Conveying device and conveying method

Abstract

The present invention provides a conveying device and conveying method that can prevent the occurrence of receiving failures, where the conveyed object is not received. [Solution] A conveying device EA that conveys an object WK having a flange portion WK1 comprises a receiving means 10 that receives the object WK from a supplying device 30 that supplies the object WK, and a conveying means 20 that conveys the object WK received by the receiving means 10. The receiving means 10 includes a transfer member 11 that supports the flange portion WK1 extending on both sides in a crossing direction intersecting the conveying direction of the object WK, and transfers the object WK to the conveying means 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device and a conveying method.

Background Art

[0002] A device for supplying a conveyance target to a conveyance device that conveys the conveyance target is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When receiving the container 3 (conveyance target) supplied from the sealing machine (supply device) described in Patent Document 1 by the conveyance device, there is a problem that the bottom or side surface of the conveyance target hits the conveyance device, resulting in a receiving failure where the conveyance target cannot be received.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyance device and a conveyance method capable of preventing the occurrence of a receiving failure where the conveyance target cannot be received.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention employs the configuration described in the claims.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, by supporting the flange portions extending from both sides in the crossing direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the conveyance target from the conveyance target and delivering the conveyance target to the conveyance means, the bottom or side surface of the conveyance target does not hit the conveyance device, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a receiving failure where the conveyance target cannot be received. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] (A) and (B) are explanatory diagrams of a conveying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the X, Y, and Z axes are orthogonal to each other. The X and Y axes are axes within a predetermined plane, and the Z axis is an axis perpendicular to the predetermined plane. Furthermore, in this embodiment, when directions are indicated based on a view from the front direction in Figure 1(A) parallel to the Y axis, "up" is the direction of the Z-axis arrow and "down" is the opposite direction, "left" is the direction of the X-axis arrow and "right" is the opposite direction, "front" is the front direction in Figure 1(A) parallel to the Y axis and "back" is the opposite direction.

[0010] The conveying device EA is a device for conveying an object WK having a flange portion WK1, and comprises a receiving means 10 that performs a receiving process to receive the object WK from a supply device 30 that supplies the object WK, and a conveying means 20 that performs a conveying process to convey the object WK received by the receiving means 10, and is located near the supply device 30.

[0011] The receiving means 10 includes a transfer member 11 that supports flange portions WK1 extending from the object to be transported WK to both sides in the front-rear direction, which is a crossing direction intersecting the transport direction of the object to be transported WK, and transfers the object to be transported WK to the transport means 20, and a positioning member 12 that positions the object to be transported WK in the front-rear direction below the transfer member 11. The transfer members 11 are positioned side by side in the front-to-back direction at a location that allows them to support the flange portion WK1 of the object to be transported WK supplied by the supply device 30 without the bottom or sides coming into contact with the transport means 20, and each is supported by a positioning member 12. The upper surface of the transfer member 11 has an arc-shaped curved surface. The positioning members 12 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction, and their opposing edges are formed to approach each other as they move toward the transport direction of the object WK to be transported.

[0012] The conveying means 20 includes a rotating motor 21 as a drive device, a drive roller 22 supported on the output shaft 21A of the rotating motor 21, a driven roller 23, and a belt 24 wrapped around the drive roller 22 and the driven roller 23.

[0013] The supply device 30 comprises a rotary motor 31 as a drive device, two drive pulleys 32 supported on the output shaft 31A of the rotary motor 31 and arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, two driven pulleys 33 provided in pairs with the drive pulleys 32, two belts 34 arranged spaced apart in the front-rear direction and wrapped around the drive pulleys 32 and the driven pulleys 33, a support member 35 whose central part in the left-right direction is supported by the two belts 34 and which supports the object to be conveyed WK, a linear motor 36 as a drive device positioned between the two driven pulleys 33, and a push-up member 37 supported on the output shaft 36A of the linear motor 36 and which pushes up the leading end of the object to be conveyed WK in the supply direction. The support 35 has an opening 35A and is configured to support the object WK to be transported when the bottom of the object WK is inserted into the opening 35A. The upper surface of the support 35 is located below the upper surface of the belt 24.

[0014] The operation of the above transport device EA will now be explained. First, the user of the conveying device EA (hereinafter simply referred to as "user") inputs a signal to start automatic operation to the conveying device EA, which has its components positioned at the initial positions shown by the solid lines in Figure 1(A), via an operating means (not shown), such as an operation panel or a personal computer. Next, when the user or a transfer means (not shown), such as an articulated robot or a belt conveyor, places the object to be conveyed WK on the support 35, the conveying means 20 drives the rotary motor 21 to rotate the belt 24 in a counterclockwise direction, and the supply device 30 drives the rotary motor 31 to rotate the belt 34 in a counterclockwise direction to supply the object to be conveyed WK to the left. After that, when the object to be conveyed WK reaches a predetermined position above the push-up member 37, the supply device 30 stops driving the rotary motor 31. Next, the supply device 30 drives the linear motor 36 and, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the push-up member 37 pushes up the leading end of the bottom of the object to be conveyed WK in the supply direction until it is positioned above the upper surface of the belt 24.

[0015] Then, the supply device 30 drives the rotary motor 31 and rotates the belt 34 in a counterclockwise direction, thereby pushing the rear end of the object to be transported WK toward the transport device EA with the support 35 and supplying the object to be transported WK to the transport device EA. As a result, the object to be transported WK is supported by the transfer member 11, with the flange portion WK1 extending on both sides in the front-rear direction, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), and the flange portion WK1 slides along the transfer member 11 and moves to the left. At this time, the object to be transported WK is guided in the desired direction by the positioning member 12 and positioned in the front-rear direction, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(B). Next, when the left-right center of the flange portion WK1 on the transfer member 11 passes the transfer member 11, the supply device 30 drives the linear motor 36 to return the push-up member 37 to its initial position, and then stops driving the rotary motor 31. Subsequently, the orientation of the object to be transported WK changes downward due to its own weight on the transfer member 11, and as shown by the dashed line in Figure 1(A), the leading end of the bottom of the object to be transported WK in the supply direction comes into contact with the upper surface of the belt 24, and the object to be transported WK is transferred to the transport means 20. The transport means 20 then transports the object to be transported WK to the left toward the next process, and the same operation described above is repeated thereafter.

[0016] According to the above embodiment, the flange portion WK1 extending from the object to be transported WK to both sides in the front-rear direction intersecting the transport direction of the object to be transported WK is supported, and the object to be transported WK is handed over to the transport means 20. As a result, the bottom and sides of the object to be transported WK do not come into contact with the transport device EA, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a receiving failure in which the object to be transported WK cannot be received.

[0017] As described above, the best configurations, methods, etc., for carrying out the present invention are disclosed in the above description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, although the present invention is mainly illustrated and described in relation to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the embodiments described above in terms of shape, material, quantity, and other detailed configurations without departing from the scope of the technical idea and objectives of the present invention. Furthermore, the descriptions of shapes, materials, etc. disclosed above are illustrative to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit the present invention, so descriptions of components with some or all of those limitations removed are included in the present invention. Furthermore, the means and processes in the present invention are not limited in any way as long as they can perform the operations, functions, or processes described for those means and processes, and are certainly not limited at all to the components or processes of a single embodiment shown in the above-mentioned embodiments. For example, the conveying means can be anything that conveys the object to be conveyed received by the receiving means, and is not limited in any way as long as it is within the scope of the common technical knowledge at the time of filing the application (the same applies to other means and processes).

[0018] The receiving means 10 may employ a member such as a round bar, a roller, or a spherical member as the delivery member 11, the upper surface of the delivery member 11 may be a folded surface, a flat surface, or other shapes, the positioning member 12 may be employed as the delivery member instead of the delivery member 11, the delivery member 11 may not be supported by the positioning member 12, the positioning member 12 may be provided in the conveying device EA of the present invention, or may not be provided. When not provided, the delivery member 11 may be supported by other members. The receiving means 10 may be provided with imaging means such as a camera or a projector for detecting the height of the conveyed object WK, or various sensors such as an optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, or may be provided with input means for inputting the height of the conveyed object WK. Based on the detection result of the detection means or the input result of the input means, adjustment means such as a linear motion motor or a rotary motor as a driving device for adjusting the vertical position of the delivery member 11 or the positioning member 12 or the inclination of the positioning member 12 in the conveying direction is provided. When the height of the conveyed object WK is low, the vertical position of the delivery member 11 or the positioning member 12 is lowered, or the upward inclination to the right of the positioning member 12 is reduced. When the height of the conveyed object WK is high, the vertical position of the delivery member 11 or the positioning member 12 is raised, or the upward inclination to the right of the positioning member 12 is increased, so that the support height of the conveyed object WK by the delivery member 11 may be changed.

[0019] The conveying means 20 may be a belt conveyor as in the embodiment, or may be a roller conveyor.

[0020] When the pressing member 37 pushes up the front end of the bottom of the conveyed object WK in the supply direction, the supply device 30 may not stop the driving of the rotary motor 31, or may be provided with a driving device for rotating the linear motion motor 36 around a rotation axis parallel to the output shaft 31A of the rotary motor 31. It may be provided in the conveying device EA of the present invention, or may not be provided. When not provided, the conveyed object WK may be supplied by another supply device.

[0021] The material, type, shape, etc. of the object to be conveyed WK in the present invention are not particularly limited. For example, the object to be conveyed WK may be circular, elliptical, polygonal such as triangular or quadrangular, or other shapes. Further, as the object to be conveyed WK, for example, food, resin containers, semiconductor wafers such as silicon semiconductor wafers and compound semiconductor wafers, circuit boards, information recording substrates such as optical disks, glass plates, steel plates, pottery, wooden boards or resins, etc. may be single substances, or composites formed by two or more of them may be used, and members or articles in any form can also be targeted.

[0022] The drive equipment in the above embodiment may employ, alone, electric equipment such as a rotary motor, a linear motion motor, a linear motor, a single-axis robot, a so-called multi-joint robot having two or more joints or three or more joints, or actuators such as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a rodless cylinder, and a rotary cylinder. Alternatively, those in which these electric equipment and actuators are directly or indirectly combined may be employed. Further, those capable or incapable of torque control, speed control, etc. with respect to the output portions of these electric equipment and actuators may be employed.

[0023] In the above embodiment, an object (hereinafter referred to as "object A") and an object moving relative to object A (hereinafter referred to as "object B"), that is, object A and object B moving relative to each other, object B may move relative to object A which does not move, object A may move relative to object B which does not move, or both object A and object B may move, and either object A or object B may move as long as the result achieved by the movement is the same. If a rotating member such as a roller is used, a drive device for rotating the rotating member may be provided, and the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself The body may be made of a deformable material such as rubber or resin, the surface of the rotating member or the rotating member itself may be made of a non-deformable material, other members such as rotating or non-rotating shafts or blades may be used instead of rollers, and if a support (holding) means or support (holding) member is used to support (hold) the supported member, a configuration may be adopted in which the supported member is supported (held) by gripping means such as mechanical chucks or chuck cylinders, Coulomb force, adhesive (adhesive sheet, adhesive tape), adhesive agent (adhesive sheet, adhesive tape), magnetic force, Bernoulli adsorption, suction adsorption, drive equipment, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0024] EA... Conveyor system 10…Method of receiving 11...Transfer member 12…Positioning member 20…Conveying means 30…Feeding device WK...Object to be transported WK1…Tsubabe

Claims

1. A conveying device for conveying objects having a flange portion, A receiving means for receiving the object to be transported from a supplying device that supplies the object to be transported, The system comprises a transport means for transporting the object to be transported received by the receiving means, The conveying device is characterized in that the receiving means includes a transfer member that supports the flange portion extending from the conveyed object in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the conveyed object, and transfers the conveyed object to the conveying means.

2. The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving means includes a positioning member that positions the object to be conveyed in the intersecting direction below the transfer member.

3. A conveying method for conveying an object having a flange portion, A receiving step of receiving the object to be transported from a supplying device that supplies the object to be transported, The process involves carrying out a transport step in which the object to be transported, received in the receiving step, is transported by a transport means. The conveying method is characterized in that, in the receiving step, the flange portion extending from the conveyed object to both sides in a direction intersecting the conveying direction of the conveyed object is supported, and the conveyed object is handed over to the conveying means.

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