JP2000033444A - Shuttle table device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a change time of a table and to simplify a change mechanism in the shuttle table device. SOLUTION: The device has a first running rail 103 to run a first shuttle table 101, a second running rail 104 to run a second shuttle table 102 and an up/down movable link device 105 connected to the second rail 104. By ascending the up/down moving link device 105 up to the highest position, the second running rail 104 is positioned to the first running rail 103 so as to align pass lines in a working region K and a waiting region T. Further, by descending the up/down moving link device 105 down to the lowest position, the second running rail 104 is positioned below the first running rail 103, the second shuttle table 102 and the first shuttle table 101 are moved in the opposite directions each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shuttle table apparatus, and more particularly, to a shuttle table apparatus which shortens a table exchange time and simplifies an exchange mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a shuttle table device has been used for a plate material processing machine such as a laser processing machine or a punch press (FIGS. 5 and 7), and a work W1 on a first shuttle table 1 in a processing area K is provided. While processing is performed on the
The work W2 is set up on the second shuttle table 2 located in the above.

When the processing of the work W1 on the first shuttle table 1 is completed, the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 are exchanged, and the second shuttle table 102 is moved to the processing area K for processing. And the first
The shuttle table 1 is moved to the waiting area T to perform the setup.

[0004] In this way, while the work is being processed, the next work is set up, thereby eliminating idle time and increasing production efficiency.

For example, in the system shown in FIG. 5, the first shuttle table 1 travels on the rail 3 and the second shuttle table 102 is mounted on a carriage with a link mechanism 4 (FIG. 5A) or with a cylinder 5. The carriage (FIG. 5B) moves between the standby area T and the processing area K, respectively.

However, in the method shown in FIG. 5, when the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 are exchanged,
Four steps of operation are required.

More specifically, the pass line PL is made coincident between the processing area K and the standby area T (FIG. 6A), the second shuttle table 2 is lowered (FIG. 6B), and the two shuttle tables 2 are moved in opposite directions. (FIG. 6 (C)) and raise the second shuttle table 2 (FIG. 6 (D)).

However, in the method of FIG. 5, the second shuttle table 2 moves along a U-shaped path (FIG. 9).
(A)), the replacement time of the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 becomes longer, and the link mechanism 4, the cylinder 5, and the cart (FIGS. 5A and 5B) are required. And the exchange mechanism becomes complicated.

FIG. 7 shows a method proposed to solve this problem (disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 9-239534).

In this method, a first shuttle table 1 and a second shuttle table are provided by providing horseshoe-shaped horizontal guides 6 and 7 on both sides and fixed guides 10 and 11 and rotation guides 8, 9, 12 and 13 in the center. The table 2 is rotated around (FIG. 9 (B)), and both are exchanged.

That is, after the rotation guides 8 and 12 are connected to the horizontal guide 6 side and the rotation guides 9 and 13 are connected to the horizontal guide 7 side in advance (FIG. 8A),
The shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 in the waiting area T are moved in opposite directions, and when they pass the center, the rotation guides 8 and 12 are fixed to the fixed guide 10 and the rotation guides 9 and 13 are fixed. Switch to the guide 11 side (FIG. 8B).

When the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 draw circular arcs, respectively, the former descends, and the latter ascends (FIG. 8 (C)). Then, the second shuttle table 2 reaches the processing area K (FIG. 8D).

[0013]

However, the prior art shown in FIG. 7 has the following problems.

In the prior art shown in FIG. 7, both the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 are elliptical (FIG. 9).
Since the orbital movement is performed according to (B)), the exchange time is reduced as compared with the prior art of FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B).

However, due to the structures of the guides 6 and 7, the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 move up and down while drawing arcs on both sides (FIG. 8B).

Therefore, the exchange time of the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 is longer than that of a case where the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2 move linearly between the processing area K and the standby area T.

In the prior art shown in FIG. 7, to exchange the first shuttle table 1 and the second shuttle table 2,
The rotation guides 8 and 12 are connected to the horizontal guide 6 and the fixed guide 10.
It is necessary to switch the rotation guides 9 and 13 to the horizontal guide 7 side and the fixed guide 11 side, respectively (see FIG. 8).
(A), FIG. 8 (B)).

For this reason, the exchange mechanism becomes complicated, and the cost increases accordingly.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the time required for table replacement in a shuttle table apparatus and to simplify the mechanism for replacement.

[0020]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, (A) a first travel rail 10 for running a first shuttle table 101;
3, (B) a second running rail 104 for running the second shuttle table 102, and (C) the second running rail 10
(D) having a vertical link device 105 coupled to
By raising the vertical link device 105 to the uppermost position, the second travel rail 104 is positioned with respect to the first travel rail 103 so that the pass line PL in the processing area K and the standby area T coincide with each other. By lowering the dynamic link device 105 to the lowermost position, the second travel rail 104 is positioned below the first travel rail 103, and the second shuttle table 102 and the first shuttle table 101 are moved in opposite directions. Technical means of a shuttle table device characterized in that both can be exchanged are taken.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the vertically moving link device 105 is operated to move the second traveling rail 104 to the first traveling rail 104.
By positioning vertically with respect to the traveling rail 103, the second shuttle table 102 and the first shuttle table 101 can be exchanged.

For this reason, the second shuttle table 102
Can be moved under the first shuttle table 101 (FIG. 2B), and both move linearly while maintaining the shortest distance (FIG. 9C). Is significantly shortened, and the up-down link 105
(FIGS. 1 and 2), the second travel rail 104
Can be moved up and down, so that the exchange mechanism is extremely simplified.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings according to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention, in which reference numeral 100 denotes a shuttle table device, 101 denotes a first shuttle table, 102 denotes a second shuttle table, 103 denotes a first traveling rail,
4 is a second traveling rail, 105 is a vertical link device, K is a machining area, and T is a standby area.

In the following description, the waiting area T
The side is defined as a front or a front part, and the processing area K side is defined as a rear or a rear part.

The first shuttle table 101 travels on a first traveling rail 103 with a work W1 placed thereon, and the first traveling rail 103 is fixed to a beam frame 113.

The second shuttle table 102 travels on a second travel rail 104 with a work W2 placed thereon. The second travel rail 104 is slightly narrower than the first travel rail 103, and both ends thereof are formed. It is fixed to the beam frame 114 and has a central portion coupled to the vertical link device 105.

The second traveling rail 104 is provided with the front rail 10
4A and a rear rail 104B.
04A and the rear rail 104B further comprise a front part 104A1,
It is divided into 104B1 and rear portions 104A2 and 105B2 (FIG. 2).

Then, the front part 104 of the front rail 104A
A1 and the rear portion 104A2 are connected via a pin P4, and the front portion 104B1 and the rear portion 105B2 of the rear rail 104B are connected via a pin P5.

As a result, the front rail 104A and the rear rail 104B each constitute a two-link mechanism, and each of them is bent in a unique shape when it is moved up and down by a vertically moving link device 105 described later (FIG. 2A). , (B)),
Second shuttle table 102 and first shuttle table 1
01 is smoothly exchanged.

The vertical link device 105 comprises a cylinder 105A, a piston rod 105B vertically moved by the cylinder 105A, and connecting rods 105C and 105D connected to the piston rod 105B via a pin P1. .

The cylinder 105A is a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, and has a function of moving the second traveling rail 104 up and down.

The piston rod 105B is moved up and down by the cylinder 105A to open and close two connecting rods 105C and 105D connected via a pin P1 (FIG. 2A, FIG. 2 (B)).

The connecting rod 105C of the connecting rods 105C and 105D is connected to the front rail 104 via the pin P2.
The rear of A and the connecting rod 105D are connected to the front of the rear rail 104B via pins P3, respectively.

That is, if the cylinder 105A, the piston rod 105B, and the connecting rods 105C and 105D are links constituting the vertical link device 105, the cylinder 1
05A and the piston rod 105B form a sliding pair,
Piston rod 105B is a link block (slider)
It is.

The piston rod 105B is a main joint which moves up and down by obtaining energy from the cylinder 105A for the first time. Make

With this configuration, the vertically moving link device 105
Is raised to the uppermost position (FIG. 2A),
The second travel rail 104 is moved to the first travel rail 1 so that the pass line PL in the machining area K and the standby area T match.
03 can be positioned.

That is, when the vertically moving link device 105 is raised to the uppermost position (FIG. 2A), the connecting rods 105C and 105D are opened to the left and right by the raised piston rod 105B.

Therefore, the rear part of the front rail 104A connected to the connecting rods 105C and 105D and the front part of the rear rail 104B are also separated from each other (FIG. 2A).

At this time, the straight first traveling rail 10
3, the second running rail 104 includes a front rail 104A and a rear rail 104B constituting a two-link mechanism.
However, as shown in FIG. 2 (A), each is bent into a bow shape via pins P4 and P5.

Therefore, by raising the vertically moving link device 105 to the uppermost position, the second running rail 104 bent in a bow shape as described above can be properly positioned with respect to the straight first running rail 103. The pass line PL in the processing region K and the standby region T can be matched.

Further, by lowering the vertically moving link device 105 to the lowest position (FIG. 2B), the second traveling rail 104 is positioned below the first traveling rail 103, and the second shuttle table 102 The first shuttle table 101 can be moved in directions opposite to each other.

That is, when the vertically moving link device 105 is lowered to the lowermost position (FIG. 2B), the connecting rods 105C and 105D are closed by the lowered piston rod 105B.

For this reason, the rear part of the front rail 104A connected to the connecting rods 105C and 105D and the front part of the rear rail 104B are joined (FIG. 2B).

At this time, the straight first traveling rail 10
3, the second running rail 104 includes a front rail 104A and a rear rail 104B constituting a two-link mechanism.
However, as shown (FIG. 2B), it is positioned downward as a single connected rail, and is bent into a trapezoidal shape as a whole via pins P4 and P5.

Therefore, when the second shuttle table 102 is run on the second running rail 104 bent in a trapezoidal shape, the second shuttle table 102 is inserted under the first shuttle table 101, so that both of them can be moved. Can be moved in opposite directions.

In this way, the vertical link device 105
Is raised and lowered between the uppermost position and the lowermost position (FIGS. 2A and 2B), whereby the second shuttle table 102 is moved.
And the first shuttle table 101 move linearly while maintaining the shortest distance (FIG. 9C).
Can exchange both.

A chain 107 is arranged between a beam frame 113 for fixing the first running rail 103 and a beam frame 114 for fixing the second running rail 104 (FIG. 1).

The chain 107 extends in the X-axis direction (FIG. 1), and is wound around a driving sprocket 108 and a driven sprocket 109. A motor M as a driving source is connected to the driving sprocket 108, and a rear driven The sprockets 109 are connected to each other via a shaft 110.

The driving sprocket 108 is mounted on the bracket 115, and the driven sprocket 109 is mounted on the bracket 11
6 are rotatably supported.

At the upper part 107 A of the two chains 107, there is provided a bar 11 connected to the first shuttle table 101.
2 is fixed, and a bar member 111 connected to the second shuttle table 102 is fixed to the lower part 107B.

With this configuration, if the motor 107 is driven to circulate the chain 107 (FIG. 1), the first shuttle table 101 and the second shuttle table 102 can be simultaneously moved in the opposite directions (FIG. 3 ( B), (C),
(D)).

In this case, the bar 111 connecting the second shuttle table 102 and the chain 107 is the first bar 1
11A is a telescopic bar inserted into the second bar 111B.

With this configuration, the second shuttle table 1
2 travels on the second travel rail 104 (FIG. 2 (B)), the bar 111 contracts when traveling downward (FIG. 3 (B)), and when traveling horizontally (FIG. 3 (B)). C)) The bar 111 keeps its contracted state, and when traveling upward (FIG. 3D), the bar 111 extends.

As described above, the inclination of the second shuttle table 102 in the vertical direction when the second shuttle table 102 travels (see FIG. 3B)
(D)), the bar 111 expands and contracts, and the chain 107 and the second
Power is transmitted between the shuttle tables 102 without waste, and the movement of the second shuttle table 102 is smoothly performed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an application example of the present invention.
For example, a case where the shuttle table device 100 according to the present invention is applied to a laser beam machine 200 is shown.

When the first shuttle table 101 and the second shuttle table 102 alternately enter the processing area K of the laser processing machine 200, the work W1 or W2 is irradiated with laser light by the processing head 202 described later. A predetermined laser processing is performed.

The processing head 202 includes a Y-axis slider 204
, And can be moved up and down by a Z-axis motor Mz (not shown) incorporated therein.

The Y-axis slider 204 is screwed to a ball screw 205 driven by a Y-axis motor My and is slidably connected to the X-axis slider 203.

The X-axis slider 203 extends in the Y-axis direction across the base frame 201 of the laser beam machine 200, and has a ball screw 206 driven by an X-axis motor Mx.
Is screwed into.

With this configuration, the processing head 202
The first shuttle table 101 which is movable in three dimensions of YZ and has entered the machining area K as described above.
The upper work W1 or the work W2 on the second shuttle table 102 is subjected to laser processing.

The operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the cylinder 105A (FIG. 3A) is operated to raise the vertical link device 105 to the uppermost position, so that the pass line PL in the machining area K and the standby area T coincide with each other. 104 first
It is positioned with respect to the running rail 103.

Next, the cylinder 105A is actuated again (FIG. 3 (B)), and the vertically moving link device 105 is lowered to the lowest position, whereby the second traveling rail 104 is positioned below the first traveling rail 103. I do.

When the motor M is driven in this state (FIG. 3B), the chain 107 circulates, and the second shuttle table 102 and the first shuttle table 101 move in opposite directions.

That is, the second shuttle table 102 connected to the chain 107 via the bar 111 travels on the trapezoidal second travel rail 104 toward the machining area K, and the bar 107 is attached to the chain 107. The first shuttle table 101 connected via the first travels on the straight first travel rail 103 toward the waiting area T.

Then, the second shuttle table 102 and the first shuttle table 101 connected to the same chain 107 simultaneously move in opposite directions, and simultaneously pass through the central portions of the second travel rail 104 and the first travel rail 103. (FIG. 3C).

After passing through the center, the second shuttle table 102 starts to rise on the trapezoidal second traveling rail 104 toward the processing area K (FIG. 3D), and the first shuttle table 101 The vehicle travels on the straight first traveling rail 103 toward the waiting area T.

At this time, when the cylinder 105A operates and the second shuttle table 102 reaches the machining area K and the first shuttle table 101 arrives at the standby area T, the vertically moving link device 105 moves up to the uppermost position. (FIG. 3E).

In this case, the circulation of the chain 107 has already stopped (FIG. 3E), and the second travel rail 10 is moved so that the pass line PL in the machining area K and the standby area T coincide.
4 is positioned with respect to the first travel rail 103.

Therefore, both the front rail 104A and the rear rail 104B of the second travel rail 104 are bent in a bow shape, and the second travel rail 104 and the first travel rail 1 are bent.
03 in the vertical direction is different from the initial state (FIG. 3).
(A)) Exactly the same, the second shuttle table 102
Are located in the processing area K and the first shuttle table 101 is located in the standby area T.

As described above, according to the present invention, the provision of the vertically moving link device 105 enables the second traveling rail 10
4 is positioned vertically with respect to the first travel rail 103 (FIG. 3), whereby the second shuttle table 10 is positioned.
2 and the first shuttle table 101 can be exchanged.

At this time, the second shuttle table 102 is
9B can be moved under the first shuttle table 101 (FIGS. 3B to 3D), and both move linearly while maintaining the shortest distance (FIG. 9).
(C)), the replacement time was significantly reduced.

Further, a vertically moving link device 105 is provided to move the second traveling rail 104 up and down, thereby
The second shuttle table 1 traveling on the traveling rail 104
Since the 02 and the first shuttle table 101 traveling on the first traveling rail 103 can be exchanged, the exchange mechanism is extremely simplified.

[0073]

As described above, according to the present invention, the shuttle table apparatus is provided with a first travel rail for traveling the first shuttle table, a second travel rail for traveling the second shuttle table, and the second travel rail. The second shuttle table can be moved under the first shuttle table by moving it up and down with the vertical link device coupled to the rail. Therefore, the exchange time is remarkably reduced, and the technical effect that the second traveling rail can be moved up and down only by providing the up-and-down moving link device has a very simple exchange mechanism. .

[0074]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first traveling rail 103 and a second traveling rail 103 constituting the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between traveling rails 104.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an application example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a first related art.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the first conventional technique.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a second conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the second conventional technique.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an exchange path between a first shuttle table and a second shuttle table.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 shuttle table device 200 laser beam machine 101 first shuttle table 102 second shuttle table 103 first travel rail 104 second travel rail 104A front rail 104B rear rail 105 vertical link device 105A cylinder 105B piston rod 105C , 105D connecting rod 107 chain

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first shuttle table for running the first shuttle table;
A traveling rail, a second traveling rail for traveling the second shuttle table, and a vertically moving link device coupled to the second traveling rail; The second travel rail is positioned with respect to the first travel rail so that the path line in the standby area coincides with the first travel rail, and the vertically moving link device is lowered to the lowermost position to thereby move the second travel rail to the first travel rail A shuttle table device, wherein the second shuttle table and the first shuttle table are moved in directions opposite to each other so that both can be exchanged. 2. The shuttle table apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second traveling rail is divided into a front rail and a rear rail, and the front rail and the rear rail each constitute a two-link mechanism. 3. The vertical link device comprises a four-joint link mechanism comprising a cylinder, its piston rod, and two connecting rods, the connecting rods being respectively provided on a front rail and a rear rail of a second traveling rail. The shuttle table apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle table apparatus is coupled. 4. The shuttle table according to claim 1, wherein the first shuttle table and the second shuttle table are connected to the same chain, and the two shuttle tables simultaneously move in opposite directions by circulation of the chain.
The described shuttle table device.