Conveyance device

Abstract

To provide a workpiece conveyance device which has low cost and suppresses increase of a cycle time, even when a workpiece conveyance distance becomes long.SOLUTION: A conveyance device includes a workpiece tray, a workpiece tray conveyance rail, a mover conveyance path, and a plurality of movers movable on the mover conveyance path, and delivers the workpiece tray from a transfer origin mover to a transfer destination mover, and thereby conveys the workpiece mounted on the workpiece tray, wherein the mover has a mover body, and a mover engagement part detachably engaged with the workpiece tray, and in a region where a moving range in which the transfer origin mover is moved on the mover conveyance path, and a moving range in which the transfer destination mover is moved on the mover conveyance path overlap each other, the mover engagement part of the transfer origin mover releases the engagement with the workpiece tray, and the mover engagement part of the transfer destination mover forms engagement with the workpiece tray, which transfers the workpiece tray from the transfer origin mover to the transfer destination mover.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device for placing a workpiece.

Background Art

[0002] When processing a workpiece (an article to be processed) involves a plurality of steps, for example, the workpiece is sequentially conveyed to a plurality of workstations, and predetermined processing is performed at each workstation. At this time, means for conveying the workpiece from one workstation to the next-workstation is required.

[0003] In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 describes an article supply device using a linear motor mechanism for conveying an article and supplying it to a packaging process.

[0004] Further, Patent Document 2 describes a conveying device including a telescopic arm having a workpiece gripping means and a moving means for reciprocating the arm horizontally and swinging the arm in the moving direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] When using a linear motor mechanism like the technology of Patent Document 1, if the conveyance distance is short to medium, it is possible to connect the linear motor mechanisms in series, and the workpiece can be conveyed quickly and accurately to a predetermined work station. However, there is a limit to the connection distance of the linear motor mechanism. When the moving distance becomes long, the ends of the linear motor mechanism appear. The linear motor mechanism cannot convey the workpiece beyond this end.

[0007] In this regard, according to the technology of Patent Document 2, it becomes possible to convey the workpiece beyond the end of the linear motor mechanism. However, if a completely different conveyance means is introduced in addition to the linear motor mechanism, not only will the equipment cost increase, but there is also a concern about the deterioration of the cycle time.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a workpiece conveyance device that can suppress an increase in cycle time at low cost even when the conveyance distance of the workpiece is long.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The present invention is as follows.

[0010] 《Aspect 1》A work tray for placing a workpiece and a work tray conveyance rail on which the work tray moves, one or two or more mover conveyance paths arranged along the work tray conveyance rail, a plurality of movers movable on the mover conveyance path, including By delivering the work tray from a delivery-source mover that is one of the plurality of movers to a delivery-destination mover that is a mover adjacent to the delivery-source mover among the plurality of movers, the workpiece placed on the work tray is conveyed, a conveyance device, Each of the movers has a mover body and a mover engaging portion that detachably engages with the work tray. The transfer source mover has a movement range in which it moves on the mover conveyance path, and the transfer destination mover has a movement range in which it moves on the mover conveyance path, and there is an overlapping region where they overlap. In the overlapping region, the mover engaging portion of the transfer source mover releases the engagement with the work tray, and the mover engaging portion of the transfer destination mover forms the engagement with the work tray, so that the work tray is transferred from the transfer source mover to the transfer destination mover. Conveying device. 《Aspect 2》In the overlapping region, The mover engaging portion protrudes from the mover main body in the direction of the work tray and is pulled back, so as to engage with the work tray detachably. The conveying device according to Aspect 1. 《Aspect 3》The mover engaging portion is a plate-shaped mover engaging convex portion. The work tray has a work tray engaging concave portion capable of receiving the mover engaging portion. The conveying device according to Aspect 2. 《Aspect 4》The mover engaging convex portion has a roller capable of traveling inside the work tray engaging concave portion, and the conveying device according to Aspect 3. 《Aspect 5》When observed from the direction of the rotation axis of the roller, the grounding surface of the roller protrudes beyond both sides in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mover engaging convex portion, and the conveying device according to Aspect 4. 《Aspect 6》The overlapping region exists in the middle of one of the mover conveyance paths, and the conveying device according to Aspect 1. 《Aspect 7》The number of the mover conveyance paths is two or more. The overlapping region exists at the connection portion of two adjacent mover conveyance paths, and the conveying device according to Aspect 1. 《Aspect 8》The conveying device has a linear motor mechanism for moving the mover on the mover conveyance path, and the conveying device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7. 《Aspect 9》A conveying method including placing a work on a work tray and moving the work by using the conveying device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7. Aspect 10: The conveying method according to Aspect 9, wherein the conveying device has a linear motor mechanism for moving the mover on the mover conveying path. Aspect 11: A set of the mover conveying path and the mover for use in the conveying device according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a workpiece conveying device that can suppress an increase in cycle time at low cost even when the conveying distance of the workpiece is long.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Fig. 1(a)

Fig. 1(b)

Fig. 1(c)

Fig. 1(d)

Fig. 2(a)

Fig. 2(b)

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] "Transfer Device" The transfer device of the present invention is a work tray for placing a workpiece and a work tray transfer rail on which the work tray moves, and one or two or more mover transfer paths arranged along the work tray transfer rail, and a plurality of movers movable on the mover transfer path, and includes By delivering the work tray from a delivery-source mover, which is one of the plurality of movers, to a delivery-destination mover, which is a mover adjacent to the delivery-source mover among the plurality of movers, the workpiece placed on the work tray is transported. It is a transfer device, Each of the movers has a mover body and a mover engaging portion that detachably engages with the work tray. The moving range in which the delivery-source mover moves on the mover transfer path and the moving range in which the delivery-destination mover moves on the mover transfer path overlap, and there is an overlapping region. In the overlapping region, the mover engaging portion of the delivery-source mover releases the engagement with the work tray, and the mover engaging portion of the delivery-destination mover forms an engagement with the work tray, so that the work tray is configured to be delivered from the delivery-source mover to the delivery-destination mover. It is a transfer device.

[0014] In this specification, "workpiece" means an object to be processed that is subjected to various processes.

[0015] The transfer device of the present invention can, for example, carry a workpiece into a processing machine (workstation) for processing the workpiece and carry out the workpiece after processing in the workstation from the workstation.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of workstations are arranged along the mover conveyance path and the workpiece tray conveyance rail of the conveyance device. In this case, the conveyance device of the present invention can, for example, carry a workpiece into a certain workstation, carry out the processed workpiece out of the workstation, and carry it into the next workstation. In this mode, while conveying the workpiece, a plurality of processes can be sequentially performed on the workpiece.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, even when the moving distance of the workpiece is long and a plurality of mover conveyance paths are connected, the workpiece can be transferred between the mover conveyance paths without requiring a special transfer device.

[0018] In still another embodiment of the present invention, the workstations arranged along the workpiece tray conveyance rail of the conveyance device have a plurality of processing locations. In this case, the conveyance device of the present invention can, for example, carry the workpiece into an available processing location among the plurality of processing locations when carrying the workpiece into a certain workstation. In this mode, even when a predetermined process includes time-consuming processing, the waiting time of the workstation can be shortened.

[0019] Hereinafter, the elements constituting the conveyance device of the present invention will be described in order.

[0020] 〈Workpiece Tray〉 The workpiece tray included in the conveyance device of the present invention can place a workpiece. By moving the workpiece tray with the workpiece placed thereon on the workpiece tray conveyance rail, the workpiece placed on the workpiece tray is conveyed.

[0021] The work tray can be detachably engaged with an engaging portion of a mover described later. When the mover moves on the mover conveyance path with the engaging portion of the mover engaged with the work tray, the work tray moves on the work tray conveyance rail accordingly. When the engagement between the engaging portion of the mover and the work tray is released, the work tray stays at the position where the engagement on the work tray conveyance rail is released regardless of the movement of the mover.

[0022] The work tray may have, for example, a flat plate shape, and the upper surface of this flat plate may have depressions, holes, protrusions, etc. for placing the work at a predetermined position.

[0023] The work tray moves on the work tray conveyance rail in a state of being engaged with the mover. The work tray may have wheels, rollers, a roller mechanism, etc. for smoothly moving on the work tray conveyance rail.

[0024] The work tray may or may not have a power source for moving on the work tray conveyance rail. Since the work tray moves on the work tray conveyance rail by engaging with the mover moving on the mover conveyance path, it may not have a power source.

[0025] The engagement between the work tray and the engaging portion of the mover will be described later.

[0026] 〈Work Tray Conveyance Rail〉 The work tray conveyance rail included in the conveyance device of the present invention functions as a passage for the work tray to move.

[0027] The work tray conveyance rail may extend linearly, curvilinearly, or in a combination thereof. The work tray conveyance rail may be, for example, in the shape of a rail, a groove, etc. Only one of these grooves, rails, etc. may extend, or a plurality of them may extend in parallel.

[0028] When the work tray has wheels, roller mechanisms, etc. for moving on the work tray conveyance rail, the work tray conveyance rail may be a rail having a shape that allows the wheels, roller mechanisms, etc. of the work tray to slide.

[0029] 〈Mover Conveyance Path〉 The mover conveyance path included in the conveyance device of the present invention is arranged along the work tray conveyance rail and functions as a passage for the mover to move.

[0030] The mover conveyance path may extend linearly, curvilinearly, or in a combination thereof. The mover conveyance path may have, for example, a substantially horizontal surface so that the mover can be placed thereon and move.

[0031] The mover conveyance path included in the conveyance device of the present invention may be only one, or two or more may be connected in series. When the driving force for the mover to move is a linear motor mechanism and two or more mover conveyance paths are connected, in the prior art, when moving the mover across two mover conveyance paths, special conveyance means is required. In contrast, in the conveyance device of the present invention, even when the driving amount of the mover is a linear motor mechanism and two or more mover conveyance paths are connected, the mover can be moved across two mover conveyance paths without requiring a special moving device.

[0032] 〈Mover〉 The mover included in the conveyance device of the present invention can move on the mover conveyance path.

[0033] The mover has a mover body and a mover engaging portion, and this mover engaging portion can engage with the work tray detachably.

[0034] When the mover engaging portion engages with the work tray and the mover moves on the mover conveyance path, the work tray moves along the work tray conveyance rail as the mover moves. Further, when the engagement between the mover engaging portion and the work tray is released, the work tray stays at the position where the engagement on the work tray conveyance rail is released regardless of the movement of the mover.

[0035] The driving force for moving the mover may be appropriately selected from known moving mechanisms. In order to control the moving distance and moving speed, the driving force of the mover may be selected from, for example, a servo motor, a stepping motor, a linear motor, etc. When the conveyance device of the present invention has a linear motor mechanism, it is preferable in that the position control of the mover can be performed accurately and the mover can be accurately stopped at the position where the work tray is to be transferred.

[0036] The engagement between the mover engaging portion and the work tray will be described later.

[0037] The conveyance device of the present invention has a plurality of movers. In the conveyance device of the present invention, when there is only one mover conveyance path, two or more movers may be arranged on the mover conveyance path. In the conveyance device of the present invention, when two or more mover conveyance paths are connected, one or two or more movers may be arranged on each mover conveyance path.

[0038] <Delivery of the work tray from the source mover to the destination mover> In the conveyance device of the present invention, the work tray is conveyed by delivering the work tray from a source mover, which is one of the movers, to a destination mover, which is a mover adjacent to the source mover. In the device of the present invention, the work tray can be delivered without requiring a special moving device whether the delivery of the work tray is performed inside one mover conveyance path or between two adjacent mover conveyance paths.

[0039] At this time, there is an overlapping area where the movement range of the transfer source mover on the mover conveyance path overlaps with the movement range of the transfer destination mover on the mover conveyance path. And in this overlapping area, the mover engaging portion of the transfer source mover releases the engagement with the work tray, and the mover engaging portion of the transfer destination mover forms the engagement with the work tray. The transfer device of the present invention is configured to transfer the work tray from the transfer source mover to the transfer destination mover by such a mechanism.

[0040] This transfer mechanism will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram showing the state of transferring the work tray from the transfer source mover to the transfer destination mover in the transfer device of the present invention in chronological order.

[0042] The transfer source mover (100) has a mover main body (101) and a mover engaging portion (102). The configurations of other movers and the details of the work tray (500) will be described later.

[0043] In Fig. 1(a), the transfer source mover (100) moves on the mover conveyance path (300) in the direction of the arrow with the mover engaging portion (102) engaged with the work tray (500). The work tray (500) moves on the two rail-shaped work tray conveyance rails (600) in the same direction as the transfer source mover (100) as the transfer source mover (100) moves. The transfer source mover (100) moves until the end portion of the mover engaging portion (102) in the moving direction reaches the point indicated by P1. Up to this point is the movement range (R 100 ) of the transfer source mover (100). In Fig. 1(b), the transfer source mover (100) temporarily stops at the point where the end portion of the mover engaging portion (102) in the moving direction is indicated by P1, releases the engagement between the mover engaging portion (102) and the work tray (500), and then returns on the mover conveyance path (300) in the direction of the arrow. The work tray (500) stays at the position where the engagement with the mover engaging portion (102) is released.

[0044] In FIG. 1(c), the recipient mover (200) has a mover body (201) and a mover engaging portion (202). The recipient mover (200) moves in the direction of the arrow on the mover conveyance path (300) in a state where the mover engaging portion (202) is not engaged with the work tray (500). The recipient mover (200) moves until the end of the mover engaging portion (202) in the moving direction reaches the point indicated by P2. Up to this point is the moving range (R 200 ) of the recipient mover (200). In FIG. 1(d), the recipient mover (200) temporarily stops at the point where the end of the mover engaging portion (202) in the moving direction is indicated by P2, and engages the mover engaging portion (202) with the work tray (500). Then, the mover engaging portion (202) returns in the direction of the arrow together with the work tray (500) on the mover conveyance path (300). The work tray (500) moves in the same direction as the recipient mover (200) on the work tray conveyance rail (600) as the recipient mover (200) moves.

[0045] Through the above operations, the work tray (500) is conveyed with the transfer of the work tray (500) from the donor mover (100) to the recipient mover (200). Here, the moving range (R 100 ) of the donor mover (100) and the moving range (R 200 ) of the recipient mover (200) have an overlapping region (R OL ) between the point P1 and the point P2. In this overlapping region (R OL ), the donor mover (100) releases the engagement between the mover engaging portion (102) and the work tray (500), and the recipient mover (200) forms the engagement between the mover engaging portion (202) and the work tray (500), thereby transferring the work tray (500) from the donor mover (100) to the recipient mover (200) and conveying the work tray (500).

[0046] The overlapping region between the moving range of the donor mover and the moving range of the recipient mover, which is the transfer location of the work tray, may be located in the middle of one of the mover conveyance paths, or may be located at the connection portion of two mover conveyance paths that are adjacent to each other and connected.

[0047] In FIG. 1, the mover engaging portion (102) of the source transfer mover (100) is arranged at a position shifted in the conveyance direction of the work tray (500) from the center of the mover body (101) of the source transfer mover (100), and the mover engaging portion (202) of the destination transfer mover (200) is arranged at a position shifted in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the work tray (500) from the center of the mover body (201) of the source transfer mover (100).

[0048] The degree to which the position of the mover engaging portion is shifted from the center of the mover body may be such that when the mover is viewed from above, the mover body and the mover engaging convex portion (described later) of the mover engaging portion do not have an overlapping portion. That is, when the mover is viewed from above, the mover engaging convex portion may be arranged at a position protruding from the mover body. In such a manner, in a region exceeding the movement range of the mover bodies (101, 201), an overlapping region (R 100 ) of the movement range (R 200 ) of the source transfer mover (100) and the movement range (R OL ) of the destination transfer mover (200) can be formed. Therefore, according to such a manner, even if the delivery location of the work tray is the connection portion of the two mover conveyance paths, the conveyance of the work tray can be smoothly performed without introducing special conveyance means.

[0049] In FIG. 1, the source transfer mover (100) and the destination transfer mover (200) are in a mirror image (plane-symmetrical) relationship with each other, but they do not have to be in a mirror image relationship.

[0050] <Engagement between the work tray and the mover> The mover has a mover body and a mover engaging portion that detachably engages with the work tray.

[0051] In the overlapping region between the movement range of the delivery source mover and the movement range of the delivery destination mover, the mover engaging portion of the mover protrudes from the mover body in the direction of the work tray, so that an engagement can be formed with the work tray staying in the overlapping region. Also, in this overlapping region, the mover engaging portion of the mover is pulled back from the mover body from the work tray, thereby releasing the engagement with the work tray and retaining the work tray in the overlapping region.

[0052] The means for protruding and retracting the mover engaging portion from the mover body may be appropriately selected from general actuators. The actuator may be, for example, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electromagnetic, etc. A mechanical actuator may be composed of, for example, a combination of a stepping motor and a rack and pinion, a ball screw, a sliding screw, etc. A pneumatic actuator may be configured to reciprocate a piston in a cylinder by pneumatic pressure, for example. A hydraulic actuator may be configured to reciprocate a piston in a cylinder by hydraulic pressure, for example. An electromagnetic actuator may be configured to generate a linear reciprocating motion by a linear motor, for example.

[0053] In an embodiment of the present invention, the mover engaging portion may be a plate-shaped mover engaging convex portion. In this case, the work tray may have a work tray engaging concave portion capable of receiving the mover engaging portion.

[0054] In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-described mover engaging convex portion may have rollers capable of traveling inside the work tray engaging concave portion. The number of rollers may be one or two or more. Preferably, a pair of rollers that rotate coaxially with a slight interval therebetween is arranged. Such a pair of rollers provided on one mover engaging convex portion may be one set or two sets or more.

[0055] In an embodiment of the present invention, when observed from the direction of the rotation axis of the roller, the ground contact surface of the roller may protrude beyond both sides in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mover engagement convex portion. In such an embodiment, smooth engagement formation is possible even when the positional relationship between the destination mover and the work tray is slightly deviated.

[0056] The following cases can be considered as cases where the positional relationship between the destination mover and the work tray is deviated. When the position where the source mover stops in the overlapping region deviates from a predetermined position, the position of the work tray after disengagement deviates from a predetermined position on the work tray conveyance rail, and When the position where the destination mover stops in the overlapping region deviates from a predetermined position, the positional relationship between the destination mover and the work tray on the work tray conveyance rail is deviated.

[0057] When the driving force for moving the mover is a linear motor mechanism, it is considered that the position where the mover stops on the mover conveyance path can be controlled extremely accurately with respect to the front-rear relationship (horizontal direction) in the traveling direction. In this case, the problem is considered to be mainly the deviation in the vertical direction (up-and-down direction) of the stop position. Therefore, when the driving force for moving the mover is a linear motor mechanism, it is desirable that the rotation axis of the roller provided on the mover engagement convex portion is horizontal and in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mover engagement convex portion.

[0058] The engagement between the mover and the work tray will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram for explaining the form of the mover in the conveyance device of the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numerals are given as the source mover, but the destination mover may have the same configuration.

[0060] The mover (100) in FIG. 2(a) has a mover main body (101) and a mover engagement portion (102), and is configured to be movable on the mover conveyance path (300) in the extending direction of the mover conveyance path (300).

[0061] In the mover (100) of Fig. 2(a), the mover engaging portion (102) is disposed at a position slightly deviated from the center of the mover main body (101) in the extending direction of the mover conveyance path (300). In this case, the mover engaging portion (102) may be disposed so as to be deviated from the center of the mover main body (101) in the conveyance direction of the work tray.

[0062] Further, a mover engaging convex portion (102a) is disposed at the tip of the mover engaging portion (102) of the mover (100).

[0063] The mover engaging portion (102) can be projected from the mover main body (101) in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the mover conveyance path (300) and in the direction of a work tray conveyance rail (not shown), and can be pulled back to its original position. When the mover engaging portion (102) is projected, the mover engaging convex portion (102a) is inserted into a work tray engaging concave portion of a work tray (not shown), and an engagement is formed.

[0064] Fig. 2(b) is an enlarged view of the mover engaging convex portion (102a).

[0065] The mover engaging convex portion (102a) of Fig. 2(b) has a plate-like shape and has a pair of rollers (103) that rotate coaxially with a slight interval at the tip. The diameter of this pair of rollers (103) is set larger than the plate thickness of the mover engaging convex portion (102a). Due to the presence of this roller (103), even when the positional relationship between the mover and the work tray is deviated, the mover engaging convex portion (102a) can smoothly travel within the work tray engaging concave portion to form an engagement.

[0066] Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram for explaining the form of a work tray in the conveying device of the present invention.

[0067] The work tray (500) shown in FIG. 3 has a plate-shaped work tray body (501), holes (502) for placing workpieces, and wheels (503), and is configured to be movable on a work tray conveyance rail (600) in the extending direction of the work tray conveyance rail (600). Four pairs (8 pieces) of the wheels (503) of the work tray (500) that rotate coaxially according to the width of the work tray conveyance rail (600) are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the extending direction of the work tray conveyance rail (600).

[0068] With such a configuration, the work tray (500) can smoothly move on the work tray conveyance rail (600) while engaged with the mover (100).

[0069] The work tray (500) further has a work tray engaging portion (504) substantially at the center of the side on the mover side, and a work tray engaging recess (504a) is formed in the gap between the upper surface of the work tray body (501) and the work tray engaging portion (504). When the mover engaging convex portion of the mover is inserted into this work tray engaging recess (504a), the engagement between the mover and the work tray is formed.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the mover engaging convex portion of the mover and the work tray engaging recess of the work tray are engaged. In FIG. 4, the engagement is formed by inserting a plate-shaped mover engaging convex portion, which is the tip of the mover engaging portion of the mover, into the work tray engaging recess of the work tray.

[0071] 《Conveying Method》 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying method including placing a workpiece on a work tray and moving the workpiece using the conveying device of the present invention.

[0072] Regarding the conveying device used in the conveying method of the present invention, the above description may be incorporated by reference. Therefore, the conveying device may have, for example, a linear motor mechanism for moving the mover on the mover conveying path.

[0073] The workpiece conveyed by the conveying method of the present invention may be, for example, a honeycomb substrate for manufacturing an exhaust gas purification catalyst device disposed in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.

[0074] 《Set of mover conveyance path and mover》 According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of a mover conveyance path and a mover for use in the conveying device of the present invention.

[0075] Regarding these mover conveyance paths and movers, the corresponding parts in the description of the conveying device of the present invention may be incorporated by reference.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0076] 100 Mover, transfer source mover 101, 201 Mover body 102, 202 Mover engaging part 102a Mover engaging convex part 103 Roller 200 Transfer destination mover 300 Mover conveyance path 500 Workpiece tray 501 Workpiece tray body 502 Hole 503 Wheel 504 Workpiece tray engaging part 504a Workpiece tray engaging concave part 600 Workpiece tray conveyance rail P1 Arrival point of transfer source mover P2 Arrival point of transfer destination mover R 100 Moving range of transfer source mover R 200 Moving range of transfer destination mover R OL Overlap region

Claims

1. A work tray for placing a work, a work tray conveyance rail on which the work tray moves, one or more mover conveyance paths arranged along the work tray conveyance rail, a plurality of movers movable on the mover conveyance path, comprising, By delivering the work tray from a delivery-source mover, which is one of the plurality of movers, to a delivery-destination mover, which is a mover adjacent to the delivery-source mover among the plurality of movers, the work placed on the work tray is conveyed, a conveying device, Each of the movers has a mover body and a mover engaging portion that detachably engages with the work tray, The moving range in which the delivery-source mover moves on the mover conveyance path and the moving range in which the delivery-destination mover moves on the mover conveyance path overlap, having an overlapping region, In the overlapping region, the mover engaging portion of the delivery-source mover releases the engagement with the work tray, and the mover engaging portion of the delivery-destination mover forms an engagement with the work tray, thereby being configured to deliver the work tray from the delivery-source mover to the delivery-destination mover, Conveying device.

2. In the overlapping region, The mover engaging portion is detachably engaged with the work tray by protruding from the mover body in the direction of the work tray and being pulled back, The conveying device according to claim 1.

3. The mover engaging portion is a plate-shaped mover engaging convex portion, The work tray has a work tray engaging concave portion capable of receiving the mover engaging portion, The conveying device according to claim 2.

4. The mover engaging convex portion has a roller capable of traveling inside the work tray engaging concave portion, the conveying device according to claim 3.

5. When observed from the direction of the rotation axis of the roller, the grounding surface of the roller protrudes beyond both sides in a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the mover engaging convex portion, the conveying device according to claim 4.

6. The overlapping region exists in the middle of one of the mover conveyance paths, the conveying device according to claim 1.

7. The number of the mover conveyance paths is two or more, The overlapping region exists at the connection portion of two adjacent mover conveyance paths, the conveying device according to claim 1.

8. The conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, having a linear motor mechanism for moving the mover on the mover conveying path.

9. A conveying method, comprising placing a workpiece on a work tray and moving the workpiece using the conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. The conveying method according to claim 9, wherein the conveying device has a linear motor mechanism for moving the mover on the mover conveying path.

11. A set of the mover conveying path and the mover for use in the conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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