Work convey method and apparatus

A work convey method for picking up a plurality of workpieces from storage means in which a plurality of workpieces with non-processed surfaces thereof face down are placed at a first pitch and conveying the plurality of workpieces to a process machine, said method comprising the steps of:

• simultaneously picking up a plurality of workpieces from the storage means, while maintaining the workpieces at the first pitch and with the non-processed surfaces facing down, and conveying the workpieces in a first convey step;
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces conveyed int he first convey step, and converting the first pitch between the workpieces into a second pitch in a first pitch conversion step;
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces, the pitch of which has been converted into the second pitch in the first pitch conversion step, and simultaneously inverting the workpieces in a first inverse step so as to turn the non-processed surfaces of the workpieces upward;
• and
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed works inverted in the first inverse step, and conveying the workpieces to the process machine in a second convey step.

A work convey method for picking up a plurality of workpieces from a storage means in which a plurality of non-processed workpieces with non-processed surfaces thereof face down are placed at a first pitch and conveying the plurality of workpieces to a process machine, comprising:

• simultaneously picking up a plurality of workpieces from the storage means, while maintaining the workpieces at the first pitch and with the non-processed surface facing down, and conveying the workpieces in a first convey step;
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces conveyed in the first convey step, and simultaneously inverting the workpieces in a first inverse step so the non-processed surfaces of the workpieces face up;
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces inverted in the first inverse step, converting the first pitch between the workpieces into a second pitch, and converting the first position of the workpieces into a second position corresponding to a process operation of the process machine in a first pitch-position conversion step;
• and
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces, the first pitch of which has been converted into the second pitch and the first position of which has been converted into the second position, in the first pitch-position conversion step, and conveying the workpieces to the process machine in a second convey step.

A work convey method for picking up a plurality of workpieces from a storage means in which a plurality of non-processed workpieces with non-processed surfaces thereof face down are placed at a first pitch and conveying the plurality of workpieces to a process machine, comprising:

• simultaneously picking up a plurality of workpieces from the storage means, while maintaining the workpieces at the first pitch and with the non-processed surfaces facing down, and conveying the workpieces in a first convey step;
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces conveyed in the first convey step, and converting the first pitch between the workpieces into a second pitch in a first pitch conversion step;
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces, the first pitch of which has been converted to the second pitch in the first pitch conversion step, and simultaneously setting the workpieces into a first position corresponding to a process operation by the process machine in a first position conversion step;
• and
• simultaneously receiving the plurality of non-processed workpieces in the first position set in the first position conversion step, and conveying the workpieces to the process machine in a second position conversion step.