JPS62205902A - Method for carrying work into storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sufficiently reduce the awaiting time of a loader which clamps a work, by enabling an empty storage lane to be automatically changed into the exclusive-use storage lane for the specific work. CONSTITUTION:A loader 32 has a chuck 46 for clamping a work, conveyed by a conveyer 33 to its conveyance final end position, while the chuck 46 has a work discriminating means actuated in accordance with the work of five kinds clamped by the chuck 46. Said means, which searches a storage lane in a storage device 31 for the work clamped by the loader chuck 46, decides the exclusive-use storage lane for the work to be preset or not in the device 31. When the empty storage lane exists, the loader 32 advances, for instance, to the smallest lane of these lanes and stops, thereafter the loader carries the work in that lane.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention automatically determines a dedicated storage lane for each type of work when carrying multiple types of work into each storage lane of a storage device. In addition, the present invention relates to a method of transporting workpieces to a storage device in which each workpiece is automatically and separately transported to a dedicated storage lane.

(Prior Art) For example, in a storage device as shown in the route plan in FIG. Based on the action of the loader 3 traveling upward, for example, when sorting m people into the storage lanes 4 to 13 of civil engineering, conventionally, the method shown in Fig. 7 (
As shown in b), the first to tenth storage lanes 4
By manually operating each of the ten low-frith inches 14 to 23 on the operation panel provided corresponding to 13 to 13,
Each storage lane 4 to 13 is preset as a dedicated storage lane for a specific type of work,
Then, it was common to carry the work into each of the dedicated storage lanes set in this way by a method as shown in the flowchart in FIG. 7 (C1).

In this illustrated example, the first and sixth storage lanes 4 and 9 are dedicated storage lanes for work of type [Xl, and the second and seventh storage lanes 5 and 10 are dedicated storage lanes for work of type x2. and the third and eighth storage lanes 6.11 function as dedicated storage lanes for work X3, respectively, and the fourth and ninth and fifth and tenth storage lanes respectively , Work X
4 and work x5, respectively.

The transport of a specific type of workpiece, for example, workpiece χ1, into each of the dedicated storage lanes set in this way will be described below with reference to FIG. 7(C).

First, it is detected whether or not there is a workpiece at the transport end position of the conveyor 1, for example, based on the operation of a limit switch installed on the conveyor 1. If there is no workpiece there, this detection is performed at a constant rate. Repeat at intervals of . On the other hand, conveyance P of the conveyor 1:
If a work exists at the end position, the chuck of the loader 3 is operated to clamp the work.

After this clamping is completed, while maintaining the clamped state, for example, based on the operating states of the three types of limit switches installed on the loader chuck, the clamped workpiece is determined to be one of the three types of workpieces. Then, it is determined whether the work is of type χ1.

Here, if the clamped work is not work X1, after determining which other type it is,
The workpiece is carried into a dedicated storage lane in substantially the same manner as will be described later.

Also, if the clamped workpiece is workpiece X1, there is empty space in the dedicated storage lanes set for workpiece X1, here the first and sixth storage lanes 4 and 9. If there is an empty space in any of them, the loader moves to that lane and carries the work X1 there. On the other hand, when there is no empty space in the dedicated storage lane for the work X1, the loader waits until an empty space is created there, and then carries the work X1 into the storage lane where the empty space is created.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in this prior art, the type of work carried into each of the storage lanes 4 to 13 is determined in advance by the operation of each of the low reswitches 14 to 23. Since the loader 3 cannot load other types of work into each storage lane specified according to the type of work, for example,
If a dedicated storage lane becomes full due to manufacturing a large quantity of the same type of work, the work cannot be transferred to the storage device even if the dedicated storage lane for other types of work is empty. In addition to the problem that it becomes impossible to bring in the work, in order to change the storage lane dedicated to a specific type of work to a storage lane dedicated to other work, the storage lane must be empty. After visually checking the storage lane, it is necessary to manually operate the low-return switch corresponding to the storage lane on an external operation panel, resulting in a problem that the operational efficiency of the storage lane is low.

The present invention advantageously solves the problems of the prior art, and in particular, enables a loader that clamps a workpiece to automatically change an empty storage lane into a dedicated storage lane for a specific workpiece. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for transporting workpieces to a storage device, which sufficiently reduces waiting time for storage devices, and improves the operational efficiency of storage lanes to significantly improve the efficiency of storage operations.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The method of carrying a work into a storage device according to the present invention is particularly useful when there is no free space in a dedicated storage lane for a specific type of work, and when there is no free space in a dedicated storage lane for that work. If the workpiece is not set, the system detects the signal emitted from the empty storage lane and automatically determines the empty storage lane as a dedicated storage lane for a specific type of workpiece. , of the workpieces clamped by the loader,
This method consists of loading only a specific type of workpiece into a dedicated storage lane by a loader having a workpiece discrimination means.

(Function) In this workpiece loading method, by clamping the workpiece with the chuck of the loader, for example, a workpiece discriminating means provided on the chuck determines what type of workpiece it is, and then the identified Retrieve whether a dedicated storage lane has already been set up for the type of work.

Here, if a dedicated storage lane is set for the workpiece and there is free space in that storage lane, the loader travels to that storage lane and within that lane, as in the prior art. Transport the work to.

On the other hand, if a dedicated storage lane is not configured for a particular type of work, and if a dedicated storage lane is configured but there is no longer free space in it, then other storage lanes Then, a lane that is not designated as a dedicated storage lane, in other words, an empty lane where no work is stored, is detected by a signal based on the activation of a limit switch provided at the bottom end of each storage lane, for example. As a result, when there is an empty storage lane, the loader is stopped at the empty lane with the smaller number, and the workpiece is loaded there, thereby dedicating that storage lane to a specific workpiece. Store it as a storage lane, and from now on,
Only that specific workpiece is transported to this dedicated storage lane. Here, if there is no empty storage lane, the loader that has clamped the workpiece will wait at a predetermined position, for example, a workpiece clamping position, until an empty storage lane is available.

In this case, the setting of the dedicated storage lane as described above requires that the limit switch at the lower end of the storage lane be activated when the storage lane becomes empty, and that the loader
It can be released by returning to its original position, which can be the clamping position of the workpiece.

Therefore, according to this method, since a dedicated lane for a specific workpiece is automatically set, the waiting time of the loader that has clamped the workpiece is sufficiently reduced, and the operational efficiency of the storage lane is also increased. , the efficiency of storage operations will be significantly improved.

(Example) The present invention will be explained below based on illustrated examples.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a device that can be used to implement the present invention. In the figure, 31 is a storage device, 32 is a loader that controls the Ill of work to the storage device 31, and 33 is a Conveyors for transporting multiple types of workpieces to the loader 32 are shown.

As shown in the plan view in FIG. 1(a), the storage device here includes the first to tenth storage lanes 34 to
43, and each of these storage lanes 34~
43 extends in a direction perpendicular to the gate-shaped frame 44 of the loader 32, and as is clear from the side view in FIG. 1(b), the height decreases as it moves away from the loader 32. tilt. Moreover, each of these storage lanes 34 to 43 has empty detection limit switches LSI to LSI0, which operate when detecting that no work is stored, at the lower end thereof, and empty detection limit switches LSI to LSI0, which operate when detecting that no work is stored, at the upper end thereof. Full detection limit switch LSII~L that operates when it detects that the storage is full
S20 respectively.

Here, as is clear from FIG. 1(C) which shows the second storage lane 35 as an example, each of the storage lanes 34 to 43 is provided with a wheel conveyor 45,45, and these wheel conveyors 45.4
5 functions to smoothly transfer the workpieces W carried by the loader 32 to the upper ends of the respective storage lanes 34 to 43 to their lower ends.

Moreover, the loader 32 here has a chuck 46 for clamping the workpiece W transported to its transport end position by the conveyor 33.
6 is for example three types of workpieces W that it clamped.
It has five limit switches LS21 to LS25 (see FIG. 6) as an example of a workpiece discrimination means that operates according to the type of workpiece. Here, these limit switches L
S21 to LS25 are set such that the limit switch LS21 is activated when the work W of type IQX1 is clamped, and the limit switch LS is activated when the work W of type [X2 is clamped.
22 clamps the workpiece x3 again, the limit switches LS23 are activated, and the workpiece
4, the limit switch LS24 is
The limit switch LS25 can be arranged to operate respectively.

Furthermore, in this example, the conveyor 33 includes a limit switch LS31 that is activated when the workpiece W reaches its conveyance end position.

FIG. 2 is a route plan showing an example in which the above-described device is applied to a honeycomb welding line where three types of workpieces are manufactured, and shows long conveyors 47 and 47, which are orthogonal to each other.
In this welding line equipped with 48, three types of workpieces W are manufactured by performing various welding processes as required on the starting materials using robots and others. Various types of workpieces W as welded products pass through the conveyor 33 and are stored in respective storage lanes 34 to 43 of the storage device 31 for each type of workpiece W, as will be described in detail later.

Here, the various works W stored in this manner are taken out by a worker, a robot, etc. located adjacent to the lower end of the storage lanes 34 to 43, and the taken out works W are then transferred to the next one. transported to the work process.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the operation panel of the device shown in FIG.
2 indicates a manual stop instruction switch when the loader 32 is running alone, 53 indicates a running mode select switch for the loader 32, and 54 and 55 respectively,
The push buttons 56 and 57 for clamping and unclamping the loader chuck 46 are operated by a type display section that displays the type of the workpiece W based on an external signal and a signal from the workpiece discrimination means provided on the loader chuck 46. A detection result display section for displaying the determination result of the type of W is shown, and 58 and 59 indicate a stop position display section for the loader 32 and a full state display section for each of the storage lanes 34 to 43, respectively.

The method of the present invention using the apparatus as described above will be explained below with reference to FIG.

Here, first, it is detected whether or not the workpiece conveyed from the honeycomb welding line exists at the conveyance end position of the conveyor 33 based on the operating state of the limit switch LS31, and if the workpiece W is not present there. This detection is repeated at fixed time intervals until the workpiece arrives. On the other hand, if the work W has reached that point,
The workpiece W is clamped by the loader chuck 46.

At this time, the workpiece discrimination means of the chuck 46, here one of the limit switches LS21 to LS25, is activated and the discrimination result is displayed on the detection result display section 57 shown in FIG.
to be displayed. Note that whether or not this detection result is appropriate can be checked by comparing its display with the display on the type display section 56.

Here, the workpiece W clamped on the loader chuck 46
For example, if the type is xl, the storage lane of the storage device 31 is searched to determine whether a dedicated storage lane for work Xi is set there. This determination here is made, for example, in the table shown in FIG.
Keep relay Kl for works 1, 6J11. to 16
．． 21. 26. 31. 36. 41 and 4
This can be done by determining whether at least one of 6 is turned on, and if at least one of them is turned on, a dedicated storage lane for work x 1 is set. .

Then, if a dedicated storage lane is set, it is determined whether the dedicated storage lane is full based on the operation of the full detection limit switch of - or multiple storage lanes, and the dedicated storage lane is set. When a free space exists, the loader 32 is moved forward to the dedicated storage lane where the keep relay is turned on, and the workpiece is carried into the dedicated storage lane.

On the other hand, if the dedicated storage lane for work x 1 is not set or if all the set dedicated storage lanes are full, the storage lanes are searched sequentially starting from the 1st rune and the work is completely deleted. It is determined whether there is an empty storage lane that is not stored, in other words, that is not set as a dedicated lane. Here, whether a dedicated storage lane is full can be detected from the operation of a full detection limit switch for that lane or from the display on the full state display section 59 based on the operation of the switch, and whether an empty storage lane The presence of can be detected based on activation of an empty detection limit switch.

If there is an empty storage lane, the loader 32 advances to, for example, the lane with the lowest number among those lanes, stops, and then loads the workpiece there. As a result, the above-mentioned keep relay Kl, 6. 11. 16. 21. 26. to 31
゜K2S, either 41 or 46 is O
N is activated, and the storage lane where the keep relay is activated is stored as a dedicated storage lane for work χI.

On the other hand, if there is no empty storage lane, the loader 32 waits until an empty lane is created, and after the empty lane is created, the workpiece is loaded in the same manner as described above.

Note that the storage of the dedicated storage lane here can be performed as follows, for example, in the case where the first lane 34 is used as a dedicated lane as shown in FIG. First, by clamping the workpiece W with the loader chuck 46, the limit switches LS21 to LS25 provided therein are activated depending on the type of the workpiece W.
The loader 32 with the workpiece W clamped thereon is moved forward to the empty first storage lane 34 and stopped there. Keep relay K
l, to 2. 3. Turn ON 4 or 5.

As a result, the first storage lane 34 is turned ON.
Workpiece Xi, X depending on the type of activated keep relay
2. X3. It will be stored as a dedicated lane for X4 or x5, and workpieces of the same type will be carried into the first lane until it is full.

Further, the dedicated lane set in this way is reset by activating the empty detection limit switch LSI of the first storage lane 34 and returning the loader 32 to its original position, for example, a position directly above the conveyor 33. As a result, the keep relay, which had been turned ON, is turned OFF. Therefore, after that, the first lane becomes an empty lane and becomes a new dedicated lane to be set.

(Effects of the Invention) Therefore, according to the present invention, an empty storage lane is automatically set as a dedicated storage lane for a specific workpiece without the need to manually operate the select switch on the operation panel. This will advantageously reduce the waiting time for delivery, and the operational efficiency of the storage lane will be significantly improved, resulting in a significant increase in the efficiency of storage operations.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a device for implementing the present invention, Fig. 2 is a route plan showing an example of application of the device shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating an operation panel, and Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the application of the device shown in Fig. 1. Flowchart illustrating the method of the invention, FIG. 5 is a table illustrating the relationship between the keep relay and the storage lane and work type, FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the operating mode of the keep relay, and FIG. 7 is the conventional method. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an implementation apparatus and method. W・'7-I XI, X2. X3. X4. X5・
'7 Types of LSI to LSI0...Empty detection limit switch LSII to LS20...Full detection limit switch LS21 to LS25...1 for limit switch
~50...Keep relay 31...Storage device 32...Loader 33.
...Conveyors 34-43...Storage Lane Patent Applicant Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Figure 5 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a storage device that has more storage lanes than types of work, when a specific type of work is carried into a dedicated storage lane for that work, the dedicated storage lane for that work is If there is no free space or a dedicated storage lane is not set for the work, the signal emitted from the empty storage lane where no work is stored is detected and the empty storage lane is allocated to a specific type. A method for carrying a workpiece into a storage device, characterized in that a dedicated storage lane is automatically determined for a workpiece, and only a specific type of workpiece is carried into the dedicated storage lane by a loader having a workpiece discrimination means.