Pallets for process and sacrifice boards

Abstract: A pallet, for use in a numerical control router, comprises a base (25) on which one or more process boards (3) are to be carried, characterised in that there is at least one supporting member which is attached to at least part of a peripheral portion of the base (25) and presents at least one supporting portion (28) for supporting a sacrifice board (30), with the result that slipping and sliding of the sacrifice board (30) on the process boards (3) is avoided.

Description: The present invention relates to pallets for carrying a sacrifice board as well as one or more process boards to be processed in a numerical control router. A process system for a numerical control router is disclosed in JP-A-2-301385 (or EP-A-0 485 223). In that numerical control router, a traverser is moved in front of a selected shelf in a storehouse, whereupon a pallet having a process board carrying a sacrifice board is put on the traverser and is carried to a supply conveyer. When the supply conveyer moves the pallet to a predetermined position, a robot first positions the sacrifice board and then the process board on a table so that the process board can be processed. A problem arises when the process board is smaller than the sacrifice board, because as the pallet is moved, the sacrifice board tends to slide on the process board and can even fall off the process board. A pallet according to the present invention, however, for use in a numerical control router, comprises a base on which one or more process boards and a sacrifice board are to be carried, characterised in that there is at least one supporting member which is attached to at least part of a peripheral portion of the base and presents at least one supporting portion for supporting a sacrifice board. Preferably, the or each of the supporting members further presents at least one locating portion for locating the sacrifice board, and the or each of the locating portions is in the form of a stop plate. There may be at least two of the supporting members positioned along each of at least two of the sides of the base. Alternatively, there may be only one of the supporting members positioned along each of at least three of the sides of the base. In the latter case, the supporting members may be in the form of a rectangular frame. Preferably, the or each of the supporting members is attached to the base by at least one pole. It will be appreciated that, in use, a process board is carried by the base, inwardly of the at least one supporting member, and a sacrifice board is supported by the at least one supporting member, there being no need for contact between the sacrifice board and the top process board, with the result that the sacrifice board is supported without being influenced by the size or slippiness of the top process board. Several pallets, according to the present invention, as well as a numerical control router process system, will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 shows a side view of a known numerical control router process system; Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the numerical control router process system in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a pallet in an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the pallet in Fig. 3 carrying a sacrifice board and a plurality of process boards; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a pallet in another embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a pallet in a further embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a pallet in yet another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, in a known process system of a numerical control router, a plurality of pallets 4 having process boards 3 and sacrifice boards 7 are put on projections 6 on supporting poles 5 forming shelves 2 in a storehouse 1. A rail 9 for moving a traverser 8 is arranged between the shelves 2 and a traverser control unit 10 is arranged at one end of the rail 9. A carry conveyer 11 is arranged at one side of the traverser control unit 10, a discharge conveyer 12 is arranged at the other side of the traverser control unit 10, and a conveyer control unit 13 for controlling the carry conveyer 11 and the discharge conveyer 12 is arranged at the side of the carry conveyer 11. A robot 14 is arranged near to the traverser control unit 10 and comprises a work arm 15 and a suction port 16 connected to the work arm 15. A robot control unit 17 is arranged apart from the robot 14 and a main control unit 18 is arranged at the side of the robot control unit 17. A suction table 20 of a numerical control router 19 is arranged near to the robot 14. A first control unit 22 and a second control unit 23 are mounted on a rail for moving a head 21 of the numerical control router 19. Also, rule stoppers 24a, 24b and 24c are mounted at the sides of the suction table 20. In such a numerical control router process system, the traverser 8 transmits a selected pallet 4 on which a sacrifice board 7 and process boards 3 have been put to the carry conveyer 11, the pallet 4 is transmitted to a predetermined position on the carry conveyer 11, the robot 14 moves and positions the sacrifice board 7 on the suction table 20, and then moves and positions the top process board 3 on the sacrifice board 7 by the rule stoppers 24a, 24b and 24c, before the process board 3 is processed by the head 21. When the sacrifice board 7 is the same size as the process boards 3, as illustrated in a shelf 2b, the sacrifice board 7 does not shift on the process boards 3 when the pallet 4 is moved. However, when the process boards 3 are smaller than the sacrifice board 7, as illustrated in a shelf 2a, the sacrifice board 7 does shift on or even fall from the uppermost of the process boards 3. Referring to Fig. 3, a plurality of supporting members 26 are shown attached to at least part of a peripheral portion of a pallet base 25 by respective poles 27. Each supporting member 26 is formed with a supporting portion 28 and a locating portion 29. If the poles 27 tend to wave, or flex undesirably, their upper parts may be connected by transverse struts (not shown). In any case, the arrangement is such that insertion of the suction port 16 to reach the process boards 3 is not prevented. In the pallet of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the process boards 3 are put on the pallet base 25 and a sacrifice board 30 is put on the supporting portions 28. Accordingly, the sacrifice board 30 is not influenced by the formation (size, etc.) of the process boards 3. The locating portions 29, which are in the form of respective stop plates, help to ensure that the sacrifice board 30 does not fall from the supporting portions 28 when the pallet is moved. Referring to Fig. 5, supporting plate members 31 are attached to the pallet base 25 by leg members (poles) 32, supporting portions 33 are formed on the upper portions of the supporting plate members 31 to carry the sacrifice board 30, and stop plates (locating portions) 34 are attached to the supporting portions 33 to prevent shift and fall of the sacrifice board 30. Referring to Fig. 6, a rectangular supporting frame member 35 is attached to the periphery of the pallet base 25 by leg members (poles) 36, a continuous supporting portion 37 is formed around the upper portion of the rectangular supporting frame member 35 to carry the sacrifice board 30, and a rectangular stop plate (locating portion) 38 is formed around the periphery of the supporting portion 37. Referring to Fig. 7, a plurality of supporting plate members 39 are attached to the periphery of the pallet base 25 by leg members (poles) 40, supporting portions 41 are formed at the upper portions of the plate members 39, and stop plates (locating portions) 42 are formed on the supporting portions 41 to prevent shift and fall of the sacrifice board 30. Because the pallets are constructed as shown in the above embodiments, the sacrifice boards 30 are respectively put on the supporting portions 28, 33, 37 and 41 and are not influenced by the formation of the process boards 3. Though the supporting plate members 31, the rectangular supporting frame member 35 and the supporting plate members 39 are, respectively, attached to the pallet base 25 by the leg members 32, 36 and 40, the members 31, 35 and 39 may be directly attached to the pallet base 25 and other fixing members may be used for fixing the members 31, 35 and 39. Though the stop plates 29, 34, 38 and 42 are provided to prevent shift and fall of the sacrifice board 30, friction members or rough members may be attached to the supporting portions 28, 33, 37 and 41 instead of the stop plates, or indeed magnets may be attached to the supporting portions 28, 33, 37 and 41 of the pallet base 25 and the corresponding portions of the sacrifice board 30. As stated above, in the pallet of the present invention, shift and fall of the sacrifice board can be prevented.

Claims: A pallet, for use in a numerical control router, comprising a base (25) on which one or more process boards and a sacrifice board (3) are to be carried, characterised in that there is at least one supporting member (26; 31; 35; 39) which is attached to at least part of a peripheral portion of the base (25) and presents at least one supporting portion (28; 33; 37; 41) for supporting the sacrifice board (30). A pallet according to claim 1, characterised in that the or each of the supporting members (26; 31; 35; 39) further presents at least one locating portion (29; 34; 38; 42) for locating the sacrifice board. A pallet according to claim 2, characterised in that the or each of the locating portions (29; 34; 38; 42) is in the form of a stop plate. A pallet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that there are at least two of the supporting members (26; 39) positioned along each of at least two of the sides of the base. A pallet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that there is only one of the supporting members (31; 35) positioned along each of at least three of the sides of the base. A pallet according to claim 5, characterised in that the supporting members (35) are in the form of a rectangular frame. A pallet according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the or each of the supporting members (26; 31; 35; 39) is attached to the base (25) by at least one pole (27; 32; 36; 40). A pallet according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a process board (3) is being carried by the base (25), inwardly of the at least one supporting member, and a sacrifice board (30) is being supported by the at least one supporting member (26; 31; 35; 39).

Inventors: SUZUKI NOBUYOSHI, SUZUKI, NOBUYOSHI
Applicants: HEIAN CORP, HEIAN CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B23Q7
IPC codes: B65D19, B23Q7