JP6002007B2 - Transport device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport device that supports a plurality of transported objects at regular intervals and transports them at a constant speed in a constant direction.

  In a conventional manufacturing factory or the like, various transport devices are used to continuously transport the object to be transported between the processes. For example, in Patent Document 1, a transported object is continuously transported by suspending a transported object on a plurality of hanger devices that move on a guide rail of a coating line, and the transported object is sequentially coated by the coating apparatus. A painting line facility having an apparatus is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 11-319655 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, in a transport device that continuously transports a transported object between each process, the transport efficiency of the transported object is prevented in order to prevent a reduction in work efficiency in the next process. It is important to increase Also in the transport device used in the coating line, if the operator forgets to suspend the transported object on the hanger device due to carelessness of the operator, the transport efficiency of the transported object decreases and the transported object is reduced. Waste is generated in the paint that is sequentially applied to the conveyed product.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport apparatus capable of improving the transport efficiency of a transported object.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the transport device of the present invention includes:
In a transport device that transports a plurality of transported objects supported at regular intervals at a constant speed,
A plurality of length detection sensors which are provided in a transport path of the transported object and detect lengths of the transported objects;
Standard efficiency storage means in which standard transport efficiencies of the plurality of transported objects are stored in advance;
An actual transport efficiency based on detection signals from a predetermined number of length detection sensors among the plurality of length detection sensors is compared with a standard efficiency stored in the standard efficiency storage means, and the actual transport efficiency is the standard efficiency. When it is judged that it is less than, the conveyed object monitoring apparatus provided with the 1st comparator which outputs a conveyance efficiency attention signal at least is provided.
According to this feature, the actual conveyance efficiency of the conveyance object detected by the plurality of length detection sensors by the first comparator of the conveyance object monitoring device is changed to the standard conveyance efficiency stored in the standard efficiency storage means in advance. When it is determined that the transfer efficiency is not satisfied, the conveyance efficiency caution signal is output, so that it can be determined that the actual transfer efficiency is low. Therefore, when the conveyance efficiency caution signal is output, the conveyance efficiency can be increased and the work efficiency in the next process can be improved by increasing the conveyance amount of the object to be conveyed.

The transport device of the present invention is
The transported object monitoring device includes:
A passage detection sensor that is provided in a transport path of the transported object and sequentially detects the passage of the transported objects;
A standard time storage means in which a standard time until the transported object passes and a standard time until a succeeding transported object is detected after the preceding transported object passes,
The detection signal from the passage detection sensor is compared with the standard time stored in the standard time storage means, and when the passage time of the conveyed object is determined to be outside the predetermined standard time, and / or subsequent And a second comparator that outputs a conveyance efficiency caution signal when it is determined that the time until the object is detected is longer than a predetermined standard time.
According to this feature, when the second comparator of the transported object monitoring device determines that the time until the subsequent transported object is detected is longer than a predetermined standard time, a transport efficiency caution signal is output. Therefore, it can be determined that any of the subsequent objects to be conveyed is not supported and conveyed at regular intervals. Therefore, when the conveyance efficiency caution signal is output, the conveyance efficiency of the conveyance object can be increased by supporting the conveyance object at a vacant support location and operating the conveyance device again.

  In addition, since the transport efficiency caution signal is output when it is determined that the passing time of the transported object is outside the predetermined standard time or when the length of the transported object is determined to be out of the standard dimension, It can be determined that the object having a width and length of the object to be conveyed has been conveyed other than the regular object to be conveyed. Therefore, if the transport device is immediately stopped when this transport efficiency caution signal is output, it is possible to prevent the transported object other than the normal transported object from being transported to the next process.

The transport device of the present invention is
A plurality of the passage detection sensors are provided at the same intervals as the support intervals of the plurality of objects to be conveyed.
According to this feature, when subsequent transported objects are not supported and transported at regular intervals, any one of the passage detection sensors quickly detects this, so that a transport efficiency caution signal is output. This can be done quickly.

The transport device of the present invention is
The transported object monitoring device includes:
A standard dimension storage means in which a standard dimension of the length of the conveyed object is stored in advance;
The detection signals from the plurality of length detection sensors are compared with the standard dimensions stored in the standard dimension storage means, and when the length of the object to be conveyed is determined to be out of the standard dimension, And a third comparator for outputting.
According to this feature, when the length of the conveyed object is determined to be out of the standard dimension by the third comparator of the conveyed object monitoring device, the conveyed object caution signal is output. It can be determined that a transported object other than the length of the transported object has been transported. Therefore, if the transport device is immediately stopped when this transported object caution signal is output, it is possible to prevent the transported object other than the regular transported object from being transported to the next process.

It is a schematic structure perspective view of the conveyance apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a front view explaining the detection state of the conveyed product by each sensor. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state when the passage of a to-be-conveyed object is detected by a passage detection sensor. It is a block diagram of a to-be-conveyed object monitoring apparatus. It is a flowchart which detects the caution state of the conveyance efficiency of the to-be-conveyed object by a to-be-conveyed object monitoring apparatus. It is a flowchart which detects the caution state of the to-be-conveyed object by the to-be-conveyed object monitoring apparatus.

  The form for implementing the conveying apparatus which concerns on this invention is demonstrated below based on an Example.

  A transport apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. First, reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 denotes a transport apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The transport device 1 of this embodiment is for continuously transporting the objects to be transported 2 and 2 'to a painting line, for example, and is guided by the guide rail 3 installed on the ceiling of the factory and the like. And a suspension device 4 that moves at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow.

  At the lower end of the suspension support 5 that is parallel to the guide rail 3 in the suspension device 4, the upper end of a relatively long flat plate-like object 2 or relatively short object 2 ′ is hooked in the vertical direction. A plurality of suspension hooks 6 to be supported are attached at regular intervals along the transport direction. The plurality of objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 ′ are suspended by the suspension hooks 6 with their upper ends aligned with each other at regular intervals, and in this state, are conveyed along the conveyance path below the guide rail 3 at a constant speed. It has become so. In addition, although the kind of the to-be-conveyed object conveyed with the conveying apparatus 1 of a present Example may be only one type, or multiple types may be sufficient, a to-be-conveyed object is dimension-shaped beforehand for every kind. Each type of dimension data of the conveyed object is stored in advance in a standard dimension memory 15 which is a standard dimension storage means described later.

  On the downstream side of the transport path, a plurality of passage detection sensors 7 that sequentially detect the passage of the plurality of transported objects 2 and a plurality of upper and lower (five in the present embodiment) that detect the length of the transported object 2. A length detection sensor, that is, in order from the top, a first length detection sensor 8a, a second length detection sensor 8b, a third length detection sensor 8c, a fourth length detection sensor 8d, a fifth length detection sensor 8e, and A sixth length detection sensor 8 is provided, and the sensors 7 and 8 a to 8 f are electrically connected to the control device 9. These sensors 7, 8a to 8f and the control device 9 constitute a transported object monitoring device 10.

  The passage detection sensor 7 is disposed in the vicinity where the central portion in the vertical direction of the transported object 2 passes in order to reliably detect the passing of the transported object 2. The first length detection sensor 8a to the fifth length detection sensor 8e are arranged at regular intervals in the vertical direction. Further, only the sixth length detection sensor 8f is disposed slightly below the fifth length detection sensor 8e at intervals shorter than the predetermined interval, and the sixth length detection sensor 8f is described later. It is provided as a sensor for detecting the conveyed object 2a outside the standard dimensions.

  In the present embodiment, the passage detection sensor 7 and the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f are paired with a light projecting portion A made of a light emitting diode or the like and a light receiving portion B made of a phototransistor or the like. A photoelectric sensor is used. The light projecting unit A projects light toward the light receiving unit B every predetermined short time, such as every second, or continuously in time, and whether or not the light receiving unit B receives light. Thus, it can be determined whether or not there is an object to be conveyed. Furthermore, among the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f, the length detection sensor adjacent to the top and bottom detects the transport target, so that the transport target is the length adjacent to the top and bottom. It can be determined that the detection sensor has a continuous length dimension in the length direction. Further, the length detection sensors 8a to 8f can continuously detect the object to be conveyed over a predetermined time, thereby calculating the width dimension in the left-right direction of the object to be conveyed. Based on this, the area of the conveyed object can be calculated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when all of the first length detection sensor 8a to the fifth length detection sensor 8e are activated and the sixth length detection sensor 8f is not activated, a regular relatively long object to be conveyed. That is, it is detected that the object 2 to be conveyed having a reference dimension has been conveyed. Further, when the fourth length detection sensor 8d to the sixth length detection sensor 8f are not activated and the first length detection sensor 8a to the third length detection sensor 8c higher than that are activated, the regular comparison is performed. It is detected that a short-to-be-conveyed object, that is, a to-be-conveyed object 2 ′ having a reference dimension has been conveyed. That is, based on which one of the first length detection sensor 8a to the fifth length detection sensor 8e operates, the actual conveyance efficiency of the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 'can be calculated. Furthermore, when all of the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f are activated, it is detected that the object 2a to be conveyed that is longer than the normal length has been conveyed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the passage detection sensor 7 is turned on each time a plurality of the objects to be conveyed 2 passes, and the object 2 to be conveyed having a normal width has passed by being turned on for a predetermined time. Is detected. At the same time, by detecting the time from when the preceding transported object 2 passes through until the subsequent transported object 2 is detected, the subsequent transported object 2 is suspended and transported at regular intervals. You can know if it has been done.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the above-described transported object monitoring apparatus 10. The control apparatus 9 includes an amplifier 21 connected to the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f, and a plurality of Standard efficiency memory 22 as standard efficiency storage means in which standard transport efficiency, which is the standard transport efficiency of the objects to be transported 2 and 2 ', is stored in advance, and first length detection sensor 8a to sixth length detection sensor The first comparator 23 for comparing and calculating the actual conveyance efficiency detection signal based on 8f and the standard conveyance efficiency stored in the standard efficiency memory 22, and the first comparator 23 are connected to the first comparator 23. An output unit (circuit) 17 for outputting the determination result is provided. The above-described transport efficiency is not necessarily limited to the number of transported objects 2 and 2 ′, but means the efficiency of the area in the transport direction of the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ transported at a constant speed.

  Further, the control device 9 detects the subsequent transported object 2 after the amplifier 11 connected to the passage detection sensor 7 and the standard time until the transported object 2 passes and the preceding transported object 2 pass. The standard time memory 12 as standard time storage means, in which the standard time until the time is stored in advance, and the passage signal detected by the passage detection sensor 7 and the standard time stored in the standard time memory 12 are compared and calculated. Standard dimension storage means in which the second comparator 13, the amplifier 14 connected to the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f, and the standard dimension of the length of the conveyed object 2 are stored in advance. The third comparator for comparing and calculating the length detection signal from the first length detection sensor 8a to the fifth length detection sensor 8e and the standard size stored in the standard size memory 15 16. An output unit (circuit) 17 connected to the third comparator 16 and the second comparator 13 outputs a determination result by the second and third comparators 13 and 16. The control device 9 is housed in a central processing unit (CPU) such as a microcomputer (not shown).

  Next, a procedure for detecting a state of concern for the conveyance efficiency of the objects 2 and 2 ′ by the object monitoring device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5. First, the lengths of the articles 2 and 2 'are detected by the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f (S1).

  Next, based on the length signals detected by the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f, the actual conveyance efficiency that is the actual conveyance efficiency of the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 'is calculated. The actual transport efficiency and the standard transport efficiency stored in the standard efficiency memory 22 are compared and calculated by the first comparator 23, and whether or not the objects to be transported 2 and 2 ′ have passed above the predetermined standard transport efficiency. (S2).

  When it is determined in step (S2) that the actual conveyance efficiency of the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 ′ is less than a predetermined standard conveyance efficiency, a conveyance efficiency caution signal is output to the output unit 17 and it is determined that the conveyance is caution ( S3). When the conveyance efficiency warning signal is output, it can be determined that the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 ′ have been conveyed without satisfying the standard conveyance efficiency. Therefore, when it is determined that the conveyance is required, for example, as shown by a two-dot chain line, if the alarm device 18 such as an alarm lamp or an alarm buzzer is operated, it is possible to inform the paint worker that the actual conveyance efficiency is low, Not only can the yield be improved, but the waste of the paint sprayed onto the transported objects 2 and 2 'can be eliminated. As measures when it is determined that the conveyance is required, for example, the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 ′ are suspended on all the suspension hooks 6 that are conveyed at a constant speed, or the vertical dimension is relatively short. The transported object 2 ′ may be devised in a manner of suspension, such as by suspending a plurality of the objects to be transported 2 ′ on the same suspension hook 6. Note that, when the transported objects 2 and 2 'pass the standard transport efficiency, it is determined as normal transport (S4), and the transport of the transported objects 2 and 2' is continued.

  In addition, when determining whether the actual conveyance efficiency of the to-be-conveyed objects 2 and 2 'satisfy | fills standard conveyance efficiency, for example, the predetermined time or the predetermined conveyance quantity for the to-be-conveyed objects 2 and 2' is actually conveyed The actual conveyance efficiency is continuously detected by the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f, and the standard conveyance according to the actual conveyance efficiency thus detected and the predetermined time or the predetermined conveyance quantity. The efficiency may be compared and calculated. By doing so, it is possible to determine whether the conveyance is normal conveyance or caution conveyance by averaging long-term conveyance modes to a certain degree, and the determination accuracy can be improved.

  Next, a procedure for detecting the caution state of the objects 2 and 2 ′ by the object monitoring device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6. Note that the procedure for detecting the state of caution of the objects to be transported 2 and 2 ′ may be synchronized with the procedure for detecting the state of caution of the transport efficiency of the objects to be transported 2 and 2 ′ described above. This will be described separately from the above procedure. First, the passing time of the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ is detected by the passage detection sensor 7 (S11), and at the same time, the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ are detected by the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f. Is detected (S12).

  Next, the passage signal detected by the passage detection sensor 7 and the standard time stored in the standard time memory 12 are compared and calculated by the second comparator 13, and the conveyed object 2 passes within a predetermined standard time. It is confirmed whether or not it has been done (S13). At the same time, the third comparator 16 compares the length signal detected by the first length detection sensor 8a to the sixth length detection sensor 8f with the standard dimension stored in the standard dimension memory 15. Then, it is confirmed whether or not the length of the transported object 2 is a standard dimension (S14).

  In steps (S13) and (S14), when it is determined that the passing time of the objects 2 and 2 'is outside the predetermined standard time and / or the length of the object 2a is determined to be outside the standard dimension. When this happens, a conveyance object caution signal is output to the output unit 17, and it is determined that the conveyance is caution (S15). When the conveyed object caution signal is output, the width and vertical dimensions of the conveyed objects 2 and 2 ′, that is, the size (area) of the conveyed objects 2 and 2 ′ is not a regular conveyed object. It can be determined that it has been transported. Therefore, when it is determined that the conveyance is required, for example, as shown by a two-dot chain line, if the alarm device 18 such as an alarm lamp or an alarm buzzer is activated and the conveyor device 1 is immediately stopped, There is no possibility that the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 ′ other than the objects to be conveyed are conveyed, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of coating unevenness in advance.

  In the above steps (S13) and (S14), when the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ pass within the standard time and the lengths of the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ are determined to be standard dimensions, the passage detection is performed. The second comparator 13 continuously compares the passage signal continuously detected by the sensor 7 and the standard time stored in the standard time memory 12, and after the preceding transported object passes, It is confirmed whether the conveyed product 2 has passed within the standard time (S16).

  In step (S16), when it is determined that the time until the subsequent transported objects 2, 2 ′ are detected is outside the standard time, the subsequent transported object 2 is not detected as shown in FIG. Therefore, a conveyance efficiency caution signal is output to the output unit 17 and it is determined that the conveyance requires attention (S15). As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, it can be determined that any of the subsequent transported objects 2, 2 ′ is not suspended from the suspension hook 6 of the suspension device 4 at regular intervals. Therefore, when it is determined that the transfer is required, the alarm device 18 is activated to stop the transfer device 1 as described above, and the articles 2 and 2 ′ to be transferred are suspended from the suspending support hooks 6 and again. If the transport device 1 is operated, the transport efficiency of the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ can be increased and the coating efficiency can be improved. When the subsequent transported objects 2 and 2 'pass within the standard time, it is determined as normal transport (S17), and transport of the transported objects 2 and 2' is continued.

  As described above, in the transport apparatus 1 of the above-described embodiment, the transported object monitoring apparatus 10 is provided to monitor the sensitive transport during transport of the transported objects 2 and 2 ′. A standard efficiency memory in which the actual transport efficiency of the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ detected by the plurality of length detection sensors 8a to 8f by the first comparator 23 of the transported object monitoring apparatus 10 is a standard efficiency storage unit in advance. When it is determined that the standard transport efficiency stored in the memory 22 is less than the standard transport efficiency, a transport efficiency caution signal is output. Therefore, it can be determined that the actual transport efficiency is low. Therefore, when the conveyance efficiency warning signal is output, the conveyance amount of the objects to be conveyed 2, 2 ′, more specifically, the conveyance area can be increased, thereby improving the conveyance efficiency and improving the work efficiency in the next process. it can.

  Further, when the second comparator 13 of the transported object monitoring device determines that the time until the subsequent transported objects 2, 2 ′ are detected is longer than a predetermined standard time, a transport efficiency caution signal is generated. Since the data is output, it can be determined that any of the subsequent objects to be conveyed is not supported and conveyed at regular intervals. Therefore, when the conveyance efficiency caution signal is output, the conveyance efficiency of the conveyance objects 2 and 2 ′ can be increased by supporting the conveyance object at a vacant support location and operating the conveyance device 1 again. .

  Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the passage detection sensors 7 are provided in the same number as the objects to be conveyed 2 at the same intervals as the suspended intervals of the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 ′. When the transported objects 2 and 2 ′ are not suspended from the suspension hook 6 of the suspension device 4 at regular intervals, this is quickly detected by one of the passage detection sensors 7. Measures corresponding to transportation can be quickly taken.

  Furthermore, since the third comparator 16 of the transported object monitoring apparatus 10 determines that the length of the transported object 2a is out of the standard dimension, the transported object caution signal is output. It can be determined that the object to be conveyed 2a other than the objects to be conveyed 2 and 2 'having the length has been conveyed. Therefore, if the transport device 1 is immediately stopped when this transported object caution signal is output, the transported object 2a other than the regular transported objects 2 and 2 'is transported to the next process in advance. Can be prevented.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention can be modified or added within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Included in the invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the passage of the transported object 2 is detected by the plurality of passage detection sensors 7. However, for example, only one passage detection sensor 7 may be provided, or the length described above. The height detection sensors 8a to 8f may be used as passage detection sensors.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the photoelectric sensor was used for the passage detection sensor 7 and the 1st length detection sensor 8a-6th length detection sensor 8f, a proximity sensor, a microswitch was used instead of such a photoelectric sensor. A touch sensor such as a reflection sensor, a reflection sensor, a capacitance sensor, or the like can also be used.

  Furthermore, in the said Example, although six length detection sensors 8a-8f are used, it is good also as 2-5 pieces or 7 or more according to the length of the to-be-conveyed object 2, and upper and lower Only one length detection sensor configured in a strip shape continuously in the direction may be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance apparatus 2, 2 'Conveyed object 3 Guide rail 4 Suspension apparatus 5 Suspension rod 6 Suspension hook 7 Passing detection sensor 8a-8f Length detection sensor 9 Control apparatus 10 Conveyance monitoring apparatus 11 Amplifier 12 Standard time memory (Standard time storage means)
13 Second comparator 14 Amplifier 15 Standard dimension memory (standard dimension storage means)
16 Third comparator 17 Output unit 18 Alarm device 21 Amplifier 22 Standard efficiency memory (standard efficiency storage means)
23 First comparator

Claims (4)

In a transport device that transports a plurality of transported objects supported at regular intervals at a constant speed,
A plurality of length detection sensors which are provided in a transport path of the transported object and detect lengths of the transported objects;
Standard efficiency storage means in which standard transport efficiencies of the plurality of transported objects are stored in advance;
An actual transport efficiency based on detection signals from a predetermined number of length detection sensors among the plurality of length detection sensors is compared with a standard efficiency stored in the standard efficiency storage means, and the actual transport efficiency is the standard efficiency. And a first comparator that outputs a conveyance efficiency caution signal when it is determined that the condition is not satisfied. The transported object monitoring device includes:
A passage detection sensor that is provided in a transport path of the transported object and sequentially detects the passage of the transported objects;
A standard time storage means in which a standard time until the transported object passes and a standard time until a succeeding transported object is detected after the preceding transported object passes,
The detection signal from the passage detection sensor is compared with the standard time stored in the standard time storage means, and when the passage time of the conveyed object is determined to be outside the predetermined standard time, and / or subsequent 2. The second comparator further outputs a conveyance efficiency caution signal when it is determined that the time until the object to be conveyed is detected is longer than a predetermined standard time. Transport device.   The transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the passage detection sensors are provided at the same interval as a support interval of the plurality of objects to be transported. The transported object monitoring device includes:
A standard dimension storage means in which a standard dimension of the length of the conveyed object is stored in advance;
The detection signals from the plurality of length detection sensors are compared with the standard dimensions stored in the standard dimension storage means, and when the length of the object to be conveyed is determined to be out of the standard dimension, The transport apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a third comparator for outputting.

Images