JP3683323B2 - Work transfer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement of a workpiece transfer device in a transfer machine that processes a pair of left and right workpieces, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, a transfer machine such as Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-74049 is known as a transfer machine that processes while conveying a pair of left and right workpieces. This device includes a pair of pallets for positioning and placing two workpieces, a transfer bar that conveys the pallets at a constant pitch along the carrying path, and a processing machine that simultaneously processes the two workpieces. The pallet on which the work is placed by the transfer bar is processed while being sequentially sent from the upstream processing station to the downstream processing station.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, since the transfer machine as described above transports a pallet by a transfer bar when transporting a pair of workpieces, for example, when it is necessary to process from various directions around the workpiece, the posture of the pallet itself Had to be converted. On the other hand, since such a posture change is usually difficult to convert during transfer by a transfer bar, it must be performed after the transfer is completed, and time loss is likely to occur.
[0004]
Also, when changing the posture of each pallet, if there is a difference in the posture between the two, there will be a difference in the machining position, the machining direction, etc. In this case, it is necessary to accurately match the phases of the workpieces during machining so that the relative error is eliminated.
[0005]
Therefore, in a transfer machine that performs processing while changing the postures of a pair of workpieces, there has been a demand for a transfer device that can efficiently transfer the workpieces and change the posture. At this time, it was necessary to take care to configure the mechanism simply and inexpensively.
In particular, when changing the posture of a workpiece that is used in combination with a pair of left and right, there has been a demand for a method of aligning the posture between the two so that there is no relative error.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a workpiece transfer apparatus according to claim 1 in which a plurality of transfer units are slidably arranged with respect to the carrying path, and the work transfer apparatus is arranged horizontally along the carrying path. A frame that is movable and a support frame that forms part of the transport unit, a connection bar that connects between the support frames of the adjacent transport units and between the support frame and the frame at a predetermined pitch, and the connection bar A moving drive source for reciprocally moving the transport unit and the frame body connected at the same time in a horizontal direction with a predetermined stroke, an elevating drive source fixed to the frame body, and a pair of pivotable work chucks provided on the support frame A lifting / lowering body provided with a lifting / lowering drive source, and a rack / pinio that lifts and lowers the work chuck of each transport unit synchronously by transmitting the rotation of the rotation shaft to the lifting / lowering body. And to include a mechanism.
[0007]
Such a transfer apparatus is applied to, for example, a transfer machine in which workpieces are sequentially sent to a plurality of processing stations arranged in the processing order. At this time, for example, each work station is provided with a work clamp jig for positioning the work being processed, and when the work at each work station is completed, the work chucks are lowered from the top at the same time, and the work clamp jig is placed on the work clamp jig. The workpiece chuck is then lifted all at once. Then, the respective transport units are horizontally moved simultaneously toward the downstream processing station, and the work chucks are again lowered all at once to place the work on the work clamp jig. And it processes while repeating this.
[0008]
At this time, it is possible to rotate the work chuck and set it in a predetermined posture while gripping the work with the work chuck and transporting it toward the downstream processing station, so that the work efficiency can be improved.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the movable drive source is attached to a carrying path, and a rack that meshes with a pinion attached to the output shaft of the movable drive source is fixed to the frame body.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration example in which the transfer device of the present invention is applied to a transfer machine, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the transfer device, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the transfer machine, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the knuckle which is an example of a workpiece | work, (A) is a top view, (B) is a front view.
[0011]
The workpiece transfer device according to the present invention is configured as a device that transfers a pair of knuckles N and N in a transfer machine that processes a pair of left and right knuckles that constitute a part of a steering mechanism for a front wheel of a vehicle, for example. 3 is divided into a first transfer machine 1 on the upstream side of the transport path and a second transfer machine 2 on the downstream side of the transport path as shown in FIG. The first and second transfer machines 1 and 2 are each provided with eight processing stations (1) to (8).
[0012]
Each of these processing stations (1) to (8) is provided with a clamp jig 3 for clamping the pair of knuckles N, N and a processing machine 5 for processing the pair of knuckles N, N simultaneously. The conveying device of the present invention grips a pair of knuckles N, N,... On the clamp jigs 3 at the same time when the processing at these processing stations (1) to (8) is completed. , And can be conveyed toward the downstream clamp jig 3. At this time, the directions of the pair of left and right knuckles N and N are turned in opposite directions to be converted into a symmetrical direction.
[0013]
For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transfer apparatus includes a plurality of transfer units 4 corresponding to the processing stations {circle around (1)} to {circle around (8)}. These are connected at a predetermined pitch (same as the pitch of the processing station) in parallel with the transport path direction by a connecting bar 13 (FIG. 2) as a connecting member described later. As will be described later, the entire unit is reciprocally movable along the direction of the conveyance path by a single drive source, and each of the transport units 4,... Can be moved up and down all at once by a single drive source. A pair of chuck portions 17, 17,... Are provided, and the pair of chuck portions 17, 17 are rotatable in directions opposite to each other.
[0014]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the knuckle N has a lower arm coupling portion a to which a lower arm is coupled, a tie rod coupling portion b to which a tie rod is coupled, a damper coupling portion c to which a damper is coupled, or the like. Each of the coupling portions a, b, c, etc. is formed with a coupling hole or the like. Further, a coupling hole d for coupling the axle is formed in the substantially central portion.
[0015]
Such a knuckle N is formed such that, for example, after a pair of symmetrical knuckle materials are formed in advance by casting or the like, necessary portions are sequentially machined at the processing stations (1) to (8). However, such processing is, for example, drilling of each coupling portion a, b, c, or end surface processing.
At this time, since the machining direction differs depending on the machining site, it is necessary to change the direction of the knuckles N and N one after another. In this case, when the left and right knuckles N and N are assembled in the same vehicle, there is an imbalance. It is preferable to convert the postures of both N and N with consistency so that they do not occur. For this reason, when the chuck parts 17 and 17 are turned, they are turned in the opposite direction in synchronization.
[0016]
Now, details of the present conveying apparatus will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of mounts 11,... Are erected along the work conveyance path, and each of the transfer units 4, with respect to the beam 12 attached to the top of the mounts 11,. Are slidably mounted, and adjacent transport units 4 and 4 are connected to each other by a connecting bar 13 (FIG. 2).
The transport units 4,... Are reciprocated at a predetermined pitch all at once by a single moving motor 8 as shown in FIG. 1, and the chuck portions 17 of the transport units 4,. , 17,... Are moved up and down all at once by a single lifting motor 10 shown in FIG. (In FIG. 1, the lifting motor 10 is omitted.)
[0017]
The moving motor 8 is attached to an intermediate portion of the beam 12. As will be described later, a pinion attached to the output shaft of the moving motor 8 is engaged with a rack 14 (FIG. 2). 14 can be reciprocated in the direction of the carrying path at a predetermined pitch. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of transport units 4 and 4 are fixed to both ends of the rack 14, and the lifting motor 10 is fixed to an intermediate portion. The lifting motor 10 is also connected to the beam 12. It is slidable. Further, connecting bars 13 and 13 are also connected between the lifting motor 10 and the left and right transport units 4 and 4.
[0018]
Further, the elevating motor 10 is configured such that the chuck portions 17, 17,... Of the respective transport units 4,... Can be driven up and down simultaneously, and the rotary shaft 15 penetrating each of the transport units 4,. Rotating about an axis, the lifting and lowering bodies 6 to be described later are moved up and down all at once by a pinion rack mechanism provided in the transportation units 4 to be described later.
The pair of left and right chuck portions 17 and 17 can be turned in opposite directions to each other by a turning mechanism 16 described later with respect to the lifting bodies 6.
[0019]
The above configuration will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view in side view showing the relationship between the movement motor 8 and the transport unit 4, FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view in front view showing the internal structure of the transport unit 4, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view in side view showing the relationship between the lifting motor 10 and the rotating shaft 15, and FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view in front view of FIG. 8.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a pinion 20 is attached to the output shaft of the moving motor 8 attached to the beam 12, and the pinion 20 meshes with the rack 14. The length of the rack 14 is substantially the same as the pitch interval between the processing stations as described above, and a pair of transport units 4 and 4 are coupled to both side ends, and at the intermediate portion of the rack 14. Is connected to a lifting motor 10. (Figure 2)
[0021]
The support frames 28 of the transport units 4,... Are slidable with respect to the beam 12, and the transport units 4,. Will reciprocate. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 7, the pinion 20 meshes with another pinion 22 via an idle gear 21, and the pinion 22 meshes with the rack 14. The two pinions 20 and 22 are thus meshed with the rack 14 to reduce the load on the pinion.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the elevating motor 10 is attached to an upper portion of a frame body 23 coupled to the rack 14, and the frame body 23 is slidable with respect to the beam 12. In addition, the rotary shaft 15 is provided through the frame body 23 from side to side. A cylindrical worm 24 is fixed to the output shaft of the elevating motor 10, and the cylindrical worm 24 meshes with a worm wheel 25 fixed to the rotary shaft 15. Further, the rotary shaft 15 passes through the transport units 4... (FIG. 2), and rotates around the axis by driving the lifting motor 10.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each transport unit 4,... Is provided with a lifting body 6 that can be lifted and lowered with respect to the support frame 28 by rotation of the rotating shaft 15. 6 is constituted by a pinion 26 attached to the rotary shaft 15 and a rack bar 27 meshing with the pinion 26.
[0024]
Each lifting body 6 is coupled to the rack bar 27, a pair of left and right guide bars 30, 30 penetrating the support frame 28 so as to be movable up and down, and the swivel coupled to the lower ends of the guide bars 30, 30 and the rack 27. A mechanism 16 and a pair of left and right chuck portions 17, 17 projecting downward from the turning mechanism 16 are provided. When the rotary shaft 15 rotates, the entire lift body 6 moves up and down by the pinion 26 and rack bar 27 mechanisms. Like to do. In the figure, 33 is a balance cylinder.
[0025]
Further, the pair of left and right chuck portions 17 and 17 are swung in the opposite directions around the axis by the swivel mechanism 16, and details of the swivel mechanism 16 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. . Here, FIG. 10 is a half sectional view of the turning mechanism 16 as viewed from the front, FIG. 11 is a half sectional view as viewed from the same plane, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the turning mechanism 16 is connected to an outer frame 34, a turning motor 35 attached to a central side surface portion of the outer frame 34, and an output shaft of the turning motor 35. A ball screw 36, a screwing member 37 to which the ball screw 36 is screwed, and a slide plate 38 to which the screw member 37 is fixed are provided. The slide plate 38 is rails 40, 40 attached to the bottom surface of the outer frame 34. It can be slid back and forth along.
[0027]
Racks 41 and 41 are attached to both end portions parallel to the sliding direction of the slide plate 38, and pinions 42 and 42 meshing with the racks 41 and 41 are part of the chuck portions 17 and 17. Is engaged with gears 43a and 43a at the upper ends of the chuck shafts 43 and 43.
For this reason, when the turning motor 35 is driven, the slide plate 38 moves forward and backward via the ball screw 36, and both chuck shafts 43, 43 are synchronized in the reverse direction via the racks 41, 41 and the pinions 42, 42. Rotate.
[0028]
As another example of the turning mechanism 16 as described above, a turning cylinder unit 39 may be used instead of the turning motor 35 as shown in FIG. That is, the cylinder rod 39 a of the turning cylinder unit 39 attached to the outer frame 34 is connected to the connecting portion 38 a of the slide plate 38, and the slide plate 38 is reciprocated by the operation of the turning cylinder unit 39. Other configurations are the same as those in the example of FIG.
Such a turning cylinder unit 39 can be constructed at a lower cost if it is used in a place where a plurality of types of angle switching are not required, particularly when the direction is changed with an equal angle limitation of 90 degrees or 180 degrees. .
[0029]
By the way, the chuck shafts 43 and 43 may be fixed to the outer frame as shown in FIG. That is, it is cheaper if the chuck units 17 and 17 that do not have this type of swiveling function are configured in the transport unit 4 that transports to the processing station that does not need to change the posture of the knuckles N and N.
[0030]
Further, the chucking method by the chuck portion 17 has substantially the same configuration regardless of the presence or absence of the turning function. As shown in FIG. 15, the chuck shaft 43 and the chuck cylinder 44 built under the chuck shaft 43 A pair of chuck arms 45, 45 that can be expanded and contracted by the operation of the chuck cylinder 44, and positioning pins 47 that are inserted into the positioning holes 46 of the clamp jig 3 when the chuck portion 17 is lowered from above. It consists of. Then, after the chuck arms 45, 45 are inserted into the wheel coupling hole d of the knuckle N, the chuck arms 45, 45 are opened outward to maintain the inner diameter of the coupling hole d.
[0031]
That is, a step portion d 1 as shown in FIG. 15 is formed on the inner surface of the coupling hole d of the knuckle N, and step portions 45 a and 45 a are also formed on the outer surfaces of the chuck arms 45 and 45. When the chuck arms 45, 45 are opened, as shown in FIG. 16 which is a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 14 and FIG. 17 which is a sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. And the step portion d1 of the coupling hole d is engaged and chucked.
The outer surface of the lower end portion of the chuck arm 45 has an arc shape as shown in FIG. 17, and the curvature of this arc is the same as the curvature of the coupling hole d having the smallest radius among the coupling holes d of various types of knuckles N. By making it smaller or smaller, all types of knuckle N can be chucked.
[0032]
Further, a holding plate 49 is provided at the intermediate portion of the positioning pin 47 so as to press and hold the upper edge of the coupling hole d when the chuck arms 45 are inserted into the coupling hole d. Thus, the upper peripheral edge of the chuck arms 45, 45 in the direction perpendicular to the expansion / contraction direction is pressed and held so as to prevent vibration or the like when chucking. Incidentally, in FIG. 15, for the sake of explanation, the phase of the holding plate 49 is shown by being converted by 90 degrees.
[0033]
The clamp jig 3 can be positioned and fixed after placing a pair of knuckles N and N gripped and conveyed by the chuck portions 17 and 17 of the conveyance unit 4. Among the stations {circle around (1)} to {circle around (8)}, the clamp jig 3 (clamp jig 3 surrounded by a double frame in FIG. 3) of the processing station at a predetermined position is arbitrary around the horizontal axis parallel to the carrying path. Can be tilted at an angle.
[0034]
With the work conveying apparatus configured as described above, the pair of knuckles N and N are processed while being conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side of each of the processing stations (1) to (8). Inside, the direction of the knuckle N, N is converted. An example of the conversion of the direction of the knuckle N, N will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 18 shows the postures of the knuckles N and N at the processing stations (1) to (8) of the first transfer machine 1, and FIG. 19 shows the processing stations (1) to (8) of the second transfer machine 2. The postures of knuckles N and N at ▼ are shown.
[0035]
First, in the first processing station {circle around (1)} of the first transfer machine 1, the knuckles N and N are set in the orientation shown in FIG. 18 {circle around (1)}, and milling is performed on both end faces of the tie rod coupling portions b and b. Machining is performed with a double-headed milling machine. At the second machining station (2), as shown in (2), the machine is set to a posture rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction, and milling is performed on both end surfaces of the lower arms a and a. Perform with a two-head milling machine.
[0036]
Further, in the third machining station (3), as shown in (3), after changing the direction of the knuckles N and N by 180 degrees, taper drilling of the coupling holes of the tie rod coupling parts b and b is performed, and the fourth machining is performed. In the station (4), as shown in (4), the taper reamer processing is performed on the coupling holes in the coupling rear parts b and b.
At this time, the directions of the knuckles N and N of the third processing station (3) and the fourth processing station (4) are the same, and drilling and reaming can be performed at the same station. Since the tact times at the processing stations (1) to (8) are the same and the processing and the conveyance are performed at the same time, the processing is performed at the other processing stations (3) and (4). Yes.
[0037]
Next, in the fifth processing station (5), as shown in (5), the directions of the knuckles N and N are changed by 180 degrees, and the clamp jig 3 is inclined by a predetermined angle to form the coupling holes of the lower arm coupling portions a and a. In the sixth machining station (6), as shown in (6), the direction of the knuckles N and N is changed by 178 degrees and 35 minutes, the clamp jig 3 is tilted by a predetermined angle, and the damper coupling part c, Drilling of the coupling hole of c is performed.
Then, in the seventh processing station (7), as shown in (7), the directions of the knuckles N and N are changed by 90 degrees, and the damper tightening holes of the damper coupling portions c and c are drilled. At the 8 processing station (8), as shown in (8), a part of the damper fastening hole is tapped with the same posture.
[0038]
Hereinafter, the machining mode in the second transfer machine 2 shown in FIG. 19 is performed in the same procedure, and the knuckles N and N are machined while being sent to the downstream machining station while the loader 4 performs the conversion.
[0039]
That is, the first machining station {circle around (1)} changes the orientation shown in {circle around (1)} and slits the coupling holes of the damper coupling portions c and c, and the second machining station {circle around (2)} has the same posture. In the third processing station (3), drilling of the side holes e and e around the damper connecting portions c and c is performed by performing a straightening process on the connecting holes of the connecting portions c and c. In the fourth processing station (4), the side holes e and e are tapped with the same posture.
[0040]
Also, at the fifth machining station (5), the direction of 91 degrees and 25 minutes is changed and the lower arm coupling parts a and a are slit, and at the sixth machining station (6), the lower arm is joined while maintaining the same posture. Reaming the parts a and a. Then, at the seventh processing station (7), the direction of 180 degrees is changed to perform deburring processing around the damper coupling portions c and c, and at the eighth processing station (8), the direction is further changed by 180 degrees to connect the lower arm. Deburring around the parts a and a is performed.
[0041]
Then, the processing in each of the processing stations {circle around (1)} to {circle around (8)} and the transfer between the processing stations are performed simultaneously. That is, when the processing at the processing stations (1) to (8) is completed, the chuck units 17 and 17 of the transport unit 4 waiting on the upper side are simultaneously lowered by the operation of the single lifting motor 10. Then, the chuck arms 45, 45 are inserted into the coupling holes d of the knuckles N, N to hold the inner periphery. When the knuckles N and N are held, the elevating motor 10 is raised again, and then the moving motor 8 is actuated to move the transport units 4,.
[0042]
During the movement of the transport units 4,..., The chuck portions 17, 17 of the predetermined transport units 4, are rotated in opposite directions by the turning mechanism 16, and the directions of the knuckles N, N are converted symmetrically. The When the transport units 4,... Arrive at the downstream processing station, the chuck portions 17, 17,... Are lowered all at once by the lifting motor 10, and the knuckles N, N are placed on the clamp jigs 3,.
In this way, the plurality of transfer units 4,... Are simultaneously moved by the single moving motor 8, and the chuck portions 17, 17,. In addition, if the directions of the knuckles N and N are changed during conveyance, the work is efficient.
[0043]
Further, by rotating the knuckles N and N in the reverse direction in synchronization, it can be processed with left-right symmetry, and the balance during assembly is good.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, as in claim 1, a plurality of transport units having a pair of pivotable work chucks are simultaneously reciprocated in a horizontal direction with a predetermined stroke by a single movement drive source. Since the workpiece chucks are simultaneously moved up and down by a single lifting drive source, the conveying device can be configured simply and inexpensively.
In addition, the work chuck can be turned and set in a predetermined posture while the work is being conveyed, so that the work efficiency can be improved.
Further, as described in claim 2, if the pair of work chucks of each transport unit is rotated in the opposite direction in synchronization, for example, it is possible to perform processing by aligning the orientation of symmetrical parts assembled to the left and right. The balance at the time of attaching can be made favorable.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration example in which the transfer device of the present invention is applied to a transfer machine. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the transfer device. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the transfer machine. FIG. 5A is a plan view and FIG. 5B is a front view of an example of a knuckle. FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a relationship between a moving motor and a transport unit. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the meshing state of the moving motor and the rack. FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view showing the relationship between the lifting motor and the rotating shaft. FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of the turning mechanism in front view. FIG. 11 is a sectional view in half of the turning mechanism in front view. FIG. 12 is a sectional view in FIG. Sectional view in plan view of another embodiment of the mechanism [FIG. 14] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view showing the tip of the chuck portion. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 14. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. Explanatory drawing showing an example of the knuckle machining posture and machining part in the first transfer machine. FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the knuckle machining posture and machining part in the second transfer machine.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Conveyance unit, 6 ... Elevating body, 8 ... Moving motor, 10 ... Elevating motor, 13 ... Connection bar, 15 ... Rotating bar, 17 ... Chuck part, 26 ... Pinion, 27 ... Rack bar, 35 ... For turning Motor, 38 ... slide plate, 39 ... turning cylinder unit, 41 ... rack, 42 ... pinion, 43 ... chuck shaft, 43a ... gear, N ... knuckle.

Claims (2)

A workpiece transfer device in which a plurality of transfer units are slidably arranged with respect to a transfer path,
A frame that can be moved horizontally along the carrying path and a support frame that forms part of the transport unit;
A connection bar that connects the support frames of the adjacent transport units and between the support frame and the frame body at a predetermined pitch; and
A movement drive source for reciprocating the transport unit and the frame body connected by the connection bar at the same time in a horizontal direction at a predetermined stroke;
Elevating drive source fixed to the frame;
A lifting body provided with a pair of pivotable work chucks provided on the support frame;
A rotating shaft extending from the elevating drive source;
A workpiece transfer apparatus comprising: a rack and pinion mechanism that transmits the rotation of the rotating shaft to the lifting body to raise and lower the workpiece chuck of each transfer unit in synchronization . 2. The workpiece transfer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement drive source is attached to a carrying path, and a rack that meshes with a pinion attached to an output shaft of the movement drive source is fixed to the frame body. Work transfer device.

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