阅读说明：本技术 工件传送装置 (Workpiece conveying device ) 是由 原口拓也 于 2020-01-07 设计创作，主要内容包括：工件传送装置包括带式输送器、机架、升降机构、移除机构和控制器。带式输送器包括具有传送表面的带并且构造成使带在传送方向上移动。机架包括相对的两个侧板和支撑每个工件的两端的成对的支撑槽。控制器控制升降机构和移除机构以使机架升降,使得每当利用移除机构从机架移除一个工件时,储存在机架中的另一工件就被移动到传送表面的直接上方。(The work transfer apparatus includes a belt conveyor, a frame, a lifting mechanism, a removing mechanism, and a controller. The belt conveyor includes a belt having a conveying surface and is configured to move the belt in a conveying direction. The frame includes opposite side plates and a pair of support grooves supporting both ends of each workpiece. The controller controls the lifting mechanism and the removing mechanism to lift the rack so that each time one workpiece is removed from the rack by the removing mechanism, another workpiece stored in the rack is moved to be directly above the conveying surface.)

1. A workpiece transport apparatus, comprising:

a belt conveyor including a belt having a conveying surface and configured to move the belt in a conveying direction;

a frame allowing thin plate workpieces to be stored spaced apart from each other in a thickness direction of the workpieces, wherein the frame includes two opposing side plates and a pair of support grooves disposed at opposing surfaces of the two side plates for supporting both ends of each of the workpieces;

a lifting mechanism configured to lift and lower the frame in a posture in which the pair of support grooves are juxtaposed in a vertical direction and an extending direction of the support grooves coincides with the conveying direction;

a removing mechanism configured to apply an external force to a side surface of one of the workpieces stored in the rack, which is located directly above the conveying surface, in an extending direction of the support grooves so as to remove the one workpiece from the rack onto the conveying surface; and

a controller that controls the lifting mechanism and the removal mechanism to lift the rack so that each time one of the workpieces is removed from the rack with the removal mechanism, the other of the workpieces stored in the rack moves to directly above the conveying surface.

2. The workpiece conveying apparatus according to claim 1,

each of the work pieces includes a through-hole,

the removal mechanism includes: an actuating portion extending in a vertical direction; a lifting part for lifting the actuating part; and a sliding portion that slides the actuating portion in an extending direction of the support groove,

the removing mechanism is configured to insert the actuating portion through the through hole of the one of the workpieces located directly above the conveying surface by lifting the actuating portion with the lifting portion, and

the removing mechanism is configured to apply the external force by sliding the actuating portion with the sliding portion to press the actuating portion against a wall surface of the through hole of the one workpiece.

3. The workpiece conveying apparatus according to claim 2,

the through-hole is one of the through-holes arranged in each of the workpieces, and

the actuating portion is one of actuating portions arranged in the removing mechanism and respectively inserted through the through holes.

4. The workpiece conveying apparatus according to claim 1,

the frame includes a restricting post that restricts movement of the workpiece toward opposite sides in an arrangement direction of the workpiece, the restricting post being disposed between the two side plates on a side opposite to a side where the workpiece is removed in an extending direction of the support groove, and

the removing mechanism is configured to apply the external force to the one of the workpieces located directly above the conveying surface at a portion closer to the restricting column than a central portion in an extending direction of the support groove.

5. The workpiece conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the frame includes a connecting member that connects the two side plates only on a side opposite to a side where the work is removed in an extending direction of the support slot,

the lifting mechanism lowers the frame each time the removing mechanism removes one of the workpieces from the frame, and

the belt includes an upstream end in the conveying direction disposed between the two side plates of the frame.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a workpiece conveying apparatus.

Background

A conventional separator for a fuel cell includes: a supply manifold supplying a reactive gas or a coolant; an exhaust manifold that exhausts the reactive gas or the coolant; and a tank flow channel that connects the manifolds and circulates the reactive gas or the coolant (refer to, for example, japanese patent laid-open No. 2018-98041). Such a separator for a fuel cell may include a base material formed by stamping a metal thin plate.

In the manufacturing process of the separator, a transfer device that transfers the workpiece forming the base material to a subsequent process without deforming the workpiece is required.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a workpiece conveying apparatus that conveys a workpiece to a subsequent process without deforming the workpiece.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one general aspect, a workpiece transfer apparatus includes a belt conveyor, a frame, a lift mechanism, a removal mechanism, and a controller. The belt conveyor includes a belt having a conveying surface and is configured to move the belt in a conveying direction. The frame allows the thin plate workpieces to be stored spaced apart from each other in the thickness direction of the workpieces. The frame includes two opposite side plates and a pair of support grooves disposed on opposite surfaces of the two side plates for supporting both ends of each of the workpieces. The elevating mechanism is configured to elevate the frame in a posture in which the pair of support grooves are juxtaposed in a vertical direction and an extending direction of the support grooves coincides with the conveying direction. The removing mechanism is configured to apply an external force to a side surface of one of the workpieces stored in the rack, which is located directly above the conveying surface, in an extending direction of the support slot, so as to remove the one workpiece from the rack onto the conveying surface. A controller controls the lifting mechanism and the removal mechanism to lift the rack such that each time one of the workpieces is removed from the rack with the removal mechanism, another one of the workpieces stored in the rack moves directly above the conveying surface.

Other features and aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a workpiece conveying apparatus according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a workpiece conveyed by the workpiece conveying apparatus of the embodiment shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the entire chassis of the embodiment shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the workpiece transfer apparatus according to the embodiment shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a removing mechanism of the embodiment shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 8A is a schematic view illustrating the insertion of the actuating portion through the manifold hole during the removal of the workpiece in the embodiment shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 8B is a schematic view showing when the workpiece is removed by the actuating portion in the removing process.

Fig. 9A is a schematic view showing the time when the actuator portion is pulled out from the manifold hole of the work in the removal process of the work in the embodiment shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 9B is a schematic view showing when the actuator portion returns to the initial position during removal.

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings and detailed description. The figures may not be drawn to scale and the relative sizes, proportions and depictions of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration and convenience.

Detailed Description

This description provides a thorough understanding of the described methods, apparatus, and/or systems. Variations and equivalents of the described methods, apparatus, and/or systems will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The order of operations, other than those necessarily performed in a particular order, is exemplary and may be varied as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Descriptions of functions and constructions well known to those skilled in the art may be omitted.

The exemplary embodiments may have different forms and are not limited to the illustrated examples. The illustrated examples, however, are thorough and complete, and will convey the full scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

One embodiment will now be described with reference to fig. 1 to 9B.

As shown in fig. 1, the workpiece transfer apparatus includes a belt conveyor 30, a frame 20, a lifting mechanism 40, a removing mechanism 50, and a controller 90. The belt conveyor 30 includes a belt 31 having a conveying surface 31a and is configured to move the belt 31 in a conveying direction (i.e., toward a conveying destination). The frame 20 allows the thin plate workpiece 10 to be stored. The elevating mechanism 40 is configured to elevate the frame 20. The removing mechanism 50 is configured to remove the workpieces 10 one at a time from the rack 20 onto the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31. The controller 90 controls the lifting mechanism 40 and the removing mechanism 50. Hereinafter, the conveying direction of the belt 31 will be simply referred to as a conveying direction, and the width direction of the belt 31 will be simply referred to as a width direction. Further, forward and backward in the conveying direction (leftward and rightward in fig. 1) will be simply referred to as forward and backward.

As shown in fig. 2, the workpiece 10 in the present embodiment is a base material for a fuel cell separator and is a plate having a rectangular shape in plan view. A plurality of (three in the present embodiment) manifold holes 10a to 10c extend through each longitudinal end of the workpiece 10 in the thickness direction. The workpiece 10 has a thickness of several hundred micrometers and is formed by punching a thin metal plate of stainless steel or the like.

The structure of the transfer device will now be described.

Belt conveyor 30

As shown in fig. 1, the dimension of the belt 31 of the belt conveyor 30 in the width direction is smaller than the dimension of the workpiece 10 in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece 10.

Rack 20

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the rack 20 allows the workpiece 10 to be stored at a predetermined distance Δ H in the thickness direction of the workpiece 10. The gantry 20 is used, for example, to clean a plurality of workpieces 10 simultaneously.

The frame 20 includes a pair of side plates 21 and a pair of connecting members 22. The side plates 21 are rectangular and face each other. The connecting members 22 extend in a direction in which the side plates 21 oppose each other, and connect first and second ends of the side plates 21 in the longitudinal direction, respectively. Each connecting member 22 is connected to a first end of each side plate 21 in the lateral direction. The side plate 21 and the connecting member 22 are formed of, for example, stainless steel.

A handle 21a protrudes from a second end of each side plate 21 in the lateral direction at a longitudinally central portion of the side plate 21. A handle 21a projects from a second end in the lateral direction of each side plate 21 away from the first end in the lateral direction of the side plate 21. In the present embodiment, the side plate 21 and the handle 21a are integrally formed with each other. The side plates 21 and the connection members 22 define an outer frame of the housing 20.

Each side plate 21 includes opposite surfaces to which a grooved member 23 formed of a resin material is adhered and fixed.

Each of the grooved members 23 includes a support groove 23a extending in the lateral direction of the side plate 21. The support grooves 23a are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction by a predetermined distance Δ H. Both longitudinal ends of each workpiece 10 are supported by a pair of corresponding support grooves 23 a.

Each of the support grooves 23a has two open ends in a direction in which the support groove 23a extends. Both longitudinal ends of the workpiece 10 can enter and leave the openings of the support grooves 23a at one end (the side of the handle 21 a) in the extending direction of the support grooves 23 a.

As shown in fig. 4, each support groove 23a has a constant width W1 (dimension in the vertical direction as viewed in fig. 4) in the extending direction of the support groove 23 a.

As shown in fig. 3, two restricting posts 24 disposed between the two connecting members 22 are spaced apart from each other in the opposing direction of the side plates 21. Each of the restricting posts 24 extends in the longitudinal direction of the side plate 21. The restricting columns 24 restrict movement of each workpiece 10 toward a first end of the side plate 21 in the lateral direction of the side plate 21 and movement toward opposite sides in the arrangement direction (vertical direction as viewed in fig. 3) of the workpieces 10.

As shown in fig. 5, each restraining column 24 includes a cylindrical core 25 and a cover 26. The core 25 is formed of a metal material and is connected with the two connection members 22. The cover 26 is formed of a resin material and covers the entire periphery of the core 25.

The cover 26 includes a plurality of small diameter portions 26a and a plurality of large diameter portions 26 b. The small diameter portions 26a are arranged at equal intervals in the axial direction of the core 25. Each of the large diameter portions 26b is disposed between adjacent two of the small diameter portions 26a and has an outer diameter larger than that of the small diameter portions 26 a. Further, the cover 26 includes a plurality of inclined portions 26 c. Each inclined portion 26c extends between the small diameter portion 26a and the adjacent large diameter portion 26b, and has an outer diameter continuously increasing from the small diameter portion 26a toward the large diameter portion 26 b.

One small diameter portion 26a and two inclined portions 26c adjacent to the small diameter portion 26a define a restricting recess portion 26 d. The width W2 of the small diameter portion 26a is larger than the thickness "d" of the work 10 (W2 > d).

The contact of the first end of the workpiece 10 in the lateral direction of the workpiece 10 with the small diameter portion 26a of the restraining recess 26d restrains the movement of the workpiece 10 toward the first end of the side plate 21 in the lateral direction of the side plate 21 and toward the opposite sides in the arrangement direction of the workpieces 10.

Lifting mechanism 40

As shown in fig. 1 and 6, the lifting mechanism 40 includes a leg portion 44 and a lifting table 41. The leg 44 extends in a vertical direction and is lifted and lowered by an actuator (not shown). The elevating platform 41 is coupled with the upper end of the leg portion 44 and supports the frame 20.

The elevating table 41 includes a table main body 42 and two supports 43. The support members 43 extend forward from both widthwise ends of the table main body 42. The elevating table 41 is substantially U-shaped in plan view.

The restricting projection 42a is disposed at a widthwise central portion of the front portion of the table main body 42, thereby restricting rearward movement of the chassis 20. Further, the restricting projection 43a is disposed at a central portion in the width direction of each support 43, thereby restricting movement of the frame 20 toward opposite sides in the width direction.

The frame 20 is supported from the lower side by the elevating table 41 in a posture in which the support grooves 23a are juxtaposed in the vertical direction and the extending direction of the support grooves 23a coincides with the conveying direction. Specifically, the front end of the table main body 42 supports the lower surface of the lower connecting member 22. Further, the two supports 43 support the lower surfaces of the two side plates 21, respectively.

The belt 31 includes an upstream (rear) end between two supports 43 located in front of the table main body 42 in the conveying direction. Therefore, when the elevating table 41 is elevated, the two side plates 21 of the frame 20 are elevated on both sides in the width direction of the upstream end of the belt 31. Further, in a state where the works 10 are stored in the rack 20, the manifold holes 10a to 10c of the works 10 are each located outside both ends in the width direction of the belt 31.

Removing mechanism 50

As shown in fig. 1, the removing mechanism 50 is disposed below the belt 31 in front of the elevating mechanism 40.

As shown in fig. 1 and 7, the removing mechanism 50 includes two actuating portions 63, a sliding portion 70, and a lifting portion 80. The two actuating portions 63 extend in the vertical direction. The slide portion 70 slides the actuating portion 63 in the extending direction (conveying direction) of the support groove 23a of the housing 20. The lifting portion 80 lifts and lowers the actuator portion 63.

The elevating portion 80 includes a leg portion 82 and an elevating table 81. The leg 82 extends in a vertical direction and is lifted and lowered by an actuator (not shown). The elevating platform 81 is coupled with the upper end of the leg 82.

As shown in fig. 7, the slide 70 includes a pair of walls 71, a pair of rails 72, and four guide blocks 73. The walls 71 extend in the conveying direction and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction. The rails 72 extend in the conveying direction and are each disposed on an upper surface of the corresponding wall 71. The guide blocks 73 are each movably supported along the rail 72 by rolling elements (not shown).

Each wall 71 is fixed to the upper surface of the elevating table 81.

Two guide blocks 73 are disposed at a distance from each other in the conveying direction on each rail 72.

A pair of support members 74 are disposed between the two walls 71 at a distance from each other in the conveying direction. Each support member 74 is fixed to the upper surface of the elevating table 81.

The ball screw 76 extends in the conveying direction and is rotatably supported by the support member 74. A generally box-shaped nut 75 is engaged with a ball screw 76 between the support members 74.

An output shaft 78a of the servomotor 78 is connected to the front end of the ball screw 76 via a coupling 77. Therefore, when the servomotor 78 drives the ball screw 76 and rotates the ball screw 76, the nut 75 moves in the conveying direction.

The substrate 61 is fixed to the upper surface of the guide block 73 and the upper surface of the nut 75.

The base plate 61 includes a pair of arms 62 extending rearward from both widthwise ends of the base plate 61. The arms 62 are located on opposite sides in the width direction of the belt 31 (refer to fig. 1). Each of the actuating portions 63 is disposed on an upper surface of a distal end of one of the arms 62. Each actuating portion 63 is cylindrical and includes an upper end: the upper end has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the other portion of the actuating portion 63.

In the removing mechanism 50, when the ball screw 76 is rotated, the nut 75 slides the base plate 61 and the actuating portion 63. In this case, the guide blocks 73 guide the substrate 61 along the rails 72, that is, the guide blocks 73 guide the substrate 61 in the conveyance direction.

The speed at which the slide portion 70 slides the actuating portion 63 is set to be the same as the speed at which the belt 31 is moved by the belt conveyor 30.

Controller 90

The lifting mechanism 40 and the removing mechanism 50 are electrically connected to the controller 90. The controller 90 controls the actuators for the leg portions 44 of the lifting mechanism 40, the servo motor 78 of the slide 70, and the leg portions 82 of the lifting portion 80. The controller 90 may be a circuit comprising: 1) at least one processor running on a computer program (software), 2) at least one special-purpose hardware circuit (such as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) for performing at least a portion of the processing, or 3) a combination thereof. The processor includes a CPU and memories such as RAM and ROM. The memory stores program codes or commands configured to cause the CPU to execute processing. Memory as a computer-readable medium may be any available medium that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

The controller 90 controls the lifting mechanism 40 and the removing mechanism 50 to lower the frame 20 by a predetermined distance Δ H so that each time the removing mechanism 50 removes one workpiece 10 from the frame 20, another workpiece 10 stored in the frame 20 is moved to directly above the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31 (immediatelavove).

Referring to fig. 8A, 8B, 9A, and 9B, a process for removing the workpiece 10 from the rack 20 onto the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31, which is performed by the controller 90, will now be described, wherein the controller 90 controls the lifting mechanism 40 and the removing mechanism 50. The drawings are not drawn to scale in order to simplify the illustration.

First, as shown in fig. 8A, the height of the rack 20 at the initial position (the height of the table main body 42) is set such that the support groove 23a of the lowermost stage (lowermost stage) of the rack 20 is located directly above the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31. Further, as shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 8A, the initial position of the actuating portion 63 is set in such a manner that the upper end of the actuating portion 63 is located below the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31.

Then, as shown by a solid line in fig. 8A, the elevating portion 80 elevates the two actuating portions 63 from the initial positions and inserts the pair of actuating portions 63 through the two manifold holes 10a of the pair of works 10, wherein the works 10 are stored in the support grooves 23a of the lowermost layer of the rack 20. In this case, the distal ends of the two actuating portions 63 are located above the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31.

Subsequently, as shown in fig. 8B, the slide portion 70 slides the two actuating portions 63 forward. This presses each of the actuating portions 63 against the wall surface of the corresponding manifold hole 10 a. That is, each of the actuating portions 63 is pressed against the workpiece 10 at a position closer to the restricting post 24 than the central portion in the extending direction of the support groove 23 a. This applies a forwardly acting external force to the workpiece 10, so that the workpiece 10 can be removed from the frame 20. In this case, when the center of gravity of the workpiece 10 is displaced forward from the support groove 23a of the frame 20, the leading edge of the workpiece 10 sags due to its weight and comes into contact with the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31. As described above, the sliding speed of the actuating portion 63 is the same as the conveying speed of the belt 31 of the belt conveyor 30. Thus, the workpiece 10 will thereafter be moved by both the belt 31 and the actuating portion 63. Then, when the entire workpiece 10 is removed from the support groove 23a by the actuator 63, the lower surface of the workpiece 10 is placed on the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31.

Next, as shown in fig. 9A, when the actuator 63 reaches a predetermined position, the elevating portion 80 lowers the actuator 63 and pulls out the actuator 63 from the manifold hole 10a in the workpiece 10. In this case, the actuator 63 stops sliding at a predetermined position and waits for a predetermined amount of time before being lowered. During a predetermined amount of time, the belt 31 moves the workpiece 10 forward, so that the front wall surface of the manifold hole 10a in the workpiece 10 moves away from the actuator 63. Then, before the rear wall surface of the manifold hole 10a comes into contact with the actuator 63, the actuator 63 is lowered, so that the actuator 63 is smoothly pulled out from the manifold hole 10a of the work 10.

Further, in this case, the frame 20 is lowered by the predetermined distance Δ H while the actuator 63 is lowered, so that the support groove 23a of the upper layer of the support groove 23a of the lowermost layer of the frame 20 will be located directly above the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31.

Subsequently, as shown in fig. 9B, the slide portion 70 slides the actuating portion 63 rearward to return to the initial position.

Thereafter, the above-described series of processes is repeated so that the workpieces 10 are removed from the rack 20 one at a time.

The operation and advantages of the present embodiment will now be described.

(1) The transfer device for the work 10 includes a belt conveyor 30 and a frame 20. The belt conveyor 30 includes a belt 31 having a conveying surface 31a and is configured to move the belt 31 in a conveying direction. The frame 20 includes a pair of support grooves 23a to support both ends of the workpiece 10. Further, the transfer device includes a lifting mechanism 40 and a removing mechanism 50. The elevating mechanism 40 is configured to elevate the stand 20. The removing mechanism 50 is configured to remove the workpiece 10 from the rack 20 onto the conveying surface 31a by applying an external force to a side surface of one of the workpieces 10 stored in the rack 20, which is located directly above the conveying surface 31a, in the extending direction of the support grooves 23a, thereby removing the workpiece 10 from the rack 20. Further, the conveying apparatus includes a controller 90, and the controller 90 controls the lifting mechanism 40 and the removing mechanism 50 to lower the frame 20 each time the removing mechanism 50 removes one workpiece 10 from the frame 20 so that another workpiece 10 stored in the frame 20 moves to directly above the conveying surface 31 a.

With this structure, the removing mechanism 50 applies an external force to the side surface of one of the workpieces 10 stored in the rack 20, which is located directly above the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31, in the extending direction of the support grooves 23a of the rack 20 to remove the workpiece 10 from the rack 20. In this way, the workpiece 10 is removed from the rack 20 onto the conveying surface 31 a. Further, the removed workpiece 10 is conveyed to the conveyance destination by the belt conveyor 30.

In addition, each time the removing mechanism 50 removes one workpiece 10 from the rack 20, the lifting mechanism 40 lowers the rack 20 so that another workpiece 10 stored in the rack 20 moves to directly above the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31. This allows the removal mechanism 50 to remove the next workpiece 10 from the frame 20.

When these actions are repeatedly performed, the workpieces 10 stored in the racks 20 are removed one at a time to the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31 and moved to a conveying destination.

The removing mechanism 50 applies an external force to the side surface of the workpiece 10 in the extending direction of the support groove 23 a. Therefore, the removal mechanism 50 does not deform the workpiece 10 when in contact with the workpiece 10.

(2) The workpiece 10 includes a manifold hole 10 a. The removing mechanism 50 includes an actuating portion 63, a lifting portion 80, and a sliding portion 70. The actuating portion 63 extends in the vertical direction. The lifting portion 80 lifts and lowers the actuator portion 63. The sliding portion 70 slides the actuating portion 63 in the extending direction of the support groove 23 a. The removing mechanism 50 is configured to raise and lower the actuating portion 63 with the lifting portion 80 so as to insert the actuating portion 63 through the through hole in the workpiece 10, and to slide the actuating portion 63 with the sliding portion 70 so as to apply an external force to the workpiece 10 and press the actuating portion 63 against the wall surface of the manifold hole 10a in the workpiece 10.

With this structure, the actuating portion 63 is inserted through the manifold hole 10a in the workpiece 10 when the elevating portion 80 elevates the actuating portion 63, and the actuating portion 63 is pressed against the wall surface of the manifold hole 10a in the workpiece 10 to apply an external force to remove the workpiece 10 when the sliding portion 70 slides the actuating portion 63. In this way, even when the shape of the frame 20 hinders adoption of a structure that pushes the outer side surface of the work 10, the work 10 can remove the work 10 using the manifold hole 10a of the work 10.

In addition, the removing mechanism 50 includes a lifting and lowering portion 80 that lifts and lowers the actuating portion 63 so that the work 10 will be smoothly placed on the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31 if the actuating portion 63 is lowered and then pulled out of the manifold hole 10a in the work 10 after the work 10 is removed from the frame 20. This allows the workpiece 10 to be smoothly conveyed.

Further, the sliding portion 70 slides the actuating portion 63 by a smaller amount than a structure that pushes the actuating portion 63 against the outer rear side surface of the workpiece 10. This allows the amount of time required to remove the workpiece 10 to be shortened and the size of the removal mechanism 50 to be reduced.

(3) A pair of actuating portions 63 are inserted through a pair of manifold holes 10a in the workpiece 10.

For example, if the workpiece 10 is removed from the frame 20 by inserting only one actuating portion 63 through one manifold hole 10a of the workpiece 10, the workpiece 10 may rotate about the actuating portion 63. In this case, the workpiece 10 may not be removed smoothly.

In this respect, the above-described structure does not cause such rotation of the workpiece 10. Therefore, the workpiece 10 can be smoothly removed from the frame 20.

(4) The frame 20 includes restraining posts 24, the restraining posts 24 restraining movement of the workpieces 10 toward opposite sides of the alignment of the workpieces 10. The restricting column 24 is disposed between the two side plates 21 on the side opposite to the side from which the workpiece 10 is removed in the extending direction of the support groove 23 a. The actuator 63 applies an external force to the wall surface of the manifold hole 10 a. That is, the actuator 63 applies the external force to a portion of the workpiece 10 closer to the restricting post 24 than the central portion in the extending direction of the support groove 23 a.

With this structure, the regulating post 24 regulates sagging of the portion of the workpiece 10 closer to the regulating post 24 than the central portion in the extending direction of the support groove 23a, which would be caused by the weight of the workpiece 10. This minimizes the difference in distance between adjacent workpieces 10 on the side of the restraining post 24. Therefore, the actuating portion 63 will not apply an external force to both the workpiece 10 and the workpiece 10 located above the workpiece 10 at the same time, and thus the two workpieces 10 will not be removed together. Accordingly, the workpieces 10 can be easily removed from the rack 20 one at a time.

Further, the above structure allows setting a small distance between the adjacent workpieces 10 stored in the rack 20. This increases the number of workpieces 10 that can be stored in one rack 20.

(5) The frame 20 includes a connecting member 22 that connects the two side plates 21 only on the side opposite to the side where the workpiece 10 is removed in the extending direction of the support groove 23 a. The lifting mechanism 40 lowers the frame 20 each time the removing mechanism 50 removes one workpiece 10 from the frame 20. The upstream end of the belt 31 of the belt conveyor 30 is disposed between the two side plates 21 of the frame 20.

With this structure, the upstream end of the belt 31 can be positioned to overlap the workpieces 10 stored in the rack 20 in the vertical direction. This ensures that the workpieces 10 stored in the rack 20 are removed onto the conveying surface 31a of the belt 31.

The present embodiment may be modified as follows. The present embodiment and the following modifications may be combined as long as the combined modifications are technically kept consistent with each other.

The chassis 20 does not have to be lowered at the same time as the actuator 63 is lowered. The chassis 20 may be lowered, for example, after the actuator 63 is lowered.

The conveying speed of the belt 31 of the belt conveyor 30 may be slightly higher than the sliding speed of the actuating portion 63. This allows shortening the predetermined amount of time for which the actuation portion 63 stops.

The upstream end of the belt 31 of the belt conveyor 30 may be located in front of the frame 20.

As the frame 20 is raised by the elevating mechanism 40, the workpieces 10 may be sequentially removed starting from the workpieces 10 stored in the uppermost support groove 23a of the frame 20. In this case, the actuating portion 63 of the removing mechanism 50 is configured to be inserted through the manifold hole 10a of the workpiece 10 from above the rack 20, and the conveyor belt 30 is located in front of the elevating mechanism 40. In this case, the width of the belt conveyor 30 may be larger than the distance between the actuating portions 63.

The restraining posts 24 may restrict movement of the workpiece 10 in the array direction to only opposite sides.

The manifold hole 10b or the manifold hole 10c of the workpiece 10 may be used to remove the workpiece 10 from the frame 20. Further, the manifold hole through which the actuating portion 63 is inserted may be changed to any one of the manifold holes 10a to 10 c.

For example, the workpiece 10 may be removed from the rack 20 by inserting one actuation portion through one manifold hole or inserting three or more actuation portions through three or more manifold holes, respectively.

The removing mechanism may be configured to push the outer rear side surface of the workpiece 10 toward the front.

The workpiece 10 is not limited to a substrate for a fuel cell separator. For example, the workpiece 10 may be a workpiece that is a flexible thin plate formed of a metal material or a resin material. Even in this case, the workpiece can be conveyed by the workpiece conveying apparatus of the present embodiment.

Various modifications in form and detail may be made to the above examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. These examples are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. The description of features in each example should be considered applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be obtained if the sequences are performed in a different order and/or if components in the illustrated systems, architectures, devices, or circuits are combined differently and/or replaced or supplemented by other components and their equivalents. The scope of the present disclosure is not to be limited by the specific embodiments but by the claims and their equivalents. All changes which come within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.