JPS5837211B2 - Conveyor-based article transport control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for controlling the conveyance of articles by a conveyor, and its purpose is to always maintain the number of articles on the conveyor at a predetermined number or less and to keep the average interval between the articles to a predetermined length or more. This is to prevent items from stagnating on the conveyor.

Conventionally, in a device in which a plurality of article discharging devices for discharging articles to a conveyor were arranged along the conveyance direction of the conveyor, articles were conveyed from the article discharging device to the conveyor at any time.
The number of items flowing on the conveyor may become excessive.
There was a problem in which the processing capacity of the post-process was temporarily insufficient, causing articles to stagnate on the conveyor.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such conventional problems, and a conveyor is divided into a plurality of sections, and a storage means is provided in each section to which a carry-out signal is set when an article is carried out from an article carry-out device. Correspondingly, the storage means is arranged according to the order of the sections, and the stored contents of this storage means are stored in the passing signal 1 from the subsequent process.
Alternatively, the conveyor is shifted at predetermined intervals depending on the moving direction of the conveyor, and the article is not carried out to the section corresponding to the storage means in which the carrying out signal is set.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in which a conveyor that conveys a pallet with workpieces attached between a plurality of machine tools is used, and the pallet after all machining is transferred to the cleaning device according to the processing time of the cleaning device. We will explain the case of transporting to

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an endless chain conveyor that moves continuously, and a plurality of machine tools MA1 to MA8 are arranged along this conveyor 1.

The conveyor iK is provided with stop positions S1-S8 corresponding to each of the machine tools MA1-MA, and a stop position S9 at the exit.

Stop members d1 to d9 are disposed at each of the stop positions 81 to S9 so as to be able to appear and retract, and the protrusion of the stop members causes the conveyor to
The pallet P conveyed by is temporarily stopped at each stop position, and the arrival of this pallet P at each stop position 81 to S9 is confirmed by the operation of an unillustrated limit switch.

R1 to R9 are well-known pallet identification devices provided at each stop position 81 to S9, which identify the arrangement state of the dogs attached to the side of each pallet based on the on-off output of a limit switch, and - The pick-up of the pallet P stopped in S9 is read.

L1 to L8 are pallet loading devices that carry pallets P in and out between machine tools MA1 to MA8 and conveyor 1, and pallets P stopped at stop positions 81 to S8 are transferred to machine tools MA.
When the pallet P is to be machined by machine tool MA8, pull this pallet P onto table A and machine tool MA8.
1 to MA8, and the pallets P that have been processed by the machine tools MA1 to MA8 are received from the machine tools onto a table B and carried out onto the conveyor 1.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a loading station placed at the front end of the conveyor 1. An operator attaches a pallet to the loading station 2vC and sends it to the conveyor 1.

3 is a cleaning device disposed at the rearmost end of the conveyor 1, which cleans the pallets (hereinafter referred to as cleaning pallets Pe) that have undergone all necessary processing using the machine tools mMA1 to MA8.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a return conveyor, which returns to the stop position S1 those pallets P that have been stopped at the stop position S9 and which remain to be processed by the machine tools Yanagi sub-Ai to MA9.

Furthermore, in order to always maintain the number of cleaning pallets Pe on the conveyor 1 below a predetermined number and to keep the average interval of cleaning pallets Pe transported by the conveyor 1 to an interval corresponding to a predetermined time or more, the conveyor 1 For control purposes, it is divided into multiple sections at approximately equal intervals.

In other words, the time required for the cleaning pallet Pe to pass through each section from end to end 1 of the cleaning device 3 is
It is divided into a plurality of sections 01 to G4 with a length approximately equal to the cleaning time (predetermined time), and each section 01 to G4K.
The pallet loading/unloading device includes 11 or several pallet loading/unloading devices.

The palette identification devices MR1 to R9 are each connected to a computer 6 via an interface 5, and control signals are exchanged with the computer 6.

The storage device of the computer 6 stores a carry-out status table in which carry-out storage areas are assigned to each section 01 to G4K in accordance with the order of the sections, and each carry-out storage area receives cleaning pallets from the pallet loading/unloading device in the corresponding section. }Pe is set to the output signal (t1jj).

The storage device also stores a section classification table showing the pick-up of pallet loading/unloading devices included in each section 01 to G4, as shown below.

Furthermore, the storage device stores a conveyance control program (FIG. 2) for controlling the flow of pallets P conveyed on the conveyor 1.
is stored, and this program is executed at regular intervals.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained starting from the state where the pallet is located at the position shown in FIG.

In this case, the cleaning pallet Pe is carried out from any one of the pallet carrying-in/out devices in each section of sections 01 to G4VCiri, and "1" is set in all the carrying-out storage areas.

According to the execution of the transporting leg program, the stop position S1 is immediately reached.
It is determined whether the pallet}P has arrived or not, and since it has arrived, reading of the pallet pick-up is designated and the pallet pick-up is read from the pallet identification device R1.

Next, whether or not this pallet P is to be processed by the machine tool MA1 is determined based on a process chart in which the pick-up of the machine tool into which the pallet is to be carried is stored for each pick-up of the pallet.

Assuming that there is a pallet P to be processed by machine tool MA1, then table A of pallet loading/unloading device L1 is processed.
In this case, since it is vacant, a command to carry the pallet P to table A is output, the pallet P is carried to table A, and the pallet pick-up is stored in the A pallet area of the storage device.

If the pallet P is not to be machined or sold by the machine tool MA1, or if the table A of the pallet loading/unloading device L1 is not vacant, a straight forward command is sent, the stop member d1 is retracted, and the pallet P is moved to the second It is transported toward the stop position S2.

Thereafter, the same process is performed sequentially for the stop positions 82 to S8.

Next, it is determined whether the stop position S9 [palette l-P has arrived or not, and since it has arrived, the pallet pick-up is read! Then, it is determined based on the process chart whether this pallet is a washed pallet (Pe) that has been completely processed.

Since it is a cleaning pallet}Pe, it is determined whether or not the cleaning apparatus 3 is empty. If it is empty, a carry-in command is output and the cleaning pallet}Pe is carried into the cleaning apparatus 3.

However, if the cleaning pallet is not Pe, a return command is output and the pallet Pld is returned to the stop position SIK by the return conveyor 4. If the cleaning device 3 is not vacant, the program is jumped, and the cleaning pallet Fb is returned to the stop position S9. You will be made to wait.

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a pallet P on the table B of the pallet loading/unloading device L1.As shown in FIG. It is determined by

In this case, the pick-up of the pallet on table B is the pallet pick-up stored when the pallet was carried onto table A, and the one that was moved to the B pallet area as pallet P was moved is read out.

Since the pallet on table B is a cleaning pallet} Pe, the section G1 that includes the pallet loading/unloading device L1 is then searched from the section classification table, and the carrying out storage area corresponding to the searched section G1 is "0". It is determined whether or not the
b is made to wait on table B.

Thereafter, the same process is performed sequentially for the pallet loading/unloading devices L2 to L8.

Next, it is determined whether the cleaning device 3 has finished cleaning the pallet Pe, and if not, the program jumps and ends.

Stop position S917 after a predetermined period of time? : When the cleaning of the existing pallet Pe is completed, the cleaning device 3//'i sends a cleaning completion signal (pass signal), and in this state, the transfer control program is executed to determine whether or not the cleaning device 3 has completed cleaning. When the process is completed, an unloading command is output and the pallet is unloaded from the cleaning device 3.

Next, the storage contents of the carry-out storage area are shifted to the right one step at a time according to the moving direction of the conveyor 1, and then the carry-out signal tt is sent to the rear stage of the carry-out storage area corresponding to the last stage section G4.
It is determined whether or not 1pp has overflowed.

In this case, the carry-out signal tt 1p is sent to the last stage carry-out storage area.
Since p was set, the unloading signal t can be achieved in one shift.
t 1 pp overflows and the program jumps and ends.

Each section 01~ within the predetermined time when cleaning is completed
The cleaning pallet Pe that had been carried out in G3 is transported by the length of the section, and there is no longer a cleaning pallet ^ in the section G1.

As a result of the shift of the carry-out storage area, the carry-out storage area corresponding to section G1 becomes ``O'', making it possible to carry out the cleaning pallet }Pe to section G1.

In this state, the conveyance control program is executed, and the conveyance control program is executed in the carry-out memory corresponding to the section G1 including the pallet carry-in/out device L1. rl
) When it is determined whether or not the value is ``0'', jtoJJr
Therefore, an unloading command is output, and the cleaning pallet Pe is unloaded onto the conveyor 1 from the table B of the pallet loading/unloading device L1.

Subsequently, a carry-out signal t is sent to the carry-out storage area corresponding to section G1.
t 1 pp is set, and the same process as described above is repeated.

However, there is no cleaning pallet Pe in section G4, and
Assuming that the export storage area corresponding to 4K starts in the state of It O jj, the cleaning pallets in section G3}Pe
It takes approximately twice the predetermined time to pass through section G4 and complete the cleaning, and the cleaning pallets Pe in sections G1 and G2 are transported in sections G3 and G4t.

Then, when the cleaning of the pallets Pe in section G3 is completed, the conveyance control program is executed and it is determined whether or not the cleaning device 3 has completed cleaning.Since the cleaning has been completed, an unloading command is output, and the next When the carry-out signal "1" overflows to the stage after the carry-out storage area at the last stage, the stored contents of the carry-out storage area are shifted to the right in accordance with the moving direction of the conveyor 1.

In this case, since the carry-out signal at 1 pp has been set in the carry-out storage area corresponding to section G3, the carry-out signal at 1 n overflows due to the two shifts, and the program jumps and ends.

The export storage area corresponding to sections G1 and G2 is ``0''.
'', and it becomes possible to carry out the cleaning pallet}Pe to the sections G1 and G2.

! In addition, all export storage areas are in the state of ((0)j,
When the cleaning completion signal is output due to a malfunction or the like, the carry-out signal ttljj will not overflow no matter how many times the carry-out storage areas are shifted, but in this case, the carry-out signal ttljj will not overflow, but in this case, it will be shifted the same number of times as the number of carry-out memory areas (four times in this embodiment). Shift and exit the program.

In the above embodiment, the carry-out storage area is allocated to the storage device of the computer, and the storage contents of the carry-out memory area are shifted every time the cleaning completion signal is sent from the cleaning device. A shift register 7 button having the same number of bits as the number of buttons and a clock device 8 which sends out a signal every predetermined time equal to the cleaning time of the cleaning device 3 are provided, and each bit of the shift register γ is assigned to each section 01 to G of the conveyor 1.
4 in accordance with the order, and when the cleaning pallet Pe is carried out from the pallet loading/unloading device in the section, the carry-out signal -1' is set in the pit corresponding to this section in the same way as in the above-mentioned transporting leg program. This output signal at 1
The cleaning pallet Pe is not carried out from the pallet loading/unloading device in the section corresponding to the bit in which pp is set, and the shift register 7 is set to 1 according to the moving direction of the conveyor 1 by a signal sent from the timing device 8. It may be shifted step by step.

L ~ If you do this like this, the cleaning holes on conveyor 1 will be removed.
The flow of Pe and the flow of the output signal tt1u in the shift register 7 can always be made to coincide.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the conveyor is divided into a plurality of sections with a length such that the passing time of the article is approximately a predetermined time, and the article is transported from the article discharging device disposed in each section. A storage means in which an unloading signal is set when the unloading is carried out is arranged corresponding to each section in accordance with the order of the sections, and the stored contents of this storage means are stored in a passing signal from a subsequent process or when the conveyor moves at a predetermined time interval. It shifts according to the direction and does not allow articles to be carried out to the section corresponding to the storage means in which the carry-out signal is set, so the number of articles on the conveyor is always maintained below a predetermined number and the average The interval can be maintained at a predetermined interval or more, and articles can be prevented from stagnating on the conveyor.

Furthermore, a system that shifts the memory contents of the storage means at predetermined time intervals [i-] has the advantage that the flow of articles between each section of the conveyor and the flow of discharge signals between each storage means can always be matched. It also has

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing the arrangement of conveyor systems, machine tools, etc., FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conveyance control program, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment. 1...Conveyor, 3...Cleaning device (post-process), 6.
...Computer, 7...Shift register, 8...
Timing device, MA1-MA8...Machine tool, L1-L8
...Pallet loading/unloading device (goods loading/unloading device), 01~G
4 sections, P...pallet, Pe...cleaning hallet (
goods).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device in which a plurality of article loading and unloading devices for conveying articles to and from the conveyor are arranged along the conveyance direction of the conveyor, When the time required for the article to pass through a plurality of sections each including one or several devices is divided into approximately a predetermined time, and the article is carried out from the article loading/unloading device in each section. An unloading signal is set, and storage means for resetting the unloading signal when the first article is brought in is arranged corresponding to each section in accordance with the order of the sections, and the storage contents of this storage means are stored when the first article is brought in. Means for shifting is provided in response to a passage signal issued each time a section is passed, and means for preventing articles from being carried out from the article loading/unloading device within this section is provided in the section corresponding to the storage means in which the carrying out signal is set. An article transport control device using a conveyor, characterized in that: 2 A device in which a plurality of article loading/unloading devices for loading articles onto and from a conveyor are arranged along the conveyance direction of the conveyor [1- The time required for the article to pass through a plurality of sections each including several sections is divided into approximately predetermined time lengths, and when the article is carried out from the article loading/unloading device in each section, an unloading signal is set; Further, storage means for resetting a transport exit signal when an article is carried in is arranged corresponding to each section in accordance with the order of the sections, and a clock device is provided for sending out a signal at each of the predetermined times, and a signal is output from the clock device. Means is provided for shifting the stored contents of the storage means in accordance with the moving direction of the conveyor each time the conveyor is sent out, and in the section corresponding to the storage means in which the carry-out signal is set, the contents of the storage means are shifted from the article loading/unloading device within this section. 1. An article conveyance control device using a conveyor, characterized in that a means for preventing articles from being carried out is provided.