JPH032766B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] This invention is a transport device, in particular, a transport device that repeatedly lifts a workpiece from a fixed enclosure, moves it horizontally, sequentially transports it to a fixed position in the next stage, then moves back down and waits. The present invention relates to a so-called accumulation rate type lift and carry conveyor, which is configured to reliably prevent unexpected vertical movements thereof.

[Prior art]

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there are conveyance apparatuses of this type, such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a running rail supported by a post 3 erected on a base 2, 4 a truck serving as a traveling means for moving back and forth on this running rail 1, and a plurality of running rollers 4a rolling on the rail. and guide rollers 4b that clamp the rail 1. Reference numeral 5 designates a lifter as a vertical movement actuator disposed on this traveling means 4. In the illustrated example, a fluid pressure cylinder 6 is used, and by moving the cylinder rod 6a back and forth with working fluid sent from a fluid pressure drive source (not shown) via pressure piping, the lifter base 7 attached to the tip of the rod 5a is moved. It is designed to move up and down. A finger 8 is supported on a lifter base 7 of the lifter 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of the above-mentioned carts 4 equipped with lifters 5 that move the fingers 8 up and down are connected in series on the traveling rail 1, and are driven by an actuator 9 as a forward and backward drive device. Advances (arrow mark A) and retreat (arrow mark B) between each stage S are repeated in a series.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a workpiece support (not shown in FIG. 1) installed upright on each stage S of the base 2. The workpiece W to be transported is usually supported by the workpiece receiver 10 for each stage and placed at a fixed position at a medium level _P0 higher than the finger 8 which is at its lower limit.
When the paper is transported to the next stage, the raised finger 8 pushes it up to the progressive transport position of the upper level _P1 . Next, each cart 4 moves forward and is sequentially sent to the next stage, and the finger 8 descends to be received again by the work receiver 10 located at an intermediate level. After the finger 8 has further lowered to its lower limit, it returns to the original stage position as the trolley 4 retreats.

As the finger 8 repeatedly ascends, advances, descends, and retreats, the workpiece W is sequentially conveyed to the subsequent stage, but the finger 8 maintains the upper level while moving forward during conveyance, and remains at the upper level while retreating. It is necessary to ensure that the lower level is maintained.

Reference numeral 11 shown in FIG. 2 is a locking device for holding the ascending/descending position provided for this purpose. Reference numeral 12 denotes a rise/fall prevention stay attached to the lower surface of the lifter base 7, in which a plurality of through holes are bored in a row at appropriate intervals in the upper and lower longitudinal directions (not shown).

Reference numeral 13 denotes, for example, a pneumatic cylinder mounted on the truck 4, and a lock pin 14 is provided on the cylinder rod. When the finger 8 moves forward or backward, the lock pin 14 is inserted into the through hole of the stay 12 and locked by operating the cylinder 13 with air pressure sent from a drive source (not shown) through an air hose. .

However, in the case of a conveying device provided with such a locking device 11 for holding the ascending/descending position, it is necessary to respectively attach the locking device 11 to a plurality of carts provided for each stage. This necessarily means that each locking device 11 is provided with its own actuator drive equipment, control equipment, piping, wiring, etc. This has caused the following problems. (i) Production costs will increase. (ii) The convergence of piping and wiring to moving parts complicates the inside of the equipment and makes maintenance difficult. (iii) The locking device, such as the air hose, is easily damaged by the movement of the moving parts, and if it is damaged, it becomes impossible to lock, which may lead to accidents such as lowering of the lifter during transportation, which may lead to damage to the transportation device or the workpiece. be. (iv) Ascent/descent prevention stay 12
The operation tact of the conveying device becomes longer due to the locking operation time required to insert and remove the lock pin 14 into the through hole.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made by focusing on these conventional problems, and by creating a device that does not use a dedicated actuator that requires piping and wiring,
The purpose is to solve the above problems.

[Structure of the invention]

The present invention, which achieves the above object, includes a traveling means for moving back and forth on a traveling rail, a lifter disposed on the traveling means, and a workpiece supported by the lifter at a fixed position at a middle level to a progressively conveyed position at an upper level. In the conveying device, a guide rail is provided intermittently alongside the travel rail, and a stopper is provided on the lifter that engages with the guide rail and restricts vertical movement of the lifter during travel. This is a conveying device characterized by the following.

The present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

〔Example〕

FIGS. 3 to 7 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which parts that are the same as or corresponding to the conventional ones are designated by the same reference numerals.

First, the configuration will be described. Reference numeral 20 is a guide rail attached to the outer surface of the traveling rail 4, and a notch 20a is provided for each stage S so that the guide rail 20 is intermittently connected. Reference numeral 21 denotes a stopper provided on the lifter base 7 of each lifter 5 in order to engage with the guide rail 20 and restrict the vertical movement of the lifter 5 during travel. The stopper 21 illustrated in the figure includes a stay 22 hanging down from the lower side of the lifter base 7, and a rise prevention roller 23 and a fall prevention roller 24 attached to the stay 22. The rise prevention roller 23 is attached to the lower end of the stay 22, and the fall prevention roller 24 is attached above it at a predetermined interval vertically so as to maintain the relationship described below. That is, when the lifter 5 and hence the finger 8 are at the lower limit level, the rise prevention roller 23 can engage with the lower surface side of the guide rail 20, as shown in FIG. 4.

On the other hand, when the lifter 5 rises and the finger 8 is at the upper limit level, the lowering prevention roller 24
As shown in the figure, it is in a relationship that it can engage with the upper surface side of the guide rail 20. Moreover, this engagement relationship is automatically achieved by raising or lowering the lifter 5.

By the way, when changing the engagement relationship between the rollers 23, 24 and the guide rail 20 in accordance with the vertical position of the lifter 5, the rollers cross the guide rail.

Notch 20a of the guide rail 20 already mentioned
is provided for this purpose, and the width of the notch must be at least large enough for both rollers 23 and 24 to pass through.

Next, the effect will be explained.

Now, for example, in Fig. 3, there is no workpiece in stage S ₃ , and the other four stages S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₄ , S ₅
The mid-level fixed location (storage location) of
It is assumed that a workpiece W is supported and held by a workpiece receiver 10, and the workpieces are sequentially transported from stages S ₁ and S ₂ to an empty stage S ₃ .

First, the lifters 5 in stages S ₁ and S ₂ are selected and raised. Then, the finger 8 receives the workpieces W ₁ and W ₂ from the workpiece receiver 10 while ascending, and pushes them up to the upper level progressive position (FIG. 3). At this time, rollers 23 and 2 act as stoppers.
4 rises by passing through the notch 20a of the guide rail 20 (FIG. 5). Next, move the rod of the actuator 9 for forward and backward drive forward,
Each truck 4 is advanced by one stage in the direction of arrow C in FIG. During this sequential feeding, the lowering prevention roller 24 of the lifter with the workpieces W ₁ and W ₂ placed on the upper level
As shown in the figure, it naturally engages with the upper surface of the guide rail 20 and rolls on that surface. Therefore, even if the fluid pressure in the lifter 5 were to be released during this sequential transport, the workpieces W ₁ and W ₂ would not drop. In addition, each of the carts in stages S ₃ , S ₄ , and S ₅ is in a state where the lifter 5 is at the lower limit position (the fourth
7), but the rise prevention roller 23 of the stopper 21 prevents the guide rail 2 from moving forward.
It engages with the bottom surface of 0 and rolls. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the danger of the lifter 5 suddenly rising while the cart is moving and, for example, pushing up the workpiece in the storage position with the fingers 8 and damaging it.

In this way, when each cart reaches the next stage, the forward movement is stopped, and then the lifter carrying the works W ₁ and W ₂ descends to the lower limit. Stopper roller 2
3 and 24 pass through the notch 20a of the guide rail. On the way, the works W ₁ and W ₂ are received by the work receivers 10 of stages S ₂ and S ₃ and stored. Thereafter, the actuator 9 is operated in reverse to move each truck 4 back to its original stage while remaining at the lower limit position of the lifter. The above-mentioned sequential workpiece transport can be carried out by selecting the lifter of the cart at any stage depending on the storage status of the workpiece, and of course it is also possible to transport the workpiece by raising the lifters of all the carts at once. be.

It should be noted that the rollers 23 and 24 for preventing rising and falling in the above embodiment may be replaced with sliding shoes, for example.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to this invention,
A simple structure is adopted in which a guide rail that is intermittent with the running rail of the conveyance device is provided, and a stopper for preventing ascent and descent that engages with this guide rail is provided on the lifter, so it is inexpensive and there is no risk of failure. In addition, unexpected accidents during transportation can be completely prevented, no special locking time is required, and high reliability and efficiency can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional conveyance device, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIGS. 3 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a side view, and FIG. 4 is a front view. Figure 5a is a side view of the main part when the lifter is ascending or descending, Figure 5b is a view taken along arrow bb in Figure a, and Figure 6a is when the lifter is running at its upper limit. Fig. 6b is a side view of the main part of Fig. 6a, Fig. 7a is a side view of the main part when the lifter is at its lowering limit and is traveling, Fig. 7b is a view taken along the arrow b-b of Fig. 6a. It is a bb arrow view of FIG. 1... Traveling rail, 4... Traveling means, 5... Lifter, 8... Finger, 20... Guide rail,
21... Stoppa, W... Work at the middle level, W ₁ , W ₂ ... Work at the upper level.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Equipped with a traveling means for moving back and forth on a traveling rail, a lifter disposed on the traveling means, and a finger supported by the lifter and pushing up a workpiece at a fixed position at a middle level to a progressive position at an upper level. 1. A transport device, characterized in that a guide rail is provided intermittently on the travel rail, and a stopper is provided on the lifter to engage with the guide rail and restrict vertical movement of the lifter during travel.