JP3968458B2 - Pallet changer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pallet exchanging apparatus, and more particularly to a pallet exchanging apparatus that is operated in combination with a plate material processing machine such as a laser processing machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, a pallet exchanging device 100 is installed in front of a plate material processing machine such as a laser processing machine or a punch press.
[0003]
A free bear table 101 is provided in the frame 104 of the pallet changer 100, and the free bear table 101 is supported by a guide 102.
[0004]
The free bear table 101 can be moved up and down by a cylinder 103 and acts as an auxiliary table when a workpiece is set on the upper pallet 106 or the lower pallet 105.
[0005]
In FIG. 4, an upper pallet 106 is placed on the processing table 201 of the laser beam machine 200, and the workpiece of the upper pallet 106 is being processed. Further, the processed workpiece is removed from the lower pallet 105 on the pallet changer 100, and a new workpiece is set using the free bear table 10.
[0006]
When processing of the workpiece on the upper table 106 is completed, the upper pallet 106 is moved to the pallet exchanging apparatus 100 side, and the lower pallet 105 is moved to the laser processing machine 200 side, thereby exchanging both pallets.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the prior art of FIG. 4, the free bear table 101 can be moved up and down by the cylinder 102, and the position of the free bear table 101 is a pallet that does not interfere with both pallets 106 and 105 as shown in FIG. The height at the time of replacement (FIG. 5A), the height matched with the lower pallet pass line P2 when setting the workpiece on the lower pallet 105 (FIG. 5B), and the workpiece set on the upper pallet 106 There are three types of height (FIG. 5C) according to the upper pallet pass line P1.
[0008]
Among these, since the position of the free bear table 101 at the time of work setting is set with reference to the pallet pass lines P1 and P2, it is higher than that at the time of pallet replacement (FIG. 5A) (see FIG. 5). 5 (B), FIG. 5 (C)), and therefore workability is reduced.
[0009]
For example, the position of the free bear table 101 when the work is set on the upper pallet 106 is the highest, and the work when placing the work on the free bear table 101 is difficult.
[0010]
For example, when a work is set using a forklift or the like, the position of the free bear table 101 is set to the above-described normal upper pallet pass line P1 or lower pallet in order to secure the height at which the forklift claw can enter. It is necessary to set it higher than the pass line P2, and this is also difficult to work.
[0011]
Furthermore, if the position of the free bear table 101 is high, there is a danger when a product, which is a processed workpiece, is taken out from the pallet.
[0012]
For example, when the product is taken out from the pallet, if the position of the free bear table 101 is high, the work path line becomes high.
[0013]
Therefore, there are times when the product does not reach its hand, the worker is forced to ascend on the pallet, and there is a risk of dropping or the like.
[0014]
An object of the present invention is to improve the workability during work setting and the safety during product removal by fixing the free bear table and keeping the work set height at a low position in the pallet changer. There is.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the present invention provides a pallet for exchanging a relatively narrow and narrow narrow pallet and a relatively large and wide wide pallet with a plate processing machine. In the exchange device,
A. It has a lifter with a top that can be raised and lowered with respect to the platform, and both the pallets are provided on the top so that they can run freely. Fix the free bear table on which the work is placed ,
B. A technical means called a pallet exchanging apparatus is provided in which the set height of the workpiece by the free bear table is set lower than the pass line of each pallet at the time of pallet exchanging.
[0016]
According to this configuration of the present invention, by fixing the free bear table 10 on the platform 2 of the lifter 1, the set height H of the workpiece can be kept at a low position when changing the pallet.
[0017]
Therefore, if the lifter 1 is moved up and down with the lower workpiece set height H, the workpiece W setting operation before pallet replacement and the product removal operation after pallet replacement can be performed easily.
[0018]
For this reason, the difficulty and danger of work resulting from the high conventional free bear table 101 (FIG. 4) are eliminated, and workability and safety can be improved.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings by embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
The figure shows a case where the pallet exchanging apparatus according to the present invention is combined with the laser processing machine 40.
As is well known, the laser beam machine 40 is provided over the lower frame 42, the upper frame 43 (FIG. 2B) provided across the lower frame 42, and the entire lower frame 42. The processing table 41 is provided.
[0021]
The upper frame 43 accommodates a machining head 44 (FIG. 2B), a laser oscillator and its power supply, etc. The machining head 44 is moved up and down by a Z-axis motor Mz, and its height position is set. Can be adjusted.
[0022]
The processing table 41 is coupled to the Y-axis motor My via the ball screw 46 (FIG. 2B) and is slidably coupled to the LM guide rail 45, and the Y-axis motor My rotates to rotate in the Y-axis direction. It is designed to be positioned.
[0023]
A pallet delivered to the laser processing machine 40 from a pallet exchanging device, which will be described later, for example, the upper pallet 30 on which the workpiece W is placed, is fixed on the processing table 41 and moves together with the processing table 41 during processing.
[0024]
On the other hand, a pallet changer is installed in front of the laser beam machine 40.
[0025]
As is well known, this pallet exchanging apparatus is an apparatus for exchanging the upper pallet 30 and the lower pallet 20 with a plate material processing machine such as the laser processing machine 40, and the lifter 1 and the free bear table. 10.
[0026]
The lifter 1 is composed of a base plate 2 and a top plate 3, and the top plate 3 is attached to the base plate 2 so as to be movable up and down by, for example, a link mechanism described later.
[0027]
The top 3 includes a front frame 3A, a center frame 3B, and a rear frame 3C, and a traveling rail 5 is attached to the upper side of the front frame 3A and the rear frame 3C via a column 4.
[0028]
On the traveling rail 5, an upper pallet 30 and a lower pallet 20 are provided so as to be able to travel via wheels, and both pallets 30 and 20 are formed with lattices 30B and 20B on the upper surface, and the lattices 30B and 20B. A workpiece W is placed on the top (FIG. 3).
[0029]
In this case, the upper pallet 30 and the lower pallet 20 have different heights on the upper surfaces 30A and 20A (FIG. 3A), which are the mounting surfaces of the workpiece W. As described above, 44 can be moved up and down by the Z-axis motor Mz to adjust its height position.
[0030]
The upper pallet 30 is a high and wide pallet that is higher and wider than the lower pallet 20, and the lower pallet 20 is a lower and narrow pallet that is lower than the upper pallet 30 and is still narrow. With this configuration, the lower pallet 20 can pass below the upper pallet 30 (FIG. 3A).
[0031]
On the other hand, the base 2 has a shorter length in the Y-axis direction than the top 3 and includes a front frame 2A, a center frame 2B, and a rear frame 2C.
[0032]
The free bear table 10 is fixed above the front frame 2A and the rear frame 2C of the base plate 2 via a support 11, and the free bear pass line PL is held at a fixed position at the time of pallet replacement (FIG. 3). This is the set height H of the workpiece.
[0033]
Accordingly, the workpiece setting height H is fixed at a low position, and the workpiece setting operation can be easily and safely performed by raising and lowering the lifter 1 as will be described later.
[0034]
The free bear table 10 has a large number of bearings 13 arranged on a substrate 12. When a work W is set on the upper pallet 30 or the lower pallet 20, an operator places the work W on the free bear table 10. It is supposed to be put on.
[0035]
The support 11 of the free bear table 10 extends upward from the front frame 2A and the rear frame 2C of the base plate 2 and extends between the front frame 3A and the center frame 3B of the top 3 and between the center frame 3B and the rear frame 3C. Has passed.
[0036]
And the board | substrate 12 of the free bear table 10 is being fixed to the top part of this support | pillar 11 ranging over the center frame 3B of the said top 3. As shown in FIG.
[0037]
Further, a link mechanism for raising and lowering the lifter 1 is provided between the platform 2 and the top 3 of the lifter 1.
[0038]
That is, the link mechanism includes links 6 and 7 that intersect each other and a cylinder 8 that is coupled to the link 7, and the details thereof are shown in FIG.
[0039]
Among these, the fixed end 6 </ b> A of the link 6 is inserted into the central frame 3 </ b> B of the top 3, and the free end 6 </ b> B of the link 6 is inserted into the central frame 2 </ b> B of the base 2.
[0040]
The fixed end 7A of the link 7 is inserted into the central frame 2B of the base plate 2, the free end 7B of the link 7 is inserted into the central frame 3B of the top plate 3, and the link 7 further includes a cylinder 8 The piston rod 8A is coupled.
[0041]
Therefore, when the cylinder 8 is actuated, the link 7 rotates with the fixed end 7A as a fulcrum, and the link 6 also rotates with the fixed end 6A as a fulcrum, so that the top 3 moves up and down. .
[0042]
As a result, the pallets 20 and 30 provided on the top 3 so as to run freely are also raised and lowered.
[0043]
Hereinafter, the operation of the pallet exchanging apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
[0044]
(1) Action during pallet replacement (Fig. 3A)
When the pallet is replaced, the lifter 1 is raised to the highest position by operating the cylinder 8 as shown in FIG.
[0045]
At this time, the position h1 of the traveling rail 5 attached on the top 3 of the lifter 1 is set to a free bear pass line PL, that is, a work set height H or less.
[0046]
Therefore, even if the upper pallet 30 and the lower pallet 20 travel, the pallets 20 and 30 can be exchanged with the laser processing machine 40 without interfering with the free bear table 10.
[0047]
In this case, for example, on the upper pallet 30 delivered to the laser processing machine 40 side (FIG. 2B), the workpiece W to be processed is placed (FIG. 3A), and the pallet changer On the lower pallet 20 that has returned to the side (FIG. 2B), a product that is a processed workpiece W is placed (FIG. 3A).
[0048]
Accordingly, a product is taken out from the lower pallet 20 and a new workpiece W is set on the lower pallet 20.
[0049]
(2) Action when setting the workpiece W (FIG. 3 (B), FIG. 3 (C))
In this case, by operating the cylinder 8, as shown in FIG. 3B, the lifter 1 is lowered and the cylinder 8 is stopped until the lower pallet pass line P2 is slightly lower than the free bear pass line PL. Let At this time, the height of the lifter 1 is h2.
[0050]
At this time, the bearing 13 of the free bear table 10 slightly protrudes from between the lattices 20 </ b> B of the lower pallet 20, so that an operator places the workpiece W on the bearing 13.
[0051]
When the lifter 1 is slightly raised from the height h2 by operating the cylinder 8 again, the workpiece W is placed on the lower pallet 20 and the workpiece setting operation is completed.
[0052]
In this case, according to the present invention, since the work set height H is held at a low position, the work of placing the work W on the free bear table 10 becomes extremely easy, and the workability is improved.
[0053]
For example, when the work W is placed on the free bear table 10 by using a forklift or the like, the lifter 1 is further lowered and stopped at a position lower than h2.
[0054]
As a result, the gap between the free bear pass line PL, which is the set height H of the fixed workpiece, and the lower pallet 20 can be widened, and the height at which the claw of the forklift can be secured is secured. Became easier and workability improved.
[0055]
Further, regarding the upper pallet 30, the work W is set in the same manner as in the case of the lower pallet 20 (FIG. 3B).
[0056]
That is, by operating the cylinder 8, as shown in FIG. 3C, the lifter 1 is lowered and the cylinder 8 is stopped until the upper pallet pass line P1 is slightly lower than the free bear pass line PL. At this time, the height of the lifter 1 is lower than h2 in the case of the lower pallet 20 and is h3.
[0057]
Also in this case, since the bearing 13 of the free bear table 10 slightly protrudes from the upper pallet 30, the worker places the workpiece W on the bearing 13.
[0058]
When the lifter 1 is slightly raised from the height h3 by operating the cylinder 8 again, the workpiece W is placed on the upper pallet 30 and the workpiece setting operation is completed.
[0059]
In this case, according to the present invention, since the workpiece setting height H is held at a low position, the workpiece setting operation for the upper pallet, which has been particularly difficult in the past (FIG. 5C), is easy. As a result, workability improved.
[0060]
Further, with respect to the upper pallet 30, for example, when the work W is placed on the free bear table 10 by using a forklift or the like, the lifter 1 is further lowered and stopped at a position lower than h3 (FIG. 3C). .
[0061]
As a result, the clearance between the free bear pass line PL, which is the set height H of the fixed workpiece, and the upper pallet 30 can be widened, and the height at which the claw of the forklift can be secured is secured. Became easier and workability improved.
[0062]
(3) Action when taking out the product (FIGS. 3B and 3C)
[0063]
Even when a product is taken out from the lower pallet 20 or the upper pallet 30 returned from the laser processing machine 40 to the pallet exchanging apparatus, as in FIGS. 3B and 3C, by operating the cylinder 8, The lifter 1 is lowered, and the cylinder 8 is stopped when the lower pallet pass line P2 and the upper pallet pass line P1 are slightly lower than the free bear pass line PL.
[0064]
At this time, the product that is the processed workpiece W is at the position of the set height H of the workpiece that is the free bear pass line PL. According to the present invention, since the set height H of the workpiece is held at a low position, the work pass line when taking out the product is low.
[0065]
Therefore, the worker can easily reach the product, does not need to ascend to the lower pallet 20 and the upper pallet 30, and does not suffer from a fall accident, thereby improving safety.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the pallet exchanging device is provided with a lift having a top that can be raised and lowered with respect to the platform, and a low-level narrow pallet and a high-level wide pallet are provided on the top so as to be able to travel. At the same time, the configuration is such that the free bear table is fixed on the platform, so that the free bear pass line is held at a fixed position at the time of pallet replacement, and the top plate is moved up and down to set the work before pallet replacement. Both the work and the product removal work after pallet replacement are possible, so by keeping the work set height at a low position, both the workability during work setting and the safety during product removal are improved. The technical effect was to achieve.
[0067]
Furthermore, by adjusting the height position for fixing the free bear table, there is also an effect that the set height of the workpiece can be arbitrarily set as necessary.
[0068]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view and a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a conventional technique.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lifter 2 Base of lifter 1 Top plate of lifter 1 Strut 5 of traveling rail 5 Traveling rails 6 and 7 Link 8 Cylinder 10 Free bear table 11 Free bear table 10 strut 12 Free bear table substrate 13 Bearing 20 Lower pallet 30 Top Pallet 40 Laser processing machine 41 Processing table 42 Lower frame 43 Upper frame 44 Processing head 45 LM guide rail 46 Ball screw

Claims (5)

Between the plate material processing machine, relatively position the width relatively position lower narrow lower narrow palette high width at the pallet exchange device for exchanging large high wide pallet,
It has a lifter with a top that can be raised and lowered with respect to the base, and both the pallets are provided on the top so as to be able to travel , and when the work is set on both pallets on the base , A pallet exchanging apparatus characterized in that a free bear table to be placed is fixed and a set height of a workpiece by the free bear table is set lower than a pass line of each pallet at the time of pallet exchanging.   The pallet exchanging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top of the lifter includes a front frame, a center frame, and a rear frame, and a traveling rail is attached above the front frame and the rear frame via a column.   The pallet exchanging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lifter base has a front frame, a center frame, and a rear frame, and a free bear table is fixed above the front frame and the rear frame via a support.   2. A pallet exchanging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a link mechanism comprising two links intersecting each other and a cylinder coupled to one of the links is provided between the top and the base of the lifter. .   Regarding one of the links constituting the link mechanism, the fixed end is inserted into the center frame of the top board, and the free end is inserted into the center frame of the base board, and the other link constituting the link mechanism. The pallet exchanging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fixed end is inserted into the central frame of the platform and the free end is inserted into the central frame of the top.

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