US20200180868A1 - Pallet conveying apparatus and pallet conveying method - Google Patents
Pallet conveying apparatus and pallet conveying method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20200180868A1 US20200180868A1 US16/463,611 US201816463611A US2020180868A1 US 20200180868 A1 US20200180868 A1 US 20200180868A1 US 201816463611 A US201816463611 A US 201816463611A US 2020180868 A1 US2020180868 A1 US 2020180868A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- pallet
- rails
- straight
- curved
- pair
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 17
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N novaluron Chemical compound C1=C(Cl)C(OC(F)(F)C(OC(F)(F)F)F)=CC=C1NC(=O)NC(=O)C1=C(F)C=CC=C1F NJPPVKZQTLUDBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 53
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 11
- 230000003028 elevating effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G35/00—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for
- B65G35/06—Mechanical conveyors not otherwise provided for comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
- B65G47/74—Feeding, transfer, or discharging devices of particular kinds or types
- B65G47/84—Star-shaped wheels or devices having endless travelling belts or chains, the wheels or devices being equipped with article-engaging elements
- B65G47/846—Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23Q—DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B23Q7/00—Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for conveying, loading, positioning, discharging, sorting
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G15/00—Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration
- B65G15/02—Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration for conveying in a circular arc
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G15/00—Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration
- B65G15/30—Belts or like endless load-carriers
- B65G15/32—Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics
- B65G15/42—Belts or like endless load-carriers made of rubber or plastics having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G17/00—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
- B65G17/002—Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising load carriers resting on the traction element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
- B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
- B65G2201/02—Articles
- B65G2201/0267—Pallets
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a pallet conveying apparatus and a pallet conveying method for conveying one, two or more pallets, on which works are placed, on a predetermined path.
- a pallet conveying apparatus for conveying one, two or more pallets, on which works are placed, in a circulating manner with respect to machine tools is known.
- a pallet conveying apparatus disclosed in JP2011-93032A includes a back pallet rail and a front pallet rail extending parallel to each other and pallet moving means for moving a pallet from the back pallet rail to the front pallet rail or from the front pallet rail to the back pallet rail by moving between two positions facing both end parts of the back pallet rail and the front pallet rail.
- This pallet conveying apparatus can convey a plurality of pallets on a rectangular path.
- a work placed on the pallet is processed by machine tools provided around the pallet conveying apparatus.
- the work preferably passes near the machine tools.
- the pallet is so configured that the work is placed on one side of the pallet. Since the pallets are conveyed on the rectangular path in the pallet conveying apparatus disclosed in JP2011-93032A, if the machine tools are provided along the front pallet rail, other machine tools for processing the works placed on the pallets mounted on the back pallet rail have to be provided between the front pallet rail and the back pallet rail. In this case, since an interval between the front pallet rail and the back pallet rail increases, it is substantially impossible to provide the machine tools along the back pallet rail.
- JP2016-117117A discloses a pallet conveying apparatus with two straight rails parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other and pallet moving means for guiding a plurality of pallets, on which works are placed, from an end part of either one of the straight rails to an end part of the other straight rail by moving the pallets along an arcuate path.
- the pallet moving means in the pallet conveying apparatus disclosed in JP2016-117117A includes an elevating rotary plate rotatable about a vertical axis and vertically movable, one, two or more short rails provided around the elevating rotary plate, and an index unit for elevating and lowering the elevating rotary plate and rotating the elevated elevating rotary plate.
- the one, two or more short rails are configured such that the pallets are mountable thereon, and continuous with the straight rails with the elevating rotary plate lowered.
- the index unit elevates and lowers and rotates the elevating rotary plate at a first position where the short rails are continuous with one straight rail and a second position where the short rails are continuous with the other straight rail.
- the pallets can be circulated on the track-like path. If the pallets are conveyed on the track-like path, one side of each pallet can be constantly caused to face outward. Thus, machine tools can be arranged outside the two straight rails and works placed on the pallets respectively mounted on the two straight rails can be processed.
- JP2016-117117A elevates the short rail carrying the pallet and moves the short rail along the arcuate path.
- the short rail is not stable. It is very difficult to process the work on the pallet mounted on such a short rail.
- the present invention aims to provide a pallet conveying apparatus and a pallet conveying method enabling a work placed on a pallet to be processed while the pallet is moving from one straight rail to the other straight rail.
- a pallet conveying apparatus includes a pair of straight rails provided parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other in a horizontal direction, the pair of straight rails being configured such that a pallet is movably mounted thereon, a pallet linear feeding unit configured to convey the pallet mounted on the straight rails along the straight rails, a pair of curved rails provided in a curved manner to couple both end parts of the pair of straight rails, the pair of curved rails being configured such that the pallet is movably mounted thereon, and a pallet curved feeding unit configured to convey the pallet mounted on the curved rails along the curved rails.
- a pallet conveying method for guiding a pallet which is moved on either one of two straight rails parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other, from an end part of the one straight rail to an end part of other straight rail, includes coupling both end parts of the pair of straight rails by a pair of curved rails, and conveying the pallet, which is moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail, to the end part of the other straight rail along the curved rail.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pallet conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a front view of the pallet conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ,
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 1 ,
- FIG. 4 is a plan view of a pallet used in the pallet conveying apparatus shown in FIG. 1 viewed in a direction IV of FIG. 2 ,
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line V-V of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI of FIG. 1 showing a pallet curved feeding unit
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line VII-VII of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is a top view showing a state where the conveyed pallet is approaching an end part of one straight rail
- FIG. 9 is a top view showing a state where a locking member is facing a receiving member of the pallet.
- FIG. 10 is a top view showing a state where the pallet has reached the end part of the one straight rail and the locking member is locked to the receiving member
- FIG. 11 is a top view showing a state where the pallet is moving on a curved rail
- FIG. 12 is a top view showing a state where the pallet has reached an end part of the other straight rail
- FIG. 13 is a top view showing a state where the pallet is moving on the other straight rail and the locking member is separated from the receiving member
- FIG. 14 is a top view showing a state where the pallet is moving on the other straight rail.
- the X axis is an axis extending substantially in a horizontal lateral direction
- the Y axis is an axis extending substantially in a horizontal front-rear direction
- the Z axis is an axis extending in a vertical direction.
- FIG. 1 shows the pallet conveying apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment.
- the pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a pair of straight rails 21 , 31 configured such that pallets 11 , on which works (not shown, the same hereinafter) are placed, are movably mounted thereon.
- the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 are provided parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other in a horizontal direction (Y-axis direction).
- Each of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 is configured such that the pallets 11 are movably mounted thereon, and is provided to extend straight in an X-axis direction on a top board 9 a of a base 9 .
- the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 are configured such that the pallets 11 are mounted in a horizontal state thereon As shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 are commercially available linear motion guide rails directly fixed to the upper surface of the top board 9 a of the base 9 .
- the pallet 11 includes linear motion blocks 12 configured to straddle over the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 , a pedestal 13 having the linear motion blocks 12 mounted thereon and engaging members 14 provided on the pedestal 13 .
- the linear motion blocks 12 are configured to move on the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the linear motion blocks 12 are sold while being paired with commercially available linear motion guide rails used as the straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the pair of linear motion blocks 12 , 12 are provided at a predetermined interval from each other on the pedestal 13 . Further, each of the pair of linear motion blocks 12 , 12 is mounted on the pedestal 13 slightly rotatably via a boss 15 .
- the linear motion blocks 12 preferably include unillustrated roller retainers.
- the linear motion blocks 12 including the roller retainers By using the linear motion blocks 12 including the roller retainers, resistance received by the pallet 11 moving on the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 can be drastically reduced while movements in width directions of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 and inclination with respect to the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 are prevented.
- the linear motion blocks 12 are mounted on one lateral part of the pedestal 13 and a mounting member 18 is mounted adjacent to the linear motion blocks 12 on the other lateral part of the pedestal 13 .
- the engaging members 14 are mounted on the mounting member 18 , and a supporting member 19 is further mounted on the mounting member 18 adjacent to the engaging members 14 .
- the supporting member 19 is formed with a recess 19 a into which a projecting shaft 8 a of a supporting device 8 can enter from below.
- the supporting devices 8 are mounted on the base 9 (only two supporting devices 8 on both sides are shown in FIG. 2 ).
- the supporting device 8 is configured to constrain a movement of the pallet 11 and enable the processing of the unillustrated work mounted on the pallet 11 by causing the projecting shaft 8 a to project and inserting the projections 8 a into the recess 19 a of the supporting member 19 .
- one lateral part of a mounting plate 16 is placed on the pedestal 13 , and the other lateral part of the mounting plate 16 projects from the other end of the pedestal 13 .
- a mounting tool 17 on which the work (not shown, the same hereinafter) is mounted is provided on the other lateral part of the mounting plate 16 .
- the pallet 11 is movably mounted on the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 in a horizontal state.
- the pedestal 13 and the mounting plate 16 in the pallet 11 are preferably formed such that lengths L thereof in the X-axis direction are equal to or shorter than an interval P between adjacent ones of machine tools 1 to 4 .
- the pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes pallet linear feeding units 41 , 51 that convey the pallets 11 along the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a first pallet linear feeding unit 41 that conveys the pallets 11 mounted on the one straight rail 21 along the one straight rail 21 and a second pallet linear feeding unit 51 that conveys the pallets 11 mounted on the other straight rail 31 along the other straight rails 31 .
- first and second pallet linear feeding units 41 , 51 have the same structure, the first pallet linear feeding unit 41 is described as a representative below.
- the first pallet linear feeding unit 41 includes a circulation belt 42 provided endlessly and configured to circulate along the one straight rail 21 and a circulation mechanism 43 ( FIG. 2 ) configured to circulate this circulation belt 42 .
- the circulation belt 42 is configured to be engageable with the pallets 11 .
- driven pulleys 44 are provided at each of positions corresponding to both ends of the one straight rail 21 and positions below the former positions on a side wall 9 b of the base 9 .
- the circulation belt 42 is stretched to surround these four driven pulleys 44 .
- the circulation belt 42 is a so-called toothed belt. As shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 2 , the circulation belt 42 is such a belt that projections and recesses 42 a , 42 b extending in a width direction are alternately connected in a longitudinal direction.
- the pallet 11 is formed with projections and recesses 14 a , 14 b engageable with the recesses and projections 42 b , 42 a .
- the projections and recesses 14 a , 14 b are formed on the engaging members 14 constituting the pallet 11 .
- the engaging members 14 are provided below the pedestal 13 similarly to the linear motion blocks 12 .
- the driven pulleys 44 shown in FIG. 2 are mounted at the positions corresponding to the both ends of the one straight rail 21 so that the engaging members 14 overlap and engage with the circulation belt 42 when the pallet 11 is mounted on the straight rail 21 .
- the engaging members 14 overlap the circulation belt 42 and the projections and recesses 14 a , 14 b formed on the engaging members 14 are engaged with the recesses and projections 42 b , 42 a formed on the circulation belt 42 .
- a servo motor 43 serving as the circulation mechanism that circulates the circulation belt 42 is provided on the side wall 9 b of the base 9 .
- a rotary shaft 43 a of the servo motor 43 projects from the side wall 9 b , and a drive pulley 45 is mounted on the rotary shaft 43 a .
- the drive pulley 45 is provided on the same plane as the four driven pulleys 44 and a pair of turning pulleys 46 for turning the circulation belt 42 to stretch the circulation belt 42 on the drive pulley 45 are rotatably supported on the side wall 9 b near the drive pulley 45 .
- the rotary shaft 43 a rotates together with the drive pulley 45 and the circulation belt 42 stretched on the drive pulley 45 circulates while surrounding the four driven pulleys 44 .
- a member denoted by 47 in FIG. 2 is a supporting member 47 for preventing the separation of the circulation belt 42 from the engaging members 14 by preventing the loosening of the circulation belt 42 between the driven pulleys 44 .
- a member denoted by 48 is a mounting tool 48 for mounting the supporting member 47 on the side wall 9 b.
- the pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a pair of curved rails 61 , 71 provided in a curved manner to couple both end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the pallets 11 are movably mounted on the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 .
- the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 are sold together with the commercially available linear motion guide rails, which are the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- each of the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 has the same cross-sectional shape as the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 and is directly fixed to the top board 9 b of the base 9 to couple the both end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 have a semicircular shape and couple the end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 and the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 are arranged in the form of a track as a whole by providing the curved rails 61 , 71 respectively on both sides of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the pallet 11 that is mounted and conveyed on either one of the straight rail 21 , 31 moves onto and is mounted on the curved rail 61 , 71 from the end part of the straight rail 21 , 31 , and is conveyed to the other straight rail 31 , 21 by moving on the curved rail 61 , 71 . Therefore, the pallet conveying apparatus 10 can convey the pallets 11 on the track-like path.
- the pallet conveying apparatus 10 is provided with pallet curved feeding units 81 , 91 that convey the pallets 11 mounted on the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 along the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 .
- the pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a first pallet curved feeding unit 81 that conveys the pallet 11 mounted on one curved rail 61 along the one curved rail 61 and a second pallet curved feeding unit 91 that conveys the pallet 11 mounted on the other curved rail 71 along the other curved rail 71 .
- first and second pallet curved feeding units 81 , 91 have the same structure, the first pallet curved feeding unit 81 is described as a representative below.
- the pallet curved feeding unit 81 includes arms 83 each having a locking member 82 provided on a tip and an actuator 84 that rotates the arms 83 about base ends of the arms 83 in a horizontal plane.
- the actuator 84 is arranged at an intersection of a middle line ‘m’ between the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 provided at the predetermined distance from each other and a line ‘n’ that links the end surfaces of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the actuator 84 is a servo motor including a rotating rod 84 b projecting upward from a substantially central part of the upper surface of a cylindrical body portion 84 a .
- the servo motor rotates the rotating rod 84 b about an axis of rotation O along the vertical direction by electricity.
- the actuator 84 is provided at the intersection of the middle line ‘m’ ( FIG. 1 ) between the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 and the line ‘n’ ( FIG. 1 ) that links the end surfaces of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 , with the rotating rod 84 b facing upward.
- the base ends of the arms 83 are mounted on the rotating rod 84 b of the actuator 84 .
- three arms 83 are radially arranged every 120° in the horizontal plane.
- the actuator 84 can rotate the rotating rod 84 b and change a rotation speed of the rotating rod 84 b .
- the three arms 83 rotate about the axis of rotation O along the vertical direction on the base ends thereof in the horizontal plane.
- the tips of the arms 83 move along the one curved rail 61 .
- the locking member 82 is provided on the tip of each arm 83 .
- the locking member 82 is a cam follower provided on the tip of the arm 83 .
- the locking member 82 is provided on the tip of the arm 83 movably in a longitudinal direction of the arm 83 via a rod 85 ( FIG. 6 ).
- a pair of linear motion blocks 83 a are provided to sandwich the rod 85 on the tip of the arm 83 , and rails 83 b movable with respect to the linear motion blocks 83 a are provided on both sides of the rod 85 .
- the rod 85 is provided movably in the longitudinal direction of the arm 83 on the tip of the arm 83 .
- the cam follower which is the locking member 82 , is provided on the tip of the rod 85 .
- the arm 83 is provided with a coil spring 86 that biases the rod 85 in a direction to retract the rod 85 toward a base end side from the tip of the arm 83 .
- An annular plate cam 87 that causes the rod 85 to project from the tip of the arm 83 against a biasing force of this coil spring 86 is provided on the top board 9 a of the base 9 .
- the annular plate cam 87 is formed into a doughnut shape and mounted on the top board 9 a to surround the actuator 84 .
- the rod 85 is provided with a cam follower 85 a in contact with the inner periphery of the annular plate cam 87 .
- the annular plate cam 87 is formed with a small-diameter portion 87 a and a large-diameter portion 87 b .
- the cam follower 85 a is in contact with the inner peripheries of the small-diameter portion 87 a and the large-diameter portion 87 b .
- the small-diameter portion 87 a causes the rod 85 to retract into the tip of the arm 83 against the biasing force of the coil spring 86 ( FIG. 6 ) when the tip of the arm 83 is facing the curved rail 61 , 71 .
- the large-diameter portion 87 b causes the rod 85 to project from the tip of the arm 83 when the tip of the arm 83 is not facing the curved rail 61 , 71 .
- This annular plate cam 87 is formed with diameter changing portions 87 c connecting the large-diameter portion 87 b and the small-diameter portion 87 a at positions corresponding to the end parts of the straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the projecting rod 85 is caused to gradually retract into the tip of the arm 83 by the diameter changing portion 87 c and, as shown in FIG. 10 , the locking member 82 that is provided on the rod 85 moves parallel to the end part of the straight rail 21 .
- the cam follower 85 a contacts the small-diameter portion 87 a and the tip of the arm 83 having the rod 85 retracted thereinto (see FIG. 11 ) reaches the end part of the straight rail 21 from the curved rail 61 as shown in FIG. 12 , the cam follower 85 a held in contact with the small-diameter portion 87 a contacts the diameter changing portion 87 c .
- the rod 85 that is retracted into the arm 83 gradually projects and the locking member 82 that is provided on the rod 85 moves parallel to the end part of the straight rail 21 .
- the locking member 82 reaches the large-diameter portion 87 b , the projection of the rod 85 is completed and the locking member 82 is separated from the straight rail 21 .
- the pallet 11 is provided with a receiving member 88 lockable to the locking member 82 .
- the receiving member 88 in the present embodiment is a bar-like object having a cutout 88 a formed in a tip.
- the locking member 82 can enter the cutout 88 a .
- the receiving member 88 is projectably and retractably provided on the pallet 11 .
- FIGS. 3 and 6 another linear motion block 13 a perpendicular to the rail having the linear motion blocks 12 , 12 mounted thereon and horizontal is provided between the pair of linear motion blocks 12 , 12 on the pallet 11 .
- the receiving member 88 is provided with a rail 13 b movable with respect to the linear motion block 13 a.
- the pallet 11 is provided with the receiving member 88 movable horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the rail having the pallet 11 mounted thereon.
- a part of the receiving member 88 projects from a side surface of the pedestal 13 on the side where the motion blocks 12 , 12 are provided, and the cutout 88 a into which the locking member 82 ( FIG. 6 ) can enter is formed in this projecting part.
- a coil spring 89 is provided over the receiving member 88 and the pedestal 13 .
- the coil spring 89 biases the receiving member 88 in a direction to retract the cutout 88 a in the receiving member 88 from the side surface of the pedestal 13 into a space below the pedestal 13 .
- the top board 9 a of the base 9 is provided with a U-shaped plate cam 90 that causes the cutout 88 a to project from the side surface of the pedestal 13 against a biasing force of the coil spring 89 .
- the U-shaped plate cam 90 is provided to overlap the annular plate cam 87 provided on the top board 9 a of the base 9 via a boss 90 d .
- the receiving member 88 having a bar-like shape is provided with a cam follower 88 b in contact with the inner periphery of the U-shaped plate cam 90 .
- the U-shaped plate cam 90 is provided with a semicircular portion 90 a extending along the curved rail 61 , 71 and straight portions 90 b extending from both ends of the semicircular portion 90 a in parallel to the straight rails 21 , 31 , and formed into a U shape by those portions.
- the U-shaped plate cam 90 is so provided that the cam follower 88 b comes into contact with the inner side of the semicircular portion 90 a in the U-shaped plate cam 90 when the pallet 11 is mounted on the curved rail 61 .
- the U-shaped plate cam 90 causes the cutout 88 a to project from the side surface of the pedestal 13 against the biasing force of the coil spring 89 by the contact of the semicircular portion 90 a and the cam follower 88 b.
- the U-shaped plate cam 90 is not in contact with the cam follower 88 b .
- the receiving member 88 is moved by the biasing force of the coil spring 89 and the cutout 88 a in the tip of the receiving member 88 retracts into the space below the pedestal 13 from the side surface of the pedestal 13 .
- the intermediate part of the straight rail 21 is any part of the straight rail 21 except the both end parts along which the straight portions 90 b extend.
- leading end edges 90 c of the straight portions 90 b projecting from the both sides of the semicircular portion 90 a are obliquely formed.
- the cam follower 88 b on the receiving member 88 that is provided on the pallet 11 contacts the inclined leading end edge 90 c of the straight portion 90 b .
- the cutout 88 a projects from the side surface of the pedestal 13 along the inclination and the locking member 82 moving parallel to the end part of the straight rail 21 enters this cutout 88 a as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 .
- the cam follower 88 b on the receiving member 88 that is provided on the pallet 11 moves from the semicircular portion 90 a to the straight portion 90 b of the U-shaped plate cam 90 . Since the locking member 82 moves parallel to the straight rail 31 , the pallet 11 advances with the locking member 82 located in the cutout 88 a . After the locking member 82 reaches the leading end edge 90 c of the straight portion 90 b , the cutout 88 a retracts into the space below the pedestal 13 and the locking member 82 is separated from the cutout 88 a.
- the method for conveying the pallet 11 using the pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a first pallet conveying step of conveying the pallet 11 along one straight rail 21 , a first pallet moving step of moving the pallet 11 having reached the end part of the one straight rail 21 to the other straight rail 31 , a second pallet conveying step of conveying the pallet 11 along the other straight rail 31 and a second pallet moving step of moving the pallet 11 having reached the end part of the other straight rail 31 to the one straight rail 21 .
- each step is described below, assuming that the pallet 11 is circulated on a counterclockwise path in a top view of FIG. 1 .
- a work to which predetermined processings are to be applied is mounted on the pallet 11 in the present embodiment.
- the work is mounted on the pallet 11 mounted on the one straight rail 21 .
- the pallet 11 in the present embodiment includes the mounting tool 17 ( FIG. 3 ) that mounts the work, and the work is mounted on the pallet 11 via the mounting tool 17 .
- the pallet 11 is conveyed until facing each machine tool 1 , 2 ( FIG. 1 ) provided along the one straight rail 21 .
- the servo motor 43 is stopped.
- the processing is applied to the work mounted on the pallet 11 in each of those machine tools 1 , 2 .
- the processings by the plurality of machine tools 1 , 2 can be simultaneously performed.
- the pallet 11 having reached the end part of the one straight rail 21 is moved to the other straight rail 31 .
- This movement is made by the first pallet curved feeding unit 81 provided on one end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 .
- the first pallet linear feeding unit 41 includes the circulation belt 42 .
- the engaging members 14 on the pallet 11 are separated from the circulation belt 42 .
- the circulation belt 42 and the pallet 11 are disengaged.
- the cam follower 88 b (see FIG. 6 ) on the receiving member 88 that is provided on the pallet 11 contacts the inclined leading end edge 90 c of the straight portion 90 b of the U-shaped cam plate 90 as shown in FIG. 9 .
- the cutout 88 a in the receiving member 88 projects from the side surface of the pedestal 13 along the inclination of the leading end edge 90 c as indicated by a broken-like arrow of FIG. 10 .
- the actuator 84 rotates the arms 83 in synchronization with the circulation of the circulation belt 42 .
- the locking member 82 that is provided on the tip of the arm 83 enters the cutout 88 a of the receiving member 88 on the pallet projecting from the side surface of the pedestal 13 . In this way, a movement of the pallet 11 separate from and independent of the rotation of the arm 83 is disabled.
- the annular plate cam 87 is so formed as to move the locking member 82 provided on the tip of the arm 83 in parallel to the end part of the straight rail 21 .
- the locking member 82 can be engaged with the receiving member 88 on the pallet 11 before the circulation belt 42 and the pallet 11 are disengaged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation where the pallet 11 is neither engaged with the circulation belt 42 nor locked to the arm 83 .
- the arm 83 is rotated, the locking member 82 on the tip of the arm 83 is caused to enter the cutout 88 a for locking and the pallet 11 is moved from the straight rail 21 to the curved rail 61 and mounted on the curved rail 61 .
- the pallet 11 is provided with the pair of linear motion blocks 12 , 12 at a predetermined distance from each other. Thus, when the pallet 11 moves on the curved rail 61 , the pair of linear motion blocks 12 , 12 have to be along the curved rail 61 .
- each of the pair of linear motion blocks 12 , 12 is mounted slightly rotatably on the pedestal 13 via the boss 15 .
- the pair of linear motion blocks 12 , 12 slightly rotate and extend along the curved rail 61 and do not become an obstruction when the pallet 11 moves onto the curved rail 61 .
- the curved rail 61 is directly fixed to the top board 9 a of the base 9 to couple the both end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 and is not structured to move while carrying the pallet 11 as before.
- the pallet 11 that is mounted and moves on this curved rail 61 is stable. By stopping a movement of the pallet 11 mounted on the curved rail 61 , the work on the pallet 11 can be processed.
- the projecting shaft 8 a of the supporting device 8 is preferably caused to project and enter the recess 19 a of the supporting member 19 in processing the work in a state shown in FIG. 11 .
- the unillustrated work mounted on the pallet 11 can be processed with a movement of the pallet 11 constrained.
- the pallet 11 When the pallet 11 is moved to the other straight rail 31 after or without processing the work as shown in FIG. 12 , the pallet 11 is subsequently moved from the curved rail 61 to the other straight rail 31 . At that time, the pallet 11 is moved by controlling a circulation speed of the circulation belt 42 by the servo motor 43 and an angle of rotation of the arm 83 by the actuator 84 in accordance with a program set in advance so that the projections and recesses 14 a , 14 b of the engaging members 14 of the pallet 11 and the recesses and projections 42 b , 42 a of the circulation belt 42 extending along the other straight rail 31 are reliably engaged.
- the cam follower 88 b on the receiving member 88 that is provided on the pallet 11 moves from the semicircular portion 90 a to the straight portion 90 b of the U-shaped plate cam 90 .
- the pallet 11 advances on the end part of the other straight rail 31 with the locking member 82 moving parallel to the straight rail 31 located in the cutout 88 a .
- the cutout 88 a retracts into the space below the pedestal 13 as indicated by a broken-line arrow and the locking member 82 is separated from the cutout 88 a . In this way, a locked state of the arm 83 and the pallet 11 is released.
- the pallet 11 is moved from the end part of the one straight rail 21 to the other straight rail 31 .
- the pallet 11 that is mounted on the other straight rail 31 is conveyed.
- the engaging members 14 on the pallet 11 are engaged with the circulation belt 42 extending along the other straight rail 31 .
- the circulation belt 42 By circulating the circulation belt 42 , the pallet 11 can be conveyed along the other straight rail 31 .
- the pallet 11 is conveyed along the other straight rail until facing each machine tool 3 , 4 provided along the other straight rail 31 .
- the servo motor 43 is stopped. In this state, the processing is applied to the work mounted on the pallet 11 in each of those machine tools 3 , 4 .
- the pallet 11 When the pallet 11 is mounted on the curved rail 61 , the pallet 11 is not engaged with the circulation belt 42 . Thus, when the circulation belt 42 is circulated separately from the rotation of the arm 83 , the pallet 11 that is engaged with the circulation belt 42 is conveyed on the other straight rail 31 . Therefore, the pallet 11 that is mounted on the other straight rail 31 can be moved while being engaged with the circulation belt 42 without moving the pallet 11 mounted on the curved rail 61 .
- the arm 83 is rotated to move the pallet 11 from the curved rail 61 to the straight rail 31 and engage the pallet 11 with the circulation belt 42 . In this way, the plurality of pallets 11 can be conveyed at the predetermined interval on the other straight rail 31 .
- the pallet 11 having reached the end part of the other straight rail 31 is moved to the one straight rail 21 .
- This movement is made by the second pallet curved feeding unit 91 provided on the other end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 . Since a specific moving procedure thereof is the same as in the previous first pallet moving step, repeated description is omitted.
- each pallet 11 can be conveyed one by one in the counterclockwise direction on the track-shaped path.
- each machine tool 1 to 4 is operated to process each work mounted on each pallet in parallel, with the operation of the pallet conveying apparatus 10 stopped. During the operation of each machine tool 1 to 4 , works are loaded onto and unloaded from any one of the pallets 11 .
- the both end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 are coupled by the pair of curved rails 61 , 71 and the pallet 11 moved from the one straight rail 21 , 31 to the curved rail 61 , 71 is conveyed to the end part of the other straight rail 31 , 21 along the curved rail 61 , 71 by the pallet curved feeding unit 81 , 91 .
- the curved rails 61 , 71 are provided to couple the both end parts of the pair of straight rails 21 , 31 and are not structured to move while carrying the pallets 11 as before.
- the pallet 11 that is mounted on the curved rail 61 , 71 is stable. By stopping a movement of the pallet 11 mounted on the curved rail 61 , 71 , the work on the pallet 11 can be processed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even the work that is mounted on the pallet 11 moving from the one straight rail 21 , 31 to the other straight rail 31 , 21 can be processed.
- the locking member 82 to be locked to the pallet 11 is provided to be projectable from and retractable into the tip of the arm 83 .
- the locking member 82 is locked to the pallet 11 on the end part of the straight rail 21 , 31 and, thereafter, the locking member 82 is moved parallel to the straight rail 21 , 31 .
- the pallet 11 can be reliably moved onto the curved rail 61 , 71 . Further, the pallet 11 having moved on the curved rail 61 , 71 can be reliably moved to the straight rail 31 , 21 .
- the pallet 11 Since the pallet 11 is mounted and moved on the curved rail 61 , 71 , the pallet 11 can be reliably moved along the semicircular path from the end part of the one straight rail 21 to the end part of the other straight rail 31 . In this way, the pallet 11 can be reliably circulated on the track-shaped path. Therefore, the side of the pallet 11 where the work is mounted can be constantly caused to face outward and a degree of freedom in arranging the machine tools 1 to 4 for processing the works can be improved.
- the receiving member 88 to be locked to the locking member 82 is projectably and retractably provided on the pallet 11 .
- the receiving member 88 can be retracted into the pallet 11 mounted on the straight rail 21 , 31 and troubles caused by the receiving member 88 projecting from the pallet 11 mounted and moving on the straight rail 21 , 31 can be eliminated.
- the pallet linear feeding unit 41 , 51 includes the circulation belt 42 and the circulation mechanism 43 that circulates this circulation belt 42 in the aforementioned embodiment, the pallet linear feeding unit 41 , 51 is not limited to this.
- the pallet linear feeding unit 41 , 51 may be differently configured as long as the pallet 11 can be conveyed along the straight rails 21 , 31 .
- each pallet 11 may be conveyed in a clockwise direction, not only in the counterclockwise direction.
- the mounting tool 17 that mounts the work is provided on one lateral part of the mounting plate 16 .
- the mounting plate 16 may be formed with a through hole, a mounting tool may be provided in that through hole and a work may be mounted through the mounting plate 16 via this through hole.
- the servo motor that drives by electricity is used as the actuator 84 that rotates the arms 83 .
- a device that rotates the rotating rod 84 b by a fluid pressure supplied to and discharged from the body portion 84 a may be used as the actuator 84 .
- the pallet curved feeding unit 81 , 91 includes three arms 83 respectively radially arranged and can simultaneously move a plurality of pallets 11 .
- the number of the arm(s) 83 may be one, two, four or more as long as the arm(s) 83 can convey the pallet(s) 11 along the curved rail 61 , 71 .
- FIG. 1 In an example shown in FIG. 1 , four machine tools 1 to 4 are provided on both sides of the pallet conveying apparatus 10 of the present embodiment.
- the number of the machine tools 1 to 4 varies depending on works to be processed and the number of the pallets 11 may be appropriately increased or decreased according to the number of the machine tools 1 to 4 .
- a pallet conveying apparatus includes a pair of straight rails provided parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other in a horizontal direction, the pair of straight rails being configured such that an pallet is movably mounted thereon, a pallet linear feeding unit configured to convey the pallets mounted on the straight rails along the straight rails, a pair of curved rails curved to couple both end parts of the pair of straight rails, the pair of curved rails being configured such that the pallet is movably mounted thereon, and a pallet curved feeding unit configured to convey the pallets mounted on the curved rails along the curved rails.
- the curved rail may be formed into a semicircular shape.
- the pallet curved feeding unit preferably includes an arm having a locking member on a tip, the locking member being configured to lock to the pallet, and an actuator configured to rotate the arm with a base end of the arm serving as a center of rotation.
- a plurality of the arms may be radially arranged.
- the locking member may be provided on the tip of the arm movably in a longitudinal direction of the arm.
- the receiving member may be projectably and retractably provided on the pallet.
- a pallet conveying method guides a pallet from an end part of either one of two straight rails to an end part of other of two straight rails, the pallet moving on the one straight rail, the two straight rails being parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other.
- Both end parts of the pair of straight rails are coupled by a pair of curved rails, and the pallet that is moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail is conveyed to the end part of the other straight rail along the curved rail.
- the curved rail may be formed into a semicircular shape.
- the tip of the arm is locked to the pallet moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail and the pallet having the tip of the arm locked thereto is conveyed along the curved rail by rotating the arm about a base end.
- the both end parts of the pair of straight rails are coupled by the pair of curved rails and the pallet that is moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail is conveyed to the end part of the other straight rail along the curved rail by the pallet curved feeding unit.
- These curved rails are provided to couple the both end parts of the pair of straight rails and are not structured to move while carrying the pallets as before.
- the pallet mounted on the curved rail is stable. By stopping a movement of the pallet mounted on the curved rail, the work on the pallet can be processed. Therefore, the pallet conveying apparatus and the pallet conveying method according to the present embodiment can process even a work placed on the pallet moving from the one straight rail to the other straight rail.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Feeding Of Workpieces (AREA)
- Container, Conveyance, Adherence, Positioning, Of Wafer (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a pallet conveying apparatus and a pallet conveying method for conveying one, two or more pallets, on which works are placed, on a predetermined path.
- A pallet conveying apparatus for conveying one, two or more pallets, on which works are placed, in a circulating manner with respect to machine tools is known. A pallet conveying apparatus disclosed in JP2011-93032A includes a back pallet rail and a front pallet rail extending parallel to each other and pallet moving means for moving a pallet from the back pallet rail to the front pallet rail or from the front pallet rail to the back pallet rail by moving between two positions facing both end parts of the back pallet rail and the front pallet rail. This pallet conveying apparatus can convey a plurality of pallets on a rectangular path.
- A work placed on the pallet is processed by machine tools provided around the pallet conveying apparatus. To facilitate work processings by the machine tools, the work preferably passes near the machine tools. To that end, the pallet is so configured that the work is placed on one side of the pallet. Since the pallets are conveyed on the rectangular path in the pallet conveying apparatus disclosed in JP2011-93032A, if the machine tools are provided along the front pallet rail, other machine tools for processing the works placed on the pallets mounted on the back pallet rail have to be provided between the front pallet rail and the back pallet rail. In this case, since an interval between the front pallet rail and the back pallet rail increases, it is substantially impossible to provide the machine tools along the back pallet rail.
- JP2016-117117A discloses a pallet conveying apparatus with two straight rails parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other and pallet moving means for guiding a plurality of pallets, on which works are placed, from an end part of either one of the straight rails to an end part of the other straight rail by moving the pallets along an arcuate path.
- The pallet moving means in the pallet conveying apparatus disclosed in JP2016-117117A includes an elevating rotary plate rotatable about a vertical axis and vertically movable, one, two or more short rails provided around the elevating rotary plate, and an index unit for elevating and lowering the elevating rotary plate and rotating the elevated elevating rotary plate. The one, two or more short rails are configured such that the pallets are mountable thereon, and continuous with the straight rails with the elevating rotary plate lowered. The index unit elevates and lowers and rotates the elevating rotary plate at a first position where the short rails are continuous with one straight rail and a second position where the short rails are continuous with the other straight rail.
- In the pallet conveying apparatus disclosed in JP2016-117117A, the pallets can be circulated on the track-like path. If the pallets are conveyed on the track-like path, one side of each pallet can be constantly caused to face outward. Thus, machine tools can be arranged outside the two straight rails and works placed on the pallets respectively mounted on the two straight rails can be processed.
- It is desired to process the work placed on the pallet even when the pallet is moving along an arcuate path from one straight rail to the other straight rail.
- However, the moving means disclosed in JP2016-117117A elevates the short rail carrying the pallet and moves the short rail along the arcuate path. Thus, the short rail is not stable. It is very difficult to process the work on the pallet mounted on such a short rail.
- The present invention aims to provide a pallet conveying apparatus and a pallet conveying method enabling a work placed on a pallet to be processed while the pallet is moving from one straight rail to the other straight rail.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, a pallet conveying apparatus includes a pair of straight rails provided parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other in a horizontal direction, the pair of straight rails being configured such that a pallet is movably mounted thereon, a pallet linear feeding unit configured to convey the pallet mounted on the straight rails along the straight rails, a pair of curved rails provided in a curved manner to couple both end parts of the pair of straight rails, the pair of curved rails being configured such that the pallet is movably mounted thereon, and a pallet curved feeding unit configured to convey the pallet mounted on the curved rails along the curved rails.
- According to other aspect of the present invention, a pallet conveying method for guiding a pallet, which is moved on either one of two straight rails parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other, from an end part of the one straight rail to an end part of other straight rail, includes coupling both end parts of the pair of straight rails by a pair of curved rails, and conveying the pallet, which is moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail, to the end part of the other straight rail along the curved rail.
-
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pallet conveying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, -
FIG. 2 is a front view of the pallet conveying apparatus shown inFIG. 1 , -
FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III ofFIG. 1 , -
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a pallet used in the pallet conveying apparatus shown inFIG. 1 viewed in a direction IV ofFIG. 2 , -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line V-V ofFIG. 4 , -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI ofFIG. 1 showing a pallet curved feeding unit, -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line VII-VII ofFIG. 6 , -
FIG. 8 is a top view showing a state where the conveyed pallet is approaching an end part of one straight rail, -
FIG. 9 is a top view showing a state where a locking member is facing a receiving member of the pallet, -
FIG. 10 is a top view showing a state where the pallet has reached the end part of the one straight rail and the locking member is locked to the receiving member, -
FIG. 11 is a top view showing a state where the pallet is moving on a curved rail, -
FIG. 12 is a top view showing a state where the pallet has reached an end part of the other straight rail, -
FIG. 13 is a top view showing a state where the pallet is moving on the other straight rail and the locking member is separated from the receiving member, and -
FIG. 14 is a top view showing a state where the pallet is moving on the other straight rail. - Next, an embodiment of the present invention is described on the basis of the drawings.
- In the description of the configuration of a
pallet conveying apparatus 10, three axes X, Y and Z orthogonal to each other are set in each figure. The X axis is an axis extending substantially in a horizontal lateral direction, the Y axis is an axis extending substantially in a horizontal front-rear direction and the Z axis is an axis extending in a vertical direction. -
FIG. 1 shows thepallet conveying apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. Thepallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a pair ofstraight rails pallets 11, on which works (not shown, the same hereinafter) are placed, are movably mounted thereon. The pair ofstraight rails straight rails pallets 11 are movably mounted thereon, and is provided to extend straight in an X-axis direction on atop board 9 a of abase 9. - The pair of
straight rails pallets 11 are mounted in a horizontal state thereon As shown in detail inFIGS. 3 to 5 , the pair ofstraight rails top board 9 a of thebase 9. - The
pallet 11 includeslinear motion blocks 12 configured to straddle over the pair ofstraight rails pedestal 13 having thelinear motion blocks 12 mounted thereon andengaging members 14 provided on thepedestal 13. Thelinear motion blocks 12 are configured to move on the pair ofstraight rails - The
linear motion blocks 12 are sold while being paired with commercially available linear motion guide rails used as thestraight rails linear motion blocks pedestal 13. Further, each of the pair oflinear motion blocks pedestal 13 slightly rotatably via aboss 15. - Here, the linear motion blocks 12 preferably include unillustrated roller retainers. By using the
linear motion blocks 12 including the roller retainers, resistance received by thepallet 11 moving on the pair ofstraight rails straight rails straight rails - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , thelinear motion blocks 12 are mounted on one lateral part of thepedestal 13 and amounting member 18 is mounted adjacent to thelinear motion blocks 12 on the other lateral part of thepedestal 13. Theengaging members 14 are mounted on themounting member 18, and a supportingmember 19 is further mounted on themounting member 18 adjacent to theengaging members 14. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , the supportingmember 19 is formed with arecess 19 a into which a projecting shaft 8 a of a supportingdevice 8 can enter from below. The supportingdevices 8 are mounted on the base 9 (only two supportingdevices 8 on both sides are shown inFIG. 2 ). The supportingdevice 8 is configured to constrain a movement of thepallet 11 and enable the processing of the unillustrated work mounted on thepallet 11 by causing the projecting shaft 8 a to project and inserting the projections 8 a into therecess 19 a of the supportingmember 19. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , one lateral part of amounting plate 16 is placed on thepedestal 13, and the other lateral part of themounting plate 16 projects from the other end of thepedestal 13. Amounting tool 17 on which the work (not shown, the same hereinafter) is mounted is provided on the other lateral part of themounting plate 16. - As just described, by movably supporting the
linear motion blocks 12 fixed on the one lateral part of thepedestal 13 to straddle over the pair ofstraight rails pallet 11 is movably mounted on the pair ofstraight rails - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thepedestal 13 and the mountingplate 16 in thepallet 11 are preferably formed such that lengths L thereof in the X-axis direction are equal to or shorter than an interval P between adjacent ones ofmachine tools 1 to 4. - In this case, if the plurality of
pallets 11 are moved on the pair ofstraight rails plate 16 in the horizontal state projects toward themachine tools 1 to 4 and the plurality ofpallets 11 face eachmachine tool 1 to 4. Thus, the work mounted on the lateral part of the pallet via the mounting tool 17 (seeFIG. 3 ) can be processed by themachine tools 1 to 4. - Further, the
pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes palletlinear feeding units pallets 11 along the pair ofstraight rails - Specifically, the
pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a first palletlinear feeding unit 41 that conveys thepallets 11 mounted on the onestraight rail 21 along the onestraight rail 21 and a second palletlinear feeding unit 51 that conveys thepallets 11 mounted on the otherstraight rail 31 along the otherstraight rails 31. - Since the first and second pallet
linear feeding units linear feeding unit 41 is described as a representative below. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first palletlinear feeding unit 41 includes acirculation belt 42 provided endlessly and configured to circulate along the onestraight rail 21 and a circulation mechanism 43 (FIG. 2 ) configured to circulate thiscirculation belt 42. Thecirculation belt 42 is configured to be engageable with thepallets 11. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , drivenpulleys 44 are provided at each of positions corresponding to both ends of the onestraight rail 21 and positions below the former positions on aside wall 9 b of thebase 9. Thecirculation belt 42 is stretched to surround these four drivenpulleys 44. - The
circulation belt 42 is a so-called toothed belt. As shown in an enlarged view ofFIG. 2 , thecirculation belt 42 is such a belt that projections and recesses 42 a, 42 b extending in a width direction are alternately connected in a longitudinal direction. Thepallet 11 is formed with projections and recesses 14 a, 14 b engageable with the recesses andprojections 42 b, 42 a. The projections and recesses 14 a, 14 b are formed on the engagingmembers 14 constituting thepallet 11. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , the engagingmembers 14 are provided below thepedestal 13 similarly to the linear motion blocks 12. The driven pulleys 44 shown inFIG. 2 are mounted at the positions corresponding to the both ends of the onestraight rail 21 so that the engagingmembers 14 overlap and engage with thecirculation belt 42 when thepallet 11 is mounted on thestraight rail 21. - Specifically, as shown in the enlarged view of
FIG. 2 , when thepallet 11 is mounted on thestraight rail 21, the engagingmembers 14 overlap thecirculation belt 42 and the projections and recesses 14 a, 14 b formed on the engagingmembers 14 are engaged with the recesses andprojections 42 b, 42 a formed on thecirculation belt 42. - Further, a
servo motor 43 serving as the circulation mechanism that circulates thecirculation belt 42 is provided on theside wall 9 b of thebase 9. Arotary shaft 43 a of theservo motor 43 projects from theside wall 9 b, and adrive pulley 45 is mounted on therotary shaft 43 a. Thedrive pulley 45 is provided on the same plane as the four drivenpulleys 44 and a pair of turningpulleys 46 for turning thecirculation belt 42 to stretch thecirculation belt 42 on thedrive pulley 45 are rotatably supported on theside wall 9 b near thedrive pulley 45. - When the
servo motor 43 is driven in response to a command from an unillustrated controller, therotary shaft 43 a rotates together with thedrive pulley 45 and thecirculation belt 42 stretched on thedrive pulley 45 circulates while surrounding the four drivenpulleys 44. - When the
pallet 11 is mounted on thestraight rail 21 and the projections and recesses 14 a, 14 b on thepallet 11 are engaged with the recesses andprojections 42 b, 42 a of thecirculation belt 42, a movement of thepallet 11 in the X-axis direction independent of thecirculation belt 42 is constrained. Thus, when theservo motor 43 is driven and thecirculation belt 42 engaged with thepallet 11 is circulated, thepallet 11 moves together with thecirculation belt 42. In this way, thepallet 11 is conveyed along the pair ofstraight rails circulation belt 42 extends. - Here, a member denoted by 47 in
FIG. 2 is a supportingmember 47 for preventing the separation of thecirculation belt 42 from the engagingmembers 14 by preventing the loosening of thecirculation belt 42 between the driven pulleys 44. A member denoted by 48 is a mountingtool 48 for mounting the supportingmember 47 on theside wall 9 b. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thepallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a pair ofcurved rails straight rails pallets 11 are movably mounted on the pair ofcurved rails curved rails straight rails curved rails straight rails top board 9 b of thebase 9 to couple the both end parts of the pair ofstraight rails - The pair of
curved rails straight rails straight rails curved rails curved rails straight rails - Thus, the
pallet 11 that is mounted and conveyed on either one of thestraight rail curved rail straight rail straight rail curved rail pallet conveying apparatus 10 can convey thepallets 11 on the track-like path. - The
pallet conveying apparatus 10 is provided with palletcurved feeding units pallets 11 mounted on the pair ofcurved rails curved rails - Specifically, the
pallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a first pallet curved feedingunit 81 that conveys thepallet 11 mounted on onecurved rail 61 along the onecurved rail 61 and a second pallet curved feedingunit 91 that conveys thepallet 11 mounted on the othercurved rail 71 along the othercurved rail 71. - Since the first and second pallet curved feeding
units unit 81 is described as a representative below. - The pallet curved feeding
unit 81 includesarms 83 each having a lockingmember 82 provided on a tip and anactuator 84 that rotates thearms 83 about base ends of thearms 83 in a horizontal plane. - In this embodiment, as shown by dashed-dotted line in
FIG. 1 , theactuator 84 is arranged at an intersection of a middle line ‘m’ between the pair ofstraight rails straight rails - As shown in
FIG. 6 , theactuator 84 is a servo motor including arotating rod 84 b projecting upward from a substantially central part of the upper surface of acylindrical body portion 84 a. The servo motor rotates therotating rod 84 b about an axis of rotation O along the vertical direction by electricity. - The
actuator 84 is provided at the intersection of the middle line ‘m’ (FIG. 1 ) between the pair ofstraight rails FIG. 1 ) that links the end surfaces of the pair ofstraight rails rod 84 b facing upward. The base ends of thearms 83 are mounted on the rotatingrod 84 b of theactuator 84. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , in the present embodiment, threearms 83 are radially arranged every 120° in the horizontal plane. Theactuator 84 can rotate therotating rod 84 b and change a rotation speed of therotating rod 84 b. By the rotation of therotating rod 84 b, the threearms 83 rotate about the axis of rotation O along the vertical direction on the base ends thereof in the horizontal plane. Thus, the tips of thearms 83 move along the onecurved rail 61. - The locking
member 82 is provided on the tip of eacharm 83. The lockingmember 82 is a cam follower provided on the tip of thearm 83. The lockingmember 82 is provided on the tip of thearm 83 movably in a longitudinal direction of thearm 83 via a rod 85 (FIG. 6 ). - Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 7 , a pair of linear motion blocks 83 a are provided to sandwich therod 85 on the tip of thearm 83, and rails 83 b movable with respect to the linear motion blocks 83 a are provided on both sides of therod 85. In this way, therod 85 is provided movably in the longitudinal direction of thearm 83 on the tip of thearm 83. - As shown in
FIG. 6 , the cam follower, which is the lockingmember 82, is provided on the tip of therod 85. Thearm 83 is provided with acoil spring 86 that biases therod 85 in a direction to retract therod 85 toward a base end side from the tip of thearm 83. Anannular plate cam 87 that causes therod 85 to project from the tip of thearm 83 against a biasing force of thiscoil spring 86 is provided on thetop board 9 a of thebase 9. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , theannular plate cam 87 is formed into a doughnut shape and mounted on thetop board 9 a to surround theactuator 84. As shown inFIG. 6 , therod 85 is provided with acam follower 85 a in contact with the inner periphery of theannular plate cam 87. - As shown in
FIGS. 8 to 14 , theannular plate cam 87 is formed with a small-diameter portion 87 a and a large-diameter portion 87 b. Thecam follower 85 a is in contact with the inner peripheries of the small-diameter portion 87 a and the large-diameter portion 87 b. The small-diameter portion 87 a causes therod 85 to retract into the tip of thearm 83 against the biasing force of the coil spring 86 (FIG. 6 ) when the tip of thearm 83 is facing thecurved rail diameter portion 87 b causes therod 85 to project from the tip of thearm 83 when the tip of thearm 83 is not facing thecurved rail - This
annular plate cam 87 is formed withdiameter changing portions 87 c connecting the large-diameter portion 87 b and the small-diameter portion 87 a at positions corresponding to the end parts of thestraight rails - If the tip of the
arm 83 not facing the curved rail 61 (seeFIG. 8 ) approaches the end part of thestraight rail 21 according to the rotation of thearm 83, thecam follower 85 a held in contact with the large-diameter portion 87 b contacts thediameter changing portion 87 c as shown inFIG. 9 . The projectingrod 85 is caused to gradually retract into the tip of thearm 83 by thediameter changing portion 87 c and, as shown inFIG. 10 , the lockingmember 82 that is provided on therod 85 moves parallel to the end part of thestraight rail 21. When the tip of thearm 83 comes to face thecurved rail 61, thecam follower 85 a is transferred from thediameter changing portion 87 c to the small-diameter portion 87 a to contact the small-diameter portion 87 a, whereby the retraction of therod 85 is completed. - When the
arm 83 further rotates, thecam follower 85 a contacts the small-diameter portion 87 a and the tip of thearm 83 having therod 85 retracted thereinto (seeFIG. 11 ) reaches the end part of thestraight rail 21 from thecurved rail 61 as shown inFIG. 12 , thecam follower 85 a held in contact with the small-diameter portion 87 a contacts thediameter changing portion 87 c. As shown inFIG. 13 , therod 85 that is retracted into thearm 83 gradually projects and the lockingmember 82 that is provided on therod 85 moves parallel to the end part of thestraight rail 21. When the lockingmember 82 reaches the large-diameter portion 87 b, the projection of therod 85 is completed and the lockingmember 82 is separated from thestraight rail 21. - As shown in
FIG. 6 , thepallet 11 is provided with a receivingmember 88 lockable to the lockingmember 82. As shown inFIG. 4 , the receivingmember 88 in the present embodiment is a bar-like object having acutout 88 a formed in a tip. The lockingmember 82 can enter thecutout 88 a. The receivingmember 88 is projectably and retractably provided on thepallet 11. - Specifically, as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 6 , anotherlinear motion block 13 a perpendicular to the rail having the linear motion blocks 12, 12 mounted thereon and horizontal is provided between the pair of linear motion blocks 12, 12 on thepallet 11. The receivingmember 88 is provided with arail 13 b movable with respect to thelinear motion block 13 a. - In this way, the
pallet 11 is provided with the receivingmember 88 movable horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the rail having thepallet 11 mounted thereon. As shown inFIG. 4 , a part of the receivingmember 88 projects from a side surface of thepedestal 13 on the side where the motion blocks 12, 12 are provided, and thecutout 88 a into which the locking member 82 (FIG. 6 ) can enter is formed in this projecting part. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , acoil spring 89 is provided over the receivingmember 88 and thepedestal 13. Thecoil spring 89 biases the receivingmember 88 in a direction to retract thecutout 88 a in the receivingmember 88 from the side surface of thepedestal 13 into a space below thepedestal 13. As shown inFIG. 6 , thetop board 9 a of thebase 9 is provided with aU-shaped plate cam 90 that causes thecutout 88 a to project from the side surface of thepedestal 13 against a biasing force of thecoil spring 89. - The
U-shaped plate cam 90 is provided to overlap theannular plate cam 87 provided on thetop board 9 a of thebase 9 via aboss 90 d. The receivingmember 88 having a bar-like shape is provided with acam follower 88 b in contact with the inner periphery of theU-shaped plate cam 90. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , theU-shaped plate cam 90 is provided with asemicircular portion 90 a extending along thecurved rail straight portions 90 b extending from both ends of thesemicircular portion 90 a in parallel to thestraight rails - As shown in
FIG. 6 , theU-shaped plate cam 90 is so provided that thecam follower 88 b comes into contact with the inner side of thesemicircular portion 90 a in theU-shaped plate cam 90 when thepallet 11 is mounted on thecurved rail 61. TheU-shaped plate cam 90 causes thecutout 88 a to project from the side surface of thepedestal 13 against the biasing force of thecoil spring 89 by the contact of thesemicircular portion 90 a and thecam follower 88 b. - On the other hand, when the
pallet 11 is mounted on an intermediate part of thestraight rail 21 as shown inFIG. 3 , theU-shaped plate cam 90 is not in contact with thecam follower 88 b. Thus, the receivingmember 88 is moved by the biasing force of thecoil spring 89 and thecutout 88 a in the tip of the receivingmember 88 retracts into the space below thepedestal 13 from the side surface of thepedestal 13. It should be noted that the intermediate part of thestraight rail 21 is any part of thestraight rail 21 except the both end parts along which thestraight portions 90 b extend. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , leading end edges 90 c of thestraight portions 90 b projecting from the both sides of thesemicircular portion 90 a are obliquely formed. When thepallet 11 moving on thestraight rail 21 reaches the end part of thestraight rail 21 as shown inFIG. 9 , thecam follower 88 b on the receivingmember 88 that is provided on thepallet 11 contacts the inclined leadingend edge 90 c of thestraight portion 90 b. When thepallet 11 further moves, thecutout 88 a projects from the side surface of thepedestal 13 along the inclination and the lockingmember 82 moving parallel to the end part of thestraight rail 21 enters thiscutout 88 a as shown inFIGS. 6 and 10 . - When the locking
member 82 that is provided on the tip of thearm 83 enters thecutout 88 a as shown inFIG. 10 , a movement of thepallet 11 separate from and independent of the rotation of thearm 83 is disabled. Thus, when thearm 83 rotates, thepallet 11 moves from thestraight rail 21 to thecurved rail 61, is mounted on thecurved rail 61 and moves along a semicircular path along thecurved rail 61. - When the
pallet 11 that moved along the semicircular path reaches thestraight rail 31 as shown inFIG. 12 , thecam follower 88 b on the receivingmember 88 that is provided on thepallet 11 moves from thesemicircular portion 90 a to thestraight portion 90 b of theU-shaped plate cam 90. Since the lockingmember 82 moves parallel to thestraight rail 31, thepallet 11 advances with the lockingmember 82 located in thecutout 88 a. After the lockingmember 82 reaches theleading end edge 90 c of thestraight portion 90 b, thecutout 88 a retracts into the space below thepedestal 13 and the lockingmember 82 is separated from thecutout 88 a. - Next, a pallet conveying method using the
pallet conveying apparatus 10 is described. - The method for conveying the
pallet 11 using thepallet conveying apparatus 10 includes a first pallet conveying step of conveying thepallet 11 along onestraight rail 21, a first pallet moving step of moving thepallet 11 having reached the end part of the onestraight rail 21 to the otherstraight rail 31, a second pallet conveying step of conveying thepallet 11 along the otherstraight rail 31 and a second pallet moving step of moving thepallet 11 having reached the end part of the otherstraight rail 31 to the onestraight rail 21. - In the present embodiment, each step is described below, assuming that the
pallet 11 is circulated on a counterclockwise path in a top view ofFIG. 1 . - <First Pallet Conveying Step>
- In this step, the
pallet 11 that is mounted on the onestraight rail 21 is conveyed. - A work to which predetermined processings are to be applied is mounted on the
pallet 11 in the present embodiment. The work is mounted on thepallet 11 mounted on the onestraight rail 21. Thepallet 11 in the present embodiment includes the mounting tool 17 (FIG. 3 ) that mounts the work, and the work is mounted on thepallet 11 via the mountingtool 17. - When the
pallets 11 are mounted on the onestraight rail 21 as shown inFIG. 2 , the projections and recesses 14 a, 14 b provided on thepallets 11 are engaged with the recesses andprojections 42 b, 42 a of thecirculation belt 42 provided along the onestraight rail 21. Thus, by driving theservo motor 43 serving as a drive mechanism to circulate thecirculation belt 42, thosepallets 11 can be conveyed along the onestraight rail 21. - The
pallet 11 is conveyed until facing eachmachine tool 1, 2 (FIG. 1 ) provided along the onestraight rail 21. When thepallet 11 faces eachmachine tool servo motor 43 is stopped. In this state, the processing is applied to the work mounted on thepallet 11 in each of thosemachine tools pallets 11 at an interval equal to the interval P between themachine tools machine tools - <First Pallet Moving Step>
- In this step, the
pallet 11 having reached the end part of the onestraight rail 21 is moved to the otherstraight rail 31. This movement is made by the first pallet curved feedingunit 81 provided on one end parts of the pair ofstraight rails - In the present embodiment, the first pallet
linear feeding unit 41 includes thecirculation belt 42. Thus, when thepallet 11 moving along the onestraight rail 21 reaches the end part of the onestraight rail 21 in the aforementioned first pallet conveying step, the engagingmembers 14 on thepallet 11 are separated from thecirculation belt 42. Thus, when thepallet 11 reaches the end part of the onestraight rail 21, thecirculation belt 42 and thepallet 11 are disengaged. - When the
pallet 11 moves on the onestraight rail 21 as shown inFIG. 8 , thecam follower 88 b (seeFIG. 6 ) on the receivingmember 88 that is provided on thepallet 11 contacts the inclined leadingend edge 90 c of thestraight portion 90 b of theU-shaped cam plate 90 as shown inFIG. 9 . When thepallet 11 reaches the end part of thestraight rail 21, thecutout 88 a in the receivingmember 88 projects from the side surface of thepedestal 13 along the inclination of theleading end edge 90 c as indicated by a broken-like arrow ofFIG. 10 . - Further, the
actuator 84 rotates thearms 83 in synchronization with the circulation of thecirculation belt 42. When thepallet 11 reaches the end part of thestraight rail 21, the lockingmember 82 that is provided on the tip of thearm 83 enters thecutout 88 a of the receivingmember 88 on the pallet projecting from the side surface of thepedestal 13. In this way, a movement of thepallet 11 separate from and independent of the rotation of thearm 83 is disabled. - The
annular plate cam 87 is so formed as to move the lockingmember 82 provided on the tip of thearm 83 in parallel to the end part of thestraight rail 21. Thus, the lockingmember 82 can be engaged with the receivingmember 88 on thepallet 11 before thecirculation belt 42 and thepallet 11 are disengaged. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation where thepallet 11 is neither engaged with thecirculation belt 42 nor locked to thearm 83. - In the first pallet moving step, the
arm 83 is rotated, the lockingmember 82 on the tip of thearm 83 is caused to enter thecutout 88 a for locking and thepallet 11 is moved from thestraight rail 21 to thecurved rail 61 and mounted on thecurved rail 61. Thepallet 11 is provided with the pair of linear motion blocks 12, 12 at a predetermined distance from each other. Thus, when thepallet 11 moves on thecurved rail 61, the pair of linear motion blocks 12, 12 have to be along thecurved rail 61. - In the present embodiment, each of the pair of linear motion blocks 12, 12 is mounted slightly rotatably on the
pedestal 13 via theboss 15. Thus, when thepallet 11 moves onto thecurved rail 61, the pair of linear motion blocks 12, 12 slightly rotate and extend along thecurved rail 61 and do not become an obstruction when thepallet 11 moves onto thecurved rail 61. - By further rotating the
arm 83 after thepallet 11 moves onto thecurved rail 61, thepallet 11 that is locked to the tip of thearm 83 moves along a semicircular path along thecurved rail 61. - The
curved rail 61 is directly fixed to thetop board 9 a of thebase 9 to couple the both end parts of the pair ofstraight rails pallet 11 as before. Thus, thepallet 11 that is mounted and moves on thiscurved rail 61 is stable. By stopping a movement of thepallet 11 mounted on thecurved rail 61, the work on thepallet 11 can be processed. - Since the supporting
member 19 is mounted adjacent to the engagingmembers 14 on thepallet 11 in the present embodiment as shown inFIG. 6 , the projecting shaft 8 a of the supportingdevice 8 is preferably caused to project and enter therecess 19 a of the supportingmember 19 in processing the work in a state shown inFIG. 11 . In this way, the unillustrated work mounted on thepallet 11 can be processed with a movement of thepallet 11 constrained. - When the
pallet 11 is moved to the otherstraight rail 31 after or without processing the work as shown inFIG. 12 , thepallet 11 is subsequently moved from thecurved rail 61 to the otherstraight rail 31. At that time, thepallet 11 is moved by controlling a circulation speed of thecirculation belt 42 by theservo motor 43 and an angle of rotation of thearm 83 by theactuator 84 in accordance with a program set in advance so that the projections and recesses 14 a, 14 b of the engagingmembers 14 of thepallet 11 and the recesses andprojections 42 b, 42 a of thecirculation belt 42 extending along the otherstraight rail 31 are reliably engaged. - When the
pallet 11 moves along the semicircular path along thecurved rail 61 and reaches the otherstraight rail 31, thecam follower 88 b on the receivingmember 88 that is provided on thepallet 11 moves from thesemicircular portion 90 a to thestraight portion 90 b of theU-shaped plate cam 90. As shown inFIG. 13 , thepallet 11 advances on the end part of the otherstraight rail 31 with the lockingmember 82 moving parallel to thestraight rail 31 located in thecutout 88 a. When the lockingmember 82 reaches theleading end edge 90 c of thestraight portion 90 b, thecutout 88 a retracts into the space below thepedestal 13 as indicated by a broken-line arrow and the lockingmember 82 is separated from thecutout 88 a. In this way, a locked state of thearm 83 and thepallet 11 is released. - When the
pallet 11 moves from thecurved rail 61 to the otherstraight rail 31 as shown inFIG. 14 , the projections and recesses 14 a, 14 b of the engagingmembers 14 of thepallet 11 and the recesses andprojections 42 b, 42 a of thecirculation belt 42 extending along the otherstraight rail 31 are engaged. Thus, when the locked state of thearm 83 and thepallet 11 is released, a movement of thepallet 11 separate from and independent of thecirculation belt 42 is disabled. - In this way, the
pallet 11 is moved from the end part of the onestraight rail 21 to the otherstraight rail 31. - <Second Pallet Conveying Step>
- In this step, the
pallet 11 that is mounted on the otherstraight rail 31 is conveyed. When thepallet 11 is mounted on the otherstraight rail 31, the engagingmembers 14 on thepallet 11 are engaged with thecirculation belt 42 extending along the otherstraight rail 31. By circulating thecirculation belt 42, thepallet 11 can be conveyed along the otherstraight rail 31. - The
pallet 11 is conveyed along the other straight rail until facing eachmachine tool straight rail 31. When thepallet 11 faces eachmachine tool servo motor 43 is stopped. In this state, the processing is applied to the work mounted on thepallet 11 in each of thosemachine tools - When the
pallet 11 is mounted on thecurved rail 61, thepallet 11 is not engaged with thecirculation belt 42. Thus, when thecirculation belt 42 is circulated separately from the rotation of thearm 83, thepallet 11 that is engaged with thecirculation belt 42 is conveyed on the otherstraight rail 31. Therefore, thepallet 11 that is mounted on the otherstraight rail 31 can be moved while being engaged with thecirculation belt 42 without moving thepallet 11 mounted on thecurved rail 61. - Further, when an interval between the
pallet 11 that is engaged with thecirculation belt 42 and thepallet 11 that is mounted on thecurved rail 61 becomes a predetermined interval, thearm 83 is rotated to move thepallet 11 from thecurved rail 61 to thestraight rail 31 and engage thepallet 11 with thecirculation belt 42. In this way, the plurality ofpallets 11 can be conveyed at the predetermined interval on the otherstraight rail 31. - If the plurality of
pallets 11 are conveyed at the interval equal to the interval P between themachine tools 3 and 4 (FIG. 1 ) in this way, processings by the plurality ofmachine tools - <Second Pallet Moving Step>
- In this step, the
pallet 11 having reached the end part of the otherstraight rail 31 is moved to the onestraight rail 21. This movement is made by the second pallet curved feedingunit 91 provided on the other end parts of the pair ofstraight rails - As just described, by performing each step described above once, each
pallet 11 can be conveyed one by one in the counterclockwise direction on the track-shaped path. - Every time each of such steps is performed once, each
machine tool 1 to 4 is operated to process each work mounted on each pallet in parallel, with the operation of thepallet conveying apparatus 10 stopped. During the operation of eachmachine tool 1 to 4, works are loaded onto and unloaded from any one of thepallets 11. - As just described, in the
pallet conveying apparatus 10 and the pallet conveying method according to the present embodiment, the both end parts of the pair ofstraight rails curved rails pallet 11 moved from the onestraight rail curved rail straight rail curved rail unit straight rails pallets 11 as before. - Thus, the
pallet 11 that is mounted on thecurved rail pallet 11 mounted on thecurved rail pallet 11 can be processed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even the work that is mounted on thepallet 11 moving from the onestraight rail straight rail - Further, in the
pallet conveying apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the lockingmember 82 to be locked to thepallet 11 is provided to be projectable from and retractable into the tip of thearm 83. The lockingmember 82 is locked to thepallet 11 on the end part of thestraight rail member 82 is moved parallel to thestraight rail pallet 11 is locked to neither the palletlinear feeding unit unit straight rail - Thus, by rotating the
arm 83 after thepallet 11 having moved on thestraight rail member 82 on the end part of thestraight rail pallet 11 can be reliably moved onto thecurved rail pallet 11 having moved on thecurved rail straight rail - Since the
pallet 11 is mounted and moved on thecurved rail pallet 11 can be reliably moved along the semicircular path from the end part of the onestraight rail 21 to the end part of the otherstraight rail 31. In this way, thepallet 11 can be reliably circulated on the track-shaped path. Therefore, the side of thepallet 11 where the work is mounted can be constantly caused to face outward and a degree of freedom in arranging themachine tools 1 to 4 for processing the works can be improved. - Further, in the
pallet conveying apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the receivingmember 88 to be locked to the lockingmember 82 is projectably and retractably provided on thepallet 11. Thus, the receivingmember 88 can be retracted into thepallet 11 mounted on thestraight rail member 88 projecting from thepallet 11 mounted and moving on thestraight rail - It should be noted that although the pallet
linear feeding unit circulation belt 42 and thecirculation mechanism 43 that circulates thiscirculation belt 42 in the aforementioned embodiment, the palletlinear feeding unit linear feeding unit pallet 11 can be conveyed along thestraight rails - Further, although the
pallets 11 are circulated in the counterclockwise direction along the path in the aforementioned embodiment, eachpallet 11 may be conveyed in a clockwise direction, not only in the counterclockwise direction. - Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, the mounting
tool 17 that mounts the work is provided on one lateral part of the mountingplate 16. However, although not shown, the mountingplate 16 may be formed with a through hole, a mounting tool may be provided in that through hole and a work may be mounted through the mountingplate 16 via this through hole. - Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, the servo motor that drives by electricity is used as the
actuator 84 that rotates thearms 83. However, as long as thearms 83 can be rotated in a horizontal plane, a device that rotates therotating rod 84 b by a fluid pressure supplied to and discharged from thebody portion 84 a may be used as theactuator 84. - Further, in the aforementioned embodiment, the pallet curved feeding
unit arms 83 respectively radially arranged and can simultaneously move a plurality ofpallets 11. However, the number of the arm(s) 83 may be one, two, four or more as long as the arm(s) 83 can convey the pallet(s) 11 along thecurved rail - Further, in an example shown in
FIG. 1 , fourmachine tools 1 to 4 are provided on both sides of thepallet conveying apparatus 10 of the present embodiment. However, this is an example, and the number of themachine tools 1 to 4 varies depending on works to be processed and the number of thepallets 11 may be appropriately increased or decreased according to the number of themachine tools 1 to 4. - The present embodiment is summarized below.
- A pallet conveying apparatus includes a pair of straight rails provided parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other in a horizontal direction, the pair of straight rails being configured such that an pallet is movably mounted thereon, a pallet linear feeding unit configured to convey the pallets mounted on the straight rails along the straight rails, a pair of curved rails curved to couple both end parts of the pair of straight rails, the pair of curved rails being configured such that the pallet is movably mounted thereon, and a pallet curved feeding unit configured to convey the pallets mounted on the curved rails along the curved rails.
- The curved rail may be formed into a semicircular shape. In this case, the pallet curved feeding unit preferably includes an arm having a locking member on a tip, the locking member being configured to lock to the pallet, and an actuator configured to rotate the arm with a base end of the arm serving as a center of rotation. A plurality of the arms may be radially arranged.
- Further, the locking member may be provided on the tip of the arm movably in a longitudinal direction of the arm. In the case of providing the pallet with a receiving member lockable to the locking member, the receiving member may be projectably and retractably provided on the pallet.
- Further, a pallet conveying method guides a pallet from an end part of either one of two straight rails to an end part of other of two straight rails, the pallet moving on the one straight rail, the two straight rails being parallel to each other at a predetermined distance from each other.
- Both end parts of the pair of straight rails are coupled by a pair of curved rails, and the pallet that is moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail is conveyed to the end part of the other straight rail along the curved rail.
- The curved rail may be formed into a semicircular shape. In this case, preferably, the tip of the arm is locked to the pallet moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail and the pallet having the tip of the arm locked thereto is conveyed along the curved rail by rotating the arm about a base end.
- In the pallet conveying apparatus and the pallet conveying method of the present embodiment, the both end parts of the pair of straight rails are coupled by the pair of curved rails and the pallet that is moved from the one straight rail to the curved rail is conveyed to the end part of the other straight rail along the curved rail by the pallet curved feeding unit. These curved rails are provided to couple the both end parts of the pair of straight rails and are not structured to move while carrying the pallets as before.
- Thus, the pallet mounted on the curved rail is stable. By stopping a movement of the pallet mounted on the curved rail, the work on the pallet can be processed. Therefore, the pallet conveying apparatus and the pallet conveying method according to the present embodiment can process even a work placed on the pallet moving from the one straight rail to the other straight rail.
- Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an illustration of one exemplary application of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configuration of the above embodiment.
- The present application claims a priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-5724 filed with the Japan Patent Office on Jan. 17, 2017, and all the contents of this application are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims (9)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2017-005724 | 2017-01-17 | ||
JP2017005724A JP2018114571A (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2017-01-17 | Pallet transport device and method for transporting pallet |
PCT/JP2018/000027 WO2018135308A1 (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2018-01-04 | Pallet conveyance apparatus and pallet conveyance method |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20200180868A1 true US20200180868A1 (en) | 2020-06-11 |
US10696487B1 US10696487B1 (en) | 2020-06-30 |
Family
ID=62908669
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US16/463,611 Active US10696487B1 (en) | 2017-01-17 | 2018-01-04 | Pallet conveying apparatus and pallet conveying method |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US10696487B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2018114571A (en) |
CN (1) | CN110337413B (en) |
DE (1) | DE112018000406B4 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018135308A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10934099B2 (en) * | 2018-05-02 | 2021-03-02 | Caromation, Inc. | Electric pallet conveyor |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102019002424A1 (en) * | 2019-04-03 | 2020-10-08 | Günther Zimmer | Transfer device of a transport system |
JP7509634B2 (en) | 2020-09-24 | 2024-07-02 | Nittoku株式会社 | Pallet transport device and pallet transport method |
CN112478647B (en) * | 2020-12-01 | 2023-09-12 | 浙江工业大学之江学院 | Dining room peak period is with circulation device of getting meal |
CN112809378A (en) * | 2021-02-08 | 2021-05-18 | 苏州凯磊胜自动化科技有限公司 | On-line device and method for jumping pen neck |
TWI809476B (en) * | 2021-08-17 | 2023-07-21 | 致茂電子股份有限公司 | Transportation equipment of dragging tray |
Family Cites Families (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB801454A (en) * | 1955-09-15 | 1958-09-17 | Emhart Mfg Co | Improvements in mechanism for forming a single row of cans into several rows |
US3771258A (en) * | 1971-05-10 | 1973-11-13 | A Charney | Conveyorized farming system |
US4479572A (en) * | 1981-11-10 | 1984-10-30 | Merz William J | Conveyor system |
US4474286A (en) * | 1983-01-31 | 1984-10-02 | General Motors Corporation | Close-pack conveyor system |
JPH0742596Y2 (en) * | 1991-11-22 | 1995-10-04 | オークマ株式会社 | Work table |
JPH07157045A (en) * | 1993-12-10 | 1995-06-20 | Waieru Kogyo Kk | Conveyor device |
US5884753A (en) * | 1997-05-05 | 1999-03-23 | Bi-Line Convertor Systems Limited | Conveyor system |
JP4285727B2 (en) * | 2002-11-08 | 2009-06-24 | 株式会社フロンティア | Blow molding device transfer mechanism |
JP2005132568A (en) * | 2003-10-30 | 2005-05-26 | Aisin Aw Co Ltd | Carrying conveyor |
DE102005006982A1 (en) * | 2005-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | Basf Ag | Use of nonionic surfactants in metal extraction by electrolysis |
JP2010013235A (en) * | 2008-07-04 | 2010-01-21 | Murata Mach Ltd | Carriage system |
DE202008016678U1 (en) * | 2008-12-17 | 2009-03-12 | Rofa Rosenheimer Förderanlagen GmbH | Switch for an electric pallet railway |
JP2010234456A (en) * | 2009-03-30 | 2010-10-21 | Toyota Motor Corp | Assembling device and assembling method |
JP4878639B2 (en) | 2009-10-29 | 2012-02-15 | 日特エンジニアリング株式会社 | Pallet conveying device and pallet conveying method |
AT512340B1 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2015-10-15 | Tgw Logistics Group Gmbh | PICKING APPROACH AND METHOD OF PICKING ARTICLES |
JP5633597B2 (en) | 2012-04-12 | 2014-12-03 | 株式会社Jvcケンウッド | Moving picture decoding apparatus, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding program, receiving apparatus, receiving method, and receiving program |
JP6452433B2 (en) * | 2014-12-19 | 2019-01-16 | 日特エンジニアリング株式会社 | Circulating pallet conveyor |
JP6615067B2 (en) * | 2015-09-08 | 2019-12-04 | Nittoku株式会社 | Pallet transport device |
CN205739426U (en) * | 2016-05-18 | 2016-11-30 | 湖南正中制药机械有限公司 | A kind of thumb wheel for static imaging transmits and cam bottle gripper |
WO2018049122A1 (en) * | 2016-09-09 | 2018-03-15 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Systems and methods for producing customized products intermixed with mass produced products |
-
2017
- 2017-01-17 JP JP2017005724A patent/JP2018114571A/en active Pending
-
2018
- 2018-01-04 US US16/463,611 patent/US10696487B1/en active Active
- 2018-01-04 CN CN201880004407.8A patent/CN110337413B/en active Active
- 2018-01-04 WO PCT/JP2018/000027 patent/WO2018135308A1/en active Application Filing
- 2018-01-04 DE DE112018000406.6T patent/DE112018000406B4/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10934099B2 (en) * | 2018-05-02 | 2021-03-02 | Caromation, Inc. | Electric pallet conveyor |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE112018000406T5 (en) | 2019-10-24 |
DE112018000406B4 (en) | 2021-10-14 |
CN110337413B (en) | 2021-01-22 |
CN110337413A (en) | 2019-10-15 |
WO2018135308A1 (en) | 2018-07-26 |
US10696487B1 (en) | 2020-06-30 |
JP2018114571A (en) | 2018-07-26 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US10696487B1 (en) | Pallet conveying apparatus and pallet conveying method | |
US6604984B2 (en) | Grinding machine for machining sheets of glass | |
CN109071120B (en) | Pallet conveying device | |
JP4446936B2 (en) | Pallet conveying method and apparatus | |
CN108367867B (en) | Tray conveying device | |
JP6460827B2 (en) | Pallet transport device | |
TWI625286B (en) | Pallet conveying device | |
KR101969527B1 (en) | Pallet transport device | |
KR101465283B1 (en) | Centring device for flat workpieces in a press and method for adjusting such a centring device | |
JP6452433B2 (en) | Circulating pallet conveyor | |
WO2017033739A1 (en) | Pallet transport device and pallet transport method using same | |
JP6655854B2 (en) | Pallet transfer device | |
CN111683883B (en) | Transport tray, tray transport device using same, and tray transport method | |
WO2017043397A1 (en) | Pallet transport device | |
JP5462715B2 (en) | Substrate transport and holding device | |
KR102297415B1 (en) | Apparatus for automatically roading or unroding bobbin | |
JP6452431B2 (en) | Pallet transport device | |
WO2017073305A1 (en) | Pallet transport device | |
JP6705703B2 (en) | Pallet carrier | |
JP2022040322A (en) | Palette for conveyance and palette conveyance method | |
JPH05178456A (en) | Work positioning correcting device for work conveyance line |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NITTOKU ENGINEERING CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HASEGAWA, KENTA;REEL/FRAME:049269/0226 Effective date: 20190405 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: ENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: BIG.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: NITTOKU CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:NITTOKU ENGINEERING CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:051059/0043 Effective date: 20190819 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY Year of fee payment: 4 |