JP2020059086A - Loader - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a loader capable of supplying fluid for a desired part.SOLUTION: A loader 2 includes a supply part 216 and zippers 214a, 214b which are relatively movable with respect to the supply part 216 and can grip/release workpieces W, Wa, Wb. The supply part 216 can supply at least either the workpieces W, Wa, Wb gripped by the zippers 214a, 214b or the zippers 214a, 214b with fluid A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present disclosure relates to a loader used to transfer a work.

  Chips and coolant may adhere to the work after processing. In this respect, the nozzle is fixed to the work mounting portion of the chuck of the loader of Patent Document 1. The nozzle ejects fluid from the radially inner side onto the cylindrical work held by the chuck. The fluid can clean the inner peripheral surface of the work.

International Publication No. 2015/141298 Pamphlet

  In the case of the loader of Patent Document 1, the nozzle is fixed to the chuck. That is, the relative position of the chuck with respect to the nozzle remains unchanged. For this reason, it is possible to clean only the inner peripheral surface of the work (specifically, the portion where the fluid ejected from the nozzle hits). Thus, in the case of the loader of Patent Document 1, the part of the work that can be cleaned is fixed. Then, this indication aims at providing the loader which can supply fluid to a desired part.

  In order to solve the above problems, a loader of the present disclosure includes a supply unit and a chuck that is movable relative to the supply unit and that can grip and release a work, and the supply unit includes A fluid can be supplied to at least one of the work held by the chuck and the chuck.

  According to the loader of the present disclosure, the chuck is movable relative to the supply unit. Therefore, the fluid can be supplied to a desired portion of at least one of the work gripped by the chuck and the chuck.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lathe. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a frame III in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the loader's hand in the second step. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the hand of the loader of another embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the loader of the present disclosure will be described. The loader is located on the lathe.

(Lathe structure)
First, the configuration of a lathe including the loader of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the lathe. FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. Note that FIG. 2 shows the cleaning work of the processed work Wb. Further, in FIG. 2, the lower part of the base 9 is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lathe 1 of the present embodiment includes a loader 2, a cleaning station 3, a headstock 4, a tool rest 5, a housing 7, and a base 9. For convenience of explanation, the housing 7 is shown transparently. The housing 7 has a box shape. The housing 7 is arranged on the upper surface of the base 9. A processing chamber 70 is defined inside the housing 7. The headstock 4 includes a spindle 40 and a spindle chuck 41. The headstock 4 is arranged on the front side of the upper surface of the base 9. The headstock 4 is arranged inside the processing chamber 70. The main shaft 40 is rotatable around an axis extending in the left-right direction (main axis direction). The spindle chuck 41 is arranged on the right side of the spindle 40. The spindle chuck 41 is rotatable with the spindle 40. The spindle chuck 41 can grip and release the cylindrical work W from the radially inner side. The cleaning station 3 has a box shape that opens upward. The cleaning station 3 is arranged outside the processing chamber 70. Specifically, the cleaning station 3 is arranged between the base 9 and the housing 7 and the right-side relay device 6 described later. The cleaning station 3 is arranged on the right side of the headstock 4 (downstream side in the transport path of the work W when viewed from the headstock 4). The tool table 5 is arranged on the rear side of the upper surface of the base 9. The tool table 5 is arranged inside the processing chamber 70. The tool table 5 includes a turret 50. A plurality of tools T are detachably attached to the outer periphery of the turret 50.

  The loader 2 includes a traveling base 20 and a carrier 21. The traveling platform 20 includes a pair of left and right column parts 200 and a lateral beam part 201. The pair of left and right supporting columns 200 is provided upright from both lateral edges of the base 9 toward the upper side. The lateral beam portion 201 connects between the upper ends of the pair of left and right column portions 200. The lateral beam portion 201 extends in the left-right direction. The left and right ends of the lateral beam portion 201 respectively extend to the relay device 6 described later.

  The carrier 21 can convey the work W inside and outside the processing chamber 70 through an opening (not shown) of the housing 7. The carrier 21 includes a horizontal slide 210, a vertical slide 211, an arm 212, a hand 213, a pair of chucks 214a and 214b, a pipe 215, and a plurality of nozzles 216. The nozzle 216 is included in the concept of the “supply unit” of the present disclosure. As indicated by an arrow Y1 in FIG. 1, the horizontal slide 210 is movable in the left-right direction (horizontal direction) with respect to the horizontal beam portion 201. As shown by an arrow Y2 in FIG. 2, the vertical slide 211 is movable in the vertical direction (vertical direction) with respect to the horizontal slide 210. As shown by an arrow Y3 in FIG. 2, the arm 212 is movable in the vertical direction with respect to the vertical slide 211. The hand 213 projects rearward (horizontal direction) from the lower end (tip) of the arm 212. The hand 213 can rotate around its own axis. The pair of chucks 214 a and 214 b are attached to the tip of the hand 213. The chucks 214a and 214b can hold and release the work W. The chucks 214 a and 214 b can transfer the work W to and from the spindle chuck 41. The chucks 214a and 214b can transfer the work W to and from the tray 61 of the relay device 6 described later.

  The pipe 215 is attached to the arm 212. The pipe 215 is movable together with the arm 212. The pipe 215 is relatively movable with respect to the hand 213 or the like (the work W when the work W is gripped by at least one of the hand 213, the pair of chucks 214a and 214b, and the pair of chucks 214a and 214b). Is. A compressor (fluid transportation device, not shown) is connected to the upstream end of the pipe 215. The compressor is arranged on the base 9. The compressor can supply the air A to the pipe 215. Air A is included in the “fluid” concept of the present disclosure. A tip portion (downstream end portion) 215a of the pipe 215 extends in the horizontal direction. The tip portion 215a is arranged on the upper side of the hand 213 or the like with a predetermined gap therebetween. The plurality of nozzles 216 are opened on the lower wall of the tip portion 215a. The plurality of nozzles 216 are arranged in a line in the front-rear direction with a predetermined interval therebetween. The nozzle 216 can inject the air A downward.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right relay devices 6 is arranged on both left and right outer sides of the lathe 1. The relay device 6 includes a base 60 and a plurality of trays 61. The trays 61 are annularly arranged on the upper surface of the base 60. The positions of the plurality of trays 61 can be switched by a shift device (not shown). The work W is placed on the tray 61.

(Work movement)
Next, the movement of the work during processing and cleaning will be described. According to an instruction from a control device (not shown) of the lathe 1, the loader 2 conveys the work W in the order of the left relay device 6, the lathe 1, and the right relay device 6. The transfer route of the work W is a movement route of the work W by the loader 2 from the carry-in position (work-piece W take-out position) P1 to the carry-out position P4 (work-piece W release position). A carry-in position P1, a processing position P2, a cleaning position P3, and a carry-out position P4 are set on the transport path of the work W. Here, when the carry-in position P1 and the carry-out position P4 are connected by an imaginary straight line, the direction from the carry-in position P1 to the carry-out position P4 (the direction from the left side to the right side) is referred to as the “forward direction”. The reverse direction (direction from the right side to the left side) is defined as the "reverse feed direction". The work W is transported in the order of the loading position P1, the processing position P2, the cleaning position P3, and the unloading position P4 in the forward direction.

  First, at the carry-in position P1, the first chuck 214a of the pair of chucks 214a, 214b of the loader 2 takes out the unprocessed work Wa from the tray 61. Next, the loader 2 carries the unprocessed work Wa from the carry-in position P1 to the processing position P2. At the processing position P2, the processed work Wb is waiting on the spindle chuck 41. Attached matter (for example, chips and coolant) is attached to the processed work Wb. The processed work Wb is delivered from the spindle chuck 41 to the second chuck 214b. The unprocessed work Wa is delivered from the first chuck 214a to the spindle chuck 41. The tool T performs a predetermined process on the unprocessed work Wa.

  Subsequently, the loader 2 conveys the processed work Wb from the processing position P2 to the cleaning position P3. The cleaning position P3 is set inside the cleaning station 3. At the cleaning position P3, the processed work Wb is cleaned. The cleaning work of the processed work Wb has a first step and a second step. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view within the frame III of FIG. FIG. 3 shows the first step. FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the vicinity of the hand of the loader in the second step. FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG.

  As shown by arrow Y4 in FIG. 3, in the first step, the pair of chucks 214a and 214b are rotated with respect to the hand 213 about its own axis (the axis extending in the vertical direction). That is, the processed work Wb is rotated around its own axis. At the same time, the air A is jetted downward from the plurality of nozzles 216. The air A collides with the rotating work Wb, the chucks 214 a and 214 b, and the hand 213. The air A removes adhered substances from the work Wb, the chucks 214a and 214b, and the hand 213. The removed deposits are deposited on the lower surface (bottom surface) of the cleaning station 3.

  As shown by an arrow Y5 in FIG. 4, in the second step, the hand 213 is rotated with respect to the arm 212 about its own axis (the axis extending in the front-rear direction). That is, the processed work Wb is rotated around its own diameter. At the same time, the air A is jetted downward from the plurality of nozzles 216. The air A collides with the rotating work Wb, the chucks 214 a and 214 b, and the hand 213. The air A removes adhered substances from the work Wb, the chucks 214a and 214b, and the hand 213. The removed deposits are deposited on the lower surface (bottom surface) of the cleaning station 3. Then, the loader 2 carries the cleaned work Wb from the cleaning position P3 shown in FIG. 1 to the carry-out position P4.

(Action effect)
Next, the function and effect of the loader of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the hand 213 and the like are relatively movable with respect to the plurality of nozzles 216. Therefore, as compared with the case where the nozzle 216 is fixed to the chucks 214a and 214b, at least one desired portion (for example, the work Wb held by the chucks 214a and 214b, the chucks 214a and 214b, and the hand 213) is selected. The air A can be injected to a portion other than the inner peripheral surface of Wb). Therefore, the relevant part can be reliably cleaned.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air A can be blown while moving the hand 213 or the like. Therefore, as compared with the case where the hand 213 or the like is stopped and the air A is blown (also in this case, if the chucks 214a and 214b are movable relative to the nozzle 216, it is included in the scope of the present disclosure). Thus, the cleaning area of the hand 213 or the like can be increased.

  By performing the first step (FIG. 3, arrow Y4) and the second step (FIG. 4, arrow Y5), the air A can be blown while moving the hand 213 or the like in a plurality of directions. Therefore, the cleaning area of the hand 213 or the like can be increased. For example, the inner peripheral surface, the outer peripheral surface, and the end surface of the work Wb can be cleaned.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the pipe 215 and the plurality of nozzles 216 are arranged on the arm 212. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange a pipe or a nozzle in the cleaning station 3. Therefore, the configuration of the cleaning station 3 can be simplified. Further, since the cleaning station 3 has a simple structure, the degree of freedom of the installation place of the cleaning station 3 is increased.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the arm 212 and the chucks 214 a and 214 b are connected via a hand 213. Therefore, the air A can be blown to the hand 213 or the like from a position close to the hand 213 or the like. Therefore, the flow velocity of the air A is unlikely to drop between the nozzle 216 and the hand 213 or the like.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning position P3 of the work W is set between the processing position P2 on the left side and the carry-out position P4 on the right side. Therefore, as compared with the case where the cleaning position P3 is set to the left of the processing position P2 and the case where the cleaning position P3 is set to the right of the carry-out position P4, the work W is cleaned for cleaning work. There is no need to transport in the reverse direction. Therefore, the conveyance distance of the work W (the movement distance of the work W from the carry-in position P1 to the carry-out position P4) can be shortened. The cleaning position P3 is set inside the box-shaped cleaning station 3. Therefore, the attached matter blown off by the air A is accumulated in the cleaning station 3. Therefore, parts outside the cleaning station 3 (for example, the headstock 4, the tool stand 5, the traveling stand 20, the relay device 6 and the like) are less likely to be contaminated by the adhered matter.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of nozzles 216 are shared by the pair of chucks 214a and 214b. Therefore, the configuration of the pipe 215 and the nozzle 216 can be simplified as compared with the case where the dedicated nozzle 216 is arranged for each of the chucks 214a and 214b.

(Other)
The embodiments of the loader of the present disclosure have been described above. However, the embodiment is not particularly limited to the above embodiment. It is also possible to carry out various modifications and improvements that can be made by those skilled in the art.

  FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view around the hand of the loader of another embodiment. The parts corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals (FIG. 5 corresponds to the frame III in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 5, the pair of chucks 214 a and 214 b may be arranged 90 ° apart (180 ° in FIG. 3) with respect to the hand 213. Further, as shown by an arrow Y6, the air A may be blown onto the hand 213 or the like while rotating. Further, the work Wb may be attached to each of the pair of chucks 214a and 214b. That is, the pair of works Wb may be cleaned at the same time. Further, a single nozzle 216 may be arranged at the tip of the pipe 215. Further, the cleaning work may be performed in a state where the work Wb is not attached to both of the pair of chucks 214a and 214b. That is, at least one of the hand 213 and the chucks 214a and 214b may be cleaned. At least one of the configurations of the loader shown in FIG. 5 may be incorporated in the loader shown in FIG.

  In the cleaning operation shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the air A may be blown onto the nozzle 216 while the chucks 214a and 214b are continuously (slope-like) rotated. Further, the air A may be blown to the nozzle 216 while intermittently (stepwise) rotating the chucks 214a and 214b. When the chucks 214a and 214b are rotated intermittently, the chucks 214a and 214b are repeatedly rotated and stopped at predetermined angles. The air A may be blown to the hand 213 or the like at least during one of rotation and stop.

  The rotation directions of the chucks 214a and 214b are not particularly limited. It may be rotated around the central axis of the work W. Further, the hand 213 may be rotated around the central axis. The movement mode of the chucks 214a and 214b with respect to the plurality of nozzles 216 is not particularly limited. It may be rotational movement or linear movement (vertical movement, lateral movement, forward-backward movement, etc.). The hand 213 or the like may be cleaned while moving the carrier 21 with respect to the lateral beam portion 201 of the traveling platform 20. In this way, downtime required for cleaning can be reduced.

  The moving directions of the chucks 214a and 214b with respect to the nozzle 216 during the cleaning operation may be single or plural. For example, the chucks 214a and 214b may be rotated with respect to the nozzle 216 while being linearly moved. Further, the chucks 214a and 214b may be simultaneously rotated in two directions with respect to the nozzle 216. Further, the chucks 214a and 214b may be simultaneously moved linearly in two directions with respect to the nozzle 216.

  The installation place of the cleaning station 3 is not particularly limited. The cleaning station 3 may or may not be provided on the lathe 1. The cleaning station 3 may be arranged outside the processing chamber 70 or inside the processing chamber 70, for example. When the cleaning station 3 is arranged outside the processing chamber 70, the inside of the processing chamber 70 (for example, the headstock 4, the tool base 5, etc.) is less likely to get dirty during the cleaning work. On the other hand, when the cleaning station 3 is arranged inside the processing chamber 70, the outside of the processing chamber 70 (for example, the relay device 6 on the right side) is less likely to get dirty during the cleaning work.

  The type of fluid ejected from the nozzle 216 is not particularly limited. It may be gas (air A, nitrogen, etc.) or liquid (cleaning liquid, coolant, etc.). In addition, the fluid may contain solids (powder or granular material). The position, shape, size (opening area), number of arrangements, and fluid ejection angle of the nozzle 216 with respect to the pipe 215 are not particularly limited. The number of the nozzles 216 arranged may be single or plural. The nozzle 216 may be shared by the plurality of chucks 214a and 214b. On the contrary, a dedicated nozzle 216 may be arranged for each of the plurality of chucks 214a and 214b. The number of chucks 214a and 214b arranged in the loader 2 is not particularly limited. It may be single or plural. The supply unit (nozzle 216) may be capable of discharging the fluid from the inside of the pipe 215 to the outside. The flow velocity of the fluid is not particularly limited. That is, it may not be "injection".

  The position, shape (extended shape, cross-sectional shape), size, and number of arrangements of the pipe 215 with respect to the arm 212 are not particularly limited. For example, the extension shape of the pipe 215 may be linear, L-shaped, S-shaped, or the like. The pipe 215 may be branched in the middle. The cross-sectional area of the pipe 215 may be the same or different over the entire length of the pipe 215. The number of the pipes 215 arranged may be single or plural. For example, a pipe 215 for coolant and a pipe 215 for air may be arranged on the arm 212. Further, a pipe 215 for both coolant and air may be arranged on the arm 212.

  The location of the nozzle 216 is not particularly limited. It is only necessary that the chucks 214a and 214b can be moved relative to each other. For example, it may be a part of the carrier 21 other than the chucks 214a and 214b (horizontal slide 210, vertical slide 211, etc.). The purpose of ejecting the fluid onto the hand 213 or the like is not particularly limited. For example, cleaning or cooling may be performed. The shape of the work W is not particularly limited. The work W may be solid (cylindrical, prismatic, etc.) or hollow (cylindrical, prismatic, etc.).

  The type of loader 2 is not particularly limited. In the case of a gantry loader (orthogonal loader, biaxial loader, triaxial loader, etc.), the horizontal beam portion 201 is arranged above the processing position P2 with a space. Therefore, the horizontal beam portion 201 is unlikely to get dirty. Therefore, the carrier 21 can be moved smoothly.

  A fluid supply device (fluid transportation device (compressor, pump, etc.), pipe 215, nozzle 216) may be additionally arranged in the existing loader 2. The types of chucks 214a and 214b, the number of arrangements, and the number of claws are not particularly limited. An inner diameter chuck that grips the inner peripheral surface of the work W from the radial inner side, an outer diameter chuck that grips the outer peripheral surface of the work W from the radial outer side, and the like may be used.

  The type of machine tool in which the loader 2 is arranged is not particularly limited. It may be a horizontal lathe, a front lathe, a vertical lathe, a single-axis lathe, a double-axis lathe, a milling machine, a drilling machine, a milling cell, a turning center, a machining center or the like. The loader 2 may be arranged independently of the lathe 1.

  1: Lathe, 2: Loader, 3: Cleaning station, 4: Headstock, 5: Tool rest, 6: Relay device, 7: Housing, 9: Base, 20: Traveling platform, 21: Carrier, 40: Spindle, 41 : Spindle chuck, 50: Turret, 60: Base, 61: Tray, 70: Processing chamber, 200: Support part, 201: Horizontal beam part, 210: Horizontal slide, 211: Vertical slide, 212: Arm, 213: Hand, 214a : Chuck, 214b: chuck, 215: piping, 215a: tip part, 216: nozzle (supply part), A: air (fluid), P1: carry-in position, P2: machining position, P3: cleaning position, P4: carry-out position , T: Tool, W to Wb: Work

Claims (4)

Supply section,
A chuck that is movable relative to the supply unit and that can grip and release a work,
Equipped with
The supply unit is a loader capable of supplying a fluid to at least one of the work gripped by the chuck and the chuck.   The loader according to claim 1, wherein the supply unit can supply the fluid while moving the chuck with respect to the supply unit.   The loader according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply unit is disposed on an arm that is movable relative to the chuck.   The loader according to claim 1, wherein the chuck is movable in a plurality of directions relative to the supply unit.

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