JP2001236108A - Work supplying device in machining system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of a jam of works at an upstream part and a downstream side by smoothly executing work distribution to machine tools under operation even when a part of machine tools become a stopped state. SOLUTION: Plural machine tools 1 to 4 to perform the same machining to a work W are arranged along a carry-in conveyer 5. Selective carry-in mechanisms 6A to 6D are provided at positions corresponding to each machine tool on a conveyer route. The selective carry-in mechanisms 6A to 6D can selectively perform carry-in to the machine tools and passage to the downstream side. Control means 20A to 20D are provided with operation judging means 21 to judge whether or not the machine tools 1 to 4 are under operation. In addition, a forwarding means 22 in the case of stop to perform passage to the downstream side without performing the carry-in to the machine tools 1 to 4 when the corresponding machine tools 1 to 4 are not under operation is provided. In addition, a number of transmission setting means 23 the corresponding to the number of machine tools under operation and a forwarding means 24 in the case of stand-by for carry-in are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a work supply device in a processing system for supplying a work to a plurality of machine tools provided along a carry-in conveyor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a processing system in which a plurality of machine tools are arranged side by side to perform the same processing, there is a processing system in which respective machine tools 51 to 54 are arranged along a carry-in conveyor 55 as shown in FIG. Each machine tool 51-5 on the conveyor path
At the corresponding positions of Nos. 4, there are provided selective loading mechanisms 56A to 56D that can selectively perform an operation of loading the workpiece W into the machine tools 51 to 54 and an operation of passing the workpiece W downstream. What is important in such a linear transport line is how to distribute the work W. In the linear transport line, when the machine tools 51 to 54 wait for a work, the operation rate decreases, so that it is necessary to aim for even distribution.

Consider a case where four machine tools 51 to 54 are arranged as shown in FIG. As a normally conceivable pattern, the material work W carried into the carry-in conveyor 55
Is processed as follows. In the section A, one piece is put into the machine tool 51 and three pieces are supplied to the sections B, C and D. At the part B, one piece is put into the machine tool 52 and two pieces are flown to the C and D parts. In the part C, one piece is put into the machine tool 53 and one piece flows into the part D side. One work 1D that has flowed in the D section is carried into the machine tool 54. In this cycle, the work W enters each machine tool one by one in a normal state.

[0004]

The above cycle is a normally conceivable pattern.
1 to 54 may be affected. For example, there is a case where a failure or a delay in operation due to a post-process occurs. In such a case, the carry-in cycle becomes disordered, and smooth carry-in cannot be performed. That is, the work W becomes full in the vicinity of some of the machine tools 51 to 54 on the carry-in path, or the supply of the work to some of the machine tools 52 to 54 is delayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to smoothly distribute a work to a running machine tool even when some machine tools are stopped, and to prevent work from being clogged in an upstream portion. It is. Another object of the present invention is to prevent the work from being clogged on the downstream side when some machine tools are stopped. Still another object of the present invention is to prevent a delay in the entire system when a workpiece cannot be loaded due to unloading or the like even when some machine tools are in operation.

[0006]

A work supply device in a processing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 corresponding to an embodiment. The work supply device in this processing system includes a carry-in conveyor (5) for carrying the work (W) in a line, a plurality of machine tools (1 to 4) provided along the carry-in conveyor (5), and Conveyor (5)
A plurality of selective loadings that are provided at the corresponding positions of the machine tools (1 to 4) on the path and can selectively perform an operation of loading the workpiece (W) into the machine tools (1 to 4) and an operation of passing the workpiece (W) downstream. Mechanism (6A-6D) and each machine tool (1-
Operation determination means (21) for determining whether or not 4) is in operation
And when the corresponding machine tool (1 to 4) is not in operation, the machine tool (1 to 4) is added to the selective loading mechanism (6A to 6D).
And a determination result correspondence control means (25) for causing the vehicle to pass downstream without carrying in the vehicle. According to this configuration, the operation determining means (21) determines whether or not each of the machine tools (1 to 4) is operating, for example, when performing the loading operation of each of the selective loading mechanisms (6A to 6D). The determination result corresponding control means (25) controls the selective loading mechanism (6A to 6D) as follows according to the determination result of the operation determination means (21). When the corresponding machine tool (1 to 4) is in operation, the work (W) is loaded into the machine tool (1 to 4),
The subsequent work (W) is passed downstream. If the corresponding machine tool (1-4) is not in operation, the machine tool (1
4) Passing to the downstream side without carrying in.
As described above, when there is a machine tool (1 to 4) in a stopped state, the workpiece is conveyed to the downstream side without waiting for the operation return of the machine tool (1 to 4), so that the downstream Normal processing can be performed on the machine tools (2 to 4). As a result, the entire system does not enter a standby state when some of the machine tools (1 to 4) are stopped, and the running machine tools (1 to 4)
Work distribution can be performed smoothly.

In the present invention, the determination result correspondence control means (25) is provided in the selective carrying mechanism (6A to 6D).
One having a number-of-operating-number-corresponding feed number setting means (23) for passing a number of works (W) corresponding to the sum of operating machine tools (1 to 4) downstream of corresponding machine tools (1 to 4). It is good. In this way, when the number of workpieces (W) corresponding to the sum of the operating machine tools (1 to 4) on the downstream side is passed, when some of the machine tools (1 to 4) are stopped, the downstream The clogging of the work (W) on the side is prevented. In other words, if a fixed number of workpieces are allowed to flow, some of the machine tools (1 to 4) are at a standstill, and the workpieces (W ), Clogging of the work (W) occurs on the downstream side. Such a problem is solved by the above control.

In the present invention, the machine tools (1 to 1)
Means (17A-17) for generating a signal of permission to carry in to 4)
D) is provided, and when a carry-in command is issued and a predetermined waiting time has elapsed and the carry-in permission state has not been established, the selective carry-in mechanism (6A to 6D) is connected to the machine tool (1 to 4). There may be provided a carry-in wait-time advance means (24) for performing passage to the downstream side without carrying in. Machine tools (1-4)
Even if processing is delayed or processing is completed, the work
For example, when the workpiece is in the full work state in 3), it may not be possible to carry in the work at predetermined time intervals. In such a case, the carry-in waiting advance mechanism (24) does not wait until the work can be carried in.
The selection carrying-in mechanism (6A to 6D) does not carry in to the machine tool (1 to 4), but passes to the downstream side. Thus, the state in which the work cannot be carried in some of the machine tools (1 to 4) does not affect the entire system, and normal machining can be performed on the remaining machine tools (1 to 4).

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The work supply device in this processing system arranges a plurality of machine tools 1 to 4 that perform the same processing on the work W along the carry-in conveyor 5, and selects the select carry-in mechanisms 6A to 6D at positions corresponding to the machine tools on the conveyor path. In the provided processing system, the next carry-in / feed control means 7 is provided. Each of the machine tools 1 to 4 is, for example, a lathe. A common unloading conveyor 13 is provided for each of the machine tools 1 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a mechanical part. The carry-in conveyor 5 is, for example, a belt conveyor. The selective loading mechanisms 6A to 6D are mechanisms that can selectively perform an operation of loading the work W on the loading conveyor 5 into the corresponding machine tools 1 to 4 and an operation of passing the workpiece W downstream. Selective loading mechanism 6
The loading of the work W from A to 6D to the machine tools 1 to 4 may be performed via the individual loading path 12 or may be performed directly. Each of the selective carrying-in mechanisms 6A to 6D specifically includes, for example, a pusher 8 for pushing out the work W on the carrying-in conveyor 5 in a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction (that is, the machine tools 1 to 4), and a pusher 8 of the pusher 8. And a stopper mechanism 9 provided slightly upstream of the operating position.
The pusher 8 is composed of a plate-shaped pressing member arranged vertically and an actuator such as a cylinder device for moving the member forward and backward. The stopper mechanism 9 includes a first stopper 9a that stops the foremost work W, and a second stopper 9b that enters between the foremost work W and the next work W. By opening the first stopper 9a while the next work W is stopped by the second stopper 9b, only the foremost work W can flow to the position where the pusher 8 acts. When flowing the work W to the downstream side, the first stopper 9
After the opening operation, the pusher 8 is passed without operating.

Each of the selective loading mechanisms 6A-6 of the loading conveyor 5
On the upstream side of the installation position of D, the full work detecting means 16A
To 16D. Full work detection means 16A
Specifically, reference numerals 16D to 16D denote sensors which are arranged further upstream of the second stopper 9b and detect that a predetermined number of works W stopped by the second stopper 9b are accumulated. When not detected by the full work detecting means 16A to 16D, continuous work supply is continued.

The unloading conveyor 13 is installed along the line of the plurality of machine tools 1 to 4, and unloads the workpiece W processed by each of the machine tools 1 to 4. The unloading from the machine tools 1 to 4 to the unloading conveyor 13 may be performed via individual unloading paths 14. Further, the unloading conveyor 13 may be omitted, and for example, processed workpieces may be stored in a product box (not shown) or the like for each of the machine tools 1 to 4.

Each of the machine tools 1-4 has an in-operation signal generating means 15A-1 which generates a signal indicating whether or not the machine is in operation.
5D is provided. Running signal generating means 15A-1
5D may be provided on a control panel or an operation panel attached to each of the machine tools 1 to 4, or may be provided at a remote location with respect to the machine tools 1 to 4. The above "operating" means that the power is turned on to the machine tools 1 to 4 and the machine tools 1 are in a working or standby state. Each of the machine tools 1 to 4 has a carry-in permission signal generating unit 17A to generate a permission signal for carrying in a work to the machine tool 1 to 4.
7D is provided correspondingly. As the carry-in permission signal generating means 17A to 7D, for example, a carry-out permission signal generating means provided for the machine tools 1 to 4 on the carry-out conveyor 13 is used. The unloading permission signal generating means includes a full work detecting means of each section provided on the path of the unloading conveyor 13. The carry-in permission signal generating means 17A to 7D may be a means for generating a processing completion signal provided in each of the machine tools 1 to 4, and a signal of a logical product of the processing completion signal and the carry-out permission signal. May be generated.

The control system will be described with reference to FIG. The carry-in / feed control means 7 is a means for controlling a group of the selective carry-in mechanisms 6A to 6D, and is provided with a plurality of carry-in mechanism control means 20A to 20D for controlling the individual selective carry-in mechanisms 6A to 6D, respectively. Each of the loading mechanism control means 20A to 20D has the same configuration as each other. These loading mechanism control means 2
0A to 20D, as shown for one loading mechanism control means 20A, include an operation determining means 21, a stop-time advancement means 22, an operating number correspondence control means 23, and a carry-in waiting advancement means 24. The stop-time advance means 22 and the number-of-operated-operations control means 23 constitute a judgment result correspondence control means 25. Loading mechanism control means 20A-20
The processing performed by D is the processing shown in FIG. 3 if a specific example is given.

The operation judging means 21 outputs the in-operation signal generating means 15A to 15D of each of the machine tools 1 to 4 from each of the machine tools 1 to 4.
4 are means for determining whether or not the vehicle is in operation. The driving determination unit 21 is a unit that performs the processing of steps S1 and S3 when described in the example of FIG. When the machine tools 1 to 4 corresponding to the selective carrying-in mechanisms 6A to 6D are not operating, that is, when the machine tools 1 to 4 corresponding to the selective carrying-in mechanisms 6A to 6D are stopped, the advance-forwarding means 22 is not loaded into the machine tools 1 to 4 and the downstream side. It is a means for passing through to. In the example of FIG. 3, the stop-time advance unit 22 is a unit that performs the determination process of step 3 and the process of step S8. The number-of-operated-feeding-number setting means 23 is means for passing the selected number of works W corresponding to the sum of the operating machine tools 1 to 4 downstream of the corresponding machine tools 1 to 4 through the selective loading mechanisms 6A to 6D. It is. The number-of-operated-feeding number setting means 23 is means for performing the process of step S2 in the example of FIG.

When the carry-in waiting advance mechanism 24 receives the carry-in command and does not enter the carry-in permission state after a predetermined waiting time, the selective carrying-in mechanisms 6A to 6D and the machine tools 1-4. This is a means for passing through to the downstream side without carrying in. When the carry-in waiting advance mechanism 24 allows the passage to the downstream side without carrying in, the number of passages is reduced by one. The carry-in instruction is a timer (not shown)
For example, it is generated at a predetermined time interval or provided from a higher-level control unit (not shown) for the loading mechanism control units 20A to 20D. In the example of FIG. 3, the carry-in waiting advance mechanism 24 is a means for performing the processing of steps S4 to S8.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Machine tools 1
4 are assumed to be four as in the example of FIGS. During the operation of each of the selective loading mechanisms 6A to 6D, each of the machine tools 1A to 15D (FIGS.
To 4 are in operation (step S in FIG. 3).
1) The loading operation (S9) is performed only when the corresponding selective loading mechanisms 6A to 6D are operating. Step S2 will be described later. When everything is normal,
As shown in FIG. That is, the selective loading mechanism 6A at the most upstream position loads one workpiece W into the machine tool 1,
Flow three downstream. In the next selective loading mechanism 6B, one piece is loaded into the machine tool 2 and two pieces are flowed downstream. Selective loading mechanism 6C
Are carried into the machine tool 3 and flow one downstream. In the selective loading mechanism 6D, one piece is loaded into the machine tool 4.

The advance cycle will be described. Here, the first
Even if the machine tool 1 is in operation, if the workpiece W cannot be unloaded by the unloading section or the like and is not put into the loading cycle, the loading conveyor 5 is selected if only the pattern shown in FIG. Since it cannot be carried into the machine tool 1 from the carry-in mechanism 6A, three pieces cannot be sent to the downstream side. Therefore, it will be in a waiting state. If this state is left as it is, a waiting state due to poor feeding of the workpiece W occurs in each of the downstream machine tools 2 to 4. Therefore, in this embodiment, the processing of S4 to S6 is performed. That is, the loading permission signal generating means 17A
It is determined whether or not it is possible to carry in the machine tool 1 (S4). If not, the time is counted (S5) and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed (S5).
6). When a predetermined time elapses in a state where loading is not possible, the selective loading mechanism 6A moves downstream by one (3
In the case of two). That is, the set value of the number of pieces to be sent to the downstream side is reduced by one (S7), and the reduced number is sent to the downstream side (S8). In this way, by sending the work W first, it is possible to avoid a state of waiting for the work on the downstream side. Further, if the feeding is excessive, a large amount of the work W accumulates on the downstream side, but such work clogging can be avoided by reducing the number of feeds (S7).

When the machine tool 1 is ready to be carried in by the elapse of a predetermined time, the work is carried into the machine tool 1 and then a predetermined number of works W are flowed downstream (S4, S4).
9, S8). Also, when the machine tool 1 is returned to the downstream side without being loaded into the machine tool 1, when the machine tool 1 returns, the machine is restarted (by starting the next cycle from step S <b> 1 in FIG. 3), and normal loading is performed. The operation is performed.

The change of the number of feeds when the machine stops will be described. In a cycle of sending N pieces and loading one piece in a normal pattern, if all of the machine tools 1 to 4 are operating normally, the work supply processing up to the above can be smoothly performed without any problem. If any one of the machine tools 1 to 4 stops, there is a possibility that a lot of work W accumulates in that part. Therefore, it is determined whether or not each of the machine tools 1 to 4 is in operation (S1), and the number of feeds to the downstream side is adjusted (S1).
2). That is, the in-operation signal is monitored, and the workpieces W for the operating machines are sequentially sent.
That is, for each of the selective loading mechanisms 6A to 6D, the number of machine tools 1 to 4 that are operating downstream of the corresponding machine tools 1 to 4 is set as the number of workpieces to be fed (S
2) Then, the data is sent downstream by the set number (S8). Thus, even if there are the stopped machine tools 1 to 4, even distribution can be performed. Note that the number of workpieces set according to the number of units in operation as described above is
It is further reduced by one (S7).

[0021]

The work supply device in the processing system of the present invention includes a carry-in conveyor for conveying works in a line,
A plurality of machine tools provided along the carry-in conveyor, and an operation of carrying a work into the machine tool and an operation of passing the work to the downstream side provided at a corresponding position of each machine tool in the path of the carry-in conveyor are selected. A plurality of selectable loading mechanisms that can be performed, operation determination means for determining whether each machine tool is operating or not, and downstream of the selective loading mechanism without loading the machine tool into the selective loading mechanism when the corresponding machine tool is not operating. Control means for making a pass to the side, even if some machine tools are stopped, the work can be smoothly distributed to the running machine tools, and Work clogging is prevented. The determination result correspondence control means has the operation number corresponding feed number setting means for passing the number of works corresponding to the sum of the operating machine tools downstream of the corresponding machine tool in the selective loading mechanism. In this case, when some of the machine tools are stopped, clogging of the work on the downstream side is prevented. A means for generating a signal of permission to carry in to the machine tool is provided, and when a carry-in command is issued and a predetermined waiting time elapses and the carry-in permission state is not reached, the selected carry-in mechanism is provided to the machine tool. If a carry-in waiting advance mechanism is provided to allow the machine to pass downstream without carrying in, the system will not be able to carry in workpieces due to reasons such as unloading even if some machine tools are in operation. The occurrence of an overall delay is prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a work supply device in a processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a mechanical part of the work supply device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of a control system in the work supply device.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a normal operation state of the work supply device.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view showing a state where a part of the machine tool of the work supply device is stopped.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4 machine tool 5 carry-in conveyor 6A-6D selective carry-in mechanism 7 carry-in / feed control means 8 pusher 9 stopper mechanism 13 carry-out conveyor 15A-15D ... running signal generating means 17A-17D ... carry-in permission Signal generation means 20A to 20D: loading mechanism control means 21: operation determination means 22: stop-time advancement means 23: number-of-operations-feeding-number setting means 24: loading standby-time advancement means 25: determination result-related control means W: work

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A carry-in conveyor for carrying works in a line, a plurality of machine tools provided along the carry-in conveyor, and a machine tool provided at a corresponding position of each machine tool in a path of the carry-in conveyor to carry the work. A plurality of selective loading mechanisms that can select and select an operation to carry in and a process to pass to the downstream side, operation determining means for determining whether each machine tool is in operation, and when the corresponding machine tool is not in operation. A work supply device in a processing system, comprising: a determination result correspondence control unit that causes the selective carry-in mechanism to pass downstream without performing carry-in to a machine tool. 2. The number-of-operations-dependent feed number setting means for passing the number of works corresponding to the sum of the number of operating machine tools downstream of the corresponding machine tool through the selected carry-in mechanism. The workpiece supply device in the processing system according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece supply device includes: 3. A means for generating a signal for permitting carry-in to the machine tool, wherein when a carry-in command is issued and a carry-in permission state is not reached after a predetermined waiting time, the selective carry-in mechanism is provided. 2. A feed-in waiting-time advance means for performing a passage to a downstream side without carrying in to a machine tool.
A work supply device in the processing system according to claim 2.