Transfer device

Abstract

The present invention provides a transfer device with a simple configuration that can suppress the dropping of transported objects and move them from a roller conveyor to a trolley. [Solution] The transfer device 10 includes a seesaw-type oscillating member 11 that swings between a first position in which a front stopper 11B that engages with the conveyed object M located in the front row of the roller conveyor 20 protrudes above the roller conveyor 20, and a second position in which a rear stopper 11C that engages with the conveyed object M located in the next row protrudes above the roller conveyor 20. A biasing member 12 is provided on the rear side of the oscillating member 11 to bias the rear side of the oscillating member 11 downward. A holding member is provided on the front side of the oscillating member 11, the upper end of which is supported by the oscillating member 11, and the lower end of which is displaceable with respect to the upper end.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a transfer device that transfers a conveyed object from an inclined roller conveyor, where the conveyed object moves due to its own weight, to a cart.

Background Art

[0002] As a transfer device for transferring a conveyed object from a gravity-type roller conveyor to a cart, for example, the device described in Patent Document 1 is known. This device has a front stopper that engages with the conveyed object in the front row of the roller conveyor and a rear stopper that engages with the conveyed object in the row next to the front row. Based on a fulcrum, the front stopper and the rear stopper are provided with a seesaw-type swinging rod that alternately protrudes onto the roller conveyor, and is configured to swing the swinging rod by an actuator. According to this device, when continuously conveying a conveyed object on the roller conveyor, after protruding the front stopper onto the roller conveyor to stop the movement of the conveyed object in the front row, and then protruding the rear stopper onto the roller conveyor to stop the movement of the next conveyed object, only the conveyed object in the front row can be moved to a cart arranged near the roller conveyor.

[0003] However, in a gravity-type roller conveyor, since the conveyed object is moved by its own weight using the inclination, if the momentum of the conveyed object flowing is strong, the conveyed object may push down the stopper and fall from the roller conveyor without stopping.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] This invention was made based on these problems and aims to provide a transfer device that can move conveyed objects from a roller conveyor to a trolley with a simple configuration while suppressing the dropping of the conveyed objects. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The transfer device of the present invention moves a transported object from a roller conveyor that is inclined so that the transported object moves by its own weight to a trolley, and includes a front stopper that engages with the front end of the transported object located in the front row of the roller conveyor, and a rear stopper that engages with the front end of the transported object located in the next row, and comprises a seesaw-type swinging member that swings between a first position in which the front stopper protrudes above the roller conveyor and a second position in which the rear stopper protrudes above the roller conveyor, relative to a support part, a biasing member that biases the rear side of the swinging member downward, and a holding member disposed in front of the swinging member, the upper end of which is supported by the swinging member, the lower end which is displaceable relative to the upper end, and the lower end which abuts against the opposing part of the swinging member to hold the swinging member in the first position, and displaces when pushed to allow the swinging member to swing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the rear side of the oscillating member is biased downward by the biasing member, thereby setting the oscillating member to a first position, and the lower end of the holding member contacts the opposing part of the oscillating member to hold the oscillating member in the first position. This prevents the conveyed object from pushing down the front stopper and falling off the roller conveyor. Furthermore, since the lower end of the holding member is displaced relative to the upper end, for example, when a trolley is inserted under the roller conveyor, the trolley can push and displace the holding member, making the oscillating member oscillable. Therefore, by using a trolley, conveyed objects can be easily moved from the roller conveyor to the trolley with a simple configuration.

[0008] Furthermore, if a guide member having an inclined portion that protrudes diagonally downward is positioned in front of the oscillating member, for example, when a trolley is inserted under the roller conveyor, the trolley will push the inclined portion, causing the front of the oscillating member to move downward. Therefore, the oscillating member can be easily positioned in a second posture and the conveyed object moved using the trolley. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This figure shows the configuration of a transfer device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the configuration of the transfer device shown in Figure 1, viewed from above. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the transfer device shown. [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the operation that follows Figure 3. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the operation that follows Figure 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Figures 1 and 2 show the configuration of a transfer device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figures 3 to 5 are for explaining the operation of the transfer device 10. This transfer device 10 moves the transported object M from a roller conveyor 20 that is inclined so that the transported object M moves by its own weight to a trolley 30. The transported object M moves by its own weight from the higher side to the lower side of the roller conveyor 20 and is transported so that multiple transported objects M are transported continuously on the roller conveyor 20. The roller conveyor 20 has, for example, a pair of conveyor sections arranged side by side with a gap in between along the direction of movement of the transported object M.

[0012] The transfer device 10 is positioned, for example, between a pair of conveyor sections at the leading edge of the roller conveyor 20. The transfer device 10 includes a seesaw-type oscillating member 11. The oscillating member 11 includes, for example, a rod-shaped main body 11A extending in the longitudinal direction of the roller conveyor 20, a front stopper 11B disposed on the front side of the main body 11A and engaging with the front end of the conveyed object M located in the front row of the roller conveyor 20, and a rear stopper 11C disposed on the rear side of the main body 11A and engaging with the front end of the conveyed object M located in the next row after the front row of the roller conveyor 20.

[0013] The main body 11A is arranged to swing between a first position (see Figure 1) in which the front stopper 11B protrudes above the roller conveyor 20, and a second position (see Figure 4) in which the rear stopper 11C protrudes above the roller conveyor 20, with the support portion 11D as the reference point. As a result, in the first position, the swinging member 11 stops the movement of the conveyed object M located in the front row with the front stopper 11B, and in the second position, the movement of the conveyed object M located next to the front row with the rear stopper 11C. Note that in the first position, the rear side of the swinging member 11 is lowered and the rear stopper 11C does not protrude above the roller conveyor 20, and in the second position, the front side of the swinging member 11 is lowered and the front stopper 11B does not protrude above the roller conveyor 20.

[0014] A biasing member 12, such as a spring, is provided on the rear side of the oscillating member 11 to bias the rear side of the oscillating member 11 downwards. The rear side of the oscillating member 11 is behind the support portion 11D, and the biasing member 12 may be provided, for example, on the rear side of the main body portion 11A, or on the rear stopper 11C. For example, one end of the biasing member 12 is fixed to the rear side of the oscillating member 11, and the other end is fixed to a fixing portion 12A provided below the rear side of the oscillating member 11.

[0015] A holding member 13 is provided on the front side of the rocking member 11, with its upper end supported by the rocking member 11 and its lower end displaceable relative to the upper end. The front side of the rocking member 11 is in front of the support portion 11D, and the holding member 13 may be provided, for example, on the front side of the main body portion 11A, or on the front stopper 11B. The holding member 13 holds the rocking member 11 in a first position by its lower end contacting the opposing portion of the rocking member 11. The opposing portion of the rocking member 11 is, for example, the portion facing the front side and the lower side of the rocking member 11, and includes, for example, the placement surface such as the floor on which the transfer device 10 is placed, or a base provided on the placement surface.

[0016] Furthermore, the holding member 13 is configured to be displaced when pressed, allowing the rocking member 11 to rock. Preferably, the holding member 13 is rod-shaped, with its upper end rotatably disposed relative to the rocking member 11. The holding member 13, for example, has its upper end supported by the rocking member 11 and hangs down from the rocking member 11 in its natural state when no force is applied. The holding member 13, for example, has its lower end abutting against the opposing part of the rocking member 11, acting like a prop to support the front side of the rocking member 11 and prevent it from moving downwards.

[0017] Preferably, the holding member 13 is rotatable, for example, with the width direction of the roller conveyor 20 as its axis of rotation. The holding member 13 is pushed by the trolley 30, for example, when the trolley 30 is inserted under the roller conveyor 20 from its front end, causing the lower end of the holding member 13 to rotate and displace with respect to its upper end, thereby releasing the front support of the swinging member 11.

[0018] The transfer device 10 is also preferably provided with a guide member 14 disposed, for example, on the front side of the swing member 11 and having an inclined portion 14A inclined so as to protrude obliquely downward to the front. When the inclined portion 14A is pushed, the guide member 14 swings the swing member 11 to the second posture. The guide member 14 is for swinging the swing member 11 from the first posture to the second posture. The inclined portion 14A is disposed, for example, on the front side of the swing member 11 by a connecting portion 14B, specifically, on the front side of the main body portion 11A, and is connected so as to be interlocked with the swing member 11. The inclined portion 14A is preferably provided on both sides with the main body portion 11A interposed therebetween, for example.

[0019] For example, the guide member 14 is configured such that when the carriage 30 is inserted from the tip under the roller conveyor 20, the inclined portion 14A is pushed by the carriage 30 to move the front side of the swing member 11 downward. The positional relationship between the inclined portion 14A and the holding member 13 is preferably such that when the carriage 30 is inserted from the tip under the roller conveyor 20, it abuts on the holding member 13 and then abuts on the inclined portion 14A. This is to move the front side of the swing member 11 downward by the guide member 14 after releasing the support of the swing member 11 by the holding member 13.

[0020] The transfer device 10 is used, for example, as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, the rear side of the swing member 11 is biased downward by the biasing member 12, and the swing member 11 is in the first posture in which the front stopper 11B protrudes above the roller conveyor 20. The front side of the swing member 11 is supported by the holding member 13 so as to hold the first posture. When a plurality of conveyed objects M move on the roller conveyor 20 by their own weight and are conveyed to the tip side, the front end portion of the conveyed object M located in the forefront engages with the front stopper 11B, and the movement of the conveyed object M stops.

[0021] Next, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, when an operator inserts the carriage 30 under the roller conveyor 20 from the tip, the holding member 13 is pushed by the carriage 30, the lower end rotates and displaces with respect to the upper end, and the support on the front side of the swing member 11 is released.

[0022] Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the carriage 30 is inserted, the inclined portion 14A of the guide member 14 is pushed by the carriage 30, and the front side of the swing member 11 moves downward to assume the second posture. That is, the front side of the swing member 11 moves downward and the rear side moves upward, and the rear stopper 11C protrudes above the roller conveyor 20. As a result, the conveyed object M located in the frontmost row is released from the engagement by the front stopper 11B and moves to the carriage 30 by its own weight. Also, the conveyed object M located next to the frontmost row is engaged by the rear stopper 11C and held in that position.

[0023] Subsequently, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, when an operator pulls out the carriage 30 on which the conveyed object M has been transferred from under the roller conveyor 20, the pressing of the inclined portion 14A of the guide member 14 by the carriage 30 is released, and the rear side of the swing member 11 moves downward by the urging member 12 to assume the first posture. That is, the front side of the swing member ۱۱ moves upward and the rear side moves downward, and the front stopper 11B protrudes above the roller conveyor 20. Also, the pressing of the holding member 13 by the carriage 30 is released, and the front side of the swing member 11 is supported by the holding member 13 so as to hold the first posture. The conveyed object M that was located next to the frontmost row is released from the engagement by the rear stopper 11C, moves to the tip of the roller conveyor 20, is engaged by the front stopper 11B, and stops at the position of the frontmost row.

[0024] [[ID=۱۱]] As described above, according to this embodiment, the biasing member 12 biases the rear side of the swinging member 11 downward, thereby setting the swinging member 11 to a first position, and the lower end of the holding member 13 abuts against the opposing part of the swinging member 11, thereby holding the swinging member 11 in the first position. This prevents the conveyed object M from pushing down the front stopper 11B and falling off the roller conveyor 20. Furthermore, since the lower end of the holding member 13 is displaced with respect to its upper end, for example, when the trolley 30 is inserted under the roller conveyor 20, the trolley 30 can push and displace the holding member 13, making the swinging member 11 swingable. Therefore, by using the trolley 30, the conveyed object M can be easily moved from the roller conveyor 20 to the trolley 30 with a simple configuration.

[0025] Furthermore, if a guide member 14 having an inclined portion 14A that protrudes diagonally downward is positioned in front of the rocking member 11, for example, when a trolley 30 is inserted under the roller conveyor 20, the inclined portion 14A is pushed by the trolley 30, causing the front side of the rocking member 11 to move downward. Therefore, the rocking member 11 can be easily positioned in a second position using the trolley 30, and the conveyed object M can be moved.

[0026] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways. For example, although each component was described in detail in the above embodiments, the specific configuration of each component may differ. In addition, the present invention does not have to include all of the above-mentioned components, and may also include other components. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 10...Transfer device, 11...Oscillating member, 11A...Main body, 11B...Front stopper, 11C...Rear stopper, 11D...Support part, 12...Biasing member, 12A...Fixing part, 13...Holding member, 14...Guide member, 14A...Inclined part, 14B...Connecting part, 20...Roller conveyor, 30...Cart, M...Conveyed object

Claims

1. A transfer device that moves an object from a roller conveyor, which is inclined so that the object moves by its own weight, to a trolley, A seesaw-type oscillating member having a front stopper that engages with the front end of an object located in the front row of the roller conveyor, and a rear stopper that engages with the front end of an object located in the next row of the roller conveyor, and swinging with respect to a support portion between a first position in which the front stopper protrudes above the roller conveyor and a second position in which the rear stopper protrudes above the roller conveyor, A biasing member that biases the rear side of the oscillating member downwards, A holding member is disposed in front of the rocking member, the upper end of which is supported by the rocking member, the lower end of which is displaceable with respect to the upper end, and the lower end of which abuts against the opposing part of the rocking member to hold the rocking member in a first position, and is displaced when pressed to allow the rocking member to rock. A transfer device characterized by being equipped with the following features.

2. The transfer device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member disposed in front of the rocking member and having an inclined portion that protrudes diagonally downward to the front, wherein the inclined portion is pressed to rock the rocking member to a second position.

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