JP3125643B2 - Conveyor device and conveyor transport equipment formed by this conveyor device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conveyor device, and more particularly to a control device therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a conveyor device is an endless chain or roller for transporting a load, a driving device including a motor for driving the endless chain or roller, the presence or absence of a load on the endless chain or roller. , A conveyor body that supports these devices, and a control device that controls the driving device based on the detection signals of the sensors and external command data to drive the endless chains and rollers to convey the load. A plurality of the conveyor devices are combined to form a load conveyance path. A control device for controlling these conveyor devices is provided, and the control device issues command data to each control device to control the entire transport of the load.

Further, each control device needs to determine whether or not the command signal from the general control device is its own command signal. Therefore, a unique number (hereinafter, referred to as a registration number) is given to each control device in advance. It is set by a dip switch provided in the device. The data between the general control device and each control device is transmitted with this registration number attached.

[0004]

According to the above-mentioned conventional type, when the layout of the conveyor device is changed due to a change in the transport path of the load, a registration number is newly determined for each control device, and the registration number is set in the device. The provided dip switch had to be reset, and further, the general control device had to change the software by the newly set registration number and re-create the data.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor device which does not require setting of each control device and change of the general control device even when the layout of the conveyor device is changed.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveyor device for controlling the starting and stopping of a conveyor body for carrying a load. And a data transmission means for performing data transmission between the control device and a control device of a conveyor device arranged adjacent to the control device, wherein the control device is a control device for one of the adjacent conveyor devices via the data transmission means. When the registration data consisting of the registration number is inputted, 1 is added to the registration number to make it its own registration number, and the registration data consisting of its own registration number is output to the other adjacent conveyor device via the data transmission means. It is characterized by having a configuration.

[0007] The data transmission means is formed from a signal path such as a cable connecting the communication devices. The communication device also includes a wireless device. The control device is formed by a microcomputer. The registration data is output from a host computer that supervises or monitors the conveyor device.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the registration number is incremented by one each time the vehicle passes through each control device, and a unique registration number is assigned to each control device. This eliminates the need for the operator to determine the registration number and set the dip switch, as in the prior art, and the host computer recognizes that the registration numbers are assigned in the order in which the conveyor devices are connected.

A conveyor device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the conveyor device according to the first aspect, wherein when there is no other adjacent conveyor device in the control device, registration completion data including its own registration number is transmitted to the control device. When the registration completion data is output to the control device of the adjacent one of the conveyor devices via the transmission means and the control device of the other adjacent conveyor device is input via the data transmission means, the registration completion data is transmitted to the data transmission means. And a function of outputting to one of the adjacent conveyor devices via the.

According to the configuration of the present invention, when it is confirmed that the other adjacent conveyor device does not exist, that is, when the registration data reaches the control device of the most downstream conveyor device, the most downstream control device transmits the registration data. Registration completion data including the registration number of the lowermost control device is sequentially transmitted via the upstream control device. Therefore, the host computer can confirm the registration completion and the number of connected conveyor devices, and can control each conveyor device by a registration number that is regarded as registered.

[0011] Further, the conveyor transport equipment according to claim 3 is characterized in that:
3. A conveyor transporting facility comprising a plurality of conveyor devices according to claim 2, wherein a general controller is provided for transmitting command data to said plurality of conveyor devices and supervising the operation of each conveyor device. The controller transmits registration data including a registration number to the control device of the most upstream conveyor device for each of the plurality of transport routes formed by the plurality of conveyor devices, and, based on the returned registration completion data, transmits each of the transport routes. The number of conveyor devices is checked.

The general controller is formed of a microcomputer, and data transmission between the general controller and the control device of the most upstream conveyor device is performed via data transmission means.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the supervisory controller confirms the number of conveyor devices forming the transport route based on the returned registration completion data for each transport route. Therefore, the supervisory controller can confirm the number of connected conveyor devices, and can output and control command data corresponding to the number of conveyance devices including a registration number for regarding the conveyor device as registered, for each transport route.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conveyor device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the conveyor device 1 has a pair of left and right side frames with respect to a load conveying direction (X direction).
11, a plurality of connection frames 12 for connecting the side frames 11 to each other, and a stand 13 for supporting the side frames 11 to the floor F to form a conveyor body 14. Is established,
A chain 16 is stretched between the sprockets 15 to form a means for transporting the load, and a motor 17 connected to the shaft of one of the sprockets 15 is provided on each side frame 11, and a motor is provided on the side surface of the one side frame 11. A drive unit is formed by providing a power unit 18 for reversibly driving the power unit 18, and the power unit 18 is provided on the side surface of the other side frame 11 in accordance with a signal transmitted and received between an adjacent device and a higher-level control device.
And a control unit is formed by providing a control unit 19 for controlling the control.

The stand 13 and the connection frame 12 at the front and rear ends of the conveyor body 14 are connected to the connection box 2 respectively.
1, 22 are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, these connection boxes 21 and 22 are provided with a power supply terminal 23 and a signal terminal 24 which can be connected to an external cable and a connector, and a power supply terminal 23 of the first connection box 21 and a power supply terminal 23 of the second connection box 22. Power supply terminal 23
The power supply line 25 is formed by connecting the signal terminals 24 of the first connection box 21 and the signal terminals 24 of the second connection box 22.
Are respectively connected to the control unit 19 to form a signal line 26. The power supply line 25 is connected to the power unit 18 and the control unit 19.

The control unit 19 has one signal line 26A connected to the signal terminal 24 of the first connection box 21.
A first communication device 31 for performing data transmission via the second connection box 22 and the other signal line connected to the signal terminal 24 of the second connection box 22
A controller (hereinafter, referred to as a slave station) including a second communication device 32 for performing data transmission via 26B and a microcomputer for controlling the power unit 18 based on data input from the first and second communication devices 31, 32. ) 33 and a DC power supply 34 connected to the power supply line 25 and supplying power to the slave stations 33 and the communication devices 31 and 32.

The connection box of the conveyor device 1
The mounting positions of the devices 21 and 22 can be changed according to the positions of the adjacent devices. FIG. 3 shows the conveyor device 1
An example in which a conveyance path is formed side by side is shown.

The five conveyor devices 1 include a power cable 3
5, a power supply terminal 23 and a signal terminal 24 are connected by a signal cable 36, and a controller (hereinafter referred to as COS) 2 for controlling the five conveyor devices 1 is provided.
S2 and a signal terminal 24 of one of the most upstream conveyor devices 1 are connected by a signal cable 36 to form a transport facility.

As shown in FIG. 4, the COS 2 is a stand
A liquid crystal display 43 with a touch panel 42 is provided on 41, and a controller (hereinafter, referred to as a master station) 44 comprising a microcomputer is provided in a stand 41, and a communication cable 31 or 32 of the above-mentioned conveyor device 1 is connected by a signal cable 36. A communication device 45 to be connected is provided.

When the registration mode of the conveyor device 1 is selected by the touch panel 42, the master station 44 sends a registration command code and a registration number (N) to the connected most upstream conveyor device 1A.
= 0), and when registration completion data described later is input, the registration mode ends. The registration completion data includes information on the number of connected conveyor apparatuses 1, and is controlled by a registration number that regards each conveyor apparatus 1 as being registered.

The operation of the slave station 31 in the registration mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the data inputted from the first communication device 31 is confirmed, and it is confirmed whether registration command data is inputted (step-1). If confirmed, "1" is added to the registration number N of the registration command data (N = N + 1) (step-2), this registration number is stored (step-3), and then input from the second communication device 32. Then, it is checked whether the second communication device 32 is connected to the communication device 31 or 32 of the adjacent conveyor device 1 (step-4).

When this connection is confirmed, the registration command data including the registration command code and the registration number (N = N + 1) is transmitted to the second
Output to the communication device 32 (step-5). And the second
After confirming the data input from the communication device 32 and inputting the registration completion data from the communication device 31 or 32 of the adjacent conveyor device 1 (step-6), the registration completion data is output from the first communication device 31. (Step-7).

In the step-4, the second communication device
32 is not connected to the adjacent conveyor device 1,
Registration completion data including the registration completion mode and the stored registration number N is formed (step-8), and output from the first communication device 31.

If the registration command data is not confirmed in step-1, the data inputted from the second communication device 32 is confirmed to confirm whether the registration command data is inputted (step-9). When confirmed, "1" is added to the registration number N of the registration command data (N = N + 1) (step-10), and this registration number is stored (step-11).
Next, the data input from the first communication device 31 is confirmed, and the first communication device 31 is connected to the communication device 3 of the adjacent conveyor device 1.
Check if it is connected to 2 or 31 (Step-12).

When this connection is confirmed, the registration command data including the registration command code and the registration number (N = N + 1) is stored in the first
Output to the communication device 31 (step-13). And the first
When the data input from the communication device 31 is confirmed and registration completion data is input from the communication device 32 or 31 of the adjacent conveyor device 1 (step-14), the registration completion data is output from the second communication device 32. (Step-15).

In step -12, the first communication device
31 is not connected to the adjacent conveyor device 1,
The registration completion data including the registration completion mode and the stored registration number N is formed (step-16), and output from the second communication device 32.

In step -9, if the registration command data is not confirmed, normal transport control is performed. With the above configuration, the registration command data is sequentially transmitted to the communication device 3.
The registration number N is "1" while being transmitted via 1, 32.
The registration numbers, which are incremented by “1” sequentially from each of the upstream slave stations 33, are stored.
Alternatively, when it is confirmed that the connection 32 is not connected, that is, when the registration command data reaches the most downstream slave station 33, the registration number of the slave station 33 and the registration completion mode are set from the most downstream slave station 33. The registration completion data is transmitted to the master station 44 via the upstream slave station 33, so that the master station 44 can confirm the registration completion and the number of connected slave stations 33 (conveyor apparatuses 1), and register each conveyor apparatus 1. It can be controlled by the registration number that is considered to have been done.

As described above, each time the registration command data passes through each slave station 33, the registration number N is incremented by one.
By assigning a unique registration number to each 33, there is no need for the operator to determine the registration number and set the dip switch as in the past, thus reducing the burden on the worker and improving work efficiency . The master station 44 can also recognize that the registration numbers are assigned in the order in which the conveyor devices 1 are connected,
In addition, the number of connected conveyor apparatuses 1 can be confirmed, and a load can be freely transferred between the conveyor apparatuses 1 without changing software.

When there are a plurality of transfer paths of the conveyor transfer equipment, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the COS 2 controls the conveyor apparatus 1 forming three transfer paths,
When the registration mode is selected, the master station 44 of S2 communicates with the communication device 45.
To the number of the communication devices 31 or 32 of the conveyor device 1 connected to the communication device 45,
The number of transport paths is recognized based on the searched number, and the communication device 31 or 32 of the connected conveyor device 1 is recognized.
A different registration code is assigned to each conveyor path, and thereafter, registration command data is output for each of the transport paths, and the number of conveyor apparatuses 1 forming each transport path is confirmed based on the registration completion data.

Further, by selecting the registration mode, each slave station 33
Although the registration number is automatically set, the registration number may be automatically set to each slave station 33 by selecting the activation mode. Although data is transmitted by the communication devices 31, 32, and 45 connected by the signal cable 36 and the signal line 26, data transmission can be performed by using a wireless device. At this time, it is desirable to change the carrier frequency for each of the COS 2 and each conveyor device 1.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the registration number is incremented by one each time the vehicle passes through each control device, and a unique registration number is assigned to each control device. As described above, the worker does not need to determine the registration number and set the dip switch, so that the burden on the worker can be reduced and the working efficiency can be improved. The host computer can also recognize that the registration numbers are assigned in the order in which the conveyor devices are connected, and can freely transfer the load between the conveyor devices without changing the software.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when it is confirmed that there is no other adjacent conveyor device, that is, when the registration data reaches the control device of the most downstream conveyor device, the most downstream control device is controlled. Registration completion data consisting of the registration number of this lowermost control device is sequentially transmitted from the device via the upstream control device, so that the host computer can confirm the registration completion and the number of connected conveyor devices. By outputting the command data according to the above to each conveyor device, the load can be freely conveyed between the conveyor devices.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the supervising controller can confirm the number of conveyor devices forming the transport route based on the returned registration completion data for each transport route. The command data corresponding to the number is output together with a registration number for considering the conveyor device as registered, so that the load can be freely controlled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conveyor device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control configuration diagram of the conveyor device.

FIG. 3 is a layout view of a conveyor transport facility to which the conveyor device is connected.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a general controller of the conveyor device.

FIG. 5 is a control configuration diagram of a conveyor transport facility to which the conveyor device is connected.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a slave station of the conveyor device.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of another conveyor transportation facility to which the conveyor device is connected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Conveyor device 2 General controller (COS) 14 Conveyor body 16 Chain 17 Motor 18 Power unit 19 Control unit (Control device) 21, 22 Connection box 23 Power supply terminal 24 Signal terminal 25 Power supply line 26 Signal line 31, 32, 45 Communication device 33 Controller (slave station) 36 Signal cable 42 Touch panel 43 LCD display 44 Controller (master station)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A control device for controlling the start and stop of a conveyor body, which conveys a load, and data for performing data transmission between a control device of a conveyor device disposed adjacent to the control device. The control device, when inputting registration data consisting of a registration number from the control device of one of the adjacent conveyor devices via the data transmission device, adds 1 to the registration number and adds its own registration number. A conveyor device configured to output registration data including its own registration number to another adjacent conveyor device via data transmission means. 2. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein, when the control device does not have another adjacent conveyor device, the registration completion data including its own registration number is transmitted to one of the adjacent conveyor devices via the data transmission means. When the registration completion data is input from the control device of the adjacent other conveyor device via the data transmission means, the registration completion data is output to the adjacent conveyor device via the data transmission means. A conveyor device having a function of outputting to a device. 3. A conveyor transporting facility comprising a plurality of the conveyor devices connected to each other, wherein the controller transmits command data to the plurality of conveyor devices and controls the operation of each conveyor device. Each integrated controller transmits registration data consisting of a registration number for each of a plurality of transport paths formed by the plurality of conveyor devices, and, based on the returned registration completion data,
A conveyor transport facility characterized in that the number of conveyor devices on each transport path is checked.