JP2011079081A - Carrying line - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a carrying line capable of efficiently distributing a workpiece not to reduce production efficiency of a machining cell without the necessity of stopping the carrying line for a long time. <P>SOLUTION: The carrying line 1 is configured of the parallelly arranged machining cells A, B, and C and a conveyor 3. Each of the machining cells A, B, and C is configured of a plurality of machine tools M for carrying out the same machining to the workpiece W and a loader 2 for carrying the workpiece. Storage parts 8a, 8b for temporally storing a plurality of the workpieces W corresponding to the machining cells A, B are arranged at the conveyor 3. The workpieces W are carried to the downstream storage part 8a with priority, and when the downstream machining cell A and the storage part 8a are filled with the workpieces W, the machining cell B and the storage part 8b and the machining cell C and a storage part 8c are filled with the workpieces W in sequence. The plurality of the workpieces can be stored and the downstream storage part is first filled with the workpieces, so that stoppage of the carrying line for a long time is prevented and the production efficiency is not decreased. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer line including a plurality of processing cells made up of a plurality of machine tools that perform the same processing on a work, and a transport device that transports the work to each processing cell.

  A conventional transfer line 21 will be described with reference to FIG. Machining from a plurality of machine tools A1, A2, B1, and B2 that perform the same machining on the workpiece W and a workpiece transfer loader (first transfer device) 22 that transfers the workpiece W to each of the machine tools A1, A2, B1, and B2. A cell (processing unit) 2A, 2B is configured, a plurality of the processing cells 2A, 2B are arranged in parallel, and a conveyor (second transfer device) 23 for transferring the workpiece W to the processing cells 2A, 2B arranged in parallel is provided. It is provided. In the conveyor 23, only one workpiece W conveyed to the conveyor 23 is conveyed so that the workpiece conveyance loader 22 can grasp the workpiece W, and in each processing cell 2A, 2B Work stoppers 25a and 25b capable of stopping the work W conveyed at the corresponding position, and work detection sensors 26a and 26b for detecting that the work W has reached the work stoppers 25a and 25b are provided. Moreover, the conveyance line 21 has the unloading conveyor 212 different from the said conveyor 23 which conveys the workpiece | work W processed by each processing cell 2A, 2B to the following process.

  Moreover, the conveyance line 21 conveys the workpiece | work W according to the flowchart shown to FIG. 6, FIG. First, in step S201, a counter is counted up to a predetermined number, and a ring counter that is reset when the predetermined number is exceeded is defined by a program, and a value of 0 to 3 is circulated as the predetermined number of counters. That is, a ring counter is defined that resets the value to 0 when the value of the counter reaches 4. Further, the counter value is associated with the machine tools A1, A2, B1, and B2 that transport the workpiece W. When the counter value is 0, the counter is set to the machine tool B2. When the counter value is 1, the counter is set to the machine tool A1. When the value of 2 is 2, the work W is transferred to the machine tool B1, and when the value of the counter is 3, the work W is transferred to the machine tool A2. When the transport line 21 starts to move, the counter value of the ring counter is set to zero. In step S202, when it is detected by the workpiece detection sensor 26b that there is no workpiece W in front of the processing cell 2B, the workpiece W is carried into the conveyor 23 from the previous process. In step S203, the escape 24b is opened, the workpiece W is conveyed in front of the machining cell 2B, and the workpiece W is waited at that position because the workpiece stopper 25b is closed. In step S204, 1 is added to the counter value 0 of the ring counter, and the counter value becomes 1. In step S205, 1 is added to the counter value in step S204, and it is determined whether the counter value exceeds 4 from the predetermined number 3. When the counter value is 4, the counter value is set to 0 in step S206. Reset to.

  Since the value of the counter is 1, the process proceeds from step S205 to step S207. In step S207, the workpiece W is transported in step S203 and reaches the workpiece stopper 25b provided at the position of the machining cell 2B and is waiting. Is detected by the workpiece detection sensor 26b. Since the value of the counter is now 1, the process proceeds from step S208 to S210. Step S210 is a determination means for determining whether the value of the counter is 1 and determining whether the machine tool A1 is operating, that is, whether the machine tool A1 is not stopped. Is stopped due to a failure or the like, 1 is added to the counter value 1 to set the counter value to 2, and the process proceeds to the next step S212. Steps S208, S212, and S214 are substantially similar determination means. Since the value of the counter is now 1 and the machine tool A1 is operating, the process proceeds to step S211. In step S211, the workpiece stopper 25b is opened, the workpiece W is conveyed in front of the machining cell 2A, is waited at that position by the workpiece stopper 25a, and the workpiece detection sensor 26a detects that the workpiece W is waiting. If the workpiece W can be transferred to the machine tool A1, the workpiece W is transferred to the machine tool A1 by the workpiece transfer loader 22 and processed. When the workpiece W cannot be conveyed to the machine tool A1, the workpiece W is waited at that position. With this flowchart, the conveyance for one workpiece W is completed.

  Next, when the workpiece W is newly conveyed to the conveyor 23, each step of the flowchart shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is repeated, and the value of the counter of the ring counter is 1 at the previous conveyance of the workpiece W in step S204. +1 and the counter value becomes 2. If the work W stopped by the work stopper 25b at the position of the machining cell 2B is not stopped due to a failure or the like in step S212, the work loader can be transported. 22 to the machine tool B1. Thereafter, each step is repeated in the same manner. By setting the ring counter in this way, the workpiece W is evenly distributed to the processing cells 2A and 2B.

  Normally, the workpiece W is transferred to the machine tool corresponding to the counter value. However, if the transferred machine tool is stopped due to failure or maintenance, the counter value is incremented by one in steps S208, S210, S212, and S214. Then, it is conveyed to the next machine tool by the next step. For example, when the counter value is 2, the workpiece W is transferred to the machine tool B1 of the machining cell 2B, but when the machine tool B1 is stopped due to failure or maintenance, the counter value 2 is incremented by 1 in step S212. Then, the value of the counter becomes 3, and the process proceeds to step S214, and is conveyed to the machine tool A2 in step S215. If the counter value is 3 and the machine tool A2 is stopped in step S214, 1 is added to the counter value 3 to become 4, but the counter value is 0 in steps S205 and S206. If it can be transferred to the machine tool B2 in step S208 via step S207, it is transferred, and if it cannot be transferred, the workpiece W stands by at a position corresponding to the processing line 2B of the conveyor 23. In general, when all the machine tools in each processing cell are processing workpieces, when a new workpiece cannot be loaded into the machine tool, the conveyor is temporarily stopped until the machine tool is empty and the workpiece is transferred. Is to be stopped. In addition, since this prior art does not relate to the literature known invention, there is no prior art document information to be described.

  Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-12837, there is known a device provided with a determination unit that determines whether or not the next process can accept the work when the work is transported to the next process. If the next process can accept the workpiece, the workpiece is transferred, and if the next process cannot accept the workpiece, compare the workpiece acceptance time in the next process with the processing start time of the next workpiece in the current process, and When the work acceptance time in the process is early, the manufacturing apparatus in the current process is made to wait. In addition, the workpiece can be temporarily stored in a storage unit provided in the conveyance path. This Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-12837 is to perform workpiece processing in the next process when the processing of the workpiece in the current process is finished in order, and does not perform the same processing on the workpiece with a plurality of machine tools in each processing cell. Further, the acceptable time and the processing start time are compared to determine whether the manufacturing apparatus waits for the workpiece or to send it to the storage unit, which is different from the present invention.

By the way, for example, when the counter value is 2 and the workpiece W is transported by the machine tool B1, if the machine tool B1 of the processing cell B is stopped due to failure, maintenance or adjustment of the production number, the counter is counted in step S212. The value is further incremented by 1 and conveyed to the machine tool 2A. If it does in this way, the workpiece | work W will be biased to the processing cell 2A that the workpiece | work W was conveyed so that it might become substantially equal to the processing cell 2A, respectively, and the workpiece | work W of all machine tools A1, A2 in the processing cell 2A. When processing is performed and the workpiece W cannot be carried in, there is a problem that conveyance by the conveyor 23 is often stopped. For this reason, there is a problem that the waiting time of the transfer line and the machine tool becomes large and the production efficiency is deteriorated due to the non-uniform operation rate. Therefore, in order to make the operating rate of each processing cell 2A, 2B uniform and prevent a decrease in production efficiency, the program of the flowchart shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 must be changed, and specialized knowledge is required. In order to change the program, there is a problem that the transport line 21 must be stopped for a long time. There is also a problem that the program must be changed when the number of machine tools in operation is increased. Further, as described above, the ring counter is set so that the workpiece W is evenly conveyed to the machining cell 2A and the machining cell 2B. However, when the actual workpiece W is machined, the machining cell 2A and the machining cell are processed. 2B, the transport distance to the processing cell 2A downstream (rear) in the transport direction of the conveyor 23 is long, and due to the difference in the transport distance, a long waiting time is generated in the processing cell 2A downstream of the conveyor 23. It has been confirmed by the present applicant that there is a problem that the efficiency decreases.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is not necessary to stop the transfer line for a long time, and a long waiting time is generated in the processing cell on the downstream side in the transfer direction of the conveyor, so that the production efficiency is improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer line that can efficiently distribute workpieces so as not to decrease.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first problem solving means includes at least two or more rows of machining cells each including a plurality of machine tools that perform the same machining on a workpiece and a first conveyance device that conveys the workpiece to the machine tool. A second transport device that is arranged in parallel and transports the workpiece to each processing cell is provided, a work stopper that can stop or pass the workpiece transported by the second transport device in the processing cell is provided, In a transfer line configured to distribute to processing cells, the second transfer device is provided with a storage unit for temporarily storing a plurality of workpieces corresponding to each processing cell, and whether the storage unit is filled with workpieces A full workpiece detection sensor is provided to detect whether the workpiece is filled based on the output signal from the full workpiece detection sensor, and the workpiece cell is filled from the machining cell to another machining cell. It is configured to transfer the workpiece to the storage unit of another processing cell when the full workpiece determination unit determines that the workpiece is filled in the storage unit of a certain processing cell. It is.

  Further, the second problem solving means is configured such that the storage unit is provided with the work stopper capable of stopping or passing a work on a conveyor as a second transport device, and the work is transported by the work stopper. When the storage unit corresponding to the processing cell on the downstream side in the conveyor direction is temporarily stopped by the storage unit corresponding to the processing cell on the upstream side in the direction, and the storage unit corresponding to the processing cell on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyor is When the work is transported from the storage part to the downstream storage part through the work stopper and the downstream storage part is determined to be filled with the work, the work is moved to the upstream storage part where the work is temporarily stopped. Is to keep.

  Further, according to a third problem solving means, the storage unit is provided such that the full work detection sensor is movable in an installation position, and the full work detection sensor moves the number of workpieces that can be stored in the storage unit. Can be adjusted.

  In the first problem solving means of the present application, a storage unit for temporarily storing a plurality of workpieces corresponding to each processing cell is provided in the second transport device, and it is detected whether the storage unit is filled with workpieces. A full work detection sensor is provided, and it is equipped with full work detection means that can determine whether the work is filled by the output signal from the full work detection sensor and transfer the work from the processing cell filled with the work to another processing cell. When the full workpiece discriminating means determines that the workpiece is filled in the storage unit of a certain processing cell, the workpiece is transferred to the storage unit of another processing cell. In this way, a storage unit is provided on the conveyor corresponding to the processing cell, and the conveyed work is stored in the storage unit of a certain processing cell, and when the storage unit of this certain processing cell is filled with the workpiece, Since the workpiece is conveyed to the machining cell, even if the machine tool of the machining cell that is in trouble or maintenance is stopped, the workpiece can be stored in the storage unit to absorb the deviation of the workpiece. In addition, since the work is being processed by each machine tool, the conveyor is stopped due to the inability to transfer the work, and the waiting time of the transfer device and machine tool is reduced, thereby preventing deterioration in production efficiency. There is. In addition, even if the number of machine tools in the machining cell is increased or decreased, it is only determined whether each storage unit is a full workpiece. Therefore, the workpiece is transferred to the second transfer device regardless of the movable state of the machine tool in each machining cell. Since it can be transported, there is no need to change the program according to the number of machine tools.

  Further, in the second problem solving means, the storage unit is provided with the work stopper capable of stopping or passing a work on a conveyor as a second transport device, and the work is transported by the work stopper to the conveyor. When the storage unit corresponding to the processing cell on the downstream side in the conveyor direction is temporarily stopped by the storage unit corresponding to the processing cell on the upstream side in the direction, and the storage unit corresponding to the processing cell on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyor is When the work is transported from the storage part to the downstream storage part through the work stopper and the downstream storage part is determined to be filled with the work, the work is moved to the upstream storage part where the work is temporarily stopped. It is characterized by storing. According to this, when the storage part on the downstream side in the transport direction of the conveyor is not filled with the work, the work is preferentially supplied to the storage part on the downstream side in the transport direction of the conveyor. Since the transport distance from the upstream storage unit to the downstream storage unit is long, a decrease in production efficiency due to the waiting time generated in the downstream processing cell is prevented, and the production efficiency is improved.

  In the third problem-solving means, the storage unit is provided with the full-work detection sensor so that the installation position is movable, and the full-work detection sensor moves the number of workpieces that can be stored in the storage unit. Since the number of workpieces in the storage unit can be changed easily, and the distribution of workpieces to each processing cell can be changed by moving the position of the full workpiece detection sensor without changing the program. Since the program is changed, the conveyance line is not stopped for a long time, so that the production efficiency is not lowered.

It is a top view which shows the outline | summary of the conveyance line of this invention. It is a side view which shows the outline | summary of a conveyance line. It is a flowchart which shows the program of a conveyance line. It is a top view which shows the outline | summary of the conveyance line of 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the outline | summary of the conveyance line of a prior art. It is a flowchart of a prior art. It is a flowchart of a prior art.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer line 1 includes a plurality of machine tools M that perform the same processing on the workpiece W, and a workpiece transfer loader (first transfer device) 2 that transfers the workpiece W to each machine tool M. A processing cell (processing unit) is configured from the above, a plurality of the processing cells are arranged in parallel (three rows in the embodiment of the present application), and the conveyor conveys the workpiece W to the processing cells A, B, and C arranged in parallel. (Second transport device) 3 is provided. In addition to the conveyor 3, an unloading conveyor 12 is provided for unloading the workpiece W processed in the processing cells A, B, and C to the next process.

  The conveyor 3 is provided with an escape (feeding device) 4 that allows only one workpiece W conveyed to the conveyor 3 to be conveyed at a position corresponding to each processing cell A, B, C. The escape 4 feeds only one workpiece W to the workpiece stoppers 5a, 5b, and 5c so that the workpiece transfer loader 2 can grip only one workpiece without interfering with other workpieces W stored in a storage unit described later. Is. The conveyor 3 has workpiece stoppers 5a, 5b, and 5c that can stop the workpiece W conveyed at positions corresponding to the processing cells A, B, and C, and the workpiece stoppers 5a, 5b, and 5c. Are provided with workpiece detection sensors 6a, 6b, 6c for detecting the arrival of. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the work stopper 5a of the processing cell A downstream of the conveyor 3 in the transport direction, that is, in front of the transport direction (the right side of the conveyor 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2) is fixed. The work stoppers 5b and 5c for B and C can be moved by, for example, a cylinder, and the work W can be passed downstream in the conveying direction of the conveyor 3. The work stoppers 5b and 5c are normally closed.

  Further, the conveyor 3 is located at a position corresponding to each of the processing cells A and B except for the processing cell C at the most upstream in the transport direction of the conveyor 3, that is, at the end of the transport direction (the left end of the conveyor 3 in FIGS. 1 and 2). Full work detection sensors 7a and 7b are provided so as to be movable in the installation position. Between the full work detection sensors 7a and 7b and the work stoppers 5a and 5b, a plurality of pieces are provided on the conveyor 3 at positions corresponding to the processing cells A and B excluding the processing cell C at the most upstream in the conveying direction of the conveyor 3. The storage units (buffers) 8a and 8b for temporarily storing the workpieces W are configured. The storage units 8a and 8b can adjust the number of workpieces W to be stored by moving the full workpiece detection sensors 7a and 7b along the conveying direction of the conveyor 3, and will be described later. It is possible to respond to changes in the number of M operating and the number of production. A storage unit (buffer) 8c for temporarily holding one work W on the conveyor 3 corresponding to the processing cell C is provided.

  Moreover, the conveyance line 1 is provided with the control apparatus, and conveyance of the workpiece | work W is controlled by the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 stored in the control apparatus. This program will be described. Steps S102, S107, and S112 are the positions where the workpiece W corresponds to the processing cells A, B, and C by the workpiece detection sensors 6a, 6b, and 6c (that is, the workpieces of the processing cells A, B, and C in FIG. 1). It is a work detection means for detecting whether the work W on the conveyor 3 is at a position where the work loader 2 can carry the work W). Steps S103 and S108 are full work determination means for determining whether the upstream storage units 8a and 8b are filled with the work W based on the ON / OFF output signals of the full work detection sensors 7a and 7b upstream in the transport direction of the conveyor 3. is there. Steps S <b> 104 and S <b> 109 are workpiece loading determination means for determining whether the workpiece W can be loaded into any of the machine tools M in each of the machining cells B and C.

  Steps S <b> 105, S <b> 110, and S <b> 113 are loader transporting units that transport the workpiece W to the machine tool M of the processing cells A, B, and C at corresponding positions by the work transporting loader 2. In steps S106 and S111, when the downstream storage units A and B are not filled with the workpiece W by turning off the full workpiece detection sensors 7a and 7b, the workpiece stoppers 5b and 5c are opened and the conveyor 3 on which the workpiece W is stopped is opened. Opening the work stoppers 5b and 5c to transfer the workpiece W from the position corresponding to the processing cells B and C upstream in the transfer direction to the position corresponding to the next processing cell A and B downstream in the transfer direction of the conveyor 3 Means.

  Next, the operation will be described. Here, for example, the number of machine tools M in each processing cell A, B, C is five, and the number of workpieces W stored in each storage unit 8a, 8b is four. When the workpiece W is conveyed from the previous process to the conveyor 3, the workpiece W is conveyed by the conveyor 3 in step S101, and the workpiece W arrives at a position corresponding to the processing cell C in step S102 and is detected by the workpiece detection sensor 6c. In step S103, it is determined whether the storage unit 8b corresponding to the processing cell B is filled with the workpiece W. If the work W is not filled in the storage unit 8b, the full work detection sensor 7b is OFF, so the work stopper 5c is opened in step S106. Then, in step S107, the workpiece W is conveyed by the conveyor 3, and the workpiece detection sensor 6b detects that the workpiece W exists at a position corresponding to the processing cell B.

  Next, in step S108, it is determined whether or not the storage unit 8a corresponding to the processing cell A is filled with the workpiece W. If the work W is not filled in the storage unit 8a, the full work detection sensor 7a is OFF, so the work stopper 5b is opened in step S111. Then, in step S112, the workpiece W is conveyed to the storage unit 8a by the conveyor 3, and the workpiece detection sensor 6a detects that the workpiece W exists at a position corresponding to the machining cell A, and the machine tool M in the machining cell A is empty. If there is, the workpiece is transferred to the machine tool M in the processing cell A by the workpiece transfer loader 2 in step S113, the processing of the program shown in FIG. 3 for one workpiece W is finished, and the transfer of the next workpiece W is started. Is done. If the machining cell A is not empty, the workpiece W is stored in the storage unit 8a corresponding to the machining cell A. When the machining cell A is empty, the workpiece W is transferred to the machining cell A in step S113, and one workpiece W is stored. The process for the workpiece W ends. When the workpiece W is waiting in the storage unit A, the conveyance of the next workpiece W is started.

  Next, the case where the machine tool M of the machining cell A and the storage unit 8a at the position corresponding to the machining cell A are filled with the workpiece W will be described. When the workpiece W is conveyed from the previous process to the conveyor 3, steps S101 to S107 are executed as described above. Since the full work detection sensor 7a is ON in step S108, the work stopper 5b remains closed. If it proceeds to step S109 and can be transferred to the processing cell B, the work W is transferred to the processing cell B, and the program shown in FIG. Is finished. Similarly, when the machine tool M of the processing cells A and B and the storage units 8a and 8b are filled with the workpiece W, the workpiece W is transferred to the machine tool M of the processing cell C through steps S103 to S105. In a state where the workpiece W is processed in the processing cell C, the operations in the processing cells A, B, and C are uniform, and efficient processing is performed.

  Next, when the processing cells A, B, and C and the storage units 8a and 8b are filled with the workpiece W, when the workpiece W is conveyed by the conveyor 3 in steps S101 and S102, the full workpiece detection sensor in step S103. Since 7b is ON and NO in step S104, the process is completed through steps S108 and S109, and the position corresponding to the processing cell C becomes the storage unit 8c without the work W being transported. W is stored. At this time, since the workpiece | work W cannot be conveyed from the previous process to the conveyor 3, conveyance to the conveyor 3 is stopped. In each processing cell A, B, C, the workpiece W is processed. For example, when the machine tool M in the processing cell A is empty, the workpiece W stored in the storage unit 8a is used as the machine tool in the processing cell A. It is conveyed to M. When the machine tool M in the processing cell C is empty, the workpiece W in the storage unit 8c is transferred to the machine tool M in the processing cell C. Then, the workpiece W from the previous process can be conveyed to the conveyor 3, and step S <b> 101 to step S <b> 113 are repeated for that one workpiece W.

  Next, a case where the number of machine tools M is changed in each processing cell A, B, C will be described. For example, if one machine tool M is stopped due to a failure in the processing cell B, the number of machine tools M in the processing cell B is changed from four to three. Even in this case, the conveyance line 1 can be operated as it is without changing the program. At this time, the number of workpieces W stored in the storage unit 8b can be changed by moving the position of the full workpiece detection sensor 7b of the storage unit 8b to an appropriate position, and the bias of the workpiece W to a certain processing cell can be reduced. it can. When changing the number of storage units 8a and 8b, it is only necessary to move the full work detection sensors 7a and 7b, there is no need to change the program, and the transfer line 1 is not stopped. There is no invitation. Further, when all the processing cells are stopped for maintenance or the like, the workpiece W cannot be carried into the machining cell. Therefore, when the machining cells B and C are stopped, a signal indicating that loading cannot be performed from the machining cells B and C is performed. In the case of the machining cell A, the transfer line 1 can be operated by another machining cell without changing the program by always turning on the full work detection sensor 7a.

  Thus, even when the machine tool M of the processing cells A, B, and C is stopped or when the processing cells A, B, and C are stopped, it is not necessary to change the program. No knowledge is required, and since it is not necessary to stop the transfer line 1 for a long time in order to change the program, it is possible to prevent a decrease in production efficiency. In addition, since the work is preferentially conveyed to the processing cell downstream of the conveyor 3, no waiting time is generated in the processing cell downstream in the conveying direction. Further, a plurality of workpieces W are stored in the storage units 8a and 8b, and the workpieces W are uniformly and efficiently distributed to the processing cells A, B, and C by setting the full workpiece detection sensors 7a and 7b to appropriate positions. I try to do it. These can also improve production efficiency. The positions of the full workpiece detection sensors 7a and 7b are determined when the workpiece W is machined in each machining cell A, B, C while observing the machining state of the workpiece W in each machining cell A, B, C at the production site. It is determined by the worker so as to improve the production efficiency.

  FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment, and the same parts as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. A plurality of processing cells A, B, and C are arranged in parallel as in the above-described embodiment, and the conveyor 3 is branched into three toward each processing cell A, B, and C downstream in the transport direction. A branch portion work stopper 10 is provided at the branch portion 9 of the conveyor 3. When it is detected by the branch part workpiece detection sensor 11 that the workpiece W conveyed from the previous process has arrived at the branch part 9, which processing cell A, B, It is determined whether or not the C storage units 8a, 8b, and 8c are filled with the workpiece W. At this time, when the workpiece W is not filled with a plurality of processing cells A, B, and C, it is determined that the workpiece W is transported in the order of the processing cells A, B, and C having a long transport distance. W is conveyed. When the storage unit 8a of the machining cell A detects that the workpiece W is filled by the full workpiece detection sensor 7a, the workpiece W is transferred to the storage unit 8b of the processing cell B, and the storage unit 8b of the processing cell B When filled with W, it is transported to the storage unit 8c of the processing cell C.

  When it is detected that the storage units 8a, 8b, 8c of all the processing cells A, B, C are filled with the workpiece W by the full workpiece detection sensors 7a, 7b, 7c, the workpiece W is branched by the branching unit 9. It is stored by the work stopper 10 in the same manner as in the above embodiment, and waits for the storage units 8a, 8b, 8c of any of the processing cells A, B, C to become free. When any one of the storage units 8a, 8b, and 8c is vacant, the branch part work stopper 10 is opened, and the workpiece W is conveyed by the conveyor 3 from the branch part 9 to the vacant storage part. Also in this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the processing state is confirmed so that the worker can efficiently distribute the positions of the full work detection sensors 7a, 7b, 7c to the processing cells A, B, C. However, it is determined at an appropriate position. Thereby, even if the machine tool M of the processing cells A, B, and C stops or increases due to a failure or the like, the transfer line 1 is produced by the worker moving the full work detection sensors 7a, 7b, and 7c. Efficient processing can be performed. At this time, since the program does not have to be changed, the conveyance line 1 is not stopped for a long time, and the production efficiency is not lowered.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance line 2 Workpiece conveyance loader (first conveyance device)
3 Conveyor (second transport device)
5a, 5b, 5c Work stopper 7a, 7b Full work detection sensor 8a, 8b Storage part A, B, C Processing cell M Machine tool W Workpiece

Claims (3)

2nd conveyance which conveys a work to each processing cell by arranging in parallel at least 2 or more rows of processing cells which consist of a plurality of machine tools which perform the same processing to a work, and a 1st conveyance device which conveys a work to a machine tool In the conveying line configured to distribute the work to each processing cell by providing a device, providing a work stopper capable of stopping or passing the work conveyed by the second conveying device in the processing cell,
The second transport device is provided with a storage unit for temporarily storing a plurality of workpieces corresponding to each processing cell, and a full workpiece detection sensor for detecting whether the workpieces are filled is provided in the storage unit to detect full workpieces. It is equipped with a full work discrimination means that makes it possible to transfer a workpiece from a machining cell filled with a workpiece to another machining cell by determining whether the workpiece is filled by the output signal from the sensor. A transfer line configured to transfer a workpiece to a storage unit of another processing cell when the determination unit determines that the workpiece is filled.   The storage unit is configured by providing the work stopper capable of stopping or passing a work on a conveyor as a second transfer device, and storing the work corresponding to a processing cell on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the conveyor by the work stopper. When the storage unit corresponding to the processing cell on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor is determined not to be filled with the workpiece by the full workpiece determination means, the upstream storage unit moves to the downstream storage unit. The workpiece is transported by passing the workpiece stopper, and when it is determined that the downstream storage unit is filled with the workpiece, the workpiece is stored in the upstream storage unit once stopped. The conveyance line according to 1.   The storage unit is provided such that the full work detection sensor is movable in an installation position, and the number of workpieces that can be stored in the storage unit can be adjusted by moving the full work detection sensor. The conveyance line according to 1 or 2.

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