Pallet reversing apparatus for conveyor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12492082-B2
Application number	US-202318396834-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2023
Priority date	Dec 28, 2022
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

There is provided a pallet reversing apparatus for a conveyor that conveys a pallet including a die having a front surface and a back surface. The pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor includes: a rotating unit that rotates the pallet with respect to a conveyance direction via a shaft provided at a center of the pallet; and a hooked portion provided at one end of the shaft. The rotating unit is provided on one side of a rotation shaft of a head or a tail of the conveyor, and rotates in synchronization with the rotation shaft. The rotating unit includes a hook portion configured to rotate with respect the conveyance direction. The rotating unit rotates the hook portion by 180 degrees in a state of hooking the hook portion to the hooked portion, so that the pallet is reversed with respect to the conveyance direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A pallet reversing apparatus for a conveyor configured to convey a pallet including a die, a front surface and a back surface of the die being different, the pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor comprising:
a rotating unit configured to rotate the pallet with respect to a conveyance direction via a shaft provided at a center of the pallet, the center being between the front surface and the back surface of the die, such that the front surface and the back surface of the die are switched; and a hooked portion provided at one end of the shaft, wherein the rotating unit is provided on one side of a rotation shaft of a head or a tail of the conveyor, and rotates in synchronization with the rotation shaft, the rotating unit includes a hook portion configured to rotate, and the rotating unit rotates the hook portion by 180 degrees in a state of hooking the hook portion to the hooked portion, so that the pallet is reversed such that the front surface and the back surface of the die are switched.

2 . The pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein
when the pallet is conveyed from a center point of the rotation shaft to a lower side in a vertical direction, the rotating unit rotates the hook portion until the pallet is conveyed to an upper side in the vertical direction.

3 . The pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein
when the pallet is conveyed from a center point of the rotation shaft to an upper side in a vertical direction, the hooked portion is guided between a bent member and a horizontal member of the conveyor.

4 . The pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor according to claim 1 , wherein
the hooked portion includes one plate member protruding outward, the hook portion includes two plate members protruding in parallel toward the conveyor, and the rotating unit actuates the hook portion such that the one plate member is inserted between the two plate members, and hooks the hook portion to the hooked portion.

5 . A pallet reversing apparatus for a conveyor configured to convey a pallet including a die, a front surface and a back surface of the die being different, the pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor comprising:
a rotating unit configured to rotate the pallet with respect to a conveyance direction via a shaft provided at a center of the pallet, the center being between the front surface and the back surface of the die, such that the front surface and the back surface of the die are switched; and a hooked portion provided at one end of the shaft, wherein the rotating unit is provided on one side of a rotation shaft of a head or a tail of the conveyor, and rotates in synchronization with the rotation shaft, the rotating unit includes a hook portion configured to advance and retreat with respect to the hooked portion, and configured to rotate, and the rotating unit rotates the hook portion by 180 degrees in a state of hooking the hook portion to the hooked portion, so that the pallet is reversed such that the front surface and the back surface of the die are switched.

6 . The pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor according to claim 5 , wherein
when the pallet is conveyed from a center point of the rotation shaft to a lower side in a vertical direction, the rotating unit rotates the hook portion until the pallet is conveyed to an upper side in the vertical direction.

7 . The pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor according to claim 5 , wherein
when the pallet is conveyed from a center point of the rotation shaft to an upper side in a vertical direction, the hooked portion is guided between a bent member and a horizontal member of the conveyor.

8 . The pallet reversing apparatus for the conveyor according to claim 5 , wherein
the hooked portion includes one plate member protruding outward, the hook portion includes two plate members protruding in parallel toward the conveyor, and the rotating unit actuates the hook portion such that the one plate member is inserted between the two plate members, and hooks the hook portion to the hooked portion.

Assignees

• Toyota Boshoku Kk

Inventors

• Nakamura Yoshio
• Ishikawa Takahiro
• Inukai Koji

Classifications

• B65G17/323

  Grippers, e.g. suction or magnetic · CPC title

• B65G2203/042

  Sensors · CPC title

• B65G2812/02811

  guided at least partially along a vertical or inclined direction · CPC title

• B65G17/385

  adapted to follow three-dimensionally curved paths · CPC title

• B65G2201/022

  Flat · CPC title