Tray handling apparatus

Abstract

A tray taking and placing device comprises a base, two vertical linear slide rails arranged on the base and perpendicular to the upper surface of the base, a vertical linear slide table parallel to the vertical linear slide rails, a vertical lifting table connected with the vertical linear slide rails and the slide table to be lifted under the drive of the vertical linear slide table, two horizontal linear slide rails fixed on the vertical lifting table and parallel to the upper surface, a horizontal linear slide table parallel to the horizontal linear slide rails, a supporting plate connected with the horizontal linear slide rails and the slide table to move forward and backward under the drive of the horizontal linear slide table, and a load area for placing a tray arranged at the front end of the supporting plate, and a plurality of limiting frames fixed on the base and located around the load area and extending upward to a height higher than that of the supporting plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a material handling device, and more particularly to a material tray picking and placing device that assists unmanned transport vehicles in loading and unloading materials. Background Technology

[0002] Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) have become key equipment for factory automation. In recent years, an increasing number of manufacturing industries have used AGVs to automate product manufacturing processes. Currently, most loading and unloading operations in processing stations rely on AGVs equipped with robotic arms. However, factories currently require dedicated personnel to move trays onto or remove them from the robotic arms' platforms to assist the AGVs in loading and unloading operations. This increases labor costs. Therefore, there is a need for equipment that can assist AGVs in completing loading and unloading operations. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a tray handling device, installed on an unmanned transport vehicle, comprising: a base; two vertical linear slide rails, the vertical linear slide rails being disposed at the rear end of the base and extending upward in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the base; a vertical linear slide table, the vertical linear slide table being parallel to the vertical linear slide rails and extending upward from the upper surface of the base; a vertical lifting platform, the vertical lifting platform being connected to both the vertical linear slide rails and the vertical linear slide table, for vertical lifting under the drive of the vertical linear slide table; and two horizontal linear slide rails, the horizontal linear slide rails being fixed. The system comprises: a vertical lifting platform extending in a direction parallel to the upper surface of the base; a horizontal linear slide, parallel to the horizontal linear slide rail and fixed to the vertical lifting platform; a tray connected to both the horizontal linear slide rail and the horizontal linear slide, for sliding back and forth under the drive of the horizontal linear slide, and the front end of the tray having a bearing area for stacking multiple trays; and multiple limiting frames fixed to the base and located around the bearing area, the limiting frames extending upward to a height greater than the height of the tray to limit the displacement of the trays.

[0004] In some embodiments, the two vertical linear slide rails are a first vertical linear slide rail and a second vertical linear slide rail disposed on the base. The vertical linear slide table is disposed adjacent to the first vertical linear slide rail, and the first vertical linear slide rail and the second vertical linear slide rail are disposed opposite each other. The track of the vertical linear slide table is perpendicular to the upper surface. The track of the vertical linear slide table, the track of the first vertical linear slide rail, and the track of the second vertical linear slide rail are disposed in parallel. The sliders of the first vertical linear slide rail and the second vertical linear slide rail are respectively fixed to the left and right sides of the vertical lifting platform. The vertical lifting platform is connected to the sliders of the vertical linear slide table, the sliders of the first vertical linear slide rail, and the sliders of the second vertical linear slide rail.

[0005] In some embodiments, a cable-storing cylinder is provided on one side of the second vertical linear slide rail. The cable-storing cylinder is hollow and tubular. The left end of the cable-storing cylinder is fixed to the right side of the vertical lifting platform, and the right end of the cable-storing cylinder is fixed to the rear side of the second vertical linear slide rail.

[0006] In some embodiments, the two horizontal linear slide rails are provided with a first horizontal linear slide rail and a second horizontal linear slide rail. The first horizontal linear slide rail is disposed on the left side of the horizontal linear slide table, and the second horizontal linear slide rail is disposed on the right side of the horizontal linear slide table. The first horizontal linear slide rail and the second horizontal linear slide rail are arranged symmetrically from left to right. The track of the horizontal linear slide table is parallel to the upper surface and extends from the rear side of the base to the front side. The track of the horizontal linear slide table, the track of the first horizontal linear slide rail, and the track of the second horizontal linear slide rail are arranged in parallel.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first horizontal linear slide rail and the second horizontal linear slide rail are each provided with a support member. The top end of the support member is fixed to the left and right opposite positions of the bottom of a slide plate, and the bottom end of the support member is fixed to the slider of the first horizontal linear slide rail and the slider of the second horizontal linear slide rail, respectively.

[0008] In some embodiments, the pallet is flat, with its front end suspended. Reinforcing ribs perpendicular to the surface of the pallet are provided on the rear side and the left and right sides of the pallet. The reinforcing ribs extend upward and forward along the edge of the pallet, and the reinforcing ribs maintain a distance from the front end of the bearing area.

[0009] As described above, the material tray loading and unloading device of this utility model uses the vertical linear slide and the horizontal linear slide driven by the servo motor, and the linear slide rails assist in their movement, so that the tray can lift the material tray to the loading platform of the robotic arm of the unmanned transport vehicle or remove the material tray from the loading platform, thereby assisting the unmanned transport vehicle in loading and unloading operations, thereby improving the degree of production automation and reducing labor costs. Attached Figure Description

[0010] To make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of this utility model more apparent and understandable, the contents of this case can be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the material tray placement device of this utility model when the material tray is placed.

[0012] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the combination of the lifting component and the translation component of this utility model.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the lifting component of this utility model.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the translation component of this utility model.

[0015] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the combination of the translation component and the limiting component of this utility model.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a partial front view of the material tray handling device of this utility model when no material tray is placed.

[0017] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the material tray handling device of this utility model when no material tray is placed.

[0018] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the pallet of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To explain in detail the technical content, structural features, objectives and effects of the material tray loading and unloading device of this utility model, the following embodiments are provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2The material tray picking and placing device 100 of this utility model is mounted on an unmanned transport vehicle 200 and includes a base 10, a lifting assembly 20 fixed to the rear side of the base 10, a translation assembly 30 connected to the lifting assembly 20 and parallel to the upper surface 11 of the base 10, a tray 40 connected to the translation assembly 30 and parallel to the translation assembly 30, and a plurality of limiting frames 50 extending upward from the base 10 and surrounding the front end of the tray 40.

[0021] Please see again Figures 1 to 3 The lifting assembly 20 includes a servo motor 70, a vertical linear slide 21 connected to the servo motor 70, a first vertical linear slide rail 22 adjacent to the vertical linear slide 21, and a second vertical linear slide rail 23 opposite to the first vertical linear slide rail 22. The vertical linear slide 21 includes a track 211 perpendicular to the upper surface 11 of the base 10, a slider 212 slidably mounted on the track 211, and a transmission mechanism (not shown) connecting the slider 212 and the servo motor 70 to raise or lower the slider 212 to a designated position. The track 211 of the vertical linear slide 21, the track 221 of the first vertical linear slide rail 22, and the track 231 of the second vertical linear slide rail 23 are parallel to each other, and the slider 222 of the first vertical linear slide rail 22 and the slider 232 of the second vertical linear slide rail 23 are respectively fixed to the left and right sides of the translation assembly 30. The translation component 30 is connected to the sliders 212, 222, and 232. Therefore, when the servo motor 70 drives the slider 212 to move up and down, it will cause the translation component 30 to rise or fall smoothly.

[0022] Please see Figure 1 , Figures 4 to 6The translation component 30 includes a servo motor 80, a horizontal linear slide 31 connected to the servo motor 80, a first horizontal linear slide rail 32, a second horizontal linear slide rail 33, and a vertical lifting platform 34. The vertical lifting platform 34 is connected to the sliders 212, 222, and 232. The horizontal linear slide 31, the first horizontal linear slide rail 32, and the second horizontal linear slide rail 33 are all fixed on the vertical lifting platform 34, and the first horizontal linear slide rail 32 and the second horizontal linear slide rail 33 are respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the horizontal linear slide 31. The horizontal linear slide 31 includes a track 311, a slider 312 slidably disposed on the track 311, and a transmission mechanism (not shown) connecting the slider 312 and the servo motor 80. The track 311 is parallel to the upper surface 11 of the base 10 and extends from the rear side to the front side of the base 10, thereby allowing the slide plate 40 to move forward or backward to a designated position. The first horizontal linear slide rail 32 and the second horizontal linear slide rail 33 are arranged symmetrically from left to right, and the track 311 of the horizontal linear slide table 31, the track 321 of the first horizontal linear slide rail 32, and the track 331 of the second horizontal linear slide rail 33 are arranged in parallel. The first horizontal linear slide rail 32 and the second horizontal linear slide rail 33 are respectively provided with a support member 323 and 333. The top ends of the support members 323 and 333 are fixed to the left and right opposite positions of the bottom of the slide plate 40, and the bottom ends of the support members 323 and 333 are respectively fixed to the slider 322 of the first horizontal linear slide rail 32 and the slider 332 of the second horizontal linear slide rail 33, so as to assist the horizontal linear slide table 31 in moving the slide plate 40 back and forth, so that the slide plate 40 can move forward or backward smoothly.

[0023] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 The pallet 40 is flat and extends from the rear to the front of the base 10. The front end of the pallet 40 is suspended and has a support area 41 at the front end, which is configured to hold one or more trays 60. To prevent the support area 41 from wobbling when the pallet 40 moves, reinforcing ribs 42 perpendicular to the surface of the pallet 40 are provided on the rear and left and right sides of the pallet 40. The reinforcing ribs 42 extend upward and forward along the edge of the pallet 40, and are kept at a distance from the front end of the support area 41, allowing the support area 41 to stably support the trays 60.

[0024] Continue reading Figure 1 and Figure 7In this embodiment, the limiting frame 50 is configured as an L-shaped corner post and is respectively set at the four corners of the bearing area 41. The limiting frame 50 extends upward beyond the height of the bearing area 41, and the upward extension length of the limiting frame 50 is aligned with the height of the stacked material trays 60. The distance between the two limiting frames 50 set in front and behind is slightly greater than the length of the material tray 60, and the distance between the two limiting frames 50 set in the left and right is slightly greater than the width of the material tray 60. This limits the swaying range of the material tray 60 placed in the bearing area 41 and prevents it from tipping over when the unmanned transport vehicle 200 is moving.

[0025] Please see again Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this embodiment, to prevent the translation component 30 from being obstructed by exposed and scattered wires, the lifting component 20 further includes a wire-concealing tube 24 disposed adjacent to the second vertical linear slide rail 23. The wire-concealing tube 24 is hollow and extends downward, then bends to the right and extends upward. The left end of the wire-concealing tube 24 is fixed to the right side of the translation component 30, and the right end of the wire-concealing tube 24 is fixed to the rear side of the second vertical linear slide rail 23, so as to gather the wires in the wire-concealing tube 24.

[0026] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 7 In this embodiment, the operation process of the material tray loading and unloading device 100 of this utility model is as follows: When the unmanned transport vehicle 200 stops at a processing station (not shown) where a loading operation is to be carried out, the material tray 60 is placed in the bearing area 41. The lifting component 20 lifts the translation component 30 along with the pallet 40 until the pallet 40 is raised to the same height as the robotic arm (not shown) of the unmanned transport vehicle 200. Then, the translation component 30 extends the pallet 40 forward until the material tray 60 is above the platform (not shown) of the robotic arm. The lifting component 20 lowers the translation component 30 along with the pallet 40 and places the material tray 60 on the platform. Then, the translation component 30 moves the pallet 40 backward and the lifting component 20 lowers the translation component 30 along with the pallet 40, so that the pallet 40 returns to its initial position.

[0027] When the unmanned transport vehicle 200 stops at a processing station where a material unloading operation is to be performed, the carrying area 41 is empty and located in the limiting frame 50. The lifting component 20 lifts the translation component 30 along with the pallet 40 until the pallet 40 is raised to the same height as the platform. Then, the translation component 30 extends the pallet 40 forward until it is inserted into the bottom of the tray 60, so that the tray 60 is lifted by the pallet 40 and placed in the carrying area 41. Then, the translation component 30 moves the pallet 40 backward and the lifting component 20 lowers the translation component 30 along with the pallet 40, so that the pallet 40 returns to the initial position and the carrying area 41 returns to the limiting frame 50, so that the tray 60 is confined between the limiting frames 50.

[0028] In summary, the material tray loading and unloading device 100 of this utility model is equipped with a vertical linear slide 21 and a horizontal linear slide 31 driven by the servo motors 70 and 80, and is respectively equipped with linear slide rails 22, 23, 32, and 33 to assist in smooth movement. This allows the pallet 40 to cooperate with the scheduling of the unmanned transport vehicle 200 to place the material tray 60 on the platform or remove the material tray 60 from the platform, thereby assisting the unmanned transport vehicle 200 in loading and unloading operations at various processing stations and achieving the goal of reducing labor costs.

[0029] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the art may make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A tray handling device, mounted on an unmanned transport vehicle, characterized in that: It comprises: a base; two vertical linear slide rails, the vertical linear slide rails being disposed at the rear end of the base and extending upward in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the base; a vertical linear slide table, the vertical linear slide table being parallel to the vertical linear slide rails and extending upward from the upper surface of the base; a vertical lifting platform, the vertical lifting platform being connected to the vertical linear slide rails and the vertical linear slide table respectively, for vertical lifting under the drive of the vertical linear slide table; and two horizontal linear slide rails, the horizontal linear slide rails being fixed to the vertical lifting platform and extending upward along the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the base. The upper surface of the base extends in a parallel direction; a horizontal linear slide is parallel to the horizontal linear slide rail and fixed to the vertical lifting platform; a tray is connected to both the horizontal linear slide rail and the horizontal linear slide, and slides back and forth under the drive of the horizontal linear slide, with a bearing area at the front end of the tray for stacking multiple trays; multiple limiting frames are fixed to the base and located around the bearing area, the limiting frames extending upward to a height greater than the height of the tray to limit the displacement of the trays.

2. The tray handling device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The two vertical linear slide rails are a first vertical linear slide rail and a second vertical linear slide rail disposed on the base. The vertical linear slide table is disposed adjacent to the first vertical linear slide rail, and the first vertical linear slide rail and the second vertical linear slide rail are disposed opposite each other. The track of the vertical linear slide table is perpendicular to the upper surface. The tracks of the vertical linear slide table, the first vertical linear slide rail, and the second vertical linear slide rail are arranged in parallel. The sliders of the first vertical linear slide rail and the second vertical linear slide rail are respectively fixed to the left and right sides of the vertical lifting platform. The vertical lifting platform is connected to the sliders of the vertical linear slide table, the first vertical linear slide rail, and the second vertical linear slide rail.

3. The tray handling device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: A cable-storing cylinder is provided on one side of the second vertical linear slide rail. The cable-storing cylinder is hollow and tubular. The left end of the cable-storing cylinder is fixed to the right side of the vertical lifting platform, and the right end of the cable-storing cylinder is fixed to the rear side of the second vertical linear slide rail.

4. The tray handling device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The two horizontal linear slide rails are provided with a first horizontal linear slide rail and a second horizontal linear slide rail. The first horizontal linear slide rail is located on the left side of the horizontal linear slide table, and the second horizontal linear slide rail is located on the right side of the horizontal linear slide table. The first horizontal linear slide rail and the second horizontal linear slide rail are arranged symmetrically from left to right. The track of the horizontal linear slide table is parallel to the upper surface and extends from the rear side of the base to the front side. The track of the horizontal linear slide table, the track of the first horizontal linear slide rail, and the track of the second horizontal linear slide rail are arranged in parallel.

5. The tray handling device as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The first horizontal linear slide rail and the second horizontal linear slide rail are each provided with a support member. The top end of the support member is fixed to the left and right opposite positions of the bottom of a slide plate, and the bottom end of the support member is fixed to the slider of the first horizontal linear slide rail and the slider of the second horizontal linear slide rail, respectively.

6. The tray handling device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The pallet is flat and its front end is suspended. The rear side and the left and right sides of the pallet are respectively provided with reinforcing ribs perpendicular to the surface of the pallet. The reinforcing ribs extend upward and forward along the edge of the pallet and maintain a distance from the front end of the bearing area.

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