Molding stocker

Abstract

To provide a molding stocker capable of realizing efficient container movement and shortening tact time.SOLUTION: A molding stocker 1 according to the present invention is a molding stocker 1 that stores moldings in a carriage container C, and includes: a destacking part 2 that takes out unstored containers C one by one from a stacked state; a stacking part 4 that stacks stored containers C one by one into a stacked state; and a reception part 4 that is provided at a position between the destacking part 2 and the stacking part 4 in a plan view, and that stores moldings in the container C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a molded product stocker.

Background Art

[0002] When performing resin molding exemplified by injection molding or the like, a molded product to be a product is taken out by a take-out device as an example and stored in a transport container.

[0003] As a storage device for the molded product, conventionally, there is known a molded product stocker having a configuration in which an empty container is transported to a predetermined position, the molded product is stored at that position, and then the container is lowered (or raised) and stacked in a stacked state, or a configuration in which the container is lowered (or raised) and transported and then stacked in a stacked state (see Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-108618).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, according to the molded product stocker exemplified in Patent Document 1 above, after storing the molded product in the container at a predetermined position, the empty container cannot be set at the predetermined position unless the container is lowered.

[0006] The present inventor considered that such a configuration was a factor increasing the tact time, and conducted intensive research to solve it.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a molded product stocker capable of realizing efficient container movement and shortening the tact time.

[0008] As one embodiment, the above problems are solved by the solution means disclosed below.

[0009] A molded product stocker according to one embodiment is a molded product stocker that stores molded products in a container for transportation, and includes a container separation unit that takes out the empty containers one by one from the stacked state, a stacking unit that stacks the containers that have been stored one by one in a stacked state, and a receiving unit that is set at a position between the container separation unit and the stacking unit in a plan view and stores the molded products in the container.

[0010] According to the above configuration, by providing a receiving unit for storing the molded products at a position between the container separation unit and the stacking unit, it is not necessary to lower (or raise) the container at that position after storing the molded products as in the conventional case. That is, the transportation of the container in which the molded product has been stored (unloading from the receiving unit) and the transportation of the next empty container (loading into the receiving unit) can be performed simultaneously without waiting for the container to be lowered (or raised) at all, so the tact time can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional case.

[0011] Further, the center-to-center distance between the container set in the container separation unit and the container set in the receiving unit is preferably set longer than the center-to-center distance between the container set in the receiving unit and the container set in the stacking unit.

[0012] Further, it is preferable to include one slider that performs the transportation of the empty container from the container separation unit to the receiving unit and the transportation of the container in which the molded product has been stored from the receiving unit to the stacking unit at the same height position by one linear movement.

[0013] Further, it is preferable that the slider projects from the upper surface by an urging force in the forward path and is locked to the container in front of the conveying direction, and has a locking claw that enters the upper surface against the urging force when slidingly contacting the front surface and the lower surface of the container in the rear of the conveying direction in the return path.

[0014] Further, the slider has, as the locking claw, a first locking claw that is locked to the non-accommodated container and a second locking claw that is locked to the accommodated container, and in a state before the conveyance is performed, the distance between the first locking claw and the non-accommodated container is preferably set shorter than the distance between the second locking claw and the accommodated container.

[0015] Further, it is preferable that a cushion member is provided at a position where the second locking claw is locked to the accommodated container.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] According to the disclosed molded product stocker, efficient container movement can be realized, and the tact time can be shortened.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view (schematic view) showing an example of the molded product stocker 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining the movement of the container C in the molded product stocker 1 shown in FIG. 1. For convenience of explanation, the vertical and front-rear directions may be indicated by arrows in the drawings. In addition, in all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, members having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations thereof may be omitted.

[0019] The molded product stocker 1 according to the present embodiment is, as an example, a device that stores molded products taken out by a take-out device (not shown) in an empty container C when performing resin molding such as injection molding, and stacks the containers C that have already been stored. Note that the "molded products" in the present application shall include post-molded processed products shown in the following representative examples. 1) After taking out the molded product from the molding machine, the molded product is drilled or deburred. 2) After taking out the molded product from the molding machine, the molded product is transferred to another processing machine and assembled with metal or the like. 3) After taking out a plurality of types of molded products from the molding machine, the plurality of types of molded products are assembled.

[0020] First, the overall configuration will be described together with the movement of the container C. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the molded product stocker 1 includes a separating section 2 that takes out the containers C in which the molded products are not stored one by one from the stacked state. In the present embodiment, a plurality of predetermined (for example, about 10 to 15) containers C are conveyed (carried in) in the forward direction (arrow A direction) in a pre-stacked state and set in the separating section 2. Further, a separating mechanism 14 is provided for separating one container C located at the lowermost stage of the stacked state. One container C separated by this separating mechanism 14 is set (arranged) at a predetermined position on the conveyance path 16. Note that the conveyance path 16 is configured to include a slide rail as an example, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured to include rollers, belts, or the like (not shown).

[0021] In addition, the molded product stocker 1 is provided with a stacking section 4 for stacking the containers C, in which the molded products are accommodated, one on top of the other in a stacked state. In the present embodiment, the containers C are configured to be conveyed (loaded) one by one on the conveyance path 16 from the receiving section 3, which will be described later, to the stacking section 4. The conveyed containers C are set at predetermined positions. Further, a stacking mechanism 18 is provided for stacking the set containers C one on top of the other so that the set container C becomes the topmost one. When the number of stacked containers C reaches a predetermined plurality (for example, about 10 to 15), the stacked containers C are configured to be conveyed (unloaded) in the direction (direction of arrow B) from the stacking section 4 toward the rear. Note that reference numeral 22 in the drawing is a conveyance path (for example, a slide rail), but it can also be configured to be conveyed in the reverse direction (direction of arrow A) (not shown).

[0022] Here, as a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment, the molded product stocker 1 is provided with a receiving section 3 for accommodating the molded products in the container C. In a plan view, the receiving section 3 is set at a position between the staggering section 2 and the stacking section 4 in a linear arrangement. That is, in the horizontal conveyance direction (direction of arrow A) of the container C, it is set at a position downstream of the staggering section 2 and upstream of the stacking section 4. In the present embodiment, the containers C are configured to be conveyed (loaded) one by one on the conveyance path 16 from the staggering section 2 to the receiving section 3. The conveyed containers C are set at predetermined positions.

[0023] According to the above configuration, by providing the receiving section 3 for accommodating the molded products at a position between the staggering section 2 and the stacking section 4, it is possible to eliminate the process of lowering (or raising) the container at that position after accommodating the molded products, which was performed by a conventional apparatus. That is, it is possible to carry out the process of simultaneously conveying (unloading from the receiving section 3) the container C in which the molded products are accommodated and conveying (loading into the receiving section 3) the next non-accommodated container C without waiting at all for the lowering (or raising) of the container C. As a result, the tact time can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional case.

[0024] Here, when a receiving part 3 is provided at a position between the unpacking part 2 and the stacking part 4, the following configuration is preferable. Specifically, the center-to-center distance between the container C set in the unpacking part 2 and the container C set in the receiving part 3 is set as L1 (hereinafter, may be referred to as the "first distance"), and the center-to-center distance between the container C set in the receiving part 3 and the container C set in the stacking part 4 is set as L2 (hereinafter, may be referred to as the "second distance"). In this case, L1 is set to be longer than L2, that is, L1 > L2. As an example, L1 is about 750 mm and L2 is about 550 mm, but it is not limited thereto.

[0025] According to the above configuration, a configuration in which the receiving part 3 is provided at a position between the unpacking part 2 and the stacking part 4 can be preferably realized. Specifically, with the configuration in which the first distance L1 is relatively long, it is possible to avoid the conveying part (specific example: the chuck part of the conveying arm) of the taking-out device (not shown) from colliding with the non-accommodated container C stacked in the unpacking part 2, and a configuration in which the molded product can be conveyed to reach the container C in the receiving part 3 can be realized. At the same time, with the configuration in which the second distance L2 is relatively short, it is possible to achieve both the compactness of the entire device.

[0026] Subsequently, a conveying mechanism for horizontally conveying the container C from the unpacking part 2 to the receiving part 3 and from the receiving part 3 to the stacking part 4 will be described. In the molded product stocker 1 according to the present embodiment, as the conveying mechanism, by a single linear movement (specifically, the forward path of the reciprocating movement (movement in the direction of arrow A)), the non-accommodated container C is conveyed from the unpacking part 2 to the receiving part 3, and the accommodated container C is conveyed from the receiving part 3 to the stacking part 4 at the same height position, and it is provided with a single slider 10. Any container C is locked to the slider 10 (details will be described later) and is conveyed by sliding on the conveying path 16 (as an example, a slide rail). A perspective view of the slider 10 according to the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, and a front view is shown in FIG. 4 respectively.

[0027] According to the above configuration, for the first distance L1 and the second distance L2 set at different distances, one slider 10 can simultaneously transport each container C in a single linear movement. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both a reduction in tact time and a simplification of the device configuration.

[0028] Here, the slider 10 according to the present embodiment is configured to be lockable to the container C and includes a locking claw 12 that pushes the container C. Specifically, the locking claw 12 is configured to be in a state of protruding (projecting) outward (upward) from the upper surface of the slider 10 by an urging force at all times. As an operation of this configuration, the locking claw 12 protrudes from the upper surface by the urging force during the forward movement of the slider 10 (movement in the direction of arrow A) and is locked to and pushed by the container C in front in the transport direction. On the other hand, during the return movement of the slider 10 (movement in the direction of arrow B), it enters (is housed) inward from the upper surface against the urging force by sliding contact with the front surface and the lower surface of the container C behind in the transport direction (when in the sliding contact state), and passes through without being locked to the container C.

[0029] Note that, as an example of the means for generating the urging force, while the locking claw 12 is pivotally supported so as to be rotatable and advances and enters with respect to the upper surface by rotation, the position of the rotation axis is set on the front side (the locking portion side where it is locked to the container C) with respect to the position of the center of gravity, so that a rotational force (that is, an urging force) is generated so that the upper portion 12a on the locking portion side protrudes. However, it is not limited to this, and a configuration in which an urging means such as a spring is provided to generate an urging force may also be used (not shown).

[0030] Further, the slider 10 has the following configuration in order to simultaneously perform the conveyance of the container C from the staging part 2 to the receiving part 3 and the conveyance of the container C from the receiving part 3 to the stacking part 4, where the settings for each conveyance are different in distance. Specifically, as the locking claws 12, there are a first locking claw 12A that is locked to an unaccommodated container C (the container C set in the staging part 2) on the forward path of the slider 10, and a second locking claw 12B that is locked to an accommodated container C (the container C set in the receiving part 3). At this time, in the state before the slider 10 performs the conveyance (the state located at the starting point near the rear part of the apparatus), the distance L3 between the first locking claw 12A and the unaccommodated container C (specifically, the rear part of the container C) is set to be shorter than the distance L4 between the second locking claw 12B and the accommodated container C (specifically, the rear part of the container C), that is, L3 < L4. As an example, L3 is about 20 mm and L4 is about 180 mm, but it is not limited thereto.

[0031] According to the above configuration, a configuration capable of performing conveyances of different distances for two containers C by a simple linear reciprocating movement of one slider 10 can be realized. That is, a configuration capable of simultaneously conveying the first distance L1 for the unaccommodated container C and the second distance L2 for the accommodated container C in one operation can be realized.

[0032] In the present embodiment, as described above, L4 is set to be relatively much larger than L3. As a result, after the slider 10 starts moving and reaches the top speed, the second locking claw 12B will be locked to the accommodated container C (the rear part of the container C set in the receiving part 3), and a large impact will be applied to the accommodated container C, which may cause a positional deviation of the accommodated molded product or the like.

[0033] In response to this problem, the second locking claw 12B according to the present embodiment is provided with a cushion member 13 at the position where it is locked to the container C that has already been accommodated (the position of the front end of the second locking claw 12B). Thereby, the impact when the second locking claw 12B is locked to the container C that has already been accommodated can be reduced. As an example, the cushion member 13 is configured using a metal leaf spring. However, it is not limited to this, and it may be configured using a coil spring or other elastic bodies (rubber, foamed resin, etc.) (not shown).

[0034] As described above, according to the molded product stocker according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the step of lowering (or raising) the container at that position after accommodating the molded product as in the conventional apparatus. Therefore, without waiting at all for the lowering (or raising) of the container, it is possible to simultaneously perform the conveyance (unloading from the receiving portion) of the container C in which the molded product has been accommodated and the conveyance (loading into the receiving portion) of the next non-accommodated container C. Therefore, the tact time can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional apparatus.

[0035] Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In particular, although the configuration of taking out a resin molded product in injection molding or the like by a taking-out device and accommodating it in a conveyance container has been described as an example, it is not limited to this.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 1 Molded product stocker 2 Dispensing section 3 Receiving section 4 Stacking section 10 Slider 12 Locking claw 13 Cushion member C Container

Claims

1. A molded product stocker for accommodating molded products in a container for transportation, comprising: a separating section for taking out the non-accommodated containers one by one from the stacked state; a stacking section for stacking the accommodated containers one by one in a stacked state; a receiving section that is set at a position between the separating section and the stacking section in a plan view and accommodates the molded products in the container. A molded product stocker characterized by the above.

2. The center-to-center distance between the container set in the separating section and the container set in the receiving section is set longer than the center-to-center distance between the container set in the receiving section and the container set in the stacking section. The molded product stocker according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. Comprising one slider that performs the transportation of the non-accommodated containers from the separating section to the receiving section and the transportation of the accommodated containers from the receiving section to the stacking section at the same height position by a single linear movement. The molded product stocker according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The slider has a locking claw that protrudes from the upper surface by an urging force in the forward path and is locked to the container in the forward direction of the transportation direction, and enters the upper surface against the urging force when sliding in contact with the front surface and the lower surface of the container in the rearward direction of the transportation direction in the return path. The molded product stocker according to Claim 3, characterized by the above.

5. The slider has, as the locking claw, a first locking claw locked to the non-accommodated container and a second locking claw locked to the accommodated container, and in the state before performing the transportation, the distance between the first locking claw and the non-accommodated container is set shorter than the distance between the second locking claw and the accommodated container. The molded product stocker according to Claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. The second locking claw is provided with a cushion member at a position where it is locked to the accommodated container. The molded product stocker according to Claim 5, characterized by the above.

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