and attracts it, thereby transporting the hanger 14 in the directions of arrows J and K. Note that the symbol g shown in FIG. 2 indicates the gap between the magnet 27 and the magnetic material 14e (for example, 0.5 mm).
degree). This gap g is provided by an abutment roller (not shown) attached to a mounting bracket (not shown) for attaching the machinette onto the belt 26 and in contact with the lower surface of the hanger 14. This gap g is a belt 2 for preventing noise generation when the magnet 27 and the magnetic material 14e are attracted.
This is provided to ensure smooth rotation of the 6. Now, a stopper mechanism 46 and a 4
7 are arranged respectively. The stopper mechanisms 46 and 47 consist of a pair of cylinders 46-1 and 46-2, and 47-1 and 47-2, which are arranged in parallel.
The piston rods 46a-1 and 46a-2 and 47a-1 and 47a-2 are connected to the side plates 22-1 and 22-
2 and guide rails 25-1, 25-2 so that the left and right side plates 22-1 and 22- are retractable.
2 are placed symmetrically on the left and right respectively (however, the 1st
Only the right side is shown in the figure). Stopper mechanisms 46 and 47
are configured to individually perform the same operation using the same mechanism. Therefore, as a representative example, the stopper mechanism 4
The operation of step 6 will be explained with reference to FIG. Furthermore, the third
In the figure, reference numerals 25-2 and 25-1 indicate loop-shaped rails as described above, and for ease of explanation, specific hangers 14 are indicated by reference numerals 14-1 and 25-1.
14-2 and 14-3, respectively. Now, the third
As shown in FIG. , piston rod 46a
-1 is projected and stopped, and in conjunction with this, the hangers 14-2, 14-3 to 14 are sequentially stopped and stored on the upstream side of the receiving mechanism 11-2.
At this time, the piston rod 46a-2 is retracted (retracted) as shown. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the piston rod 46a-2 protrudes to sandwich the hanger 14-1 between it and the piston rod 46a-1, and the hangers below the hanger 14-2 are stopped and stocked. When the hanger 14-1 is in this clamped position, the engaging claw 35 of the receiving mechanism 11-2 protrudes outward from the disk 34, and is engaged and held by the engaging claw 35. Now,
Next, as shown in Figure C, the piston rod 46a
-1 retracts and releases the hanger 14-1 from the stopper mechanism 46. This released hanger 14-1 is attached to the receiving mechanism 11-2 (the engaging claw 3
5) in the direction of arrow G. Next, as shown in Figure 2, the piston rod 46a-1 protrudes again. Next, as shown in Figure E, the piston rod 46a-2 is retracted and the hanger 1
4-2 is stopped by the piston rod 46a-1, resulting in the same state as shown in Figure A, and then the piston rods 46a-1 and 46a-2 repeat the same operation as described above, thereby removing the hangers below the hanger 14-2. are sequentially indexed and transferred one by one in the same manner as in the case of the upper air hanger 14-1. In addition, the piston rod 46a-1 protruding operation in Figure 2,
The retracting movement of the piston rod 46a-2 in Fig. 5 may be performed synchronously instead of individually as described above. In this way, the stopper mechanism 46 stops the hanger 14 transferred from the dispensing side.
-1, 14-2, 14-3 to 14 are stopped, temporarily stocked, and indexed one by one and sent to the receiving mechanism 11-2. Now, the stopper mechanism 47 disposed upstream of the dispensing mechanism 13-2 performs the same operation as the stopper mechanism 46 described above, separately from the stopper mechanism 46, as described above. From the side (Fig. 1, from the direction of arrow J) Plate material 1
The hanger 14, which has been transferred holding the hanger 5, is stopped and temporarily stocked, and the hangers 14 are indexed one by one and sent to the dispensing mechanism 13-2.

In this embodiment, the stock section 12 is configured as described above, and the plate material 15 received by the receiving mechanism 11-2 is temporarily stocked and reserved via the hanger 14, and is used for subsequent processing. It has a function of being able to send out to the payout mechanism 13-2 according to a request, that is, a buffer function.

In addition, the receiving mechanism 11-2 and the dispensing mechanism 13-2
As mentioned above, these are the same mechanism, but are arranged 180 degrees reversed from each other in the front-back direction, and are constructed as described below. Left and right side plates 22-1, 22-2
Support shafts 22 and 23 supported by the support shafts 22 and 23 are connected to 90° indexes 24-1 and 24-2, respectively, and are indexed and rotated. A pair of left and right discs 34, 34 are inserted and fixed to the support shafts 23, 33, respectively. Four engaging claws 35 are arranged on each disc 34 at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction and are attached to the discs 34 so as to be slidable in the radial direction. Each engagement claw 35 has an engagement groove 3 at its outer tip for fitting and holding the hanger 14.
5a, and a roller 35b is provided at the inner end. Then, each engaging pawl 35 is applied with a pressing force toward the center of the disc 35 by a tension coil spring 37, and as a result, the roller 35b is elastically pressed onto the outer periphery of the rotary cam 38A, and the cam 38
A is driven in and out in the radial direction, and the disc 3
5 to rotate in the circumferential direction. The rotating cams 38A are fixed to both ends of a hollow cylindrical outer shaft 38B rotatably disposed around the outer periphery of the support shafts 23, 33, and are driven by the outer shaft 38B. The outer shaft 38B has the drive plate 3 fixed thereto.
The support shafts 23 and 33 are individually rotated in forward and reverse directions within a predetermined rotation angle range by a driving device such as a cylinder (not shown) via the pin 38C and the pin 38D, and the cam 38A is driven accordingly. The cam 38A has a large-diameter cam surface and a small-diameter cam surface, and the large-diameter cam surface causes the engagement claw 35 to protrude and engage with the hanger 14, and the small-diameter cam surface causes the engagement claw 35 to retract. to release the hanger 14. Therefore, the receiving mechanism 11-2
The operation of the engaging claw 35 is as follows. Engagement claw 3
5 waits in a recessed state below the center of the disk 34, and when the hanger 14 is transferred below the center (the position of this hanger 14 is the position shown in FIG. 3B described above). ), the hanger 14 is protruded by rotation of the cam 38A to engage and hold the hanger 14 in the engagement groove 35a, and then, with the hanger 14 held, the disk 3
4 in the clockwise direction (Fig. 1, direction G)
After being rotated 90 degrees, the hanger 14 is placed horizontally in the loading path 1.
Hold it facing 1-1. Then, after the hanger 14 receives and holds the plate material 15 carried in from the carry-in path 11-1 through the receiving groove 14d, the engaging claw 35 further moves the plate material 15 in a clockwise direction (see FIG. The hanger 14 is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow G), and the hanger 14 is rotated and transferred to the upper center of the disk 34 together with the plate 15 in an upright position. After that, the engaging claw 3
5 is inserted into the hanger 1 by rotation of the cam 38A.
Release 4. The released hanger 14 is then transferred to the dispensing side (in the direction of arrow J in FIG. 1) by the belt 26 as described above. In this way, the four engaging claws 35 of the disc 34 repeat the same operation as described above with their phases shifted by 90 degrees. The engaging claw 35 of the dispensing mechanism 13-2 is connected to the receiving mechanism 11-2.
The disc 3 is moved by the same operation as the engaging claw 35 of
The hanger 14 that has been transferred to the upper center of the plate 4 is engaged and held and rotated 90 degrees clockwise by the disk 34, and after the plate material 15 is discharged onto the unloading path 13-1 at the horizontal portion, it is further rotated clockwise. Rotated 90° in the rotational direction,
Release the hanger 14 below the center of the disc 34.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism operate independently, and the stock section has a buffer function to accommodate this, so that the processing time of the pre- and post-processes is reduced. The effect of being able to receive and unload plate materials while reliably responding to fluctuations is obtained, and the operating rate of the entire plate processing line can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention (however, the base and side plates are removed), Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line C ₁ - C ₂ of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the embodiment of the present invention. 1st
4th explanatory diagram of the operation of the stopper mechanisms 46 and 47 shown in the figure.
The figure is an external perspective view of a stocker equipped with an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional plate stocker. 10... Plate material stocker according to the present invention, 11
... Input section, 11-1 ... Loading path, 11-2 ...
Receiving mechanism, 12... Stock part (with buffer function), 13... Output part, 13-1... Unloading path, 13-2... Payout mechanism, 14... Board material holder (hanger), 14d... Plate receiving groove, 14e
... Magnetic material (or magnet), 15 ... Board material (e.g. printed board), 22-1, 22-2 ...
Side plates, 23, 33...Support shafts that support the receiving mechanism 11-2 and the dispensing mechanism 13-2, respectively, 24
-1, 24-2...90° index mechanism, 25
-1, 25-2...Pair of left and right loop-shaped rails, 26...Endless belt for transporting plate material holder 14, 27...Magnet, 34...Support shaft 23,
Disc supported and fixed to 33, 35...engaging claw, 3
5a...Engagement groove for engaging and holding the holder 14, 35b...Roller, 37...Tension coil spring, 38A...Rotating cam, 38B...Outer shaft, 3
8C...Drive plate, 38D...Pin, 45...Pulley for hanging 26 belts (consisting of 4 pieces in total), 46,
47...Stopper mechanism, 46-1, 46-2, 4
7-1, 47-2...Cylinder, 46a-1, 4
6a-2, 47a-1, 47a-2...Piston rod.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plate material stocker consisting of an input part having a plate receiving mechanism, a stock part for stocking the plate transferred from the input part, and an output part having a dispensing mechanism for discharging the plate from the stock, A large number of plate material holders connected to the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism in the stock part and capable of freely circulating in a loop, and an endless plate that runs close to the holders to transfer the holders. a belt is provided, and a stopper mechanism is provided on the upstream side of the holder transfer between the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism, respectively;
The stopper mechanism is characterized in that it is configured to stop and temporarily reserve the holder and, if necessary, to independently send out the holder one by one to the receiving mechanism and the dispensing mechanism. Plate stocker with buffer function.