JP3302507B2 - Work support device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a work supporting apparatus, and more particularly to a work supporting apparatus, in which a work can be replaced on a processing line in a short time, and a dead space of the work supporting apparatus can be effectively used. The present invention relates to a work supporting device capable of reducing a work exchange work place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as processing lines have been automated, for example, as shown in the plan view of FIG. The pallet 102 is intermittently circulated by placing a work supporting device 103 that supports the work on the pallet.
A machining line is used in which a workpiece is machined by a cutting machine, a grinding machine, or the like facing the 101.

[0003] The work support device 103 has a base plate and a cylindrical block erected on the base plate.
After the work is supported on the outer surface of the block via a work clamp outside the processing line, the work is carried into the production line together with the work supporting device 103 by the loader 104. Also, a work supporting device 103 for supporting a work
Is rotated around the vertical axis on the pallet 102 as needed during circulation of the work processing line, and each work fixed to the plurality of outer surfaces of the block is processed.

When a series of machining of each work is completed by circulating through the work processing line, the work support device 103 is taken out of the work line by the unloader 105, and the work processed outside the work line is removed from the work support device 103. I have. By the way, as a work clamp used in this type of work support device 103, a work support which is put in and out of a work processing line, moves on the work processing line, and rotates on a pallet 102 as necessary. Because hydraulic piping to the device is difficult, hydraulic clamps are not used, and the base fixed to the block with bolts and nuts, the clamp claws supported by this base, and the clamp claws in the tightening direction A screw-type clamp having a screw to be advanced and retracted is used.

[0005] The clamp claw is provided so that its tip can move forward and backward in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the block.
There are two types, one of which is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in parallel with the outer surface of the block, and the other is so provided that it is capable of being advanced and retracted in a direction inclined with respect to the outer surface of the block. The work clamp is provided such that the tip of the clamp claw can advance and retreat in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the block. The work clamp is inserted into the clamp claw and tightens a screw that is screwed to the block or the base, so that the tip of the clamp claw and the block The work is sandwiched and fixed between the outer surface of the work.

In a work clamp in which the tip of a clamp claw is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in parallel with the outer surface of the block, a side surface of the work is blocked by the clamp claw by tightening a screw which is inserted into the base so as to advance and retreat. Fix the work by pressing it against another work clamp or reference block fixed to the work. Furthermore, in a clamp provided such that the tip of a clamp claw can advance and retreat in a direction inclining with respect to the outer surface of the block, a screw inserted through the base so as to advance and retreat can be used to clamp the workpiece to the outside of the block. The work is fixed by pressing against the side surface and another work clamp or reference block fixed to the block.

[0007]

Therefore, in the conventional work supporting apparatus, when exchanging the processed work and the unprocessed work, the screws for tightening the clamp claws are loosened, the processed work is removed, and the unprocessed work is removed. An operation of re-tightening the screw while accurately positioning the work is required, which may increase the time required for work replacement.

In particular, when the tact time of the machining line, that is, the time during which the pallet 102 is stopped is shorter than the work exchange time, the time on the machining line is reduced to eliminate time loss on the machining line. It is necessary to prepare a larger number of work support devices 103 than the work support devices 103 that can be mounted, and it is necessary to exchange the work of a plurality of work support devices 103 simultaneously and parallel outside the machining line. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a large storage space for performing the work, and to provide a wide work space for performing the work replacement work.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and enables a workpiece to be exchanged on a processing line in a short time. In addition, a dead space of the workpiece support apparatus is effectively used to store a work support apparatus and a work exchange. It is an object of the present invention to solve a technical problem of providing a work supporting device capable of reducing a work place.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a base plate and a cylindrical block erected on the base plate.
Assuming a work supporting device that supports a work on the outer surface of the block via a work clamp, the following technical measures are taken to achieve the above object.

That is, the work clamp comprises a hydraulic work clamp supported on the outer surface of the block, an oil tank for storing hydraulic oil in a hollow portion of the block, and a hydraulic oil from the oil tank. An oil pump that sucks and discharges the oil at a predetermined pressure, and a directional control valve that controls supply of hydraulic oil discharged from the oil pump to the work clamp and discharge of hydraulic oil from the work lamp to the oil tank. Then, the hydraulic pump sucks hydraulic oil from the oil tank, increases the pressure to a predetermined pressure, and discharges the hydraulic oil.The increased hydraulic oil is supplied to the work clamp by the directional control valve, and the work clamp is tightened. Is fixed to the work support device, and the directional control valve is switched to discharge the hydraulic oil in the work clamp to the oil tank and the work clamp is loosened to support the work. A workpiece support device being characterized in that as removable from the device.

[0012]

[Function] A hydraulic pump sucks hydraulic oil from an oil tank,
When the pressure is increased to a predetermined pressure and discharged, and the increased hydraulic oil is supplied to the work clamp by the direction control valve, the work clamp can be instantaneously tightened and the work can be fixed to the work support device. When the hydraulic oil in the work clamp is discharged to the oil tank by switching the valve, the work clamp can be instantaneously loosened and the work can be removed from the work support device.

[0013] Further, by this, the work replacement time can be made shorter than the tact time of the processing line, and the work can be replaced on the pallet circulation path of the processing line, and the work supporting device is stored outside the processing line. It is not necessary to provide a place for performing the work, and the place for the work exchange operation can be reduced to a narrow range near the machining line.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a work supporting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and The present invention, which will become apparent from the entire description of the accompanying drawings, extends to the whole range of the technical idea that is truly intended.

As shown in a vertical side view of FIG. 1 and a plan view of FIG. 2, a work supporting apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention
It has a base plate 1 and a rectangular cylindrical block 2 erected on the base plate 1, and a work 5 is supported on each outer surface 3 of the block 2 via a work clamp 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the base plate 1 is formed in a square shape with four corners chamfered in plan view, and the block 2 is concentric with the base plate 1 and each outer surface 3 is parallel to four sides of the base plate 1. It is arranged so that it becomes.

The work clamp 4 is shown in FIGS.
Although only one is shown, the number of the workpieces 5 is mounted on the outer side surface 3 to which the workpiece 5 is mounted. The work clamp 4 is of a hydraulic type. As shown in FIG. 1, a base 6 fixed to the outer surface of the block 2 and a clamp supported on the base 6 via a support shaft 7 so as to be swingable by a seesaw. It has a claw 8 and a hydraulic cylinder 9 assembled to the base 6, and the base 6 is fixed to the block 2 by, for example, bolts. When hydraulic oil is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 9, the piston rod 10 advances so as to drive the base end of the clamp claw 8 outward.

An oil tank 12 for storing hydraulic oil in a hollow portion 11 of the block 2, an oil pump 13 for sucking hydraulic oil from the oil tank 12 and discharging the oil at a predetermined pressure,
A directional control valve 14 for controlling the supply of hydraulic oil discharged from 13 to the work clamp 4 and the discharge of hydraulic oil from the work lamp 4 to the oil tank 12 is provided. The oil pump 13 is disposed at the upper central portion of the oil tank 12, and is shown in FIG.
As shown in the pneumatic / hydraulic circuit diagram, driven by pressurized air supplied from an external pressurized air supply source, the hydraulic oil in the oil tank 12 is sucked through the filter 15 and pressurized to a predetermined pressure. It consists of a pneumatic booster (booster pump) that discharges air. The oil pump 13 is configured to automatically stop when the internal pressure of the load circuit connected to the discharge port reaches a predetermined value, and restart automatically when the internal pressure of the load circuit falls below the predetermined value. ing.

Although one directional control valve 14 may be provided, in this embodiment, in order to control the operation of the work clamp 4 for each side of the block 2, as shown in FIG. Four directional control valves 14 are provided around an oil pump 13 above the oil tank 12. Each directional control valve 14 is switched between two positions by electromagnetic operation or pneumatic operation. As shown in FIG. 3, a supply passage 16 for connecting the work clamp 4 to the discharge port of the oil pump 13 and a return oil passage for connecting the work clamp 4 to the return oil passage. 18
And a return passage 17 communicating with the oil tank 12 through
A check valve 19 for sealing the working oil supplied to the work clamp 4 into the work clamp 4 is interposed in the supply passage 16.

When the hydraulic pump 13 is operated by connecting a pressurized air source such as an external factory pressurized air pipe to the oil pump 13, hydraulic oil in the oil tank 12 is sucked by the oil pump 13, The oil is discharged from the pump 13 at a predetermined pressure, and when the discharge pressure reaches a predetermined value, the oil pump 13 automatically stops. Here, when the direction control valve 14 is switched to a position where the work clamp 4 is connected to the oil tank 12, the cylinder 9 of the work clamp 4 is instantaneously depressurized, and the clamp claws 8 are manually pressed against the hydraulic cylinder 9 by hand. The tip is swung in a direction away from the outer surface 3 of the block 2 to expand the gap between the tip of the clamp claw 8 and the outer surface 3 of the block 2, and the unprocessed workpiece 5 sandwiched therebetween. Work 5 can be replaced.

After positioning the work 5 at a predetermined position,
When the position of the direction control valve 14 is switched and the work clamp 4 is connected to the oil pump 13, the hydraulic oil discharged from the oil pump 13 is instantaneously supplied to the cylinder 9 of the work clamp 4 and driven by the piston rod 10. The tip of the clamp claw 8 presses the work 5 against the outer surface 3 of the block 2 and fixes it.

Therefore, the work can be replaced in a much shorter time than a conventional screw-type work clamp for loosening or tightening the screw, for example, a time shorter than the tact time of the work line of the work. as a result,
Even if the work is exchanged on the processing line, there is no possibility that the tact time of the processing line is extended, and it is sufficient to provide the same number of work supporting devices as the number of pallets on the processing line. Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a place for storing the work supporting device outside the processing line, and the size of the work place for the work replacing operation can be reduced to a size required for the work replacement of one work supporting device.

Further, even if the workpiece exchange is performed outside the machining line, it is not necessary to exchange the workpieces of a large number of workpiece support devices in parallel, and a work area of a size necessary for the workpiece exchange work of one workpiece support device is provided. Since it is sufficient to provide the work, the work space for exchanging the work can be reduced. In addition, since the oil tank 12, the oil pump 13 and the directional control valve 14 are arranged in the hollow portion 11 in the block 2 which has been a dead space, the dead space can be increased without increasing the space occupied by the work supporting device. Can be used effectively, which is further advantageous in saving space.

In the work supporting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in the side view of FIG. 4 and the plan view of FIG. 5, two oil pumps 13 and one directional control valve 14 are provided. An oil inlet 21 and an opening valve are provided on the side surface of the upper lid plate 20 of the oil tank 12.
22 and a breather 23 are screwed, and an air supply port 24 to which a pressurized air supply source is connected and an oil discharge port 25 are opened.

As shown in the pneumatic / hydraulic circuit diagrams of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the air supply port 24 is
Each oil pump 13 is connected via a branch flow path 26 arranged above
And the discharge port of each oil pump 13 is connected to the direction control valve 14 through a collective channel formed in the upper cover plate 20, and the work clamp 4 is controlled in direction by the oil discharge port 25. valve
Connected to 14.

Other configurations, operations and effects of this embodiment are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted to avoid duplication.

[0026]

As described above, the work support device according to the present invention comprises a work clamp constituted by a hydraulic work clamp supported on the outer surface of the block, and an oil tank for storing hydraulic oil. An oil pump that sucks hydraulic oil from the oil tank and discharges the hydraulic oil at a predetermined pressure, supplies hydraulic oil discharged from the oil pump to the work clamp, and discharges hydraulic oil from the work lamp to the oil tank. And a directional control valve for controlling the oil pressure, sucking hydraulic oil from an oil tank by an oil pump, increasing the pressure to a predetermined pressure, and discharging the oil.
The pressurized hydraulic oil is supplied to the work clamp by the directional control valve, and the work clamp is tightened to fix the work to the work support device.The directional control valve is switched to transfer the hydraulic oil in the work clamp to the oil tank. The work clamp can be removed from the work support device by loosening the work clamp, so that the work clamp can be instantaneously activated or released by switching the directional control valve. The replacement time can be significantly reduced.

Further, if the work time for replacing the work is made shorter than the tact time of the processing line, the work can be replaced on the processing line, and an extra storage space for the work supporting device can be eliminated. At the same time, the area required for the work exchange work can be reduced to the area required for the work exchange work of one work support device. Further, since the oil tank, the oil pump, and the direction control valve are arranged in the hollow portion of the block, the dead space can be effectively used without increasing the space occupied by the work supporting device, and the space can be reduced. It becomes more advantageous above.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an air / hydraulic circuit diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an air / hydraulic circuit diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a general work processing line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Base plate 2 ... Block 3 ... Outside surface 4 ... Work clamp 11 ... Hollow part 12 ... Oil tank 13 ... Oil pump 14 ... Direction control valve 20 ... Pneumatic switching valve

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A work supporting apparatus having a base plate and a cylindrical block erected on the base plate, wherein the work clamp is mounted on an outer surface of the block via a work clamp. An oil tank configured with a hydraulic work clamp supported on the outer surface of the block and storing hydraulic oil in the hollow portion of the block, and an oil that sucks the hydraulic oil from the oil tank and discharges the oil at a predetermined pressure A pump and a directional control valve for controlling supply of hydraulic oil discharged from the oil pump to the work clamp and discharge of hydraulic oil from the work lamp to the oil tank are arranged, and the oil pump operates from the oil tank. The oil is sucked, the pressure is increased to a predetermined pressure, and the oil is discharged.The increased hydraulic oil is supplied to the work clamp by the directional control valve, and the work clamp is tightened to work. To the work support device,
Further, a work support device characterized in that the direction control valve is switched to discharge the hydraulic oil in the work clamp to an oil tank, the work clamp is loosened, and the work can be removed from the work support device.