JPH06227653A - Free flow conveyor and pallet for it - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a free-flow conveyor and a pallet used therefor capable of processing several kinds of works having different lengths and having work areas near both ends while sequentially flowing. . A pallet (3a, 3b) has an auxiliary locking pin (10) for fixing a work (Y) to a projecting portion (9) provided on at least one of a front side and a rear side in the traveling direction, and is free. At least a part of the plurality of stop devices 4 and 5 arranged at intervals along the flow chain 2 is provided with a movable stop device 5 that can move in the traveling direction of the pallet and change its position. By changing the front-back direction and moving the movable stop device to change its position, it is possible to convey works of various lengths.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a free flow conveyor and a pallet therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 11 to 12, a free-flow conveyor 20 includes, for example, two endless free-flow chains 21 vertically driven in parallel by a sprocket wheel (not shown) at both ends by a motor. A total of four are arranged in two stages.

As shown in FIG. 13, each free-flow chain 21 has a large-diameter roller 21c loosely fitted on a shaft 21b of the chain 21a, and the large-diameter roller 21c further has a smaller-diameter roller 21c.
d is loosely fitted. Small diameter roller 21d is rail 21f
When the chain 21a is driven, the small diameter roller 21d moves on the rail 21f, and the large diameter roller 21c also rotates at the same speed as the small diameter roller 21d due to the frictional force between the small diameter roller 21d. , The pallet 22 placed on the free flow chain 21 is transported.

As shown in FIG. 12, the pallet 2 carried on the upper stage
2 is transferred to the lower freeflow chain 21 by the elevating device 23 arranged at the end of the freeflow conveyor 20, is conveyed to the starting elevating device 24 by the lower freeflow chain 21, and is transferred to the upper stage again. When such a free-flow conveyor 20 is used in, for example, an automatic product assembly process, the upper stage is divided into a plurality of stations, for example, seven stations in FIGS. 11 to 12, and the pallet 22 is stopped at each station. Device 2
5 are arranged.

The pallet 22 is, for example, shown in FIGS.
It consists of a wooden plate shaped like. Each pallet 22 has two through holes 26 for positioning the work.
And one locking pin 27 protruding upward for fixing the work, while each stopping device 25 stops the pallet 22 by contacting the front side portion 22a of the pallet 22 as shown in FIG. Up and down stop member 28 and pallet 2
Two insertion pins 29 which are inserted from below into the through holes 26 of No. 2
And have.

When the stopping member 28 moves up to stop the pallet 22, only the large diameter rollers 21c stop rotating in the section of the moving free flow chain 21 in contact with the pallet 22. Laura 2
Rotate with 1d. Palette 2 stopped
2, the insertion pin 29 is inserted into the positioning hole 26 of the pallet 22 from below to position the pallet 22 at an accurate position for the working work, and then the working work is performed by, for example, an automatic machine arranged there. Be seen. When the working operation is completed, the insertion pin 29 is lowered and the stop member 28 is lowered to release the constraint of the pallet 22, and the pallet 22 starts moving and moves to the next station.

When carrying out a processing operation while conveying a long work (product) on such a free flow conveyor, two pallets 22 are used as shown in FIG.
Each locking pin 27 is moved by locking the locking hole of the work 30.

[0008]

However, when such a conventional pallet is used, the work area 31 shown by the perspective lines of the work 30 near both ends of the work area 31 overlaps the pallet 22 as shown in FIG. However, there is a drawback in that processing work that requires a space below is restricted and the work is restricted. Further, the conventional free-flow conveyor using such a pallet has a drawback that it cannot cope with processing while sequentially feeding several kinds of works having different lengths.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a free-flow conveyor and a pallet used for the same, which are capable of processing several kinds of works having different lengths and having work areas near both ends while sequentially flowing. I am trying.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least two endless free flow chains which are arranged in parallel and driven, and an upper surface which is placed on the free flow chain and conveyed are provided. A pallet having a locking pin for fixing the work, a pallet for mounting the work, and a plurality of stop devices arranged at intervals along the free flow chain for stopping the pallet, In the free-flow conveyor that conveys the work, the pallet has an auxiliary locking pin for fixing the work to the protruding portion provided on at least one of the front side portion and the rear side portion in the traveling direction, and A movable stop device that can move in the traveling direction of the pallet and change its position is arranged in at least a part of the stop device, and changes the front and rear direction of the pallet, Was by changing the mobile at that position by moving the stopping device, is configured to be conveyed various lengths of the workpiece.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a plate-like pallet for a free-flow conveyor, which has a locking pin extending upward for fixing a work, a front side portion or a rear side portion in the traveling direction of the pallet. A projecting portion is provided on at least one of the above, and an auxiliary locking pin extending upward for fixing the work is provided on the projecting portion.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the pallets are used in pairs so that the projecting portions of the pallets face each other outward, and the fixed stopping device and the movable stopping device are used without moving. In the case, when the fixed stop device and the movable stop device are also used by moving, they are used in pairs so that the protruding portions of the pallets face each other, and the fixed stop device is used.
When the movable stop device is moved and used, at least four kinds of works having different lengths can be transported by separately using the fixed stop device and the case where the movable stop device is used without moving. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent both ends of the work area from being applied to the work by making the projections of the pair of pallets face each other and fixing the work using the auxiliary locking pins. .

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, a free flow conveyor 1 of the present invention comprises two endless free flow chains 2 arranged in parallel, which are driven by sprocket wheels (not shown) at both ends by a motor. This is arranged in two rows above and below (only two in the upper row are shown), and at least the upper row is divided into a plurality of stations such as a plurality of stations A, B, and C. The structure of the free flow chain 2 is the same as the conventional one.
Pallets 3 are placed in pairs so as to straddle both free flow chains 2, and between both free flow chains 2,
Fixed stops 4 are arranged at the positions a and c, and a movable stop 5 is arranged at the position b. The stop device 4,
In FIG. 5, blacked out means that the stop member of the stop device is raised to stop the pallet 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the pallet 3 is made of, for example, a wooden plate, and the front and rear sides thereof are provided with recesses 6 that come into contact with the stop members of the stop device. On the upper surface of the pallet 3, there are two through holes 7 for receiving the positioning pins in a row in the middle in the middle.
A locking pin 8 which is engaged with a locking hole of a work placed on the pallet is provided in the middle so as to project. A protrusion 9 is provided on one of the front side portion and the rear side portion, and another auxiliary locking pin 10 that engages with the locking hole of the work is provided therein.

Of the stopping devices 4 and 5, the stopping device 4 is a fixed type, and as shown in FIG. 4, a stopping member 11 that moves up and down, an elevating device 11a for the stopping member 11, and a positioning pin 1 that moves up and down.
2. It has a lifting device 12a for the positioning pin 12.
When the pallet 3 is stopped, the stop member 11 first moves up to abut the recess 6 of the pallet 3 moving on the free flow chain 2 to stop the pallet 3 and then the positioning pin 12 moves up. To position the pallet 3.

On the other hand, the stopping device 5 is movable in the traveling direction of the pallet 3 and has the same structure as the stopping device 4, except that the stopping member 13, a lifting device 13a for the stopping member 13 and a positioning pin 14 that moves up and down. , Lifting device 14a for positioning pin 14
It further comprises a moving device 15 for moving together. The moving device 15 has an air cylinder 15a, and a stop member 13 and the like are fixed to the tip of a piston rod 15b thereof.

The stop devices 4 and 5 arranged at the respective stop positions have a stop member and a positioning pin, respectively.
Two units each having one set may be used, or one unit having two stop members and two positioning pins may be used.

The free-flow conveyor 1 of the present invention can accommodate works of different lengths, and the pallet 3 does not disturb the working parts near both ends of the work. This will be described below. There are four types of works (for example, fluorescent lamp fixtures) with different lengths. Work W (length between locking holes at both ends is 1147 mm), work X (length 1)
018 mm), work Y (length 529 mm), work Z
(Length 400 mm).

First, when machining a long work W as shown in FIG. 1, the work stability when placed on two pallets is emphasized, and there is no work area near both ends. Workpiece W using locking pins 8 on both pallets
Is locked.

That is, after raising the stop member of the stop device 4 at the position c in the work station B, the leading pallet 3 is flown so that the projecting portion 9 is in front and stopped at the position c. Next, the stop member of the stop device 5 at the position b is lifted to flow the next pallet 3 so that its protruding portion 9 is at the rear, and is stopped at the position b. Between the two pallets in that state, the locking pin 8 is used to lock and arrange the locking hole of the work W (the length between the locking holes at both ends is 1147 mm), and the work W is automatically screwed therein, for example. After doing the above, the stop members of both stop devices are lowered and sent to the next station.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the work X, which has no work areas near both ends and is wider than the work W but shorter in length, is processed, the work X is placed on two pallets. Since the stability of the work is emphasized, the work X is locked by using the locking pins 8 of both pallets. However, the movable stop device 5 is moved to the position b-1.

That is, the stop member of the stop device 4 at the position c in the work station B is lifted to flow the pallet 3a so that the projecting portion 9 is at the front and stop at the position c. After that, the stop device 5 at the position b is extended and moved by 129 mm in the traveling direction of the pallet (position b-1), and then the stop member is raised, and then the next pallet 3b is moved so that its projecting portion 9 is behind. And let it flow and stop at position b-1. After the locking holes of the work X (the length between the locking holes at both ends is 1018 mm) are locked by using the locking pins 8 between the pallets in that state, the work X is processed there. After that, the stop members of both stop devices are lowered and sent to the next station.

Next, when the work Y having a short length and a work area near both ends is processed as shown in FIG. 7, the work Y is locked by using the auxiliary locking pins 10 of both pallets. To do. Further, in this case, both pallets are combined in advance at the preparation station A, the work Y is placed on both pallets, and then the work Y is sent to the work station B.

That is, first, the stop member is raised at the position b-1 where the stop device 5 at the position b in the preparation station A is extended and moved in the traveling direction of the pallet, and then the pallet 3a is moved.
Flow so that its protruding portion 9 is at the rear, and position b-1
To stop. After that, after raising the stop member of the stop device 4 at the position a, the next pallet 3b is flown so that the projecting portion 9 thereof is at the front and stopped at the position a. Work Y using auxiliary locking pin 10 between both pallets in that state
The locking holes (529 mm in length between the locking holes at both ends) are locked and arranged, and then sent to the position c of the next work station B as shown in FIG. 8, where the work Y is processed. After that, the stop members of both stop devices are lowered and sent to the next station.

Further, when processing a wide work piece Z having a work area near both ends as shown in FIG. 9 and having a wide width, the work piece Z is locked by using the auxiliary locking pins 10 of both pallets. . Also in this case, the preparatory station A combines both pallets in advance to place the work Z on both pallets, and then sends the work Z to the work station B.

That is, first, the stop member of the stop device 5 at the position b in the preparation station A is raised, and then the pallet 3a is flowed so that the projecting portion 9 thereof is at the rear, and the position b is reached.
To stop. After that, after raising the stop member of the stop device 4 at the position a, the next pallet 3b is flown so that the projecting portion 9 thereof is at the front and stopped at the position a. Work Z using auxiliary locking pin 10 between both pallets in that state
The locking holes (the length between the locking holes at both ends is 400 mm) are locked and arranged, and then the work Z is sent to the position c of the next work station B as shown in FIG. After that, the stop members of both stop devices are lowered and sent to the next station.

The direction of the pallet may be changed by hand, or the direction of the pallet may be alternately reversed in advance and the unnecessary pallet may be flown as it is, and the next desired pallet may be used. By inputting to the computer what length of work is to be flown next, the computer controls the vertical movement and distraction movement of the stopping device thereafter.

The shape of the pallet 3 and the number and arrangement of the through holes 7, the locking pins 8 and the protruding portions 9 are not limited to those in the embodiment. For example, the pallet may have a shape close to a square, or the recess 6 may be omitted. Further, the through holes 7 and the locking pins 8 may not be arranged in one horizontal row but may be displaced, or one through hole 7 may be arranged in one vertical row with the locking pins 8. Therefore, the number and positions of the stop members and the positioning pins of the stop devices 4 and 5 can be changed accordingly. Further, the protrusions 9 may be provided on both the front side and the rear side of the pallet, and the auxiliary locking pins 10 that engage with the locking holes of the workpiece may be provided therein. In this case, both or one of the both auxiliary locking pins 10 is used so as to be retracted so as not to get in the way when the work is locked by using the locking pin 8.

[0030]

As described above, by using the pallet having the auxiliary pin on the projecting portion and by using the stopping device for extending and moving, it is possible to flow a plurality of products of at least four kinds in one line. Further, even when products of different types are flown, it is possible to easily cope with the direction of the pallet and the movement of the stop device, so that setup is easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a free flow conveyor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the pallet of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a fixed stop device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a movable stop device.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where a work X is conveyed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where a work Y is conveyed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where a work Y is conveyed.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a state where a work Z is conveyed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where a work Z is conveyed.

FIG. 11 is an overall plan view of a conventional free flow conveyor.

FIG. 12 is a front view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a free flow chain.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a conventional pallet.

FIG. 15 is a horizontal center sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a stopping device.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state where a work is conveyed by a conventional free flow conveyor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Free Flow Conveyor 2 Free Flow Chain 3 Pallet 4 Stopper (Fixed) 5 Stopper (Movable) 7 Through Hole 8 Locking Pin 9 Projection 10 Auxiliary Locking Pin

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B65G 43/00 E 47/74 Z 8010-3F

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. At least two arranged and driven in parallel
Book endless free flow chain, a pallet for placing a work, which is placed and transported on the free flow chain and has a locking pin for fixing the work on the upper surface, and along the free flow chain In a free-flow conveyor that conveys a work on a pallet, which has a plurality of stop devices for stopping the pallet arranged at intervals, the pallet has at least one of a front side portion and a rear side portion in its traveling direction. One of the stop devices has a movable stop device that can move in the traveling direction of the pallet and change its position. By changing the front and rear direction of the pallet and moving the movable stop device to change its position, workpieces of various lengths are transported. A free-flow conveyor characterized by being able to do so. 2. A plate-like pallet for a free-flow conveyor having a locking pin extending upward for fixing a work, and at least one of a front side portion and a rear side portion in a traveling direction of the pallet. Is provided with a protrusion,
A pallet for a free flow conveyor, characterized in that an auxiliary locking pin extending upward is provided for fixing the work to the projecting portion.