JP2001150070A - Palette transferring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a palette transferring apparatus which automatically executes motions of shifting to one side and shifting-back of a palette to improve operating efficiency. SOLUTION: This apparatus comprise a chain 5 which circulates between a plate material working machine 30 and a palette exchanging device 20, an end part which can ascend/descend being attached to the chain, and hooks 3, 4 attached to the chain 5 so as to lock/release palettes 40, 50. By lowering the end part of the chain 5 to disengage the hook 3, the palette 50 held in the plate material working machine 30 side is set loose, meanwhile, the chain 5 is circulated so as to transfer the palette 40 in the palette exchange device 20 side to the plate material working machine 30 side, thus executing the motion of shifting to one side, thereafter the chain 5 is circulated in reverse so as to transfer the palette 40 previously placed in the plate material working machine 30 side to the palette exchange device 20 side, thus executing the motion of shifting-back.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pallet moving device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a pallet moving device that improves the working efficiency by automatically performing a pallet shifting operation and a pallet returning operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, in front of a plate processing machine 100 such as a laser processing machine or a punch press,
A pallet changing device 200 is installed, and during processing, one pallet 101 (for example, upper pallet) is provided on the plate material processing machine 100 side, and another pallet 201 (for example, lower pallet) is provided on the pallet changing device 200 side. ) Are set.

[0003] For example, a pallet 101 on the side of a laser processing machine as the plate processing machine 100 is fixed on a processing table 102 which can be positioned in the X-axis direction.
The workpiece placed on top is processed by the processing head 103 moving in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction.

In the meantime, the processed work is removed from the pallet 201 on the shuttle table 202 of the pallet changing device 200, and the work to be processed is placed.

When the processing is completed, both pallets 1
01 and 201 move in opposite directions,
Be exchanged.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In the prior art shown in FIG. 8, scrap generated during processing falls from a grid (skid) of the pallet 101 onto a scrap conveyor provided below the laser processing machine 100 and is discharged. It has become.

However, there is a case where the scrap K may fall from the lattice of the pallet 102 while the processed work is being removed from the pallet 201 on the shuttle table 202. In this case, the scrap shown in FIG. Perform an approach operation.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, a shuttle table 202 on the pallet changing device 200 side
It is assumed that the scrap K is scattered, and the pallet 101 from which the processed work is removed is disposed above the scrap K.

In that case, the pallet 101 (FIG. 9)
(B)), the pallet 101 is released by releasing the hook 104, and the pallet 101 is manually removed by the laser beam machine 1
Move to the 00 side (FIG. 9C).

Therefore, the pallets 101 and 201 are both biased toward the laser beam machine 100, and the shuttle table 202 becomes an open space, so that the scrap K scattered by cleaning by the operator is eliminated.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
The shuttle table 202 is cleaned because the scrap K has been removed, and the pallet 101 is again manually moved to the shuttle table 20 on the pallet changing device 200 side.
2 (FIG. 10 (B)), and hooks 104 (FIG. 10B).
(C)) By inserting, the pallet 101 is locked.

However, the conventional shifting operation (FIG. 9) and the returning operation (FIG. 10) are performed manually as described above, which takes time and greatly reduces the work efficiency.

[0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide a pallet moving device capable of improving work efficiency by automatically performing a pallet shifting operation and a pallet returning operation.

[0015]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a chain 5 which circulates between a plate material processing machine 30 and a pallet changing device 20 and whose end is mounted so as to be movable up and down. Pallets 40, 50 attached to the chain 5
The plate processing machine 30 has hooks 3 and 4 for locking and releasing the
With the pallet 50 on the side of the pallet changing device 20, the chain 5 is circulated while the pallet 50 on the side of the
Is moved to the plate material processing machine 30 side to perform a one-sided operation, the chain 5 is circulated backward, and the pallet 40 moved to the plate material processing machine 30 side is moved to the pallet changing device 20 side to perform a return operation. Pallet moving device.

Therefore, according to the structure of the present invention, the pallet shifting operation (FIG. 4) and the returning operation (FIG. 5) are automatically performed (FIG. 5) by the cooperation of the chain 5 and the hooks 3 and 4. The operation time is shortened as compared with the manual operation (FIGS. 9 and 10), so that the working efficiency can be improved.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings according to embodiments. FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a pallet changing device 20 is installed in front of a plate material processing machine 30, and below a shuttle table 21 constituting the pallet changing device 20,
A pallet moving device 1 is installed.

The pallet moving device 1 extends to the plate processing machine 30 and enters below the support table 32 of the plate processing machine 30.

The plate processing machine 30 is, for example, a laser processing machine. The laser processing machine has a processing head 37 and a processing table 31.

The processing head 37 is connected to a Y-axis motor My via a ball screw 38, and is positioned in the Y-axis direction by rotation of the Y-axis motor My.

The machining table 31 is coupled to the X-axis motor Mx via a ball screw 36, and is slidably coupled on the LM guide rail 35, and is positioned in the X-axis direction by the rotation of the X-axis motor Mx. It has become.

The pallet transferred from the pallet changing device 20 to the laser beam machine 30 described later, for example, the upper pallet 50 on which the work is placed,
At the time of processing, the workpiece is moved together with the processing table 31 so that the work is subjected to a predetermined laser processing via the processing head 37.

The processing table 31 (FIG. 2) has grooves 3
Notches 3 and 34 are formed so that hooks 3 and 4 of the pallet moving device 1, which will be described later, can pass at the time of pallet exchange, the one-sided operation according to the present invention (FIG. 4) and the return operation (FIG. 5). It has become.

As is well known, the pallet changing device 20 exchanges the upper pallet 50 and the lower pallet 40 with the laser processing machine 30 and returns from the laser processing machine 30 after processing. This device takes out products from the pallet and sets a new work on the pallet.

In addition, the pallet changing device 20 moves the upper pallet 50 and the lower pallet 40 together toward the laser beam machine 30 in order to remove the scrap K (FIG. 4) by cleaning by the operator. (FIG. 4), and after the scrap K is removed, a returning operation to return to the original position is performed (FIG. 5).

In this case, it is the pallet moving device 1 to be described later that actually performs the pallet exchange, the shifting operation and the returning operation.

Upper pallet 50 to be replaced
And the lower pallet 40 are provided so as to be able to travel via wheels 50C, 40C, and both pallets 50, 40 have a plurality of grids (skids) 50B, 40B formed on the upper surface thereof,
A work is placed on the lattices 50B and 40B (FIGS. 1 and 2).

In this case, the upper pallet 50 and the lower pallet 4
0, the height of the upper surface, which is the mounting surface of the work, is different (FIG. 1). However, when the work is processed, the processing head 37 of the laser processing machine 30 moves in the Z-axis direction as described above. By moving up and down, the height position can be adjusted.

The upper pallet 50 is higher and wider than the lower pallet 40, and is a high-order wide pallet.
0 is a lower narrow pallet which is lower than the upper pallet 50 and has a narrow width. With this configuration, the lower pallet 40 can pass below the upper pallet 50 (FIGS. 1 and 4C).

Further, the upper pallet 50 and the lower pallet 40
Are provided with engaging portions 50A and 40A (FIG. 2) at the corners of the bottoms, respectively. The hook 3 for the upper pallet 50, the lower pallet 40 Hook 4 has holes 50A1, 4
0A1.

The pallet changing device 20 has a shuttle table 21, which has a common track 24, a track 22 for the lower pallet 40, and an upper pallet 50.
Tracks 23 are provided respectively.

The lower pallet 40 and the upper pallet 50 travel together on the common track 24, and the lower pallet 40
On the track 22, only the lower pallet 40 is
On the 0 track 23, only the upper pallet 50 travels.

The hook 3 for the upper pallet 50 is located between the track 22 for the lower pallet 40 and the track 23 for the upper pallet 50 (FIG. 3). Can pass through each.

On the other hand, below the pallet changing device 20,
The pallet moving device 1 is installed.
Has a frame 2 that extends below the laser beam machine 30.

The rear portion of the frame 2 is hingedly connected via a rotating shaft 8 supported by a column 8A.
The upper and lower cylinders 9 are connected.

Therefore, by operating the upper and lower cylinders 9, the frame 2 rotates about the rear portion as a fulcrum, and is horizontal when the pallet is replaced, but is inclined downward during the processing (for example, FIG. 2), thereby performing the processing. The hook 3 is removed from the pallet on which the work to be placed is mounted, for example, the upper pallet 50, and the hook 3 is released, so that the upper pallet 50 can move together with the processing table 31.

The movement of the machining table 31 in the X-axis direction by the X-axis motor Mx and the ball screw 36 (FIG. 1) and the movement of the machining head 37 in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis motor My and the ball screw 36 are performed. The desired position of the work on the upper pallet 50 is positioned immediately below the processing head 37, and a predetermined laser processing is performed by the processing head 37.

During this processing, the processed work is removed from the lower pallet 40 on the shuttle table 21 side, and the work to be processed is set.

When the upper and lower cylinders 9 are actuated again after the processing is completed, the frame 2 is rotated about the rear portion to be horizontal as before, the hook 3 is put on the upper pallet 50, and the chain is locked. 5 is circulated and pallet exchange is performed.

Further, according to the present invention, during the one-sided operation (FIG. 4), the upper and lower cylinders 9 operate and the frame 2
Is pivoted about its rear part and inclined downward (FIG. 4B), whereby the end of the chain 5 is lowered (step 301 in FIG. 7).

As a result, for example, hook 3 (FIG. 4)
(B) Removal The upper pallet 50 of the laser processing machine 30 is released.

In this state, the chain 5 is connected (FIG. 4C).
Circulation (step 302 in FIG. 7) moves the lower pallet 40 of the pallet changing device 20 to the laser beam machine 30.

Accordingly, as shown by a broken line (FIG. 4 (C)), the lower pallet 40 goes under the upper pallet 50, and both pallets are located at the laser beam machine 30. Is completed.

Then, the worker cleans the shuttle table 21 in the open space state (FIG. 4C) (in parentheses in FIG. 7) to remove the scrap K thereon.

Further, according to the present invention, at the time of the returning operation (FIG. 5), the chain 5 is now removed while the scrap K is removed and the shuttle table 21 is cleaned (FIG. 5A). FIG. 5 (B)) reverse circulation (step 303 in FIG. 7).

As a result, the lower pallet 40 which has been inserted under the upper pallet 50 of the laser beam machine 30 moves to the pallet changing device 20 and returns to the original position (FIG. 5).
(B)).

Thereafter, the upper and lower cylinders 9 are again moved (FIG. 5).
(C)) If the frame 2 is actuated and pivoted with the rear part as a fulcrum, the end of the chain 5 rises (step 304 in FIG. 7), becomes horizontal again, and the returning operation is completed.

In the frame 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2), a chain 5 is wound around a driving sprocket 7 and a driven sprocket 6, and a motor M as a driving source is connected to the driving sprocket 7.

The upper pallet 5 is provided on the upper part 5A of the chain 5.
The hook 3 for the 0 and the hook 4 for the lower pallet 40 are fixed to the lower portion 5B by screws via the bases 3A and 4A, respectively.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the chain 5 is disposed immediately below the track 22 for the lower pallet 40 of the shuttle table 21 described above, and the hook 3 for the upper pallet 50 is provided outside the chain 5. Inside, the hooks 4 for the lower pallet 40 are respectively fixed.

In this case, the base 4A of the inner hook 4
Is separated from the upper part 5A of the chain 5 so as not to interfere with it, whereby the reciprocating motion can be performed smoothly.

When the pallet is replaced, as shown in FIG. 3, the rear wheel 50C of the upper pallet 50 and the lower pallet 4
0 rear wheels 40C may intersect on the pallet changing device 20 side.

In this case, of the hooks 3 and 4 extending upward from the bases 3A and 4A, the hook 3 for the upper pallet 50 moves between the track 23 for the upper pallet 50 and the track 22 for the lower pallet 40 and the lower pallet 40. The hook 4 for the pallet 40 penetrates the inside of the track 22 for the lower pallet 40, and is inserted into the holes 50A1, 40A1 of the engaging portions 50A, 40A.

Further, hooks 3 fixed to the chain 5,
4, for example, the position of the rear hook 4 is shown in FIG.
(A)), compared to the position of the hook 3 in front, the distance L is very close to the rotation axis 8 and the distance L hardly changes even when the frame 2 rotates (FIG. 4B).

Therefore, at the time of laser processing or the one-sided operation according to the present invention (FIG. 4B), even if the frame 2 is rotated and inclined downward, the stroke of the rear hook 4 is almost unchanged. In this case, only the front hook 3 is released from the pallet 50 of the laser beam machine 30 while the pallet 40 of the pallet changing device 20 is locked, and the pallet 50 can be released.

On the other hand, the control (FIG. 5) such as the above-described one-sided operation and the return operation (FIG. 4) according to the present invention is performed by:
This is the NC 60 (FIG. 1), and the configuration of the NC 60 is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, NC 60 includes a CPU 60A.
, Input means 60B, servo amplifiers 60C, 60D,
60E and storage means 60F and 60G, respectively.

The CPU 60A controls the entire apparatus shown in FIG. 1, for example, by sending instructions to the input means 60B and the servo amplifiers 60C, 60D, 60E and the like for control.

The input means 60B activates, for example, the operation sequences S1, S2... Stored in the storage means 60F by the operator inputting a predetermined code in a predetermined mode, and according to the procedure of FIG. The offset operation (FIG. 4) and the return operation (FIG. 5) according to the present invention are performed.

The servo amplifiers 60C, 60D, 60E
Are the upper and lower cylinders 9, the motor M, and the other X, respectively.
It is connected to an actuator such as a shaft motor Mx or a Y-axis motor My.

Hereinafter, the operation of the pallet moving device 1 having the above configuration will be described.

(1) Normal operation. First, when the upper and lower cylinders 9 are actuated (FIG. 1), the frame 2 pivots around the rear part and tilts downward, and releases the hook 3 from, for example, the upper pallet 50 on the processing table 31.

In this state, the desired position of the work on the upper pallet 50 is positioned immediately below the processing head 37 by the movement of the processing table 31 in the X-axis direction and the movement of the processing head 37 in the Y-axis direction. 37 performs predetermined laser processing.

During this processing, the processed work is removed from the lower pallet 40 on the shuttle table 21 side, and the work to be processed is set.

After the machining, the upper and lower cylinders 9 are actuated again, the frame 2 is rotated about the rear part thereof to be horizontal, the hook 3 is inserted into the upper pallet 50, and the chain 5 is locked. Make a replacement.

(2) One-sided operation.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 4A, the upper pallet 50 is arranged on the laser processing machine 30 side, the lower pallet 40 is arranged on the pallet changing device 20 side, and the shuttle table on the pallet changing device 20 side is arranged. It is assumed that scrap K is scattered on 21.

In this state, when the upper and lower cylinders 9 are operated (FIG. 4B), the frame 2 rotates around the rear portion and tilts downward, so that the end of the chain 5 descends.

As a result, the hook 3 of the upper pallet 50 is released, so that the upper pallet 50 is released.

Then, the chain 5 is circulated (FIG. 4C), and the lower pallet 40 on the pallet changing device 20 side is moved to the laser processing machine 30 side.

As a result, the lower pallet 40 comes under the upper pallet 50 (broken line in FIG. 4C), and both pallets come to be located on the laser beam machine 30 and the one-sided operation is completed. .

(3) Return operation.

Then, the worker removes the scrap K thereon by cleaning the shuttle table 21 in the open space state (FIG. 4C).

As a result, the scrap K was removed, and the shuttle table 21 became clean (FIG. 5A).

In this state, the chain 5 is now turned (FIG. 5).
(B)) When the circulation is reversed, the lower pallet 40 that has been under the upper pallet 50 of the laser processing machine 30 moves to the pallet changing device 20 and returns to the original position.

When the upper and lower cylinders 9 are operated again (FIG. 5C), the frame 2 rotates with its rear portion as a fulcrum. The return operation is completed.

[0078]

As described above, according to the present invention, the pallet shifting operation and the returning operation are automatically performed by the cooperation of the chain and the hook, so that the operation time is shortened as compared with the conventional manual operation. As a result, the technical effect that the working efficiency is improved can be achieved.

[0079]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a relationship between a chain 5, hooks 3, 4 and a lower pallet 40 and an upper pallet 50 constituting the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a one-sided operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a return operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an NC 60 according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of pallet replacement in a conventional operation.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the one-sided movement operation in the conventional operation.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a return operation in a conventional operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 pallet moving device 2 frame 3 hook for upper pallet 50 4 hook for lower pallet 40 5 chain 6 driven sprocket 7 drive sprocket 8 rotating shaft 9 vertical cylinder 20 pallet changing device 30 plate processing machine 40 lower pallet 50 upper pallet

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A chain which circulates between a plate material processing machine and a pallet changing device and has an end mounted to be movable up and down, and a hook mounted on the chain for locking and releasing the pallet. , Remove the hooks, release the pallet on the plate processing machine side, circulate the chain, move the pallet on the pallet changer side to the plate processing machine side, perform the one-sided operation, and reverse the chain. A pallet moving device, wherein a pallet that has been circulated and moved to a plate material processing machine is moved to a pallet changing device side to perform a return operation. 2. The chain according to claim 1, wherein the chain is mounted in a frame, a rear portion of the frame is hinged via a pivot shaft, and a vertical cylinder is connected to a front portion.
A pallet moving device as described. 3. A chain is wound around a driving sprocket and a driven sprocket in the frame. One pallet hook is provided at an upper portion of the chain, and the other pallet hook is provided at a lower portion of the chain. The pallet moving device according to claim 1, wherein the pallet moving device is fixed via a pallet. 4. The pallet moving device according to claim 1, wherein an engaging portion is provided at a bottom portion of each of the pallets, and a hook is inserted into a hole of the engaging portion. 5. The pallet moving device according to claim 1, wherein a groove is formed in the processing table on the plate material processing machine side, and a hook can pass through the groove. 6. The shuttle table on the pallet changing device side is provided with a common track, a track for the lower pallet, and a track for the upper pallet. An upper pallet hook is provided between the track for the lower pallet and the track for the upper pallet. 2. The pallet moving device according to claim 1, wherein a lower pallet hook can pass through the inside of the lower pallet track.