JP2006176291A - Work carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a work carrying device capable of surely carrying a work one by one from a discharge port under a storage part for stacking the works. <P>SOLUTION: This work carrying device 1 has a first stage 10 for carrying the work to a second position 32 by receiving the work 5 in a first position 31 of the discharge port 51 under a stocker 50 for stacking up the plate-like works 5, and a second stage 20 for moving to the first position 31 instead of the first stage 10 when this first stage 10 moves from the first position 31. The first stage 10 has a flat slide surface 11 for crossing the discharge port 51 in reciprocating, and a recess 12 for receiving the work 5. The second stage 20 has a flat stop surface 21 in the same height as the slide surface 11 by crossing the discharge port 51 in moving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying a plate-shaped workpiece to a processing machine such as a press apparatus.

Devices that transport blank materials include those that attract and transport blank materials on the lower surface with a magnet conveyor, devices that transport blank materials on the upper surface, and devices that transport blank materials by suspending them with a vacuum cup. It has been.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-33423

  One problem with the apparatus for conveying workpieces is that the mechanism for separating the workpieces one by one and placing them on the conveyor is simplified and the reliability is increased. Although the method of adsorbing and separating the stacked workpieces one by one is well known, if the reliability of the adsorption mechanism is not ensured, the workpiece may fall during movement, the higher the surface accuracy of the workpiece, There is a risk that multiple workpieces will be lifted without being separated when they are sucked and fall during transportation, and the workpiece discharge port must be facing upward for suction separation, and the discharge port and supply port are the same There are problems such as being oriented.

  Directing the workpiece discharge port downward makes it easy to separate from the supply port, and there is a merit such that the residence time of the workpiece in the storage section can be made constant by the first-in first-out (FIFO) method. The mechanism for separating the sheets one by one becomes complicated.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a workpiece transfer device that can reliably transfer workpieces one by one with a simple structure.

  For this reason, in this invention, a workpiece | work is conveyed using the two stages from the discharge port of the lower side of the accommodating part on which the plate-shaped workpiece | work was piled up. That is, the workpiece transfer apparatus according to the present invention reciprocates between a first position for receiving a workpiece from a discharge port below a storage unit in which a plurality of plate-shaped workpieces are stacked, and a second position for removing the transferred workpiece. A first stage that moves, and a second stage that moves to the first position instead of the first stage when the first stage moves from the first position. The first stage has a flat slide surface that traverses the discharge port when reciprocating, and a slide surface that is positioned directly below the discharge port in the first position to receive the workpiece and is the same as or slightly shallower than the workpiece thickness. It is equipped with a dent that is recessed. Further, the second stage has a flat stop surface that is the same height as the slide surface across the discharge port when moving.

  In this work transfer device, the first stage is reciprocated between a first position for receiving a work from a discharge port below the storage section and a second position for taking out the transferred work (first step). In addition, when the first stage moves from the first position, the second stage is moved to the first position instead of the first stage (second step). The first stage has a flat slide surface that traverses the discharge port when reciprocating, and a slide surface that is positioned directly below the discharge port in the first position to receive the workpiece and is the same as or slightly shallower than the workpiece thickness. In the first position, the work enters the dents one by one. When the first stage starts moving from the first position, the operation of dropping the next workpiece is hindered by the slide surface, and a force is applied in the shearing direction to the workpieces that are vertically stacked. For this reason, even if the surfaces of the upper and lower workpieces are in close contact with each other, the workpieces are always separated and conveyed one by one. Further, when the first stage moves away from the discharge port, the second stage is set at the discharge port in conjunction with the first stage. Since the slide surface of the first stage and the stop surface of the second stage have the same height, the work stacked in the storage unit is maintained as it is.

  When the first stage returns from the second position to the first position, the second stage moves in conjunction with the first stage, and the first stage is positioned directly below the discharge port. Meanwhile, since the height of the stop surface and the slide surface is the same, the workpieces stacked in the storage unit are maintained as they are, and the next workpiece does not fall. When the dent of the first stage is directly below the discharge port, one workpiece is set in the dent, and is reliably separated and supplied from the other workpieces as described above.

  Since the first stage and the second stage are separated, the movement range of the second stage may be only in the vicinity of the first position, that is, in the vicinity of the discharge port. Regardless, the moving distance of the second stage can be minimized. When the first stage leaves the first position, and when the second stage is set to the first position instead of the first stage, the workpiece comes into contact with the slide surface and stop surface of each stage. However, since the contact distance with these surfaces can be minimized, the possibility that the workpiece is damaged due to the contact with the slide surface and the stop surface can be minimized.

  Therefore, the workpiece transfer device can reliably supply workpieces one by one from the lower discharge port of the FIFO storage unit. Then, it is only necessary to move the two stages for conveying and for closing the discharge port in order to separate the workpieces, and it is not necessary to newly provide a mechanism for separating the workpieces one by one. For this reason, it is possible to reliably separate and convey the workpieces one by one with a simple mechanism, and further, it is possible to provide a discharge port below the storage unit. Further, the second stage moves in the vicinity of the first position only to open and close the discharge port, and does not carry the workpiece itself. Therefore, the moving distance is short, and the possibility that the work in the lowermost layer of the storage portion is rubbed with the second stage and is damaged can be minimized. For this reason, the workpiece conveyance apparatus of this invention can also prevent deterioration of the quality of a workpiece | work.

  It is desirable to have a magnetic or vacuum attracting means for attaching and detaching the workpiece inside the recess. Many workpieces are small, and errors due to distortion and warping are small. In addition, the work is brought into close contact with the inside of the dent formed at a predetermined depth by suction means, so that even if there is distortion or warping, the depth of the dent can be used effectively to ensure a single work piece. Can be supplied separately.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the work transfer device. The work transfer device 1 includes a frame 2, two rails 3 disposed thereon, a first position 31 for receiving a work along the rail 3, and a second position 32 for taking out the work. And a first air cylinder station 15 that moves the first stage 10 for transport using compressed air as a drive source. Furthermore, the second stage 20 that moves to the first position 31 instead of the first stage 10 when the first stage 10 for conveyance moves from the first position 31, and the second stage. And a second air cylinder station 25 for driving 20. The second air cylinder station 25 reciprocates the second stage 20 between the first position 31 and the third position 33 where the second stage 20 is retracted from the first position 31. The third position 33 is opposite to the direction in which the first stage 10 starts moving toward the second position 32 with respect to the first position 31, and the first stage 10 is When the second stage 20 is in the third position 33 at the position 31, the slide surface 11 on the upper surface of the first stage 10 and the stop surface 21 on the upper surface of the second stage 20 are continuous 1 Form one plane.

  The first position 31 and the second position 32 may be connected by a linear rail 3 or may be connected by a rail that draws an appropriate curve. When the movement of the first stage 10 in the vicinity of the first position 31 is a straight line, the second stage 20 is also linked to the first stage 10, for example, linearly on the extension line of the same rail 3. It is desirable to move. On the other hand, when the movement of the first stage 10 is not a straight line but a turning movement, it is preferable that the second stage 20 also turns in conjunction with the first stage 10. Further, when the first stage 10 starts from the first position 31 and arrives at the first position 31, no gap is generated between the first stage 10 and the second stage 20. It is desirable. For this reason, the second stage 20 is synchronized with the departure and arrival of the first stage 10 at the first position 31 by the second air cylinder station 25, and the third position 33 and the first position 31. Reciprocates between. Further, the edge 19 of the first stage 10 on the second stage 20 side and the edge 29 of the second stage 20 on the first stage 10 side have a corresponding shape, in this example, a straight line. When the first stage 10 departs and arrives at the first position 31, one continuous plane is formed by the slide surface 11 of the first stage 10 and the stop surface 21 of the second stage 20. It has become.

  A recess 12 into which a work enters is formed in the vicinity of the center of the slide surface 11 of the first stage 10. The dent 12 substantially follows the outline of one workpiece and has a shape that is slightly larger than the outline. Therefore, one workpiece can be easily received in the recess 12, while the upper workpiece does not enter the recess 12 when the first stage 10 moves while the workpiece is in the recess 12. Yes. The depth of the dent 12 is set to be the same as the thickness of the workpiece received in the dent 12, and the depth is set to have a negative tolerance when the dent 12 is manufactured. Therefore, when the work enters the recess 12, the upper surface of the work and the slide surface 11 coincide with each other, or the upper surface of the work slightly protrudes upward from the slide surface 11.

  An electromagnet 17 for attracting a workpiece is disposed in front of and behind the recess 12, and an proximity sensor 18 for detecting the presence or absence of the workpiece is disposed in the center of the recess 12. The electromagnet 17 attracts the work containing the dent 12 so that the work is accommodated in the dent 12 even if the work is slightly distorted or warped so as not to obstruct the conveyance. Further, the electromagnet 17 is adjusted so that the magnetic field becomes almost zero when one voltage is applied, and does not become an obstacle when the work is taken out from the recess 12 at the second position 32.

  FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the state in which the stages 10 and 20 are moved from the side. The workpiece transfer apparatus 1 of this example is used with a stocker 50 in which a plurality of plate-like workpieces are stacked and stored, and the lower side is a discharge port 51. The stocker 50 is a FIFO type stocker that can supply the work 5 from the upper supply port 52 and discharge the work 5 in the order of supply from the lower discharge port 51. The replenishment and discharge of the work 5 are performed in parallel. It is a stocker that can be performed and can easily manage the time during which the workpiece 5 is held. As shown in FIG. 2, the first stage 10 is set at the first position 31 so that the distance from the slide surface 11 is equal to or less than the thickness of the workpiece 5 at the discharge port 51 of the stocker 50. Further, in the first position 31, the recess 12 of the first stage 10 is set so as to be positioned directly below the discharge port 51 of the stocker 50. Accordingly, at the first position 31, one workpiece 5 is dropped into the recess 12 of the first stage 10.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the first stage 10 starts from the first position 31 and moves to the second position 32 along the rail 3. In conjunction with the departure of the first stage 10, the second stage 20 moves from the third position 33 to the first position 31 and closes the discharge port 51 of the stocker 50.

  4 to 6 show an enlarged view of the state when the first stage 10 starts (starts) movement from the first position 31. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, among the plurality of workpieces 5 stacked on the stocker 50, the lowermost workpiece 5 is dropped into the recess 12 of the first stage 10 set just below the discharge port 51. It is. Even if the work 5 is attracted to the electromagnet 17 in the recess 12 and is distorted or warped, the workpiece 5 is held in a flat state along the recess 12. Further, when the first stage 10 moves, the workpiece 5 moves with it. To do.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the first stage 10 starts to move, the lowermost workpiece 5 dropped into the recess 12 moves together with the first stage 10, and the workpiece 5 above it is a stocker. It is blocked by 50 and does not move. Accordingly, a shearing force acts between the workpieces 5 that are stacked on top and bottom, and even when the workpieces 5 that are stacked on top and bottom are in close contact with each other, the bottom layer of the workpieces 5 can be reliably secured. Can be transported separately one by one. When the first stage 10 starts to move, the recess 12 moves in the direction of the second position 32, and then the flat slide surface 11 of the first stage 10 moves across the discharge port 51. Accordingly, the work 5 stacked on the stocker 50 is maintained in the vertical position by the slide surface 11 of the first stage 10, and the first stage 10 slides on the lower surface of the work 5 on which the slide surface 11 remains. Move to. In order to prevent the workpiece 5 stacked on the stocker 50 from moving with the first stage 10 or with the second stage 20 described later, the gap G between the stocker 50 and the surface 11 or 21 of the stage is It is necessary to manage the thickness of the workpiece 5 to be equal to or less than the thickness. Alternatively, an appropriate stopper may be arranged so that the gap G is maintained.

  The second stage 20 starts moving from the third position 33 to the first position 31 in synchronization with the first stage 10. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the slide surface 11 of the first stage 10 passes through the discharge port 51 of the stocker 50, and at the same time, the flat stop surface 21 of the second stage 20 moves so as to cross the discharge port 51. Then, the discharge port 51 is sealed. Since the height of the stop surface 21 is adjusted to be the same as that of the slide surface 11, the vertical position of the workpiece 5 stacked on the stocker 50 is maintained. The second stage 20 stops when it moves to the first position 31 that completely closes the discharge port 51 by the stop surface 21. On the other hand, the first stage 10 is separated from the second stage 20 and moves to the second position 32 of the conveyance destination as shown in FIG. Therefore, regardless of the movement distance of the first stage 10, the movement distance of the second stage 20 is minimized, and the distance that the workpiece 5 stacked on the stocker 50 contacts the slide surface 11 and the stop surface 21 is short. Become.

  When the workpiece 5 transported by the first stage 10 is taken out at the second position 32, the first stage 10 moves from the second position 32 to the first position 31. The operation when the first stage 10 arrives at the first position 31 is the reverse of the above-described operation, and proceeds as shown in FIGS. That is, when the first stage 10 moves toward the first position 31 and comes into contact with the second stage 20 at the first position 31, the second stage 20 is synchronized with the first stage 10. And start moving. The lower end of the work 5 stacked on the stocker 50 is maintained at the same height as the slide surface 11 of the first stage 10 by the stop surface 21 of the second stage 20. Therefore, when the slide surface 11 of the first stage 10 crosses the discharge port 51 of the stocker 50 without being caught by the stacked workpieces 5 and the first stage 10 reaches the first position 31, the discharge port A recess 12 is located under 51. For this reason, the next workpiece 5 is dropped into the recess 12.

  In this way, in the workpiece transfer apparatus 1 of this example, the workpieces 5 can be reliably separated one by one by a simple operation in which the transfer first stage 10 enters and exits the first position 31. Therefore, the workpieces 5 can be separated one by one at the first position 31 and conveyed to the second position 32 by the first stage 10. In the process, the lower surface of the lowermost workpiece 5 stacked on the stocker 50 rubs against the slide surface 11 of the first stage 10 and the stop surface 21 of the second stage 20. However, since the second stage 20 is separated from the first stage 10 and does not participate in the transfer and moves to close the discharge port 51, regardless of the length of the movement distance of the first stage 10, The distance at which the workpieces 5 are rubbed together is minimized. Therefore, the moving distance is short, and the possibility that the work 5 in the lowermost layer of the stocker 50 serving as the storage portion is rubbed with the second stage 20 and is damaged can be minimized. For this reason, the workpiece conveyance apparatus 1 of this example can prevent the quality of the workpiece 5 from being deteriorated.

  The workpiece conveying device according to the present invention is not limited to a device that conveys a plate-like workpiece for pressing, and can be efficiently separated and conveyed if it is a plate-like workpiece such as a wafer or a substrate. It can be used for automatic conveyance of the material of the processing apparatus or assembly apparatus.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of a workpiece conveyance apparatus. It is a side view which shows a mode that the 1st stage of a workpiece conveyance apparatus exists in the 1st position under a discharge port. It is a side view which shows a mode that the 1st stage of a workpiece conveyance apparatus exists in the 2nd position of a conveyance destination. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows a mode that a workpiece | work is received. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows a mode that a 1st stage moves. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows a mode that a 2nd stage moves.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Work conveying apparatus 10 1st stage, 11 Slide surface 20 2nd stage, 21 Stop surface 31 1st position, 32 2nd position, 33 3rd position 50 Stocker, 51 Discharge port

Claims (3)

A first stage that reciprocates between a first position for receiving the workpiece from a discharge port below a storage unit in which a plurality of plate-shaped workpieces are stacked, and a second position for taking out the conveyed workpiece; ,
A second stage that moves to the first position instead of the first stage when the first stage moves from the first position;
The first stage has a flat slide surface that traverses the discharge port when reciprocating, a size that is positioned under the discharge port in the first position and receives the workpiece, and the thickness of the workpiece. With a dent recessed from the slide surface, the same or slightly shallower,
The second stage includes a stop surface that is flat at the same height as the slide surface across the discharge port when moving.   The workpiece transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein suction means for attaching and detaching the workpiece is provided inside the recess. The first stage reciprocates between a first position in which the workpiece is received from a discharge port below a storage unit in which a plurality of plate-shaped workpieces are stacked, and a second position in which the conveyed workpiece is taken out. A first step;
A second step of moving a second stage to the first position instead of the first stage when the first stage moves from the first position;
The first stage has a flat slide surface that traverses the discharge port when reciprocating, a size that is positioned under the discharge port in the first position and receives the workpiece, and the thickness of the workpiece. With a dent recessed from the slide surface, the same or slightly shallower,
When the second stage moves, the workpiece is transported across the discharge port, and has a flat stop surface at the same height as the slide surface.

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