Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a stage-stacking lift.

Stage-stacking is necessary in order to improve transportation efficiency, but there is a problem that a lift and a stage-stacking unit are separately provided to cause low space efficiency.

There is also a problem that a case, in which the lift and the stage-stacking unit are not separately installable in a space with a limited layout, occurs. <CIT> according to its abstract discloses a tray collecting and separating device according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a stage-stacking lift that may minimize a distribution equipment arrangement space.

A stage-stacking lift according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the stage-stacking unit may be configured to be mountable in the lift unit and thus, minimize the distribution equipment arrangement space. In addition, the operations of stacking and lifting the trays may become easier and the operating speed may increase.

The above and other aspects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Note that like elements are designated by like reference numerals as far as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. The present invention may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Moreover, detailed descriptions related to well-known art will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily obscure subject matters of the present invention.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating a stage-stacking lift according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a horizontally movable unit is omitted in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a stage-stacking lift <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lift unit <NUM> and a stage-stacking unit <NUM> mounted in the lift unit <NUM>. The stage-stacking unit <NUM> stacks a tray <NUM> in multiple stages, and the lift unit <NUM> elevates the tray <NUM> stacked in multiple stages. In addition, the stage-stacking lift <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include the horizontally movable unit that moves the tray <NUM> in a horizontal direction, a controller C that controls each of devices, and a tray detection sensor that detects the tray <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of a stage-stacking unit in a stage-stacking lift according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a front view of a stage-stacking unit in a stage-stacking lift according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In more detail, referring to <FIG>, the stage-stacking unit <NUM> may stack the tray <NUM> in multiple stages, which is mounted in the lift unit <NUM> and in which accommodation targets are accommodated. Here, the accommodation targets may be, for example, multiple secondary batteries. Here, for example, the stage-stacking unit <NUM> may stack the tray <NUM> in two stages.

According to the invention, the stage-stacking unit <NUM> includes a Z-axis movable part M, which moves the tray <NUM> in a Z-axis direction that is a vertical direction, and a position fixing part <NUM> which fixes a position of the tray <NUM> that has moved vertically. In addition, the stage-stacking unit <NUM> may further include a height detection sensor <NUM>, and a stage-stacking frame <NUM> that supports each of components of the stage-stacking unit <NUM>. Here, the Z-axis movable part M, the position fixing part <NUM>, and the height detection sensor <NUM> may be supported by the stage-stacking frame <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, and according to the invention, the Z-axis movable part M includes a support stage <NUM> that supports a lower portion of the tray <NUM>, and a vertically movable means <NUM> that moves the support stage <NUM> vertically. When the tray <NUM> is disposed at an upper portion of the support stage <NUM> through the Z-axis movable part M, the support stage <NUM> moves the tray <NUM> upward while moving upward.

The vertically movable means <NUM> may vertically move multiple movable rods <NUM>, which support a lower portion of the support stage <NUM>, to move the support stage <NUM> vertically. Here, for example, a moving method using an actuator <NUM> or a moving method using a rack and pinion may be used as the method of vertically moving the movable rods <NUM>. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and various methods of vertically moving the movable rods <NUM> may be used. Here, in the moving method using the rack and pinion, for example, a rack screw part may be provided on outer circumference of each of the movable rods <NUM>, and the rack screw part may be engaged with a pinion gear <NUM> so that the movable rod <NUM> may move vertically according to rotation of the pinion gear <NUM>. Here, the pinion gear <NUM> may be connected to a driving gear <NUM> through a power transmission means <NUM> and receive torque, and the driving gear <NUM> may be coupled to a rotary shaft of a driving motor <NUM> and rotate by the driving motor <NUM>. Here, the power transmission means <NUM> may be a belt or a chain.

The height detection sensor <NUM> may detect the height of the support stage <NUM>.

In addition, the height detection sensor <NUM> may detect a moving position of the movable rod <NUM>, which supports the lower portion of the support stage <NUM>, so as to detect the height of the support stage <NUM>.

Moreover, the height detection sensor <NUM> may be mounted in a sensor rod <NUM>, which extends downward from the stage-stacking frame <NUM>, and disposed at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the movable rod <NUM> in a lateral direction.

And the height detection sensor <NUM> may include a Z-axis origin sensor 138a, and multiple Z-axis over sensors 138b disposed above and below the Z-axis origin sensor 138a. Here, the height detection sensor <NUM> may detect the height of a detection terminal 138c disposed on the outer circumference of the movable rod <NUM> so as to detect the moving position of the movable rod <NUM>. A position of the detection terminal 138c, which is detected through the Z-axis origin sensor 138a and the Z-axis over sensors 138b, may be detected to detect the height of the support stage <NUM>. Here, as the controller C to be described later controls the vertically movable means <NUM> by detecting the position of the movable rod <NUM> through the height detection sensor <NUM>, the vertical movement of the support stage <NUM> may be controlled.

The position fixing part <NUM> may include a fitting bar <NUM>, which has an end fitted into a groove 10a defined in a side surface of the tray <NUM>, and the actuator <NUM> which moves the fitting bar <NUM> forward and backward with respect to a Y-axis. Here, the position fixing part <NUM> may further include a connecting bar <NUM> that connects the actuator <NUM> and the fitting bar <NUM> to each other.

Here, when the tray <NUM> moves upward to a predetermined height, the fitting bar <NUM> may be fitted into the groove 10a defined in the side surface of the tray <NUM>, and support the tray <NUM> so as to fix the position of the tray <NUM>. That is, the actuator <NUM> may operate to move the fitting bar <NUM> through the connecting bar <NUM>, and the fitting bar <NUM> may be fitted into the groove 10a defined in the side surface of the tray <NUM> so as to fix the height of the tray <NUM>.

In addition, the position fixing part <NUM> may be disposed at each of both sides of the tray <NUM> so as to support each of the both sides of the tray <NUM> and fix the position thereof. Here, the position fixing part <NUM> may be disposed at each of the both sides of the tray <NUM> in a Y-axis direction. And the fitting bar <NUM> may have a shape extending in the form of a bar in an X-axis direction. Here, the fitting bar <NUM> may have, for example, a rectangular prism shape.

Meanwhile, the position fixing part <NUM> may further include a fixing part frame <NUM> that supports the actuator <NUM> and the fitting bar <NUM>. Here, the actuator <NUM> and the fitting bar <NUM> may be mounted in an upper portion of the fixing part frame <NUM>. And the fixing part frame <NUM> may have a lower portion mounted in the stage-stacking frame <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view illustrating a stage-stacking unit and a lift unit in a stage-stacking lift according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a front view illustrating a stage-stacking unit and a lift unit in a stage-stacking lift according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the lift unit <NUM> may elevate the tray <NUM> stacked in multiple stages through the stage-stacking unit <NUM>. Here, the lift unit <NUM> may elevate the tray <NUM> stacked in the stage-stacking unit <NUM> by elevating the stage-stacking unit <NUM>.

In addition, the lift unit <NUM> may include a mounting stage <NUM> in which the stage-stacking unit <NUM> is mounted, and a lift means <NUM> that moves the mounting stage <NUM> vertically. When the mounting stage <NUM> moves upward through the lift means <NUM>, the tray <NUM> stacked in the stage-stacking unit <NUM> may move upward. And the lift unit <NUM> may further include a stopper part <NUM> that prevents dropping of the tray.

Meanwhile, the lift unit <NUM> may further include a lift frame <NUM>, and the lift frame <NUM> may include multiple vertical frames <NUM> and horizontal frames <NUM>. The mounting stage <NUM> may move slidably along the vertical frames <NUM> through the lift means <NUM>.

The lift means <NUM> includes a lift chain <NUM> to which the mounting stage <NUM> is coupled, a first chain gear <NUM> and a second chain gear <NUM> to which both upper and lower sides of the lift chain <NUM> are coupled, respectively, a rotating part that rotates the first chain gear <NUM>. Here, the rotating part may include a revolving chain <NUM> having one side connected to the first chain gear <NUM>, a driving chain gear <NUM> connected to the other side of the revolving chain <NUM>, and a lift motor <NUM> that rotates the driving chain gear <NUM>. Here, the lift motor <NUM> and the driving chain gear <NUM> may be connected to each other at a right angle, and various methods may be applied in connecting the lift motor <NUM> and the driving chain gear <NUM> to each other at a right angle. For example, a connecting method such as a bevel gear connection, may be used, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

And, in the lift means <NUM>, when the lift motor <NUM> operates to rotate the driving chain gear <NUM> in one direction, the revolving chain <NUM> may revolve to move the mounting stage <NUM> upward. Accordingly, the stage-stacking unit <NUM> mounted in the mounting stage <NUM> may move upward, and the tray <NUM> stacked in multiple stages in the stage-stacking unit <NUM> may be lifted upward. Meanwhile, when the lift motor <NUM> rotates the driving chain gear <NUM> in the other direction, the mounting stage <NUM> may move downward.

Moreover, the lift unit <NUM> may further include a weight <NUM> coupled to the lift chain <NUM>. Here, the lift chain <NUM> may have a first portion to which the mounting stage <NUM> is fixed, and a second portion to which the weight <NUM> is fixed.

The weight <NUM> may have a weight equal or similar to the sum of the weight of the mounting stage <NUM> and the weight of the stage-stacking unit <NUM> mounted in the mounting stage <NUM>. Here, for example, a difference between the weight of the weight <NUM> and the sum of the weight of the mounting stage <NUM> and the weight of the stage-stacking unit <NUM> mounted in the mounting stage <NUM> may be <NUM>% or less. Here, more specifically, for example, the difference between the weight of the weight <NUM> and the sum of the weight of the mounting stage <NUM> and the weight of the stage-stacking unit <NUM> mounted in the mounting stage <NUM> may be <NUM>% or less, and accordingly, the mounting stage <NUM> in which the stage-stacking unit <NUM> is mounted may move vertically even with a small force.

Meanwhile, the stage-stacking unit <NUM> may be bolt-coupled to the mounting stage <NUM> through a bolt V. Here, the stage-stacking frame <NUM>, which supports the components of the stage-stacking unit <NUM>, may be screw-coupled and fixed to the mounting stage <NUM> through the bolt V.

The stopper part <NUM> is provided in each of front and rear of the support stage <NUM> in order to prevent the dropping of the tray <NUM> when the tray <NUM> is loaded on the support stage <NUM>.

That is, the stopper part <NUM> may be disposed at each of a loading direction I side and an unloading direction O side with respect to the support stage <NUM> in a direction in which the tray <NUM> is loaded on the support stage <NUM>, so as to prevent the dropping of the tray <NUM>.

The stopper part <NUM> may include a stopper member <NUM>, and stopper moving means <NUM> and <NUM> that move the stopper member <NUM>. The stopper member <NUM> may move by the stopper moving means <NUM> and <NUM> in an upward-downward direction that is the Z-axis direction. Here, the stopper moving means <NUM> and <NUM> may each include, for example, an actuator. Here, each of the stopper moving means <NUM> and <NUM> may have one side portion coupled to the stopper member <NUM> and the other side portion coupled to the support stage <NUM> so as to be rotatable upward.

A tray detection sensor S may detect the tray <NUM> disposed at the upper portion of the support stage <NUM>. The tray detection sensor S may detect the tray <NUM> disposed at the upper portion of the support stage <NUM> so as to detect the position and the number of the stacked stages of the tray <NUM>.

<FIG> are conceptual views sequentially illustrating operations during usage of a stage-stacking lift according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a horizontally movable unit <NUM> may further include the horizontally movable unit <NUM> that moves the tray <NUM> in the X-axis direction that is a horizontal direction.

The horizontally movable unit <NUM> may move the tray <NUM> to the upper portion of the support stage <NUM>.

The horizontally movable unit <NUM> may include a guide rail <NUM> and a conveyor belt <NUM> mounted in the guide rail <NUM>.

The tray <NUM> may have both side portions, each of which is seated on the conveyor belt <NUM> and moves along movement of the conveyor belt <NUM> in a lateral direction of the stage-stacking unit <NUM>.

The controller C may be connected to each of devices of the stage-stacking lift <NUM> and control an operation of each of the devices. Here, the controller C may control an operation of each of the lift unit <NUM>, the stage-stacking unit <NUM>, and the horizontal moving unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the tray detection sensor S detects that a first tray <NUM> of the multiple trays <NUM> is disposed at the upper portion of the support stage <NUM>, the controller C controls the vertically movable means <NUM> of the Z-axis movable part M so that the support stage <NUM> moves upward to a predetermined height. And, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the controller C controls the position fixing part <NUM> so that the position of the first tray <NUM> that has reached the predetermined height is fixed. Thereafter, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the controller C controls the vertically movable means <NUM> so that the support stage <NUM> moves to an initial position downward. And, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the controller C controls the horizontally movable unit <NUM> so that a second tray <NUM> of the multiple trays <NUM> moves to the upper portion of the support stage <NUM>, and then, controls the Z-axis movable part M so that the second tray <NUM> is disposed so as to support a lower portion of the first tray <NUM>. Accordingly, the multiple trays may be stacked in multiple stages. Thereafter, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the controller C may control the lift means <NUM> of the lift unit <NUM> so that the mounting stage <NUM>, in which the stage-stacking unit <NUM> is mounted, moves upward.

Accordingly, the stage-stacking lift <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention configured as above is configured so that the stage-stacking unit <NUM> is mountable in the lift unit <NUM>. Thus, there is an effect that a distribution equipment arrangement space may be minimized. In addition, the operation of stacking and lifting the trays <NUM> may become easier and the operating speed may increase.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be variously implemented by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, within the technical idea of the present invention and as defined in the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A stage-stacking lift (<NUM>) comprising:
a lift unit (<NUM>); and
a stage-stacking unit (<NUM>),
characterised in that the stage-stacking unit (<NUM>) is mounted in the lift unit (<NUM>), and comprises:
- a Z-axis movable part (M) configured to move the tray in a Z-axis direction that is a vertical direction;
- a position fixing part (<NUM>) configured to fix a position of the tray (<NUM>) that has moved in the vertical direction,
wherein the Z-axis movable part (M) comprises:
- a support stage (<NUM>) configured to support a lower portion of the tray (<NUM>); and
- a vertically movable means (<NUM>) configured to move the support stage (<NUM>) vertically,
wherein when the tray (<NUM>) is disposed at an upper portion of the support stage (<NUM>) through the Z-axis movable part (M), the support stage (<NUM>) moves the tray (<NUM>) upward while moving upward;
wherein the stage-stacking unit (<NUM>) stacks a tray (<NUM>) in multiple stages, in which accommodation targets are accommodated, and
wherein the lift unit (<NUM>) elevates the tray (<NUM>) stacked in multiple stages.