JP2000263369A - Flat plate stocking equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable random access of a flat plate stock device provided on a flat plate transport line. SOLUTION: It is provided in the middle of a transport line of the flat plate 2,
A flat plate 2 stocking device that temporarily stores the flat plate 2 on each shelf 1e and can be taken in and out from any shelf 1e, and includes a plurality of shelves 1 projecting vertically from left to right inward.
e, from the left and right to the inside,
A roller conveyer 6 having a plurality of conveyor shafts 6a protrudingly arranged in the flow direction of the flat plate 2 and having a conveying roller 6d for supporting the flat plate 2 at the tip, and the roller conveyer 6 protruding inward. Can be simultaneously moved to the left and right between the support position of the flat plate 2 and the unsupported position of the flat plate 2 retracted outward.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided in the middle of a processing line for processing a flat plate such as a glass substrate, a metal panel, a resin panel, and a wood panel, and does not stop the line when the processing machine is temporarily stopped. The present invention relates to a flat plate stocking device for temporarily storing flat plates.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a conceptual view of a conventional flat plate stock apparatus. In the figure, a is a cassette, which has a multi-stage shelf b and accommodates a flat plate c. The cassette a is placed on the elevating table d, and the flat plate c is taken in and out by the roller conveyor e. In order to store the flat plate c in the empty cassette a, first, the cassette a is placed on the elevator d. The cassette a is carried by a fork or an adjacent conveyor (not shown). After placing the cassette a on the elevating platform d, the elevating platform d is lowered to the lowermost position, and the flat plate c is fed into the uppermost shelf b by the roller e. Next, the cassette a is raised by one step, and a flat plate is similarly sent to the second shelf b from the top. The flat plate c is similarly stored in the third and subsequent shelves b from the top.

The flat plate c thus housed in the cassette a
Is lifted to the top, and the flat plate c is taken out from the bottom shelf b by the roller e. Next, the cassette a is lowered by one step, and the flat plate c is moved from the second shelf b from the bottom.
Take out. Similarly, the flat plate c is taken out from the third and subsequent shelves b from the bottom, and when the cassette a becomes empty, the cassette a is removed from the elevating table d by using a fork or a conveyor.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional flat plate stock apparatus is provided on a flat plate transfer line such as a glass substrate, and is used as a buffer for temporarily stopping a processing machine or eliminating defective products as follows. There's a problem. (1) Storing and unloading in the cassette a is performed on a first-in first-out basis. However, since defective products are not necessarily limited to those stored last, it is desirable to first remove defective products stored in a stage other than the lowest stage. Sometimes I ca n’t handle it. (2) The removal of the flat plate c from the cassette a is limited to the roller conveyor, and cannot be removed with a fork or a robot arm. (3) The stock apparatus itself cannot recognize which shelf b of the cassette a contains the flat plate c.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and a flat plate stock that can be put in and taken out from any shelf and that can be put in and taken out by a fork or a robot arm as well as a roller conveyor. It is intended to provide a device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a flat plate stocking apparatus according to the present invention is provided in the middle of a flat plate transport line, and temporarily stores flat plates on each shelf so that the flat plate can be taken in and out of any shelf. A flat plate stock apparatus, comprising a lifting frame having a plurality of shelves projecting vertically from left to right in a vertical direction, and projecting side by side in the flow direction of the plate from left to right. A roller conveyor having a plurality of conveyor shafts each having a conveying roller for supporting a flat plate at the tip, wherein the roller conveyor has a flat plate supporting position in which the flat plate protrudes inward and a flat position in which the flat plate is retracted outward. It can be moved to the left and right at the same time with the support position.

[0007] It is preferable to provide a guide roller with a flange in the middle of the conveyor shaft for restricting the movement of the flat plate from side to side.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. In order to store a flat plate on any shelf provided on the lifting frame, the height of the rack to be stored is set slightly lower than the height of the upper surface of the transport roller, and the roller protruding inward and positioned at the support position of the flat plate The flat plate is fed into the lifting frame by the conveyor.
Thereafter, the lifting frame is raised and the flat plate is placed on the shelf. To remove the flat plate stored in the lifting frame from any shelf, first pull the roller conveyor outside to the unsupported position of the flat plate, and raise the height of the lifting frame to the height of the flat plate placed on the shelf. The height is set to be slightly higher than the upper surface of the transport roller. In this state, the roller conveyor is protruded inward, the lifting frame is slightly lowered to support the flat plate on the transport roller, and the roller conveyor is driven to send the flat plate to the next step. To remove a flat plate with a fork or a robot arm, the elevating frame is set to the uppermost position, the fork is inserted under the flat plate, slightly raised, and the flat plate is scooped and removed.

Thus, the lifting frame having the shelf,
A flat plate can be taken in and out of an arbitrary shelf by a combination of roller conveyors that can move to the left and right. Further, by recording the position of the lifting frame and the operation of the roller conveyor, it is possible to recognize which shelf is empty and which flat plate is stored in which shelf.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the flat plate stock apparatus of the present invention. In the right half of the figure, the elevating frame is at the lowermost position, and the roller conveyor protrudes inward to support the flat plate.In the left half of the figure, the elevating frame is at the uppermost position, and the roller conveyor is retracted outward. Indicates a state where the flat plate is at an unsupported position. FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 is FIG.
FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the lifting drive device as viewed in the direction of arrows CC in FIG.

In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a flat plate stocker which is provided in the middle of a flat plate transport line, and temporarily stores the flat plate on each shelf as a line buffer so that it can be taken in and out of any shelf. . Reference numeral 1 denotes a lifting frame. The elevating frame 1 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped by three pillars 1a on the left and right provided at the four corners and the middle, and an upper frame 1b and a lower frame 1c having four beams formed in a rectangular shape. Arms 1d protrude from the three pillars 1a in a line in the vertical direction toward the inside, and a shelf 1e supporting the flat plate 2 is formed by the left and right arms 1d. At each of the four upper and lower corners of the lifting frame 1, the lifting guide 1 protrudes outward.
f is provided. The elevating guide 1f is attached via a linear bearing to an elevating post 3 composed of four vertically erected columns, and the elevating frame 1 can be raised and lowered along the elevating post 3.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a basic frame. Basic frame 4
Is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped by four pillars 4a erected at four corners, and an upper frame 4b and a lower frame 4c each having a rectangular shape formed of four beams. 1 is fitted so as to be able to move up and down.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a lifting device for lifting the lifting frame 1. 5a is a lifting actuator, which is a geared motor. A pulley 5b is attached to a rotating shaft of the lifting actuator 5a. Reference numeral 5d denotes a right-hand ascending / descending shaft, which is rotatably supported by a pillow block 5h, and is horizontally laid on the lower right side of the base frame 4. A pulley 5c is attached to the right elevating shaft 5d. The pulley 5c is connected to a pulley 5b of the elevating actuator via a timing belt 5p. When the elevating actuator 5a is rotated, the right elevating shaft 5d is rotated.
Rotates. A pulley 5e and a pulley 5g are attached to both ends of the right elevating shaft 5d. Reference numeral 5i denotes a left elevating shaft, which is rotatably supported by a pillow block 5h, and is horizontally hung on the lower left side of the base frame 4. A pulley 5j is attached to the left elevating shaft 5i, which is connected to a pulley 5f attached to the right elevating shaft 5d via a timing belt 5q. When the right elevating shaft 5d rotates, The left elevating shaft 5i also rotates in the same direction. A pulley 5k and a pulley 5m are attached to both ends of the left elevating shaft 5i.

Near the upper four corners of the base frame 4, pulleys 5e attached to both ends of a right-hand ascending / descending shaft 5d are provided.
Four pulleys 5n are provided vertically opposite to 5g and pulleys 5k and 5m attached to both ends of the left elevating shaft 5i, and a timing belt 5r is stretched between a pair of opposing pulleys. ing. Elevating frame 1
The four attachments 1g protrude outward from the four corners of the lower frame 1c, and the tip of each attachment 1g grips the belt on the right side of the timing belt 5r. Therefore, when the elevating shafts 5d and 5i rotate, the belt on the right side of the timing belt 5r moves up or down, and the elevating frame 1 moves up and down accordingly.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a lifting / lowering post for guiding the lifting / lowering frame 1, and is erected on a base frame 4 in a cylindrical shape. Two beams 4d are provided inside the lower frame 4c of the base frame 4 before and after the lower frame 4c.
And two plates 4e are provided between the lower frame 4c and the beam 4d, and the lower end of the lifting post 3 is fixed on the plate 4e. Lifting post 3
Are connected by four rectangular braces 3a to prevent the lifting post 3 from rolling.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a roller conveyor provided on the upper part of the base frame 4. The roller conveyor 6 has ten left and right conveyor shafts 6a, and the conveyor shafts 6a protrude from the left and right sides inward in the flow direction of the flat plate (indicated by an arrow x). A pulley 6b is fixed to the base end of the conveyor shaft 6a, and is rotatably supported by pillow blocks 6c on both sides thereof. A transport roller 6d for supporting the flat plate 2 is fixed to the end of the conveyor shaft 6a, and a guide roller 6 with a flange for regulating the left and right movement of the flat plate 2 is provided in the middle.
e is attached. The pillow block 6c is provided on a slide frame 6f composed of two beams horizontally arranged in the flow direction. Reference numeral 6h denotes a drive motor for the roller conveyor 6, which is attached to a bracket 6g hanging down from the slide frame 6f. Reference numeral 6i denotes a pulley attached to the drive motor 6h.
Pulley 6b and timing belt 6j above
Are connected via Pulley 6b
The belt belts are provided, and all the conveyor shafts 6a can be driven by alternately connecting the left and right belt grooves of the adjacent pulleys 6b with the timing belt 6k.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a moving device for the roller conveyor 6.
Reference numeral 7a denotes a slide rail, one on each of the upstream and downstream sides on the left and right sides of the upper frame 4b of the base frame 4 (four in total).
Are horizontally laid horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction X. A slide frame 6f is mounted on the upper surface of the slide rail 7a via a linear bearing, and the slide frame 6f is slidable left and right. 7b is the moving device 7
, And one air cylinder is provided on each of the left and right sides. 7g is a pulley provided at the outer end of the upper frame 4b of the base frame 4, 7f is a pulley provided inside the pulley 7g, and 7e and 7h are provided between the pulley 7g and the pulley 7f. Pulley. 7d is a pulley provided below the pulleys 7e and 7h. These pulleys 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h are wound around the timing belt 7c so as to form a T-shape.
The upstream and downstream pulleys 7g, 7g are connected by a shaft 7j. Attachment 6k, which overhangs the upper belt of T-shaped timing belt 7c from slide frame 6f, holds the outer belt of the hanging portion of T-shaped timing belt 7c at the tip of the piston of air cylinder 7b. The provided attachment 7i is gripping. Therefore, by expanding and contracting the air cylinder 7b, the upper belt of the timing belt 7c moves left and right, and the movement is performed via the slide frame 6f.
The roller conveyor 6 moves left and right. The shaft 7j synchronizes the movement of the roller conveyor 6 between the upstream side and the downstream side.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a lifting sensor (see FIG. 4). The position of the lifting frame 1 is detected by the lifting sensor 8 detecting the rotation angle of the lifting shaft 5i via the timing belt 8a. 9 is a fork for transferring the flat plate 2.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. In order to store the flat plate 2 on an optional shelf 1e provided on the elevating frame 1, the height of the rack 1e to be stored is set slightly lower than the height of the upper surface of the transport roller 6d, and the flat plate 2 is protruded inward. The flat plate 2 is fed into the elevating frame 1 by the roller conveyor 6 at the supporting position (see the right side of FIG. 1). Thereafter, the lifting frame 1 is raised, and the flat plate 2 is placed on the shelf 1e. In order to take out the flat plate 2 stored in the lifting frame 1 from an arbitrary shelf 1e, first, the roller conveyor 6
Is pulled out to the unsupported position of the flat plate 2 (see the left side of FIG. 1), and the height of the lifting frame 1 is set to the shelf 1e.
The height of the flat plate 2 placed on the transport roller 6d is slightly higher than the upper surface of the transport roller 6d. In this state, the roller conveyor 6 is protruded inward, the elevating frame 1 is slightly lowered to support the flat plate on the transport roller 6d, and the roller conveyor 6 is driven to feed the flat plate 2 to the next step. Also,
To remove a flat plate with a fork or a robot arm 9, the elevating frame 1 is set at the uppermost position, the fork or the robot arm 9 is inserted under the flat plate 2, and the plate 2 is slightly lifted to scoop and remove the flat plate 2.

As described above, a flat plate can be taken in and out of an arbitrary shelf 1e by combining the elevating frame 1 having the shelf 1e and the roller conveyor 6 which can move left and right. In addition, if the position of the lifting frame 1 and the operation of the roller conveyor 6 are recorded, it is possible to recognize which shelf or robot arm 1e is empty and which flat plate 2 is stored in which shelf 1e.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0022]

As described above, the flat plate stocking apparatus of the present invention comprises an elevating frame having a multi-stage shelf and a roller conveyor capable of moving left and right to select a supporting position or an unsupporting position of the flat plate. The combination makes it possible to put flat plates in and out of any shelf, and has excellent effects such as the flexibility that the equipment adjacent to the upstream and downstream sides may be a roller conveyor, a fork or a robot arm. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a flat plate stock apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view as viewed in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional flat plate stock apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elevating frame 1e Shelf 2 Flat plate 6 Roller conveyor 6a Conveyor shaft 6d Transport roller 6e Guide roller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A flat plate stocking device which is provided in the middle of a flat plate conveying line and temporarily stores the flat plate in each shelf, and is capable of being taken in and out from any shelf. A lifting frame having a plurality of shelves provided with a plurality of shelves, and a plurality of conveyor shafts protruding from left and right sides inward in the direction of flow of the flat plate and provided with a transport roller for supporting the flat plate at the end. A roller conveyer, the roller conveyer being capable of simultaneously moving left and right between a support position of the flat plate protruding inward and an unsupported position of the flat plate pulled out. A flat plate stocking device. 2. The flat plate stocking device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide roller provided with a flange for regulating left and right movement of the flat plate in the middle of the conveyor shaft.