JPH034450B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] a. Industrial application field The invention related to this patent application (hereinafter referred to as the "Claim Invention")
) is related to the transportation of goods, for example, in order to move a pallet on which a workpiece such as cloth is placed, a conveyor belt on which the pallet is placed is rotated horizontally in forward and backward directions. A plurality of the configured units are arranged independently and spaced apart in a ring shape to correspond to multiple processing machines such as sewing machines that perform different sewing operations, and the pallets are moved in one direction so as not to flow backwards. When a sewing machine that performs a particular sewing operation to which a particular pallet corresponds is in process, the first of several individual pieces is On a standalone basis,
Write information on multiple different processing operations for workpieces such as cloth to be placed on the pallet on the conveyor, and read processing information on the pallets that have been moved for each unit other than the first unit. The present invention relates to an article transfer control device configured as follows.

b. Prior Art In a conventional article transfer device using a conveyor belt, as in the present application, a plurality of independent units each having a conveyor belt are divided according to the distance and direction of article transfer and arranged at intervals. There is no known technology to do this, and as can be seen in the book ``Flexible Automation'' written by Takeshi Iwasaki and published by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, (1) the technology to A linear flow type with a conveyor belt (2) and an annular flow type (3)
There is also a random access type.

However, if the conveyor belt is installed on the floor, workers cannot cross it, making maintenance of the equipment inconvenient. is constant, making it impossible to change direction, branch, or overtake, making it suitable for high-mix, low-volume production that uses or does not use multiple processing devices placed on the side of the belt that perform independent and different processing operations. is not suitable,
The random access type allows for branching and detouring, but it is not possible to change direction or overtake. In addition, the structure of the transfer line is complicated and multiplexed, which requires a large amount of expense.

In addition, hanger conveyors with branch points include Japan's Eagle system and Sweden's Eaton system, but since the control of article transfer is controlled by humans, it is time-consuming and reduces work efficiency, resulting in unmanned control. There is a defect in which it cannot be done.

c. Problems to be Solved by the Invention In order to eliminate the deficiencies of the prior art described above, the present invention provides a single unit with a plurality of independent horizontal rotary conveyor belts, which are separated from each other. Arrange in a ring along each processing device corresponding to the required length, rotate the conveyor belt,
Maintenance is facilitated by providing an electronic device that allows each unit to write and read processing information on the workpiece on the pallet placed on the belt so as to drive, stop, change direction, and rotate in forward and reverse directions. , enables the workpiece to change direction, diverge, and overtake,
Simple structure, low cost, and can omit human operation.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an article transfer control device suitable for high-mix, low-volume production.

d Means for Solving the Problems An embodiment of the configuration of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of units 1 are each housed in annular machine frames 2 which are independent from each other and open at the top, thereby completing the actuating device.

A U-shaped support frame 4 is fixed to the horizontal bottom side 3 of the machine frame 2, and a rotating shaft 6 arranged horizontally at the bottom side 5 of the support frame 4 drives a motor 7, etc., which can rotate in forward and reverse directions. The source is fixed, and a direction changing shaft 8 is supported on the upper side of the support frame 4 so as to be rotatable through the support frame 4 vertically.
Bevel gears 9a and 9b are fixedly engaged with the free end of the rotating shaft 6 and the lower end of the direction changing shaft 8, respectively.

A pulley stand 10 having a U-shaped cross section and elongated in the horizontal direction is fixed to the upper end of the deflection shaft 8, and a pulley shaft 12 having pulleys 11 at the front and rear and a drive shaft are mounted on the left and right upright sides of the pulley stand 10, respectively. A gear 14 is fixed to one end of the drive shaft 13, and a gear shaft 15 that meshes with the gear 14 is mounted on the lower surface of the bottom of the pulley base 10. Motor 16 capable of forward and reverse rotation
is fixed, and a wide belt 17 is hung horizontally around the pulley shaft 12 and the pulleys 11 at the front and rear of the drive shaft, and stretched with a slight tension.

The upper surface of the belt 17 is slightly above the upper end surface of each upright side of the machine frame 2, and a flat plate-shaped moving body 19 is mounted on the upper surface of the belt 17 on which a workpiece 18 such as cloth can be placed. Even if the torque actuator 20 is fixed upright to the bottom side 3 of the machine frame 2 and is rotatable, the torque actuator 20 is mounted horizontally and the bevel gears 9a, b below the deflection shaft 8 and the drive source 7 are used. good.

As shown in FIG.
3) The arrangement is such that on the floor of the workshop, a plurality of processing devices (A to J), such as sewing machines, which perform different tasks and are arranged in a ring, are arranged in a ring in the required direction, facing the sides of each processing device (A to J). and the workpiece 18 or the moving body 1 due to the rotation of the belt 17.
They are arranged in a rectangular ring shape with a gap 21 maintained so that workers can pass through the workpieces 9 without falling onto the floor.

In addition, each motor 16 and drive source 7 can be rotated in forward and reverse directions and the rotational speed can be changed independently, and each motor 16 and drive source 7 can be rotated individually, and
As shown in Figure 3, the processing equipment is arranged in such a way that in addition to each arrangement on the left, there are processing equipment such as sewing machines on the right.
The individual units 14 to 27 may be arranged corresponding to the annular arrangement of ~T.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, regarding the movable body 19 on which the workpiece 18 such as cloth is placed and moved by the movement of the belt 17, the workpiece 18 such as cloth etc. is placed and moved by the movement of the belt 17. The information on which processing device A to T, such as a sewing machine, is used to process the workpiece 18 is determined by the rotation of the belt 17 by the motor 16 and drive source 7, such as drive, stop, forward/reverse rotation, direction change, and drive speed. , a configuration for writing and reading time and processing completion information is provided as follows.

That is, an information carrier 22 made of magnetic tape or an IC memory is fixed to the movable body 9 at a portion not covered by the workpiece 18, for example, on the lower surface or side end face, and an operator first places the workpiece 18 on the movable body 9.
The workpiece (1) to be placed on the workpiece 18 is
A writing body 23 consisting of a magnetic head or a memory writer for writing information to the information body 22 of the movable body 19 is fixed at the forward end of the main rotational direction of the belt 17 for sequentially processing. Then, (2) other than the above first (1) of simple substance 1
~27) In all cases, in front of the main rotational direction of the belt 17 for sequentially processing the workpieces 18,
A reading body 24, which is a pickup or a memory reader, is fixed to read the information written on the information body 22 of the moving body 19.

The writing body 23 receives signals from an interface 27 that inputs signals in synchronization with the rotation of the belt 17 via a central processing unit CPU that inputs and calculates inputs from a computer's floppy disk 25 or keyboard 26. By doing so, the information input means 28 for writing the above information into the information body 22 of the mobile body 19 is connected, and the printer 29 is connected to the CPU to leave a record of the information.
A CRT is also connected to check information using images.

Furthermore, the information body 22 of the mobile body 19 written by the information input means 28 is stored in the reader body 24.
An information processing unit 30 is connected to read the information and output it as an output signal. A sensor 31 is connected to the unit 30 to input a detection signal generated by the workpiece 18, and a sensor 32 fixed to the processing apparatuses A to T is connected to the unit 30 to detect the presence of the workpiece 18 and input a detection signal generated. However, the unit 30 converts the rotating direction of the drive source 7 into forward and reverse directions and changes the position of the movable body 19 via the pulley stand 10.
A signal for direction control is output to the direction control circuit 33 connected to the drive source 7 so as to convert every 90 degrees over 360 degrees, and the unit 30 controls the rotation of the motor 16 at predetermined time intervals. The drive control circuit 34 and speed control circuit 35 connected to the motor 16 are configured to drive, stop, and speed for a predetermined period of time so as to drive, stop, and change the driving speed. An output device 36 is provided to output a signal for changing.

e. Effects of the invention Since the claimed invention has the structure described in the preceding paragraph, it produces the following effects.

First, when the motor 16 of the first unit (1) of the units 1 in FIG. While moving to the right in FIG. 3 toward the unit (2), the input means 28 of the unit (1) is used to process the specific workpiece 18 with any of the processing devices A to T required. This information is transmitted to the belt 1 by the motor 16 and the drive source 7.
The writing body 23 writes information on the drive, stop, forward/reverse rotation, direction change, and speed change of the rotation of the moving body 19 in the information body 22 of the moving body 19 .

Next, the moving body 1 moved to the single body (2) in Fig. 3.
The single reader 24 reads the above information from the information body 22 of 9 and outputs the signal from the direction control circuit 33 via the information processing unit 30 of the output means 36, thereby causing the drive source 7 to move clockwise 90. After rotating the moving body 19 in the same direction with the workpiece 18 and stopping, the moving body 19 is rotated in the same direction and stopped.
When the information written in the information body 22 is recorded as using processing devices B, E, H, and J, for example, each component operates as follows.

The motor 16 of the unit (2) sends the moving body 19 to the next unit (3) by means of the output means 36, and the sensor 31 of the next unit (3) indicates that the corresponding processing device is not sending a processing signal. is confirmed, the information processing unit 30 rotates the reader at the required speed through the speed and drive control circuit according to the information on the information body 22, and reads the next single reader 24 (3).
The output means 36 reads that the information in the information body 22 of the moving body 19 that has been sent indicates that processing by the processing device A corresponding to the unit (3) is unnecessary, and outputs the motor of the unit (3). 16 toward the front to send the moving body 19 to the next single body (4).

The single (4) reading body 24 and output means 36 are:
The information of the information body 22 of the mobile body 19 that has been sent is
When it is detected that processing by the processing device B corresponding to the unit (4) is required, and the position of the upper surface of the sent moving body 19 and the workpiece 18 with respect to the processing device B is perpendicular to the processing device B, which is inconvenient. The drive source 7 is rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees and stopped via the output of the direction control circuit 33, and the motor 16 is driven to the left via the output of the speed control means 35 and the drive control circuit 34. Then, the moving body 19 and the workpiece 18 are supplied to the processing device B, and when the processing time of the workpiece 18 by the processing device B is finished, the motor 16 is driven to the right and stopped, and then the drive source 7 After rotating, for example, 90 degrees counterclockwise, the motor 16 drives forward to send the movable body 19 to the next unit (5).

The single unit (5) reading body 24 and output means 36 are:
The information of the information body 22 of the mobile body 19 that has been sent is
After reading that processing by the processing device C corresponding to the unit (5) is unnecessary, the drive source 7 of the unit (5) rotates 90 degrees clockwise and stops, and drives the motor 16 to the right. Then, the moving body 19 is sent to the next single body (6).

The single unit (6) reading body 24 and output means 36 are:
The information body 22 of the mobile body 19 sent is the single body 6
It is read that the processing by the processing device D corresponding to the above is unnecessary, and the motor 16 of the unit (6) is driven to the right to send the movable body 19 to the next unit (7).

The single unit (7) reading body 24 and output means 36 are:
As in the case of the single unit (4), it is read that processing is required by the corresponding processing device E, the drive source 7 is rotated clockwise by 90 degrees and stopped, and the motor 16 is driven forward. When the machine stops and the moving body 19 and the workpiece 18 are supplied to the processing device E, and the processing time of the workpiece 18 by the processing device E ends, the motor 16 is driven forward, and after stopping, the drive source 7 is turned on. After rotating 90 degrees counterclockwise, the motor 16 drives to the right and sends the movable body 19 to the next unit (8).

In this way, the movable body 19 turns forward and passes through the single body (8), then passes through the single body (9), and then reaches the single body (10) where it is processed by the corresponding processing device H. After processing the workpiece 18,
The moving body 19 changes direction from the single body (10) to the left by the single body (11), passes through the single body (12), and returns to the single body (1).
3) and after processing the workpiece 18 by the processing device J corresponding to the single body (13), the moving body 1
9 is sent to the simplex (2).

After that, when the units (2 to 10) read the information on the completion of machining of the moving body 19, and the moving body 19 makes a circular loop along the old route to the units (2 to 10) and returns to the unit (11), Single unit (11) reader 24
The output means 36 reads the sent processing completion information of the information body 22 of the moving body 19, drives the motor 16 to the right, and moves the moving body 19 to the next work completion unit (14). Then, the processing operations on the workpiece 18 by the processing devices B, E, H, and J are completed.

In addition, when the moving body 19 is transferred to a specific unit 1, the sensor 33 of the next unit (1) performs information processing when the processing device corresponding to that unit 1 is performing processing work. The unit 30 operates the drive source 7 and the motor 16 through the direction, speed, and drive control circuits to move the moving body 19 to the next unit 1 and all other parts of the subsequent process until it returns to the next unit 1. The single body 1 is passed through sequentially.

Other Examples The arrangement of each unit and its corresponding processing machines is as follows:
As shown in FIG. 3, the units 14 to 27 and the processing devices K to T may be arranged in a ring shape on the right side by connecting them to 1 to 13 on the left side and their corresponding A to J. good.

In the above embodiment, each unit 1 was placed on the floor and could be changed to the desired arrangement, but as shown in Figures 6 and 7, beams or ceilings placed above the floor It can also be installed in

In other words, the board 37 is fixed to the ceiling or a beam, and
On the lower surface of 7, a frame shaft 38 is hung and rotatably supported, and a driving source such as a motor 39 that can rotate forward and reverse is fixed. A plate-shaped pulley stand 40 is fixed, and gears 42a and b that mesh with each other are fixed below the frame shaft 38 and the rotating shaft 41 of the drive source 39, respectively.

Both motors 43, which are capable of forward and reverse rotation and variable speed, are fixed to both leg sides of the pulley stand 40.
Both pulleys 44 are fixed to the rotating shaft of No. 3, and wide belts 45 are respectively attached to the outer peripheral surfaces of both pulleys 11.
Pulley 44 is arranged with a gap between both pulleys.
Wrap it in between.

A movable body 46 having a trapezoidal shape is inserted between both belts 45 and movably arranged in contact with the belt, and a workpiece 47 is supported and released on the lower surface of the movable body 46. A power supply device 49 that supports the clamp 48, which can be opened and closed, is provided on the upper surface of the movable body 46 and consists of an electromagnet or the like that opens and closes the clamp 48.
support.

And a plurality of units 50 consisting of the above-mentioned devices are
The arrangement of the respective elements is the same as that of the unit 1 of the embodiment described above, as required, and the writing body 23, the input means 28, the reading body 24 and the sensor 31 are provided on the substrate 37, respectively.

Further, in the present invention, when applied to the sewing process using a sewing machine, since the cloth of the workpiece 18 is a non-magnetic material, lightweight, thin and soft,
If the belts 17, 45 are magnetic, the movable bodies 19, 46 are magnetic, and the cloth is placed on the movable body 19 or clamped by the clamp 47, reliable transfer can be achieved.

Furthermore, the gap 21 between each unit 1 is replaced by the workpiece 18,
If the distance is set so that the moving body 19 can pass through without falling, and the gap 21 between each unit 50 is set so that the worker can pass between the workpieces 47 supported on the clamps 48, This is convenient for equipment maintenance and work communication.

f. Effects of the Invention The present invention solves the deficiencies of the prior art described above, and has a single unit with a plurality of independent rotary conveyors, which are arranged in an annular manner to accommodate the required processing equipment while maintaining intervals from each other. Each unit enters the moving body on which the workpiece is placed, the processing information can be written and read by the output means, and the belt is driven.
By making it possible to stop, change direction, and rotate forward and reverse,
It is possible to obtain an article transfer control device that is suitable for high-mix, low-volume production by making it possible to divert, branch, and overtake workpieces, omit human operations, simplify the structure, and facilitate maintenance.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the device, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the part shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the entire device, and Figs. 4 and 5 are input and output means. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of another embodiment of the apparatus, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the portion shown in FIG. 6.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pulley stand that can rotate and stop in forward and reverse directions in conjunction with a drive source that can rotate and stop in forward and reverse directions, and a pulley stand that is fixed to the pulley stand and can rotate in forward and reverse directions. , a motor that can be stopped, a pulley that is rotatably supported on a pulley stand and rotates in conjunction with the motor, a pulley that is arranged parallel to the pulley at a distance from each other, and both pulleys are strung together in a hanging manner. A belt is provided to form an independent unit, and multiple units are arranged in a ring to correspond to processing equipment that performs multiple different operations, supporting the workpiece and interlocking with the rotation of the belt. The moving object is placed so that it does not fall between the moving object and the moving object in the moving direction, and the first moving object among the multiple moving objects in the moving direction is fixed to the moving object. A writing body is provided in which information on which processing device is used to process the workpiece is written to the information body through an input means, and information on the moving body is written in each unit other than the first unit. An article transfer control means, comprising: an output means configured to operate a drive source and a motor via a reader for reading body information. 2 Characterized by placing each unit on the floor,
An article transfer control device according to claim 1. 3. The article transfer control device according to claim 1, wherein each unit is arranged on a ceiling or a beam. 4. The article transfer control device according to claim 1, wherein each single belt is magnetic and the moving body is a magnetic body.