JP2007246259A - Method of delivering cassette in stacker crane - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of delivering cassettes in stacker cranes capable of continuously performing the delivery and conveyance of the cassettes by storing the cassettes adjacent to a transfer machine and performing the operations of main stacker cranes by a second auxiliary stacker crane even if the first main stacker crane fails and derailed. <P>SOLUTION: A conveyor C disposed between the transfer machine B and a storage shelf S adjacently to the transfer machine B comprises a plurality of cassette storage zones 13, 14, 15. While the cassettes are stored by the conveyor C, the auxiliary stacker crane 2 delivers the cassettes if the specific main stacker crane 1 fails. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cassette delivery method in a stacker crane, and in particular, when two main and secondary stacker cranes travel on a traveling rail in the same lane, the other operation even if the cassette delivery main stacker crane breaks down. The present invention relates to a cassette delivery method in a stacker crane that allows a cassette delivery operation to be continuously performed by a sub stacker crane.

Conventional cassettes and other packages (hereinafter referred to as glass plates, etc.) that have been transported by overhead carts in manufacturing factories and automated warehouses for precision electronic components such as liquid crystal, organic EL, and semiconductors. , "Cassette") is transported to a storage shelf by a stacker crane through a cassette delivery port by a telescopic transfer machine, and temporarily stored in a designated storage shelf.
In addition, in the manufacturing factory or automatic warehouse, two main and sub stacker cranes are arranged on the same travel line in order to improve the transport efficiency of cassettes as transport loads, and the first main stacker crane is used as an overhead traveling cart. For receiving the cassette supplied to the cassette delivery port to the predetermined storage shelf, the second unit is mainly operated as a secondary stacker crane for transporting from the predetermined shelf of the storage shelf to another shelf. The two main and sub stacker cranes having different work processes control the traveling range according to the work purpose, thereby improving the cassette receiving and conveying efficiency.
In this way, by using two main and sub stacker cranes that perform different operations, the work time for temporary storage from the overhead traveling carriage to the storage shelf via the cassette delivery port, and the predetermined shelf of the storage shelf to another shelf There is an advantage that the work can be performed without any trouble even if the work time to be transported to the vehicle is different or two stacker cranes are arranged on the traveling rail of the same lane.

However, since the second secondary stacker crane has its travel range set according to the work purpose, the second secondary stacker crane travels as far as the cassette delivery port like the first main stacker crane. It is supposed not to. For this reason, even if the first main stacker crane breaks down and is removed from the traveling rail for repair, the second sub stacker crane cannot be immediately adopted as the main stacker crane.
For this reason, in order to perform the same work as the main stacker crane for the second secondary stacker crane, it is necessary to rearrange the control program for the secondary stacker crane. There is a problem in that it takes time to rearrange the control program and it takes time to use the auxiliary stacker crane as the main stacker crane.

  In view of the problems of cassette transfer in a stacker crane, the present invention allows a plurality of cassettes to be stored adjacent to the transfer machine when receiving the cassette from the overhead traveling carriage to the cassette transfer port by the transfer machine. If the first main stacker crane breaks down and leaves, the second sub stacker crane will be in charge of the main stacker crane, and the cassette will be delivered and transported. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cassette delivery method in a stacker crane that can be continued.

  In order to achieve the above object, a cassette delivery method in a stacker crane according to the present invention includes a plurality of conveyors disposed between a transfer machine and a storage shelf and disposed adjacent to the transfer machine. A cassette storage zone is provided, and a plurality of cassettes are stored in the conveyor, and the cassettes can be transferred in the sub stacker crane in the event of a specific main stacker crane failure.

  In this case, the length of the conveyor can be set according to the number of stacker cranes arranged on the traveling rail in the same lane.

  Moreover, the conveyor can be provided with a cassette storage zone for storing cassettes.

  Further, the conveyor can be provided with a moving carriage for sequentially moving the cassettes through the cassette storage zone to the adjacent cassette storage zone.

  According to the cassette delivery method in the stacker crane of the present invention, the conveyor disposed between the transfer machine and the storage shelf and disposed adjacent to the transfer machine includes a plurality of cassette storage zones. Thus, even if the first main stacker crane fails, the sub stacker crane can transfer the cassettes in succession while storing a plurality of cassettes on the conveyor. By expanding the work range so that the second auxiliary stacker crane is moved to the cassette storage zone, it is possible to continue carrying the cassette as it is.

  Also, by setting the length of the conveyor according to the number of stacker cranes placed on the traveling rail of the same lane, multiple stacker cranes can be installed on the same traveling rail to easily improve cassette transport efficiency. Can be made.

  Further, by providing the conveyor with a cassette storage zone for storing cassettes, the cassette can be temporarily stored in the conveyor even if the cassette loading speed and the payout speed by the stacker crane are different. .

  Further, by providing the conveyor with a moving carriage for sequentially moving the cassettes through the cassette storage zone to the adjacent cassette storage zone, the cassette can be moved smoothly and smoothly.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cassette delivery method in a stacker crane of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show an embodiment of a cassette delivery method in the stacker crane of the present invention.
In a manufacturing factory for precision electronic components such as liquid crystal, organic EL, and semiconductors, the required number of parts and the like is stored in a cassette K in advance and travels along a traveling rail R in a transport process that is preset on the ceiling of the manufacturing factory. The transfer machine B is configured to transfer the cassette K at a predetermined delivery position A that is transported by the overhead traveling carriage D and arranged along the transport process, although this is not particularly limited. For example, a telescopic transfer machine is disposed so that the overhead traveling carriage side transfers to the transfer machine side, and a plurality of cassettes can be stored adjacent to the transfer machine B, and a plurality of cassettes can be stored. A conveyor C having a cassette delivery port is disposed.
Accordingly, the cassette storage type conveyor C is disposed adjacent to the transfer machine B and above the storage shelf S so as to be parallel to the storage shelf S, as shown in FIGS.

  In addition, a storage shelf S is disposed in the manufacturing factory so that a plurality of cassettes K carried by the overhead traveling carriage D can be temporarily stored, and a traveling rail laid along the storage shelf S. Two main and sub stacker cranes 1, 2 are provided so as to be guided by R1. The two main and sub stacker cranes 1 and 2 travel on the traveling rail R1 in the same lane.

  The telescopic transfer machine B includes a plurality of stages of transfer arms B1 that extend and contract, and is disposed at a predetermined delivery position A that delivers a cassette along the conveyance path of the overhead traveling carriage D. The transfer arm B1 of B is selectively expanded and contracted to both the overhead traveling carriage side and the opposite conveyor side, so that the cassette K is transferred from the overhead traveling carriage side to the conveyor side. .

The conveyor C disposed adjacent to the telescopic transfer machine B includes a plurality of cassette storage zones 13, 14, and 15 that can perform delivery and storage of cassettes.
The conveyor C having the storage function is arranged above the storage shelf S, and includes a dedicated cassette delivery port for the main and sub two stacker cranes 1 and 2 and a cassette storage zone in which a plurality of cassettes can be stored.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the conveyor C has cassette support rods a, b, c, d on the left and right so that one cassette can be supported in each cassette storage zone 13, 14, 15. Four pieces are established facing each other, and the four corners at the bottom of the cassette are supported by the tips of the cassette support rods a, b, c, and d that form a set of four.
A moving carriage 16 for sequentially moving the cassette from the cassette storage zone 13 at the front end transferred from the telescopic transfer machine B to the cassette storage zone 15 at the rear end through the cassette storage zone 14 is provided on the entire length of the conveyor. It is constructed so as to move over the range.

  The first main stacker crane 1 is controlled so as to be able to travel from each cassette storage zone to a predetermined position of the storage shelf S, and the second auxiliary stacker crane 2 is connected to the storage shelf S from the cassette storage zone 15. Control is performed so that the vehicle can travel to a predetermined position and between the storage shelves S, so that the two main and sub stacker cranes 1 and 2 do not collide with each other even when traveling on the traveling rail R1 in the same lane. To.

Next, the operation of the cassette delivery method in the stacker crane of the present invention will be described.
The cassette K transported by the overhead traveling carriage D extends the transfer arm B1 of the telescopic transfer machine B to the overhead traveling carriage side stopped at the delivery position A to the storage shelf S, and the transfer arm. After transferring to the side, the transfer arm is extended to the opposite conveyor side. Thereby, the cassette moves from the overhead traveling carriage side to the conveyor side. Next, the transfer arm B1 is slightly lowered in the cassette storage zone 13 at the front end position of the conveyor C, whereby the cassette is transferred from the transfer arm B1 to the first cassette storage zone 13. In this case, the bottom four corners of the cassette are supported by the tips of the cassette support rods a, b, c and d that are established.

In order to move the cassette in the first cassette storage zone 13 of the conveyor C to the adjacent cassette storage zone 14, the movable carriage 16 is moved along the conveyor C with the receiving table 16a lowered. Move to position. Thereafter, when the cradle 16a of the moving carriage 16 stopped at a predetermined position in the cassette storage zone 13 is slightly lifted, the cassette is lifted above the cassette support rod and supported on the cradle 16a side. .
In this state, the movable carriage 16 is moved to the cassette storage zone 14 and stopped at a fixed position. Then, the receiving carriage 16a is lowered to the fixed position, the movable carriage 16 is moved to a predetermined position, and the first main stacker is moved. Wait for the crane 1 to receive it.
In this case, if there is no cassette in the second and third cassette storage zones 14 and 15, the cassette can be transported to these empty second and third cassette storage zones 14 and 15. As a result, even if the cassette loading speed by the overhead traveling carriage D is lower than the cassette receiving zone 13 by the first main stacker crane 1, the cassettes to be sequentially loaded are cassette storage zones 14, 15 Can be stored.

Normally, the first main stacker crane 1 receives the cassettes in each cassette storage zone, transports them to the designated shelf as the storage shelf, and transfers them to the shelf.
Further, the second auxiliary stacker crane 2 is moved from the storage shelf to the storage shelf.

If the first main stacker crane 1 fails during operation of the stacker crane, the main stacker crane 1 cannot receive the cassette from the cassette storage zone.
In such a case, the first main stacker crane 1 is detached from the traveling rail to repair the failure, and the second sub stacker crane 2 is moved to the cassette storage zone 15. The cassette storage zone 15 is used to transfer the cassette by the second auxiliary stacker crane 2.
This can be done by moving the cassette conveyed by the moving carriage 16 along the conveyor C from the cassette storage zone 13 via the cassette storage zone 14 or directly from the cassette storage zone 13 to the cassette storage zone 15. .
When the second secondary stacker crane 2 is used for delivery of cassettes, the moving carriage 16 of the conveyor C is moved along the conveyor C, and the cassette is moved from the first cassette storage zone 13 to the second cassette storage zone 14. In this case as well, the cassettes are moved by tact feeding so that the cassettes are stored in the cassette storage zones 13 and 14 and further in the cassette storage zone 15 disposed at the rear end.

  When the first main stacker crane 1 is restored, the stacker crane 1 is operated so as to receive the cassette again, and the other auxiliary stacker crane 2 is operated for transfer from the original shelf to the shelf. To do.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of cassettes can be stored in the cassette storage zone on the conveyor C arranged adjacent to the transfer machine B, the cassette can be smoothly paid out by the main stacker crane 1. Further, even if the first main stacker crane 1 breaks down and leaves, the work of the first main stacker crane 1 can be handled as it is simply by expanding the work range of the second sub stacker crane 2. As a result, the cassette can be transferred and transported continuously.

  As mentioned above, although the delivery method of the cassette in the stacker crane of the present invention was explained based on an example, the present invention is not limited to the composition described in the above-mentioned example, and suitably in the range which does not deviate from the meaning. The configuration can be changed.

  The cassette delivery method in the stacker crane of the present invention includes a zone in which a plurality of cassettes can be stored in the conveyor, so that even if the first main stacker crane fails and leaves, the second sub stacker crane By extending the work range, it has the property of directly handling the work of the first main stacker crane, so it is suitable for the delivery of cassettes by stacker cranes in liquid crystal manufacturing factories and automated warehouses. For example, it can also be used for applications such as a transport device and a sorting device that sequentially transports transported items.

It is a top view which shows one Example of the delivery method of the cassette in the stacker crane of this invention. It is the same front view. It is a front view of a conveyor. It is a top view of a conveyor. It is a side surface longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conveyor.

Explanation of symbols

A Delivery position B Transfer machine B1 Transfer arm C Conveyor D Overhead traveling carriage S Storage rack R1 Traveling rail 1 First main stacker crane 2 Second secondary stacker crane 13, 14, 15 Cassette storage zone 16 Movement Cart 16a cradle a, b, c, d Cassette support rod

Claims (4)

  A conveyor disposed between the transfer machine and the storage shelf and disposed adjacent to the transfer machine is provided with a plurality of cassette storage zones and sequentially stores a plurality of cassettes on the conveyor. A cassette delivery method in a stacker crane, characterized in that a cassette can be delivered by a secondary stacker crane when a specific main stacker crane fails.   2. The cassette delivery method for a stacker crane according to claim 1, wherein the length of the conveyor is set according to the number of stacker cranes arranged on the traveling rail of the same lane.   The cassette delivery method for a stacker crane according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveyor is provided with a cassette storage zone for storing cassettes.   4. A cassette delivery method in a stacker crane according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor is provided with a moving carriage for sequentially moving cassettes to adjacent cassette storage zones via the cassette storage zone.

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