JP2003039267A - Work conveyor and processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a work conveyor in which the whole constitution can be made simple by making a constitution of a conveying loader simple, and a processing system. SOLUTION: The work conveyor 7 is for main spindle moving type vertical machine tools 1, 1a in which the main spindle provided with a chuck at a lower end in the vertical direction is capable of moving in the Z-axis direction parallel with the main spindle and in the X-axis direction perpendicular to the Z-axis. The work conveyor has a guiding member 71 extending in parallel with the X-axis direction, travelling bodies 72, 73 provided capable of moving in the X-axis direction to the guiding member, a work holding member provided capable of moving ascendably/descendably against the travelling body, and work laying-on stands 3, 3a provided capable of giving/receiving the work with the chucks at a work giving/receiving position on a moving locus in the X-axis direction of the main spindle at a space part above the main spindle moving type vertical machine tools. The guiding member is provided in such a manner that the moving locus of the work holding member passes above the work giving/receiving position and the work can be given and received between the work holding member and the work laying-on stand at the work giving/receiving position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spindle-movable vertical machine tool having a spindle having an axis line in a substantially vertical direction for transferring and transferring a workpiece by a chuck at the tip of the spindle, or a spindle-movable vertical machine. The present invention relates to a work transfer device in a processing system in which a plurality of machine tools are installed side by side, and more specifically, a work transfer device in which a transfer loader has a simple structure and a simple overall structure, and the same. The present invention relates to a processing system using a work transfer device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a processing system using an ordinary lathe with its main axis oriented horizontally, a traveling path is provided above the splash guard of the lathe, and a traveling body equipped with a workpiece gripping member is provided on the traveling path. BACKGROUND ART It has been conventionally performed to move a workpiece to carry it, carry an unmachined workpiece into a lathe, and carry out a machined workpiece from the lathe.
Such a work transfer device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-2465.
79, JP-A-7-251346 and the like.

[0003]

In a conventional work transfer device for transferring a work by moving a traveling body provided with a work holding member on a traveling path above a lathe, a main shaft of the lathe and a chuck are horizontally oriented. Since it is installed so as to face, the transfer loader needs a movable mechanism such as a swivel part and a linear movement part in order to transfer the work between the work gripping member of the transfer loader and the chuck of the lathe. . For this reason, there is a problem in that the structure of the work transfer device, particularly the transfer loader, becomes complicated, leading to a decrease in reliability and an increase in cost.

Therefore, according to the present invention, in a spindle-moving vertical machine tool or a machining system in which a plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools are arranged side by side, the transport loader has a simple structure and the overall structure is also simple. It is an object of the present invention to provide a workpiece transfer device that can be used as an object, and a processing system that uses the workpiece transfer device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a work carrier according to the present invention is configured so that a spindle having a chuck at its lower end is rotatable and the spindle axis is oriented in a substantially vertical direction. A spindle supporting body for transporting a workpiece to a spindle-moving vertical machine tool that is movable at least in a first direction parallel to the spindle axis and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A workpiece transfer device, wherein a guide member extending parallel to the second direction is provided in a space above the spindle-moving vertical machine tool, and the guide member is moved in the second direction. Movable body, a workpiece gripping member that is movable up and down with respect to the traveling body and is capable of gripping a workpiece, and a workpiece transfer on the movement trajectory of the spindle in the second direction. Transfer of workpieces to and from the chuck in position And a workpiece mounting table provided for the workpiece, the guide member is configured such that the movement trajectory of the workpiece gripping member passes above the workpiece transfer position and the workpiece grip is held at the workpiece transfer position. It is provided so that a workpiece can be transferred between the member and the workpiece mounting table.

Further, in the above-described work transfer apparatus, the main shaft moving type vertical machine tool is located above the work table when the main shaft support moves to a processing area for processing a work. Is opened so that a workpiece can be transferred between the workpiece gripping member and the workpiece mounting table.

Further, in the above-described workpiece transfer device, the workpiece placing table has an unmachined workpiece placing portion for placing an unmachined workpiece and a machined workpiece for placing a machined workpiece. It is preferable that the object mounting section is provided.

Further, in the above-described work transfer apparatus, the traveling main body is provided with a plurality of the work gripping members so as to be movable up and down, and the work gripping members are connected to the work mounting table. It is preferable that the unprocessed workpiece and the processed workpiece can be transferred and received at approximately the same time.

Further, in the above-described work transfer device, there is provided a first mounting portion for mounting an unmachined workpiece and a second mounting portion for mounting a machined workpiece, The guide member is movable to a position where the workpiece gripping member can transfer a workpiece to and from the first mounting portion, and the workpiece gripping member is the second mounting portion. It is preferable that it is extended so that the workpiece can be transferred to and from the workpiece.

Further, in the machining system of the present invention, the main spindle support body that rotatably supports the main spindle having the chuck at the lower end and that the main spindle axis line is substantially vertical is at least parallel to the main spindle axis line. A machining system in which a plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools movable in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction are arranged side by side, and an unmachined workpiece is placed on the machining system. No. 1 mounting part, a second mounting part on which a machined workpiece is mounted, and a space above the spindle-movable vertical machine tool, extending in parallel to the second direction. A guide member extending above the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion, a traveling main body provided on the guide member so as to be movable in the second direction, and the traveling main body A workpiece gripping member that is movable up and down with respect to the workpiece gripping member capable of gripping a workpiece, A plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools, each of which is capable of exchanging a workpiece with the chuck at a workpiece exchanging position on the movement trajectory of the spindle in the second direction. And a plurality of the spindle moving type vertical machine tools,
The guide members are arranged so as to be lined up in the second direction, and the guide member has the movement track of the workpiece gripping member passing above the workpiece transfer position and the workpiece gripping position at the workpiece transfer position. It is provided so that a workpiece can be transferred between the member and the workpiece mounting table.

Further, in the machining system of the present invention, the main spindle support body rotatably supporting the main spindle having the chuck at the lower end and having the main spindle axis line in the substantially vertical direction is at least parallel to the main axis axis line. A machining system in which a plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools movable in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction are arranged side by side, and an unmachined workpiece is placed on the machining system. 1 mounting portion, a second mounting portion for mounting a machined workpiece, and a space portion above each of the spindle moving type vertical machine tools in the first direction and the second A guide member extending in a third direction orthogonal to the direction and extending above the first placing portion and the second placing portion, and the guide member moving in the third direction. A traveling body that is provided so that it can be moved up and down with respect to the traveling body, A workpiece gripping member capable of gripping a crop, and a chuck provided at each of the plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools and at the workpiece transfer position on the movement trajectory of the spindle in the second direction. And a workpiece placement table provided so as to be able to transfer and receive workpieces between the workpieces, and the plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools are arranged side by side in the third direction. The guide member has a movement path of the workpiece gripping member passing above the workpiece transfer position, and transfers the workpiece between the workpiece gripping member and the workpiece mounting table at the workpiece transfer position. It is provided so as to be possible.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a processing system of the present invention. In this machining system, a plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools 1, 1a are arranged in parallel. The spindle moving type vertical machine tools 1 and 1a are machine tools having almost the same configuration, but the spindle moving type vertical machine tool 1 performs the machining in the first step, and the spindle moving type vertical machine tool 1a performs the second step. Is processed. FIG. 2 is a side view of this processing system as viewed from the right side in FIG. The machine tool is an example in the case of a vertical lathe having a spindle axis in the vertical direction.

Since the spindle moving type vertical machine tools 1 and 1a have substantially the same structure, the spindle moving type vertical machine tools 1 are
The configuration of will be described. Vertical spindle machine tool 1
Is provided with a turret 23 on the bed 2. Turret 2
A turret 21 that can be indexed and rotated is provided at 3, and machining tools such as an outer diameter machining tool and an inner diameter machining tool are held on the outer peripheral portion of the turret 21. Further, the spindle moving type vertical machine tool 1 is provided with a spindle head 4 which is movable in two orthogonal directions (X, Z axis directions) which will be described later. A spindle 5 having a vertical (Z-axis) axis of rotation is rotatably supported on the spindle stock 4, and a chuck 6 is provided at the lower end of the spindle 5. The gripping jaws of the chuck 6 are opened and closed by the driving force of the chuck cylinder 28.
Further, the spindle 5 is rotationally controlled to a desired rotation speed by a built-in spindle motor (not shown).

An X-axis guide rail 11 is provided along a horizontal direction (X-axis direction) orthogonal to a direction (Z-axis direction) parallel to the rotation axis of the main shaft 5, and the X-axis guide rail 1 is provided.
A saddle 12 is provided on the movable unit 1 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction. The X-axis guide rail 11 is provided on the rear side of the bed 2. The bed 2 has a work transfer area 18
Alternatively, the portion protruding to the side may be formed separately and fixed by a fixing member such as a bolt.

The saddle 12 is rotated by an X-axis servomotor 29 via a toothed pulley / toothed belt mechanism (not shown), and an X-axis feed screw 13 and a nut 14 are used to move the X-axis.
It is guided by the shaft guide rail 11 and moved in the X-axis direction. A headstock 4 is provided on the saddle 12 so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction by a Z-axis guide rail 121, and a headstock is produced by rotating a Z-axis feed screw (not shown) by a Z-axis servomotor 26. 4 is moved in the Z-axis direction.
As a result, the spindle 5 and the headstock 4 are movable in the X and Z axis directions. NC (numerical control) device 1 for spindle 5
5, the headstock 4 is controlled to move in the X and Z axis directions, and the workpiece gripped by the chuck 6 is machined by the machining tool held by the turret 21.

A region where the headstock 4 moves during machining is covered as a machining region 17 by a cover and a splash guard. A work transfer area 18 is provided adjacent to the processing area 17. Headstock 4 and spindle 5
Can move relative to each other between the machining area 17 and the workpiece transfer area 18. Further, when the headstock 4 is in the machining area 17, the partition between the machining area 17 and the workpiece transfer area 18 is shielded. That is, during processing, cutting chips, cutting fluid, etc. are prevented from leaking to the workpiece transfer area 18.

In the workpiece transfer area 18 of the vertical spindle type vertical machine tool 1, a workpiece mounting table 3 is installed. On the upper surface of the workpiece placing table 3, there are provided an unmachined workpiece placing section 31 for placing an unmachined workpiece and a processed workpiece placing section 32 for placing a machined workpiece. . Between the upper surface of the work placement table 3 and the unprocessed work placement part 31 and the processed work placement part 32, at least three compression springs and the like are provided for each placement part. It is possible for these mounting portions to perform a predetermined amount of vertical movement, horizontal movement, and tilting operation. Further, this allows the workpiece to be pressed against the chuck 6 when the workpiece is transferred to and from the chuck 6. Furthermore, it is possible to absorb axial dimensional differences in the unmachined workpiece.

The unmachined workpiece placing portion 31 and the machined workpiece placing portion 32 are arranged on the movement trajectory of the spindle 5 in the X-axis direction, and the X-axis guide rail 11 places the workpiece in the X-axis direction. It extends to the position of the table 3. That is, the spindle 5 is movable to a position directly above the unmachined work rest 31 and the machined work rest 32. Since the spindle 5 can be moved to this position, the workpiece can be transferred between the chuck 6 and the unmachined workpiece placing section 31 and the machined workpiece placing section 32. The unprocessed workpiece received from the unprocessed workpiece placing section 31 is moved to the machining area 17 and processed,
The machined workpiece is returned to the machined workpiece placing section 32.

When the headstock 4 moves to the machining area 17, the upper part of the work table 3 is opened, and the work is easily moved between the work table 3 and the outside of the machine tool. be able to. That is, by a workpiece transfer device 7 described later, an unprocessed workpiece is loaded and placed on the unprocessed workpiece placing section 31, or a processed workpiece on the processed workpiece placing section 32 is transferred to the outside. It can be carried out.

On the back side of the bed 2 of the spindle moving type vertical machine tool 1, an NC device 15 for controlling the operation of the spindle moving type vertical machine tool 1 is provided via a mounting member 19. An opening / closing door for maintenance is provided on the back side of the NC device 15.

Since the structure of the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1a is almost the same as that of the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1, detailed description thereof will be omitted. A work table 3a is installed in the work transfer area of the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1a, and an unprocessed work table 31a and a machined work table are placed on the upper surface of the work table 3a. The part 32a is provided. The headstock 4a is movable to a position directly above the unmachined work rest part 31a and the machined work rest part 32a, and the work is transferred between the chuck and these work rest parts. You can When the headstock 4a moves to the machining area,
The upper part of the work placement table 3a is opened, and the work can be loaded and unloaded.

A workpiece transfer device 7 is provided for loading and unloading the workpiece with respect to the vertical spindle type vertical machine tools 1, 1a. Guide member 71 of the work transfer device 7
Is extended above the headstocks 4 and 4a so as to straddle each machine tool. The guide member 71 is supported by the column member 70, and the direction in which the machine tools are arranged side by side, that is, X
It extends parallel to the axial direction. In addition, the guide member 71
Is installed such that its height is higher than the maximum height of the headstocks 4, 4a (that is, the maximum height of the machine tool) so as not to interfere with the headstocks 4, 4a.

The guide member 71 is provided with two guide rails 711 and 712 in the X-axis direction. The guide rails 711 and 712 have travel bodies 72 and 73.
A slide body fixed to the is movably provided. The guide rails 711 and 712 and the slide body constitute a linear motion rolling guide, and the traveling bodies 72 and 73 are movable with respect to the guide member 71. A rack 713 is provided on the upper surface of the guide member 71 in the X-axis direction, and the traveling main body 72 has a traveling motor 725.
Is provided. The traveling main body 72 is a traveling motor 72.
5 is driven by a rack and pinion mechanism,
The vehicle runs along the guide rails 711 and 712. The traveling main body 73 also travels by a similar drive mechanism.

The traveling main body 72 is provided with an elevating member 723 which can be moved up and down by an elevating motor 724.
Specifically, the slide main body 728 is fixed to the traveling main body 72, and the guide rail 729 is fixed to the elevating member 723. The slide body 728 and the guide rail 729 form a linear motion rolling guide. A rack (not shown) is provided on the elevating member 723, and an elevating motor 724 is provided on the traveling main body 72. That is, the elevating member 723 is driven by the elevating motor 724 via a rack and pinion mechanism or the like, and ascends and descends integrally with the guide rail 729.

As shown in FIG. 3, two workpiece holding members 721 and 722 are provided at the lower end of the elevating member 723. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722. Since the elevating member 723 includes the two workpiece gripping members 721 and 722, the operation of loading and placing the unprocessed workpiece W1 on the unprocessed workpiece placing portion 31 of the workpiece placing table 3 and the processed workpiece The operation of gripping and carrying out the processed workpiece W2 on the object placing section 32 is simultaneously performed during one elevating operation.
Alternatively, they can be done at about the same time. It should be noted that the two workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 may be respectively provided with lifting motors so that they can independently perform lifting operations.

Similarly, the traveling main body 73 can be moved up and down.
Two workpiece gripping members 731 and 732 are provided.
In the workpiece gripping members 721, 722, 731, 732, the grip claws open and close by the supply of the pressure fluid to grip and release the workpiece. The work rests 3 and 3a are attached to these work holding members 721, 722, 731, 73.
The position of the guide member 71 is set so as to be on the movement trajectory of 2.

A work feeder 8 is installed on the right side of the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1 in FIG. The work feeder 8 is provided with a plurality of workpiece placement parts 81 connected by a chain and rotatable. An unprocessed workpiece is placed on each workpiece placing section 81. It is possible to sequentially stop each of the workpiece placement parts 81 at a predetermined workpiece transfer position A, and hold and transport the workpiece by the workpiece gripping member 721 of the traveling body 72.

A storage device 9 for temporarily storing the machined workpiece is installed on the left side of the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1a in FIG. The storage device 9 has the same configuration as that of the work feeder 8, and a plurality of workpiece placement portions 91 are connected by a chain and are provided so as to be rotatable. Initially, each workpiece placement part 91 is in an empty state in which nothing is placed, and the empty workpiece placement parts 91 are sequentially positioned and stopped at predetermined workpiece transfer positions B. The processed workpiece is
The workpiece is conveyed by the workpiece gripping member 732 of the traveling main body 73 and is placed on the empty workpiece holder 91 at the workpiece transfer position B.

A workpiece reversing device 90 is provided at a position between the spindle movable vertical machine tool 1 and the spindle movable vertical machine tool 1a.
Is installed. The workpiece reversing device 90 reverses the vertical direction of the intermediate workpiece machined by the spindle movable vertical machine tool 1 to prepare for machining of the second step in the spindle movable vertical machine tool 1a. Is. This workpiece reversing device 90 is also a workpiece gripping member 721, 722, 73.
It is arranged on the locus of movement of 1,732.

As described above, the guide member 71 includes the work feeder 8 as the first placing portion, the spindle moving vertical machine tool 1, the workpiece reversing device 90, and the spindle moving vertical machine tool 1.
a, and the storage device 9 as the second mounting portion is extended so as to be able to convey the workpiece. In addition,
The 1st mounting part and the 2nd mounting part may be a mounting stand with which a workpiece can be mounted. In that case, the workpiece may be placed on or taken out by another transporting means such as a robot or an operator.

Next, the operation of conveying the workpiece in this machining system will be described. Here, the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1 performs machining of the first step on one side of an unmachined workpiece (material), and the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1a is an intermediate product after finishing the machining of the first step. The second process is performed on the other side of the work piece. It is assumed that the machining of the first process and the second process is performed in parallel and substantially simultaneously in each machine tool. It is preferable that the machining time of each of the spindle-movable vertical machine tools 1 and 1a be as small as possible because machining can be efficiently performed.

Here, the processed workpiece placing section 32 of the workpiece placing table 3 has an intermediate workpiece on which the machining in the first step has been finished, and the processed workpiece placing table of the workpiece placing table 3a is placed. Part 32a
It is assumed that the machined workpiece (finished product) that has undergone the machining in both the first process and the second process is placed on the. Such a state shows a state in which the workpiece is being continuously processed by this processing system.

An unmachined workpiece is placed on each workpiece placing portion 81 of the work feeder 8. The workpiece placing portion 81 on which the unprocessed workpiece is placed is positioned at the workpiece transfer position A. The work transfer device 7 includes a work holding member 72.
1, 722 are raised to the transport position, and the traveling main body 72 is caused to travel. When the workpiece gripping member 721 reaches a position above the workpiece transfer position A, it is stopped.

Then, the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 are lowered to the transfer position, and the workpiece gripping member 721 grips the unprocessed workpiece on the workpiece mounting portion 81. The workpiece gripping member 721 that has gripped the unmachined workpiece is moved to the position of the workpiece mounting table 3 by the traveling body 72 after being raised to the transport position. At the same time, the work feeder 8 moves and positions the workpiece mounting portion 81 on which the next unmachined workpiece is mounted to the workpiece transfer position A.

Next, the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 are lowered to the transfer position. Then, the workpiece gripping member 721
The unprocessed workpiece holder 3 of the workpiece holder 3 by releasing the grip
At the same time (or almost simultaneously) when the unprocessed workpiece W1 conveyed to 1 is placed, the processed workpiece W2 (intermediate workpiece) placed on the processed workpiece placing section 32 is placed as the workpiece. It is gripped by the gripping member 722. This is the state shown in FIG. The workpiece transfer operation between the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 and the workpiece platform 3 is performed when the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1 is machining a workpiece, that is, the spindle head 4 is This is performed while moving to the processing area 17 side.

Next, the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 are raised to the transfer position and moved to the position of the workpiece reversing device 90. Then, the workpiece gripping members 722 and 721 are lowered to the transfer position with the workpiece reversing device 90, and the workpiece gripping member 722 is released and the intermediate workpiece is placed on the workpiece reversing device 90. The workpiece reversing device 90 reverses the vertical direction of the intermediate workpiece.

The headstock 4 of the vertical spindle type machine tool 1 is
After the processing of the first step is completed, the work is transferred to the work transfer area 18. By moving the headstock 4 in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction,
After moving the intermediate work piece that has been processed in the first step onto the machined work piece mounting portion 32, the chuck 6 is released and the intermediate work piece is placed on the processed work piece mounting portion 32. . Then, the unprocessed workpiece placing section 3 on which the unprocessed workpiece is placed
1 and grips the green workpiece with chuck 6.
When the unmachined workpiece is received in this manner, the headstock 4 moves to the machining area 17 and performs the machining in the first step.

At this time, the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722
In most cases, the work transfer time by the workpiece is shorter than the processing time by the spindle moving type vertical machine tool 1 to the work, and the work is conveyed by the workpiece gripping members 721, 722 in most cases. Has ended in. Therefore, when the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1 finishes machining, the next unmachined workpiece has already been placed on the unmachined workpiece placing section 31. That is, the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1 can continuously perform the machining in the machining area 17 and the workpiece exchanging operation in the workpiece exchanging area 18, thereby lowering the operating rate due to the conveyance of the workpiece. Does not occur.

On the other hand, the work reversing device 90 is provided with an intermediate work which is turned upside down. The workpiece transfer device 7 raises the workpiece gripping members 731 and 732 to the transfer position and causes the traveling body 73 to travel to the position of the workpiece reversing device 90. Then, the workpiece gripping members 731 and 732
Is lowered to the transfer position, and the workpiece gripping member 731 grips the intermediate workpiece on the workpiece reversing device 90.

Work holding member 73 holding the intermediate work
1 moves to the position of the workpiece mounting table 3a after ascending to the transfer position. Then, the workpiece gripping members 731, 73
2 is lowered to the transfer position, the workpiece gripping member 731 is released and the unprocessed workpiece placement part 31 of the workpiece placing table 3a is released.
At the same time (or almost at the same time) when the intermediate workpiece conveyed to a is placed, the machined workpiece placed on the machined workpiece placing section 32a is gripped by the workpiece gripping member 732. The workpiece transfer operation between the workpiece gripping members 731 and 732 and the workpiece platform 3a is performed when the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1a is processing a workpiece, that is, the spindle head 4a. It is performed while moving to the processing area side.

Next, the workpiece gripping members 731 and 732 are raised to the transfer position and moved to the position of the storage device 9. Then, the workpiece gripping members 731 and 732 are lowered to the transfer position, and the workpiece gripping member 732 is released to mount the processed workpiece on the empty workpiece mounting portion 91 at the workpiece transfer position B. . The storage device 9 is the work placement part 9
1 is swiveled to position the next empty workpiece placement portion 91 at the workpiece transfer position B.

Headstock 4a of the vertical spindle type machine tool 1a
Moves to the workpiece transfer area after finishing the second process. By moving the machined workpiece, which has been machined in the second step, onto the machined workpiece placing portion 32a by moving the headstock 4a in the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction, the chuck is released to perform machining. Place the finished work piece. Next, the unprocessed work piece placement part (intermediate work piece placement part) on which the intermediate work piece is placed.
31a, and the intermediate work piece is gripped by the chuck.
When the intermediate work is received in this manner, the headstock 4a moves to the machining area and performs the machining in the second step.

This state has returned to the initial state of the above description of the operation. By repeating such a series of operations, the unprocessed workpieces placed on the work feeder 8 are sequentially transported, and the first step of machining the unprocessed workpieces,
Processing such as inversion and processing in the second step can be continuously performed. Then, machining can be continuously performed until there are no unmachined workpieces on the work feeder 8.

The operations of the spindle moving vertical machine tool 1 and the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 in the first step are performed in the same manner as the spindle moving vertical machine tool 1a and the workpiece gripping member 73 in the second step.
In parallel with the operations of 1,732, almost simultaneously.
Thus, by performing the machining of the first step and the second step in parallel, highly efficient automatic machining becomes possible. Also,
Since the two traveling main bodies are provided, the traveling main body 72 almost receives the unprocessed workpiece to the work feeder 8 and the traveling main body 73 receives the intermediate workpiece to the workpiece reversing device 90. The operation can be performed simultaneously, and the operation of the traveling main body 72 for delivering the intermediate workpiece to the workpiece reversing device 90 and the operation of the traveling main body 73 for delivering the processed workpiece to the storage device 9 can be executed at substantially the same time. Highly efficient automatic processing is possible.

In this way, the workpiece transfer device 7 sequentially transfers the unprocessed workpieces on the work feeder 8 to the spindle movable vertical machine tool 1 and the spindle movable vertical machine tool 1a, respectively. The processing of the first step and the second step is performed. The processed workpiece, which has been processed, is placed and stored on the storage device 9 by the workpiece transfer device 7. Since the workpieces are automatically and efficiently conveyed, it is possible to continuously perform highly efficient automatic operation for a long time.

Although the work transfer device 7 is provided with two traveling bodies 72 and 73 here, the traveling body may be one traveling body or three traveling bodies or more. Good. Further, the machining system in which two spindle moving type vertical machine tools are arranged side by side is shown, but one spindle moving type vertical machine tool may be arranged, or three or more spindle moving type vertical machine tools may be arranged in parallel. Further, in this example, the spindle moving vertical machine tool performs the first process on one side and the second process on the other side, but the first process is performed by the two machine tools to perform the second process. Arbitrary process distribution can be performed such that the process is processed by one machine tool.

Further, here, two workpiece gripping members are provided for one traveling body, but one workpiece gripping member is provided.
May be one. In this case, the operation of exchanging the workpieces with the workpiece placing table (the unmachined workpiece placing portion, the machined workpiece placing portion) will be described by taking the first spindle-moving vertical machine tool as an example.
The unprocessed workpiece grasped by the workpiece grasping member from the work feeder is conveyed above the unprocessed workpiece placing portion of the workpiece placing table. Then, the workpiece gripping member is lowered to the transfer position, the grip is released, and the unmachined workpiece is placed on the unmachined workpiece placing section. Next, the workpiece gripping member is raised to the transport position, the traveling body is moved, and the workpiece gripping member is positioned above the machined workpiece mounting portion. Then, the workpiece gripping member is moved down to the transfer position to grip the intermediate workpiece placed on the processed workpiece placing section. Next, the workpiece gripping member is raised to the transport position and the intermediate workpiece is transported to the workpiece reversing device.

Although the drive unit for raising and lowering the workpiece gripping member is described as a motor and a rack and pinion mechanism, the rotational force of the motor is converted into a linear motion by another mechanism such as a screw mechanism. It may be moved up and down by using a hydraulic cylinder or a linear motor. That is, the drive unit that moves the work gripping member up and down may be any drive that can move and position the work gripping member up and down.

In the case where a fluid pressure cylinder is used for the drive unit, the workpiece gripping member can be moved and positioned only at two positions, that is, the transfer position (up position) and the transfer position (down position). Since the motor of the drive unit is a control motor such as a controllable servo motor or stepping motor, it is possible to position the workpiece gripping member at an arbitrary position in the ascending / descending direction to perform the transfer operation.

Although the drive mechanism for moving the traveling main body along the guide member is described as a motor and a rack and pinion mechanism, other drive mechanisms such as a motor and a screw mechanism and a linear motor may be used. Good. In short, it is only necessary that the traveling body can be moved and positioned. further,
Here, the guide part for the traveling motion and the elevating motion is explained as the linear motion rolling guide, but other rolling guides,
It may be a slip guide, a static pressure guide, or the like.

Further, a member such as a chuck capable of holding a workpiece may be provided on the unprocessed workpiece placing section and the processed workpiece placing section on the workpiece placing table. In this way, the machining system can machine the workpiece while maintaining the phase in the rotational direction. Furthermore, a measuring device, a phase positioning device, etc. may be provided on the movement locus of the workpiece gripping member of the workpiece transfer device of the processing system. When the measuring device is provided, it is possible to judge whether the machining size of the workpiece is acceptable or not, and carry out the defective product to an NG shooter (NG conveyor) different from the conveyor. When the phase positioning device is provided, it is possible to perform phase positioning of a workpiece having a positioned portion on an unmachined workpiece (material).

Since a compression spring or the like is provided between the upper surface of the workpiece mounting table and the unprocessed workpiece mounting portion and the processed workpiece mounting portion, the unprocessed workpiece and the processed workpiece are Even if there is a slight difference in the dimension in the axial direction, the difference in dimension can be absorbed by the compression spring, etc., and it is possible to transfer the unprocessed workpiece and the machined workpiece by the workpiece gripping member almost at the same time. it can. If there is a large dimensional difference between the unprocessed workpiece and the machined workpiece in the axial direction and the dimensional difference cannot be absorbed by the compression spring alone, place the unmachined workpiece placing section and the machined workpiece placing section. By providing a difference in the vertical position of the surface, or by providing a difference in the vertical position of the two workpiece gripping members, or both, the unprocessed workpiece and the machined workpiece by the workpiece gripping member You can give and receive at almost the same time.

Next, modified examples of the machining system and the work transfer device of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a machining system in which only one spindle-moving vertical machine tool 1 is installed. In this machining system, a work feeder 8 in which a first placing section and a second placing section are integrally configured and one spindle-moving vertical machine tool 1 are arranged in parallel. . The work transfer device 7 is provided with a work feeder 8
The workpiece is conveyed between the workpiece mounting table 3 and the workpiece mounting table 3.

The construction of the vertical spindle-type machine tool 1 and the construction of the work placement table 3 are the same as those described with reference to FIGS. The guide member 71 of the workpiece transfer device 7 is supported by the column member 70 and extends parallel to the X-axis direction. Further, the guide member 71 is installed so that its height is higher than the maximum height of the headstock 4 (that is, the maximum height of the machine tool) so as not to interfere with the headstock 4. In this guide member 71,
A traveling body 72 is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction.
The traveling main body 72 is provided with two workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 (see FIG. 3) so as to be movable up and down.

Next, the operation of conveying the workpiece in this machining system will be described. For convenience of explanation, work feeder 8
At the workpiece transfer position C, the workpiece mounting portion 81 on which the unprocessed workpiece is mounted is positioned, and at the workpiece transfer position D, an empty workpiece mounting portion for mounting the processed workpiece. It is assumed that 81 is positioned. Further, in the spindle-movable vertical machine tool 1, machining of a workpiece is started. The workpiece mounting table 3 is assumed to be in a state where the unprocessed workpiece mounting portion 31 is empty and the processed workpiece mounting portion 32 is where the processed workpiece is mounted.

The workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 move to positions directly above the workpiece transfer positions C and D of the work feeder 8 and further descend to the workpiece transfer positions. Then, the workpiece gripping member 721 grips the unprocessed workpiece at the workpiece transfer position C, and the workpiece gripping member 722 passes the processed workpiece to the empty workpiece mounting portion 81 at the workpiece transfer position D. Next, the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 are moved to the workpiece transfer position with the workpiece placing table 3, and the work feeder 8 is moved to the workpiece placing section 8.
Turn 1 for 1 pitch clockwise to index. That is, the workpiece placement portion 81 on which the next unprocessed workpiece is placed is positioned at the workpiece delivery position C, and the empty workpiece placement portion 81 is positioned at the workpiece delivery position D.

After the workpiece gripping members 721 and 722 are moved to the workpiece transfer position with the workpiece mounting table 3, the workpiece gripping member 7 is moved.
21 is released and the unmachined workpiece is placed on the unmachined workpiece placing section 31, and at the same time, the machined workpiece is grasped by the workpiece grasping member 722. Then, the workpiece gripping member 721,
722 is the work feeder 8 after being raised to the transfer position.
Of the workpiece feeder 8 at the workpiece transfer position C of the work feeder 8 to grasp an unprocessed workpiece, and at the same time, the processed workpiece is transferred to the workpiece mount portion 81 at the workpiece transfer position D. To place.

On the other hand, in the vertical spindle type machine tool 1, after machining is completed, the headstock 4 moves from the machining area to the workpiece transfer area, and the machined workpiece is placed on the machined workpiece placement section. 32. After that, the unmachined workpiece is received from the unmachined workpiece placing unit 31, moved to the machining area, and machining is performed. Hereafter, all the unprocessed workpieces on the work feeder 8 can be continuously machined by the same procedure.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a machining system in which the disposition of the vertical spindle-type vertical machine tool is changed. In this machining system, a plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools 1, 1a are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the guide member 71 of the work transfer device 7 extends parallel to the Y-axis direction. Further, the guide member 71 includes the headstocks 4, 4a.
The height of the headstocks 4, 4 so that they do not interfere with
It is installed to be higher than the maximum height of a (that is, the maximum height of the machine tool).

A traveling main body 74 is provided on the guide member 71 so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction. An elevating member 743 is provided on the traveling main body 74 so as to be movable up and down, and the two workpiece gripping members 7 are provided on the lower surface side of the elevating member 743.
41 and 742 are provided. Work gripping member 74
The configuration of 1, 742 corresponds to the workpiece gripping member 72 shown in FIG.
It is almost the same as 1,722.

Vertical spindle type vertical machine tools 1, 1
The work mounting bases 3 and 3a are provided in a, and these work mounting bases 3 and 3a are arrange | positioned on the movement locus | trajectory of a work holding member. At the end of the conveying path of the guide member 71, a work feeder 8 as a first placing section and a storage device 9 as a second placing section are provided as in the processing system shown in FIG. There is. The transfer of the workpiece is almost the same as the transfer in the processing system shown in FIG.

With the machining system as described above, the unmachined workpieces placed on the work feeder or the like are sequentially conveyed to one or more vertical spindle-moving vertical machine tools and continuously. It can be processed. The machined workpiece, which has been machined, is returned to the work feeder or the like, or placed on a storage device or the like and carried out. Since the workpieces are automatically and efficiently conveyed, it is possible to continuously perform highly efficient automatic operation for a long time.

In the workpiece transfer apparatus and processing system of the present invention, an unprocessed workpiece is carried into the workpiece mounting table by the workpiece transfer apparatus only by providing the workpiece mounting table for each machine tool. Further, the processed workpiece can be carried out from the workpiece placing table. During machining of each machine tool, since the upper part of the work placement table is in an open state, it is not necessary to open and close the opening / closing door or the like when loading / unloading the work. The workpiece mounting table does not need a movable part and may be a table whose position is fixed. Further, the workpiece gripping member of the workpiece transfer device is only required to move up and down and grip and release the workpiece, and the structure thereof can be simplified. In this way, it is possible to reduce the cost of the workpiece transfer device and the entire processing system.

In the above embodiments, a vertical lathe was used as an example of the main shaft moving type vertical machine tool, but the present invention is not limited to the vertical lathe, and the main shaft support is at least the first main shaft support. The present invention can also be applied to a machine tool that can move in the direction (Z axis direction) and the second direction (X axis direction), for example, any other machine tool such as a turning center, a grinding machine, or a machining center. When the present invention is applied to a machining center, a shaft that allows a pallet or the like on which a workpiece is fixed to rotate corresponds to the main shaft of the present invention, and a member that clamps the pallet or the like corresponds to the chuck of the present invention.

[0065]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects.

The guide member of the work transfer device allows the movement locus of the work holding member to pass above the work mounting table so that the work can be transferred between the work holding member and the work mounting table. Therefore, the workpiece transfer device can perform the loading and unloading of the workpieces only by providing the workpiece mounting table whose position is fixed for each machine tool. The work gripping member of the work carrier is only required to move up and down and grip and release the work, and the structure thereof can be simplified. And the cost of the workpiece transfer device and the entire processing system can be reduced.

Since the upper part of the work placement table is opened when the spindle support moves to the machining area, it is not necessary to open and close the opening / closing door and the like when loading and unloading the work, and the work transfer device The structure can be further simplified, and the cost of the workpiece transfer device and the entire processing system can be further reduced. Further, when the spindle support moves to the processing area and is processing a workpiece, the workpiece is transferred between the workpiece gripping member and the workpiece mounting table, and after the machining is completed, the chuck and the workpiece mounting table are transferred. Since the workpieces are transferred to and from the workpiece, it is possible to efficiently convey the workpieces without lowering the operating rate of the spindle-movable vertical machine tool.

Since the workpiece mounting table is provided with the unprocessed workpiece mounting portion for mounting the unprocessed workpiece and the processed workpiece mounting portion for mounting the processed workpiece, Efficiently transferring a workpiece between a chuck at the tip of a spindle of a machine tool and a workpiece mounting table, and transferring a workpiece between a workpiece holding member of a workpiece transfer device and the workpiece mounting table. You can

Since the traveling main body of the work transfer device is provided with a plurality of the work gripping members so as to be movable up and down, it is possible to carry out the work and the unprocessed work between the work gripping member and the work mounting table. The processed workpieces can be transferred and received almost at the same time, and the time for transferring the workpieces can be shortened.

Since the first mounting portion for mounting the unprocessed workpiece and the second mounting portion for mounting the processed workpiece are provided, the workpiece can be transferred by the workpiece transfer device. It is possible to successively convey from the first placement section to one or more vertical spindle-moving vertical machine tools to perform continuous machining. The machined workpiece, which has been machined, is transported to and mounted on the second mounting unit. Since the workpieces are automatically and efficiently conveyed, it is possible to continuously perform highly efficient automatic operation for a long time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a processing system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a processing system.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a workpiece gripping portion.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a machining system in the case where there is one main spindle moving type vertical machine tool.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a machining system in which the disposition of a vertical spindle type machine tool is changed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1a ... Spindle moving type vertical machine tool 2 ... Bed 3, 3a ... Workpiece mounting table 4, 4a ... Spindle base 5 ... Spindle 6 ... Chuck 7 ... Workpiece transfer device 8 ... Work feeder 9 ... Storage device 10 ... Bracket 11 ... X-axis guide rail 12 ... Saddle 13 ... X-axis feed screw 14 ... Nut 15 ... NC device 17 ... Machining area 18 ... Workpiece transfer area 19 ... Mounting member 21 ... Turret 23 ... Turret 26 ... Z-axis servo Motor 28 ... Chuck cylinder 29 ... X-axis servomotor 31, 31a ... Unmachined work piece placement part 32, 32a ... Machined work piece placement part 70 ... Strut member 71 ... Guide member 72, 73, 74 ... Traveling body 81, 91 ... Work rest part 90 ... Work reversing device 711 ... Guide rail 713 ... Rack 721, 722, 731, 732, 741, 742 ... Work gripping member 723 ... Lifting member 724 Up-and-down motor 725 ... traveling motor

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A spindle (5) having a chuck (6) at its lower end.
A spindle support body (4) for rotatably supporting the spindle axis line in a substantially vertical direction, at least a first direction parallel to the spindle axis line and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; A workpiece transfer device for transferring a workpiece to a vertically movable main spindle machine tool (1, 1a), the space above the main spindle vertical machine tool (1, 1a). A guide member (7) extending parallel to the second direction.
1), a traveling main body (72, 73) movably provided in the guide member (71) in the second direction, and an up and down movable relative to the traveling main body (72, 73), A workpiece gripping member (721, capable of gripping a workpiece)
722, 731, 732) and a workpiece mount provided for transferring the workpiece between the chuck (6) at the workpiece transfer position on the movement trajectory of the spindle (5) in the second direction. And a table (3, 3a), the guide member (71), the workpiece gripping member (72
1, 722, 731, 732) moves above the workpiece transfer position, and at the workpiece transfer position, the workpiece gripping members (721, 722, 731, 7)
32) A work transfer device, which is provided so as to be able to transfer a work between the work placement table (3, 3a). 2. The workpiece transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spindle movable vertical machine tool (1, 1a) is used for machining the workpiece by the spindle support (4). When moved to the processing area, the upper part of the work placement table (3, 3a) is opened, and the work holding members (721, 722, 7) are opened.
31.732) and the workpiece placing table (3, 3a), which makes it possible to transfer the workpiece. 3. The workpiece transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece mounting table (3, 3a) mounts an unmachined workpiece. A workpiece transfer device comprising: an object placing section (31); and a processed workpiece placing section (32) for placing a processed workpiece. 4. The work transfer apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the work gripping members (721, 722, 731, 732) can be moved up and down on the traveling body (72, 73). Is provided on the workpiece gripping member (721, 722, 731, 73).
2) is a work transfer device capable of transferring an unprocessed work and a processed work to and from the work placement table (3, 3a) at substantially the same time. 5. The workpiece transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece mounting device is provided with a first mounting portion (8) for mounting an unmachined workpiece, and a machined workpiece. A second placing portion (9) for placing an object, wherein the guide member (71) includes the workpiece gripping member (72).
1, 722, 731, 732) is movable to and from a position where the workpiece can be transferred to and from the first mounting portion (8), and the workpiece gripping member (721, 722, 7).
The work transfer device, wherein (31, 732) is extended so as to be movable to a position where the work can be transferred to and from the second mounting portion (9). 6. A spindle (5) having a chuck (6) at its lower end.
A main shaft support (4) for rotatably supporting the main shaft so that the main shaft is oriented in a substantially vertical direction, at least a first direction parallel to the main shaft and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction A machining system in which a plurality of spindle-movable vertical machine tools (1, 1a) that can move in any direction are installed side by side, and a first placing part (8) for placing an unmachined workpiece, and machining A second placement part (9) for placing the finished work piece, and a space part above the main spindle movement type vertical machine tool (1, 1a) extending in parallel with the second direction. A guide member (71) extending above the first placing part (8) and the second placing part (9), and moving in the second direction to the guide member (71) And a traveling main body (72, 73) which is provided so as to be movable up and down with respect to the traveling main body (72, 73). Things a graspable workpiece gripping member (721,
722, 731, 732) and a plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools (1, 1a) respectively, and transfer of workpieces on the movement trajectory of the spindle (5) in the second direction. A workpiece placement table (3, 3a) provided so as to be able to transfer a workpiece to and from the chuck (6) at a position, and further, a plurality of the spindle moving vertical machine tools (1, 1a ) Are arranged side by side in the second direction, and the guide member (71) is disposed on the workpiece gripping member (72).
1, 722, 731, 732) passes above the workpiece transfer position, and at the workpiece transfer position, the workpiece gripping member (721, 722, 731, 7).
32) A machining system which is provided so that a workpiece can be transferred between the workpiece mounting table (3, 3a). 7. A spindle (5) having a chuck (6) at its lower end.
A spindle support body (4) for rotatably supporting the spindle axis line in a substantially vertical direction, at least a first direction parallel to the spindle axis line and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; A machining system in which a plurality of spindle-movable vertical machine tools (1, 1a) that can move in any direction are installed side by side, and a first placing part (8) for placing an unmachined workpiece, and machining The second mounting portion (9) for mounting the completed workpiece, and the space above the main spindle movement type vertical machine tool (1, 1a) in the first direction and the second direction. A guide member (71) extending in a third direction orthogonal to the direction and extending above the first placing part (8) and the second placing part (9); A traveling body (74) provided on the member (71) so as to be movable in the third direction, and an elevating / lowering unit with respect to the traveling body (74) A work gripping member (741, 74) that is movably provided and can grip a work
2) and each of the plurality of spindle-moving vertical machine tools (1, 1a), and the chuck is provided at a workpiece transfer position on the movement trajectory of the spindle (5) in the second direction. (6) and a workpiece placement table (3, 3a) provided so as to be capable of exchanging workpieces, and the plurality of spindle moving vertical machine tools (1, 1a) are The guide members (71) are arranged side by side in the third direction, and the guide member (71) is provided with the workpiece gripping member (74).
1, 742) moves above the workpiece transfer position, and at the workpiece transfer position, the workpiece gripping member (741, 742) and the workpiece mounting table (3, 3).
A processing system which is provided so as to be able to transfer a workpiece to and from a).