JP2855942B2 - Flexible transfer machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer machine for sequentially transferring a work to a plurality of processing stations each having a machine tool and processing the work at the processing stations. The present invention relates to a machine suitable for machining a work having two cylindrical portions extending in opposite directions from both sides of a central portion thereof, and more particularly to a flexible transfer machine applicable to a plurality of kinds of works.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a work as described above, for example, FIG.
There is a banjo-type rear axle housing 1 shown in FIG. 3 which is a kind of a rear axle housing for accommodating a rear axle of an automobile and commonly used for a rigid type rear suspension. A bowl-shaped central portion 2 for accommodating the mechanism, and two cylindrical portions 3 extending in opposite directions from both sides of the central portion to accommodate left and right rear axles and rotatably support the rear axles. The cylindrical portion 3 is provided with a support bracket for a suspension spring, a coupling bracket for a suspension arm, and the like.

When machining the mounting holes and the like in each part of the banjo-type rear axle housing, generally, cylindrical portions 3 are integrally formed on both sides of the central portion 2 in order to easily secure the machining position accuracy. After the mechanical coupling, the processing is performed, and as a machine tool for efficiently performing such processing, for example, there is a transfer machine shown in FIGS.

[0004] This conventional transfer machine transports and processes a work while attached to a pallet.
As shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of processing stations 5 each having a machine tool 4 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. The banjo-type rear axle housing 1 as a work is mounted on a pallet 7 on which two fixing jigs 6 positioned back to back are mounted, and a work mounting station 5 and a processing station 5 are arranged adjacent to each other. And a work removal station for removing the rear axle housing 1 having been processed from the fixing jig 6 of the pallet 7, and further providing a transfer bar 8 extending through these stations at a distance between adjacent stations. And move the pallet 7 to the work mounting station. A transfer transfer device is provided for sequentially transferring the tact to each station from the loading station to the work removal station, and a pallet locator 9 for positioning and fixing the stopped pallet 7 is provided at each station.

In such a transfer machine,
First, the banjo-type rear axle housing 1 before processing is mounted on the two fixing jigs 6 one by one at a work mounting station, so that the pallet 7 is held in a positioning state by two for each pallet. Next, the transfer pallet 7 is conveyed to the plurality of processing stations 5 sequentially by the transfer conveying device by the transfer conveying device by reciprocating the transfer bar 8, and the pallet locator 9 is conveyed there. By positioning and fixing the pallet 7, the pallet 7
The two rear axle housings 1 held by the pallet 7 are respectively positioned and fixed at predetermined positions of the processing station via the fixing jigs 6 of the transfer bar 8.
The machine tools 4 positioned on both sides of the rear axle housing 1 perform processing such as piercing on the rear axle housing 1, and then the transfer transfer device further transfers the pallet 7 to the work removal station, and the processed pallet 7 is processed at the work removal station. Are removed from the fixing jig 6 of the pallet 7.

[0006]

The fixing jig 6 erected on the pallet 7 holds the banjo type rear axle housing 1 in a positioned state.
As shown in FIG. 14, the tip of the cylindrical portion 3 sandwiches the tip of the cylindrical portion 3 between the tip of the lever 12 driven by the screw shaft 11 screwed with the nut 10 and the V groove of the fixed portion 13. 15 with the clamping mechanism 14
As shown in the figure, a tube that holds the base of the cylindrical portion 3 by two movable blocks 17 that are driven by nuts 16 that are respectively screwed into screw portions that are screwed to each other and formed at two places on the drive shaft 15. As shown in FIG. 16, a plurality of camshafts 20 are driven up and down through a rack and pinion mechanism, a gear transmission mechanism, and a lever mechanism 19 by a screw shaft (not shown) screwed to a nut (not shown). The pressing pins 21 are moved back and forth in the axial direction of the central portion 2 (the left and right direction in FIG. 16), and the pressing pins 21 and the upper end are pivotally attached to the frame of the jig. The work mounting station and the work removal station are provided with various types of locks for the work mounting station and the work removal station. With operating the bar,
The nut 10 and the drive shaft 15 are rotated by a nut runner device to clamp or release the clamping mechanisms 14, 18, and 23, whereby the rear axle housing 1 is attached to and detached from the fixture 6 of the pallet 7. I have.

However, in such a conventional pallet feed type transfer machine, the positions of the holding portion 14 for holding the tubular portion of the fixing jig 6 of the pallet 7 and the holding portion 18 for holding the tubular portion of the tubular portion 3 are held. And the cylindrical part 3 that can be clamped
Since the thickness of the cylindrical portion 3 is fixed and the position of the center pinching mechanism 23 where the pressing pin 21 projects is also constant, the dimensions such as the thickness and length of the cylindrical portion 3 and the size of the central portion 2 are different. When a plurality of types of rear axle housings 1 are machined, a plurality of types of pallets 7 having fixing jigs 6 having different arrangements of the holding mechanisms according to their dimensions of the rear axle housing 1 are prepared, and a work is prepared. Empty pallet 7 from removal station to work loading station
It is necessary to provide a setup change station in the middle of the rerouting route, and at that setup change work, the operator performs a changeover work for changing the pallet 7 to be sent to the work mounting station according to the type of the rear axle housing 1 to be processed next. Therefore, there is a problem that the number of man-hours for the worker is increased and the time for the changeover is long, so that the production efficiency is reduced.

Further, in the structure in which the fixing jig 6 for positioning and fixing the rear axle housing 1 is provided on the pallet 7 which moves together with the work as described above, the arrangement and the like of each holding mechanism are changed with high precision.
It has been difficult to automatically perform a setup change corresponding to the type change.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a direct feed type for directly transporting a work without using a pallet is employed instead of a pallet feed type.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a transfer machine which advantageously solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional apparatus. Specifically, a flexible transfer machine of the present invention has a bowl-shaped central portion and a central portion having a central portion. A plurality of types of workpieces having two cylindrical portions extending in opposite directions from both sides are sequentially transported to a plurality of processing stations each including a machine tool, and are processed at the processing stations, Two cylindrical portion holding members that respectively hold the two cylindrical portions from below, holding member height changing means for changing the height of those cylindrical portion holding members, and the central portion in the radial direction. A transport center gripping means for gripping and positioning by moving the plurality of claws, and transporting the workpiece by positioning and holding the workpiece in a posture in which the two cylindrical portions extend in the horizontal direction. A caterer, two tubular portion clamping means for respectively clamping the two tubular portions, clamping means horizontal position changing means for respectively changing the horizontal position of the tubular portion clamping means, and the central portion. A fixing center gripping means for gripping and positioning by moving a plurality of claws in a radial direction at a position not interfering with the transporting center gripping means; A work clamper for positioning and fixing the work at a predetermined position with respect to the machine tool in such a posture that the tubular portion of the book extends in the horizontal direction, and each supporting the transfer locator, A plurality of transfer means for moving the transfer locator forward and backward with respect to the machine tool between a predetermined transfer position and a predetermined transfer position, and moving the plurality of transfer means between the respective processing stations. A transfer conveyor means for moving the, is characterized in that it comprises a.

[0010]

In such a transfer machine, first, transfer transfer means positions each transfer means at the processing station in front, and each transfer means positions each transfer locator at the transfer position, and at the transfer position, The holding member height changing means raises and moves the cylindrical part holding member to hold the cylindrical part from below by the cylindrical part holding member, and the transporting central part gripping means moves the central part to a plurality of parts in the radial direction. By gripping and positioning by the movement of the claws, each transport locator receives the workpiece from the workpiece clamper, and positions and holds the workpiece in such a position that the two tubular portions extend in the horizontal direction, and then After each transfer means retracts each transfer locator to the transfer position, the transfer transfer means sends each transfer means to the next processing station and moves. Here, after each delivery means advances each transport locator to the delivery position, the holding member height changing means lowers the tubular portion holding member to open the tubular portion, and the transport central portion gripping means moves to the center. Each transport locator releases the work by opening the portion by moving a plurality of claws in the radial direction.

In this case, in conjunction with the opening operation of each transport locator, at each processing station, the tubular portion clamping means clamps the tubular portion and the fixing central portion gripping means moves the transport central portion gripper. By gripping and positioning the central portion by moving a plurality of claws in the radial direction at a position not interfering with the means, each work clamper receives the work from each transport locator, and the two cylindrical portions are moved. It is positioned and fixed at a predetermined position with respect to the machine tool of the processing station in a posture extending in the horizontal direction, and thereafter, each transfer means retracts each transfer locator that has delivered the work to the work clamper to the transfer position. Then, the machine tool at each processing station processes the workpiece.

Here, while the machine tool is processing the work, here, the transfer conveying means moves each delivery means back to the processing station in front, and thereafter, when the processing of the work is completed, at each processing station. Then, each delivery means advances each transport locator to the delivery position, and then the tubular part holding means opens the tubular part, and the fixing central part gripping means moves the plurality of claws in the radial direction at the central part. Release, the respective work clampers release the work, and together with the opening operation of the work clamper, each transport locator that has advanced to the delivery position receives the work from each work clamper as described above. .

According to the transfer machine of the present invention, by repeating such a cycle as one cycle, the transfer machine according to the present invention includes a central portion of a bowl and two cylindrical portions extending in opposite directions from both sides of the central portion. It is possible to sequentially transport the workpieces having a plurality of processing stations to a plurality of processing stations and process the work at those processing stations.

Further, in the flexible transfer machine according to the present invention, the holding member height changing means changes the height of the cylindrical portion holding member, and the transporting central portion gripping means moves in the radial direction of the central portion. Since the central part is gripped by the movement of the plurality of claws, the transport locator can position the work at a predetermined position regardless of the thickness and length of the cylindrical part of the work, and the size of the central part, and change the horizontal position of the clamping means. Since the means changes the horizontal position of the cylindrical portion holding means and the fixing central portion gripping means grips the central portion by moving a plurality of claws in the radial direction of the central portion, the work clamper also changes the cylindrical portion of the work. The workpiece can be positioned at a predetermined position of the processing station regardless of the thickness, length, and size of the central portion of the work.

Therefore, according to the flexible transfer machine of the present invention, when a plurality of types of works as described above are processed, the works can be automatically transported and positioned without any setup without any processing. So
The number of workers can be reduced, and the production efficiency can be increased.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing one processing station in one embodiment of the flexible transfer machine of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the processing station, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the processing station. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a banjo-type rear axle housing as a work as in the prior art. The rear axle housing 1 has a bowl-shaped central portion 2 for accommodating a differential gear mechanism and extends in opposite directions from both sides of the central portion. And two cylindrical portions 3 for accommodating the left and right rear axles and rotatably supporting the rear axles.

The transfer machine of this embodiment for processing the rear axle housing 1 is of a so-called direct feed type which directly conveys a work without using a pallet. As shown in FIGS. Machine tools 31 operated by numerical control, such as machining centers
In FIG. 1, a plurality of processing stations 32 are provided, aligned in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and adjacent to the beginning and end of the row of the processing stations 32, for example, which are conveyed by a conveyor. The banjo type rear axle housing 1 to be machined is carried into the transfer machine by, for example, a handling robot, and the rear axle housing 1 machined at the machining station 32 is moved out of the transfer machine by, for example, a handling robot. And a work unloading station for unloading. Here, reference numeral C _M in the figure indicates the central axis of the transfer machine extending horizontally in the direction in which the stations are aligned, and reference numeral C _S in the figure is spaced apart from each other by a predetermined pitch P. each horizontally extending so as to be orthogonal to the said central axis C _M, indicates the central axis of each station, the rear axle housing 1 at each processing station 32, a central portion 2 is located in C _S concentrically the central axis At the same time, the cylindrical portions 3 on both sides are aligned with the central axis C _M.
It is positioned and fixed at a predetermined processing position concentric with the above.

Further, in the transfer machine of this embodiment, in order to carry and position the rear axle housing 1, the rear axle housing 1 received at the previous station is held during the transportation between the stations and delivered to the next station. The number of transfer locators 33 provided is one less than the number of stations, the work clampers 34 installed at each processing station for positioning and fixing the rear axle housing 1, and the rear axle between the transfer locators 33 and the work clampers 34. In order to enable the delivery of the housing 1, the delivery locator 33 is supported as a set together with the delivery locator 33, and the delivery locator 33 is moved forward and backward. The delivery device 35 as delivery means, and the delivery device 35 is reciprocated between stations. Transfer means for And a transfer transfer device 36 as the

FIGS. 4 to 6 are a front view, a plan view and a side view showing the transport locator 33. The transport locator 33 in this embodiment comprises a rear axle housing 1 in which two cylindrical portions 3 are horizontal. It is intended to be positioned and held in a posture extending in the direction of
On the front surface of the main body frame 40, two arm members 42 as cylindrical part holding members for receiving the two cylindrical parts 3 of the rear axle housing 1 by the V-grooves 41 and holding the same from below, Each is supported so as to be able to ascend and descend through a normal guide structure portion 43. On the main body frame 40, a cam plate 45 having two cam grooves 44 having the same shape and extending horizontally in the left-right direction in FIG. A cam case 46 movably accommodated in the extending direction is fixed, and two rocker arms 47 are further provided in the main body frame 40. Two support shafts horizontally arranged in parallel with the movable direction of the cam plate 45. Each is pivotally supported via 48.

The distal ends of the front arms 49 of the two rocker arms 47 are engaged with the two arm members 42, respectively, and serve as cam followers provided at the distal ends of the upper arms 50 of the rocker arms 47. Roller 51 is a cam plate
The two cam grooves 44 are fitted in the two cam grooves 44, and the cam plate 45 is reciprocated in the extending direction by the two cam grooves 44 so that the two rollers 51 and thus the two rocker arms are fitted. Swing 47 around the support shaft 48,
The two arm members 42 can be moved up and down between a small diameter rising position shown by a solid line in FIG. 6 and a lower limit position shown by a virtual line in FIG. Further, a step is formed in the middle of the cam groove 44 of the cam plate 45, and when the cam plate 45 is stopped at an intermediate stop position where the roller 51 is located at the step, the step is formed by the roller 51. The swing can be stopped in the middle, and the two arm members 42 can be stopped at the raised position for the large diameter indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 6 slightly lower than the raised position for the small diameter.
In this case, two air cylinders 52, 53 are provided on both sides of the cam case 46 in parallel with the movable direction of the cam plate 45, respectively. And are fixed so as to face each other.

In FIG. 4, the piston rod 54 of the air cylinder 52, which has a long and narrow right stroke, stands on a cam plate 45 and a shaft-like member 55 fastened to the tip of the piston rod 54. 4 and is connected to the cam plate 45 through a bracket 56 fitted to the shaft-like member 55. On the other hand, in FIG. When the piston rod 57 advances, the shaft-like member 58 which contacts the shaft-like member 55 and specifies the limit position of the cam plate 45 to the left in FIG. As a result, the thinner air cylinder 52 is replaced with the thicker air cylinder 53 by the piston rod 57.
Are retracted, the two arm members 42 are moved up and down between the small diameter raising position and the lower limit position, and the two arms are moved in a state where the thicker air cylinder 53 advances the piston rod 57. The member 42 can be moved up and down between the large diameter raising position and the lower limit position, so that the above-described members such as the guide structure 43, the cam plate 45, the rocker arm 47, and the air cylinders 52 and 53 are used. Here, an arm member elevating mechanism 59 as a holding member height changing unit is configured.

Furthermore the front central portion of the body frame 40, the swing claw 60 of three radially disposed with respect to a predetermined center axis C _L which penetrates horizontally a central portion of the body frame 40 in the front-rear direction However, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a support shaft 61 extending in a tangential direction of a circle centered on the center axis C _L is provided.
The is supported respectively swingably through, also in the front center of the body frame 40, so as to be moved forward and backward in the extending direction of the central axis C _L on the center axis C _L, the cam pin 62 The cam pin 62 is supported concentrically with the center axis C _L via a sleeve 63. Around the front end of the cam pin 62 on the left side in FIG. 6, the three swinging claws 60 are adjacent to the center axis C _L. An annular groove 64 is formed so that the rear end portion swingably engages. With this configuration, the cam pin 62 swings the three swinging claws 60 around the support shaft 61 based on the forward and backward movements. The distal ends of the rocking pawls 60 can be moved so as to approach and separate from each other in the radial direction with respect to the center axis C _L , whereby the rocking pawls 60 are moved at their distal ends in FIG. As shown by a virtual line, the outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2 of the rear axle housing 1 is By gripping from the side of the center portion 2 it is possible to concentrically positioned with the central axis C _L, it is possible to open the central portion 2.

[0023] Then for causing forward and backward movement of such cam pin 62, the rear face center of the main body frame 40 is an air cylinder 65 is fixed so as to be positioned C _L concentrically the central axis, the air cylinder 65 Of the piston rod 66 inserted into the main body frame 40, the connecting rod 67
The pivot pin 60, the cam pin 62, the air cylinder 65, and other members constitute a central gripping mechanism 68 as transporting central gripping means. ing. In addition, a bracket 69 for temporarily holding the central portion 2 of the rear axle housing 1 from below is also protruded from the lower portion of the front center of the main body frame 40.

[0024] the other hand, the work clamper 34 installed in each processing station is arranged on either side of the central axis line C _S of the processing stations respectively for clamping the rear axle housing 1 two cylindrical portion 3, the tubular Two cylindrical section clamping mechanisms 70 as section clamping means, and a clamping position moving mechanism 71 as clamping means horizontal position changing means for respectively changing the horizontal position of the cylindrical section clamping mechanism 70. Here, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the tubular portion clamping mechanism 70 includes two lateral V-grooves 72 having different sizes.
A V block 74 having two upper and lower stages 73, and the V block 74
The usual guide structure 75 for vertically supporting the, the V-block 74, located in the central axis line C _M and concentric smaller diameter of the tube the transfer machine mate with the V-grooves 73 of the smaller lower to a raised limit position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 10, a tube of large diameter mate with the V-grooves 72 towards the upper large located C _M concentrically center axis of the transfer machine, in FIG. 10 the virtual line An air cylinder 76 that moves up and down to the lower limit position shown by, a support shaft 78 that can swing the clamp pawl 77 with respect to the V block 74, and a lever 79 fixed to one end of the support shaft 78 The clamp pawl 77 is driven as shown by the solid and imaginary lines in FIG.
A rodless air cylinder 80 for clamping and releasing the tubular portion 3 between the clamp pawl 77 and the V block 74 by swinging with respect to the block 74 is provided.

Here, the holding position moving mechanism 71
As shown in FIG. 12, in the guide member 82 is fixed to the bed 81 of the machine tool 31 extending parallel to the central axis C _M of the transfer machine, with slidably fits fit the guide member 82 A moving member that supports the tubular portion clamping mechanism 70
The horizontal movement of the moving member 83 is guided, and a ball screw shaft 85 screwed with a ball nut 84 fixed to the moving member 83 is appropriately rotated and driven by a servomotor 87 via a timing belt 86. the Jo portion clamping mechanism 70, can be moved horizontally to the position of an arbitrary distance relative to the center axis C _S of said station.

Furthermore the work clamper 34, as shown in FIG. 2, are arranged on the central axis line C _S processing stations, the central portion 2 of the rear axle housing 1, a central portion gripping mechanism 68 of the conveying locator 33 gripped so as not to interfere with the swing pawl 60 is positioned and fixed coaxially with the central axis line C _S, the central portion gripping mechanism as the fixing central gripping means
90, the center gripping mechanism 90
The bed 81 shown, are arranged radially with respect to the center axis C _S, and three gripping claws 91 which are movably supported in a radial direction with respect to the central axis line C _S, which is accommodated in the bed 81 is driven forward and backward by an air cylinder, not a cam member (not shown) for moving radially outwardly and inwardly with respect to the center axis C _S their gripping claws 91, the central axis line C _M of the transfer machine bed 81 Pressing arm member 92 supported swingably about a parallel axis, and the pressing arm member
And an air cylinder 93 for swinging 92.

Each delivery device 35 here is paired with each transport locator 33 as described above, and
As shown in FIG. 5, a moving table 94 supporting the transport locator 33,
The moving table 94 is provided with a normal guide member 95 for guiding the movement of the transport locator 33 in the extending direction of the central axis C _L , and the moving table 94 is moved in the extending direction of the central axis C _L. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a state in which the rear axle housing 1 held in a positioning state by the transport locator 33 is sufficiently moved away from the machine tool 31 and the work clamper 34 from a delivery position (not shown) where the rear axle housing 1 is positioned at the processing position. A drive mechanism (not shown) configured to use a ball screw shaft driven by a servomotor and a bolt nut to move the transport locator 33 forward and backward between the transport position shown in FIG. Will be equipped.

Furthermore, the transfer conveying device 36 in this case, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, extends along the work carried from station to work unloading station over the entire length of the transfer machine the central axis C _M Guide rails 96 and their guide rails
A guide structure 98 for guiding the movement of each of the delivery devices 35 between the stations with a slider 97 movably fitted to the 96, and a distance plate 99 between the respective stations at intervals equal to the pitch P between the stations. A transfer drive motor (not shown) for driving the delivery devices 35 apart from each other and interconnecting them, and driving the delivery devices 35 forward and backward through a rack 100 provided below the distance plate 99 and a pinion (not shown) meshed therewith. it comprises a, each transfer device 35 by such a configuration, the position of the two stations, the central axis C _L of the central axis line C _S in the transport locator 33 of the previous station matches the adjacent, the next station center conveying the axis C _S locator 33
Can be reciprocated between a position at which the center axis C _L coincides with the center position.

In the flexible transfer machine of this embodiment configured as described above, first, the transfer transfer device 36 positions each of the transfer devices 35 at the work loading station or the processing station in the foreground. Each transfer device 35 positions each transport locator 33 at the transfer position, and at the transfer position, the arm member raising / lowering mechanism 59 moves the two arm members 42 upward and moves the cylinders by the V-grooves 41 of the arm members 42. The central portion gripping mechanism 68 grips and positions the outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2 with the three swinging claws 60 so that each delivery device 35 processes the rear axle housing 1 by each processing. At the station 32, the workpiece is received from the work clamper 34, and at the work loading station, the workpiece is received from the handling robot. Serial central axis C _M and the center portion 2 is the central axis as well as located concentrically C _S, C _L
It is positioned and held in a posture concentric with.

Next, here, each transfer device 35 retracts each transfer locator 33 to the transfer position, and then the transfer transfer device 36 transfers each transfer device 35 together with each transfer locator 33 holding the rear axle housing 1. Then, the transfer is performed to the next station, which is the processing station 32 or the work unloading station, where each transfer device 35 advances the transfer locator 33 again to the transfer position. Is moved downward to open the cylindrical portion 3 and the central portion gripping mechanism 68
By opening the central portion 2, each transport locator 33 opens the rear axle housing 1 at the transfer position.

Then, in conjunction with the opening operation of each transport locator 33, at each processing station 32, the cylindrical portion clamping mechanism 70 uses the clamp claw 77 and the V-block 74 to form the cylindrical portion 3.
And the center gripping mechanism 90 is
Each work clamper 34 receives the rear axle housing 1 from each transport locator 33 by grasping and positioning the central portion 2 with three grasping claws 91 from inside so as not to interfere with the three swinging claws 60 of 68. , the two cylindrical portion 3 is fixed in position to the processing position located in the center part 2 is the central axis line C _S, C _L concentric with located C _M concentrically the central axis, also At the work unloading station, the handling robot receives the rear axle housing 1 at a predetermined work unloading position corresponding to the processing position, and then, each transfer device 35 transfers the rear axle housing 1 to each work clamper 34 to empty it. Each of the transport locators 33 is retracted to the transport position, and at the same time, the center gripping mechanism 90 is moved by the air cylinder 93.
In also securely fixed to the direction of the central axis line C _S at presser arm member 92 is swung toward the central portion 2 by pressing the central portion 2 to a predetermined fixed wall, then the machine tool 31 for each processing station The rear axle housing 1 is processed.

Here, while the machine tool 31 is working on the rear axle housing 1, here, the transfer transfer device 36 moves each transfer device 35 back together with the empty transfer locator 33 to the preceding station. When the processing of the rear axle housing 1 is completed, in each processing station, first, the center gripping mechanism 90 swings the holding arm member 92 away from the center 2, and then each transfer device 35 moves each transport locator 33. Each workpiece clamper 34 is moved forward to the delivery position described above, and then the tubular portion holding mechanism 70 opens the tubular portion 3 and the central gripping mechanism 90 retracts the gripping claw 91 to open the central portion 2.
Opens the rear axle housing 1, and at the work loading station, the depalletizer arranges the rear axle housing 1 at a predetermined work loading position corresponding to the processing position, and further opens the work clampers 34 and arranges the depalletizer. In conjunction with this, each transport locator 33 that has advanced to the transfer position receives its rear axle housing 1 from the work clamper 34 at the processing station 32 and from the depalletizer at the work loading station, as described above.

By repeating this process as one cycle, the transfer / transfer of this embodiment is performed.
According to the machine, a rear axle housing 1 which is a work having a bowl-shaped central portion 2 and two cylindrical portions 3 extending in opposite directions from both sides of the central portion 2 is carried into the machine at a work carrying-in station. From there, the workpieces can be sequentially conveyed to a plurality of processing stations 32, processed at the processing stations 32, and carried out of the machine at the work loading station.

Further, in the flexible transfer machine of this embodiment, the arm member raising / lowering mechanism 59 changes the height of the two arm members 42 by the intermediate stop of the cam plate 45, and the center holding mechanism 68 Since the center part 2 is gripped by the three swinging claws 60 swinging in the radial direction, the transport locator 33
Correspond to two types of thickness and a certain length difference of the cylindrical portion 2, and correspond to a certain size difference of the central portion 3, and correspond to a plurality of types of rear axle housings 1 having different dimensions. It can be positioned at a predetermined position, and the two tubular section clamping mechanisms 70 each change the height direction position of the V block 74, and the clamping position moving mechanism 71 moves the tubular section clamping mechanism 70 in the horizontal direction. The positions are changed respectively, and the center gripping mechanism 90 grips the center 2 by moving the three gripping claws 91 in the radial direction.
A plurality of types of rear axle housings 1 having different dimensions are accommodated in the machining station in accordance with the two types of thickness and the certain length difference of the cylindrical portion 2 and in response to the certain size difference of the central portion 3. It can be positioned at the 32 predetermined processing positions.

Therefore, according to the flexible transfer machine of this embodiment, when a plurality of types of rear axle housings 1 are machined, the rear axle housings 1 are automatically set up without any setup work. Since processing can be performed while being transported and positioned, man-hours for the operator can be reduced, and production efficiency can be increased.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated examples, the present invention is not limited to the above examples. For example, the work to be processed may be other than the banjo type rear axle housing 1 of the above example. Can be appropriately changed within the scope of the present invention.

[0037]

Thus, according to the flexible transfer machine of the present invention, a plurality of types of workpieces having a bowl-shaped central portion and two cylindrical portions extending in opposite directions from both sides of the central portion are machined. In such a case, the work can be automatically transferred and positioned and processed without any setup, so that the number of man-hours can be reduced and the production efficiency can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing one processing station in one embodiment of a flexible transfer machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the processing station.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the processing station.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the transport locator in the embodiment with a part cut away.

FIG. 5 is a left half showing the transport locator;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line A, and the right half is a plan view showing the transport locator.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the transport locator.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the transport locator.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view of the tubular portion clamping mechanism in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the tubular portion clamping mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the tubular portion holding mechanism, partially cut away.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the tubular portion holding mechanism, taken along the line BB of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a holding position moving mechanism in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a front view showing one processing station in an example of a conventional transfer machine.

FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway front view showing the pallet and the fixing jig in the conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the vicinity of a side end of the fixing jig.

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the vicinity of the center of the fixing jig.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rear axle housing 2 Central part 3 Cylindrical part 31 Machine tool 32 Processing station 33 Transport locator 34 Work clamper 35 Transfer device 36 Transfer transport device 42 Arm member 59 Arm member elevating mechanism 60 Oscillating claw 68 Center gripping mechanism 70 Cylindrical part Nipping mechanism 71 Nipping position moving mechanism 90 Central gripping mechanism 91 Gripping claw

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of types of workpieces (1) each having a bowl-shaped central portion (2) and two cylindrical portions (3) extending in opposite directions from both sides of the central portion are each mounted on a machine tool (31). )
In a flexible transfer machine for sequentially transporting to a plurality of processing stations (32) and processing at those processing stations, two cylindrical portions holding each of the two cylindrical portions from below are provided. The member (42), holding member height changing means (59) for changing the height of the cylindrical portion holding member, and the center portion is gripped by moving a plurality of claws (60) in the radial direction. A transport locator (33) having a transport center gripping means (68) for positioning and positioning and holding the work in a posture such that the two tubular portions extend in the horizontal direction; Two cylindrical portion holding means (70) for holding the cylindrical portions of the book, and holding portion horizontal position changing means (71) for respectively changing the horizontal position of the cylindrical portion holding means
And a fixing center gripping means (90) for gripping and positioning the center by moving the plurality of claws (91) in the radial direction at a position where the center does not interfere with the transporting center gripping means. A work clamper (34) installed at each of the processing stations and positioning and fixing the work at a predetermined position with respect to the machine tool in a posture such that the two tubular portions extend in the horizontal direction; A plurality of delivery means each supporting the transport locator and moving the transport locator forward and backward with respect to the machine tool between a predetermined delivery position and a predetermined transport position at the processing station; Transfer transfer means (36) for reciprocating the means between the processing stations. A flexible transfer machine.