WO2007139242A1

WO2007139242A1 - Automatic conveying and discharging apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007139242A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/002066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae Hyung Jeon
Original assignee: Jae Hyung Jeon
Priority date: 2006-05-30
Filing date: 2006-05-30
Publication date: 2007-12-06

Abstract

Provided is an automatic conveying and discharging apparatus. The automatic conveying and discharging apparatus includes: a supply conveyer for conveying and supplying a load; a plurality of rail units arranged at one side of the supply conveyer to be separated at pre¬ determined regular distance in parallel; a plurality of roller conveyers disposed between the rail units to be vertical from the supply conveyer for conveying the load supplied from the supply conveyer to a setting location; and a plurality of moving carriers disposed on the rail units for lifting up the load and conveying the load to a target location.

Description

Description AUTOMATIC CONVEYING AND DISCHARGING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an automatic conveying and discharging apparatus; and more particularly, to an automatic conveying and discharging apparatus for quickly and accurately conveying different sizes and shapes of loads to a predetermined location of a roll conveyer or a rail unit regardless of locations thereof by lifting up the load using a moving carrier and conveying the lifted-up load to the predetermined location without disturbing other loads, and having a structure for securing space for easy installation in order to allow economic installation. Background Art

[2] Sheet material is generally supplied as a roll. In order to process the sheet material, the sheet material is unrolled from the roll, and the unrolled sheet is conveyed to a processing machine such as a steel sheet processing machine. The processing machine cuts the sheet material in various shapes and stacks the processed sheets according to the sizes thereof. Then, the stacked sheets are conveyed to a loading place. After cutting the unrolled sheet, the processing machine may discharge the sheet.

[3] A roller conveyer or a belt conveyer is generally used as a conventional apparatus for supplying and discharging a sheet material. Hereinafter, the roller conveyer is described as an example of the conventional apparatus for supplying and discharging the sheet material.

[4] After the sheep processing machine cuts and stacks the sheet material, the processed sheets are placed on the roller conveyer which is automatically rotated by man power or mechanical driving force, and the roller conveyer conveys the processed sheets to the loading place or the discharging place.

[5] However, the roller conveyer has a shortcoming that the roller conveyer sequentially discharges the loads in the order of placing the loads on the roller conveyer only. That is, the roller conveyer discharges the loads only in a first- in first-out manner.

[6] That is, loads cannot be appropriately placed on the roller conveyer or differently discharged from the roller conveyer according to its size or shape when various loads having different lengths and shapes are placed on random locations of the roller conveyer.

[7] After placing loads on the roller conveyer, the loads maintain positions thereof until they are discharged. Therefore, the durability thereof is degraded due to the weight. Also, it is difficult to detect the locations of the loads and the loads are scattered on the roller conveyer. Therefore, the operation efficiency is degraded.

[8] Moreover, large space is required to secure a passage for a fork-lift for lifting up and placing a heavy load on the roller conveyer. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[9] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an automatic conveying and discharging apparatus for quickly and accurately conveying different sizes and shapes of loads to a predetermined location of a roll conveyer or a rail unit regardless of locations thereof by lifting up the load using a moving carrier and conveying the lif ted-up load to the predetermined location without disturbing other loads, and having a structure for securing space for easy installation in order to allow economic installation. Technical Solution

[10] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is an automatic conveying and discharging apparatus including: a supply conveyer for conveying and supplying a load; a plurality of rail units arranged at one side of the supply conveyer to be separated at predetermined regular distance in parallel; a plurality of roller conveyers disposed between the rail units to be vertical from the supply conveyer for conveying the load supplied from the supply conveyer to a setting location; and a plurality of moving carriers disposed on the rail units for lifting up the load and conveying the load to a target location.

[11] The rail units may be arranged to be separated at a predetermined distance from one another not to disturb the moving carriers to crossly travel each other, and each of the rail units includes a pair of rails arranged to be separated at a predetermined distance as long as the moving carrier in parallel.

[12] The moving carrier may include: wheel units disposed on rails at a predetermined distance to be connected to a forward/backward driving unit through a link chain or a wire; column frames connected to the wheel units by reinforcing beams arranged in parallel; side-reinforcing plates disposed at a left side and a right side of the moving carrier to connect the column frames; load raising/lowering panels disposed below the side-reinforcing plates to be raised along the column frame; and hoist units disposed to raise the load raising/ lowering panels in response to an electric signal.

[13] The load raising/lowing panels may include: an elevating plate having a predetermined size to be moved along a guide groove formed in the column frame and having entering holes each of which has a supporting member at the bottom of the entering hole; a screw shaft disposed to be rotated by being connected to a motor mounted at one side of the elevating plate; a supporting bar screw-coupled at the one end of the screw shaft and horizontally arranged to be moved along a long hole; and a plurality of finger holders disposed at the supporting bar at a predetermined distance, where each of the finger holders is consisted of a plurality of joints coupled through hinges that allow the joints to be inwardly bended and dose not allow the joints to be outwardly bended.

[14] The hoist unit may include: a plurality of hoists disposed on the column frames; and a link chain disposed to be connected to the hoist through an upper portion of the column frame and passing through a supporting pipe mounted at the inner side of a reinforcing plate and to be supported by link chain sprockets.

[15] The forward^ackward driving unit may include: a link chain or a wire disposed as long as the length of the rail unit to be connected to the wheel unit; link chain sprockets or wire-polys disposed to be separated each other at a predetermined distance and winded by the link chain or the wire; and a driving motor for driving the link chain sprockets or the wire polys.

[16] The elevating plate has the motor and the screw shaft disposed to be rotated by being connected to the motor, the supporting bar is screw-coupled at the one end of the screw shaft, and a plurality of finger holders are disposed at the supporting bar.

[17] The finger holders are disposed at the supporting bar at a predetermined distance.

The finger holders are assembled to come in and out through entering holes which are formed on the lower portion of the elevating plate. Also, the finger holders are assembled not to be outwardly bended after completely entering into the entering holes and being settled at supporting members of the entering holes.

[18] Each of the finger holders is consisted of a plurality of joints coupled through hinges that allow the joints to be inwardly bended and does not allow the joints to be outwardly bended. Advantageous Effects

[19] An automatic conveying and discharging apparatus n including a supply conveyer, a rail unit, a roller conveyer and a moving carrier according to the present invention has following advantages.

[20] At first, large amount of loads can be quickly discharged in a short time.

[21] Secondly, quick pick-up and instant discharge of large amount of loads can be embodied. [22] Thirdly, the load of the loading space can be reduced by quickly discharging loads regardless of first-in first-out order. [23] Fourthly, physical distribution and discharging can be quickly performed by lifting up and conveying loads not to be disturbed by other loads placed on the rail unit. [24] Fifthly, space usability is improved because additional space for a passage is not required.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[25] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [26] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an automatic conveying and discharging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [27] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a moving carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention; [28] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a forward/backward driving unit of a moving carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention; [29] FIG. 4 is a view of a moving carrier holding a load according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [30] FIG. 5 is a view of a moving carrier lifting up a load according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [31] Other objects and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which is set forth hereinafter. [32] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an automatic conveying and discharging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [33] Referring to FIG. 1, the automatic conveying and discharging apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment includes a supply conveyer 4, a plurality of rail units 6, a roller conveyer 8 and a moving carrier 10. [34] The supply conveyer 4 is disposed to convey a predetermined load such as sheet material to the roller conveyer 8 and to put the conveyed load on the roller conveyer 8.

That is, after placing the predetermined amount of loads on the supply conveyer 4, the supply conveyer 4 conveys them and places them on the roller conveyer 8. [35] A plurality of the rail units 6 are disposed at the one side of the supply conveyer 4 in parallel. Each of the rail units 6 includes a pair of rails which are separated each other at a predetermined distance as long as a width of the moving carrier 10. The rail units 6 are separated one another at a predetermined distance that allows the moving carriers 18 to cross each other without disturbing. [36] A plurality of the roller conveyers 8 are disposed between the rail units 6 vertically from the supply conveyer unit 4 in order to convey the supplied loads to a predetermined location. [37] A plurality of the moving carriers 10 are disposed to be movable along the rail units 6. Each of the moving carriers 10 lifts up a load at a predetermined height and conveys them to a predetermined location.

[38] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a moving carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[39] Referring to FIG. 2, the moving carrier 10 according to the present embodiment includes wheel units 12, column frames 14, side -reinforcing plates 16, load-raising/ lowering panels 18 and hoist units 20.

[40] The wheel units 12 are disposed on rails at a predetermined distance to be connected to a forward/ backward driving unit 22 through a link chain 24.

[41] Each of the column frames 14 is disposed at corresponding one of the wheel units

12 to be stood up, and the column frames 14 are connected one another in parallel through reinforcing beams 26 to maintain a predetermined shape thereof.

[42] The side-reinforcing plates 16 are disposed at a left side and a right side of the moving carrier 10 to connect the column frames 14.

[43] The load raising/lowering panels 18 are disposed below the side-reinforcing plates to be raised along the column frame 14.

[44] Each of the load raising/lowing panels 18 includes an elevating plate 32 having long holes 30, a screw shaft 36, a supporting bar 38, and finger holders 40. The elevating plate 32 is disposed to be elevated by the hoist unit 20 along a guide groove 28 formed in the column frame 14. The screw shaft 36 is disposed to be rotated by being connected to a motor 34 mounted at an outer side of the elevating plate 32. The supporting bar 38 is horizontally arranged to be arisen along the long holes 30 by being connected at the one end of the screw shaft 36. A plurality of the finger holders 40 are disposed at the supporting bar 38 at a predetermined distance. Each of the finger holders 40 is consisted of a plurality of joints coupled through hinges that allow the joints to be inwardly bended independently and allow the joints not to be outwardly bended by being assembled to support one another.

[45] The finger holders 40 are assembled to come in and out through entering holes 42 which are formed on the lower portion of the elevating plate 32. Also, the finger holders 40 are assembled not to be outwardly bended after completely entering into the entering holes 42 and being settled at supporting members 44 of the entering holes 42.

[46] The hoist units 20 are disposed to raise and to lower the load raising/lowering panel

18 in response to an electric signal. Each of the hoist units 20 includes a plurality of hoists 46 disposed on the column frame 14, and a link chain 52 disposed to be connected to the hoist 46 passing through the upper portion of the column frame 14 and a supporting pipe 48 disposed at the inner side of the side reinforcing plate 16 by being supported by link chain sprockets 50 at both ends.

[47] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a forward/backward driving unit of a moving carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[48] Referring to FIG. 3, the forward/backward driving unit 22 according to the present embodiment includes a link chain 24, link chain sprockets 54 and a driving motor 56. The link chain 24 such a wire is disposed as long as the length of the rail 4 to be connected to the wheel unit 12. The link chain sprockets 54 such as a wire-poly are disposed to be separated at a predetermined distance, and the link chain 24 is arranged to wind around the link chain sprockets 54. The driving motor 56 drives the link chain sprockets 54 to be rotated.

[49] FIG. 4 is a view of a moving carrier holding a load according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view of a moving carrier lifting up a load according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[50] Hereinafter, the operations of the automatic conveying and discharging apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGs 4 and 5.

[51] Referring to FIGs. 4 and 5, the automatic conveying and discharging apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment conveys a load supplied from the supply conveyer 4 to a predetermined location of the rail 6 through the roller conveyer 8.

[52] For example, a plurality of the rail units 6 may be arranged to be adaptable to a manufacturing environment, such as a first rail unit, a second rail unit and so on. That is, the number of the rail units 6 may vary according to the manufacturing environment.

[53] Then, the driving motor 56 of the forward/backward driving unit 22 rotates the link chain sprockets 54 such as the wire-poly to move the link chain 24 such as the wire in a predetermined direction in order to move the moving carrier 10 located on one of the rail units 6 where the load is placed on the roller conveyer 8 to a predetermined position.

[54] The predetermined position of the moving carrier 10 is determined using sensing units such as a typical encoder or a sensor.

[55] When the moving carrier 10 is located on the load, the hoist 46 of the hoist unit 20 lowers the elevating plate 32 to locate at the rail. Then, the motor 34 is driven to rotate the screw bar 36 to lower the supporting bar 38. Then, the finger holders 40 are inserted into the entering holes 42 while lowering the supporting bar 38.

[56] When completely lowering the supporting bar 38, the finger holders 40 are inserted into the holes of the pallet of the load or under the load.

[57] After completely inserting the finger holders 40 into the holes of the pallet or under the load, the hoist 46 of the hoist unit 20 is driven to roll up the link chain 52, and the elevating plate 32 is, accordingly, raised in balance. That is, the elevating plate 32 lifts up the load to reach the side reinforcing plate 16.

[58] Since the finger holders 40 are supported by the supporting members 44 of the entering holes 42 formed at the lower portion of the elevating plate 32, the finger holders 40 are not outwardly bended while lifting up the load. Therefore, the load can be lifted up by the finger holders 40 disposed at the elevating plate 32.

[59] After the moving carrier 10 completely lifts up the load, the forward/backward driving unit 22 moves the moving carrier 10 to a predetermined location of the rail unit 6.

[60] When the moving carrier 10 moves to the predetermined location of the rail unit 6, the hoist unit 20 lowers the elevating plate 32 to place the load that is holed by the finger holders 40 on the predetermined location of the rail unit 6.

[61] When the load is placed on the predetermined location of the rail unit 6 as described above, the motor 34 of the elevating plate 32 is driven to rotate the screw bar 36 to rise the supporting bar 38. Then, the finger holders 40 come out from the supporting members 44 through the entering holes 42 and are raised to be located at the side surface of the elevating plate 32.

[62] The conveying operation of the moving carrier 10 ends when the finger holders 40 are placed at the side surface of the elevating plate 32. The moving carrier 10 waits for a next conveying operation.

[63] As described above, the elevating plates 32 are connected to the hoists 46 of the hoist units 20, and it is possible to control the elevating plates 32, the hoist units 20 and the forward/backward driving unit 22 using a controller (not shown) such a computer.

[64] Each of the finger holders 10 is consisted of a plurality of joints connected through hinges. When the finger holders 10 are lowered with the elevating plate 32 in order to lift up the load, each of the joints of the finger holders 10 is inwardly bended and located under the load. Herein, the hinges of the finger holders 10 allow the joints to be rotated in one direction only. Therefore, after the finger holders 10 are placed under the load, the finger holders 10 can support the load to lift up because the hinges restrict the joints of the finger holders from being outwardly bended.

[65] As described above, the automatic conveying and discharging apparatus 2 according to the present invention may lift up the load with the pallet or the load only. For example, when a load is placed on a pallet 58 having a plurality of convex members and a plurality of concave member which are alternatively formed at a predetermined distance on the bottom of the pallet 58, the automatic conveying and discharging apparatus 2 lifts up the load with the pallet by inserting the finger holders 40 under the convex members of the pallet 58. Or the automatic conveying and discharging apparatus 2 lifts up the load only by inserting the finger holders 40 above the concave members of the pallet 58.

[66] Therefore, the automatic conveying and discharging apparatus 2 according to the present invention can place various sizes or shapes of loads on predetermined different locations or can discharges various sizes or shapes of loads placed on different locations without being disturbed by other loads.

[67] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

[1] An automatic conveying and discharging apparatus comprising: a supply conveyer for conveying and supplying a load; a plurality of rail units arranged at one side of the supply conveyer to be separated at predetermined regular distance in parallel; a plurality of roller conveyers disposed between the rail units to be vertical from the supply conveyer for conveying the load supplied from the supply conveyer to a setting location; and a plurality of moving carriers disposed on the rail units for lifting up the load and conveying the load to a target location.

[2] The automatic conveying and discharging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rail units are arranged to be separated at a predetermined distance from one another not to disturb the moving carriers to crossly travel each other, and each of the rail units includes a pair of rails arranged to be separated at a predetermined distance as long as the moving carrier in parallel.

[3] The automatic conveying and discharging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving carrier includes: wheel units disposed on rails at a predetermined distance to be connected to a forward/backward driving unit through a link chain or a wire; column frames connected to the wheel units by reinforcing beams arranged in parallel; side-reinforcing plates disposed at a left side and a right side of the moving carrier to connect the column frames; load raising/lowering panels disposed below the side-reinforcing plates to be raised along the column frame; and hoist units disposed to raise the load raising/ lowering panels in response to an electric signal.

[4] The automatic conveying and discharging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the load raising/lowing panels includes: an elevating plate having a predetermined size to be moved along a guide groove formed in the column frame and having entering holes each of which has a supporting member at the bottom of the entering hole; a screw shaft disposed to be rotated by being connected to a motor mounted at one side of the elevating plate; a supporting bar screw-coupled at the one end of the screw shaft and horizontally arranged to be moved along a long hole; and a plurality of finger holders disposed at the supporting bar at a predetermined distance, where each of the finger holders is consisted of a plurality of joints coupled through hinges that allow the joints to be inwardly bended and does not allow the joints to be outwardly bended.

[5] The automatic conveying and discharging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the hoist unit includes: a plurality of hoists disposed on the column frames; and a link chain disposed to be connected to the hoist through an upper portion of the column frame and passing through a supporting pipe mounted at the inner side of a reinforcing plate and to be supported by link chain sprockets.

[6] The automatic conveying and discharging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the forward/backward driving unit includes: a link chain or a wire disposed as long as the length of the rail unit to be connected to the wheel unit; link chain sprockets or wire-polys disposed to be separated each other at a predetermined distance and winded by the link chain or the wire; and a driving motor for driving the link chain sprockets or the wire polys.