KR101887373B1 - Apparatus for counting tray - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for counting stages of trays, capable of automatically counting the number of stages of the trays which are stacked while accommodating products therein. The present invention includes a pair of lifting members configured to move up and down at right and left sides of a tray stack; a physical counter cylinder fixed to at least one of the pair of lifting members; and a physical counter fixed to the physical counter cylinder to move toward or away from the tray stack upon the operation of the physical counter cylinder. The physical counter includes a fixing member fixed to the physical counter cylinder; a photo-sensor installed in the fixing member and having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion; and a counter bracket installed in the fixing member to be switched between a light blocking position, which does not allow the arrival of light emitted from the light emitting portion to the light receiving portion, and a light permission position, which allows the arrival of the light to the light receiving portion. The counter bracket is maintained in the light permission position when the lifting member comes into contact with each tray of the tray stack while moving downward and returns to the light blocking position when the contact of the lifting member with the tray has been completed.

Description

{APPARATUS FOR COUNTING TRAY}

The present invention relates to a tray number counting apparatus, and more particularly, to a tray number counting apparatus for automatically counting the number of stacked trays while accommodating predetermined objects.

A tray is a type of container used for safely transporting articles, and is used in various industrial fields.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Registration No. 10-0725184 (Semiconductor Device Automatic Packaging Apparatus), in a semiconductor field, a manufactured semiconductor device is put in a packaging container and sealed and shipped. At this time, the manufactured semiconductor device is housed in a tray This tray is put into a packaging container to seal the packaging container.

In addition, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-1345731 (Automatic Packaging Device of Touch Screen Panel), in a display field, a manufactured display panel (touch screen panel) is put in a packaging container and sealed and shipped. The panel is stored in a tray, and the tray is put into a packaging container to seal the packaging container.

[0003] In the past, an operation of manually inserting a tray containing articles (semiconductor elements, display panels, etc.) into a packaging container and sealing it was manually performed by an operator.

However, according to the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, a process of sealing a certain number of packing tray stacks in a single packaging container is only performed automatically, and after counting the number of trays of already stacked trays in a plurality of stages The process of picking up only a certain number of trays constituting the stacking body of the packaging tray is not started.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-1205854 (a sheet counting apparatus and method using a vision module) discloses a technique of counting the number of stacked transparent or translucent sheet members. However, Can not be used for singular counting. In addition, although a technique for counting the number of stacked thin cards is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 10-2010-0040700 (card-counting apparatus), this technique can not also be used for counting the number of stacked trays.

Registration No. 10-0725184 (Automatic packaging device for semiconductor devices) Registration No. 10-1345731 (automatic packaging apparatus of touch screen panel) Patent Registration No. 10-1205854 (Seat Counting Apparatus and Method Using Vision Module) Open No. 10-2010-0040700 (card-counting device)

In order to completely automate the process of sealing the packing tray stacked with the stacked packages in a certain number of stages, it is necessary to count the number of stacks of the stacked stacks, It is necessary to automate both the tray pickup process of picking up only the tray and the sealing process of sealing the picked-up packaging tray stack in the packaging container.

However, automation of the tray pickup process has not yet been accomplished. Accordingly, the present invention provides a tray counting device that is essential for automating the tray pickup process.

The present invention relates to a tray stacked body, comprising: a pair of elevating members provided so as to be able to ascend and descend in right and left directions of a tray stacked body; A physical counter cylinder fixed to at least one of the pair of lifting members; And a physical counter fixed to the cylinder for the physical counter and moving to move toward or away from the tray chuck during operation of the physical counter cylinder. Here, the physical counter may include: a fixing member fixed to the cylinder for the physical counter; A photosensor provided in the fixing member and having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion; And the light receiving portion is provided on the fixing member so as to come in a light incapable attitude which permits the light emitted from the light emitting portion to reach the light receiving portion and a permissible light attainment attitude, And a counter bracket adapted to return to the light attenuating posture when the contact with the tray is completed when the tray is brought into contact with the tray.

The counter bracket is coupled to the fixing member so as to rotate about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction, and maintains the light incapability state normally due to the elastic force of the spring coupled to the fixing member, And has a protruding portion protruding toward the tray stack body at its upper end.

The tray number counting device includes a laser sensing counter. Wherein the laser sensing counter includes a laser emitting portion provided on any one of the pair of elevating members and is mounted on the other one of the pair of elevating members so as to be located at the same height as the laser emitting portion, And a laser light receiving section for receiving the laser light.

The tray number counting apparatus includes a pick-up member provided at each of the front and rear ends of the pair of elevating means. And the pick-up member includes a pedestal fixed to the cylinder for the pick-up member fixed to the elevating means or the elevating means. The pedestal has at one end an insertion end for insertion into the bottom of the lastly counted last counting tray.

More specifically, the pedestal includes an upper member fixed to the elevating means or the cylinder for the pick-up member, the upper member having the insertion end at one end; An opening cylinder provided in the upper member; And a lower member fixed to the cylinder rod of the opening cylinder so as to be positioned below the upper member so as to move up and down during operation of the opening cylinder and having the insertion end at one end.

The tray number counting apparatus includes a gripper installed on each of the pair of elevating members. The gripper includes a gripper cylinder fixed to the elevating means; And a pad secured to the cylinder for the gripper, the pad moving closer to or away from the upper trays of the last counting tray during operation of the cylinder for the gripper.

According to the present invention, the number of trays of the tray can be automatically and accurately counted by at least one of the physical counter and the laser sensing counter.

According to the present invention, trays of a counted number of stages can be automatically picked up and transported to a place for a subsequent process. In this process, a tray to be picked up by a tray positioned at the lowermost part of the picked- Can be prevented.

In addition, according to the present invention, the up-pick-up process can be stably performed.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a tray number counting apparatus according to the present invention.
2 is a perspective view schematically showing an upper portion of the elevating member shown in Fig.
3 is an exploded perspective view showing the physical counter shown in Fig.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a tray number counting apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that the terminology or words used herein are not to be construed in an ordinary sense or a dictionary, and that the inventor can properly define the concept of a term to describe its invention in the best possible way And should be construed in accordance with the meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

The tray number counting apparatus 100 according to the present invention is for picking up only a desired number of trays 12 after accurately counting the number of stages of the trays 12 constituting the tray stack 10 A pair of lifting members 110a and 110b, a physical counter cylinder 120, and a physical counter 130 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The tray stack 10 comprises a plurality of trays 12 stacked up and down in a predetermined work platform (not shown). On the upper surface of each tray 12, there is provided a receiving groove 12a for accommodating objects such as semiconductor devices, display panels and the like. In addition, although not shown, various holes and grooves are provided on the side of each tray 12.

The pair of elevating members 110a and 110b includes a left elevating member 110a and a right elevating member 110b. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper ends of the elevating members 110a and 110b are slidably engaged with short left and right rails 184 extending in the left-right direction. Therefore, the elevating members 110a and 110b can be moved in the left and right directions, respectively, so that the distance between the elevating members 110a and 110b can be adjusted as desired.

The short left and right rails 184 are slidably engaged with the elevating rails 186 extending in the vertical direction. When the short left and right rails 184 are lifted and lowered along the lifting rails 186 after the distance between the lifting members 110a and 110b is set to be slightly longer than the left and right widths of the tray stack 10, 110b are simultaneously raised and lowered on the left and right sides of the tray stack 110 placed on the work table (not shown).

The elevating rail 186 is slidably coupled to long left and right rails 188 extending in the left-right direction. Therefore, the elevating members 110a and 110b can simultaneously move in the left and right directions. In this case, the elevating rails 186 are moved along the long left and right rails 188 so that the elevating members 110a and 110b can be moved in a desired direction It can be positioned above the workbench. In addition, a conveyance table for conveying the trays 12 picked up from the tray stack 10 to a subsequent process may be placed next to the work table on which the tray stack 10 is placed. In this case, The picked up trays 12 can be moved to the upper portion of the conveying table by moving along the left and right rails 188. [

The physical counter cylinder 120 is for pneumatic operation to advance the physical counter 130 toward the tray stack 10 placed on the work table or backward in the opposite direction. The physical counter cylinder 120 is installed on the elevating members 110a and 110b through a predetermined bracket (not shown).

The physical counter cylinder 120 is provided in the same number as the physical counter 130. For example, when one physical counter 130 is provided, the physical counter cylinder 120 is also installed in only one of the pair of elevating members 110a and 110b. In the case where two physical counters 130 are provided, The physical counter cylinder 120 is installed on both of the elevating members 110a and 110b. 1 shows an example in which a physical counter cylinder 120 is installed in both of the elevating members 110a and 110b.

The physical counter 130 is a member that counts the number of stages of the tray 12 while being in physical contact with the side surface of the tray 12 when the elevating members 110a and 110b descend, A photoelectric sensor 132, a photosensor 134, and a counter bracket 136.

The fixing member 132 is fixed to the cylinder rod 122 of the physical counter cylinder 120. Therefore, when the physical counter cylinder 120 is operated, the fixing member 132 is advanced toward the tray stack 10 or backward in the opposite echo.

The photosensor 134 is mounted on the fixing member 132 and has a light emitting portion 134a and a light receiving portion 134b. The light receiving unit 134b outputs a light receiving signal upon receiving the light irradiated from the light emitting unit 134a.

The counter bracket 136 has a rotation shaft 138 extending in the fore and aft direction on one surface (the surface opposite to the surface facing the tray stack 10) (Not shown). Therefore, the counter bracket 136 takes an upright posture (refer to FIG. 1) and takes a tilted posture (not shown) while rotating around the rotation shaft 138. Here, the inclined posture means that the upper end of the counter bracket 136 is located farther from the tray stack 10 than the lower end thereof.

A spring 133 is interposed between the counter bracket 136 and the fixing member 132. The spring 133 is provided to be positioned above the rotation shaft 138 and the upper end of the counter bracket 136 (10). The counter bracket 136 is provided to catch the bracket 132a of the fixing member 132 in an upright posture. Therefore, the counter bracket 136 maintains an upright posture at normal times.

The counter bracket 136 has a protruding portion 136a protruding toward the tray stack body 10 at its upper end. The protruding portion 136a alternately takes in an inserted state inserted into a gap (not shown) between the trays 12 and a contact state brought into contact with a side surface of the tray 12 while the elevating members 110a and 110b descend do. In the inserted state, the counter bracket 136 assumes an upright state. The upper end of the counter bracket 36 is pushed in a direction to overcome the elastic force of the spring 133 due to the contact between the protrusion 136a and the side surface of the tray 12, Take a tilted posture.

The counter bracket 136 has a light blocking member 136b at the lower end that extends from the lower side of the rotation shaft 138 to the lower side of the fixing member 132. [ When the counter bracket 136 is in the upright posture, the light blocking member 136b is positioned between the light emitting portion 134a and the light receiving portion 134b of the photosensor 134 to prevent light from reaching the light receiving portion 134b. Therefore, the upright posture can be said to be unreachable. On the other hand, when the counter bracket 136 is in the inclined posture, the light blocking member 136b is separated from the light emitting portion 134a and the light receiving portion 134b of the photosensor 134 to prevent light from reaching the light receiving portion 134b Do not. Therefore, the inclined posture can be regarded as the light reachable posture.

As described above, while the elevating members 110a and 110b are lowered, the counter bracket 136 alternately receives the light arrival not allowing posture (upright posture) and the light reaching posture (tilted posture) A light receiving signal is outputted from the photosensor 134 every time when a tilted posture is taken. The controller (not shown) counts the number of stages by incrementing the number of stages of the tray 12 by one each time the upper light receiving signal is received, and when the counted number reaches a predetermined number of stages (for example, 26 stages) , 110b.

The tray counting apparatus 100 includes laser sensing counters 152 and 154. The laser sensing counters 152 and 154 may be provided with a physical counter 130, (Not shown).

The laser sensing counters 152 and 154 include a laser emitting unit 152 and a laser receiving unit 154. The laser emitting unit 152 is installed through a predetermined bracket (not shown) on any one of the pair of elevating members 110a and 110b. 1 shows an example in which the laser emitting portion 152 is installed on the left lifting member 110a. The laser emitting portion 152 is provided so as to irradiate the laser beam horizontally toward the tray stack 10 at the same height as the protruding portion 136a of the counter bracket 136 in the upright state.

The laser light receiving unit 154 is installed on a remaining one of the pair of elevating members 110a and 110b through a predetermined bracket (not shown). 1 shows an example in which the laser light receiving section 154 is provided on the right elevating member 110b. The laser light receiving unit 154 outputs a laser receiving signal when receiving the laser irradiated from the laser emitting unit 152. [

While the elevating members 110a and 110b are descending, the laser emitting unit 152 continuously irradiates the laser toward the laser receiving unit 154 so that the irradiated laser is guided to the gap (not shown) Receiving state in which the laser beam reaches the laser light receiving unit 154 while passing through a hole (not shown) on the side of the tray 12, Are alternately repeated. The laser receiving signal is not output from the laser light receiving unit 1554 every time the laser is cut off. Accordingly, the controller (not shown) increases the number of stages of the trays 12 one by one and counts the number of stages each time the above laser receiving signal is not received. When the counted number reaches a predetermined number (for example, 26 stages) (110a, 110b).

When counting the number of trays using at least one of the physical counter 130 and the laser sensing counters 152 and 154 is completed, the counted trays 12 are picked up from the tray stack 10, To the transfer table (not shown). In order to pick up the counted trays 12 from the tray stack 10, the tray number counting apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a pick-up member 160.

The pick-up member 160 is provided at the front end and the rear end of the left lifting member 110a as shown in FIG. 1, and is provided at the front end and the rear end of the right lifting unit 110b. The pickup member 160 includes a cylinder 162 for a pick-up member, and a pedestal.

The pick-up member cylinder 162 is for pneumatically operated to advance the pedestal toward the tray stack 10 or backward in the opposite direction. The pick-up member cylinder 120 is installed on the elevating members 110a and 110b through a predetermined bracket (not shown).

The pedestal includes an upper member 164, a lower member 166, and a bushing cylinder 168.

The upper member 164 is fixed to the cylinder 162 for the pick-up member, and the end portion facing the tray stack body 10 is an insertion end. The insertion end is provided at the same height as the projection 136a of the counter bracket 136 in the upright state. Therefore, when the pick-up member cylinder 162 is operated with the elevation members 110a and 110b stopped after the number counting is completed, the insertion end of the upper member 164 is moved to the lower part of the last counting tray 12 counted last Or is withdrawn from the lower portion of the last counting tray 12.

The opening cylinder 168 is for pivotally moving the lower member 166 while operating with air pressure, and is fixed to the upper member 164. Thus, the deburring cylinder 168 moves with the upper member 164.

The lower member 166 is fixed to the cylinder rod of the expanding cylinder 168 so as to be positioned below the upper member 164. Therefore, the lower member 166 moves together with the upper member 164, and is raised and lowered when the expanding cylinder 168 is operated. The lower member 166 has an end portion facing the tray stack 10 as an insertion end which is inserted into the lower portion of the last counting tray 12 together with the insertion end of the upper member 164, And is drawn out from the lower portion of the tray 12.

The insertion end of the upper member 164 and the insertion end of the lower member 166 are inserted into the lower portion of the last counting tray 12 in contact with each other. Thereafter, the opening cylinder 168 is operated to lower the lower member 166, so that the last counting tray 12 and the trays 12 positioned thereunder are slightly spaced apart from each other, 12 and the portion of the tray 12 located below the tray 12 are separated from each other. When the elevating means 110a and 110b are raised in this state, the last counting tray 12 and the upper trays 12 thereof are supported while being supported by the inserting end of the upper member 164, The tray 12 under the counting tray 12 is prevented from rising due to the last counting tray 12. [

The lower member 166 and the opening member 168 may be provided if the tray 12 is provided so as not to have portions where the trays 12 are engaged with each other, It may not be necessary to provide a cylinder 168 for use.

Further, the pick-up member cylinder 162 may be omitted. In this case, the upper member 164 of the pedestal is fixed to the elevating members 110a and 110b. Then, the pedestal is advanced toward the tray stack body 10 when the pair of elevation members 110a and 110b are brought close to each other, and is reversed in the opposite direction when they are moved away from each other.

On the other hand, the tray number counting apparatus 100 includes a gripper 170 having a gripper cylinder 172 and a pad 174 so that the trays 12 can be stably picked up.

The gripper cylinder 172 serves to advance the pads 174 toward the trays 10 positioned above the last counting tray 12 or to move the pads 174 backward in the opposite direction, (Not shown) on both the first and second side walls 110a and 110b.

The pad 174 is fixed to the cylinder rod of the gripper cylinder 172 and is provided in such a size as to press all or a part of the trays 10 positioned above the last counting tray 12. The pads 174 push the left and right side surfaces of the trays 10 while being advanced by the operation of the gripper cylinder 172. When the trays 12 are picked up in this state, the pickup process can be performed stably.

Reference numeral 190 denotes a vision sensor having an angle adjustable to a predetermined bracket (not shown) fixed to at least one of the pair of elevating members 110a and 110b Is shown). The vision sensor 190 is provided to photograph a part of the side surface of the tray 12 counted by the physical counter 130 and the laser sensing counters 152 and 154 and also has illumination (not shown) illuminating the photographed region.

 When the tray 12 is photographed, one line of bright light appears on the photographed image, and when the trays 12 are photographed, bright light does not appear on the photographed image. Accordingly, the controller (not shown) analyzes the photographed image of the vision sensor 190, counts the number of steps of the tray 12 one by one every time there is one row of bright light, counts the number of steps, (For example, 26 stages), the elevating members 110a and 110b are stopped.

Hereinafter, the operation of the tray number counting apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to a case where the physical counter 130, the laser sensing counters 152 and 154, and the vision sensor 190 are both provided.

First, the distance between the pair of elevating members 110a and 110b is adjusted to be slightly larger than the width of the left and right of the tray stack 10 placed on the work table. Then, the pick-up member 160 and the pad 174 are adjusted to the backward state, and the physical counter 130 is adjusted to the advanced state.

When the upper end protrusion 136a of the counter bracket 136 of the physical counter 130 contacts the side surface of the tray 12, the lifting members 110a and 110b are lowered, (Upright posture) is taken, and when there is no stomach contact, the photorealistic posture (upright posture) is repeated, and the physical counter 130 counts the tray number. At the same time, the number of trays is counted by the laser sensing counters 152 and 154 and the vision sensor 190 as well.

The elevating members 110a and 110b are stopped when the number of trays counted by the physical counter 130, laser sensing counters 152 and 154 and the vision sensor 190 reaches a predetermined number of stages. Thereafter, when the physical counter 130 is retracted and the pedestal of the pick-up member 160 advances and the insertion end of the upper member 164 and the insertion end of the lower member 166 are inserted into the lower portion of the last counting tray 12 The back bottom member 166 is slightly lowered and the pad 174 is advanced to press the trays 12 above the last counting tray 12 on both sides.

In this state, the elevating members 110a and 110b are lifted to lift the last counting tray 12 and the trays 12 thereabove, and then move the tray.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

10: tray stack 12: tray
100: tray number counting device 110a, 110b:
120: Cylinder for physical counter 130: Physical counter
132: fixing member 133: spring
134: photo sensor 136: counter bracket
136a: projecting portion 136b: light blocking member
152: laser emitting part 154: laser receiving part
160: Pickup member 162: Cylinder for pickup member
164: upper member 166: lower member
168: cylinder for opening 170: gripper
172: cylinder for gripper 174: pad

Claims (7)

A pair of raising and lowering members provided so as to be able to move up and down in right and left directions of the tray stacked body;
A physical counter cylinder fixed to at least one of the pair of lifting members; And
And a physical counter fixed to the cylinder for the physical counter and moving toward or away from the tray chuck during operation of the cylinder for the physical counter,
The physical counter includes:
A fixing member fixed to the cylinder for the physical counter;
A photosensor provided in the fixing member and having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion;
And the light receiving portion is provided on the fixing member so as to come in a light incapable attitude which permits the light emitted from the light emitting portion to reach the light receiving portion and a permissible light attainment attitude, And a counter bracket adapted to return to the light attenuating posture when the contact with the trays is terminated when the tray is in contact with the tray,
The counter bracket is coupled to the fixing member so as to rotate about a rotation axis extending in the front-rear direction, and maintains the light incapability state normally due to the elastic force of the spring coupled to the fixing member, And a protruding portion protruding toward the tray stack body at an upper end thereof. delete The method according to claim 1,
A laser light emitting portion provided on one of the pair of elevation members and a laser light receiving portion provided on the other one of the pair of elevation members so as to be positioned at the same height as the laser emitting portion, And a laser sensing counter for counting the number of trays. A pair of raising and lowering members provided so as to be able to move up and down in right and left directions of the tray stacked body;
A laser light emitting portion provided on one of the pair of elevation members and a laser light receiving portion provided on the other one of the pair of elevation members so as to be positioned at the same height as the laser emitting portion, A laser sensing counter comprising: And
And a pickup member provided at the front and rear ends of each of the pair of elevating members,
Wherein the pick-up member includes a pedestal fixed to a cylinder for a pickup member fixed to the elevating member or the elevating member,
Wherein the pedestal has at one end an insertion end for insertion into the bottom of the last counting tray counted last. The method according to claim 1,
And a pickup member provided at the front and rear ends of each of the pair of elevating members,
Wherein the pick-up member includes a pedestal fixed to a cylinder for a pickup member fixed to the elevating member or the elevating member,
Wherein the pedestal has at one end an insertion end for insertion into the bottom of the last counting tray counted last. The method according to claim 4 or 5,
The pedestal,
An upper member fixed to the elevating member or the cylinder for the pick-up member, the upper member having the insertion end at one end;
An opening cylinder provided in the upper member; And
And a lower member which is fixed to a cylinder rod of the opening cylinder so as to be positioned at a lower portion of the upper member and which is lifted and lowered in operation of the opening cylinder and has the insertion end at one end. The method according to claim 4 or 5,
And a gripper installed on each of the pair of elevating members,
The gripper includes:
A gripper cylinder fixed to the elevating member; And
And a pad secured to the cylinder for the gripper such that upon actuation of the cylinder for the gripper the pad moves closer to or away from the upper trays of the last counting tray.

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