JP2536232B2 - Transfer device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a transporting device that sorts and transports a transporter to an unloading rail in accordance with a sorting command.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-193129 filed by the applicant of the present invention discloses a conveying device for conveying a carrier that holds a work-in-process material such as a sewn product in a sewing factory or the like. In accordance with the sorting command set from the destination instruction for each carried-in carrier, the carrier is distributed to the carry-out rail and carried out by the sorting means connected to the plurality of carry-in and carry-out rails. Things have been proposed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In general, the unloading rail of such a transporting device may cause a delay in or stoppage of work at the unloading destination, or a trouble such as a derailment of the transporting member in the middle of the unloading rail. Flow may be delayed or stopped. And
If other carriers are successively conveyed from behind, the carriers are lined up and jammed on the rail, and it becomes impossible to line up the carriers any further, resulting in an overflow condition.

However, in the conventional case, when the carry-out rail to be carried out overflows, the carried-in carrier cannot be carried out to the carry-out rail, so that the sorting means cannot perform sorting. I couldn't proceed with the process. As a result, it becomes impossible to carry another carrier from the carry-in rail into the sorting means, and another carrier is carried to the carry-in rail one after another, so that the carry-in rail also overflows. , The overflow at one location also caused the overflow at the other rail. In this way, the influence of the overflow spreads to other rails, and the flow of the carrier is congested, and the work-in-process time during which the carrier is carried on the carry-in / carry-out rails or the sorting means becomes long. Therefore, there was a problem such as a decrease in work efficiency.

Therefore, the present invention has an object to solve the above-mentioned problem, and even when the carry-out rail to be assigned to the carrier overflows, the influence of the overflow does not spread to other rails, and the flow of the carrier is congested. Another object of the present invention is to provide a transfer device capable of preventing the work-in-process time from being lengthened and improving work efficiency.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configurations as means for solving the problems. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the carrier is connected to a plurality of carry-in and carry-out rails for carrying in and carrying out the carrier, and the carrier is distributed to the carry-out rail according to a distribution command set from a destination instruction for each carrier. In the transport device for transporting the transport body, having the sorting means M1, the one sorting means M1 is connected to another sorting means MA by the pair of loading and unloading rails, and yet another pair of loadings. And further connected to another sorting means MB by the carry-out rail, provided a regulation excess detection means M2 for detecting the overflow of the carrier on the carry-out rail corresponding to the destination instruction, in the case of not the overflow, Normal setting means M3 for setting the distribution command for distributing the transport body to the carry-out rail according to the destination instruction, If serial is overflow, the configuration of a conveying apparatus characterized by comprising a prescribed excess setting means M4 for setting the sorting instruction to distribute the other can be charged the unloading rail, a is it.

[Operation] In the transporting device of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the regulation excess detection means M2 detects the overflow of the transporting body on the unloading rail corresponding to the destination instruction for each transporting body. If it is not an overflow, the normal setting means M3 sets a distribution command for distributing the transport bodies to the carry-out rail according to the destination instruction. Further, in the case of overflow, the over-regulation setting means M4 sets a distribution command to distribute to another unloadable rail. After that, distribution means
According to the sorting command thus set, M1 sorts and transports the transport body to the corresponding unloading rail.

As described above, the sorting means M1 is connected to the other sorting means MA by the pair of loading and unloading rails, and is further connected to the other sorting means MB by the further pair of loading and unloading rails. for that reason,
In the case of allocating to another detection rail that can be inserted at the time of overflow, the following transport control is executed. For example, if the distribution means M1 attempts to distribute the transport bodies α to the carry-out rails on the one distribution means MA side according to the destination instruction, if the overflow occurs, it is distributed to the carry-out rails on the other distribution means MB side. If you do this,
For example, when the destination of the next carrier β conveyed is on the side of the distribution means MB, if the transport rail on the side of the distribution means MB does not overflow, it can be directly distributed to the unloading rail.

In other words, in the distribution means M1, when the previously delivered carrier α cannot be distributed to the carry-out rail according to the destination, the distribution means M1 does not wait while holding the distribution means M1 until it is distributed and distributed. For the time being, it is possible to execute the allocation process for the next carrier β by allocating the unloading rail to another unloadable rail. Then, for the time being, with respect to the carrier α sorted to the other unloadable rails that can be put in, if the unloading rail on the sorting means MA side is no longer overflowing at the time of being transported again from the sorting means MB, the destination instruction is responded to. It can be carried out to the distribution means MA.

In this way, in the sorting means M1, the sorting process for the carried-in carriers is not waited while holding until the carrying-out according to the destination instruction for the one with the earlier carrying-in order is realized, but for the time being, another loading is performed. It is distributed to possible unloading rails to give an opportunity for distribution processing for the next carrier. Therefore,
Avoids the delay of all the processing for the carrier that is scheduled to be loaded afterward due to the presence of the carrier that came earlier, and prevents the flow of the carrier from being congested and the work-in-process time of the carrier becoming longer. Will act to do.

The configuration enclosed by the broken line in FIG. 1 is the minimum configuration, and as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, the distribution means M1
If only the two distribution means MA and MB are connected to the distribution means MA, the distribution means conveys the carrier conveyed from the distribution means MA to the distribution means MB side,
On the contrary, it serves as a relay or a branch for transporting the transport body transported from the sorting means MB to the sorting means MA side. Of course, with this minimum configuration, as shown by the broken line in FIG.
MC may be connected. In that case, distribution means M1
Can perform a transfer control such that the transferred carrier is carried out to the work station, and the carrier carried in from the work station is carried to the adjacent sorting means MA or MB. In this case, the one that is to be distributed to the carry-out rail on the side of the distribution means MA according to the original destination instruction will be distributed to the carry-out rail on the side of the other distribution means MB if the carry-out rail is an overflow. This is similar to the distribution control described above. By doing so, the next carrier can be taken into the allocating means M1, and if the destination is a work station, the progress of the work can be promoted by allocating it to the carry-out rail on the work station MC side. Regarding the transport body carried out to the distribution means MB side, if the carry-out rail on the distribution means MA side is no longer overflowing at the time when it is carried into the distribution means M1 again, it is carried out on the distribution means MA side according to the destination instruction. It can be carried out to the rail.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a plan view mainly showing the schematic configuration of rails and the like of the carrying device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the same. Sorting mechanism 1 capable of sorting the carriers 36 described later
The a and 1b are installed in a sewing factory or the like at an interval from each other, and each of the distribution mechanisms 1a and 1b is provided with a column 3 standing upright on the floor surface 2. The support shaft 4 is erected on the upper end of the support column 3 via a mounting base 5, and a support plate 6 is fixed to the upper end thereof.
The station rail support frame 7a in the form of a rectangular frame is supported and fixed to the upper surface of the support plate 6 at the intermediate portion thereof. A pair of parallel bridge rail support frames 7b are adjacent to each other
It is supported and fixed across the support plates 6 of 1a and 1b.

A pair of loading and unloading rails 8 and 10 for loading and unloading the carrier 36 are hung and supported by the supporting frame 7b by a plurality of hanging metal fittings 9 and connected to the distribution mechanisms 1a and 1b. In this embodiment, the sorting mechanisms 1a and 1b are connected to each other by the pair of loading and unloading rails 8 and 10, and the loading rail 8 of one sorting mechanism 1a serves as an unloading rail for the adjacent sorting mechanism 1b. Is configured. Similarly, the carry-out rail 10 connected to one sorting mechanism 1a is
It is a loading rail for the next sorting mechanism 1b. Further, a horseshoe-shaped station rail 11 is provided so that the carrier 36 can be transported via a work station (not shown) arranged around the distribution mechanisms 1a and 1b. After this, the explanation will be centered on the distribution mechanism 1a.

Carry-in portions 8a and 11a are formed at one end of the carry-in rail 8 and one end of the station rail 11, and carry-out portions 10b and 11b are formed at one end of the carry-out rail 10 and the other end of the station rail 11, respectively. 8a, 11a, 10b, 11b are arranged around the distribution mechanism 1 at the same height position and at a predetermined angle (45 degrees in the embodiment). In addition, the carry-in rail 8
At the other end of the carry-out section 8b and at the other end of the carry-out rail 10 at the carry-in section 10b.
a is formed respectively, and becomes the carry-out section and the carry-in section for the adjacent sorting mechanism 1b. The work station is formed by a sewing device such as a sewing machine arranged below the station rail 11.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotary shaft 12 is rotatably supported by the support plate 6 of the distribution mechanism 1a through a fixed bracket 13, and a drive sprocket 14 is fixed to the lower end thereof. The driven sprocket 15 is rotatably and positionably attached to the lower surface of the other side of the support plate 6 via a movable bracket 16 so as to be located on the opposite side of the drive sprocket 14 via the support shaft 4. A pair of interlocking shafts 17 are rotatably and positionably pierced through a supporting plate 6 through a movable bracket 18 so as to be located between the both sprockets 14 and 15, and interlocking sprockets are provided at their lower ends.
19 is fixed.

The endless first chain 20 is mounted so as to straddle the drive sprocket 14 and the driven sprocket 15 of the adjacent distribution mechanism 1b, and a plurality of guide sprockets 21 provided on the lower surface of the support plate 6 and each suspension. A plurality of chain guides 22 provided on the metal fitting 9 are stretched along the carry-in and carry-out rails 8 and 10. The endless second chain 23 is hooked on each interlocking sprocket 19, and a plurality of guide sprockets 24 provided on the lower surface of the support plate 6 and each hanging fitting 9 are provided.
With multiple chain guides (not shown)
It is stretched along the station rail 11.

The motor 26 for driving the chain is mounted on the support plate 6 of the distribution mechanism 1a via the support legs 27, and the motor shaft 26 thereof is
The drive pulley 28 is fixed to a. The driven pulley 29 is fixed to the upper end of the rotary shaft 12, and a timing belt 30 is hung between the driven pulley 29 and the drive pulley 28. The three interlocking pulleys 31 are the intermediate part of the rotary shaft 12 and the interlocking shaft.
A timing belt 32 is attached to the interlocking pulleys 31, which are fixed to the upper ends of 17, respectively. A pair of tension pulleys 33 that apply tension to the timing belt 32 are provided on the support plate 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the carrier 36 carries the carry-in and carry-out rails 8 and 10 via a pair of rolling rollers 37.
Or movably connected to the station rail 11,
It has a hanger shape so that items such as sewn products can be hung. A pair of engagement wheels 38 having a plurality of engagement protrusions 38a on the outer periphery are rotatably supported by the carrier 36, and the rotation of the engagement wheels 38 is normally restricted by a friction means (not shown). Then, the engagement protrusion 38a of the engagement wheel 38 has the first or second
With the chains 20 and 23 engaged, the conveyors 36 are conveyed and moved along the carry-in and carry-out rails 8 and 10 or the station rail 11 by the movement of the chains 20 and 23.

Carry-in section 8a of carry-in rail 8 and station rail 11,
As shown in FIG. 2, the number reading device 39 is attached to the 11a by the hanging metal fitting 9, and the carrier 36 is located at a position corresponding to the number reading device 39 along the carry-in rail 8 or the station rail 11. A code mark (not shown) attached to the carrier 36 by the number reading device 39 when the carrier 36 is temporarily stopped by contact with a stopper (not shown) when the carrier is carried. The number is read by. The movement of the chains 20 and 23 is continued even when the carrier 36 is stopped, but in this case, the engagement wheel 38 is designed to idle with the movement of the chain against the action of the friction means.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an overflow switch 40 as a regulation excess detection means is provided at the carry-out portions 10b and 11b of the carry-out rail 10 and the station rail 11. In the present embodiment, when a predetermined number of carriers 36 are lined up on the carry-out rail 10 or the station rail 11, the rails 10 and 11 are filled with the carrier 36, and the last carrier 36 is carried out to the carry-out section 10b, 1.
It protrudes to 1b, and the carrier 36 is further railed.
It becomes impossible to line up on 10 and 11, and it overflows. The overflow switch 40 detects this overflow and outputs a predetermined signal. The overflow switch 40 is composed of a limit switch and a photointerrupter that are turned on / off by the passage of the carrier 36, and the overflow switch 40 is caused by an overflow.
Are accumulated and the overflow switch 40 is continuously turned on, whereby the predetermined signal is output.

In addition, the overflow is not limited to the case where the rails 10 and 11 are filled with the lined carrier bodies 36 and the rearmost carrier body 36 extends to the carry-out portions 10b and 11b as described above. For example, if there is a load limit on the rails 10 and 11 due to the durability of the rails 10 and 11,
Even if the top of 0 and 11 is not filled with the carrier 36, the carrier 3
The load limit is reached when a predetermined number of 6's are lined up, and the carriers 36 cannot be further lined up on the rails 10, 11 and overflows. In this case, rail 10,
The overflow switch 40 may be provided so as to output a predetermined signal when the load applied to 11 reaches the limit value.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, a rotating body 41 is rotatably supported by a supporting shaft 4 of the distributing mechanism 1a via a radial bearing 42, and a lower end edge thereof is provided. A thrust bearing 43 is interposed between the mounting base 5 and the mounting base 5. Then, on the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body 41, the carry-in and carry-out rails 8 and 10, the carry-in portions 8a and 11a of the station rail 11,
Alternatively, a plurality of (eight in this embodiment) distribution arms 44 are radially projected and fixed at predetermined angles (in this embodiment, 45 degrees) so that they can face the carry-out parts 10b and 11b, and the first chain
20 or a position corresponding to the movement range of the second chain 23.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the detected body 54 is attached to the lower surface of the rotating body 41 at a position corresponding to each sorting arm 44. A detector 57 is mounted on the support plate 52 so as to correspond to the object 54 to be detected.
The position of the rotating body 41 supporting the plurality of distribution arms 44 is detected by detecting the end of the detected body 54 by 57.

A holding rail 45 for holding the carrier 36 is swingably attached to the tip of each of the sorting arms 44 by a shaft 46, and an engaging protrusion 45a is formed at the inner end thereof. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the holding rail 45 is normally held in an inclined state in which the engaging protrusion 45a is lowered by its own weight, and the carrier 36 is carried in by the first or second chain 20, 23. 8
Alternatively, when carried in from the carry-in parts 8a, 11a of the station rail 11 onto the sorting arm 44, the carrier 36 is lowered along the holding rail 45 to a position where it engages with the engaging projection 45a, and the engaging shaft. 38 is configured to be disengaged from the first or second chain 20, 23.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a servo motor 47 for rotating the arm which can rotate in the forward and reverse directions is mounted on the support plate 6, and a drive pulley 48 is fixed to the motor shaft 47a. A driven pulley 49 is fixed to the upper surface of the rotating body 41 while being fitted into the support shaft 4, and a timing belt 50 is hung between the driven pulley 49 and the drive pulley 48. Then, by rotating the servo motor 47 in the forward direction or the reverse direction, the rotating body 41 is rotated through the drive pulley 48, the timing belt 50 and the driven pulley 49 in the forward direction or the reverse direction by a predetermined angle of 45 degrees or an integral multiple thereof. The sorting arm 44 holding the carrier 36 is rotatably arranged at a position facing the predetermined loading / unloading rails 8 and 10 or the station rail 11.

The servomotor 47 is feedback-controlled based on the detection signal of the detected object 54 from the detector 57 described above. Further, an encoder 72 is mounted in the servomotor 47, and the servomotor 47 is controlled. Is detected, that is, the rotation angle of the distribution arm 44 is detected.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, a push-up cylinder 51 is attached to the mounting base 5 by a support plate 52 below each sorting arm 44, and an upper end of the piston rod 51a is attached to the upper end of the piston rod 51a. A push-up body 53 that can be engaged with the rotating arm 45 on the distribution arm 44 is provided. Then, when the piston rod 51a, which is normally in the retracted state, is moved so as to project as shown in FIG. 5 and the push-up body 53 is raised, the rotating arm 45 supporting the carrier 36 is moved horizontally from the downward inclined state. And the engaging wheel 38 on the carrier 36 is rotated to the first or second chain.
It is configured to be engaged with 20, 23.

Further, the carrier device of the present embodiment is provided with a keyboard 74 for inputting the operation mode of the entire carrier device,
For example, like the destination instruction memory of the carrier 36 shown in FIG. 11, a destination instruction or the like can be input for each number of the carrier 36 at any time for each distribution mechanism 1a, .... In this embodiment, this destination instruction is entered as a station number.

Next, the electric system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. The respective devices are driven and controlled by the electronic control circuit 60 to carry the carrier 36. The electronic control circuit 60 is configured by using a well-known CPU 62, ROM 64, RAM 66 as the center of a logical operation circuit, and an input / output circuit 68 for performing input / output with an external device and the like are connected to each other via a common bus 70. ing.

CPU62 is number reading device 39, overflow switch 4
Signals from 0, the detector 57, the echo 72, the keyboard 74 and the like are input via the input / output circuit 68. On the other hand, the CPU 62 based on these signals and the data in the ROM 64 and RAM 66
Outputs a drive signal for driving the servomotor 47 via the input / output circuit 68, and also outputs a drive signal for the lifting cylinder 51 to the control valve (not shown) via the input / output circuit 68 to output the lifting cylinder. It controls 51 movements.

Next, the operation of the carrying apparatus of this embodiment and the processing performed in the electronic control circuit 60 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the carrying apparatus of the present embodiment, when the chain driving motor 26 provided in the sorting mechanism 1a is rotated, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the driving pulley 28, the timing belt 30 and the like are used. , The first chain 20 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4 along the carry-in and carry-out rails 8 and 10, and along with the rotation of the rotary shaft 12, via the interlocking pulley 31, the timing belt 32, etc. The second chain 23 is moved along the station rail 11 in the same direction.

As a result, the carrier 36 on the carry-in / carry-out rails 8, 10 or the station 11 is loaded and carried-out rails 8, 10 with the engagement wheels 38 engaged with the first or second chains 20, 23.
Alternatively, it is transported along the station rail 11 in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

Then, the distribution control process is executed, and the movement of the carrier 36 carried to the position corresponding to the number reading device 39 along the carry-in rail 8 is temporarily stopped by a stopper (not shown). Carrier 36 to be loaded into 1a
Is confirmed (step 100, hereinafter simply referred to as S100, and so on). At this time, the number reading device 39 reads the number for identifying the carrier attached to the carrier 36. On the other hand, the eight distribution arms 44 have predetermined numbers 1 to 8 to distinguish them from each other.
The number of the carrier 36 to be carried into the sorting arm 44 is stored in each memory (S110). In this embodiment, since there are four carry-in sections 8a and 11a, it is possible to carry in up to four carrier bodies 36 at the same time.

Next, based on this reading, the destination instruction of each carrier 36 is confirmed by referring to the destination instruction memory in FIG.
On the other hand, in this embodiment, since there are four carry-out parts 10b and 11b,
Carry-out rail 10 or station rail for carrying out
In order to distinguish 11, the numbers up to are preset as shown in FIG. Then, the numbers of the rails 10 and 11 for sending to the destination of the carrier 36 are confirmed, and it is determined for each carrier 36 whether or not the rails 10 and 11 of that number have overflowed (S120).

If there is no overflow in S120, the carrier
In order to distribute the 36 to the rails 10 and 11 having the numbers according to the destination instruction, the rotation angle of what distribution arm 44 should be rotated and how many times should be calculated. Then, as shown in the carrier distribution memory in FIG. 12, a distribution command is set by the number of the distribution arm 44 and its rotation angle (S1
30).

Further, the work at the work station does not proceed, and the carriers 36 are successively lined up on the station rail 11 or overflows, or the station rail 11 connected to the adjacent distribution mechanism 1b overflows, so that the main distribution mechanism 1a In some cases, the carriers 36 may not be carried into the sorting mechanism 1b adjacent to the carrying-out rail 10 connected to the next sorting mechanism 1b, and the carrying bodies 36 may be successively lined up in the carrying-out rail 10. In such a case, whether or not the overflowing rails 10 and 11 are station rails 11 is determined by the rail number (S140).

Then, when it is the station rail 11, in order to distribute the carrier 36 to one of the unloading rails 10, the number of rotation of the distribution arm 44 and the rotation angle thereof are calculated, and the distribution arm 44 is distributed. A distribution command is set according to the number and the rotation angle (S150). Further, when the station rail 11 is not the case, that is, when the carry-out rail 10 corresponding to the destination instruction overflows, the carrier body
In order to distribute 36 to other unloading rails 10 that can be loaded,
The rotation angle of what number of the distribution arm 44 should be rotated is calculated, and a distribution command is set according to the number of the distribution arm 44 and the rotation angle thereof (S160).

When there are a plurality of carriers 36 whose numbers are stored in S110, the processes of S120 to S160 are performed for each carrier 36.
For all the carriers 36
A distribution command is set by the number of 44 and its rotation angle (S170).

In this way, after the necessary sorting commands are stored in the transporter sorting memory of FIG. 12, the stopper is retracted to release the stop of the transporter 36, and as shown in FIG.
The carrier 36 is carried into the sorting arm 44 from the carry-in parts 8a and 11a (S180). Then, the rotating arm in the descending inclined state
45 down on its own weight to the position where it engages with the engaging protrusion 45a,
The engagement wheel 38 is released from the engagement with the first or second chain 20, 23, and the carrier 36 is held stationary on the rotating arm 45.

In this state, the arm rotation servomotor 47 is rotated by a predetermined angle based on the carrier distribution memory as shown in FIG. 12, and the rotating body 41 is rotated through the drive pulley 48 and the like.
Is rotated in the forward direction or the reverse direction by a predetermined angle, and the sorting arm 44 holding the carrier 36 is pivotally arranged at a position facing the unloading portions 10b and 11b (S190).

After the rotation arrangement is completed, the push-up body is pushed by the push-up cylinder 51 corresponding to the sorting arm 44 holding the carrier 36.
53 is moved up, the rotating arm 45 is rotated from the lowered inclined state to the horizontal state, and the carrier 36 is moved up, so that the engagement wheel 38 is engaged with the first or second chain 20, 23. Then, with the movement of the first or second chain 20, 23, the carrier 36 is carried out from the distribution arm 44 onto the carry-in / carry-out rails 8, 10 or the carry-out rail portions 10b, 11b of the station rail 11 (S200). . The processes of S190 and S200 are repeated until all the carriers 36 are carried out based on the carrier sorting memory (S210). After all the carriers 36 are carried out, S1 is carried out.
Return to 00 and repeat the following process.

The carrier 36 carried out by the above process is carried out by the carry-out rail.
It is transported to the next sorting mechanism along 10 or to a predetermined work station along the station rail 11.

When the carrier 36 reaches the position corresponding to the work station on the station rail 11, the stopper projects on the station rail 11 and the carrier 36 stops moving. In this state, a worker such as a sewing manufacturer removes an article such as a sewn product from the carrier 36, performs an operation such as sewing on the article, and returns the article to the carrier 36. The carriage 36 is evacuated and the carriage of the carriage 36 is restarted.

The servo motor 47, the lifting cylinder 51, and the detector 5
7, the encoder 72, and the processing of S180 to S210 work as the distribution means M1, and the overflow switch 40 and S120
The execution of the process of (1) functions as the regulation excess detection means M2. Also,
Execution of the process of S130 works as the normal setting means M3, and S140
Execution of the processes of to S160 serves as the setting means M4 when the regulation is exceeded.

As described above, the transport apparatus of the present invention detects the overflow on the rails 10 and 11 corresponding to the destination instruction for each transport body 36. If it is not an overflow, a distribution command for distributing the carriers 36 to the rails 10 and 11 according to the destination instruction is set. If the delivery destination is the station rail 11 and the overflow,
A distribution command for distributing 36 to any of the carry-out rails 10 is set, and when the carry-out destination is the carry-out rail 10 and an overflow, a distribution command for distributing to another carry-out rail 10 that can be loaded is set. According to the sorting command thus set, the transport body 36 is sorted and transported to the corresponding rails 10 and 11.

In this way, the rails 1 of the carrier 36 to be sorted
Even if 0 and 11 overflow and cannot be carried out, the carrier 36 is carried out to another carrying-out rail 10 that can be loaded instead of leaving it as it is, so that the influence of the overflow of the rails 10 and 11 is affected. The other unloading rail
Do not spread to 10. That is, when the carrier 36 that came earlier cannot be distributed to the rails 10 and 11 according to the destination,
The distribution mechanisms 1a and 1b do not wait while holding until the overflow is eliminated and the distribution mechanism 1a, 1b distributes to another unloadable rail 10 that can be loaded for the time being, and makes it possible to execute the distribution processing for the next carrier 36. Of. Then, for example, the carrier 36 that is not distributed to the station rails 11 in the distribution mechanism 1a and is conveyed to the adjacent distribution mechanism 1b via the carry-out rail 10, is again distributed to the distribution mechanism 1a side by the distribution control processing in the distribution mechanism 1b. Likely to be returned to. Through such processing, the carrier 36 is exchanged between the two distribution mechanisms 1a and 1b until the overflow at the destination station rail 11 is resolved, and if it disappears due to the overflow in the meantime, it responds to the destination instruction. It can be distributed to the station rails 11 and carried out.

In this way, the sorting process for the carried-in carriers 36 is not waited while holding until the carrying-out according to the destination instruction for the one with the earliest carrying-in order is realized, but for the time being, another carrying-out rail 10 that can be loaded. Then, an opportunity for a distribution process for the next carrier 36 is given. Therefore, it is possible to avoid delaying all the processes for the carrier 36 scheduled to be carried in after that due to the existence of the carrier 36 that has been carried in first. As a result, it is possible to prevent the flow of the carrier 36 from being congested and prolong the work-in-process time of the carrier on the carrier device, thereby improving the work efficiency.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments as described above, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the distribution mechanism 1a
Is for loading and unloading rails 8 and 10 or station rails
Although it is connected to 11, it conveys the carrier 36 to another adjacent distribution mechanism or a work station, but is connected to only the loading and unloading rails 8 and 10 and conveys to another adjacent distribution mechanism 1 to the carrier 36. Even if the distribution mechanism 1a is configured to carry and carry out the role of branching, the same operation can be performed. In this case, the overflow switch 40 is provided only on the carry-out rail 10, and detects the overflow on the carry-out rail 10 corresponding to the destination instruction for each carrier 36. Then, if it is not an overflow, a distribution command for distributing the carriers 36 to the carry-out rail 10 according to the destination instruction is set, and if it is an overflow,
Set a distribution command to distribute to another unloadable rail 10 that can be loaded. According to the distribution command set in this way,
The carrier 36 is distributed to the corresponding rails 10 and 11 and carried. Further, in the above embodiment, each work station ST1,
Each operator operates the keyboard 74 to input work information such as a destination instruction. Instead of this, only one keyboard 74 is provided, and one work station at each location.
Input the work information of ST1, ..., and sort each distribution mechanism 1a, ...
You may make it transmit to each electronic control circuit 60 provided for every.

As described above, the transport device of the present invention determines at least whether or not the carry-out rail 10 corresponding to the destination instruction is an overflow, and if it is not the overflow, it is distributed to the carry-out rail 10 according to the destination instruction and overflows. In the case of, it is only necessary to be able to set a distribution command to distribute to another unloadable rail 10 that can be inserted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the distribution arms 44 are radially arranged at every 45 degrees, but the number of the distribution arms 44 is increased according to the application, for example, at every 36 degrees, 10 arms are arranged. Good.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, in the transport apparatus of the present invention, even when the carry-out rail to which the transport body is distributed overflows, the influence of the overflow does not spread to other rails, and the flow of the transport body does not occur. It is possible to prevent an increase in work-in-process time due to traffic congestion, and to improve work efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view mainly showing the schematic configuration of rails and the like of a conveying apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the same. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the drive structure of the distribution mechanism of this embodiment, and FIG.
4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is taken along the line D- of FIG. D sectional view, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric system of the present embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the distribution control processing performed in the electronic control circuit of the present embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a destination instruction memory of a carrier, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a carrier sorting memory. M1 …… Sorting means M2 …… Over-regulation detection means M3 …… Normal setting means M4 …… Over-setting setting means 1a, 1b …… Sorting mechanism 8 …… Incoming rail 10 …… Unloading rail 36 …… Transporter 40… … Overflow switch 60 …… Electronic control circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP 62-161618 (JP, A) JP 62-157115 (JP, A) JP 3-56323 (JP, A) JP 61- 207277 (JP, A) JP 61-101309 (JP, A) Actually opened 56-13421 (JP, U) Actually opened 61-178715 (JP, U) Actually opened 61-18221 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication Sho 61-15008 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A distribution means connected to a plurality of carry-in and carry-out rails for carrying in and carrying out a carrier, and for distributing the carrier to a corresponding carry-out rail according to a distribution command set from a destination instruction for each carrier. In the transport device for transporting the transport body, the one sorting means is connected to another sorting means by the pair of loading and unloading rails, and further by another pair of loading and unloading rails. Is provided with a prescribed excess detection means for detecting an overflow of a carrier on the carry-out rail corresponding to the destination instruction, and when the overflow is not the overflow rail, the carry-out rail according to the destination instruction is provided. A normal setting means for setting the sorting command for sorting the conveyance bodies, and the overflow In the case of the above, the transport device is provided with: a prescribed overtime setting means for setting the sorting command for sorting to another unloadable rail that can be loaded.