JPH0238339B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a conveying device for a pallet jig that carries parts and products on a parts processing and product assembly line.

Structure of the conventional example and its problems As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the conventional pallet conveying device has a concrete structure. Was. However, the above configuration has the disadvantage that a large number of pallets are required and, moreover, the pallets cannot be stored as a buffer.

In addition, in Fig. 2, by placing a roller chain 4 on a chain guide 3 and continuously feeding the chain, pallets placed on rollers 5 rotatably attached to both sides of the chain are freely conveyed. . However, although the above configuration can solve the problem of storing a certain number of pallets, it has the disadvantage that when pallets need to be fed at high speed, rolling occurs between the rollers and the pallets, making it impossible to follow the speed of the chain. had.

Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the present invention aims to combine the characteristics possessed by each of them, and provides high-speed followability when engaged with a chain and stock function when freely conveyed on a roller chain. It also provides the following benefits:

Structure of the Invention The pallet conveying device of the present invention is a pallet conveying device that horizontally circulates pallets, and includes a roller chain that engages a connecting claw provided on the bottom surface of the pallet at a roller portion and feeds the pallets intermittently at a constant pitch. , a continuous drive chain that supports the pallet that has been released from engagement with the roller chain by the connecting claw and transports the pallet with its position in the traveling direction freed by the flexible roller; A coupling device having a pallet lifting/lowering section for transferring a pallet from a continuous drive chain to a roller chain, and a pallet lifting/lowering section for removing a connecting claw from the roller chain and transferring the pallet from the roller chain to the continuous drive chain. In the high-speed conveyance range, the pallet is meshed with the roller chain that is fed intermittently, and in the range where it is necessary to stock the pallet in order to balance the tact between processes, the pallet is separated from the roller chain. It is designed so that it can be carried on a continuous drive chain.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows an overall plan layout of a pallet conveying device in an embodiment of the present invention. Third
In the figure, 6 is a pallet, 7 is a chain that is intermittently fed and meshes with the pallet's connecting claw, 8 is a connecting device that meshes the pallet's connecting claw and the chain, and 9
10, 11, 12, and 13 are rotating devices that rotate the pallet at the corners; 14 is a rotating device that allows the pallet to freely roll on the rollers of the chain and is continuously conveyed. Chains 15 and 16 indicate guides that guide the sides of the pallet.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 17 is a U-shaped metal fitting attached to the bottom of the pallet, 18 is a shaft attached to the metal fitting, 19 is a connecting claw slidably attached using the shaft as a guide, and 20 21 is a compression spring that presses the connecting claw against one side of the metal fitting;
2 denotes a pilot pin for positioning the pallet, and 22 denotes a guide rail for slidingly guiding both sides of the pallet.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 23 indicates a chain guide that supports and guides the lower part of the intermittent conveyance chain, and 24 indicates a chain guide that supports and guides the lower part of the chain that is intermittently returned.

7 and 8 show the device for separating the pallets from the chain, and the connecting device is also of the same construction.
25 is a chain that is fed intermittently; 26 is a pallet; 27 is a connecting claw; 28 and 29 are guides on both sides of the pallet; 30 and 31 are continuous drive chains that receive and freely convey the lower surface of the pallet; and 32 is the drive chain. These continuous drive chains 30, 31 and motor 32 are held by guides 28, 29 on both sides. 33 is a sprocket for driving the intermittent drive chain; 34 and 35 are vertical shafts attached to the guides on both sides via brackets 36 and 37, respectively; and 42 and 43 are swingable about fulcrums 44 and 45. Lever, 40, 41 is lever 4
rollers attached to the ends of the guides 2 and 43 and engaged with grooves provided in the guides 38 and 39;
46 is a connecting rod, and 47 is a cylinder that provides swinging drive to the levers 42 and 43.

The operation of the pallet conveying apparatus constructed as described above will be explained below. First, the pallets freely conveyed on the two continuous conveyance chains are changed direction by the turning device 10, and then at 8 the pallets are connected to the chain 7 which is driven intermittently. This coupling action causes the levers 42, 43 to be driven by the cylinder 47, and the rollers 40,
41 and guides 38, 39, the lower surface of the pallet 6 is separated from the continuous drive chains 30, 31, and the connecting claw 19 attached to the lower surface of the pallet is intermittently fed. The pallet is meshed between the rollers of the chain 7, and is conveyed as the chain is driven. The pallet is positioned by pressing the pilot pin 21 with a V-shaped groove so that the pallet overcomes the force of the compression spring 20 and moves from position a to position b. 9 is a device that separates the pallet from the chain that is fed intermittently;
In the opposite direction to the above-mentioned connecting operation, the both-side guides 28 and 29 are raised via the levers 42 and 43, the connecting rod 46, etc. by the drive of the cylinder 47, so that the connecting claw of the pallet is separated from the chain roller. After being separated, the pallets are freely conveyed again on the two continuous conveyance chains, and when it is necessary to stock the pallets, the pallets are arranged as shown in FIG. 3C.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to mix production within one production line with a process that produces at high speed with a constant tact and a process that is not bound to the production tact to some extent. , it is possible to assemble a system that matches the production format.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention has a roller chain that meshes with a connecting pawl provided on the bottom of a pallet and is fed intermittently at a constant pitch, and a roller chain that allows the pallet to be moved in a free position by the rollers. It has a continuous drive chain for conveying pallets, and the pallet is placed on either the roller chain or the continuous drive chain and conveyed by a connecting device or a separating device, so that the pallet can be conveyed within a certain process range. It is possible to intermittent high-speed conveyance at a constant pitch by meshing with the roller chain, and in process ranges where it is necessary to stock a certain number of pallets to maintain the balance of production takt, it is possible to intermittent high-speed conveyance with a roller chain on the flexible roller of the continuous drive chain. It is possible to configure a system that is optimal for the production format without increasing the number of pallets more than necessary, and has great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a conventional example, FIG. 2 is a front view also showing a conventional example, FIG. 3 is an overall plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of the same, and FIG.
The figure is a front view of the same part, Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same part, and Figure 7 is a front view of the same part.
The figure is a plan view showing the connection and separation portion, and FIG. 8 is a partial front view. 6...Pallet, 18...Guide, 19...Connection claw, 20...Spring, 7...Roller chain.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A pallet conveying device for horizontally circulating pallets, wherein a roller chain is engaged with a connecting pawl provided on the bottom of the pallet at a roller portion and is fed intermittently at a constant pitch, and the roller chain is engaged with the connecting pawl. A continuous drive chain supports the pallet that has been released and transports the pallet with its position in the traveling direction free by a roller, and a connecting pawl is engaged with the roller chain to transfer the pallet from the continuous drive chain to the roller chain. A pallet conveying device comprising: a connecting device having a pallet elevating section for removing the pallet from the roller chain; and a separating device having a pallet elevating section for removing the connecting claw from the roller chain and transferring the pallet from the roller chain to the continuous drive chain. .