Automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to an automatic transport and supply equipment for roll-type materials, and includes a roll buffer that receives roll-type materials loaded on a cart in the X-axis direction and transports the transported roll-type materials on a YZ plane, a transfer that receives the roll-type materials from the roll buffer in the X-axis direction, moves to a predetermined position on the XY plane with the roll-type materials loaded thereon, and transports the materials upward in the Z-axis direction, and an OHT (Overhead Hoist Transport) that has at least one rail-running transport vehicle that receives the roll-type materials loaded on the transfer that has risen in the Z-axis direction and moves the roll-type materials to a destination along the track of a transport rail.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic transport and supply system for various raw and auxiliary materials provided in rolls, which can automatically perform a series of supply logistics operations, such as automatically removing roll-type materials from a storage facility, transmitting them to an OHT (Overhead Hoist Transport), and receiving the roll-type materials when the OHT arrives at a facility set as a destination.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0170702 dated December 2, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art As technological development and demand for mobile devices increases, and the demand for secondary batteries as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels is also increasing rapidly, a great deal of research is being conducted into secondary batteries that can meet various demands.

[0004] In terms of the shape of the battery case, secondary batteries are typically classified into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries in which the electrode assembly is housed in a cylindrical or prismatic metal case, respectively, and pouch batteries in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch case made of an aluminum laminate sheet. In terms of materials, there is a high demand for lithium secondary batteries such as lithium ion batteries and lithium ion polymer batteries, which are excellent in terms of high energy density, discharge voltage, and output stability.

[0005] The electrode assembly built into the battery case is a chargeable and dischargeable power generating element with a laminated structure of positive electrode / separator / negative electrode, and is classified into a jelly roll type in which a separator is interposed between a long sheet-like positive electrode and negative electrode coated with an active material and then wound up, and a stack type in which a large number of positive electrodes and negative electrodes of a certain size are sequentially stacked with a separator interposed between them.In addition, a stack / folded type electrode assembly, which is a more advanced structure that is a combination of the jelly roll type and the stack type, has also been developed, in which a full cell with a positive electrode / separator / negative electrode structure of a certain unit size or a bicell with a positive electrode (negative electrode) / separator / negative electrode (positive electrode) / separator / positive electrode (negative electrode) structure is folded using a long continuous separator film.

[0006] Here, the positive electrode, separator, and negative electrode sheets constituting the electrode assembly including the laminated structure of unit electrodes are provided in a roll shape, and processing is performed while the raw material sheets are continuously provided between an unwinder and a rewinder in a roll-to-roll manner.

[0007] When a sheet provided in a roll is commonly referred to as a roll-type material, a series of manufacturing processes begin with loading the roll-type material into a winder device. Therefore, in order to ensure that the manufacturing process is carried out smoothly without interruption, the roll-type material must be provided to the winder device and loaded in a timely manner.

[0008] However, in the past, roll-type materials were manually loaded from the warehouse using a cart, then transported to the winder equipment and manually inserted into the equipment. However, several roll-type materials were required per hour for one winder equipment, and it was too much work for the workers operating the equipment to transport the roll-type materials.

[0009] When the input of roll-type materials is rushed to complete an excessive amount of work, the raw materials may be damaged during handling, and the main task of production management may be inadequate, resulting in quality issues. In addition, there is a risk of accidents occurring due to mishandling of heavy roll-type materials while rushing to complete work, so there is an emerging need to automate the series of processes leading to the dispensing, transporting, and input of roll-type materials. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 2993895 (registered October 22, 1999) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic transport and supply system for roll-type materials, which can automatically carry out a series of processes from loading, unloading, transporting, and feeding of roll-type materials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention provides an automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials. In one example, the automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials includes a roll buffer that receives roll-type materials loaded on a cart in the X-axis direction and transfers the transferred roll-type materials on a YZ plane, a transfer that receives the roll-type materials from the roll buffer in the X-axis direction, moves to a predetermined position on the XY plane while loaded with the roll-type materials, and transfers the materials upward in the Z-axis direction, and an OHT (Overhead Hoist Transport) having at least one rail-traveling transport vehicle that receives the roll-type materials loaded on the transfer elevated in the Z-axis direction and moves the roll-type materials to a destination along a track of a transport rail.

[0013] In a specific embodiment, the movement of the roll-type material between the roll buffer and the transfer, and between the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle, is performed in a rod-to-rod manner.

[0014] Thereby, the roll buffer, the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle are each provided with a rod which is inserted into the hollow hub of the roll-type material.

[0015] Further, the roll buffer, the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle are each provided with a pusher unit for pushing out the roll-type material loaded on the rod.

[0016] In one example, movement of the roll-type material between the roll buffer and the transfer, and between the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle, may occur by the pusher unit pushing out the roll-type material loaded on the rod while the rods provided on the roll buffer, the transfer, and the rail-running transport vehicle, respectively, are aligned with each other.

[0017] In a specific example, the roll buffer includes a turntable arranged on a YZ plane and at least two or more of the rods arranged circumferentially on the turntable, the turntable rotates around a rotation axis in the X-axis direction passing through the center of the circumference, and the rotation of the turntable allows the roll-type material loaded on the rods to approach the transfer.

[0018] Here, a plurality of the roll-type materials can be loaded onto the rod on the turntable.

[0019] The pusher unit provided in the roll buffer includes a pusher frame that moves linearly in the Y-axis direction and a pusher that moves linearly in the X-axis direction on the pusher frame, and the pusher can push out the rearmost of the multiple roll-type materials loaded on the rod on the turntable and dispense the frontmost roll-type materials one by one.

[0020] In a specific example, the transfer may include a base frame extended in the Y-axis direction, a middle frame that moves linearly in the Y-axis direction on the base frame, a column that moves linearly in the X-axis direction on the middle frame and extends in the Z-axis direction, and a transport unit that moves linearly in the Z-axis direction on the column, has the rod, and is equipped with the pusher unit that pushes out the rear of the roll-type material loaded on the rod.

[0021] Here, the transfer unit may be linearly moved in the Z-axis direction at least as far as a distance between the rod of the roll buffer and the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle.

[0022] In the specific example of the rail-running transport vehicle, the pusher unit is provided at the rear of the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle, and is capable of pushing out the rear of the roll-type material loaded on the rod.

[0023] In addition, the transfer unit further includes a slider that moves linearly together with the rod and the pusher unit, and the rod of the transfer unit moved linearly by the slider can be docked and interconnected with the rod of the roll buffer or the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle.

[0024] Meanwhile, in one example, the rod of the transfer unit may be provided with a chuck means for pressing against the inner surface of the hollow hub of the loaded roll-type material.

[0025] The transport vehicle may further include a winder port arranged on the track of the transfer rail, the winder port having a rod that can be connected to the rod provided on the rail-running transport vehicle.

[0026] The rail-running transport vehicle further includes a slider that moves linearly together with the rod and the pusher unit, and the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle that moves linearly by the slider can be docked and interconnected with the rod of the winder port.

[0027] In one example, the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle may be provided with a chuck means for pressing against the inner surface of the hollow hub of the loaded roll-type material.

[0028] Here, an end of the chuck means provided on the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle may be provided with a protruding projection that forms a hooking projection with respect to the hollow hub. Effect of the Invention

[0029] The automatic transport and supply equipment of the present invention, including the above-mentioned configuration, can secure sufficient time for the materials to be used up at the site by loading a large amount of roll-type materials in the roll buffer, and can automatically supply the roll-type materials from the roll buffer to the destination through a rod-to-rod method. Therefore, by applying the automatic transport and supply equipment of the present invention, the operator of the winder equipment can be relieved from the heavy incidental work of transporting the roll-type materials, and can concentrate more on the main work, and the risk of the roll-type materials being damaged during the transportation process is significantly reduced.

[0030] In addition, the automatic transfer and supply equipment of the present invention further includes various components such as a slider and a chuck means, thereby improving the efficiency of transferring and supplying roll-type materials through the rod-to-rod method and enabling the equipment to be operated stably.

[0031] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an automatic transfer and supply system for roll-type materials according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating a roll buffer included in the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating a transfer included in the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the roll buffer and transfer of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3; [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a front view of the roll buffer and transfer arrangement. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram illustrating a rod-to-rod transfer performed between a roll buffer and a transfer. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram illustrating a rail-running transport vehicle included in the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram illustrating rod-to-rod transfer performed between a transfer and a rail-running transport vehicle. [Figure 9] 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a pusher unit and a slider provided in the rail-traveling transport vehicle of FIG. 7. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram illustrating a rod-to-rod transfer performed between a rail-running transport vehicle and a winder port. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram illustrating a chuck means provided on a rod of a transfer unit of a transfer. [Figure 12] 1 is a diagram illustrating a chuck means provided on a rod of a rail-running transport vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Since the present invention can be modified in various ways and can have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be described in detail below.

[0034] However, this is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments, but should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0035] In the present invention, terms such as "comprise" and "have" are intended to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but should be understood as not precluding the presence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0036] In addition, in the present invention, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is described as being "on" another portion, this includes not only the case where it is "directly on" the other portion, but also the case where there is another portion in between. Conversely, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other portion is described as being "under" the other portion, this includes not only the case where it is "directly under" the other portion, but also the case where there is another portion in between. In addition, in the present application, being "on" can include not only the case where it is located at the top, but also the case where it is located at the bottom.

[0037] The present invention relates to an automatic transfer and supply system for roll-type materials.

[0038] In one example, an automated transport and supply system for roll-type materials includes a roll buffer, a transfer, and an overhead hoist transport (OHT).

[0039] The roll buffer receives the roll-type material loaded on the cart in the X-axis direction and transports the transported roll-type material on the YZ plane. The transfer receives the roll-type material from the roll buffer in the X-axis direction, moves to a predetermined position on the XY plane with the transported roll-type material loaded, and transports it upward in the Z-axis direction. In the following process, the rail-running transport vehicle included in the OHT system receives the roll-type material loaded on the transfer raised in the Z-axis direction and moves to the destination along the track of the transport rail, and a plurality of rail-running transport vehicles may be provided.

[0040] In a specific example, the movement of the roll-type material between the roll buffer and the transfer, and between the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle, is performed in a rod-to-rod manner. The rod means a bar member inserted into the hollow hub of the roll-type material, and the roll-type material has a hollow hub in its center that can be attached to the winder equipment. The present invention focuses on the fact that the roll-type material has a hollow hub and the winder equipment has a corresponding rod, and is configured so that a series of automated processes leading to the loading, unloading, transport, and further input of the roll-type material are performed in a rod-to-rod manner.

[0041] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of an automatic transfer and supply system for roll-type material (hereinafter, simply referred to as "automatic transfer and supply system") according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of an automatic transfer and supplying equipment 10 according to the present invention. In describing the present invention, components having the same functions will use the same terms in order to clearly understand the invention, but the components having the same terms will be clearly distinguished from each other by using different reference numerals.

[0043] 1, the automatic transfer and supply equipment 10 of the present invention includes a roll buffer 100, a transfer 200, and an OHT 300. As described above, in the present invention, the movement of the roll-type material 30 between the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200, and between the transfer 200 and the rail-running transport vehicle 320 is performed in a rod-to-rod manner, and the rod-to-rod manner can be more clearly understood by describing the specific embodiment of each component.

[0044] 2 is a view showing a roll buffer 100 included in the present invention. The roll buffer 100 is a place for temporarily storing roll-type materials 30. The roll buffer 100 holds a certain amount of roll-type materials 30 manually removed from a warehouse using a dolly 20, and thus plays a role in buffering the roll-type materials 30 consumed in the winder equipment so that they are not consumed in a short period of time.

[0045] The roll buffer 100 receives the roll-type material 30 loaded on the cart 20 in the X-axis direction (based on the coordinate axes in FIG. 1), and transports the transported roll-type material 30 on the YZ plane.

[0046] 2, the roll buffer 100 includes a turntable 110 arranged on a YZ plane, and at least two or more rods 120 arranged circumferentially on the turntable 110. The rods 120 are oriented in the X-axis direction, and a large amount of roll-type materials 30 brought by the dolly 20 is neatly loaded onto each rod 120. In the illustrated example, four rods 120 are provided, and a maximum of ten roll-type materials 30 can be loaded per rod 120, and it would be preferable to provide as many rods 120 as possible to serve as a faithful buffer.

[0047] The turntable 110 rotates around a rotation axis 112 in the X-axis direction passing through the center of the circumference formed by the rods 120, and the roll-type materials 30 loaded on the rods 120 approach the transfer 200 due to the rotation of the turntable 110. That is, each rod 120 can approach the transfer 200 sequentially through a 90° rotation (an angle obtained by dividing 360° by the number of rods) of the turntable 110 arranged on the YZ plane, and when all the roll-type materials 30 loaded on one rod 120 have been dispensed, the turntable 110 is rotated to provide the roll-type materials 30 loaded on the next rod 120 to the transfer 200.

[0048] The turntable 110 method has many advantages, such as the ability to place a large number of rods 120 in a limited space, the ability to continue to supply roll-type materials 30 sequentially through rotation, and the ability to load additional roll-type materials 30 onto vacant rods 120 before all of the roll-type materials 30 on the turntable 110 are used up.

[0049] 3 is a diagram illustrating a transfer 200 included in the present invention. The transfer 200 receives the roll-type material 30 from the roll buffer 100 in the X-axis direction, moves to a position determined on the XY plane while carrying the roll-type material 30, and then transports it upward in the Z-axis direction. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the transfer 200 includes a base frame 210, a middle frame 220, a column 230, and a transport unit 240.

[0050] The base frame 210 placed on the bottom surface extends in the Y-axis direction, and the middle frame 220 moves linearly in the Y-axis direction on the base frame 210. The middle frame 220 moves in the Y-axis direction using a conventional linear motor and guide, and the lateral distance (based on the drawing) between the middle frame 220 and the roll buffer 100 is adjusted by the movement of the middle frame 220 in the Y-axis direction.

[0051] The column 230 is a pillar member extending in the Z-axis direction disposed on the middle frame 220, and the column 230 moves linearly in the X-axis direction on the middle frame 220. The movement of the column 230 in the X-axis direction is also realized by a typical configuration of a linear motor and a guide, etc., and the vertical distance (based on the drawing) between the column 230 and the roll buffer 100 is adjusted by the movement of the column 230 in the X-axis direction.

[0052] A transport unit 240 that moves linearly in the Z-axis direction is connected to the column 230. The movement of the transport unit 240 is also realized by a linear motor, etc., and the transport unit 240 that moves in the height direction is provided with a short rod 242 that corresponds to the rod 120 of the roll buffer 100.

[0053] The multiple linear movements made from the middle frame 220 to the transfer unit 240 ultimately enable the transfer unit 240 to move in three axes along each of the X, Y and Z axes, thereby allowing the position of the transfer unit 240 to be located anywhere in three-dimensional coordinates within its range of movement.

[0054] Fig. 4 is a drawing illustrating the arrangement of the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a front view of the arrangement of the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200. The rod 120 provided in the roll buffer 100 is located within the rotation radius of the turntable 110, and the transport unit 240 of the transfer can approach the side of the roll buffer 100 loaded with the roll-type materials 30 by moving in three axes. Here, the vertical and horizontal distances of the transfer 200 from the roll buffer 100 must be within the range in which the transport unit 240 can move on the XY plane.

[0055] As described above, in the automatic transfer supply equipment 10 of the present invention, the transfer of the roll-type material 30 between the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200 is performed in a rod-to-rod manner. That is, the rods 120, 242 provided in the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200 are aligned coaxially with each other, and the roll-type material 30 is transferred from the roll buffer 100 to the transfer unit 240 of the transfer 200 via the aligned rods 120, 242. Here, the present invention includes pusher units 130, 246, 326 for providing a force for moving the roll-type material 30.

[0056] 6 is a diagram illustrating rod-to-rod transfer performed between the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200. In the rod-to-rod transfer performed between the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200, since the roll-type material 30 is loaded in the roll buffer 100, the pusher unit 130 provided in the roll buffer 100 moves the roll-type material 30.

[0057] The pusher unit 130 provided in the roll buffer 100 is shown in Fig. 2. Referring to the drawing, the pusher unit 130 of the roll buffer 100 includes a pusher frame 132 that moves linearly in the Y-axis direction, and a pusher 134 that moves linearly in the X-axis direction on the pusher frame 132. The pusher frame 132 adjusts the distance between the pusher unit 130 and the rod 120. That is, when the turntable 110 is rotated, the pusher frame 132 is moved backward in the -Y-axis direction so as to avoid interference, and when the roll-type material 30 is dispensed, the pusher frame 132 is moved forward in the Y-axis direction to adjust the distance so that the pusher 134 approaches the roll-type material 30.

[0058] Returning to Fig. 6, the pusher unit 130 approaches the rod 120 of the turntable 110, and the pusher 134 pushes out the rearmost of the multiple roll-type materials 30 loaded on the rod 120 on the turntable 110, dispensing the frontmost roll-type materials 30 one by one. Here, the rod 242 mounted on the transport unit 240 forming the end of the transfer 200 is aligned so that its three-dimensional position is coaxial with the rod 120 in operation by the pusher 134 of the roll buffer 100. Therefore, one of the frontmost roll-type materials 30 pushed out by the pusher 134 of the roll buffer 100 moves to the rod 242 of the transport unit 240.

[0059] The transport unit 240 of the transfer 200 that has received the roll-type materials 30 loaded on the roll buffer 100 moves and moves its three-dimensional position toward the rail-traveling transport vehicle 320 of the OHT 300, that is, moves upward along the column 230.

[0060] 7 is a diagram illustrating a rail-running transport vehicle 320. The illustrated rail-running transport vehicle 320 is an automated electric vehicle that moves to a set or input destination along the track of a transfer rail 310 installed on the ceiling, and the rail-running transport vehicle 320 is equipped with a handling means that can receive materials at a departure point and deliver them to the destination.

[0061] The rail-running transport vehicle 320 of the present invention is equipped with a rod 322 and a pusher unit 326 as material handling means, and Fig. 7 shows a state in which roll-type material 30 is loaded onto the rod 322. Here, the rail-running transport vehicle 320 in Fig. 7 is shown together with a body frame, a driving unit, etc., but as these configurations are well-known components, detailed explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0062] 1, a rail-traveling transport vehicle 320 receives roll-type materials 30 loaded on a transport unit 240 of a transfer 200 elevated in the Z-axis direction, and moves to a destination along the track of a transfer rail 310. Although not shown in the drawing, the transfer rail forms a circular track that starts from the transfer 200 as a starting point, passes through a destination, for example, a winder facility, and returns to the transfer 200.

[0063] 8 is a diagram illustrating rod-to-rod transfer performed between the transfer 200 and the rail-running transport vehicle 320. The transport unit 240 of the transfer 200 is an intermediate medium that takes out the roll-type material 30 from the roll buffer 100 located below and delivers it to the rail-running transport vehicle 320 located above, so the transport unit 240 must be able to move linearly in the Z-axis direction at least the distance (height) between the rod 120 of the roll buffer 100 and the rod 322 of the rail-running transport vehicle 320.

[0064] 8, the rod-to-rod transfer performed between the transfer 200 and the rail-traveling transport vehicle 320 is conceptually equivalent to the rod-to-rod transfer performed between the roll buffer 100 and the transfer 200 in FIG 6. However, the only difference is that in FIG 8, the roll-type material 30 is loaded on the transport unit 240, and therefore the pusher unit 246 provided on the transport unit 240 is operated.

[0065] The transport unit 240, raised in the Z-axis direction, moves to a specified point on the XYZ coordinate system so that its own rod 242 carrying the roll-type material 30 is coaxial with the rod 322 of the rail-running transport vehicle 320. With the two rods 242, 322 aligned, the pusher unit 246 of the transport unit 240 pushes out the rear of the roll-type material 30, so that the roll-type material 30 is transferred between the transfer 200 and the rail-running transport vehicle 320 in a rod-to-rod manner.

[0066] As described above, the automatic transport and supply equipment 10 of the present invention can load a large amount of roll-type materials 30 in the roll buffer 100, thereby ensuring sufficient time until the materials are used up at the site, and can automatically supply the roll-type materials 30 from the roll buffer 100 to the destination using the rod-to-rod method.

[0067] Therefore, by applying the automatic transport and supply equipment 10 of the present invention, the operator of the winder equipment can be relieved from the heavy ancillary work of transporting roll-type materials, and can concentrate more on the main work, and the risk of the roll-type materials being damaged during the transportation process is significantly reduced.

[0068] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating rod-to-rod transfer between the transfer 200 and the rail-running transport vehicle 320. Looking at the diagram on the right, the transfer unit 240 of the transfer 200 may further include a slider 248 that moves linearly together with the rod 242 and the pusher unit 246.

[0069] The rod 242 of the transfer unit 240, which has been moved linearly by the slider 248, can be docked and interconnected with the rod 120 of the roll buffer 100 and the rod 322 of the rail-traveling transport vehicle 320. After docking, the roll-type material 30 is moved by the pusher unit 246, and the slider 248 retracts the rod 242 and the pusher unit 246 to their original positions after the transfer of the roll-type material 30 is completed.

[0070] In this way, the slider 248 goes beyond simply making the opposing rods 242, 322 coaxial in rod-to-rod transfer, and instead interconnects them to form a single axle, thereby ensuring that the roll-type material 30 can move stably without worrying about it getting caught in the middle or coming loose.

[0071] In particular, since the rod-to-rod transfer between the transfer unit 240 and the rail-traveling transfer vehicle 320 is performed at a high altitude, if a problem occurs in the movement of the roll-type material 30, it is difficult to solve, and there is a high concern of an accident due to falling. In addition, since the slider 248 has the effect of substantially extending the effective length of the rod 242, it is possible to obtain an additional effect of reducing the risk of unexpected interference or collision by shortening the rod 242 of the transfer unit 240 that moves in three dimensions.

[0072] 9 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a pusher unit 326 and a slider 328 provided on the rail-running transport vehicle 320, and the slider 328 provided on the rail-running transport vehicle 320 also moves linearly together with the rod 322 and the pusher unit 326. The configuration in which the slider 328 is added to the rail-running transport vehicle 320 takes into consideration an embodiment in which a winder port 400 is provided as a docking system in various winder equipment (not shown) that handles the roll-type material 30.

[0073] The winder port 400 is shown in Fig. 10 and corresponds to a destination for receiving the roll-type material 30 transported by the rail-traveling transport vehicle 320. The winder port 400 is also provided with a rod 410 corresponding to the hollow hub 32 of the roll-type material 30. Here, the configuration for mounting the roll-type material 30 received in the winder port 400 to a winder device (not shown) is beyond the scope of the present invention, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0074] 10 is a diagram illustrating rod-to-rod transfer performed between the rail-running transport vehicle 320 and the winder port 400. In the present invention, the rod-to-rod transfer maintains the same structure and method throughout, and the rod 410 of the winder port 400, which is aligned with the moving trajectory of the rail-running transport vehicle 320, is in the same direction and height as the rod 322 of the rail-running transport vehicle 320.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 9, the rail-running transport vehicle 320 further includes a slider 328 that moves linearly together with the rod 322 and the pusher unit 326. Then, as shown in Fig. 10, the rod 322 of the rail-running transport vehicle 320 that moves linearly by the slider 328 is docked with and interconnected to the rod 410 of the winder port 400, and after docking is achieved, the pusher unit 326 pushes the roll-type material 30 to move it to the rod 410 of the winder port 400. Then, after the delivery of the roll-type material 30 is completed, the slider 328 retracts the rod 322 and the pusher unit 326 to their original positions.

[0076] Meanwhile, an additional means for stably maintaining the movement of the roll-type material 30 at a height may be further provided. This means is a chuck means 244, 324, which is a known means for fixing a workpiece with multiple jaws that move along a radial direction. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an interlocking chuck having three jaws driven electrically or pneumatically is used.

[0077] 11 is a diagram illustrating the chuck means 244 provided on the rod 242 of the transfer unit 240 of the transfer 200. The illustrated chuck means 244 shows an example in which the rod 242 is formed hollow and three jaws are arranged in the space. The chuck means 244 provided on the rod 242 of the transfer unit 240 firmly fixes the roll-type material 30 to the rod 242 by pressing the inner surface of the hollow hub 32 of the roll-type material 30. The roll-type material 30 fixed by the chuck means 244 is firmly maintained in a fixed state even while the transfer unit 240 moves in three dimensions.

[0078] 12 is a diagram illustrating the chuck means 324 provided on the rod 322 of the rail-running transport vehicle 320. The chuck means 324 of the rail-running transport vehicle 320 also has a structure basically similar to that of the chuck means 244 of the transfer 200, and three jaws press against the inner surface of the hollow hub 32 of the roll-type material 30.

[0079] However, since the rail-running transport vehicle 320 is often subjected to various inertial forces such as centrifugal force when accelerating, stopping, and traveling on a curved track while moving along the track of the transfer rail 310, it is preferable to fix the roll-type material 30 more securely. For this purpose, the chuck means 324 of the rail-running transport vehicle 320 is provided at its end with a protruding protrusion 325 that forms a hooking protrusion on the hollow hub 32. The protruding protrusion 325 prevents the hollow hub 32 from coming off the rod 322, so that the fixed state of the roll-type material 30 is reliably guaranteed even if the rail-running transport vehicle 320 travels on a complex track.

[0080] The present invention has been described in more detail above through the drawings and embodiments, etc. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments, etc. in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not fully represent the technical ideas of the present invention, so it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of filing this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 10: Automatic transfer supply equipment 20: Cart 30: Roll-type materials 32: Hollow hub 100: Roll buffer 110: Turntable 112: Rotation axis 120: Rod 130: Pusher unit 132: Pusher frame 134: Pusher 200:Transfer 210: Base frame 220: Middle frame 230: Column 240:Transportation unit 242: Rod 244: Chuck means 246: Pusher unit 248: Slider 300:OHT 310:Transport rail 320: Rail-operated transport vehicle 322: Rod 324: Chuck means 325: Projection 326: Pusher unit 328: Slider 400: Winder port 410: Rod [Industrial Applicability]

[0082] The present invention is useful for use as equipment for automating a series of processes leading to the loading, unloading, transporting, and inputting of roll-type materials.

Claims

1. a roll buffer that receives the roll-type material loaded on the carriage in the X-axis direction and transports the roll-type material on a YZ plane; a transfer that receives the roll-type material in the X-axis direction from the roll buffer, moves to a position determined on an XY plane while carrying the roll-type material, and transfers the material upward in the Z-axis direction; an overhead hoist transport (OHT) including at least one rail-traveling transport vehicle that receives the roll-type material loaded on the transfer elevated in the Z-axis direction and moves to a destination along a track of a transport rail; Automatic transfer and feeding equipment for roll-type materials, including:

2. 2. The automatic transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 1, wherein the transfer of the roll-type materials between the roll buffer and the transfer, and between the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle, is by a rod-to-rod method.

3. 3. The automatic transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 2, wherein the roll buffer, the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle are each provided with a rod that is inserted into a hollow hub of the roll-type materials.

4. 4. The automatic transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 3, wherein the roll buffer, the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle are each provided with a pusher unit for pushing out the roll-type materials loaded on the rods.

5. The movement of the roll-type material between the roll buffer and the transfer, and between the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle, 5. The automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials according to claim 4, wherein the roll buffer, the transfer and the rail-running transport vehicle are aligned with each other, and the pusher unit pushes out the roll-type materials loaded on the rods.

6. The roll buffer includes: A turntable arranged on a YZ plane, and at least two or more of the rods arranged circumferentially on the turntable, the turntable rotates about a rotation axis in the X-axis direction passing through the center of the circumference, 5. The automatic transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 4, wherein the roll-type materials loaded on the rods approach the transfer by rotation of the turntable.

7. 7. The automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of roll-type materials are loaded on said rod on said turntable.

8. The pusher unit provided in the roll buffer includes: A pusher frame that moves linearly in a Y-axis direction, and a pusher that moves linearly in an X-axis direction on the pusher frame, 8. The automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials according to claim 7, wherein the pusher pushes out the rearmost of the plurality of roll-type materials loaded on the rod on the turntable and dispenses the frontmost roll-type materials one by one.

9. The transfer is A base frame extending in the Y-axis direction; A middle frame that moves linearly in the Y-axis direction on the base frame; a column that moves linearly in an X-axis direction on the middle frame and extends in a Z-axis direction; a transfer unit that moves linearly in the Z-axis direction on the column, includes the rod, and is equipped with the pusher unit that pushes the rear of the roll-type material loaded on the rod; 5. The automated transfer and supply system for roll-type material according to claim 4, comprising:

10. 10. The automatic transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 9, wherein the transfer unit can move linearly in the Z-axis direction at least as far as a distance between the rod of the roll buffer and the rod of the rail-running transfer vehicle.

11. 5. The automatic transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 4, wherein the pusher unit is provided at the rear of the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle, and pushes out the rear of the roll-type materials loaded on the rod.

12. The transfer unit further includes a slider that moves linearly together with the rod and the pusher unit, The automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials according to claim 9, wherein the rod of the transfer unit moved linearly by the slider is docked and interconnected with the rod of the roll buffer or the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle.

13. 13. The automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials according to claim 12, wherein the rod of the transfer unit is provided with a chuck means for pressing against the inner surface of the hollow hub of the loaded roll-type material.

14. a winder port disposed on the track of the transfer rail; 12. The automated transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 11, wherein the winder port comprises a rod connectable to the rod provided on the rail-running transport vehicle.

15. The rail-traveling transport vehicle further includes a slider that moves linearly together with the rod and the pusher unit, The automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials according to claim 14, wherein the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle linearly moved by the slider is docked and interconnected with the rod of the winder port.

16. 16. The automatic transfer and supply facility for roll-type materials according to claim 15, wherein the rod of the rail-running transport vehicle is provided with a chuck means for pressing the inner surface of the hollow hub of the loaded roll-type material.

17. 17. The automatic transfer and supply equipment for roll-type materials according to claim 16, wherein an end of said chuck means is provided with a protruding projection forming a hooking projection for said hollow hub.

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