Conveyance system

Abstract

To provide a conveyance system which can increase the throughput of the entire system.SOLUTION: A conveyance system 1 in which multiple sliders 5 circulate along a circulation passage 6 including an outbound route 2 and a return route 3 is provided with a shift shaft 7 for moving three shift modules 7a, 7b, 7c, and switching between a normal conveyance position and a workpiece input position to a workpiece processing device. In the normal conveyance position, the first combination shift modules 7a, 7b where two of the three shift modules 7a, 7b, 7c are selected are connected to an outbound route module 2a and a return route module 3a. In the workpiece input position, the second combination shift modules 7b, 7c where two of the three shift modules 7a, 7b, 7c are selected are connected to the outbound route module 2a and the return route module 3a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyance system in which a plurality of sliders circulate along a circulation path including an outward path and a return path. [Background technology]

[0002] A conveyance system has been developed in which multiple sliders circulate along a circulation path that includes an outbound path and a return path (see Patent Document 1). The outbound path is equipped with an outbound path module. The return path is equipped with a return path module. Multiple work processing devices are arranged along the outbound path to process the workpiece. When the slider moves to the position of the work processing device, the work processing device processes the workpiece mounted on the slider. For example, when the slider moves to the position of work processing device A, work processing device A performs machining or the like on the workpiece mounted on the slider. Next, when the slider moves to the position of work processing device B, work processing device B performs screw tightening or the like on the workpiece mounted on the slider. Thereafter, in a similar manner, work processing device C applies adhesive or the like to the workpiece, and work processing device D inspects the workpiece or the like. When the slider moves to the end of the outbound path, the workpiece is discharged from the conveyance system. The slider returns along the return path to the start end of the outbound path, loads the workpiece again, and circulates.

[0003] There are two types of slider circulation methods: the oval method and the circulation axis method (also called the traverser method). With the oval method, a semicircular module is connected to the ends of the forward and return paths, and the slider moves along the semicircular module while reversing its position. With the circulation axis method, a linear circulation axis is installed at the ends of the forward and return paths, and the circulation axis receives the slider from the forward path, moves it in the axial direction of the circulation axis, and hands it over to the return path. With the circulation axis method, the slider may be circulated horizontally or vertically. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-178721 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in conventional conveying systems, if it takes a long time for a certain work processing device (e.g., work processing device A) to process a work, that work processing device (e.g., work processing device A) becomes a bottleneck, and there is a problem that the processing volume of the entire system cannot be increased.

[0006] In a conventional conveying system, if a shift axis is placed in front of the work processing device, and when the slider reaches the position of the work processing device, the shift axis can insert the slider into the work processing device, that is, the shift axis can move the outgoing module on which the slider is mounted and switch it from the normal conveying position to the work input position for the work processing device, so that the slider can wait in front of the work processing device, thereby shortening the downtime of the work processing device and therefore increasing the throughput of the entire system.

[0007] However, when the forward module is switched from the normal transfer position to the workpiece insertion position using the shift axis, the forward path is interrupted and the slider cannot be circulated quickly, which reduces the throughput of the entire system.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a transport system that can increase the throughput of the entire system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above problem, a first aspect of the present invention is a conveying system in which a plurality of sliders circulate along a circulation path including an outbound path with an outbound module and a return path with a return module, the conveying system being equipped with a shift axis that moves at least three shift modules to switch between at least a normal conveying position and a work input position to a work processing device, and in the normal conveying position, first combination shift modules selected from the at least three shift modules are connected to the outbound module and the return module, and in the work input position, second combination shift modules selected from the at least three shift modules are connected to the outbound module and the return module.

[0010] A second aspect of the present invention is a conveying system in which a plurality of sliders circulate along a circulation path including an outbound path with an outbound module and a return path with a return module, the conveying system comprising a shift axis that moves at least the outbound shift module and the return shift module to switch between at least a normal conveying position and a shortcut position, wherein at the normal conveying position, the outbound shift module and the return shift module are connected to the outbound module and the return module, and at the shortcut position, the outbound shift module equipped with a slider and the return module are connected, and the slider shortcuts the circulation path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the slider can pass through the forward and backward paths regardless of the normal transport position and workpiece input position of the shift module on which the slider is mounted. This allows the slider to circulate quickly, thereby increasing the throughput of the entire system.

[0012] According to the second aspect of the present invention, for example, when processing of only work processing device A is required, the slider can be moved to the position of work processing device A and then returned to the start end of the forward path without moving to the positions of work processing devices B and C. Therefore, the throughput of the entire system can be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a transport system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are plan views of the shift shaft of the present embodiment (FIG. 2A is the normal transfer position, FIG. 2B is the workpiece insertion position, and FIG. 2C is the normal transfer position). [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shift shaft of the present embodiment (shortcut position). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outgoing module of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slider according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a transport system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are plan views of a shift axis of a transfer system according to a second embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 7A is a normal transfer position, and FIG. 7B is a shortcut position). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, a transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the transport system of the present invention can be embodied in various forms and is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. The present embodiment is provided with the intention that those skilled in the art will be able to fully understand the invention by fully disclosing the specification. (First embodiment)

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a conveyance system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 2 denotes an outgoing path, reference numeral 3 denotes a returning path, and reference numerals 8 and 9 denote circulation axes provided at the ends of the outgoing path 2 and the returning path 3. The outgoing path 2, the returning path 3, and the circulation axes 8 and 9 constitute a circulation path 6. A plurality of sliders 5 circulate on the circulation path 6. Workpieces W are loaded on the sliders 5.

[0016] The outgoing path 2 is linear and includes multiple outgoing path modules 2a that are connected to one another. The outgoing path 2 moves the slider 5 from a starting point P1 to the right in the drawing. Along the way of the outgoing path 2, work processing devices A, B, and C, for example, are arranged to process the workpiece W (machining, screwing, applying adhesive, inspection, etc.).

[0017] A shift axis 7 is arranged in front of the work processing devices A, B, and C. When the slider 5 reaches the position of the work processing devices A, B, and C, the shift axis 7 moves the three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c mounted on it toward the work processing devices A, B, and C, and loads the work W on the shift module 7a into the work processing devices A, B, and C (see work processing device C). The work processing devices A, B, and C perform machining or the like on the loaded work W. The work W may be supplied from the slider 5 to the work processing devices A, B, and C by a supply device (not shown), or the work processing devices A, B, and C may directly process the work W on the slider 5.

[0018] After the workpiece W has been processed by the workpiece processing devices A, B, and C, the shift module 7a on which the slider 5 is mounted is returned to the outgoing path 2 by the shift shaft 7. Then, the outgoing path 2 moves the slider 5 to the right in the drawing to the terminal end P2 of the outgoing path 2. At the terminal end P2, the workpiece W is removed from the slider 5 by a transfer robot or the like, and the workpiece W is discharged from the conveyance system 1.

[0019] The circulation axis 8 is equipped with a shift module 8a mounted on a table 10. The circulation axis 8 moves the slider 5 received from the outgoing path 2 in the upward direction in the figure to the start end P3 of the returning path 3. The circulation axis 8 is equipped with a drive mechanism that moves the shift module 8a in the direction of the circulation axis. The drive mechanism is a motor, a ball screw, a linear motor, etc.

[0020] The return path 3 is linear and comprises multiple return path modules 3a that are connected to each other. The return path 3 moves the slider 5 at its starting end P3 in the opposite direction to the outgoing path 2 (to the left in the figure) to its end P4 of the return path 3. The circulation axis 9 comprises a shift module 9a mounted on a table 11. The circulation axis 9 comprises a drive mechanism that moves the shift module 9a in the direction of the circulation axis. The drive mechanism is a motor, ball screw, linear motor, etc. The circulation axis 9 moves the slider 5 received from the return path 3 downward in the figure to the start end P1 of the outgoing path 2. At the start end P1, the workpiece W is loaded again onto the slider 5 by a transfer robot or the like.

[0021] The position of each slider 5 moving along the circulation path 6 is controlled by a centralized controller such as a general-purpose PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) (not shown). The forward path module 2a, the return path module 3a, the shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c of the shift axis 7, and the shift modules 8a and 9a of the circulation axes 8 and 9 are each equipped with a module controller capable of communicating with the centralized controller. The module controller controls the power supplied to multiple coils in the module so that the slider 5 moves according to commands from the centralized controller. The configuration of the module will be described later.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the shift shaft 7 includes three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c mounted on a table 12. The three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c are linear and parallel to each other. The shift shaft 7 includes a drive mechanism that moves the three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c in the shift shaft direction (a direction perpendicular to the shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c). The drive mechanism includes a motor, a ball screw, a linear motor, or the like.

[0023] The shift axis 7 moves three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c to switch from the normal transport position shown in Fig. 2(a) to the workpiece input position shown in Fig. 2(b). In this way, as shown in Fig. 2(b), the slider 5 can be made to wait in front of the workpiece processing device A, thereby shortening the downtime of the workpiece processing device A. Furthermore, if processing by the workpiece processing device A takes a long time, for example, two workpiece processing devices A can be lined up (replace the workpiece processing device B shown in Fig. 1 with the workpiece processing device A), and the succeeding slider 5 can overtake the slider 5 input into the workpiece processing device A, so that two workpieces W can be processed by the two workpiece processing devices A.

[0024] After the workpiece W has been processed by the workpiece processing device A, the shift module 7a on which the slider 5 is mounted is returned by the shift shaft 7 to the normal transfer position shown in FIG. 2(c).

[0025] At the normal transport position shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(c), first combined shift modules 7a and 7b, two of which are selected from the three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c, are connected to the outbound module 2a and the inbound module 3a. At the workpiece input position shown in Figure 2(b), second combined shift modules 7b and 7c, two of which are selected from the three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c, are connected to the outbound module 2a and the inbound module 3a. This allows the slider 5 to pass through the outbound path 2 and the inbound path 3, regardless of the normal transport positions and workpiece input positions of the three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c. Therefore, the slider 5 can be quickly returned to the start end P1 of the outbound path 2, improving the throughput of the entire system.

[0026] Of the three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c, the bottom one is the forward-path shift module 7a, the top one is the return-path shift module 7c, and the center one is the forward-path / return-path combined shift module 7b. In the normal transport position shown in FIGS. 2(a) and (c), the forward-path / return-path combined shift module 7b is return path 3. In the work input position shown in FIG. 2(b), the forward-path / return-path combined shift module 7b is forward path 2. Four or more shift modules may be mounted on the shift shaft 7, but by using the forward-path / return-path combined shift module 7b in the center, the shift shaft 7 can be made smaller.

[0027] Figure 3 shows an example in which three shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c are switched to the shortcut position. In the shortcut position, the outgoing shift module 7a, on which the slider 5 is mounted, and the return module 3a are connected. In this way, if, for example, processing of only work processing device A is required, the slider 5 can be moved to the position of work processing device A, and then the circulation path 6 can be shortcut without moving it to the positions of work processing devices B and C. This allows the throughput of the entire system to be improved.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the forward module 2a. The configurations of the return module 3a, the shift modules 7a, 7b, and 7c of the shift shaft 7, and the shift modules 8a and 9a of the circulating shafts 8 and 9 are also substantially the same as that of the forward module 2a. The forward module 2a has a plurality of coils 21 that form the stator 20 of the linear motor. Power is supplied to the plurality of coils 21 by a power converter such as a PWM inverter. The power converter is controlled by a module controller 24.

[0029] The outbound module 2a is equipped with a linear guide 25 that smoothly guides the linear movement of the slider 5. A rail 26 of the linear guide 25 is attached to a base 28 of the outbound module 2a. A carriage 27 of the linear guide 25 is attached to the slider 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the slider 5 is equipped with a magnet 29 that serves as a mover of a linear motor. The magnet 29 generates thrust in cooperation with the multiple coils 21 of the outbound module 2a. A workpiece W is loaded onto the slider 5 via a pallet (not shown). (Second embodiment)

[0030] 6 is a plan view of a transport system 31 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The configurations of the outgoing path 2, the returning path 3, the circulation axes 8 and 9, and the slider 5 of the transport system 31 according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the transport system 1 according to the first embodiment, and therefore the same reference numerals are used and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0031] In the transfer system 31 of the second embodiment, two shift modules 33a and 33b are mounted on the shift shaft 32. The two shift modules 33a and 33b are an outward shift module 33a and a backward shift module 33b.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 7, the shift shaft 32 switches the outgoing shift module 33a on which the slider 5 is mounted between the normal transport position shown in Fig. 7(a) and the shortcut position shown in Fig. 7(b). Although not shown, the shift shaft 32 may also switch the outgoing shift module 33a to a work input position for the work processing devices A to C.

[0033] 7(a), the outgoing shift module 33a and the return shift module 33b of the shift shaft 32 are connected to the outgoing module 2a and the return module 3a. At the shortcut position shown in FIG. 7(b), the outgoing shift module 33a carrying the processed workpiece W is connected to the return module 3a.

[0034] According to the transport system 31 of the second embodiment, for example, when processing of only the workpiece processing device A is required, the slider 5 can be moved to the position of the workpiece processing device A, and then the circulation path 6 can be shortcutted without moving to the positions of the workpiece processing devices B and C. Therefore, the throughput of the entire system can be improved.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other embodiments may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, although the above-described embodiment employs a circulating shaft system for circulating the sliders, an oval system may also be employed. Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment employs a horizontal circulating system for the sliders, the sliders may also be circulated vertically. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1...Transport system, 2...Outward path, 2a...Outward path module, 3...Return path, 3a...Return path module, 5...Slider, 6...Circulation path, 7...Shift shaft, 7a, 7b, 7c...Three shift modules, 7a, 7b...First combination shift module, 7b, 7c...Second combination shift module, 7a...Outward path shift module, 7b...Forward path and return path combined shift module, 7c...Return path shift module, 21...Coil, 29...Magnet, 31...Transport system, 32...Shift shaft, 33a...Outward path shift module, 33b...Return path shift module, A to D...Workpiece processing device, W...Work

Claims

1. In a conveyance system in which a plurality of sliders circulate along a circulation path including an outgoing path having an outgoing module and a returning path having a returning module, A shift shaft is provided for moving at least three shift modules to switch between at least a normal transport position and a work input position to the work processing device, At the normal transport position, two first combination shift modules selected from the at least three shift modules are connected to the forward module and the return module; A conveying system in which, at the workpiece input position, two second combination shift modules selected from the at least three shift modules are connected to the forward module and the return module.

2. 2. The conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the at least three shift modules are comprised of a forward shift module, a backward shift module, and a forward / backward shift module between the forward shift module and the backward shift module.

3. The shift shaft moves the three shift modules to switch to a shortcut position, 3. The conveying system according to claim 2, wherein the outgoing shift module and the return module, on which a slider is mounted, are connected at the shortcut position, and the slider shortcuts the circulation path.

4. In a conveyance system in which a plurality of sliders circulate along a circulation path including an outgoing path having an outgoing module and a returning path having a returning module, a shift shaft that moves at least the forward shift module and the backward shift module to switch between at least a normal conveyance position and a shortcut position; At the normal conveying position, the forward shift module and the return shift module are connected to the forward module and the return module, A conveying system in which the outgoing shift module and the return module, on which a slider is mounted, are connected at the shortcut position, and the slider takes a shortcut along the circulation path.

5. the shift module includes a plurality of energizable coils; 5. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein the slider includes a magnet that cooperates with the plurality of coils to generate a thrust force.

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