Conveying system for sheared products at a coil center

Abstract

This system provides a conveying system for sheared products that eliminates the stagnation of shearing machine operation caused by waiting for cranes, and dramatically improves production efficiency. [Solution] A shearing processing area 10 is provided, which consists of multiple shearing machines 11a to 11g. Separate from the shearing processing area 10 is a packing and shipping work area 20, which is provided, which is equipped with a packing conveyor 21 that transports the sheared products 13, loaded onto pallets 14, to the packing work position. The automated guided vehicle 30 transfers the sheared products 13, which are discharged from the shearing machines 11a to 11g, loaded onto pallets 14, and transports these sheared products 13 to the packing and shipping work area 20, where they are transferred to the packing conveyor 21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying system for shirring products in a coil center.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a coil center, a large number of coils formed by winding steel plates are stocked in a coil storage yard. The coils in the coil storage yard are picked up by a crane and conveyed to an uncoiler. Then, the steel plate is fed out from the coil by the uncoiler. The fed-out steel plate is leveled by a leveler to straighten the winding marks and flattened, and cut into a certain dimension.

[0003] And the steel plate processed by the leveler is piled (loaded) on a table by a piling device. Thereafter, the piled steel plates are conveyed by a crane to an area where a plurality of shirring machines are installed and supplied to each shirring machine. The supplied steel plates are cut into dimensions according to the application by each shirring machine. <​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As mentioned above, the only operations using a crane on a single shearing machine are feeding the steel plates and picking up the sheared products after cutting. In this case, even if multiple shearing machines could be installed in the same area, there would only be one crane per area, and even if there were two, it would be dangerous to operate them simultaneously. As a result, delays in the operation of the shearing machines occurred due to waiting for cranes.

[0007] Furthermore, while packaging was carried out on each shearing machine, this resulted in a heavy workload for the workers and poor production efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the shearing product transport system in a coil center of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a shearing processing area where multiple shearing machines are installed to cut steel plates to dimensions according to their intended use and to transport the sheared products after cutting on pallets; a packing and shipping work area provided in an area separate from the shearing processing area and equipped with a packing transport machine that transports the sheared products on pallets to a packing work position; and an automated guided vehicle configured to transfer the sheared products transported from the shearing machines on pallets, transport the sheared products to the packing and shipping work area, and transfer them to the packing transport machine. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this invention, a packaging and shipping area is provided in a separate area from the shearing processing area, and the sheared products are transported to the packaging and shipping area by an automated guided vehicle, thereby eliminating delays in the operation of the shearing machine due to waiting for a crane.

[0010] Furthermore, by consolidating the packaging work previously performed on each shearing machine into a single packaging and shipping area, the burden on the operators of each shearing machine can be reduced. In addition, the storage area for packaging materials can be consolidated, and production efficiency can be dramatically improved by performing packaging work continuously.

[0011] Furthermore, since the operator of the shearing machine can concentrate on the cutting process, the production efficiency of the shearing process can also be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a conveying system for shearing products in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the configuration of an automated guided vehicle (AGV). [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the process of transferring sheared products from a shearing machine to an automated guided vehicle (AGV). [Figure 4] This diagram illustrates the process of transferring sheared products to a packaging conveyor in the packaging and shipping area. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] <Overall configuration of the shearing product conveying system 100> First, the conveying system 100 for sheared products in an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1.

[0014] As shown in the diagram, the coil center building has a shearing area 10 and a separate packing and shipping area 20. In the shearing area 10, multiple shearing machines 11a to 11g and signal transmitters 12a to 12g provided for each of these shearing machines 11a to 11g are installed.

[0015] The shirring machines 11a to 11g are configured to carry in a steel plate processed flat by a leveling machine through the carry-in ports 15a to 15g, cut it into dimensions according to the application, form it into a shirring product 13, and carry it out through the carry-out ports 16a to 16g in a state of being loaded on a flat pallet 14.

[0016] The signal transmitters 12a to 12g transmit a call signal (radio signal) containing information for identifying the shirring machines 11a to 11g. For example, the signal transmitters 12a to 12g are provided with call buttons, and when these are pressed by an operator, a call signal is transmitted. Note that the number of the shirring machines 11a to 11g and the signal transmitters 12a to 12g provided therewith can be appropriately increased or decreased.

[0017] In the packing and shipping work area 20, there is installed a packing conveyor 21 configured to receive the shirring product 13 in a state of being loaded on the pallet 14 and convey it to the packing work positions X1, X2,... where the operator is located. Therefore, the operator performs the packing work and shipping work of the shirring product 13.

[0018] The automated guided vehicle 30 (Automated Guided Vehicle, abbreviated as AGV) has a signal receiver 31 configured to receive the call signal transmitted from the signal transmitters 12a to 12g, and travels along a preset travel route to any of the shirring machines 11a to 11g identified according to this call signal. For example, when a call signal is transmitted from the signal transmitter 12a associated with the shirring machine 11a, the automated guided vehicle 30 travels from the standby location to the shirring machine 11a.

[0019] Then, the automated guided vehicle 30 that has arrived at the carry-out port 16a of the shirring machine 11a transfers the shirring product 13 carried out from the shirring machine 11a in a state of being loaded on the pallet 14, conveys this shirring product 13 to the packing and shipping work area 20, and transfers it to the packing conveyor 21.

[0020] By deploying a plurality of automated guided vehicles 30, the production efficiency can be further enhanced. In this case, these automated guided vehicles 30, 30... are made to wait at the waiting locations within the charlotte processing area 10. Then, these automated guided vehicles 30, 30... are sequentially operated in response to a call signal, transfer the charlotte product 13 from any one of the charlotte machines 11a to 11g, and transport it to the packing and shipping work area 20.

[0021] In this case, when the automated guided vehicle 30 receives a call signal from a certain charlotte machine (for example, the charlotte machine 11a), it does not accept a call signal from another charlotte machine (for example, the charlotte machine 11b) until its transport operation is completed, and the next waiting automated guided vehicle 30 can be configured to accept that call signal.

[0022] <Configuration of Automated Guided Vehicle 30> Next, the configuration of the automated guided vehicle 30 will be described based on FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, (a) is a front view of the automated guided vehicle 30, (b) is a plan view thereof, and (c) is a right side view thereof.

[0023] As described above, the automated guided vehicle 30 has a signal receiver 31 that receives the call signals transmitted from the signal transmitters 12a to 12g, and travels to any one of the charlotte machines 11a to 11g identified according to this call signal.

[0024] For example, the automated guided vehicle 30 that arrives at the charlotte machine 11a transfers the charlotte product 13 carried out from the charlotte machine 11a while loaded on the pallet 14, transports this charlotte product 13 to the packing and shipping work area 20, and transfers it to the packing conveyor 21.

[0025] Multiple drive wheels 32 are provided on the underside of the vehicle body 30a of the automated guided vehicle 30. These drive wheels 32 allow the vehicle body 30a to move forward, backward, and side to side. It is preferable to provide the drive wheels 32 on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle body 30a. This is because the sheared product 13 is a heavy object weighing several tons, and therefore it is necessary to obtain sufficient torque.

[0026] The transport section 33 is equipped with multiple transport rollers and is located on the upper surface of the vehicle body 30a. These transport sections 33 transport the sheared products 13 in the front-rear direction while they are supported on the pallet 14. The transport section 33 can also be configured as a belt conveyor system, but by adopting a transport roller system, the heavy sheared products 13 can be transported stably.

[0027] Furthermore, multiple position detection sensors 34 for detecting the position of the pallet 14 being transported on the transport section 33 are attached to a pair of vehicle body side plates 35 erected on the upper surface of the vehicle body 30a. These position detection sensors 34 can be made up of, for example, laser sensors.

[0028] Furthermore, a drive motor 36 that drives the transport unit 33 in accordance with the output of these position detection sensors 34 is built into the vehicle body 30a.

[0029] The drive shaft of the drive motor 36 is connected via a gear to the rotation axis of one of the conveying rollers of the conveying unit 33. Multiple conveying rollers are connected to each other via a roller chain, so that the multiple conveying rollers rotate in conjunction with each other.

[0030] When the automated guided vehicle 30 arrives at the shearing machines 11a to 11g, it communicates with them (for example, using optical communication), activates the drive motor 36 of the transport unit 33, and can then transport the sheared products 13 loaded on the pallet 1 4 using the transport unit 33.

[0031] Then, when the position detection sensor 34 detects that the entire pallet 14 is on the automated guided vehicle 30, the drive motor 36 stops operating in response to the detection signal, and this stops the operation of the transport rollers of the transport unit 33.

[0032] Furthermore, the entrance 37 and exit 38 of the transport section 33 are provided with stoppers 39a and 39b that are vertically movable to prevent the sheared products 13 from falling. The stoppers 39a and 39b are configured to be vertically movable by a cylinder drive mechanism or a motor drive mechanism.

[0033] The stopper 39a at the loading entrance 37 is designed to avoid interference with the pallet 14, by lowering to a lower position on the upper surface of the transport section 33 before the pallet 14 carrying the sheared product 13 is guided into the loading entrance 37 of the transport section 33.

[0034] On the other hand, the stopper 39b at the outlet 38 rises to a higher position on the upper surface of the transport section 33 at the latest before the pallet 14 reaches the outlet 38, preventing the pallet 14 carrying the sheared product 13 from falling from the automated guided vehicle 30.

[0035] As described above, even if the drive motor 36 stops operating in response to the output of the position detection sensor 34, the pallet 14 carrying the sheared product 13 on the transport unit 33 will not stop immediately due to its inertia. However, the stopper 39b can contact the end face of the pallet 14 in the direction of travel, causing it to stop at that position.

[0036] Furthermore, the stopper 39a at the loading entrance 37 rises to a higher position above the upper surface of the transport section 33 after the drive motor 36 stops operating. This prevents the sheared products 13 from falling or shifting position when the automated guided vehicle 30 moves with the sheared products 13 loaded on the pallet 14, thanks to the stoppers 39a and 39b. The timing of the vertical movement of the stoppers 39a and 39b can be determined using the output of the position detection sensor 34.

[0037] Furthermore, a control panel 40 is mounted on the side of the vehicle body 30a, which is equipped with an operation button for starting the drive motor 36 of the automated guided vehicle 30 and a display unit for showing the operating status.

[0038] <Process of transferring sheared product 13 to automated guided vehicle 30> Next, this process will be explained using Figure 3 as an example, with reference to the transfer from the shearing machine 11a.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3(a), an unloading platform 16 is provided at the unloading port 16a of the shearing machine 11a. A conveying section 17 having multiple conveying rollers is provided on this unloading platform 16. A drive motor 18 for driving the conveying section 17 is built into the unloading platform 16.

[0040] As a result, the sheared products 13 are loaded onto pallets 14 and unloaded from the outlet 16a of the shearing machine 11a, and then transported on the conveying section 17.

[0041] Then, communication takes place between the automated guided vehicle (AGV) 30, which has arrived at the shearing machine 11a, and the shearing machine 11a, and the stopper 39a at the loading entrance 37 of the AGV 30 moves downward. At the same time, the transport units 17 and 33 (drive motors 18 and 36) of both are activated. As a result, the sheared products 13, loaded onto the pallet 14, are transferred onto the transport unit 33 of the AGV 30.

[0042] Next, as shown in Figure 3(b), once the transfer of the sheared product 13 from the shearing machine 11a to the automated guided vehicle 30 is complete, the operation of the transport units 17, 33 (drive motors 18, 36) is stopped in accordance with the output of the position detection sensor 34, and the stopper 39a of the automated guided vehicle 30 moves upward. At this time, the stopper 39b on the opposite side of the automated guided vehicle 10 remains in the upward position, so the pallet 14 is braked by the stopper 39b.

[0043] As a result, when the automated guided vehicle 30 moves to the packing and shipping work area 20 with the sheared products 13 loaded on the pallet 14, the stoppers 39a and 39b prevent the products from falling or shifting position.

[0044] <Process of transferring the sheared product 13 to the packaging conveyor 21> Next, this process will be explained with reference to Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4(a), the top surface of the packaging conveyor 21 is equipped with multiple conveyor rollers. In addition, the loading and unloading sides of the packaging conveyor 21 are equipped with stoppers 24a and 24b that are vertically movable and prevent the sheared products 13 from falling. These stoppers 24a and 24b are configured similarly to the stoppers 39a and 39b of the automated guided vehicle 30.

[0045] When the automated guided vehicle (AGV) 30, loaded with the sheared product 13, arrives at the loading side of the packaging conveyor 21, the operator operates the control panel 40 of the AGV 30, which activates the conveying unit 33 of the AGV 30. At the same time, the stopper 24a on the loading side of the packaging conveyor 21 and the stopper 39b at the loading port 38 of the AGV 30 move downward.

[0046] As a result, the sheared products 13 are transported towards the packaging conveyor 21 while loaded onto the pallet 14. In this case, the sheared products 13 are configured to roll along the conveyor rollers of the packaging conveyor 21 due to inertia.

[0047] Next, as shown in Figure 4(b), once the transfer of the sheared products 13 from the automated guided vehicle 30 to the packaging work position of the packaging conveyor 21 is complete, the operation of the conveying unit 33 of the automated guided vehicle 30 stops, and the stopper 24a on the loading side of the packaging conveyor 21 moves upward. At this time, the stopper 24b on the unloading side of the packaging conveyor 21 remains in the upward position. Thus, the worker can perform the packaging and shipping work of the sheared products 13 on the pallet 14. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0048] 10 Shearing area 11a~11g Shearing machine 12a~12g Signal Transmitter 13 Shearing Products 14 Palettes 15a~15g Loading entrance 16a~16g Exit 20 Packing and shipping work area 21 Packaging conveyor 24a, 24b Stopper 30 Automated Guided Vehicles 30a Vehicle body 31 Signal receiver 32 drive wheels 33 Conveying section 34 Position detection sensors 35 Body side panel 36 Drive motor 37 Loading entrance 38 Exit 39a, 39b Stopper 40 Control Panel 100 Shearing Product Conveying System

Claims

1. A shearing area is equipped with multiple shearing machines that cut steel plates to dimensions according to their intended use and then transport the cut sheared products on pallets. A packing and shipping work area is provided in a separate area from the shearing processing area, and is equipped with a packing conveyor that transports the sheared products, stacked on pallets, to the packing work position. A conveying system for sheared products in a coil center, comprising: an automated guided vehicle configured to transfer sheared products loaded onto a pallet after being discharged from the shearing machine, and to transport the sheared products to the packaging and shipping work area and transfer them to the packaging conveying machine.

2. A shearing processing area is provided, which includes multiple shearing machines that cut steel plates to dimensions according to their intended use and transport the cut sheared products on pallets, and a signal transmitter that is installed for each of these shearing machines and emits a call signal containing information that identifies the shearing machine. A packing and shipping work area is provided in a separate area from the shearing processing area, and is equipped with a packing conveyor that transports the sheared products, stacked on pallets, to the packing work position. A conveying system for sheared products in a coil center, comprising: a signal receiver having a signal receiver that receives the call signal transmitted from the signal transmitter; an automated guided vehicle configured to travel to a shearing machine identified in response to the call signal, transfer the sheared products discharged from the shearing machine on a pallet, and transport the sheared products to the packaging and shipping work area and transfer them to the packaging conveyor.

3. The aforementioned automated guided vehicle includes a transport unit positioned on the top surface of the vehicle body, which transports sheared products loaded onto pallets, Multiple position detection sensors are arranged along the left and right sides of the vehicle body to detect the position of the pallet, A conveying system for shearing products in a coil center according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a drive motor that drives the conveying unit in accordance with the output of a position detection sensor.

4. The automated guided vehicle is positioned at the entrance and exit of the transport section, is vertically movable, and is equipped with a stopper to prevent the sheared products from falling, as described in claim 3, for transporting sheared products in a coil center.

5. A conveying system for sheared products in a coil center according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is provided with stoppers that are positioned at the entrance and exit of the packaging conveyor 6, are vertically movable, and prevent the sheared products from falling.

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