JPS6313893B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to vertical circulation conveyance equipment that is installed in a high-rise building or the like and conveys objects between stations provided on arbitrary floors.

Conventional technology This type of conventional vertical circulation conveyance equipment stores dedicated empty trays at a station installed on each floor of a building, and as needed, documents, articles, and other objects to be conveyed are placed in the trays and then moved to the desired destination. After being sent to the station, the empty tray after use is configured to be returned to the original station.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned conventional vertical circulation conveyance equipment, not only is it troublesome to return the empty trays, but the station on each floor must always store a large number of empty trays. It was necessary to secure a place to store it. Furthermore, when there is a shortage of empty trays at each station, empty trays must be supplied from the master station each time, resulting in a long waiting time and a lack of speed.

Means for Solving the Problems In consideration of the above problems, the present invention uses one of a plurality of stations as a master station, and the master station is arranged in a moving path on the unloading side of a vertical circulation conveyor. There is a check switch for the number of empty trays that can detect passing empty trays, and a check switch for the number of empty trays that receives an empty tray passing signal from the check switch and adds up the number of passed empty trays. a counter having a function of comparing the cumulative number of passing empty trays with a preset number and outputting a command signal to cause the empty trays to be carried out at the master station when the cumulative passing number exceeds the preset number; The empty tray is equipped with a timer that indicates the specified time and resets the counting operation of the counter at each specified time, and the output of the counter is connected to a sensor set to detect the empty tray code of the master station. A mechanism for controlling the number of empty trays in stock is provided, which has a control circuit for controlling the number of empty trays.

Function The number of empty tray passing signals from the empty tray check switch is accumulated within a specified time, and if the accumulated number is greater than the specified number, the empty tray is carried out at the master station.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Before explaining the empty tray stock number control mechanism, which is the main part of the present invention, in order to effectively utilize the mechanism, there is a vertical circulation conveyor that circulates between stations provided on each floor of a building. A transmission/reception mechanism for trays provided at each station, a tray that can be suspended from the vertical circulation conveyor, and a sensor for reading the destination of the tray will be explained.

Figures 1 and 2 show a vertical circulation conveyor that is installed to communicate with each floor of a building, and is equipped with a pair of endless chains 1 and 1' that circulate in synchronization in the vertical direction through upper and lower sprockets. Furthermore, the two diagonal corners of the two endless chains 1 and 1' that move in the same direction are fixed, and a large number of hangers 2 (see Fig. 3) each having a rectangular frame are attached at regular intervals. It is something that

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a station 8 is installed on each floor along the ascending side a and descending side b of the movement path of the vertical circulation conveyor, and a master station is installed on any floor. 8' are each equipped with a transmission conveyor 9 for sending out the tray 3 and a reception conveyor 10 for receiving the tray 3, and the transmission conveyor 9 is connected to the endless chain 1,
The ends of the receiving conveyor 10 are disposed on the ascending side a moving path between the endless chains 1 and 1', and the receiving conveyor 10 is disposed on the descending side b moving path between the endless chains 1 and 1'. It is configured such that it can be transferred from the vertical circulation conveyor to the receiving conveyor 10 or from the transmission conveyor 9 to the vertical circulation conveyor via the vertical circulation conveyor.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 to 6, the tray 3 for storing and transporting objects such as documents and articles has an open top and a cross-sectional shape inside the hanger 2. A rectangular box-shaped body 4 having the same shape and one size smaller than the hanger 2 and gradually decreasing the cross-sectional area from the top to the bottom 5, and the upper four sides of the body 4. It is composed of a projecting portion 6 horizontally projecting outward, and a destination setter 7, which will be described later, attached to one long side of the projecting portion 6. Then, the tray 3
When the hanger 2 rises from below, the body portion 4 is located inside the hanger 2, and the projecting portion 6 is engaged with the hanger 2, so that the hanger 2 is suspended.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the destination setter 7 attached to the overhanging portion 6 of the tray 3 has a bar 14 with a plurality of numbers and symbols written thereon, and two pieces that can be manually moved along the bar 4. cursor 1
It consists of 5 and 15. The destination setter 7 moves the two cursors 15, 15 to the specified preceding code or to the tray 3 depending on the position on the bar 4.
If it is empty tray 3', an empty tray code is set. In this embodiment, both cursors 15, 15
When placed at both ends of the bar 4, it becomes an empty tray code, and when one cursor 15 is placed at one end and the other cursor 15 is placed at an arbitrary number or symbol position, it becomes the destination code corresponding to that number or symbol. It is configured to be.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4,
Sensors 13 for detecting the destination code and the empty tray code of the destination setter 7 and transmitting the detection signals are located on both sides of the upper and lower movement paths of the tray 3. Along the endless chain 1, 1' in the path, and at each station 8... or master station 8'
The transmitting side pedestal 11 and the receiving side pedestal 12 are placed immediately in front of each other. Also, the destination sensor 13...
In addition to detecting the destination code and empty tray code of the destination setter 7, if no code is detected, the hanger 2 detects the empty hanger 2 where the tray 3 is not suspended. ′...... is detected. Then, when the detected destination code of the detection signal matches that of the designated station 8, the reception side cradle 12
The width of both roller members of the tray 3 is shortened and received by the overhanging portions 6, 6 of the tray 3, and the receiving conveyor 10 moves the station 8...
Incorporate into. In addition, tray 3...... and empty tray 3'...... are transferred to empty hanger 2'... of the vertical circulation conveyor.
In order to send it to..., it passes through the sending cradle 11. That is, each of the sensors 13 is equipped with a tray code detection circuit as shown in FIG. The tray code detection circuit detects the two cursors 15 of the destination setter 7;
Built-in magnetic switches YCOA and YCNA that turn on in response to 15, and a pulse transmitter YNO that outputs a detection signal of "unloading" when both magnetic switches YCOA and YCNA are turned on at the same time. are doing. Note that in this embodiment, as described above, the cursors 15, 15
When the cursor 15 is positioned at both ends "N" and "O" of the bar 14, the tray 3 becomes the "empty tray code" (see Figure 4), and one cursor 15 is positioned at one end "N" and the other When the cursor 15 is positioned at the number or symbol part in the middle of the bar 14,
It is set so that the "destination code" corresponds to each sign and symbol, and the magnetic switches YCOA and YCNA are moved to these cursors 15 and 15.
15, a corresponding detection signal will be output. The sensor 13 can also determine whether the hanger 2 is empty or not. In other words, both the "empty tray code" and the "destination code" correspond to the cursor 15 on one side and the magnetic switch YCOA, so the tray 3 passes through the hanger 2...
......, when empty tray 3'...... is not suspended, the magnetic switch YCOA does not respond,
Therefore, when passing through hanger 2, both magnetic switches YCOA and YCNA are turned OFF.
When , the hanger is determined to be an empty hanger 2' (this determination circuit is omitted in the tray code detection circuit diagram of FIG. 10). In addition, the sensor 13 is placed across the movement path of the tray 3 so that the code can be read even if the tray 3 is hung on the hanger 2 in the opposite direction. Magnetic switches YCOB and YCNB of the tray code detection circuit are located on both sides.
is that of the sensor 13 on the other side of the movement path of the tray 3.

Below, a mechanism for controlling the number of empty trays to be stocked will be explained, which stores an appropriate number of empty trays while circulating them in the vertical circulation conveyor.

The empty tray stock number control mechanism is used when carrying out continuous transportation work between the stations on each floor. For example, if all the hangers are empty tray 3'...
It prevents tray 3' from becoming full, and transports tray 3', which contains normal conveyed items, without any problems, and fully utilizes the capacity of the vertical circulation conveyor while empty tray 3'...... This is to control the storage capacity of the vertical circulation conveyor. That is,
The empty tray stock number control mechanism includes an empty tray number check switch YNMO placed in front of the master station 8' so as to be able to detect passing empty trays 3', and a check switch for the empty tray number. Upon receiving the empty tray 3' passage signal from the switch YNMO, the number of passing empty trays 3' is accumulated, and the cumulative number of passing empty trays 3' within a specified time is compared with the set number, and the cumulative number of passing empty trays 3' is calculated according to the setting. a counter CU2 having a function of outputting a command signal to cause the empty tray 3' to be carried out at the master station 8' when the number exceeds the number; It is composed of a timer TES that resets the cumulative operation of the counter CU2 every time the tray is loaded, and a circuit for controlling the number of empty trays stocked. A timer is used to control the number of trays so that the overall average number is below a certain ratio such as 1/3 to 1/5 of the total number of hangers.
Within a certain period of time determined by the TES,
The number of empty trays passing in front of the master station 8' is detected, and the counter CU2 that receives this detection signal adds up the number. When the number exceeds the number corresponding to the ratio, the counter CU2 outputs an unloading command signal. Accordingly, the empty trays 3' are carried out from the vertical circulation conveyor by the master station 8'. The number of empty trays 3' in the vertical circulation conveyance machine can be kept below a certain ratio as a whole by setting the circular movement path of the vertical circulation conveyance machine by the timer TES. The master station 8' is divided into a number of sections corresponding to the length that can be descended and passed through the master station 8' within a set time, the number of empty trays within each section is accumulated, and empty trays 3' within the section that exceed the set number are... This is because... is being carried out. For example, if the total number of hangers attached to the vertical circulation transfer machine is 120, and the time required for one circulation is 16.8 minutes (1008 seconds), the timer TES is set to "33.6 seconds" and the number of counter CU2 is set to "1". When set to , the circulation path of the vertical circulation transfer machine is divided into 30 sections, and the hanger 2 of each section passes within the set time of the timer TES.
There are four hangers, and an empty tray 3' is suspended from one of them, and the ratio of the number of empty trays to be stocked to the number of empty hangers is 1/4. In this way, when the vertical circulation transport machine divided into 30 sections is circulated and transport work is performed between each station 8......,
If the number of empty trays 3' in a certain section exceeds the set value, when that section passes through the master station 8', the extra empty trays 3' are carried out by the master station 8'. Therefore, the number of empty trays 3' will never exceed the set number in any section.

The stock number control circuit of the empty tray stock number control mechanism has a timer as shown in FIG.
A section setting circuit A consisting of a TES, an operation start button MCIX, and a switching button ES for performing empty tray stock control, the operation start button MCIX, the switching button ES,
Counter circuit B consisting of a counter CU2 and pulse switch YNMT and connected to the station control panel; Empty tray code detection memory circuit C consisting of the pulse switch YNMT and empty tray number check switch YNMO; and Empty tray code detection memory reset. Circuit D, time-up pulse generation circuit E of timer TES, and the counter
The switch of counter CU2, which is turned on when the set number exceeds signal of CU2 is output, the sensor 13
an empty tray unloading pulse generator switch that is activated by the output of the empty tray unloading pulse generator in response to a detection signal of Empty tray 3' beyond...
an empty tray unloading circuit F that operates to unload empty trays from the master station 8'. Now, in order to operate the stock number control mechanism for empty trays using the above-mentioned stock number control circuit, when the relay in the station control panel, the operation start button MCIX, and the switch button ES are turned on, the timer TES and counter CU are activated.
2 starts operating. Here, the empty tray check switch is disposed at a position in front of the master station 8' in the moving path of the endless chains 1, 1' on the descending side b of the vertical circulation conveyor.
When YNMO passes empty tray 3' downward, it detects the empty tray code of its destination setter and sends out a detection pulse as a detection signal. Counter CU2
is within the time set by timer TES,
The number of detected pulses is accumulated. When the cumulative number exceeds the set number, the counter CU2 is switched on by outputting the set number excess signal from the counter CU2.
Then, the empty tray unloading pulse transmitter switch is turned on, the empty tray unloading circuit F is activated, the sensor 13 on the unloading side of the master station 8' is also activated, and the extra empty tray 3' is transferred from the vertical circulation conveyor to the master station 8. ’.

Various control mechanisms of the vertical circulation conveyance equipment will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 8, 11, and 12.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the connections of various control mechanisms in the vertical circulation conveyance equipment of the present invention. This vertical circulation conveyance equipment is equipped with a central control panel installed in the master station 8', a transmitting conveyor control unit, and a receiving conveyor control unit. The station 8 has a station control panel for controlling the unloading of transport trays, a centralized stock system, and an empty tray stock number control panel having a stock number control mechanism for empty trays. It is equipped with an operation monitoring panel for operation display and remote control, and an automatic empty tray feeding device control panel for controlling the number of empty trays in stock.
The automatic feeding device control panel is capable of transporting empty trays 3' from the master station 8' to the vertical circulation conveyance machine as needed when the number of empty trays stored in the vertical circulation conveyance machine becomes low. It is.

FIG. 11 shows an empty tray request circuit for each station 8 including the master station 8'...
When a request is made for an empty tray 3', the empty tray 3' is carried out to the station 8 where the request was made. When the empty tray request button RQK is pressed, the empty tray request status is maintained and the hold switch is pressed.
RQ turns ON. In this state, an empty tray detection signal is output from the pulse transmitter YNO of the sensor 13, and this detection signal activates the receiving circuit YSA to operate the receiving pedestal 12.

FIG. 12 is an operation diagram when this vertical circulation conveyance equipment is operated. The operation of the vertical circulation conveyance equipment in this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 12.

Now, when the operation is started and the switching button ES is turned on to put the vertical circulation conveyance equipment into a state where the number of empty trays is controlled, the timer TES and counter CU2 are used to set the section and the number of empty trays in the section. Next, the empty tray number check switch YNMO is activated, the empty tray code is detected and stored, and stock control of the number of empty trays begins. At the same time, it is also possible to transport the empty trays 3' suspended and stocked from the hangers 2 between the stations 8. Here, for example, when you want to transport an object from the first station 8 to the second station 8, if you press the empty tray request button RQK at the first station 8, the empty tray in circulation closest to the first station 8 will be 3' is carried out at the first station. After placing the objects to be conveyed in this empty tray 3' and aligning the cursors 15, 15 of the destination setter with the destination code of the second station 8, the tray 3 is transferred to the first station 8. The second
Head to station 8. When the tray 3 reaches the position of the sensor 13 in front of the second station 8 in the moving direction, the sensor 13 detects the destination code of the tray 3, and the second station 8 carries out the tray 3. Then, the empty tray 3' from which the objects to be transported have been removed is immediately carried into the vertical circulation transport machine. Additionally, as this type of conveyance work continues, there may be cases where more empty trays 3' than the set number remain in some set sections.
This extra empty tray 3' is discharged when passing through the master station 8'.

Effects The present invention allows trays with destination setters attached to be suspended and conveyed from a large number of hangers attached at regular intervals of a vertical circulation conveyor, and the tray destination code and empty tray of the destination setter are A sensor capable of detecting the tray cord and whether or not a tray is suspended from each hanger is provided near the movement path of the tray and at each station provided on each floor of the building,
In the vertical circulation conveyance equipment configured to be able to transmit and receive trays between each station in response to a detection signal from the sensor, one of the plurality of stations is used as a master station, and the discharge side of the vertical circulation conveyance machine is A check switch for the number of empty trays that can detect passing empty trays is installed at a position in front of the master station on the movement path of the master station, and receives an empty tray passing signal from the check switch for the number of empty trays and adds up the number of passing empty trays. With,
It has a function of comparing the cumulative number of passing empty trays within a specified time with a set number, and outputting a command signal that allows empty trays to be carried out at the master station when the cumulative number of passing empty trays exceeds the set number. a counter, and a timer that indicates the specified time of the counter and resets the integration operation of the counter at each specified time, and sends the output of the counter to a sensor set to the empty tray code of the master station. Equipped with an empty tray stock number control mechanism with a connected empty tray control circuit, empty trays can be stored in the vertical circulation conveyor, ensuring space for storing empty trays, especially at the station. In addition, the ratio of empty trays to empty hangers to be used for the transport work can be maintained below a certain value over the entire movement path of the vertical circulation transport machine. The hangers and empty trays are constantly circulating near all station positions, which has the effect that it does not take much time to carry in empty trays and to carry out trays containing objects to be transported.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the vertical circulation conveyor, Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the station, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the tray, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the same part. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the same part, FIG. 7 is a diagram of the receiving operation of the tray, FIG. 8 is a block diagram of various control mechanisms of this vertical circulation conveyance equipment, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the same part.
The figure is a control circuit diagram of the empty tray stock number control mechanism, Figure 10 is a tray code detection circuit diagram,
Figure 1 is an empty tray request circuit diagram, and Figure 12 is an operation diagram. 1, 1': Endless chain, 2: Hanger, 2':
Empty hanger, 3: tray, 3': empty tray, 7:
Destination setter, 8: Station, 8': Master station, 13: Sensor, CU2: Counter, TES: Timer.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Trays with destination setters attached to them are suspended and conveyed from a large number of hangers attached at regular intervals of a vertical circulation conveyor, and the tray destination code, empty tray code, and each of the destination setters are A sensor capable of detecting whether or not a tray is suspended on a hanger is installed near the movement path of the tray and at each station provided on each floor of the building, and the detection signal of the sensor is installed. In the vertical circulation conveyance equipment configured to be able to transmit and receive trays between each station based on the received information, one of the plurality of stations is used as a master station, and in the moving path on the discharge side of the vertical circulation conveyance machine, In front of the master station, there is a check switch for checking the number of empty trays that can detect passing empty trays, and a check switch for receiving the empty tray passage signal from the check switch for the number of empty trays, and adding up the number of passing empty trays. A counter having a function of comparing the cumulative number of passing empty trays within a time with a set number, and outputting a command signal that allows empty trays to be carried out at the master station when the cumulative number of passing empty trays exceeds the set number. , a timer for instructing the specified time of the counter and resetting the counting operation of the counter at each specified time, and transmitting the output of the counter to a sensor set to detect the empty tray code of the master station. Vertical circulation conveyance equipment equipped with an empty tray stock number control mechanism with a connected empty tray control circuit.