EP0691089B1 - Tray conveying device with multiple work stations - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is for transferring slabs (4), each being transported on the endless chain conveyor (2) between fixed workstations (3) and carrying two upright pegs (13) with points for supporting a piece (15) on which a workpiece such as a shoe (1) is mounted for machining. The slab is transferred to each workstation by a bar (22) engaging in a dovetail slot (11) before being driven laterally by a magnetically coupled jack (24) under the worktable (19). The position of the slab w.r.t. pairs of lateral guides (20,21) is checked by means of three detectors (31,33,35) immediately ahead of retractable stops (32,34,36). The piece (15) is gripped between fixed and movable jaws (27,28) for the machining operation. The detectors are coupled to a programmable computer system. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a device for the transfer of trays, supporting articles or objects being manufactured, between a chain training these trays and workstations, on an automatic or semi-automatic production line articles or objects, including known at least one endless chain with continuous movement ensuring the trays by effect grip, according to a determined circuit by bringing them successively at a certain number of work stations, located on the side of the chain, where the different manufacturing or processing operations articles or objects supported by said trays. This invention applies more particularly, but not exclusively, to an automated production line or semi-automated footwear.

In an installation of this kind, where a chain driving the trays makes them pass one after the other others at a number of workstations there should be able to stop the trays at the height of workstations, and to separate these trays from the chain to bring the items being manufactured to automatic machines (robots), or to present them to a operator performing a manual operation. In the case of a shoe manufacturing line, the problem is complicated by the fact that successive shoes different sizes, for right foot or left foot, and belonging to various types which do not always require the same manufacturing operations, or which require, least, an adaptation of these operations. It is therefore appropriate not only to move trays supporting shoes being made but still to identify and monitor, on the production line, each of the shoes, to make him undergo the operations appropriate to different workstations and possibly not to introduce this shoe in some workstations.

Document EP-A-0329007 already shows a line of shoe making, using trays driven by a double chain, with a workstation located on the side of the chain training. The trays are extracted from the chain, and transferred to this workstation to subject it to the shoe a certain operation, before being brought back on the chain.

However, this document does not provide any concrete indication concerning the realization of the means for transferring the trays between the drive chain and the workstation located on the side of this chain, and the structure of the plates and their guides, such as described and illustrated by this document, does not suggest any simple possibility of extraction.

In view of this state of the art, the present invention provides a concrete, simple technical solution and safe, to transfer trays, supporting articles or objects being manufactured or treatment, between an endless chain of training on which these trays rest and are driven by effect grip, and workstations, located on the side of the drive chain, where operations or treatments on these articles or objects.

This device generally includes known from document EP-A-0329007, for a work located on one side of the drive chain, means for moving the plates in a direction, materialized by at least one guide track, which extends perpendicular to the direction of travel chain. According to the invention, provision is made for each track, a transverse drive member consisting of a bar which extends parallel to the chain and which has a profile, such as in the tail dovetail, complementary to the profile of at least one groove longitudinal formed in the underside of each plate, the transverse drive bar cooperating with said groove of a tray and being movable in translation perpendicular to the chain, under the action control means, between a position close to the drive chain, and a position distant from said chain but close to a machine or operator performing an operation or processing on the articles or objects carried by the trays, means being provided to control the position of the plates, especially at the intersection of the chain and the or each track of guidance.

The device preferably comprises at least two parallel guide tracks for the plates, extending one next to the other perpendicular to the drive chain.

Thus, at the workstation considered, the trays carrying the articles or objects during manufacture can be selectively extracted from the chain these trays then engaging on the transverse drive members, which move them perpendicular to the chain to bring them to the machine or operator and then to bring them back on the chain. In the case of two tracks, the operations of transfer of a plate, between the chain and the machine or the operator, are carried out on a track while this machine or this operator intervenes on an article or object carried by a platform located on the other runway, which provides "masked time" operation.

According to a simple embodiment of the device, the or each guide track is made up by a pair of guides perpendicular to the chain and carried by a horizontal table, the spacing between the two guides of the same pair being substantially equal to the length of a tray. The trays rest and slide so on the table, between two guides, while they are moved by the transverse drive member.

As defined above, at least one groove longitudinal is provided in the underside of each tray. When a plateau arrives at a height of guide track, this groove of the plate engages directly on the transverse drive bar which is placed on hold in a suitable position.

According to a particular embodiment, the bar of transverse drive is coupled, through a table slot extending between the two guides parallel to these, to a jack arranged under the table.

The means provided to control the position of trays at the intersection of the drive chain and of the or each guide track include, advantageously, presence detectors associated with retractable stops, at least one detector and at least one stop being associated with each track. These means, connected to a computer system, allow to "manage" the displacements of the trays, by directing them selectively towards one or the other of the two guide tracks, and avoiding any collision or interference between trays.

The device according to the invention is in particular usable with trays on which are placed places removable supports for articles or objects during manufacturing or processing. In this case, the device advantageously further comprises, in correspondence with the end position of the trays far from the drive chain and closer to the machine or operator, means indexing devices to ensure the temporary blocking of a removable support carried by a tray brought into said end position by the drive member transverse.

Removable supports for articles or objects during manufacture or processing which may be fitted with an electronic "chip" containing information relating to articles or objects during manufacture or treatment, it can still be planned, correspondence with the end position of the trays far from the drive chain and close to the machine or operator, means of reading the information contained in the "chip" electronics of a removable support carried by a tray brought into said end-of-travel position by the member transverse drive.

In particular, when the invention is applied to an automatic or semi-automatic production line shoes, the shoes being manufactured are mounted on forms held by removable supports, themselves carried by the trays. Each "chip" electronic, fitted to a removable support, then contains data relating to the shoe being manufacturing.

Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, d'un dispositif conforme à la présente invention, placé sur le côté d'une chaíne d'entraínement de plateaux ;

Figure 2 est une vue en plan par dessus du dispositif de figure 1 ;

Figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un plateau seul, vu par dessous ;

Figure 4 est une vue en coupe du dispositif, suivant IV-IV de figure 1 ;

Figure 5 est une vue en perspective plus détaillée d'un plateau, vu par dessous, dans une forme de réalisation perfectionnée ;

Figure 6 est une vue de côté du plateau de figure 5, avec indication de deux types de supports amovibles pouvant être mis en place sur ce plateau.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of example, an embodiment of this device for transferring trays between a drive chain and workstations, applied here to a shoe manufacturing line:

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of a device according to the present invention, placed on the side of a chain drive plates;

Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a single tray, seen from below;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device according to IV-IV of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a more detailed perspective view of a tray, seen from below, in an improved embodiment;

Figure 6 is a side view of the tray of Figure 5, with indication of two types of removable media that can be placed on this tray.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the invention applies to a shoe manufacturing line 1, comprising an endless pallet chain 2 driven by continuously in the direction of arrow F, and positions fixed working 3 of which only one is shown here, and which are located on one side of chain 2, or on both sides of it. Shoes 1 being are individually supported by trays 4, which rest on the pallet chain 2 and are driven forward by it, by effect grip. At workstation 3, the trays 4 are extracts from chain 2 and transferred, according to a movement perpendicular to the direction of movement F of the chain 2, to a robot or operator 5 performing at this place a particular manufacturing operation. A once this operation has been carried out, each plate 4 is brought back on chain 2, which can then train it in forward to the next workstation.

Referring also to Figure 3, each tray 4, generally rectangular in shape, has on its face lower 6 a first longitudinal groove 7 of rectangular section used to guide it. Both ends of the groove 7 are fixed, respectively, a pad 8 and a finger 9. The longitudinal groove 7 is designed to cooperate with a fixed guide rail 10, which runs along the drive chain 2 on one of its edges (the term "longitudinal" here referring to the meaning of displacement F of the chain 2).

The underside 6 of the plate 4 has a other longitudinal groove 11, parallel to the previous one and of dovetail section, which intervenes only at workstation 3 as explained below.

On the upper face 12 of the plate 4 make protrusion two vertical pins 13, each ending In tip. On the two pins 13 is set up a removable support 14 for a form 15, on which a shoe 1 is made. The support removable 14 has, in its lower part, two conformations in "diabolo" 16, coming to surround the two pins 13 respectively.

The removable support 14 is provided with a tab lateral 17, directed downwards, on which is mounted an electronic "chip" 18 capable of memorizing information relating to shoe 1 being manufacturing, this information not being limited to only predetermined characteristics of shoe 1 but can also be scalable and include the list of operations already carried out, or still to be carried out, to a shoe 1 during manufacture.

At the height of workstation 3, there is a horizontal table 19, adjacent to chain 2. Table 19 carries a first pair of guides 20, perpendicular to the chain 2, and a second pair of guides 21, also perpendicular to chain 2, and located further downstream than the first pair of guides 20 (with reference to the meaning of displacement F of the chain 2). Guide rail 10 is interrupted in front of the first pair of guides 20 and in face of the second pair of guides 21. The interval between the two guides 20 or 21 of each pair is equal to the length of a plate 4 (the "length" here being the dimension measured according to the direction of movement F of chain 2).

Between the two guides 20 or 21 of each pair is mounted, movable in translation parallel to these guides, a bar 22 for transverse drive of the plates, which extends parallel to the chain 2, and which has a dovetail profile corresponding to that of the groove 11 formed under each plate 4 - see also Figure 4. Each strip 22 is coupled, through a slot 23 of the table 19 extending between the two guides 20 or 21, parallel to these, to a jack 24 arranged under table 19. It is in particular a jack 24 with magnetic coupling, of known type. Each bar 22 is thus movable between an advanced position, next to chain 2, and a remote position, close to robot or operator 5.

On table 19, in the remote region of the chain 2 and close to the robot or operator 5, are provided two indexing devices 25 and 26, associated respectively to the two pairs of guides 20 and 21. Each indexing device 25 or 26 has a fixed jaw 27, located opposite a movable jaw 28, displaceable parallel to chain 2 (so perpendicular to guides 20 and 21) by means of a jack 29. In the example shown, the two fixed jaws 27 are arranged internally and carried by the same support 30, while that the movable jaws 28 are arranged externally, the associated cylinders 29 being close to the edges of the table 19.

• un premier détecteur 31, suivi immédiatement d'une première butée escamotable 32, situés sensiblement à hauteur du premier guide 20 ;
• un deuxième détecteur 33, suivi immédiatement d'une deuxième butée escamotable 34, situés sensiblement à hauteur du second guide 20 ;
• un troisième détecteur 35, suivi immédiatement d'une troisième butée escamotable 36, situés sensiblement à hauteur du second guide 21.

On its edge adjacent to the chain 2, the table 19 comprises, from upstream to downstream (with reference to the direction of movement F of the chain 2):

• a first detector 31, immediately followed by a first retractable stop 32, located substantially at the level of the first guide 20;
• a second detector 33, immediately followed by a second retractable stop 34, located substantially at the level of the second guide 20;
• a third detector 35, immediately followed by a third retractable stop 36, located substantially at the height of the second guide 21.

Finally, towards its edge furthest from the chain 2, the table 19 carries a first reader 37, located in the plane of symmetry of the first pair of guides 20, and a second reader 38, located in the plane of symmetry of the second pair of guides 21.

The overall functioning of the device is the next :

Trays 4, carrying shapes 15 receiving shoes 1 during manufacture, are moved on the chain 2 and arrive, successively, at the post of work 3 considered. The arrival of a plateau 4 is recognized by the first detector 31, and this plate 4 is stopped or released by the first retractable stop 32.

Once released, the tray 4 is driven more away by chain 2, and it can be stopped either by the second stop 34, which immobilizes it opposite the first pair of guides 20, either by the third stop 36, which immobilizes it in front of the second pair of guides 21.

Assuming that the plate 4 is stopped by the second stop 34, this plate 4 engages, by its lower groove 11 in dovetail, on the bar 22 of corresponding profile which is then placed towards the end of the guides 20 closest to the chain 2.

Then, the jack 24 associated with the bar 22 is actuated to move it in the direction of its distance of the chain 2. The bar 22 then carries with it the plate 4, which is released from the chain 2 and moved perpendicular to the latter, being guided between the two guides 20, to be brought to a region of the table 19 away from the chain 2, and close to the robot or operator 5.

When the plate 4 has reached its position furthest from the chain 2, the corresponding cylinder 29 is actuated to bring the movable jaw 28 closer to the fixed jaw 27 located opposite. Both conformations 16, belonging to the support 14 of the form 15 placed on the plate 4, are thus clamped between the fixed jaw 27 and the movable jaw 28. The support 14 is then slightly lifted and suitably immobilized, in a precise position, and the robot or the operator 5 can perform on the shoe 1 the operation planned at workstation 3 considered, for example a sizing or carding, or any other step of manufacturing.

When the plate 4 arrives in its end position race away from chain 2, the electronic "chip" 18 comes close to the first reader 37, which reads the information contained in this "chip" and order in consequence the robot 5, so that the operation carried out corresponds to the characteristics of shoe 1 to to manufacture. It can also be carried out automatic recording, on the "chip" 18, of the operation that is performed.

Once this operation is completed, the jaw mobile 28 is loosened, thereby releasing the support 14 and the form 15. The jack 24 is actuated in the opposite direction from the previous movement, to bring back the bar 22, so the plate 4, towards the chain 2. When the plate 4 is returned to the axis of chain 2, the second stop 34 retracts and allows the plate 4 to be driven more away, especially to another workstation, by the chain 2. The bar 22 can then be brought back in back "empty", or transfer a new one tray 4.

In the case of a plateau 4 stopped by the third stop 35 opposite the second pair of guides 21, the process is the same as described above, the plate 4 then being released from the chain 2 and brought together robot or operator 5 being guided between the two other guides 21, thanks to the intervention of the other bar 22. In end position of plate 4 (position visible in FIG. 1), the second reader 38 intervenes.

Note that the operation is carried out in masked time, the transfer of a plate 4 from chain 2 to the robot or operator 5, or vice versa, which can be do on one of the two "tracks" (defined for example by the first pair of guides 20), while the robot or operator 5 performs an operation on a shoe 1 carried by a plate 4 stopped at the end of the race on the other "track" (defined for example by the second pair guides 21).

In such an operation, the detectors 31.33 and 35 and the retractable stops 32, 34 and 36, associated with a properly programmed computer system, avoid any collisions or interference between platforms 4; through example, if detector 33 or 35 indicates the presence of a plate 4 on the chain 2 opposite one of the two "tracks", the system delays the return of a plateau 4 from this "track" to channel 2, prohibiting the operation of the corresponding jack 24. In addition, the first detector 31, associated with the first stop retractable 32, allows to put trays 4 in waiting position, accumulating them if necessary, before to admit them into the system by lowering the stop 32. The computer system can also determine to which runway, identified as being free, is directed each plate 4, so as to optimize the functioning of the whole. If all the stops 32, 34 and 36 are retracted with the passage of a plate 4, the latter can be driven forward on chain 2 without being transferred to the workstation 3 considered, which allows board 4 to "skip" this station to go directly to the next one, so the line of manufacturing equipped with the device according to the invention has great flexibility.

While Figures 1 to 4 show the plate 4 in principle, Figures 5 and 6 show more detail a particular embodiment of this plate 4, and more fully illustrate its possibilities of use.

Tray 4 includes a metal pallet rectangular 39, under which is fixed a plate of central friction 40 made of synthetic material, contact of the drive chain 2. Four angles of the pallet 39 are fixed friction pads 41 in synthetic material, with rounded external profile; the skids 41 allow two consecutive trays 4 to describe a suitable relative movement, in parts in curve of the path of the chain 2.

Under pallet 39, on either side of the central friction plate 40, are provided symmetrically two parallel grooves 11, of cross section dovetail. Thanks to these two grooves 11, the plate 4 can be transferred to workstations located either on the right side or on the left side of the drive chain 2.

Two pairs of fingers 9 are provided under the pallet 39, respectively on either side of the plate central friction 40. The fixed guide rail 10 can thus pass, on one side or the other of the plate of friction 40, between this and the two fingers 9 adjacent. These fingers 9 also cooperate with the presence detectors.

Pallet 39 has a front edge folded towards the bottom 42, the ends of which cooperate with the stops retractable (such as 32,34,36) that stop or release tray 4. Pallet 39 also has an edge back folded down 43, which is shorter than the folded front edge 42, so as not to strike the retractable stops. Thus, a retractable stop can be lowered to release a plate 4, then raised very quickly in order to stop the plateau with certainty following.

Finally, the right and left side edges 44 and 45 of the pallet 39 are also folded down, and they have legs folded inwards, 46 and 47 respectively, which cooperate with others stops intervening for the rotational movements of plates 4, in the case where the circuit of the plates has bifurcations.

As shown in Figure 6, the two pins 13 projecting from the upper face 12 of the plate 4 allow the choice of installing a removable support 14 receiving a form 15, as already described above, or the establishment of a removable support 48 integral a sole plate 49. Like the support 14, the support 48 receiving the sole plate 49 is provided with a side tab 50 on which is mounted a electronic "chip" 51.

• en modifiant le nombre des "pistes" du dispositif, qui s'étendent perpendiculairement à la chaíne d'entraínement ;
• en modifiant des détails constructifs, par exemple en remplaçant le profil en queue d'aronde (de la rainure 11 et de la barrette 22) par un profil en "T",
• en ayant recours à tous moyens équivalents à ceux décrits, les vérins de déplacement des barrettes pouvant ainsi être remplacés par tous moyens de commande, et le bord replié 42 pouvant être remplacé par toute partie faisant saillie vers le bas, à l'avant du plateau 4, et apte à coopérer avec les butées escamotables,
• en destinant le dispositif à une ligne de fabrication d'articles ou d'objets autres que des chaussures, les postes de travail concernés pouvant réaliser toutes opérations ou traitements.

We would not depart from the scope of the invention:

• by changing the number of "tracks" of the device, which extend perpendicular to the drive chain;
• by modifying constructive details, for example by replacing the dovetail profile (of the groove 11 and of the bar 22) by a "T" profile,
• using any means equivalent to those described, the displacement cylinders of the bars can thus be replaced by any control means, and the folded edge 42 can be replaced by any part projecting downwards, at the front of the plate 4, and able to cooperate with the retractable stops,
• by devoting the device to a line for manufacturing articles or objects other than shoes, the work stations concerned being able to carry out all operations or treatments.

Claims (10)

1. A device for transferring plates supporting articles or objects (1) in the course of manufacture or processing, between an endless drive chain (2) on which these plates (4) rest and are driven by an adherence effect, and workstations (3) situated on the side of the drive chain (2), where operations or processes are carried out on these articles or objects, the device comprising, for a workstation (3) situated on one side of the drive chain (2), displacement means for the plates (4) along a direction which can be materialized by at least one guide track (20,21) extending perpendicularly to the direction of travel (F) of the chain, characterised in that there is provided, for each guide track (20,21), a transverse drive member consisting of a bar (22) which extends parallel to the drive chain (2) and which has a profile, such as one in the shape of a dovetail, which complements the profile of at least one longitudinal groove (11) formed in the lower face (6) of each plate (4), the transverse drive bar (22) interacting with said groove (11) of a plate (4) and being able to travel in terms of translation, under the action of operating means (24), between a position close to the drive chain (2) and a position remote from said chain (2) but close to a machine or an operator (5) performing an operation or a process on the articles or objects (11) borne by the plates (4), means (31-38) being provided for controlling the position of the plates (4) especially at the intersection of the chain (2) and of the or each guide track (20,21).
2. The device for transferring plates between, a drive chain and workstations as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least two parallel guide tracks (20,21) for the plates (4), extending one beside the other perpendicularly to the drive chain (2).
3. The device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations, as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the or each guide track consists of a pair of guides (20,21), perpendicular to the chain (2) and borne by a horizontal bed (19), the separation between the two guides (20,21) of one same pair being substantially equal to the length of a plate (4).
4. The device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the transverse drive bar (22) is coupled, through a slot (23) in the bed (19) extending between the two guides (20,21) parallel thereto, to a ram (24) located underneath the bed (19).
5. The device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterised in that each plate (4) includes two parallel grooves (11), such as dovetail grooves, provided on either side of a central friction panel (40) interacting with the drive chain (2).
6. The device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the means provided for controlling the position of the plates (4) at the intersection of the drive chain (2) and of the or each guide track (20,21) comprise presence detectors (31,33,35) associated with retractable stops (32,34,36), at least one detector and at least one stop being associated with each track.
7. The device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that each plate (4) includes, in order to interact with the retractable stops (32,34,36), a downwardly projecting part at the front of this plate (4) such as a front edge folded down (42).
8. The device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, intended for plates (4) to which are fitted removable supports (14,15) for the articles or objects (1) in the course of manufacture or of processing, characterised in that there are provided, in register with the end-of-travel position of these plates (4) which is remote from the drive chain (2) and close to the machine or operator (5), indexing means (25,26) designed to achieve temporary locking of a removable support (14,15) borne by a plate (14) brought into the said end-of-travel position by the transverse drive member (22).
9. The device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, intended for plates (4) which take removable supports (14,15) for the articles or objects (1) in the course of manufacture or processing, the supports (14,15) being equipped with an electronic "chip" (18) containing items of information relating to the articles or objects (1) in the course of manufacture or processing, characterised in that there are moreover provided, in register with the end-of-travel position of the plates (4) which is remote from the drive chain (2) and close to the machine or to the operator (5), means (37,38) for reading the items of information contained in the electronic "chip" (18) of a removable support (14,15) borne by a plate (4) brought into said end-of-travel position by the transverse drive member (22).
10. The use of the device for transferring plates between a drive chain and workstations as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, for a line for the automatic or semiautomatic manufacture of shoes (1) mounted on lasts (15) held by removable supports (14), themselves borne by the plates (4).

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