JP2001205485A - Automatic machining device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a productivity by decreasing the idling time of a machining device. SOLUTION: A first and a second machining stations S1 and S2 are provided side by side and in parallel with each other, a first and a second carrying away stations S3 and S4 which carry a machined work away are provided side by side at the right and the left sides of the machining stations. Positioned works are alternately machined by a common machining device 31 at the first and the second machining stations. The machined works are alternately transported by a first and a second movable loaders 13 and 14 from each machining station to each carrying away station corresponding to the machining. The movable loaders are provided with a holding means which holds the work machined at the machining station and transports the machined work to the carrying out station and a pressing means which presses the work at the machining stations.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic processing apparatus such as an automatic laser welding apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an automatic processing apparatus for automatically performing processing such as welding, cutting, bending, and punching on a workpiece. As such an automatic processing apparatus, the applicant first has a preparation station including a preparation table, and a processing station including a processing machine main body and a processing table, and loads and loads a work from the preparation station to the processing station. An automatic processing apparatus for automatically positioning a work and fixing the work for processing, wherein a movable loader is provided so as to reciprocate between the two stations, and the movable loader is provided with a preparation table. Means for holding and transporting the upper work and placing the work on the processing table, and means for pressing the work against the processing table are provided, and the work placed on the processing table is positioned at the processing station. One in which means are provided has been proposed (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-53825).

In such an apparatus, when the processing at the processing station is completed, the mobile loader returns to the preparation station for the next work to be processed, and returns to the processing station with the work. The mobile loader always reciprocates between the preparation station and the processing station for each processing cycle. Also, when the mobile loader is at the processing station,
The work to be processed next is only preset in the preparation station.For work such as positioning the work for processing, the mobile loader moves to the work station and the work is placed on the work station. After that.

[0004]

Therefore, in the above-described automatic processing apparatus, the time from the completion of one processing to the start of the next processing includes the time required for the reciprocating movement.
The work time for positioning and the like is added, so that the cycle time per machining becomes considerably long and the machining efficiency is low. That is, the ratio of the machining time in one cycle time is small, and the idle time of the machining machine is long.

Therefore, by utilizing the technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-53825, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the automatic machining apparatus is provided so that two machining stations S11 and S12 are adjacent to each other. Processing station S11,
The processing for S12 is alternately performed by one processing machine 101, so that the processing conventionally performed by two processing machines is performed by one processing machine, and the idle time of the processing machine is reduced. It is possible to do. In this way, the preparation stations S21 and S22 are located on both sides of the two processing stations S11 and S12, and one of the preparation stations S21 and S22 is shifted to one of the processing stations S11 and S22.
11 or S12, the mobile loader 102A or 102
While transporting the workpiece at B and positioning it,
By repeating the processing on the workpiece already positioned in the other processing station S12 or S11, the processing on the two processing stations can be performed alternately by the common processing machine 101. In addition, the play time of the processing machine 101 can be shortened, and the processing efficiency can be improved.

However, as described above, simply providing the automatic processing apparatuses described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-53825 in parallel next to each other may cause the two preparation stations S21 and S22 to be considerably apart from each other. Therefore, it is necessary to provide the work carrying robots 103A and 103B for independently carrying in the work for carrying the work or to arrange the workers, but in such a way, the work carrying robot 103A is provided to each of the two preparation stations S21 and S22. , 103B and workers are arranged, the production capacity can be maintained, but this increases the cost. On the other hand, if a single work loading robot or a single worker attempts to carry in a work, the range in which the robot is moved and the movement range of the worker are increased, the work loading efficiency is poor, and the production capacity is reduced. There is also a risk of lowering.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention does not convey the work from the preparation station to the processing station, but directly carries the work into the processing station.
The present invention has been developed based on the idea that not only one processing machine but also a work loading operation can be performed efficiently and the production capacity is not reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic processing apparatus in which the play time of a processing machine is reduced and the processing efficiency is improved.

[0009]

An automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a first processing station and a second processing station arranged in parallel so as to be adjacent to each other. An automatic machining apparatus for alternately machining a positioned work with a machine, wherein the first machining machine carries out the finished work so as to be adjacent to the left and right sides of the first and second machining stations. And a second unloading station are respectively provided, a first movable loader is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between the first processing station and the first unloading station, and the second processing station and the second unloading station are provided. A second movable loader is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between the first and second movable loaders, and the first and second processing loaders are respectively provided to the first and second movable loaders. First and second holding means for holding and transporting the workpiece having completed processing to the first and second unloading stations, and first and second holding means for pressing the workpiece in the first and second processing stations. Second
Is provided. Here, the “common processing machine” means that the processing machines used for processing in the first and second processing stations are the same, and even if the number of the processing machines is one, it is two. Is also good. Further, even if the processing machine is a common processing machine,
It is needless to say that the processing stations can perform different processing, and in that case, the processing machines move in the two-axis direction and the three-axis direction, and the processing machines are different for each processing station. The movement may be performed, or each station may be positioned in a different state, so that the processing operation may be the same or a different processing mode. Further, even when there are a plurality of processing machines, it is needless to say that not all the processing machines need to perform the processing operation at the same time.

According to the automatic processing apparatus of the present invention, for example, when the processing is being performed in the first processing station, the work that has already been processed in the second processing station is replaced by the second processing station. Of the second mobile loader
While being transported to the unloading station, the unprocessed work is positioned and placed, and temporary holding is performed. At this time, since the second processing station does not have the second movable loader and is open at the top, the work for preparing the next work to be processed can be easily performed.
Then, the second movable loader completes the unloading of the work and returns, and the work, which has been positioned at the second processing station and has been temporarily held, is held down by the second holding means, Fixed.
These series of operations are performed in the second processing station while the processing is performed in the first processing station.

As described above, with the workpiece fixed at the second processing station, the next processing is performed at the second processing station following the first processing station. Then, after the processing by the processing machine is completed in the first processing station, the processing is performed in the second processing station, and so on.
In the first processing station and the second processing station, processing is performed alternately by a common processing machine.

As described above, when the processing is being performed on the first processing station side, the transfer processing of the completed work and the setting of the unprocessed work are performed on the second processing station side. , These are not counted as cycle times.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from the completion of processing to the start of the next processing, thereby improving the processing efficiency, and to realize one processing as in the apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-53825. The time from the completion to the start of the next processing is the time required for the reciprocating movement of the mobile loader,
Work time such as positioning is not added,
The cycle time per machining is reduced. Also,
The ratio of the machining time in one cycle time is increased, the machining efficiency is improved, and the cost can be reduced.

The first and second processing stations are configured such that a work is carried in by common work carrying means, and the first and second processing stations are positioned to position the work in the first and second processing stations. Preferably, means are provided. Here, the “common work loading machine” is, as in the case of the common processing machine,
In the first and second processing stations, it means that the same work carry-in machine is used to carry in the work, and the work carry-in machine may be one or two.

With this configuration, the work is carried into the first and second working stations by the common work carrying means, and the work is carried out in the first and second working stations. It is performed alternately according to the processing,
Work can be carried in efficiently. Further, since the first and second processing stations are provided with positioning means for positioning the work, the work is positioned after the work is loaded and before the processing is started.

Further, in the processing machine, the main body of the processing machine is supported by a gate-shaped movable frame, and the processing machine main body is supported between the first processing station and the first unloading station and between the second processing station and the second processing station. Between the unloading station,
A first reciprocating movement of the first and second mobile loaders;
Are provided, and between the first and second processing stations and outside the first travel rail, a second travel rail on which the portal movable frame of the processing machine reciprocates is provided. It is desirable to be provided.

With this configuration, even when the first and second movable loaders are located at the first and second processing stations, the processing machine (portable movable frame) can move the outside of the first and second mobile loaders. It is possible to move along the second traveling rail, and it is possible to move without interfering with the first and second movable loaders.

Further, the first and second unloading stations each have an unloading pallet, and the workpieces conveyed by the first and second holding means of the first and second mobile loaders. Is desirably configured to be placed on the carry-out pallet. here,
The term “placement” includes not only a case where the device is placed on a carry-out pallet but also a case where the device is dropped.

In this way, in the first and second unloading stations, the work (finished product) that has been processed is transported by the holding means of the first and second movable loaders. Since the holding by the holding means is released and the device is simply placed on the unloading pallet, there is no need for a special device for unloading, which is advantageous in simplifying the device.

Further, the first and second unloading stations may have a defective product unloading unit for unloading defective products and a finished product unloading unit for unloading finished products.

According to this configuration, when the first and second movable loaders are moved, the parts on which the work is placed are changed at the first and second unloading stations, so that defective products can be reduced. It is possible to sort out the finished product.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an automatic laser welding apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an automatic laser welding apparatus 1 according to the present invention has first and second processing stations S1 and S2 arranged in parallel at the center so as to be adjacent to each other. For unloading the finished workpiece
And the second unloading stations S3 and S4 are arranged adjacent to each other. First and second processing stations S
Each of the first and second working stations S1 and S2 includes a work table 11, 12 and performs a welding process.
1 and W2 are different. That is, the work W1 is a door inner used for the door of the automobile, and the work W2
Is a rain hosement also used for doors.

Between the first processing station S1 and the first unloading station S3, there is provided a first movable loader 13 which reciprocates between them. on the other hand,
A second movable loader 14 that reciprocates between the second processing station S2 and the second unloading station S4 is also provided between the second processing station S2 and the second unloading station S4. These mobile loaders 13 and 14 are both self-propelled, and although not specifically shown, the workpieces W1 and S2 in which the processing in the first and second processing stations S1 and S2 has been completed. W2
And the first and second unloading stations S1,
First and second holding means for transporting the workpieces to S2, and first and second holding means for pressing the workpieces W1 and W2 positioned during the processing onto the processing tables 11 and 12 to fix the workpieces W1 and W2.
Is provided.

The first and second holding means are, for example,
The cup is composed of a large number of vacuum cups disposed downward and vertically movable, and the cup holds the completed workpiece placed on the processing tables 11 and 12 from above,
After moving together with the mobile loaders 13 and 14 and transporting them directly to the unloading stations S3 and S4, the vacuum is released and dropped on the unloading pallets of the unloading stations S3 and S4. In addition, the first and second
The pressing means includes, for example, a push rod and a pressing tool, and when the push rod is extended downward, the pressing tool clamps the work between the processing tables 11 and 12 so as not to move. It is supposed to. Here, the ascending position of the pressing tool may be any position at which the pressing tool or the like does not hit the processing tables 11 and 12 when the movable loaders 13 and 14 are moved. The processing distance is very short (about several tens of mm) and the time required for it is very short.

A first traveling rail on which a slider (not shown) of the first movable loader 13 is slidably engaged between the first processing station S1 and the first unloading station S3. The first movable loader 13 reciprocates along the first traveling rail 21. Similarly,
Between the second processing station S2 and the second unloading station S4, a second traveling rail 22 is provided in parallel with which a slider (not shown) of the second movable loader 14 is slidably engaged. The traveling rail 2
The second mobile loader 14 reciprocates along the line 2. The first processing station S1
Between the first mobile loader 13 and the second processing station S2 and the second mobile loader 14,
Positioning means for positioning the two movable loaders 13 and 14 are provided.

A third traveling rail 23 is provided in parallel between the first and second processing stations S1 and S2 and outside the first and second traveling rails 21 and 22. Have been. And the third traveling rail 2
Along the 3, a processing machine 31 is provided so as to be movable.
The processing machine 31 includes a laser irradiator 31a as a processing machine main body that performs laser welding, and a portal movable frame 31b that supports the laser irradiation machine 31a.
In each of the processing stations S1 and S2, the mobile loaders 13 and 14 are configured to be able to move outside of the work without any interference even if their pressing means are present for pressing the work. . An oscillator body 34 is linked to the laser irradiator 31a via a cable 33.

Further, the two processing stations S1. S
2 has a common work loading robot 35 on one side (rear side).
Are arranged. The work loading robot 35 is provided with a work loading portion 35b rotatably and movably provided on a base table 35a extending along the first and second processing stations S1 and S2. It is a common robot that carries in the works W1 and W2 to S2. The work loading robot 35
On the opposite side of the two processing stations S1 and S2,
Two carry-in conveyors 36A, 36B for the work W1 and two carry-in conveyors 37A, 37B for the work W2 are arranged in parallel, and the work carry-in robot 35 is connected to the ends of the conveyors 36A, 36B, 37A, 37B. The first work station S1 carries the work W1 and the second work station S2 carries the work W2. In the first and second processing stations S1 and S2, although not specifically shown, fixed pins and moving pins are used as positioning means for positioning the workpieces W1 and W2 to be processed at predetermined processing positions. A mold setting gauge is provided on the processing tables 11 and 12. The work loading operation is not necessarily performed by a robot, but may be performed by other mechanical means or manually. Both processing stations S1. On the other side (front side) of S2,
A laser oscillator cooling device 38 and a laser oscillator control panel 39 are provided, respectively.

The first and second unloading stations S3 and S4 are respectively provided with defective product unloading units S31 and S41 for unloading defective products and completed product unloading units S32 and S42 for unloading completed products. And each is provided with a carry-out pallet (not shown). And the first and second
The workpieces conveyed by the first and second holding means of the movable loaders 13 and 14 are sorted and dropped on the unloading pallet.

Defective product discharge conveyors 41 and 42 are associated with the defective product discharge units S31 and S41, and the defective product discharge units S3 are stacked in a state where defective products are stacked on a discharge pallet.
1, carried out from S41. On the other hand, the finished product unloading section S
The finished product carrying conveyors 43 and 44 are associated with the finished products 32 and S42, and the finished products are carried out from the finished product carrying sections S32 and S42 in a state where they are stacked on a carrying pallet.

Next, the processing operation by the automatic laser welding apparatus 1 will be described.

For example, when the first movable loader 13 is located at the first processing station S1, the first movable loader 13 is positioned by the first pressing means mounted on the first movable loader 13. Workpiece is processing table 11
It is fixed on the upper side, and processing is performed by the processing machine. That is, after being fixed in this way, the laser irradiator 32 moves while irradiating a laser according to a predetermined program, and thereby the work W
1 is welded.

After the welding at the first processing station S1 is completed, the first mobile loader 13
After the pressing by the first pressing means is released, the work W1 which has been processed is held and transported from the first processing station S1 to the first unloading station S3. In the first unloading station S3, the works on which welding has been completed are sorted into finished products and defective products on the unloading pallet, and are sequentially dropped. This selection may be performed using optical inspection means or may be performed visually by an operator.

Then, the defective product unloading sections S31, S41
Alternatively, when the number of workpieces on the unloading pallets of the finished product unloading sections S32 and S42 reaches a predetermined number, the conveyor 4
1, 42, 43, and 44. This carrying out may be performed manually by an operator,
You may carry out one by one without stacking on a carry-out pallet.

When processing is being performed in the first processing station S1, processing is normally completed in the second processing station S2, and processing is not being performed.

Thus, the second movable loader 14 transports the work, which has been processed, while holding it at the second unloading station S4. At the same time, when transporting this work, the second processing station S2
Since the second movable loader 14 is not located, the work (for example, a work W2 that is a tailored blank material for welding plate materials having different thicknesses) is placed on the processing table 12 by the work loading robot 35, A series of operations such as positioning by the welding jig in the processing station S2 are performed. Specifically, the work loading section 35b of the work loading robot 35 moves on the base table 35a to the second processing station S2 side, and the work loading section 35b performs a turning operation, and the loading conveyor of the work W2. 37
A work is picked up from the ends of A and 37B, and the work is carried into the processing table 12.

This operation is performed by the second mobile loader 14.
Can be performed very smoothly because the upper part of the processing table 12 of the second processing station S2 is open at the second unloading station S4.

As described above, the first and second mobile loaders 13 and 14 are provided with the processing stations S1 and S1, respectively.
2 has a function of pressing the work using the first and second pressing means and a function of transporting the work from the processing stations S1 and S2 to the unloading stations S3 and S4.
2, since the machining is performed alternately, there is almost no play time of the machining machine 31, and the above-mentioned actual fairness 7-53825 is used.
The cycle time can be reduced as compared with the device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-209,878.

Although the embodiment of the automatic processing apparatus of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made as described below. (1) The number of the processing machines does not necessarily need to be one,
As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second portal-type movable frames 51 b and 52 b supporting the first and second laser irradiators 51 a and 52 a as the processing machine main body can be moved on the traveling rail 23. So that two common processing machines 51,
52 may be provided. In this case, two laser irradiators 51a and 52 are used in one processing station.
The laser welding may be performed at a, or the laser welding may be performed using only one laser irradiator. Further, the common processing machine may have a structure having a plurality of processing machine bodies in one portal movable frame. Further, the frame supporting the processing machine main body does not need to be a gate, and any shape may be used as long as the processing machine main body can be supported so as to be movable according to a predetermined program. (2) The first and second mobile loaders 13 and 14
Is not limited to a self-propelled type having a motor for movement itself, may be a thing which does not have a motor for movement itself, and can be moved by a ball screw means, a traction means or a conveyor means. it can. (3) The pressing means mounted on the first and second movable loaders 13 and 14 uses a push rod for operating the pressurizing tool, but is not limited thereto, and may be a hydraulic cylinder or the like. Of course, you can use
Any device that can hold the pressurized state by lowering the pressurizing tool can be used. Further, the work holding means is not limited to the vacuum cup, but may be a magnet-type one, as long as the work can be detachably held and transported. (4) Multiple processes can be performed, such as welding a large number of works with a plurality of welding lines. (5) The target work is not limited to a tailored blank material to which plate materials having different plate thicknesses are welded, and the processing machine is not limited to the one that performs laser welding, and cutting, bending, punching, and the like are performed. What performs various processing operations to be performed can be adopted. (6) The first and second mobile loaders 13 and 14 do not necessarily have to be stopped at the processing station, and may move together with the processing machine during processing.

[0041]

The present invention is embodied as described above, and has the following effects.

In the automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention, the processing is performed alternately at the first and second processing stations adjacent to each other, so that one of the movable loaders moves between the one processing station and the unloading station. When moving, the other mobile loader can hold down the workpiece at the other processing station and perform the processing by the processing machine, and while processing at one processing station, at the other processing station, Necessary work such as work positioning can be performed, which is advantageous in shortening the cycle time. Therefore, processing efficiency can be improved and cost can be reduced. Thus, even if the number of the processing machines is reduced by performing the processing of the adjacent first and second processing stations by the common processing machine, the production capacity does not decrease.

Since the work is carried into the first and second working stations by the common work carrying means, the work is carried in alternately in accordance with the work of the work. It is possible to carry out the work efficiently. In addition, the first and second
If the processing station is provided with a positioning means for positioning the work, the work can be positioned after the work is carried in and before the processing is started.

Furthermore, a second traveling rail on which the processing machine (portable movable frame) moves is provided outside the first traveling rail on which the first and second movable loaders move. , Even when the first and second mobile loaders are located at the first and second processing stations, the processing machine can move on the outside thereof along the second traveling rail. , Can be realized without interfering with the first and second mobile loaders.

In the first and second unloading stations, the work carried by the first and second holding means of the first and second movable loaders is placed on the unloading pallet. In this case, it is only necessary to release the holding of the first and second movable loaders by the holding means and to place the first and second movable loaders on the unloading pallet, eliminating the need for a special device for unloading. This is advantageous in simplifying the apparatus.

Further, if the first and second unloading stations have a defective product unloading unit for unloading defective products and a finished product unloading unit for unloading finished products, the first and second unloading stations can be configured as follows. When the second movable loader is moved, the first and second unloading stations change the portion on which the work is placed, so that a defective product and a finished product can be sorted out.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an automatic laser welding apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing another embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment using a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 S1 first processing station S2 second processing station S3 first unloading station S4 second unloading station 1 automatic laser welding apparatus 11 processing table 12 processing table 13 first mobile loader 14 second mobile loader 21 First traveling rail 22 Second traveling rail 23 Third traveling rail 31 Processing machine 32 Portal movable frame 32A Portal movable frame 32B Portal movable frame 33 Work loading robot

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first processing station and a second processing station are provided side by side so as to be adjacent to each other. In the first and second processing stations, a common processing machine alternately processes a positioned work. A first and a second unloading station for unloading a processed workpiece so as to be adjacent to the left and right sides of the first and the second processing stations, respectively. A first movable loader is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between a first processing station and a first unloading station, and a second movable loader is provided so as to be reciprocally movable between the second processing station and a second unloading station. The first and second movable loaders hold workpieces that have been processed by the first and second processing stations, respectively. First and second holding means for transporting the workpiece to the first and second unloading stations, and first and second holding means for holding a workpiece at the first and second processing stations are provided. Automatic processing equipment characterized by the following. 2. The first and second working stations are configured such that a work is carried in by a common work carrying means, and a positioning for positioning the work in the first and second working stations. 2. The automatic processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means. 3. The processing machine, wherein a main body of the processing machine is supported by a gate-shaped movable frame, wherein the processing machine main body is supported between the first processing station and the first unloading station and between the second processing station and the second processing station. A first traveling rail on which the first and second movable loaders reciprocate is provided between the first traveling rail and the unloading station, respectively, and the first traveling rail is provided between the first and second processing stations. The automatic processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second traveling rail on which a gate-shaped movable frame of the processing machine reciprocates is provided outside the rail. 4. The first and second unloading stations each have an unloading pallet, and the first and second unloading pallets are provided.
The automatic processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the work carried by the first and second holding units of the movable loader is configured to be placed on the unloading pallet. . 5. The first and second unloading stations each have a defective product unloading unit for unloading defective products and a finished product unloading unit for unloading finished products. Automatic processing equipment.