JP2002302239A - Work handling device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a work handling device and a work handling device connecting method which can connect a working device and a conveyance device with ease. SOLUTION: This device is provided with the conveyance device 12 which conveys a work W along a specified conveyance path T, and the working device 40 which applies a desired process to the work conveyed by the conveyance device 12, and a buffer device 30 which delivers the work is arranged between the conveyance path of the conveyance device 12 and the working device so that the position of the buffer device 30 can be adjusted. When the work W is delivered to the buffer device 30 from the conveyance device 12, the buffer device 30 is positioned at a specified position, and when the work W is delivered to the working device, the buffer device is positioned at a specified position by a positioning device in relation to the working device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a work processing apparatus for performing a desired process on a work, and a method of connecting the work processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a work processing apparatus includes a transfer device for transferring a work, and a processing device for receiving a work transferred by the transfer device and performing a desired process. The transfer device is configured using, for example, a plurality of conveyors, and the processing device is disposed at a predetermined position with respect to the transfer device.

In such a work processing apparatus, it is necessary to periodically maintain the processing apparatus. When performing maintenance, the processing apparatus is separated from the transfer apparatus, maintenance work is performed, and the processing apparatus is connected to the transfer apparatus again. Then, at the time of reconnection, the processing apparatus is positioned with respect to the transfer apparatus and fixed according to the accuracy required for the transfer path of the work.

[0004]

However, in the above-described reconnection, when high positioning accuracy is required, much time is required for positioning the processing apparatus, and the operator has a high level of skill and Requires skill.

[0005] In order to ensure high positioning accuracy repeatedly, a method of installing a guide rail or the like for guiding the movement of the processing apparatus is conceivable, but in this case, problems such as an increase in installation cost and an occupied area arise.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a work processing apparatus and a work processing method capable of easily connecting a processing apparatus and a transfer apparatus. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a work processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a transfer device for transferring a work along a predetermined transfer path, and a work transferred by the transfer device. A processing device that performs desired processing, and a buffer device that is provided so as to be position-adjustable between a transfer path of the transfer device and the processing device, and that transfers the work between the transfer device and the processing device, And a positioning mechanism for selectively positioning the buffer device with respect to the transfer device and the processing device.

According to the work processing apparatus of the present invention,
The positioning mechanism includes: a positioning unit provided in the transport device; an urging unit that abuts the buffer device on the positioning unit to position the buffer device at a first position corresponding to the transport device; The second corresponding to the processing equipment
And a displacement mechanism for displacing to a position for positioning.

Further, a work processing method according to the present invention comprises:
A buffer device is positioned at a first position corresponding to a predetermined position on the transport path, and after transporting a work including a magnetic disk to the predetermined position along the transport path, stopping, and stopping the buffer from a predetermined position on the transport path. After transferring the work to the device and positioning the buffer device that has received the work at the second position corresponding to the processing device, the work is transferred from the buffer device to the processing device, and the work device transfers the work to the magnetic disk of the work. The processing of
Transferring the processed workpiece from the processing device to the buffer device positioned at the first position;
After positioning the buffer device that has received the work at the first position, the work is transferred from the buffer device to the transfer path and transferred along the transfer path.

[0010] According to the work processing apparatus and the work processing method configured as described above, the buffer device for transferring the work is provided between the transfer path of the transfer device and the processing device, and the buffer device is provided with a positioning mechanism. Thereby, the positioning can be selectively performed with respect to the transfer device and the processing device. That is, the buffer device is positioned with respect to the transport path when transferring the work W to and from the transport path,
When the workpiece W is transferred to and from the processing device, the workpiece W is positioned with respect to the processing device.

Therefore, there is no need to perform high-accuracy positioning of the processing device and the transfer device, and the positioning accuracy between the processing device and the transfer device is greater than when the processing device is directly connected to the transfer device. It is possible to have an allowable range. Therefore, when the processing apparatus is once separated from the transport apparatus, maintenance is performed, and then the processing apparatus is connected to the transport apparatus again, the connection operation can be performed easily and in a short time.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A work processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a work processing apparatus includes a supply device 1 for supplying a work W.
0, a transport device 12 that transports the supplied work W along a predetermined transport route, for example, a linear transport route T, and three processing devices 4 that perform desired processing on the respective workpieces
0, a buffer device 30 provided between the transfer device and the processing device for transferring the work between these devices, and a collection device 14 for collecting the work having been subjected to a desired process
And is installed on the floor.

The supply device 10 and the recovery device 14 are provided at both ends of the transfer device 12 and extend substantially perpendicular to the transfer path T. The three processing devices 40 are provided along the transport path T between the supply device 10 and the recovery device 14.

The work processing apparatus performs a desired process on the disk unit as the work W. As shown in FIG. 3, the disk unit includes, for example, about 20 magnetic disks 18 and these magnetic disks are connected to the hub 1.
7 and are stacked and arranged with a predetermined gap. The disk unit is held on a pallet 16.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
2 includes a plurality of transport conveyors 22 arranged side by side along the transport path T. These conveyors 22
Of these, the transport conveyor provided opposite to each buffer device 30 is configured as a movable conveyor 22a, and the transport position of FIG. 2 located along the transport path T and the transfer position of FIG. Are provided so as to be rotatable. The transport conveyor 22 is provided on a support frame 31 arranged along the transport path T. Each movable conveyor 22a is supported by a rotating mechanism (not shown). At a predetermined position of the support frame 31 corresponding to each buffer device 30, a stopper 32 functioning as a positioning portion is provided in a protruding manner.

Each buffer device 30 includes a support table 24 installed on the floor and a relay conveyor 3 mounted on the support table.
4 is provided. The support base 24 and the relay conveyor 34 are formed in dimensions according to the size of the work W. The support 24 is guided by a guide mechanism 26 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction along the transport path T. In addition, the relay conveyor 34 is disposed such that the transport direction is substantially orthogonal to the transport path T of the transport device 12.

The support table 24 is urged in the horizontal direction by an urging member 28 such as a tension spring provided between the support table 24 and the floor, and is pressed against a stopper 32 on the transfer device 12 side. Thereby, each buffer device 30 is usually positioned at the illustrated first position which is compatible with the transport device 12. Further, a cam follower 36 formed of a cylindrical pin is fixed to an end of the support table 24 on the processing device side and extends substantially vertically.

On the other hand, each processing device 40 is configured as a servo writer that writes servo data to each magnetic disk 18 of the work W. And each processing device 40
Is installed such that its central axis C2 is substantially parallel to the central axis C1 of the relay conveyor 34 provided in the corresponding buffer device 30.

Each processing device 40 has an end face 40a facing the buffer device 30, and an unillustrated access port for taking in and out the work W is provided on this end face. Further, each processing apparatus 40 is provided with a cam 42 functioning as a displacement mechanism and, for example, an air cylinder 44 as a drive unit for moving this cam forward and backward with respect to the cam follower 36 of the buffer device 30.

The cam surface 46 of the cam 42 has a flat surface 46a extending in parallel with the central axis C2, and a central axis C
And an inclined surface 46b extending in a direction away from the inclined surface 46b. The cam 42 is arranged such that the cam surface 46 contacts the surface of the cam follower 36 on the biasing member 28 side.

Further, as shown in FIG.
0 and the biasing member 2 of the cam follower 36
Distance A to the surface on the 8th side and the center axis C2 of the processing device 40
And the distance B between the cam and the flat surface 46a of the cam 42 are set to be equal.

The cam follower 36, the cam 42, and the air cylinder 44 function as a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism, together with the stopper 32 and the urging member 28, constitutes a positioning mechanism.

According to the work processing apparatus configured as described above, the work W is sequentially supplied from the supply device 10 to the transfer conveyor 22 of the transfer device 12 while being placed on the pallet, as shown in FIG. You. The supplied workpiece W is transported by the transport conveyor 22 along the transport path T, and delivered to the vacant processing device 40 via any one of the buffer devices 30.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the movable conveyor 22a is rotated to a transfer position along the transfer path T, and the corresponding buffer device 30 is
And is positioned at the first position. When the workpiece W is transported to a predetermined position on the movable conveyor 22a, the transport is temporarily stopped at that point, and then the movable conveyor 22a is rotated together with the workpiece W to a delivery position as shown in FIG. At the delivery position, the movable conveyor 22a
Its central axis is aligned with the central axis C1 of the relay conveyor.

In this state, by driving the movable conveyor 22a and the relay conveyor 34, the work W is transferred from the movable conveyor onto the relay conveyor. And
When the work W is transported to a predetermined position on the relay conveyor 34, the driving of the conveyor is temporarily stopped. Subsequently, the buffer device 30 that has received the work W is positioned with respect to the processing device 40.

In this case, the cam 42 is moved from the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 to the contact position shown in FIG. 5 by the air cylinder 44 on the processing device 40 side. At this time, the cam 42 displaces the buffer device 30 from the first position to the second position when the inclined surface 46b and the flat surface 46a of the cam surface 46 come into contact with the cam follower 36 of the buffer device 30 in order.

In the second position, the relay conveyor 34 provided in the buffer device 30 has its central axis C1 aligned with the central axis C2 of the processing device 40, and is positioned at a predetermined position corresponding to the processing device. The buffer device 30 is pulled by the urging member 28, and the cam follower 36 is pressed against the flat portion 46a of the cam 42. Thereby, the buffer device 30 is held at the second position positioned with respect to the processing device 40.

Subsequently, the work W is sent from the buffer device into the processing device 40 by driving the relay conveyor 34 of the buffer device 30 in this state. Processing equipment 40
Inside, a plurality of magnetic disks 18 constituting the work W
, Desired servo data is written.

After the processing of the work W by the processing device 40 is completed, the relay conveyor 34 of the buffer device 30 is driven, and at the same time, the work W is sent from the processing device 40 onto the relay conveyor. When receiving the work W from the processing device 40, the buffer device 30 is positioned at the second position as described above. In this case, the buffer device 30
While processing the workpiece W by the processing device 40,
It may be held at the second position, or may be once again returned to the first position and then displaced again to the second position.

Then, after the work W taken out of the processing device 40 moves to a predetermined position on the relay conveyor 34, the relay conveyor is temporarily stopped. Then, the air cylinder 4
4, the cam 42 is pulled back from the contact position to the retracted position, and is separated from the cam follower 36 of the buffer device 30. As a result, the buffer device 30 moves from the second position to the first position.
It is displaced to a position and positioned with respect to the transport device 12.
In this state, the relay conveyor 34 and the movable conveyor 22a of the transfer device 12 are driven, and the work W is transferred from the buffer device 30 onto the movable conveyor 22a.

Thereafter, when the movable conveyor 22a is rotated and returned to the transport position, the movable conveyor 22a and the other conveyor 22 are driven, and the work W is sent to the collection device 14 through the transport path T. Work W
Is completed. While one work apparatus 40 is processing the work W, the other work W is sent to another available work apparatus 40 and processed by the same process as described above.

According to the work processing apparatus configured as described above, the buffer device 30 for transferring the work W is provided between the transfer device 12 and each processing device 40, and the buffer device 30 is provided with a positioning mechanism. Thereby, the positioning can be selectively performed with respect to the transfer device and the processing device.
That is, the buffer device 30 is positioned with respect to the transfer device when transferring the work W to and from the transfer device 12, and is positioned with respect to the processing device when transferring the work W between the transfer device 12 and the processing device 40. You.

Therefore, there is no need to perform high-accuracy positioning of the processing apparatus and the transfer apparatus, and the positioning accuracy between the processing apparatus and the transfer apparatus is larger than when the processing apparatus is directly connected to the transfer apparatus. It is possible to have an allowable range.

Each buffer device 30 has a minimum required size for the workpiece W to be conveyed.
The effect on the occupied area of the entire work processing apparatus can be reduced, and the positioning accuracy with respect to the transfer device 12 and the processing device can be easily followed. Therefore, the buffer device 30 can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the transport device 12 and the processing device.

From the above, for example, when the processing apparatus 40 is once separated from the transport apparatus 12 and maintenance is performed, and then the processing apparatus 40 is connected to the transport apparatus 12 again, the connection operation can be performed easily and in a short time. Becomes That is,
As described above, the allowable positioning range of the processing device 40 with respect to the transport device 12 can be set to, for example, about ± 5 mm. Even in this case, the positioning accuracy of the buffer device 30 with respect to the transport device and the processing device is ± 0. 5
mm.

Although it depends on the size of the processing device 40, for example, when positioning a processing device having a weight of 200 kg with an accuracy of ± 5 mm, the operation is completed in about 15 minutes including the fixing operation. In the case of positioning with an accuracy of 0.5 mm, an operation time of about 1 hour and 30 minutes, which is about 6 times, is required. Therefore, according to the work processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, it is possible to reconnect the processing apparatus in about 1/6 the working time as compared with the related art.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the buffer device 30 may be provided so that the position can be adjusted in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the buffer device 30 includes a base 60 installed on the floor, and the support 24 is 6
On the transport path T, the guide member 26 is movably guided in the horizontal and vertical directions along the transport path T. Further, the support table 24 is urged obliquely upward by an urging member 28 made of a tension spring, abuts on a stopper (not shown) provided on the transport device 12, and is held at the first position.

The displacement mechanism includes first and second columnar cam followers 36a, 36a attached to the support 24.
b, and these cam followers extend vertically and horizontally. Further, a cam 42 on the processing device 40 side, which constitutes a positioning mechanism, contacts a first cam follower 36a to displace the support 24 and the relay conveyor 34 of the buffer device 30 in the horizontal direction, and a second cam surface 50a.
A second cam surface 50b that abuts on the cam follower 36b and vertically displaces the support base 24 and the relay conveyor 34.
And

As shown in FIG. 7, the third embodiment of the present invention
According to the embodiment, the buffer device 30 includes the base 60 installed on the floor, and the support base 24 is mounted on the base 60 by the guide mechanism 26 in the horizontal direction along the transport path T. And is movably guided in the vertical direction. Further, the support table 24 is urged obliquely upward by an urging member 28 made of a tension spring, abuts on a stopper (not shown) provided on the transport device 12, and is held at the first position.

In the third embodiment, the displacement mechanism has a cylindrical cam follower 36 attached to the support 24, and the inner hole of the cam follower, that is, the circular positioning hole 37 is provided to the processing apparatus. It extends almost horizontally toward it. Cam 42 on the processing device 40 side constituting the displacement mechanism
Has a tapered cam surface 46 which is inserted into the positioning hole 37 of the cam follower 36 and displaces the support 24 and the relay conveyor 34 of the buffer device 30 in the horizontal and vertical directions.

The other configurations of the second and third embodiments are the same as those of the above-described first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. According to the second and third embodiments configured as described above, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the buffer device 30 can be moved in the horizontal and vertical directions. By making the adjustment possible, the positioning accuracy of the buffer device with respect to the transport device and the processing device can be further improved.

In addition, in the present invention, the work to be processed is not limited to the magnetic disk unit described above.
It can be applied to various other works. For example, a magnetic disk previously loaded in the case of the HDD may be used as the work. The processing device is not limited to a servo writer, and various other devices requiring maintenance or the like can be applied.

In the above-described embodiment, the cam follower is provided in the buffer device, and the cam and the cam drive unit are provided in the processing device. Conversely, the cam follower is provided in the processing device, and the cam and cam drive unit are provided in the buffer device. May be provided.

The urging member for urging the buffer device to the first position is not limited to a spring, and various members having an urging force can be selected. Further, the shapes of the cam follower and the cam can be appropriately changed as needed.

[0046]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
A work processing apparatus capable of easily connecting a processing apparatus and a transfer apparatus, and a method for connecting processing apparatuses can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing an entire work processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement state of a transfer device, a buffer device, and a processing device of the work processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a work to be processed by the work processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a buffer device is positioned with respect to the transport device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which a buffer device is positioned with respect to the processing device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a buffer device of a work processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a buffer device of a work processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Supply device 12 ... Conveying device 14 ... Recovery device 18 ... Magnetic disk 22 ... Conveying conveyor 22a ... Movable conveyor 26 ... Guide mechanism 28 ... Biasing member 30 ... Buffer device 32 ... Stopper 34 ... Relay conveyor 36, 36a, 36b ... Cam follower 37 ... Positioning hole 42 ... Cam 46 ... Cam surface T ... Transport path W ... Work

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Atsuyuki Yamamoto 1-3-3 Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Digital Media Engineering Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Minoru Takeda 1-3-3 Shinmachi, Ome-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Digital Media Engineering Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Tsuneyuki Ishihara 2-9-9 Suehirocho, Ome-shi, Tokyo F-term in Toshiba Ome Plant 3F044 AA08 AB08 5D091 AA10 FF20 HH20

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A transfer device for transferring a work along a predetermined transfer path, a processing device for performing a desired process on a work transferred by the transfer device, a transfer path of the transfer device, and the processing device A buffer device that is provided so as to be position adjustable between the transfer device and the processing device, and that transfers the work between the transfer device and the processing device; and a positioning device that selectively positions the buffer device with respect to the transfer device and the processing device. A workpiece processing device comprising: a mechanism; 2. A transfer device for transferring a work including a magnetic disk along a predetermined transfer path; a processing device for writing desired information to a magnetic disk of the work transferred by the transfer device; A buffer device that is provided so as to be capable of adjusting a position between a transfer path of a transfer device and the processing device, and that transfers the work between the transfer device and the processing device; A work processing apparatus, comprising: a positioning mechanism for selectively positioning the apparatus with respect to the apparatus. 3. The positioning mechanism includes: a positioning portion provided on the transfer device; and urging means for bringing the buffer device into contact with the positioning portion to position the buffer device at a first position corresponding to the transfer device. The workpiece processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a displacement mechanism configured to displace the buffer device to a second position corresponding to the processing device and position the buffer device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacement mechanism is movable between a cam follower provided in one of the buffer device and the processing device, and a position abutting on the cam follower and a position separating from the cam follower. The work processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a cam provided on the other apparatus. 5. The transfer device includes a plurality of transfer conveyors arranged along the transfer path, wherein the transfer conveyor is provided to face the buffer device and is located along the transfer path. And a movable conveyor that can move between a transfer position to be aligned with the buffer device, and the buffer device includes a relay conveyor that transports the work between the movable conveyor and the processing device. The work processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 6. The workpiece processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the buffer device includes a guide mechanism that guides the relay conveyor so as to be movable in a horizontal direction along a transport path of the transport mechanism. apparatus. 7. The work processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the buffer device includes a guide mechanism that guides the relay conveyor movably in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. 8. The buffer device is provided so as to be position-adjustable in horizontal and vertical directions, and the displacement mechanism is provided with first and second cam followers provided in one of the buffer device and the processing device. A cam provided on the other device so as to be movable between a position in contact with the first and second cam followers and a position separated from the first and second cam followers. A first cam surface that abuts on the first cam follower and displaces the buffer device in the horizontal direction; and a second cam surface that abuts on the second cam follower and displaces the buffer device in the vertical direction. The work processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: 9. The buffer device is provided so as to be position-adjustable in horizontal and vertical directions, and the displacement mechanism is provided in one of the buffer device and the processing device and extends toward the other device. A cam follower having a circular positioning hole, and a cam provided on the other device movably between a position engaging with the positioning hole of the cam follower and a position separating from the cam follower. 4. The work processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the cam has a tapered cam surface which engages with a positioning hole of the cam follower to displace the buffer device in a horizontal and vertical direction. 10. A buffer device is positioned at a first position corresponding to a predetermined position on the transport path, and after transporting a work including a magnetic disk to the predetermined position along the transport path, stopping, and stopping. The work is transferred from a predetermined position to the buffer device, the buffer device receiving the work is positioned at a second position corresponding to the processing device, and then the work is transferred from the buffer device to the processing device, and the work is processed by the processing device. Performing a desired process on the magnetic disk, and transferring the processed workpiece from the processing apparatus to the buffer device positioned at the second position, and moving the buffer device receiving the work to the first position. After the positioning, the work is transferred from the buffer device to the transfer path and transferred along the transfer path. Work processing method comprising and.