Pallet supply apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12420369-B2
Application number	US-202017926299-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2020
Priority date	May 20, 2020
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

The present invention includes a pallet storage device ( 30 ) having holding units ( 31, 32, 33 ) holding pallets (P) and a frame ( 40 ) supporting the holding units ( 31, 32, 33 ), a conveyance device ( 10 ) having a traveling base ( 11 ) having a traveling path ( 11 a ) extending along the pallet storage device ( 30 ) and a conveyance unit ( 15 ) loading and unloading the pallets (P) into and from the holding units ( 31, 32, 33 ) and conveying the pallets (P) to and from a predetermined place, and a controller ( 60 ) controlling operation of the conveyance device ( 10 ). The frame ( 40 ) has a space capable of receiving the controller ( 60 ) therein and has a plate-shaped cover ( 43, 48, 51 ) arranged to be located above the controller ( 60 ) and inclined downward toward the traveling base ( 11 ) side. The cover ( 43, 48, 51 ) is supported by the frame ( 40 ) such that a lower end of the cover ( 43, 48, 51 ) can be flipped up, and the cover ( 40 ) is configured such that the controller ( 60 ) can pass under the cover ( 43, 48, 51 ) when the lower end of the cover ( 43, 48, 51 ) is in a flipped-up state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pallet supply apparatus comprising:
a pallet storage device having: a plurality of holding units holding pallets; and a frame supporting the plurality of holding units in a row;
a conveyance device having: a traveling base arranged parallel to the pallet storage device and having a traveling path extending along the pallet storage device; and a conveyance unit traveling on the traveling path to load and unload the pallets into and from the holding units and to convey the pallets to and from a predetermined place; and
a controller controlling operation of the conveyance device,
wherein:
the frame has under the holding units a space capable of receiving the controller therein and has a cover of a plate shape arranged such that the cover is located above the controller with the controller received in the space and is inclined downward toward the traveling base side;
the cover is supported by the frame such that a lower end side of the cover can be flipped up; and
the cover is configured such that the controller can pass under the cover when the lower end side of the cover is in a flipped-up state.

2. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is pivotally supported by the frame at its side opposite to the lower end side.

3. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the frame has a locking tool to keep the lower end side of the cover in the flipped-up state.

4. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the frame and the controller each have a caster provided on a bottom thereof so that the frame and the controller can be transported by hand push.

5. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the frame and the controller each further have a stand with a height adjustment function provided on the bottom thereof.

6. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the frame and the controller each have a caster provided on a bottom thereof so that the frame and the controller can be transported by hand push.

7. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the frame and the controller each further have a stand with a height adjustment function provided on the bottom thereof.

8. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame has a locking tool to keep the lower end side of the cover in the flipped-up state.

9. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the frame and the controller each have a caster provided on a bottom thereof so that the frame and the controller can be transported by hand push.

10. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the frame and the controller each further have a stand with a height adjustment function provided on the bottom thereof.

11. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame and the controller each have a caster provided on a bottom thereof so that the frame and the controller can be transported by hand push.

12. The pallet supply apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the frame and the controller each further have a stand with a height adjustment function provided on the bottom thereof.

13. A method of assembling a pallet supply apparatus, the pallet supply apparatus including:
a pallet storage device having: a plurality of holding units holding pallets; and a frame supporting the plurality of holding units in a row;
a conveyance device loading and unloading the pallets into and from the holding units and conveying the pallets to and from a predetermined place; and
a controller controlling operation of the conveyance device,
wherein the frame has under the holding units a space capable of receiving the controller therein and has a cover of a plate shape arranged such that the cover is located above the controller with the controller received in the space and is inclined downward toward a traveling base side, the cover is supported by the frame such that a lower end side of the cover can be flipped up, and the cover is configured such that the controller can pass under the cover when the lower end side of the cover is in a flipped-up state,
the method comprising:
first, arranging the conveyance device on a predetermined position, and then temporarily placing the controller near the conveyance device and connecting the controller to the conveyance device;
subsequently, with the lower end side of the cover in the flipped-up state, bringing the frame close to the conveyance device from the controller side such that the controller relatively passes under the cover and arranging the frame parallel to the conveyance device; and
subsequently, moving the controller to a normal position set under the holding units of the frame and installing the controller on the normal position, and then returning the cover to its original downward inclined state from the flipped-up state.

14. A pallet supply apparatus comprising:
a pallet storage device having: a plurality of holding units holding pallets; and a frame supporting the plurality of holding units in a row;
a conveyance device having: a traveling base arranged parallel to the pallet storage device and having a traveling path extending along the pallet storage device; and a conveyance unit traveling on the traveling path to load and unload the pallets into and from the holding units and to convey the pallets to and from a predetermined place; and
a controller controlling operation of the conveyance device,
wherein:
the frame has under the holding units a space capable of receiving the controller therein and has a cover of a plate shape arranged such that the cover is located above the controller with the controller received in the space and is inclined downward toward the traveling base side;
the cover is supported by the frame such that a lower end side of the cover can be flipped up; and
the frame is configured such that, when the lower end side of the cover is in a flipped-up state, the controller can be positioned under the cover and can be moved under the cover.

Assignees

• Dmg Mori Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nakagawa Koji
• Miyamoto Daisuke

Classifications

• B23Q11/0053

  using the gravity force · CPC title

• B23Q11/08

  Protective coverings for parts of machine tools; Splash guards · CPC title

• B23Q1/4866

  followed perpendicularly by a single sliding pair · CPC title

• B65G2201/0267

  Pallets · CPC title

• B23Q7/1431 Primary

  Work holder changers (B23Q7/1442 takes precedence) · CPC title