JPH0976959A - Pusher feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pusher feeder capable of carrying a truck in either direction by pivotably fitting a pair of pusher decks capable of being collapsed in the opposite direction to each end part in the moving direction of a pusher dock base which is moved along a pusher feeder rail. SOLUTION: When a truck 28 is moved from A side to B side, a motor 25 at a driving part 22 of a pusher feeder 32 is driven, and a pusher dock base 33 is moved toward A side through a driving chain 27, and a guide roller 41 of one of pusher docks 39 provided on A side of the base 33 is landed on an uphill inclined surface of a guide plate 43 provided on an end part of A side of a rail 8, and the pusher dock 39 on A side is collapsed thereby. When the base 33 is driven to B side after a truck 28 is moved on the pusher feeder 32 in this condition, the dock 39 on A side is erected by its own weight, and abutted on a locking piece 31 of a truck body 29, and the truck 28 is pushed toward B side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pusher feeder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the manufacturing process of small trucks and the like, after checking the cab and the deck that make up the body on an inspection line, they are sent as a pair to the deck processing line via the traverser. Alternatively, there is used equipment for transferring the cab and the deck to the spot line, the correction line, the turning line, etc., respectively, according to the inspection result.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the above-mentioned equipment. In the figure, 1 is an inspection line, 2 is a traverser, 3 is a spot line, 4 is a correction line, 5 is a turning line, and 6 is a line.
Is a deck processing line, and the exchange of the cab or the deck between each of the lines 1, 3, 4 and the traverser 2 is performed via the pusher feeder 7.

Details of the pusher feeder 7 are shown in FIG.
Details will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes a pusher feeder rail extending in the conveying direction of the pusher feeder 7. The pusher feeder rail 8 is a pair of grooves extending parallel to each other and facing each other with a predetermined gap with the flange side inside. It is made of shaped steel and is supported on the floor surface 10 by the support legs 9 substantially horizontally.

The support legs 9 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pusher feeder rail 8 and are fixed to the widthwise opposite sides of the pusher feeder rail 8, and the upper end members 11 and 11. , 11 at the lower part of the pusher feeder rail 8 and upper and lower lower end members 12, 12.

Reference numeral 13 in the drawing is a guide rail for guiding a drive chain 27, which will be described later, and is fixed in parallel to the pusher feeder rail 8 at the center of the upper surface of each of the lower end members 12, 12 in the width direction. .

Further, reference numeral 14 in the drawing denotes a pusher dock base, and the pusher dock base 14 has a frame 15 whose both ends are connected to a drive chain 27 described later,
A roller 16 rotatably supported on both ends of the frame 15 and movably guided between the flanges of the pusher feeder rail 8, and is provided at a predetermined position between the rollers 16; It has a set of brackets 17 facing each other at intervals in the width direction.

A pusher dock 18 is rotatably supported between the brackets 17, and the pusher dock 18 is pushed to face the carrying direction (direction A to B in FIG. 9). Upper end 20 with plate 19
And along the frame 15 in the opposite transport direction (B shown in FIG. 9).
And a lower end portion 21 extending from the side toward the side A), and is formed in a substantially L shape when viewed from the side.

The weight of the lower end portion 21 is equal to that of the upper end portion 20.
The lower surface of the lower end portion 21 is always in contact with the upper surface of the frame 15 and the upper end portion 20 is erected above the frame 15 at all times.

Further, inside the pit 23 provided at one end of the pusher feeder rail 8, the drive unit 2 is provided.
2 are arranged, and the drive unit 22 is composed of a drive sprocket 24 and a motor 25 for driving the drive sprocket 24.

A driven sprocket 26 is arranged near the other end of the pusher feeder rail 8.

Further, one end of the drive chain 27 is connected to one end of the frame 15 of the pusher dock base 14 and extends along the upper guide rail 13 toward the drive unit 22 side to form the drive sprocket 24. And then extends along the lower guide rail 13 toward the driven sprocket 26 side, and after being wound around the driven sprocket 26, extends along the upper guide rail 13 to the pusher dock base 14 and the frame 15 The other end is connected to the other end, and the end is formed as a whole.

Reference numeral 28 in the drawing denotes a dolly for carrying a body such as a cab or a deck. The dolly 28 has a dolly body 29 formed so that a body or the like can be loaded, and four dolly bodies 29 at four corners. Wheels 30 that are arranged to roll freely,
Hooking pieces 31, 31 are formed at the front and rear positions of the lower surface of the trolley body 29 and hang down so as to come into contact with the push plate 19 of the pusher dock 18.

Thus, for example, when sending the cart 28 from the A side (left side in the figure) to the B side (right side in the figure) in FIG. 7, the motor 2 of the drive unit 22 of the pusher feeder 7 is used.
5 is operated to drive the pusher dock base 14 in the anti-conveyance direction (direction toward the side A shown in FIG. 7) via the drive sprocket 24 and the drive chain 27, and the pusher dock base 14 is pushed. Of A
The carriage 28 is moved to the side end and stopped, and then the carriage 28 is moved onto the pusher feeder 7.

At this time, the hooking piece 31 provided on the lower surface of the trolley body 29 of the dolly 28 comes into contact with the upper end portion 20 of the pusher dock 18 provided on the pusher dock base 14 from the rear, but the pusher dock 18 has the hooking piece 31. Since it is pushed down by the user and falls down in the transport direction (direction toward the B side shown in FIG. 9), the hook 3 is pushed on the pusher dock 18.
1 easily passes.

Next, the drive unit 2 of the pusher feeder 7
The motor 25 of No. 2 is operated, and the pusher dock base 1 is driven through the drive sprocket 24 and the drive chain 27.
4 in the transport direction (direction toward the B side shown in FIG. 7),
The pusher dock 18 provided on the pusher dock base 14 is brought into contact with the retaining piece 31 and pushed out in the conveying direction (direction toward the side B shown in FIG. 7), and the carriage 28 is conveyed through the retaining piece 31. Direction (direction toward the side B shown in FIG. 7).

[0018]

However, in the conventional pusher feeder 7 as described above, the pusher dock 18 is formed so as to be able to fall down only in the conveying direction, and the pusher dock 18 moves the carriage 28 in a predetermined position. Since there is a problem that it can only convey in one direction, there has been a demand for the development of a pusher feeder that can respond bidirectionally such that a truck once transported can be sent back.

For example, in the equipment as shown in FIG. 6 described above, it may not be possible to feed the cab and the deck constituting the body as a pair to the deck processing line 6 via the traverser 2 according to the inspection result. Yes, if the cab cannot be fed to the deck processing line 6 and only the deck that requires a long processing time continues, the inspection line 1 will have to be stopped as a whole. It is sent to the turning line 5 and temporarily thinned,
After that, it is convenient that the deck can be returned onto the traverser 2 when the cab is fed to the deck processing line 6 by the traverser 2. However, in the conventional pusher feeder 7, the truck 2 once loaded from the traverser 2 is used.
8 could not be sent back to the traverser 2 side again, and thus such thinning-out means could not be adopted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pusher feeder capable of bidirectionally conveying a cart.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the pusher dock base, which moves along the pusher feeder rail, is pivotally attached to both ends of the pusher dock base in the moving direction so that the pusher dock base can lie down in a direction opposite to each other, and normally stands up by its own weight. And a pair of pusher docks formed so that the upper ends of the pusher docks can be hooked on the lower surface of the trolley, and rotatable guide rollers are provided at the lower ends of the pusher docks. A pair of guide plates each having an inclined surface so as to have an upward slope in a direction in which they are separated from each other, and the guide rollers are guided by the inclined surfaces of the guide plates so that each pusher dock is laid down. The present invention relates to a pusher feeder characterized by the above.

Then, when the pusher dock base reaches either end of the pusher feeder rail,
The guide roller of the preceding pusher dock rides on the inclined surface of the guide plate arranged at one end of the pusher feeder rail and is guided upward, so that only the preceding pusher dock is laid down.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show an example of the embodiment of the pusher feeder of the present invention, in which the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 are designated by the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted. To do.

The pusher feeder 32 in the present embodiment example
Then, a pusher dock base 33 that moves along the pusher feeder rail 8 is provided with a central member 34 provided with four pairs of rollers 16 that are movably guided between the flanges of the pusher feeder rail 8, and the central member 34. 34
A bracket portion 36 having pins 35 extending upward in parallel with each other at both longitudinal ends and penetrating in the width direction of the central member 34 at the upper end, and extending from the bracket portion 36 in the extension direction of the central member 34. Drive chain 27
And a pair of pusher docks 39 are pivotally attached to the respective pins 35 of the bracket portions 36 so as to be able to lay down in opposite directions. ing.

Each pusher dock 39 has an upper end 4
0 is formed so that the push plate 19 can be hooked on the hooking piece 31 on the lower surface of the carriage main body 29, and below the upper end portion 40, guide rollers projecting to both sides in the width direction of the pusher dock base 33. A lower end portion 42 having a rotatable 41 is formed.

Further, the lower end portion 42 of each pusher dock 39 is located with respect to the end surface of the central member 34 of the pusher dock base 33 when the push plate 19 of the upper end portion 40 is in a substantially vertical state. The front surface of the
Further rotation of the pusher dock 39 can be prevented.

Further, the weight of the lower end portion 42 is heavier than that of the upper end portion 40, and the pusher docks 39 are always provided.
Stands up by its own weight, and the front surface of the lower end portion 42 is the frame 38.
The upper end 40 extends above the frame 38 so that the push plate 19 of each pusher dock 39 is in a substantially vertical state.

Further, a pair of guide plates 4 having inclined surfaces 44 formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the pusher feeder rail 8 so as to have an upward slope in a direction away from each other.
3 is provided, and the pusher dock base 33 is provided.
Moves along the pusher feeder rail 8 and approaches either end of the pusher feeder rail 8, the guide roller 41 of the pusher dock 39 preceding the inclined surface 44 of the guide plate 43 rides up. As a result, the pusher dock 39 is turned around the pin 35 to fall down.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

For example, side A in FIG. 1 (left side in FIG. 1)
When sending the cart 28 from the B side to the B side (right side in the figure),
The motor 25 of the drive unit 22 of the pusher feeder 32 is operated to drive the drive sprocket 24 and the drive chain 27.
Drive pusher dock base 33 to the A side via
The pusher dock base 33 is moved to the A side end of the pusher feeder rail 8 and stopped.

As described above, when the pusher dock base 33 moves along the pusher feeder rail 8 and approaches the A-side end of the pusher feeder rail 8,
The guide roller 41 of one pusher dock 39 provided on the A side of the pusher dock base 33 has a guide plate 43 provided at the A side end of the pusher feeder rail 8.
As a result of the guide roller 41 riding on the slope 44 having an upward slope and rising as a result, the pusher dock 39 on the A side turns around by pivoting about the pin 35 (see FIG. 3). Therefore, the hooking piece 31 on the lower surface of the truck main body 29 can pass over the pusher dock 39.

Therefore, the carriage 28 is moved to the pusher feeder 3
2 is moved up to stop the carriage 28 at a position where the hooking piece 31 of the carriage 28 is close to the pusher dock 39 on the B side of the pusher dock base 33.

After that, the motor 25 of the drive unit 22 of the pusher feeder 32 is operated to push the pusher dock base 3
3 is driven in the direction toward the B side, the guide roller 41 located on the inclined surface 44 of the guide plate 43 on the A side.
Descends along the inclined surface 44, the pusher dock 39 on the A side that has been laid down is rotated around the pin 35 due to its own weight to stand up, and the push plate 19 of the raised pusher dock 39 is mounted on the carriage main body 29. The carriage 28 is pushed to the B side via the hooking piece 31 and conveyed.

Next, when the pusher dock base 33 approaches the B side end of the pusher feeder rail 8, B
The guide roller 41 of the pusher dock 39 on the side is
The inclined surface 44 of the guide plate 43 provided at the end on the B side
And the guide roller 41 is in contact with the
As a result of climbing up to 4 and climbing, the pusher dock 3
9 falls down by rotating around the pin 35 (see FIG. 4), so that the hooking piece 31 of the truck 28 can pass above the pusher dock 39, and the truck 2
It is possible to transfer 8 from the pusher feeder 32 onto a facility (not shown) on the B side.

The B side in FIG. 1 (right side in the figure)
When sending the carriage 28 back from A to the A side (left side in the figure),
The pusher dock 39 on the B side is erected by the opposite operation to the above, and the push plate 19 of the erected pusher dock 39 pushes the hooking piece 31 of the carriage 28 to the A side for conveyance.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, since the carriage 28 can be transported in both directions, it is possible to easily perform the operation of returning the carriage 28 that has once been transported, and the work efficiency in various facilities. Can be greatly improved.

For example, the pusher feeder 32 described above
5 is applied to the exchange between the turning line 5 and the traverser 2 as shown in FIG. 5, the truck 28 once taken in from the traverser 2 can be sent back to the traverser 2 side, so that the prescribed truck 28 can be turned. Another truck 28 to be sent to line 5 and temporarily thinned, and then paired
It is possible to perform flexible equipment operation such that the carriage 28 that has been thinned out is returned to the traverser 2 after waiting for the arrival of the vehicle.

It should be noted that the pusher feeder of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0040]

As described above, since the carriage can be transported in both directions, it is possible to easily perform the operation of sending back the carriage that has once been transported, thus greatly improving the work efficiency in various facilities. The excellent effect that it can improve can be produced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a mode for carrying out a pusher feeder of the present invention.

2 is a side view showing details of the pusher dock base of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing an operating state of the pusher dock of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing another operating state of the pusher dock of FIG.

5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of equipment to which the pusher feeder of FIG. 1 is applied.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of equipment to which a conventional pusher feeder is applied.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing details of the pusher feeder of FIG.

8 is a view in the direction of arrows VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

9 is a side view showing details of the pusher dock base of FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a view in the direction of arrow XX in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Pusher Feeder Rail 28 Truck 32 Pusher Feeder 33 Pusher Dock Base 39 Pusher Dock 40 Upper End 41 Guide Roller 42 Lower End 43 Guide Plate 44 Slope

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pusher dock base, which moves along a pusher feeder rail, is pivotally attached to both ends of the pusher dock base in the moving direction so that the pusher dock base can be laid down in a direction opposite to each other, and is normally erected by its own weight to hang the upper end portion on the lower surface of the carriage. A pair of pusher docks formed so that they can be stopped, a rotatable guide roller is provided at the lower end of each pusher dock, and both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the pusher feeder rail are provided with an upward slope in a direction away from each other. A pair of guide plates having inclined surfaces are formed so that the respective guide rollers are guided by the inclined surfaces of the respective guide plates so that the pusher docks fall down. .